Chapter 109 The Taiji Hall Transforms into a Small Restaurant, Emperor Mingde's "Free Meal

From now on.

The highest center of power in Tianqi City is no longer the lofty dragon throne.

Instead, it was a dining table covered with pots, pans, and dishes...

……

The Taiji Hall of the Tianqi Imperial Palace.

This palace, which once symbolized the highest power in the Northern Li and was so majestic and solemn that even birds dared not easily perch there, was now filled with a rich... cumin-roasted lamb aroma.

The gilded dragon throne, which was originally placed in the center of the main hall and symbolized the supreme ruler, had been roughly moved to a corner, with Lei Wujie's faded red robe draped over it.

Instead, a long table was pieced together from several pieces of precious golden nanmu wood. The table was laden with all sorts of fresh ingredients: deep-sea whale meat brought from the East China Sea, lingzhi mushrooms and other medicinal herbs brought from Qingcheng Mountain, and the finest mutton and seasonal vegetables from Tianqi City.

On the white marble floor of the main hall, several makeshift charcoal stoves were burning bright red.

"Get the heat off! Lei Wujie, have you not eaten enough? This lamb leg hasn't even rendered its fat yet!"

Su Changqing was wearing an apron embroidered with little yellow ducks (sewn by Li Hanyi herself) and holding a brush in his hand, skillfully brushing the roasted lamb leg on the rack with a secret sauce.

"Brother-in-law, I've used my fire-scorching technique to its fullest extent! Why is this mutton so hard to roast? I'm using my internal energy to roast it!"

Sweating profusely, Lei Wujie squatted beside the furnace, his hands constantly releasing dark red karmic flames. He, a dignified expert at the half-step Free and Unfettered Heaven Realm and the future leader of the Lei Sect, had now been reduced to a merciless "human igniter."

"Nonsense, this is a spirit lamb specially supplied by Tianqi City. The meat is firm; how can you achieve that crispy outside and tender inside effect without high heat?"

Su Changqing rolled his eyes. "Wushuang, how's it going on your end? Are the potatoes chopped yet? My pot of water's almost boiling!"

"Alright, alright!"

On the other side of the main hall, Wushuang was manipulating thirteen flying swords, performing a miraculous "sword-wielding and vegetable-cutting" technique in mid-air.

The thirteen streaks of light resembled thirteen top chefs, slicing potatoes, radishes, and greens into even, thin slices and shreds in mid-air before precisely dropping them into the jade plates that had been prepared below.

"Light Frost and Soft Finger, you'll handle the slicing! Cloud Shuttle and Jade Ruyi, you'll handle the carving! Great Ming Vermilion Bird... you'll be in charge of cutting open that frozen piece of demon whale meat!"

Wushuang was panting heavily, but under such intense micro-management, he was becoming more and more adept at controlling his sword intent.

At the highest point of the main hall, there were the jade steps that the emperor used to look down on his ministers when he held court.

Little Nuomi was riding on the back of the big yellow dog that Su Changqing had tamed (actually a ferocious beast with ancient blood), holding a half-eaten candied hawthorn in her hand, directing the big yellow dog to run around in the main hall, having a great time.

"Giddy up! Big Yellow, run! Grab that flying plate!"

Li Hanyi sat on a chair next to the dragon throne, holding an ancient book she had dug out of some library. Occasionally, she would look up and gaze tenderly at the chaotic yet heartwarming scene.

This is hardly a royal palace! It's just a noisy, bustling eatery!

Just then.

The heavy door of the Taiji Hall was carefully pushed open a crack.

An elderly man dressed in bright yellow casual clothes and wearing a golden crown, surrounded by several eunuchs, peeked inside.

It was Emperor Mingde.

Ever since he was forced to "borrow" the Taiji Hall, he had been living in a side hall, anxiously awaiting Su Changqing's next move. He thought Su Changqing would summon his old subordinates, announce a change of dynasty, or even put him, the emperor, under house arrest.

But after waiting for a long time, all I got was... the aroma of roasted meat.

The aroma was incredibly tempting, especially on this cold, rainy night. The overpowering scent of oils and spices wafted into his nostrils, making his stomach rumble with cravings.

Although Emperor Mingde was the Son of Heaven and had tasted all kinds of delicacies, the food prepared by the imperial kitchen was all about "refinement" and "rules". How could it compare to the tempting roast meat that was full of wildness and street life?

