In the Ming Dynasty 1498, my restaurant connects two worlds.

Chapter 116 Brewing Tea Around the Fire in the Qianqing Palace

Like a curious old child, Old Master Shan hadn't stopped talking since boarding the palace carriage, bombarding the city with questions: "This moat is at least twenty meters wider than modern ones! Was that really Mu Bin? Are the lion patches on the Embroidered Uniform Guard uniforms embroidered or woven? Why are there no guards at Donghua Gate? How old is Crown Prince Zhu Houzhao this year?"

Upon arriving at the Qianqing Palace, the floor was warm and cozy, and wisps of tea smoke rose from the bronze incense burner.

"We've arrived. Get off the bus, Mr. Shan. You have too many questions. Let's not ask so many questions for now. Let me introduce you to two new friends."

"A new friend? Who? Liu Jin?!"

"It's not impossible for you to meet Liu Jin. I'll have Mu Bin call him over right away."

"Liu Jin?" Old Master Shan exclaimed in surprise, "The Liu Jin who was in charge of the Directorate of Ceremonial and whose house was searched and found to contain a million taels of gold?"

"He's still just a low-ranking eunuch," Song Xiaoyi laughed. "Want to meet him?"

"No, no, no!" Old Shan waved his hands repeatedly, "Let me catch my breath—this information is too much!"

"Teacher, do you see this? This is my imperial palace. Do you recognize the Qianqing Palace here? Isn't it very different from modern palaces?"

"It seems that the Qing Dynasty has indeed changed a lot."

Outside the palace, snow fell again, while inside, the aroma of tea mingled with the scent of pine resin, creating a warm, spring-like atmosphere. It seemed that Zhu Youcheng had indeed improved his living conditions to some extent.

While Zhu Youcheng was chatting with the two old men, Song Xiaoyi turned to Mu Bin and whispered, "Brother Mu, go and bring Senior Huai'en over here, and have the Imperial Kitchen prepare some food. No one is allowed to approach the Qianqing Palace without my and His Majesty's permission. Except for my grandfather."

"Gathering around the stove in the palace, brewing tea, reminiscing about the past while gazing at the snow, new and old friends reunite! Soon we'll be arriving Senior Huai'en, Elder Wu, and Dean Shan. How does it feel?"

"Huai'en!? You mean that Huai'en? Huai'en is still alive?"

"History is ultimately written by posterity, and many records are not necessarily entirely accurate, are they?"

"Teacher, in order to protect Grandpa Huai'en, I announced his death immediately after ascending the throne."

"Without Senior Huai'en, Brother Zhu wouldn't have survived to adulthood."

"Xiao Yi, you're wrong. You can't even get past the seven-year-old hurdle."

Just then, the soft sound of a wheelchair came from outside the hall, and Huai En was personally pushed in by Mu Bin.

Although Huai En was over seventy years old, the gleam in his eyes was as bright as ever. Upon seeing Zhu You, he tried to rise and bow as always.

"Old servant—"

"You may all step back, Commander Mu. Guard this Qianqing Palace."

"Mu Bin understands! I even kept Liu Jin out."

"I have said many times that you are not in good health and do not need to perform the formalities." Zhu Youcheng stepped forward and personally helped the old Huai'en, who was about to get out of the wheelchair. "Grandpa Huai'en, come, let me introduce you to two of my elders."

"This gentleman, Elder Shan, is the one you mentioned who was my teacher in that era."

"I have met Imperial Tutor Shan."

"Oh, Senior Huai'en, you flatter me." Old Shan quickly waved his hand, "Senior, you're too kind. I'm just a researcher, how dare I call myself an imperial tutor?"

"The Book of Rites says that only when the teacher is respected can the Way be revered." Huai En smiled slightly. "Since Your Majesty treats him with the respect due to a teacher, he is a great guest of the nation."

Zhu Youcheng picked up his teacup and said in a gentle tone, "Grandpa Huai, there's no need for formalities. Today is neither a court assembly nor an audience with the emperor; we're just gathered around the stove to brew tea, reminisce about the past, and discuss the present."

