Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

The old Emperor sat in the Wuying Hall, his usual office for the inner court, but for the first time, he wasn’t immersed in official business. From time to time, he looked up at the palace door, making the head eunuch wonder.

Who is His Majesty waiting for?

A eunuch hurried in to announce: “Your Majesty, the Prime Minister and the other Ministers are here to see you.”

The old Emperor nodded and waited for two or three breaths. When there was no further announcement, he turned to look at the eunuch, who seemed confused and helplessly glanced toward the head eunuch. The head eunuch, too, was puzzled.

The curtain in the corner fluttered slightly, and the old Emperor calmly asked, “Anyone else?”

The eunuch suddenly understood and quickly replied, “Xu Yanmiao, the official of the Ministry of Personnel, is also waiting outside.”

The old Emperor nodded. “Let them in.”

The eunuch took a deep breath and called out, “Announce—”

Soon, the ministers entered the hall.

Palace servants brought in small tables and cushions, and the officials took their seats in turn.

Xu Yanmiao carefully adjusted his official robes, his eyes fixed on the tray the palace servant was holding.

After every court session, the Emperor would treat the officials to a meal, but the food served in different ministries and the Wuying Hall was not the same. Now, he had the chance to experience what the second-rank officials were eating!

Then, when the tray was placed down, Xu Yanmiao looked at the food.

Tofu? Green vegetables? Noodles? No meat, and the noodles had only two eggs at most?

Xu Yanmiao: “…”

[This is worse than eating back at the ministry.]

The old Emperor acted as if he hadn’t heard, casually remarking, “Ah, the imperial kitchen has been making the same few hundred dishes for decades. I’ve grown tired of them. Recently, I haven’t had much of an appetite, so I’ve been eating lightly. I apologize for making you all accompany me.”

The ministers: “…”

Not at all, Your Majesty.

Of course not.

Generally speaking, those with good sense would seize the moment to offer the Emperor a new recipe they had recently acquired, claiming it was delicious and ready to be presented.

However, Xu “ivory tower” Yanmiao showed no response at all.

The old Emperor: “…”

Even though this person looked like he was trying to appear deep and serious, the old Emperor could see through his facade. He could tell that Xu Yanmiao was utterly clueless and had no idea how to read his superior’s intentions—how did he expect to rise in rank like this?

A sense of unprecedented irritation stirred within the old Emperor.@@novelbin@@

Today, he was determined to eat that thing called hot pot!

He whispered something to the head eunuch. A moment later, servants brought out small, divided cauldrons for each table. Each compartment held a different cooking space filled with broth, and the rich aroma of meat and the scent of burning charcoal mingled in the air, making everyone salivate.

Hot pot?!

Xu Yanmiao was stunned as he watched. The old Emperor grabbed his chopsticks and, while eating noodles, thought to himself: I knew it! Holding the raw meat and dipping it into the pot to cook—no matter how you eat it, it’s always going to be in a broth-filled pot!

A warming pot like this can be placed on the table!

Over there, Xu Yanmiao’s thoughts echoed as well: [Oh, it’s not hot pot, it’s a warming pot, used to keep the food warm. What a waste, such a good thing should be used for hot pot.]

“The thing is,” the old Emperor continued, “I’ve thought about it. You all work hard, day in and day out. Eating too lightly is bad for your health.”

The smile on his face was tinged with satisfaction: “If any of you wish to add something to the pot, just tell the servants.”

Xu Yanmiao’s eyes lit up.

The other ministers’ eyes lit up as well.

Xu Yanmiao: “Start with two pounds of beef and lamb, sliced thinly!”

The other ministers: “Yes, yes, beef and lamb, thin slices!”

Xu Yanmiao: “Add more charcoal. This little amount won’t be enough to boil the soup!”

The other ministers: “Mm, more charcoal, more for us!”

Xu Yanmiao: “Chili, salt, garlic paste, and oil… We need oil…”

The other ministers: “Chili…”

Xu Yanmiao silently glanced back at them.

These second-rank officials had such thick skin, pretending not to see his disdainful look.

The old Emperor cleared his throat. “Ahem, I’ll have some too.”

The head eunuch whispered, “Your Majesty, should we follow the usual custom and send some to the Empress?”

“Of course, it will be sent…”

The old Emperor paused.

The old Emperor fumed: “The Empress, what about the Empress! Do I have to give her everything I have?”

His voice raised a bit.

Xu Yanmiao was puzzled.

[What’s going on? Are they fighting?]

The old Emperor froze.

[Could it be that the Emperor knows the Prince Consort is going to execute the princess, and he wants to spare him, but the Empress won’t agree, and they’re arguing?]

“Pfft—”

The Minister of Rites, who had been drinking, suddenly spit out his wine, choking on the spice and causing him to cough violently.

“Cough, cough—”

Execute?

What execution?

Who’s going to be executed?

Did he hear that wrong?

The old Emperor was also stunned.

He forgot to be angry for a moment and was more confused, wondering why a normal person would act so oddly.

Does this Prince Consort have a grudge against his whole family?

He has twenty-one daughters—who is this Prince Consort who doesn’t value his life?

…

The Emperor’s fifth daughter, Princess Wanshou, asked the same thing of her Prince Consort.

“Do you want to drag me, this vicious woman, out and execute me?!”

Princess Wanshou stared at her Prince Consort in shock.

“Does your entire Nine generations know what you’re saying?”