Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 76: Is this what people in later generations eat?
"No singing and dancing?"

When Wen He announced that the dishes were being served, Li Shimin looked at the empty main hall, looked at him with a puzzled expression, and asked.

Wen He pouted and spread her hands helplessly, saying, "I have no money."

"No money?" Li Shimin asked in surprise. Everyone quickly looked away, a bad feeling suddenly creeping into their hearts.

"Didn't the Inner Palace Administration give you money?" Li Shimin was shocked. His eyes widened, and Huang Chun, who was standing next to him, immediately went weak in the knees and hurriedly came out to explain.

"Your Highness, it's all my fault. I must have failed to explain clearly, leading those scoundrels to believe that the money was only for the daily expenses of the magistrate of Gaoyang County."

He was quick to admit his mistake; before Li Shimin could even reprimand him, he came out and confessed.

But while he seemed to take all the blame upon himself, he actually shifted the responsibility to the people in the Imperial Household Department.

"Enough." Li Shimin waved his hand, dismissing Huang Chun. "If there is no music and ceremony, then so be it. I will invite you all to watch a song and dance performance another day."

"Today, we will only taste the dishes from Wen Xiaolang's hometown."

Everyone responded in agreement.

They did not come here today for any song or dance.

However, the invitation was sent by someone from the Inner Palace Secretariat, marking Li Shimin's first public appearance since becoming Crown Prince.

They naturally came to support them.

"Your Highness, if you are in the mood, how about I perform a dance for you?" Hou Junji stood up casually from the third seat on the right and bowed to him.

"Oh, since the Duke of Liang has such an interest, I shall certainly watch it."

Li Shimin surprisingly did not refuse.

Wen He glanced at him and the people around her without showing any emotion.

Many people had rather intriguing expressions.

Even Wen He understood that if tonight's banquet were held in the Taiji Hall, Hou Junji's actions would be nothing. Even Li Yuan had once danced shirtless at a banquet.

But today we are in his residence.

At a housewarming banquet for a county magistrate, the Duke danced in celebration.

Those who knew him understood that he was flattering Li Shimin, while those who didn't might have thought that he, as a duke, was inferior to the county magistrate of Wenhe.

Logically, Li Shimin should have reprimanded him for his lack of manners, but he did not do so.

"It's a case of 'praise to death'."

Wen He returned to her seat, picked up a bowl of honey water, and glanced almost imperceptibly at Li Yi and Hou Junji.

The Prince of Yan and the Duke of Liang.

This combination is just too ingenious.

Sitting to the side, Xiao Wenrou noticed his strange behavior but didn't dare disturb him. She sat quietly and imitated him, drinking a bowl of honey water.

Before long, the maids from the mansion brought up the dishes.

Li Shimin found it strange that the maids looked so odd.
He suddenly noticed that Wen Zhong looked a little embarrassed and hurriedly went to Wen He's side.

"Young master, are these really all there are?" Wen Zhong went to the kitchen himself to watch the dishes being served, because Li Shimin was there, and he had to be careful.

Wen He had told him about today's menu before, but he thought it was a joke.

I didn't expect there really were only two dishes. No, to be precise, the other one couldn't even be called a dish.

"What is this?"

Seeing the bowl of soup and the bowl of powdery substance placed in front of him by the maid, Li Shimin turned to look at Wen He in surprise.

The expressions of the others were also strange.

What on earth is Wen He up to?

Is this the dish from Wenhe's hometown that His Highness has been longing for?
However, there were still a few that didn't seem strange.

People like Yuwen Shi and his group had already investigated Wen He's background.

What delicious food could a boy from a farming family possibly offer?

"Your Highness, the soup is called Pearl Jade White Jade Soup. It is made by stewing the finest white jade tofu with cabbage and fine noodles."

He couldn't possibly be like Zhu Yuanzhang, actually letting Li Shimin and the others eat leftovers. This bowl of pearl, jade, and white jade soup was the Tang Dynasty version of dumpling soup.

It's just not as white as the ones made with refined flour in later generations.

"Then what is this, soil?" Li Shimin asked, pointing to the yellow powdery substance on the other side. "This is called fried noodles. It is made by grinding wheat and soybeans into powder, then frying it with vegetable oil. It has a very fragrant aroma, and most importantly, it can be preserved for a long time."

Back in the day, those heroes, with a bowl of fried noodles and a sip of snow, were awe-inspiring throughout the world.

Wen He didn't finish his sentence; he stopped abruptly. Even if he had, these people from the Tang Dynasty wouldn't have empathized with him.

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at Li Shimin.

Li Shimin was taken aback; he wanted to taste the delicacies of later generations.

But Wen He brought out these two things instead. Was he deliberately teasing me?

People in later generations ate this stuff?
With so many people watching, it would be difficult for him to back down if he didn't eat.

After all, it was he who strongly recommended it just now.

He picked up the spoon and scooped a small spoonful of fried noodles into his mouth.

Perhaps because I didn't have high expectations to begin with, this bite was actually quite good.

At least it wasn't as bad as he'd imagined, so he took another sip of the tofu soup.

"Hmm? Not bad, it looks simple but tastes delicious. This tofu is so tender and smooth, did you make it?"

There was an unexpected surprise.

Li Shimin's eyes lit up.

Wen He smiled noncommittally.

Hearing this, the others also tried it, and then...

Many people then stopped touching the fried noodles.

Although the Tang Dynasty lacked delicacies, people from powerful families like Yuwen Shiji had tasted all kinds of rare delicacies and naturally looked down on them.

It's just that Li Shimin suffered a lot while serving in the army for many years.

"Your Highness!"

Suddenly, Jing Junhong shouted.

Li Shimin, who was just taking a bite of fried noodles, almost choked.

"Military rations!" Jing Junhong picked up the fried noodles on the table, overjoyed.

Li Shimin was taken aback, and then Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui both turned to Wen He.

Li Yi glanced down at the fried noodles, and the disdain in her eyes vanished instantly.

"Can it be preserved for a long time? Young Master Wen, how long can this thing be preserved?" Qin Qiong asked anxiously.

"If stored properly, it should last for half a month without any problems."

As soon as he finished speaking, the military officers who had just stood up widened their eyes.

"It took this long?" Li Shimin looked at the bowl of fried noodles, pondered for a moment, and asked again, "Is it easy to make?"

Simply stir-fry.

"Demonstrate immediately."

"right now?"

Wen He was taken aback. Why the rush?
Seeing his reaction, Changsun Wuji smiled and explained.

"Young master, you don't know, His Highness was still worried about military rations yesterday. If this fried noodle is as convenient as you say, it will solve our urgent problem."

It turned out to be the case.

Upon hearing this, Wen He immediately had something prepared and began the demonstration.

He had made this in an orphanage when he was a child, so he was quite familiar with it; all he had to do was cook it.

Li Shimin looked at him, and a thought suddenly arose in his mind.

This stuff is alright to eat, but it's not easy to swallow.

Did people in later generations also live a very difficult life?
Otherwise, why would anyone make such food?

It seems I misunderstood Wen He; the people of later generations have it tough too.

(End of this chapter)