After finishing his introduction, Zhu Youcheng continued, "This gentleman, Elder Wu, was my uncle-in-law in that era."

"Uncle? Uncle... how should I address him?"

"I've forgotten that there's no such thing as an uncle-in-law in the Ming Dynasty. My uncle-in-law is the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, whom I specially appointed."

"Young Master."

"Senior Huai En."

After the introductions, Huai En sat down, his gaze slowly sweeping over Shan and Wu, his voice low yet clear: "This old servant heard His Majesty mention you two gentlemen, and it seems you come from the future."

The two elderly people turned to look at Zhu Youcheng, but did not dare to say anything.

"It's alright, Grandpa Huai'en knows about my background." Zhu Youcheng personally poured tea and said to Huai'en, "Would you like to tell them?"

"Alright, then this old servant will recall it once more." Huai En picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and put it down. "That year was indeed very dangerous. Little Tang'er had already been thrown into the lake by Consort Wan's men and drowned. This old servant arrived a step too late, and in the end, after risking his life to save Tang'er, the child had already died."

"This old servant is beyond tears, my heart is filled with sorrow. I have guarded for six years, but in the end I could not protect the late emperor's only heir..." As soon as he entered the memory, Huai En seemed to have returned to that time. His tone was naturally emotional, and he told the story in a gentle and detailed manner, as if he had taken everyone back to that era. Even Song Xiaoyi felt as if he were there.

Huai En paused for a moment to calm himself before continuing, "But after about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Tang'er suddenly woke up in my arms. However, the way he looked at me was very unfamiliar. My heart skipped a beat. Something's not right! ...What did His Majesty say again?"

"I only asked, 'Where is this?'"

"Yes, His Majesty only asked one question, and with that unfamiliar look in his eyes, this old servant knew that the child in his arms was no longer the one who would always hug this old servant's leg and call him 'Grandpa'..."

""

"However, Grandpa Huai did not expose him and continued to protect me without hesitation until he was exiled back to Fengyang to guard the ancestral tombs."

"After I ascended the throne, I welcomed Grandpa Huai back. Only after pressing him for details did he reveal the truth—"

As the story was unfolding, hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall, followed by Mu Bin's low-pitched announcement: "Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived! His Highness the Crown Prince is also with her! I could not stop her..."

Everyone was taken aback.

Song Xiaoyi whispered to Shan and Wu, "The Empress knows Brother Zhu's identity, but the Crown Prince is still young and unaware of it."

Old Shan's expression changed slightly: "Then what should we do? We can't just run now, can we? With this much snow, we can't escape!"

Before the words were finished, footsteps were heard, and a woman dressed in a ceremonial robe and wearing a crown with nine dragons and four phoenixes slowly entered, followed by a boy of about 7 years old in a red casual dress. It was Empress Zhang and Crown Prince Zhu Houzhao.

"I heard that Your Majesty has returned to the palace, and that a learned man has come from afar, so I have brought the Crown Prince to pay my respects." Empress Zhang curtsied, her gaze gentle yet sharp, falling immediately on the two unfamiliar elderly men.

Zhu Youcheng rose to greet her: "Your Majesty, there is no need for such formalities. These two are scholars of natural science whom I have invited for the Crown Prince, Mr. Shan and Mr. Wu."

Zhu Houzhao's eyes darted around, staring at Old Man Shan's round glasses for a long time before he suddenly said in a clear voice, "Father!"

They're wearing the official robes of Chief Steward Song of the Imperial Kitchen; they must be relatives of Master Song, right?

Old Shan was taken aback and almost blurted out, "Young man, you are very perceptive," but he managed to hold it back.

Zhu Youcheng smiled and said, "Zhao'er, propriety is not about clothing and hat, but about virtue. In the past, Confucius met Tanzi, who was not a feudal lord, yet Confucius studied under him. These two gentlemen understand the principles of heaven and earth and the changes of ancient and modern times; they are worthy to be your teachers."

"Really?" Zhu Houzhao leaned closer and asked curiously, "Then can you make muskets? Can you calculate how the stars move?"

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