Chapter 104 Still Water Runs Deep (1/2)

It was truly surprising to him that Shen Lian had this attitude.

Zhao Xiang was still spending his effort in coming up with an explanation to get ready to convince Shen Lian again.

But, Shen Lian said, ”His Majesty has five sons, three of them had been the Crown Prince. The previous Crown Prince was the most virtuous and able but he died a strange death. Your uncle was once the Crown Prince but now he is dethroned and confined for life. However, only your father had never been in his Majesty’s favor before, but in his new reign, he was designated as the Crown Prince. Furthermore, who would not know that the position of the Crown Prince is a fiery pit now? Your father should have declined but he still gladly accepted it. Words on the streets are that your father is cowardly and slow-witted. Could it be that you, being his son, think so too?”

Zhao Xiang held his breath when he heard this. Since young, he had been valiant and decisive, even his heartless grandmother showed her appreciation towards him. Compared to the cold treatment of his grandmother towards his father, it could be said that that was an obvious comparison.

People had said that his father had been designated as the Crown Prince because of his grandmother’s love towards him. However, he had studied history as a child and understood the complexity of the situation, he should not simply jump into the imperial power struggle that was going on. But his father did not decline, he gladly accepted after hearing the decree.

That month while he was in the imperial city, it was like he was on thin ice. His father, on the other hand, came down with this strange illness, which caused the group of doctors to be at a brink of helplessness.

Of course, what really disheartened him was the fact that his grandmother did not even bother to question this matter.

Even if he had the makings of an Emperor, he was still young so he was confused and troubled, or else he would not have sought out for Shen Lian.

There was a profound theory to Shen Lian’s statement. As a son, naturally he was the one who really understood his father. Therefore, he would feel that his father was not the brightest since he did not know how to get his own mother to like him and he too, did not know how to purposely keep his distance between the group of subjects and keep a low profile. All along, he had been conforming and did not have his own opinions.

But now that he really thought about it, their family had been peaceful up until now for so many years.

Zhao Xiang was an intelligent person and thoroughly understood Shen Lian after getting the hint. At that moment, he felt that Shen Lian was scary and could not help but be suspicious of a figure like Shen Lian. His approaches were formidable and he possessed such knowledge, what was he conspiring about?

He did not ask and buried this uncertainty inside him, his face did not show anything.

They chatted idly for a while and Zhao Xiang left.

Shen Lian watched as Zhao Xiang left and then averted his gaze to the Imperial City, the prestige of it was getting heavier by the moment.

”Big brother, I’m hungry.” From behind, Ruoxi’s young voice rang.

Shen Lian picked her up and chuckled lightly, ”You’re not going to go out and scrounge for free meals today?”

”I want to eat something delicious.” Ruoxi held onto Shen Lian’s chin. ”Big brother’s face is really smooth, there is not a fine hair on it.”

Shen Lian replied, ”Then we’ll go to ‘Fu Man Lou’ today and have the roast duck. Do you want to drink alcohol?”

”Xi Er is still young, I cannot drink, big brother should not drink also.” Ruoxi tugged on a strand of Shen Lian’s hair.

******

There were no storeys in Fu Man Lou. It was situated on the neighboring street. There was a river to the side of the street, called Anping Canal. This man-made river was Shendu’s widest flowing river, which spans over two hundred feet.

This was dug after the Empress had personally given her orders, which benefited the large crop fields outside of the city. Before that, the rice in the imperial city was expensive and life in the city was hard. Ever since having Anping Canal, the Empress then ordered people to research and develop finer breeds of rice. The price of rice in Shendu decreased over the years.

Policies such as this by the Empress were many. Even though they had to change the designation of an imperial reign for the Empress, it was not a bad thing for the common folks.

Fu Man Lou was not a restaurant but a tavern near the Anping Canal.

The owner of the tavern was a beautiful married woman. Many came to eat and drink just to catch a glimpse of her.

It was said that she was a widow and she wanted a happy household. It was also said that she wanted to transform the tavern into a restaurant, therefore, she gave this small shop the name ‘Fu Man Lou’.

Fu Man Lou was not packed to the brim with customers every day. After all, the customers that come with the intention to take advantage of the woman would not come after not being able to get their hands on her.

But the lady owner did not only have looked but she also had good cooking. Initially, this made a lot of customers stay but she also had a shortcoming. The food she made was sometimes good and sometimes bad.