Big man: I am the Champion Marquis!

The atmosphere in the hall seemed very harmonious. The emperor, his relatives and confidants were singing and dancing in their hearts and relaxing well.

If other people think that this represents the emperor's will and demonstrates the stability of the crown prince's position, then there is nothing to say, because many people just like to think too much.

These dignitaries were already ready, and musicians, dancers, etc. also began to appear on stage one after another.

According to the current rules, meals are naturally served separately, with each person having a small table, and the food and so on are similar. This time it seems that the main dish is "hot pot", which is the so-called antique soup.

In fact, hot pot is not very popular in Han people nowadays, but Huo Xian still prefers to eat shabu-shabu in winter.

Lamb, pork or chicken is fine, he also got some beef and venison some time ago. In fact, venison is easy to get, but beef is not so easy to get, which is an important production tool.

He couldn't blame anyone else for getting blisters on his mouth from eating. He could only say that Huo Xian couldn't control his mouth, and that was his own fault.

But even so, there is no problem, Huo Xian will still choose to eat heartily and eat when he needs to. As the date of the expedition is getting closer, he can't let himself down.

After going to war, it will be difficult to maintain the current standard of living. By then, I can no longer think about eating and drinking all day long.

Liu Che still threw the chopsticks in his hand towards Huo Xian, "The banquet has just started, is it necessary to be like this? Have you been short of food or drink these days? Are you in such a hurry to eat?"

Huo Xian replied, "Only when you are full and have enough to drink can you enjoy the singing and dancing. Your Majesty, if I am really hungry, I can chop up the zither and use it for fire, or catch a crane and roast it."

"Vulgar!" Liu Che made a direct conclusion, "I'm afraid only you can do such things as burning the piano and boiling the crane."

"Burning the Piano and Cooking the Crane" can be considered as being released ahead of schedule.

Huo Xian smiled and said, "It's okay only when you're full. I get anxious and panicky when I'm hungry. When I'm full and have enough to drink, I feel at peace."

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, Shan'er is not full." Wei Zifu said with a smile, "If he is full, he should have a few dried fruits in his hands. It is a good thing that he will not gain weight if he eats less at his age."

Liu Che couldn't help but look at Huo Xian and said worriedly, "Your physique is still a little lacking, not strong enough."

Huo Xian couldn't help it. He wasn't the fat-packed type of generals. He wasn't the type that looked strong and powerful. He couldn't put on weight, and that wasn't the fault of others. It wasn't because he didn't eat enough or exercise enough.

"I am not afraid of being hungry when I am fighting outside. I will bring some flour with me this time." Huo Xian said with a smile, "Your Majesty, the pancakes I made recently are good and can be used in the army."

Liu Che also laughed, "I think not only the cooking cakes, but also those Hu cakes are useful."

Noodles are relatively rare nowadays and are basically called "soup noodles". Many people cook wheat directly, which is wheat rice.

However, Huo Xian took a different approach and ground wheat into flour, creating a lot of fresh food.

Steamed buns and dumplings can be considered his contribution to the Han diet. Although he did a lot of experiments for this and did consume some grain, it seemed to confirm his reputation for being a foodie with a penchant for fine food.

As for whether it further consolidates his position as 'Chang'an's No. 1 Gourmet', that is actually nothing to worry about.

Although flour could not solve the series of problems of the Han army's food supply at once, it did facilitate the transportation of military food supply and so on.

After the conquest of the Western Regions, some "Hu Bing" was introduced, and cooking bing and baked naan were also vigorously developed. These were also very important for the logistical supply of the Han army.

After all, when the war really breaks out, it will not be easy to have enough time to cook, which will be a challenge for logistics.

Wei Qing looked at Liu Che and said with some envy, "Your Majesty, Shan'er is a blessed man. Although he is greedy and likes to eat, this child is also protected because of this, and he can always make some good things."

Liu Che laughed loudly upon hearing this, "People often say that he was born rich, but they originally thought he was just rich. Now look at it again, this child is really born rich, and he can always accomplish anything!"

No one seemed to think that this was an exaggeration or that Liu Che was "boasting", but rather that it was a fact.

In order to satisfy his appetite, Huo Xian, who loves food, was able to indirectly solve the logistics problems of a part of the army and make improvements on the military rations.

How can we reason with this matter? How can such a greedy person be able to achieve meritorious service?

Liu Ju also took the opportunity to praise him, saying, "It is all thanks to the fact that father never restricted Xian'er that he could dare to think and do so. We are bound by some restrictions and dare not break the rules, so we dare not even think about things like horseshoes!"

Liu Che suddenly became even more proud. The problem of worn-out war horse hooves had troubled countless people for hundreds of years, but who would have thought that Huo Xian, who seemed to want to slaughter the war horses for their meat, could solve the problem with just a few pieces of iron.

This is the benefit of being born rich and never being bound by any constraints. You can be imaginative and have too many fantastic ideas. You not only dare to think, but also dare to do. That is why you can always achieve results that others dare not.

