After a short while, Hong Xiaoduo had moved from a private room in the teahouse to a private room in a restaurant that wasn't very large.
Knowing she disliked wasting food, Murong Jing still ordered six dishes and a soup: "Would you like to order a pot of wine?" he asked.
"We're going to the Ministry of Justice later for drinks, is that alright?" Hong Xiaoduo asked curiously.
“You’re not the chief judge, so it’s okay for you to drink a little. How about a pot? Don’t let the fact that this restaurant isn’t the best in the capital fool you; their peach blossom wine is absolutely exceptional. It’s brewed by the owner himself and is only for drinking here. No matter how high the price, it’s not for sale to outsiders,” Mu Rongjing introduced with a smile.
The reason I asked her if she wanted a drink was because I was thinking that I might see a corpse in the afternoon. Even though I knew she wasn't afraid of corpses, a body that had been dead for several days was still a different story.
"If the young master recommends it, it must be good. Let's try some." Hong Xiaoduo didn't think too much about it. However, the flower wines she had drunk in this ancient era were indeed quite delicious.
Perhaps because the two arrived a little early, outside of peak restaurant hours, the food and drinks were served quickly.
The first dish was served on a large blue-and-white porcelain plate, with six large hairy crabs arranged in a circle, and several small bowls of seasoning in the center. The steamed crab shells were a bright orange-red color, which looked very appetizing.
Then there's Osmanthus Chicken, Braised Beef Tendon, Braised Shrimp, Bok Choy, Taro Stewed with Cabbage, and Pearl Jade White Jade Soup.
Hong Xiaoduo looked around, her gaze landing on the steamed crab. She raised an eyebrow and rolled up her sleeves: "Then I won't be polite." After saying that, she made her own dipping sauce, then grabbed a crab and a pair of scissors.
Murong Jing poured her a cup of peach blossom wine while pouring himself a cup of tea. He watched as she skillfully cut off the crab's legs and claws, removed the crab's belly button, opened the crab's shell, scooped out the crab's stomach with a small spoon and placed it on a plate of spittoons, then used scissors to cut off the excess crab legs, mouth, and lungs, and even removed the hexagonal plate-like object from the crab's heart.
"This is the coldest part of the crab, you can't eat it." Hong Xiaoduo felt she was being watched, looked up and said.
Then she broke the crab body in half, scooped some sauce onto it, and as soon as the plump crab roe and crab paste entered her mouth, Hong Xiaoduo's eyes narrowed with satisfaction.
We went to Xihai with the kids before, but it wasn't crab season, so although we ate crab there, it wasn't as plump and delicious as the crab we're eating now.
"Why isn't the young master eating crab?" After finishing a crab, Hong Xiaoduo asked when she saw the person opposite her eating only other dishes.
Seeing the other person's expression, Hong Xiaoduo suddenly realized and said, "You're not thinking of leaving all the crabs for me just because you like them, are you? Let me tell you, no need. Although I have a good appetite, crabs are a cold food and you can't eat too many at once, especially women."
"No, I just find it troublesome to eat," Murong Jing said with a smile.
When he ate crabs in his own manor, the maids and servants would peel them and put them on a plate for him to eat.
Of course, he would never say that to her.
After saying that, he rolled up his sleeves. He initially intended to use chopsticks, but after thinking for a moment, he put down the chopsticks and, imitating her, grabbed one with his hands. He then picked up the scissors and began to follow the steps she had taken to eat the crab.
Only after eating a crab did he truly understand the joy of eating crab by himself.
I couldn't help but feel annoyed. Why didn't I think of cooking crabs myself before?
After the meal, the two of them finished all six crabs, three each, and left some of the other dishes.
When Hong Xiaoduo got up, she shook the wine pot in disbelief. She had actually drunk a whole pot of wine without realizing it.
However, this peach blossom wine is really delicious. It's a little sweet, the wine is pink, and it has a faint floral and wine aroma.
"If you like it, take a few jars with you when you leave the capital?" Murong Jing could tell that the steamed crab today was to her liking, and she really liked this wine too.
"Huh? Didn't you say you wouldn't sell out no matter how much money you offered?" Hong Xiaoduo immediately said.
This wine pot can only hold about two ounces, she's not drunk yet, and she hasn't forgotten what he said before.
Mu Rongjing chuckled and said, "If others can't, I can."
“Okay.” Hong Xiaoduo didn’t stand on ceremony, nor did she ask him if he had any special channels or any special relationship with the restaurant owner.
Once they reached the outside of the restaurant, Hong Xiaoduo realized something was wrong: he hadn't paid the bill!
"Young Master, this restaurant isn't your property, is it?" Hong Xiaoduo leaned slightly closer to him and whispered.
"Ahem, um," Murong Jing responded softly.
"Then if I come to eat by myself next time, can I get a discount?" Hong Xiaoduo asked jokingly.
Mu Rongjing shook his head and said, "I can't offer a discount, but I can give you your money back."
"Your Highness, please don't joke. I'm a very honest person, and I'll take it seriously," Hong Xiaoduo said with a smile.
"I'm not joking. If you don't believe me, we can sign a contract when we get to the Ministry of Justice." After saying that, Mu Rongjing was also taken aback. He had never actually joked and laughed with a young lady in the street.
Hong Xiaoduo inadvertently spotted the person following her not far behind again, and turned to look at the person beside her: "Is the princess afraid that I will run away with her precious son?"
Mu Rongjing didn't even turn his head, and said with a helpless smile, "This is the first time she's seen me interacting with a young lady, so she's making a fuss over nothing. There's no need to pay attention to her."
As they were talking, the two arrived at the Ministry of Justice.
The officials from the Court of Judicial Review and the Censorate had not yet arrived. When the Vice Ministers of the Ministry of Justice saw Mu Rongjing, they immediately stood up to greet him. When they greeted him, they both looked at Hong Xiaoduo beside him.
Both vice ministers were in their forties and knew of Prince Mu's abilities. After receiving His Majesty's decree, they were puzzled and wondered why this prince had never participated in a trial before. However, they did not show the slightest contempt for the prince appointed by His Majesty.
However, what is the purpose of Prince Mu bringing along a very beautiful young woman?
Murong Jing naturally noticed the doubts of the two vice ministers, but he made no attempt to introduce Hong Xiaoduo.
She specifically instructed me to do this while we were at the restaurant, saying she wasn't good at interacting with officials. Without introductions, she could remain completely invisible.
Mu Rongjing found it amusing. He had come here on imperial orders to assist in the investigation; how could he possibly be treated as a nobody?
"My lords, may I take a look at the case file of Dong Yuefan?" Mu Rongjing asked.
Upon hearing this, the two vice ministers exchanged glances and nodded. After responding, the right vice minister, Sha Youzhi, gestured to the yamen runner next to him to bring over the case file.
Left Vice Minister Yue Wenchao ordered someone to serve tea to the young master Mu. The other officials had not yet arrived, nor were they in the courtroom.
The dossier was brought over, and the tea was brewed and served. The two vice ministers on the left and right looked at the crown prince whom His Majesty the Emperor trusted and valued the most, handed the dossier to the young lady beside them, and then asked her to sit down and read it slowly.
Then, he moved the tea that had been served to him to the tea table next to the young woman...
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