"Cough cough..."

Emperor Mingde coughed twice, trying to get the attention of everyone in the hall.

however.

Nobody paid any attention to him.

Lei Wujie was focused on warming himself by the fire, Wushuang was focused on chopping vegetables, Su Changqing was focused on brushing on sauce, and Xiao Nuomi was focused on riding a dog.

Emperor Mingde blushed, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He, the emperor of a nation, had been completely ignored in his own Taiji Palace?

"Your Majesty, perhaps... this servant should go and inform them?" The chief eunuch Jin Xuan whispered. Although he was terrified of Su Changqing, he still had to show some loyalty in front of the emperor.

"No need."

Emperor Mingde waved his hand, took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and stepped into the main hall.

"Mr. Su, you seem to be in high spirits."

Emperor Mingde walked to the long table, trying to make his tone sound approachable rather than arrogant and domineering.

"Oh, the emperor is here?"

Su Changqing didn't even look up, only glancing at him out of the corner of his eye. "What? Didn't you like the food in the side hall, so you came here to freeload?"

"presumptuous!"

When Jin Xuan saw Su Changqing being so rude, he instinctively wanted to reprimand him, but was silenced by a stern glare from Emperor Mingde.

"Mr. Su is too kind. This Taiji Hall is now a branch of your Changqinglou. I... I am just a passing guest who was attracted by the aroma and shamelessly asked for a drink."

Emperor Mingde actually referred to himself as "I" and adopted an extremely humble posture, which astonished the eunuchs following behind him.

"Just say you're asking for a meal, why beat around the bush?"

Su Changqing rolled his eyes and casually pointed to an empty seat next to him. "Sit down. But you should know my rules here: just pay up. Since you're the landlord, I'll give you a 10.9% discount."

"Thank you, sir."

Emperor Mingde didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly in the spot where the eunuchs used to stand.

He looked at the tempting grilled meat on the table and the busy waiters, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

That boy in red is the young master of Lei Family Fortress; that man chopping vegetables is the genius of Wushuang City.

Either of these two would be a force to be reckoned with in the martial arts world. Yet here they are, willingly working as laborers.

And the young man in coarse cloth clothes who was handing a plate to Su Changqing...

Emperor Mingde's gaze fell on Xiao Se, and his eyes softened instantly, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible guilt.

"Chuhe..."

Emperor Mingde called out softly.

Xiao Se's body stiffened slightly, but he didn't stop what he was doing. He simply placed a plate of sliced ​​whale sashimi on the table and replied calmly:

"Your Majesty, I am Xiao Se, the accountant of Changqing Tower. If you wish to order, please refer to the menu on the wall; if you wish to pay the bill, please prepare your banknotes. As for other matters... this is a restaurant, we do not discuss state affairs or family matters."

His tone was distant, as polite as a stranger's.

Emperor Mingde felt a sudden pang of pain in his heart.

He knew this was his son's resentment towards him. The incident four years ago not only crippled Xiao Se's martial arts skills but also destroyed the bond between father and son.

"I know...you're blaming me."

Emperor Mingde sighed, his voice sounding somewhat aged, "I also had my reasons for what happened to the Prince of Langya back then. As an emperor, there are some decisions that I have to make even if I know they are wrong."

"A predicament?"

Xiao Se sneered, stopped what he was doing, and turned to look at the father he once admired so much.

"To consolidate your imperial power, you're willing to sacrifice a brother loyal to Beili? To quell public anger, you're willing to watch your son have his hidden lineage stripped and be banished from the capital?"

"Is your suffering simply sitting in that cold chair, watching all those who love you and those you love die one by one?"

Xiao Se's words were like sharp daggers, each one piercing the heart of Emperor Mingde.

"I..." Emperor Mingde opened his mouth, but found himself speechless.

"Alright, alright, it's late at night, stop making such a fuss."

Su Changqing finally brought the golden-brown, crispy roasted lamb leg to the table, impatiently interrupting the standoff between the father and son.

"Hey Emperor, if you're here to eat, then eat. Don't spoil the atmosphere of our business. Xiao Se, get him a bowl and chopsticks, and cut two pounds of roast meat. Today, since it's our first day of business, let's give him five hundred taels of gold."

"Five hundred taels...of gold?!"

Jin Xuan, who was following behind, gasped.

Five hundred taels of gold for a barbecue? That's worse than robbery!

