"Is the food from the Imperial Kitchen not to your liking, Your Highness?" Wei Junpei asked with a smile, glancing at Murong Jing at the next table.
He has always been a role model among the younger generation of prominent families in the capital, but today he seems to be frequently absent-minded. Look at him now, holding his chopsticks but not picking up any food, his eyes are only staring straight ahead.
Regardless of whether Lord Wei was joking or not, Murong Jing didn't react because he simply didn't hear it.
"Your Highness, Lord Wei is speaking to you," the young eunuch standing behind him whispered, as he poured him wine.
Mu Rongjing snapped out of his daze and looked to his side: "Lord Wei, Rongjing would like to offer you a toast."
Seeing the young man's reaction, Lord Wei didn't repeat the question he had just asked. He smiled, raised his cup, and drank the wine.
I don't usually like alcohol, but today this wine tastes exceptionally good. Several colleagues have already come over to toast me, all saying how amazing my grandson is and how wonderful it is.
Yes, he never expected his grandson to be so capable, to be able to speak a foreign language and even translate on such an important occasion.
He knew his grandson Kaiyang was a smart child, but his remarkable achievement today was truly unexpected and shocking. This was all because his grandson had met a benefactor who not only rescued him from the clutches of that villain but also took him under his wing, cared for him, and taught him to read and write.
It was only at this moment that Lord Wei recovered somewhat; otherwise, he would not have dared to pick up chopsticks, let alone lift his wine cup.
The position of interpreter was not high, similar to that of a county magistrate of the ninth rank.
But what my grandson and Xiaoduo did today has nothing to do with official positions! It's about saving face for the Fengliang Kingdom!
"Young Master, let me remind you, though I'm old, that when flowers bloom, pluck them while they're in bloom, lest you break a bare branch." After setting down his wine cup, he couldn't help but speak when he saw the young man's gaze shift away again.
He still didn't think that the son of the Marquis of Fu'an was good enough for Xiao Duo, but the way the emperor looked at that girl just now made him feel a little uneasy.
They hoped that the girl could stay in the capital, but that didn't mean she would stay in the palace.
Compared to this, the kid next to me is passable.
"Ahem, Lord Wei, you're joking." This time, Mu Rongjing heard it clearly, not missing a single word. He responded calmly, picked up some food, and put it in his mouth. The little eunuch beside him tried to stop him but didn't have time.
This young master was favored by the emperor, and Eunuch Fu specially instructed him to come and serve the young master, and also told him about the young master's dietary preferences, so he knew that the young master did not eat spicy food.
In the past, when the Crown Prince accompanied His Majesty to discuss state affairs until late, he would dine with His Majesty in the palace. His Majesty does not like spicy food, so the royal kitchen would not add any spicy dishes. However, today, with foreign delegations and many ministers in attendance, the royal kitchen has prepared several spicy dishes.
Of course, the dishes served to His Majesty will not be spicy, but with so many people around, the Crown Prince is too busy to care about that.
Cough cough, the next moment, Murong Jing, who was spitting out the spice, quickly turned his head away. The little eunuch hurriedly handed him a plate to spit out the bones and then neatly poured a cup of tea for the young master.
Once the spiciness in Mu Rongjing's mouth had subsided a bit, she looked around and found that Hong Xiaoduo had returned to her seat, which she had specially arranged to sit at the same table as Kaiyang.
Mu Rongjing couldn't discern any particular emotion on Hong Xiaoduo's face, so he subconsciously looked towards the emperor, just in time to see the emperor looking thoughtfully in Hong Xiaoduo's direction.
Based on his understanding of her and having witnessed her abilities on several occasions, it was normal for him to want to keep her. Making promises to female officials in order to keep her would be absurd to most civil and military officials, but she was indeed capable of doing it.
It's unlikely that he would want to take her into his harem.
Mu Rongjing was suddenly taken aback. What was the reason for his nervousness?
Diagonally opposite, at a long table for two people, Hong Xiaoduo moved the stir-fried shrimp that was placed on her side to Kaiyang's side: "Why are you waiting for me? The food won't taste good if it gets cold."
"No matter how delicious the food is, it tastes best when eaten with you, Mother." Kaiyang was very excited to be speaking to a foreigner for the first time today, but he was not complacent about being the center of attention for the first time.
He remembered what Hong Xiaoduo had said: One should not be arrogant, but one should have integrity! One should not be haughty, but one should have self-respect!
Reaching out to grab the shrimp peeler, he suddenly remembered that he was in the palace, surrounded by officials and foreign envoys.
Seeing Kaiyang like this, Hong Xiaoduo suppressed a laugh. She wanted to say that he could eat however he wanted, but then she thought that the occasion was inappropriate.
"This servant will help the young master peel it." At this moment, the eunuch behind him immediately rolled up his sleeves, carefully washed his hands in the copper basin behind him, and then wiped them with a cotton towel before stepping forward to start peeling.
The eunuch was only about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a fair complexion and quick movements. He soon placed the peeled shrimp on the plate in front of Kaiyang and continued peeling.
"Thank you, sir." Kaiyang said his thanks and picked up his chopsticks to pick up a shrimp.
Upon hearing the thank you, the eunuch peeling the shrimp paused for a moment. Then, he stopped peeling the shrimp as quickly as before and peeled them more carefully, making sure the shrimp meat was clean before placing them on the plate.
After peeling several shrimp for Kaiyang, I suddenly remembered to peel some for Hong Xiaoduo.
Hong Xiaoduo thought about it and didn't refuse, nodding and smiling.
This meal was the most proper one that Hong Xiaoduo and Kaiyang had ever eaten, and also the one they least wanted to eat a second time.
The dishes prepared by the imperial kitchen were exquisite and beautifully presented, with auspicious names that made them look very high-class. However, only a few dishes were truly delicious.
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