Chapter 24.1

The stuffed tofu was placed firmly on the table. Although it wasn’t as hot as it was just out of the pot, the delicious soup was completely soaked into the gaps of the fried tofu and meat filling, making the tofu even more tender and tasty. The colour was also richer and more lustrous, and it seemed delicious just by the looks alone.

Pei Yan said aloud, “This is quite a large portion, I can’t finish it by myself. Let’s try it together.”

Grand Mentor Song and the others were waiting precisely for these words, and said hurriedly, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Of course, they remembered the hierarchy between rulers and officials and tried their best to restrain their eager hands as they waited for Pei Yan to eat first.

Pei Yan understood their meaning and did not keep them waiting. He picked up his chopsticks and took a piece.

As soon as the stuffed tofu was brought to his mouth, the rich aroma of meat permeated his nose. He gently took a small bite, and the fried tofu full of soup juices burst open in his mouth. The tofu skin was tender, and the meat filling was delicious… When he first saw this dish, he thought it was a little greasy, but after tasting it, he realised that not only was it not greasy, but it was also fresh and refreshing.

His eating posture was very refined. After finishing a bite slowly and methodically, he praised, “It tastes very good.”

Grand Mentor Song and the others thought inwardly that if His Highness said it was good, it must be very good! Now that His Highness has eaten, they could finally partake.

In an instant, the other six pairs of chopsticks at the table reached out so quickly that there was an afterimage. One piece for you and one piece for me, the plate was half empty in the blink of an eye.

“This is simply delicious! Just the sauce alone is enough for me to eat a big bowl of rice, not to mention the tofu and meat!”

“That’s right, this tastes really good. I didn’t think tofu could be prepared in such a way. The fragrance of soybeans and meat really complement each other!”

“Ah, it’s a pity that there’s so little of it, there’s really not enough. I thought my cravings would be satisfied after eating it, but now that I’ve tasted it, my cravings are getting even stronger…”

“The method doesn’t seem very difficult. Make a hole in the fried tofu, stuff it with some meat, then simmer them together, right? Perhaps we can go back and get our cooks to try making it.”

Listening to his peers’ discussions, Grand Mentor Song stroked his beard and said, “This dish looks simple, but there’s actually a lot of ingenuity hidden in it. Just this stuffing alone, this old man can taste several ingredients…”

At this, he smiled and looked at Grand Guardian Min, “Wenzhong, your taste buds have always been sharp. Can you tell what’s in this stuffing?”

Grand Guardian Min shook his head and said, “Well, there are water chestnuts, Chinese arrowheads, lotus seeds, and… Ah, I only ate one, so I can only make out these few ingredients. I’ll have another and taste it carefully.” He picked up his chopsticks and reached out toward the few pieces of stuffed tofu remaining.

Startled, Grand Mentor Song turned to complain to the Crown Prince, shaking his head and smiling, “Your Highness, look at this old man. Just say it if you want to eat it, to think you’d find such an excuse.”

Pei Yan also smiled, “Let’s see if Grand Guardian can taste the other ingredients. If he can’t, his punishment will be that he can’t eat any more.”

Grand Guardian Min was in the midst of enjoying his second piece and didn’t panic even when he heard the Crown Prince’s words. His wrinkled old face broke into a smug smile, “There are also lilies, taro, and water caltrops.”

Grand Mentor Song immediately answered, “I don’t know if you’re right or wrong. I will also have another and taste it carefully.” As he spoke, he also reached out his chopsticks.

The rest of the officials didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when they saw this, and the atmosphere at the table suddenly became cheerful.

Pei Yan rarely saw the two elders behave like this. He put three pieces in his bowl and let them share the rest.

Grand Mentor Song and Grand Guardian Min ate the most. As for the rest of the important ministers, it was a competition of speed—those who were fast got to eat, while those who were slow had nothing.

Those who managed to get it were happy and triumphant, while those who didn’t stared sadly at their empty plates, thinking inwardly that these old bastards usually looked so elegant and refined, but they didn’t expect that their speed of grabbing food would be so fast!

Compared to their grievances, the lower-ranking officials at the tables around them were truly heartbroken—

Those at the main table at least got to taste a piece. They didn’t get to taste anything, and only got to smell the fragrance as they shed vain tears! What kind of human tragedy was this?!

In the meantime, several ambitious young officials silently ate the rice before them, but secretly swore in their hearts to work hard. They wanted to be promoted, get a raise, make more contributions to the East Palace, and strive to be able to eat at the main table in this lifetime!

……

After Pei Yan had a simple lunch, he took his leave and went to the side hall.

Fu Xirui offered a cup of fragrant snow-capped tea, while Linglong stood respectfully and reported the situation at Yaoguang Hall truthfully.

Upon hearing that the Crown Princess and Xu Wenchan had an amiable conversation and the atmosphere was harmonious, the corners of Pei Yan’s lips rose slightly.

When Linglong told him that the Crown Princess personally made a lot of delicious things for Xu Wenchan, Pei Yan… didn’t particularly care.

When she came to the part when Xu Wenchan invited the Crown Princess to the Drunken Immortal Parlour to place, the arc of Pei Yan’s lips fell slowly. His gaze suddenly became sharp, and his voice also became cold, “Drunken Immortal Parlour?”

Linglong said, “Yes. She also said things like Young Master Nongyu is good with the flute and guqin, and has clean and exceedingly handsome looks…”

Halfway through, Linglong, who had kept her head lowered, had a vague feeling that the atmosphere wasn’t right. She snuck a peek and saw Pei Yan’s pair of deep eyes staring straight at her. Although there was a smile on the corners of his lips, the aura around him was cold and biting, so chilly that it made one shiver.

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