"What? You think it's too expensive?" Su Changqing glanced at him sideways. "This is a lamb leg roasted by the young master of Lei Family Fortress using his own fire-roasting technique, sashimi cut by the young master of Wushuang City using his Wushuang Sword Box, and sauce personally prepared by me, a peerless master above the Divine Realm. One bite can prolong your life and add ten years to your life! Five hundred taels of gold, I still think it's a rip-off!"

"It's not expensive, it's not expensive."

Emperor Mingde waved his hand repeatedly, took out a stack of silver notes from his pocket and placed them on the table, "As long as I can eat Mr. Su's personally cooked food, no amount of money is too much."

He finally understands now.

In front of Su Changqing, the emperor's majesty and the royal family's face are all meaningless. Only by going along with his wishes and following his rules can one have a sliver of hope.

What's more, this food... is really delicious!

Emperor Mingde picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of roasted mutton, and put it in his mouth.

boom!

In that instant, he felt an unprecedented, exquisite flavor explode on his tongue!

The outer layer is crispy, the inside is tender and juicy, and the unique sauce aroma makes it irresistible!

Even more miraculously, as he swallowed the meat, he felt a warm current instantly flow through his body, sweeping away the coldness and fatigue that had accumulated in his body due to years of hard work and old ailments!

He even sensed that his already somewhat depleted internal energy was showing signs of increasing!

"This...this is a delicacy only gods could taste!"

Emperor Mingde closed his eyes and let out a heartfelt sigh.

He suddenly felt that exchanging the Taiji Hall for this barbecue... wasn't such a bad deal after all?

With Emperor Mingde taking the lead, the ensuing "opening banquet" was exceptionally lively.

Lei Wujie and Wushuang didn't bother with any formalities between ruler and subject, and sat down to feast. Little Nuomi even climbed onto the table, hugging a crab leg bigger than her face and gnawing on it with relish, occasionally rubbing her oily little hands on Emperor Mingde's expensive dragon robe.

In the past, who would dare to be so presumptuous in the Taiji Hall? Who would dare to soil the emperor's clothes?

But now, Emperor Mingde was not angry at all. Instead, he looked at Xiao Nuomi with a smile and even took out a silk handkerchief to wipe her mouth.

How long has it been since he experienced the simple joys of family life like an ordinary person?

In this deep palace, everyone wears a mask, and everyone is scheming. Only at this small "dining table" can he temporarily shed the burden of being an emperor and be an ordinary old man.

"Mr. Su."

After a few rounds of drinks, Emperor Mingde's face flushed slightly. He raised his wine cup and looked at Su Changqing, "I... I toast you. Thank you for curing Chuhe's illness."

Su Changqing picked up his wine glass, clinked it with his, and drank it all in one gulp.

"No need to thank me. I disciplined him because he's an employee of my shop and someone I've taken a liking to."

Su Changqing put down his wine cup, his gaze becoming profound. "You old emperor, now that we've eaten and drunk, let's talk about some serious matters."

"Important business?" Emperor Mingde was taken aback.

"Your son, Xiao Yu, has been reduced to ashes by me. As for the other one, Xiao Chong, I also healed his eyes while I was at it."

Su Changqing said casually, as if he were talking about a trivial matter, "Now, of your sons, only Xiao Se and Xiao Chong are still worth watching."

"To whom do you intend to hand over this empire?"

This statement came out.

The atmosphere inside the Taiji Hall froze instantly.

Lei Wujie and Wushuang, who were originally fighting over the meat, also stopped what they were doing and looked over nervously.

Establish an heir apparent!

This is the foundation of the nation, the most sensitive and dangerous topic in the entire Northern Li!

No one expected that Su Changqing would casually bring up this issue while they were having barbecue!

Moreover, he used the phrase "to whom do you intend to hand over this empire?" instead of "Please make your decision, Your Majesty".

This is clearly... a coup!

Emperor Mingde sobered up considerably in an instant.

Looking into Su Changqing's calm and unwavering eyes, he knew this was no joke.

If his answer doesn't satisfy this man, then tomorrow Tianqi City will probably have a new master.

Emperor Mingde took a deep breath and glanced back and forth between Su Changqing and Xiao Se, who had remained silent.

a long time.

He slowly stood up, straightened his clothes, as if he had made an extremely difficult, yet incredibly firm, decision.

"This land..."