Duke of Zhenguan

Chapter 130 A Familiar Scene

Li Shimin is very annoyed lately.

According to reports from water monitoring stations across the country, rainfall in most parts of Guanzhong and Hedong is significantly lower than in previous years. Although the drought is not severe, it has already affected spring planting.

Waterwheels still have some significant limitations. In areas without rivers, water can only be obtained by digging wells, but the imperial court can only send a limited number of people to carry them out.

The relationships in the local area are complicated, and several officials sent out by the Ministry of Works have died of illness inexplicably, and even the Hundred Cavalry Division has not found any clues.

What angered him even more was that after the grand court assembly, every word Fu Renjun said at the assembly was spread out without a trace, and now teahouses and taverns in Chang'an were all talking about the emperor's immoral behavior.

The act of murdering one's brother and imprisoning one's father is a stain that can never be washed away. Now, it has been linked to natural disasters by people with ulterior motives. The combination of the two events has more than doubled its credibility.

Moreover, this news was not reported by the Hundred Cavalry Commandery; he heard it himself while traveling incognito.

Unfortunately, he didn't have any good solutions. Killing people wouldn't solve anything; he couldn't just kill all these fooled people.

Feeling agitated, Li Shimin lost his usual composure in handling state affairs. As evening approached, he saw another memorial reporting on the drought and requesting the court to provide disaster relief. Li Shimin slammed his vermilion brush on his desk and said to Zhang Anan beside him, "Let's go for a walk!"

Zhang Anan nodded and quickly went to arrange manpower.

Li Shimin went to Empress Zhangsun's palace to change into an ordinary brocade robe, then left the palace with his entourage and headed straight for Tonghua Ward.

Tonghuafang.

Lin Chuan is preparing ingredients for hot pot.

Yesterday evening, Lin Shier brought back a large bundle of fresh cabbage with his men.

There were no classes at the academy this afternoon, so Lin Chuan had lunch there and then returned to Chang'an, also stopping by the Cheng family to pick up Cheng Churou.

When I went to the Cheng family's house, I heard that they had killed another cow. They happened to have some fresh beef, as well as some cleaned tripe and tongue.

So he thought of hot pot.

During this period, he would go to the Cheng family whenever he had free time, and occasionally he would also visit the Yan family.

Cheng Churou wasn't the only one upset about what happened before; Yan Ruyu was also feeling terrible, so Lin Chuan could only try to appease both of them.

Yan Ruyu was alright; he never intended to compete with Cheng Churou for anything. However, Cheng Churou harbored resentment and often forced a smile in front of him.

March is not even over yet, and the vegetables planted in the spring are just sprouting. Not to mention the Cheng family, even the imperial palace rarely sees fresh vegetables these days.

So Lin Chuan's method did work; Cheng Churou's face was full of surprise when she saw the fresh cabbage.

The pot is a freshly made copper pot, and the only ingredients besides beef and mutton are fresh cabbage.

Lin Chuan personally prepared the broth and seasonings.

Ah Lang went to study at the academy and only came back during breaks. He lived at the school the rest of the time, so only Li Shi, Lin Chuan, Cheng Churou, Er Ya, and Ah Shui were gathered around the pot.

Even after receiving the rank of eighth grade, Meixiang remained steadfast in her duty as a maid, never overstepping her bounds, and silently stood by Lin Chuan's side to serve him.

Sitting next to Lin Chuan, Cheng Churou looked at Mei Xiang's womanly hairstyle and her expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

The beef and mutton were sliced ​​by Ah Shui, as thin as cicada wings. Usually, she would go to the Qin family to practice martial arts with her younger brother in the morning, but most of the time she would go with Li Shi. Her martial arts skills did not improve much, but since Qin Qiong gave her two short swords, she has become better and better at using them.

After everything was prepared, Li and the others looked at the boiling pot, then at the ingredients placed beside it, and their eyes all fell on Lin Chuan, waiting for him to start.

Lin Chuan chuckled, picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of beef, and put it into the boiling pot to cook.

Fresh beef doesn't need to be marinated, and it's sliced ​​thinly enough. After being dipped into the boiling copper pot seven or eight times, it's picked up.

Dip the beef in the dipping sauce, and under the watchful eyes of the others, Lin Chuan placed it in Cheng Churou's bowl, smiling as he said, "Try it!"

Caught off guard, Cheng Churou looked at the meat in front of her, then at Lin Chuan, and her face suddenly became hot. She looked up and saw Li Shi and Er Ya opposite her, both looking at her with smiles on their faces, and her face burned even more.

My heart was pounding, and the slight awkwardness I had just felt vanished.

With a sweet smile, she picked up a piece of beef and put it in her mouth. The moment it touched her tongue, the rich flavor exploded on her tongue. Her eyes filled with surprise as she said to Lin Chuan, "My lord, it's delicious!"

"Eat quickly!"

Lin Chuan nodded, picked up another bite with his chopsticks, and as he scooped it up, he noticed everyone else was watching him. He smiled and said, "Do it yourself, and don't cook it for too long, it won't taste good if it's overcooked!"

"My brother is so biased!"

Er Ya muttered a complaint under her breath, but Li Shi slapped her hand with a chopstick.

Cheng Churou's face flushed even more, and she quickly put the cooked meat into Er Ya's bowl: "Er Ya, you should try some!"

"Thank you, sister-in-law!"

Er Ya immediately became happy again.

Compared to Mei Xiang, Ah Shui, although she also considered herself Lin Chuan's servant, didn't care much about etiquette because she hadn't read many books.

Following Lin Chuan's example, he picked up a piece of mutton with his chopsticks, swished it a few times, dipped it in the sauce, and then carefully put it in his mouth. After a moment, he exclaimed to Madam Li with a look of surprise, "Madam, it's delicious!"

"You're a young lady, at least mind your manners!" Li glared at her, then picked up a piece of meat herself, and after a moment nodded with a smile, "It really is delicious!"

The family was enjoying their meal when an annoyed voice suddenly came from the doorway: "You little brat, eating beef!"

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Turning his head to see Li Shimin enter, Lin Chuan was so startled that he almost dropped his chopsticks. He quickly put down his bowl and chopsticks and bowed.

The others were a little slower to react, but they quickly stood up and bowed to Lin Chuan, while only Ah Shui sat there dumbfounded, at a loss.

As Li Shimin strode in, Lin Chuan cursed him countless times in his heart. This emperor really had no sense of being a guest in someone else's home; he just showed up without warning!

Li Shimin, who had just entered, casually waved his hand, indicating that everyone should dispense with formalities. His gaze fell on the beef on the plate, then lingered over the copper pot, before he plopped down in Lin Chuan's seat and grumbled irritably, "Don't you have any sense? Get me some chopsticks!"

Lin Chuan had no choice but to get the bowls and chopsticks. Zhang Anan reached out to take them, but Li Shimin waved his hand, took the bowls and chopsticks, and turned to ask Lin Chuan, "How are we going to eat?"

Lin Chuan had no choice but to take another set of chopsticks and bowl, and personally swished a piece of beef into Li Shimin's bowl.

"It tastes good!"

Li Shimin picked up a piece of meat, put it in his mouth, and nodded with a satisfied expression.

Without inviting Lin Chuan's family, he ate his meal by himself with relish.

This familiar scene reminded Lin Chuan of the time Li Shimin had come to his house and taken food and drinks. Sure enough, after Li Shimin finished eating, he burped and pointed to the cabbage beside him: "There aren't any fresh vegetables in the palace, but you have some at home, kid. The Empress hasn't been eating much these days and just wants some fresh vegetables. I'll take some with me later!"