Chapter 32: An Excellent Choice for Guests
[ Ding! Congratulations, host, for pranking Zhu Yuanzhang with beef tripe hotpot. Reward: 100 jin of Wuliangye! ]
[ Ding! Congratulations, host, for pranking the ministers with beef tripe hotpot. Reward: Strength +10 ]
[ Ding! Congratulations, host, for pranking the ministers with beef tripe hotpot. Reward: Agility +10 ]
[ Ding! Congratulations, host, for pranking the ministers with beef tripe hotpot. Reward: Lifespan extended by three months, two months, two months... ]
Inside the Eastern Palace, as the system’s reward chimes echoed, Zhu Xiongying was in the courtyard telling two palace maids the love story of Jinlian and Qingge.
The two young girls blushed deeply, their faces flushed to their ears.
“Great-Grandson… Great-Grandson…”
Yun Qi hurried over in quick, small steps, panting heavily as he called out.
By the time he reached the little one, sweat beads dotted his forehead.
“Here?”
Seeing Yun Qi, Zhu Xiongying was not surprised; if anything, he thought Yun Qi was a bit late.
“Great… Great-Grandson, you… you must come with your old servant! His Majesty… His Majesty has summoned you!”
After running all afternoon, Yun Qi felt as if his legs no longer belonged to him.
Zhu Xiongying slowly rose, stretched lazily, and said to Shunzi, “Go! Bring the special concoction I had someone prepare!”
“Yes, sir!”
Shunzi responded promptly and hurried off.
After a long wait, an anxious Yun Qi paced in circles. “Great-Grandson, we should hurry! If we delay, His Majesty will surely be angry!”
“What’s the rush? With this, I guarantee Grandfather won’t be mad!”
The little one pursed his lips toward the front.
Shunzi returned with six or seven young eunuchs carrying two large jars, struggling as they moved slowly forward.
Yun Qi didn’t even bother to ask what was inside the jars and led the group toward Huayang Hall.
At that moment, the guards had already removed all the stinking pots.
Opening the great doors for ventilation, the air in Huayang Hall finally improved considerably.
The ministers’ furrowed brows relaxed.
Zhu Yuanzhang stood with hands on hips, his expression extremely displeased.
Everyone whispered quietly, guessing that the Great-Grandson was about to face defeat.
At worst, he would get a harsh scolding.
“The Great-Grandson has gone too far this time, coming up with such a rotten idea!”
“Indeed! That stuff isn’t fit for people to eat! Even dogs wouldn’t touch it!”
“Exactly! Luckily, I didn’t eat it…!”
Their cheerful chatter was abruptly silenced when their eyes met Li Shanchang’s resentful gaze, and they quickly shut their mouths.
---
“Grandfather, you called for me?”
Speak of the devil, and he appears.
The little fellow grinned and hopped into Huayang Hall.
The ministers hurriedly covered their eyes.
If His Majesty was about to reprimand the child, they’d pretend not to see.
They were caught between wanting to intervene and not knowing whether to.
Yet, after waiting a long while, no crying or shouting from the young prince came.
Peeking through slightly parted fingers, they saw their beloved emperor smiling broadly as he held the Great-Grandson.
“My dear grandson, I promise you!”
“That’s more like it…!”
The little one nodded, “I’ve prepared the soup base. Once it boils, it’ll be ready to use!”
“Haha! Our grandson is thoughtful as ever!”
Old Zhu laughed and set the child down.
Watching him direct the imperial cooks to replenish the hotpot broth, the ministers rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
Was this still the decisive and ruthless emperor they knew?
He had made such a blunder, yet here he was, admitting fault to the Great-Grandson?
During the pause, Zhu Xiongying earnestly explained the beef tripe hotpot to the emperor.
“Grandfather, beef tripe hotpot, also known as Hundred Herbs Soup, is a delicacy from the Yunnan-Guizhou region served to guests!”
“What? You’re telling me that stuff we just ate is a delicacy?”
Zhu Yuanzhang was dumbfounded.
Who would really use such a foul-smelling thing to entertain guests?
“It’s true! Locals believe that cows eating a hundred herbs never fall ill! They wouldn’t bring it out unless important guests arrived…”
The little one spoke solemnly, “So I just wanted everyone to taste the very best!”
“We thank Your Highness…”
The ministers bowed in thanks.
In truth, they never wished to see that dish again.
With some light banter, the palace kitchen rekindled the charcoal fire.
The bone broth in the pot boiled vigorously, releasing a tempting aroma.
The ministers, holding their empty stomachs, unconsciously leaned toward the soup.
“This smells amazing—that’s real food!”
“Indeed…!”
The ministers all took their seats, rubbing their hands eagerly, unable to wait.
Savoring the familiar fragrance, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction.
“Everyone, try it! This is the true delicacy I was talking about!”
Slices of meat were dipped into the pot for a few seconds, then fished out, drenched in flavorful broth—a mouthful of satisfaction.
---
The ministers followed suit, eating in the same way.
To avoid wasting words from the civilian officials, Zhu Xiongying’s list contained no beef but lamb and venison instead.
Both meats were tender and smooth for hotpot.
“Delicious, delicious! This is the best I’ve ever tasted!”
“Yes! So fresh and tender, with a clean flavor!”
“Not only does it preserve the original aroma of the ingredients, but it has no unpleasant aftertaste. Truly amazing…!”
The literary and military officials enthusiastically wielded their chopsticks, squeezing in compliments between bites.
The entire table’s food was gone in no time.
The kitchen brought out a second round of dishes.
No one even bothered with wine, and the second round vanished just as fast.
Zhu Xiongying was dumbfounded.
These folks hadn’t tasted anything good before, had they?
One hotpot had them raving like this—if they had barbecue, fried chicken, or roasted meat from the future, they might just swallow their tongues!
When they finished eating, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly remembered the wine.
Raising his cup, he said, “Esteemed ministers, to eliminate future troubles and expand the great Ming territory by attacking the Jurchens, I entrust you all with great responsibility!”
“His Majesty is most generous…!”
The ministers hurried to swallow the lamb in their mouths, then raised their cups and drained them in one gulp.
“Sha… Tribute wine is truly exceptional!”
“Indeed! Such fine wine can only be enjoyed in the palace!”
“Exactly! This wine is much stronger than what’s sold outside…!”
As the wine slid down their throats, the ministers all gave thumbs up, praising it heartily.
“Pfft…”
Suddenly, a discordant sound interrupted.
Zhu Xiongying frowned, spitting out the wine he had just swallowed.
“The Great-Grandson is still too young to drink such strong liquor!”
“Yes! Only those like me, who can drink endlessly without getting drunk, can handle this!”
“Precisely! Great-Grandson should quickly drink some tea to settle his stomach…!”
The ministers, thinking the child was unwell from the strong wine, all expressed concern.
“Pah, pah…”
However, the little fellow pointed disdainfully at the wine spilled on the floor.
“You call this strong wine?”