Chapter 153 (2/2)
The imperial bodyguards were sitting at the table in the kitchen . On the table, other than the century eggs and tofu which had been switched for tofu mixed with shallots, the rest of the dishes were the same as the ones for the table outside . The imperial bodyguards had been on the road for the whole morning and had long felt their stomachs sticking to their backbones out of hunger . In front of a table full of tasty dishes, they gorged themselves without any inhibition . They usually had a good relations.h.i.+p with one another but, today, for the sake of a piece of twice-cooked pork, they almost started fighting .
When Xiaocao entered the kitchen, the imperial bodyguards had already completely finished the table full of food in record time . Every plate on the table was completely empty, even the sauce from the vegetables had been poured onto their rice and eaten . The commander of the guards felt his face flush with embarra.s.sment when he saw Xiaocao enter the kitchen . He silently cursed the soldiers underneath his command for acting like a bunch of starving refugees . Weren’t they going to be laughed at by this little girl?
“Uncle bodyguards, did you guys eat to your fill? If that wasn't enough, I can cook a few small dishes for you all?” Xiaocao exclaimed in astonishment when she saw how much food the four men ate . They had unexpectedly eaten enough for eight people and cleared all of the plates . Perhaps those who practiced martial arts used more energy, so their capacity for food was larger?
The four imperial bodyguards along with a court eunuch all became excited at the thought of eating more food . However, after rubbing their rotund, stuffed stomachs, they could only shake their heads in regret and tell her that they were full . The commander of the group couldn’t look Xiaocao in the eye when he saw how shameless his soldiers were!
Xiaocao retrieved a few mud-coated eggs from the corner, tapped off the mud sh.e.l.ls, and peeled the century eggs . In her previous lifetime, at her hometown, century eggs made out of chicken eggs were also called ‘biandan’ . These few biandan were all ready to be eaten . The egg white part of the eggs looked like jelly and were sparkling and translucent . The yolk part of the eggs resembled a ball of sugar . When cut open, liquid drops of oil flowed out and made the eggs look extremely appetizing .
The courtyard wasn’t very large, so the imperial bodyguards had naturally heard what the emperor emeritus had said previously . Were these the century eggs that the emperor emeritus had mentioned? What did they taste like? Everyone could tell that these were extremely delicious . Otherwise, why else would the emperor emeritus, who had tried every delicacy under the heavens, protect these eggs from them? The more restricted something was, the more the heart thirsted for it . Unfortunately, this was not a desire they could satisfy right now .
The imperial bodyguards stared at Xiaocao intently as she peeled and sliced the eggs . Their gaze made her feel a lot of pressure and she felt like her back was burning under their relentless stares . She accelerated her movements and also chopped up some garlic cloves and green peppers . Vinegar and sesame oil were added to season the dish and then everything was sprinkled on top of the century eggs . She quickly carried the dish out . If she didn’t leave soon, then she absolutely would have collapsed from being stared at by this pack of ‘hungry wolves’!
This cold plate of seasoned biandan naturally received unanimous, generous praise from everyone who tried it . Fortunately, the emperor emeritus had pretty much eaten his fill, so this allowed Fang Zizhen and Yu Hai the opportunity to try some . After Yu Hai tasted a slice, he lightly nodded his head, “This is a dish that probably goes well with alcohol…”
“That’s right! Such a delicious dish, how come we don’t have any alcohol with it? Commander Zhuang, where did I hide that bottle of Zhenniang when I left? Quickly take it out!” The emperor emeritus yelled at the commander in exhilaration .
The stony cold expression on the commander’s face didn’t change a whit as he calmly replied in an even tone of voice, “Before we left, the emperor had inspected our luggage while you were unaware . That bottle of imperial Zhenniang had been confiscated by him!”
When the emperor emeritus was young, he loved to drink alcohol . After ascending the throne, he felt that he had a lot of responsibility, so he very rarely drank until he was dead drunk . Once he abdicated, he immediately invited a bunch of old officials over and drank alcohol with them every day . The old internal injuries left behind from the war as well as his advancing age caused his stomach to bleed after drinking too much . He vomited blood everywhere and scared the group of old officials until they were pale from fright . Fortunately, it wasn’t his time to go and after being treated by all of the imperial doctors in the palace, he was able to keep his life .
Since then, the emperor strictly prohibited him from drinking alcohol . He not only sent people over to watch over him but also set down rules for ‘guilt by a.s.sociation’ . Whoever accompanied the emperor emeritus in drinking alcohol or witnessed him drinking without reporting would also be sentenced to go down a rank . If they weren’t an official, then they would have to be imprisoned for three months . The pitiful emperor emeritus with his alcohol-loving heart was no longer able to find any alcohol to drink . When he did get his hands on some, he couldn’t find anyone to accompany him . It was truly a calamitous situation for him!
The smile on the old man’s face disappeared, and he snorted furiously a couple of times, “Don’t drink then I won’t drink! Without alcohol to accompany the meal, it doesn’t feel right . Oh right, little girl! Have you any fermented grape wine or fruit wine of any sort?”
Yu Xiaocao could sense the commander’s anxiety and looked at him rea.s.suringly to placate the man . She smiled, “You also know that we had separated from the main family at the end of last year . Other than receiving this run-down old house, we didn’t even get any furniture to go with it . How would we have any tools to ferment wine? That being said, even if I had the tools, how could I have made any without any of the ingredients? In the dead of winter, where would I find any grapes and fruit then to ferment wine for you?”
The emperor emeritus pursed his lips and replied irritably, “Little Yu ah! I really don’t like that stepmother of yours!! The rest I won’t mention, but she had taken Zhao Bufan’s three hundred taels from selling that bear yet she didn’t even give one tael to your family . Also, that younger brother of yours . From my standpoint, he’s not suited to be a scholar! And he’s living in town like a young lord, eating good food . All of it is funded by her . She’s so biased that she doesn’t know what’s right and proper anymore!! I really feel annoyed about this, very annoyed!! How about I call her over and scare her a bit?”
A waterfall of cold sweat poured down Yu Hai’s body . Why was this Fifth Lord meddling with his family’s matters? In regards to Madam Zhang, he didn’t feel any hate or rancor towards her, only a bit of resentment . After all, Madam Zhang had raised him and his older sister after his mother had pa.s.sed away . He already understood Madam Zhang’s personality; she was the perfect example of a tyrant at home but a coward outside . She was only a little brazen, that’s all . Now that she was older, he was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to tolerate being frightened .
Yu Hai hurriedly stood up and bowed, “Thank you Fifth Lord for your benevolence towards us! As the proverb says, ‘the son cannot criticize his parents’ actions’ . After all, she’s the wife that my father had legally married, and she also raised me and my older sister . Thus…”
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