gnovel Chapter 86 Is the Emperor going to order my death?
Chapter 86 Is the Emperor going to order my death?
Chapter 86 Is the Emperor going to order my death?
He picked up the plate and shoveled food into his mouth, eating without any semblance of imperial decorum, just like an old man from Guanzhong who hadn't eaten for three days.
The wind swept away the remaining clouds.
After swallowing the last grain of rice, Li Shimin let out a long sigh of relief, slumped onto the long bench, and let out a loud, satisfied burp.
"Well-!"
The sound startled even the cicadas in the tree, causing them to pause for a moment.
comfortable.
Transparent!
Every pore on his body exudes a refreshing energy.
Li Shimin touched his round belly and looked at the pale fish bones on the table. His originally dazed eyes slowly became deep.
He wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth, his gaze sweeping over Su Mu and Xiao Sizi before finally settling on the empty plate.
"How strange."
Li Shimin muttered to himself.
"At first glance, it's like entering an abalone market, making one want to cover their nose and vomit. But if you are patient and give it enough time to cook, and then savor it carefully, it turns out to be such a wonderful delicacy."
Wei Zheng's stiff, black face suddenly flashed through his mind.
That country bumpkin, every time he speaks in court, his words are more foul and grating than this rotten fish, making people's lungs ache, and they wish they could have him dragged out and beheaded.
But looking back, wasn't it all for the sake of the country and its people? Wasn't it always a case of speaking the truth even if it was hard to hear?
Isn't Wei Zheng just like this plate of stinky mandarin fish?
It smells bad, but tastes delicious.
If you can't even tolerate this little bit of stench, how can you possibly appreciate the delicious taste of governing the country and bringing peace to the nation?
Su Mu was clearing away the dishes when he saw Li Shimin staring blankly at the fish bones. He casually asked, "What's wrong? Not full yet? Do you want to slurp the bones again?"
Li Shimin snapped out of his daze and gave him a disapproving look, but the anger in his eyes had long since dissipated.
"You little brat."
Li Shimin pointed at Su Mu, his tone carrying a deeper meaning that only he understood.
"This isn't cooking, you're giving me a lesson."
Su Mu stacked the bowls together: "Let's eat, stop talking nonsense. This fish is delicious, but it's too salty if you eat too much, so remember to drink plenty of water."
Li Shimin stood up and straightened his somewhat disheveled dragon robe.
Although his clothes were stained with a little oil, he felt much straighter than when he arrived.
"I will remember this meal."
He looked down at the little girl who was clinging to Su Mu's leg, begging for her next meal, and a genuine smile appeared on his face.
"Sizi, let's go. Back to the palace."
"No! I want to hear my brother tell me a story!"
"Go back to the palace and Father will tell you! He'll tell you the story of how this rotten fish turned into a delicious one!"
Li Shimin scooped up the reluctant little girl and strode out. At the door, he suddenly stopped and glanced back at Su Mu.
"At the morning court tomorrow, I will make sure that Wei Xuancheng knows that I—I am also someone who can eat rotten fish!"
After saying that, without waiting for Su Mu's reaction, she picked up her daughter and left in a hurry.
Su Mu looked at the empty doorway and threw the rag in his hand onto the table.
"nerve."
The ice mirror inside the Liangyi Hall emitted a cool breeze, but it couldn't suppress the comfortable feeling that came after the heat emanating from Li Shimin.
He leaned back on the soft couch, toying with a jade pendant in his hand, humming an unknown tune, and occasionally smacking his lips, savoring the rich aroma of garlic and meat from earlier.
Wang Dequan stood at the lower end, bowing, holding a vermilion lacquered food box in his hand.
The food box looked expensive, but the smell emanating from it was really not pleasant.
Even though it was covered tightly, the strange smell, a mixture of fermentation and spiciness, still seeped out through the gaps, making the old eunuch's face almost shrug together.
"Wang Dequan".
"This old servant is here."
"Go and send this to the Duke of Zheng's residence."
Li Shimin raised his chin and pointed to the food box, "You must personally hand it over to Wei Xuancheng."
Wang Dequan's hand trembled, and he almost dropped the food box.
Was this thing given to Wei Zheng?
They had a huge argument during the day, and the emperor's robe sleeves were even torn. Now they're sending him a plate of stinking leftovers. Are they trying to drive Lord Wei to his death?
"His Majesty----"
Wang Dequan swallowed hard and mustered his courage to advise, "Although Lord Wei's words were somewhat offensive, but—but his crime doesn't warrant this, does it? In this sweltering heat, sending—sending this might damage the harmony between the emperor and his subject."
"Just do as I say, stop asking so many questions."
Li Shimin turned over, found a comfortable position to lie down, and a wicked smile appeared on his lips.
"Remember, when you deliver it, you are only allowed to say four words: 'You are as beautiful as a fish.'"
"Are you like that fish?"
Wang Dequan pondered for a moment but couldn't figure it out, so he could only bite the bullet and agree, "This old servant obeys."
The study of the Duke of Zheng's residence.
The dim light cast a long, gaunt shadow of Wei Zheng on the wall, swaying and conveying a sense of desolation.
Wei Zheng knelt before the desk, his wolf-hair brush hovering in his hand for a long time, the ink dripping onto the Xuan paper and spreading into a black spot.
Beside it lay the court robes that had just been taken off, neatly folded.
Madam Pei brought in a bowl of ginseng soup, her eyes red and swollen, clearly from crying.
"Sir, please drink the soup first."
Wei Zheng put down his pen and sighed, "I'm not drinking anymore. Anything I drink now will taste bitter."
Today in court, he grabbed His Majesty's sleeve and remonstrated to the death—a risky act. He was too hot-blooded to think straight then, but now, realizing the gravity of the situation, a chill runs down his spine.
That's the emperor!
He tore off the emperor's sleeve and then publicly cursed him as a tyrant.
Given Li Shimin's volatile temper, the imperial edict is probably already on its way.
Boom boom boom!
Someone knocked on the gate of the mansion.
The sound wasn't loud, but in the quiet night, each tap felt like a blow to Wei Zheng's heart.
The bowl in Pei's hand wobbled, and the soup spilled out, scalding half of her hand. She didn't bother to wipe it off and looked out the door in alarm.
"They're here."
Wei Zheng, however, calmed down, straightened his clothes, stood up and walked out. "Madam, do not be afraid. If I am sentenced to death, I will bear the consequences alone, and my wife and children will not be implicated."
The door opened.
Wang Dequan stood at the door, followed by two eunuchs carrying the deadly food box.
"Lord Wei, you're still not resting?"
Wang Dequan gave a forced smile; the smell had been bothering him the whole way, and all he wanted to do now was get to his destination and leave.
Wei Zheng looked at the food box and his heart sank completely.
Is this the poisoned wine meant to condemn one to death? Or—
"Is Eunuch Wang's late-night visit a decree from His Majesty?"
"His Majesty has bestowed a reward."
Wang Dequan handed the food box to Wei Zheng, saying, "His Majesty's decree: You are as insignificant as a fish."
Wei Zheng was stunned.
Are you as hard as a fish?
He took the food box, but before he even opened it, the overpowering stench assaulted his nostrils.
When Pei smelled the odor from behind, her legs went weak and she almost collapsed to the ground.
This is no reward at all, it's rotten stuff! His Majesty is humiliating his master, calling him a stinking, corrupt scholar, and telling him to eat this rotten meat and die!
"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."
Wei Zheng remained calm and accepted the food box with both hands.
Seeing that the mission was accomplished, Wang Dequan didn't linger and turned to run away as if some evil spirit was chasing him.