Chapter 627 - War Begins (1/2)

Naturally, this coffee wasn’t prepared for the emperor emeritus alone. Thus, Xiaocao considerately also placed some milk and sugar on the serving tray. Whoever felt that the coffee was too bitter could easily add either to their own taste.

The emperor emeritus drank some pure coffee and ate a few pieces of sweet but not too sweet western-style pastries. He nodded his head in satisfaction. The fatigue that had settled into his bones for months had dissipated away as soon as he ate the delicious food. Other than the emperor, who had added a bit more milk and sugar to his cup and drank it down with pleasure, the rest of the people present weren’t used to this bitter drink.

However, Headmaster Yuan was able to taste the uniqueness of the coffee. There was still more than half a year before the autumnal exams started, so all of the students were studying late every day. Naturally, their energy levels couldn't keep up with this schedule. If they had access to this energizing drink, it may be of great help to them in the future. He silently remembered the properties of this drink and reminded himself to ask the little la.s.s for ‘the secrets’ of this drink.

“Ahem ahem! We’ve done most of the ceremonies today, and it’s starting to get late…” The emperor emeritus finished the cup of coffee in front of him in one gulp and wished to drink more.

The Yu Family and Headmaster Yuan, who was the matchmaker on the female side, all thought that he was going to say his farewells next, so they hurriedly interjected, “Lunch preparations has just been finished, so you should eat before you go ah!”

The emperor emeritus nodded his head in a matter of fact manner and said, “That was precisely my thought. It’s getting late and about time to eat the noon meal. I heard that when my second son had guests over, the little la.s.s had come up with a few more new dishes. I’m not sure whether this old lord would be able to try any today at noon.”

Imperial Prince Jing had a constipated look on his face. Why did he agree to allow his old father to become the middle matchmaker? Was there anyone else who would shamelessly cadge a meal from the female side when they were here to match the birthdates between the prospective groom and bride?

“Will ‘Buddha Jumps Over the Wall’ be at the meal today? Every time the imperial chefs make it, I always feel like it’s missing something. The taste is never as good as when that la.s.s Xiaocao makes it.” The emperor also had a face full of approval, showing that he had no intention of moving even one iota out of the chair.

Imperial Prince Jing let out a long sigh inside. It looked like he was truly going to be shamed to the heavens today. After all, it was impossible to not get bitten when there was a lot of lice around! He also had no intention of saying his farewells now either.

“Yes, yes, yes! When Cao’er found out that Your Imperial Majesty was going to personally come today, she made sure that all of the ingredients for the dish were ready in advance. She had woken up bright and early to begin preparing. Not only will there be ‘Buddha Jumps Over the Wall’, but she also prepared your favorite braised pig head meat, sliced pig ears in chili oil, braised pig snout...all of these have been personally made by that la.s.s Cao’er!” Yu Hai realized that both the emperor and the emperor emeritus were quite easygoing, so he slowly relaxed as time went on. Thus, when he spoke, he wasn’t as afraid as before.

The emperor emeritus chuckled and said, “Looks like I didn’t dote on that la.s.s for nothing. She still remembers what this old lord likes to eat the most. However, these past two years my teeth have become more loose in my mouth. Thus, it looks like the sliced pig ears will have to benefit the rest of you stinky brats instead.”

As one of the ‘stinky brats’, Imperial Prince Jing rubbed at his nose. He was almost fifty years old but was still labeled a stinky brat. It felt like he had gone back to his youth again during a time when his old father would beat him out with a broom.

Headmaster Yuan guffawed loudly, “You’re already seventy years old and your teeth have only started to loosen now? You should be pleased ah! However, Xiaocao mentioned that she wants to open a medicinal cuisine hall. You should ask if she has any recipes that can help with your teeth. If you don’t have any teeth, then eating is not as enjoyable since there will be many things you can’t eat anymore.”

“Old Yuan, you are right. Eating with no teeth is just not the same! That la.s.s Xiaocao has all sorts of crazy ideas in her head, so I’m sure she has a solution. It’s a pity that the medical technology here is too backwards. If they were able to plant teeth, then this old lord wouldn't have to worry.” The emperor emeritus quite missed the dentists in his previous life now.

“Plant teeth? I’ve only heard of planting flowers, gra.s.s or crops before. I’ve never heard of being able to plant teeth. You’re thinking a bit too outside the box, eh?” Yuan Sinian was around the same age as the emperor emeritus. When he was younger, he had served under the emperor emeritus and consequently had a good idea of the other man’s temperament. Thus, when he spoke, he didn’t have to be too cautious around him.

“I have no suitable conversation topics to have with you ancient people. The two of us have a very big generation gap between us. In a bit, I’ll have a nice chat with that la.s.s Xiaocao!” The emperor emeritus had long guessed that Xiaocao was also a transmigrator. However, he wasn’t quite sure just what she used to do in her past life.

She knew many medicinal cuisine recipes, so perhaps she had been born in a traditional medical doctor family or was a nutritionist instead? She was also quite skilled at making foods, so maybe she was a chef in her past life? But the la.s.s was also very proficient at planting crops...it really made it difficult for one to guess just what she did in her past life. However, he didn’t think too much of this. As long as he was able to eat the foods he loved in his past life, he was more than satisfied.

The guests and the hosts all had a merry time during the noon meal. The emperor emeritus drank quite a few cups of the Yu’s Distillery’s new high alcohol-content drinks. Furthermore, he had pulled his grandson, the emperor, into his drinking shenanigans and completely forgot just what he was here for today. Imperial Prince Jing sat at the side and watched the two of them with worry——was it too late to swap out matchmakers by this point?

Not long after the presentation of the betrothal gifts, the matchmakers needed to come back to the female’s residence and ask about the prospective bride’s name and her eight characters. Then, it would be used with the prospective groom’s to divine whether they were compatible. This was the second of the ‘six rites’——birthdate horoscopes. Birthdate horoscopes also required the man’s side to bring gifts and it usually was a pair of wild geese. Imperial Prince Jing was anxious about this step, so he also tagged along. On the way there, he prayed that his old father and the emperor wouldn’t act as ridiculous as before and cause him to lose more face.

Fortunately, Headmaster Yuan was much more qualified for his role of a matchmaker and still remembered his duties. He took care of the exchange of birthdate data between the two families. Some people would take the prospective bride’s data back home and place it on the censer in the family’s ancestral hall. If three days pa.s.sed by peacefully, that meant the two were fated to have a harmonious relations.h.i.+p. If something bad happened in three days, then it was likely they would return the woman’s birthdate and decline the marriage.