Looking at Huo Xian who was feasting on his food, Liu Che said, "He just doesn't focus on the right path. Otherwise, with his intelligence, he would have made greater achievements. It's a pity that there are some benefits to not restraining him, but he has become a dandy and domineering person with no ambition and only knows how to do things that are in front of him."

Huo Xian stuffed the venison into his mouth, nodding as he chewed, "Play some music, don't just chat!"

"Swallow it before speaking!" Wei Zifu looked worried. "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I have taught this child so many times, but he just can't learn not to talk while eating or sleeping. He wants to talk while eating."

Liu Che also looked as if he was in deep sorrow. "Don't talk about this. It's useless to talk about it. Just don't give him food that he likes. He will just sit there in silence and be angry."

The others also laughed. When Huo Xian encountered something he liked to eat, he would be in high spirits and would probably talk while eating and drinking. When he encountered something he didn't like to eat, he really didn't even want to pick up the chopsticks and would sit aside with a sullen face and sulk.

Wei Zifu patted Huo Wuyou and said, "This is also true. It's so lively. When I heard someone talking while breastfeeding, I would look over. This baby can't talk, so she would always babble a few words."

"So it's all the same." Liu Che was in a better mood. "Xian'er has always liked being lively and spreading messages since she was a child. I remember that it was the same when Qubing entered the palace. I have something to do here, so I'll go tell the queen right away."

Wei Zifu smiled and said, "Not only that, Qubing and Shan'er are the same. Today, Your Majesty taught them how to ride a horse and how to count the horses and men. They turned around and talked to me. I don't understand these things, but they insisted on talking. Even if I didn't listen, they talked excitedly."

Liu Che now found a common topic, "That's true. I remember Shan'er said before that the Queen was weaving in the Pepper Room. Shan'er was talking to me about this and that, but I didn't understand. He probably didn't understand either."

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, stop talking about this." Huo Xian said with a gloomy face, "Where is Chu Wu? Today we are here to watch singing and dancing!" Others were eager to see the emperor and the queen talk more. After all, in the past twenty years, Wei Zifu had been almost 'banished to the cold palace' and was already treated as an unfavored person.

Now they finally had a harmonious conversation with the emperor, which should have been the happiest thing for someone like Huo Xian who always hoped for harmony between the emperor and the empress, but he was "stopping" it now.

Wei Zifu was not angry, and Wei Qing, Liu Ju and others were not in a hurry either. However, the emperor's grandson Liu Jin felt that his cousin did not see the situation clearly.

Liu Che smiled and said, "Okay, let's watch the song and dance."

The music and dancing officially began. Huo Xian, who was busy eating and drinking, was staring at the dancer.

Suddenly Huo Xian stood up and ran to Wei Zifu quietly, "Aunt, wasn't it a little late for that man to raise his sleeves just now?"

"It's not too late, you mean Zuo San?" Wei Zifu said with a smile, "It's just that the hand is a little lower, so it doesn't look as fluttering as before."

Huo Xian nodded and sat cross-legged beside Wei Zifu. "I think we didn't tune to the drums just now. It should be the female official's problem."

Madam, this is directing the musicians.

Wei Zifu smiled and shook her head, saying, "The drum beats are correct. This is a literary dance, and the drums are just the correct sounds. Shan'er, shouldn't you not understand this?"

Huo Xian stood up, got up quietly, turned his head to watch the singing and dancing, and walked straight to Liu Che's desk and sat down.

"Your Majesty, my aunt said that the man raised his sleeves not too late, but just stretched his hands a little lower, and said that the drum beat was correct." Huo Xian began to gossip, "Your Majesty, do you think I am right or my aunt is right?"

Huo Xian is an expert in appreciating Chu dance, and he is considered to be the best Chu dance appraiser in Chang'an.

However, some people also know that this is not necessarily because of his own high level of appreciation, but because of his noble status. It seems that only when he evaluates some people's singing and dancing can it have more value.

This kind of thing is really too normal. Some adults have reviewed it, and it seems that this is authoritative. Even people who don’t understand it may follow suit and applaud.

However, Liu Che was the one with truly high artistic attainments, and Wei Zifu was born a dancer. Their research on some things was beyond the reach of Huo Shan.

"The Queen is right." Liu Che said, "This is a literary dance. Shouldn't you look at the waist and sleeves? Don't you understand?"

"You can see it clearly. Didn't I just say that it's too late to raise your sleeves?" Huo Xian said stubbornly, "I said it was too late, and my aunt also said it wasn't fluttering enough."

Liu Che smiled and said to the eunuch beside him, "Ask the queen to come over and give him some advice. Don't be afraid of being laughed at if it gets out. People say you are good at judging Chu dances. What can you see?"

Wei Qing, Liu Ju and others ate their dishes with a smile and enjoyed the singing and dancing with relish.

As for Liu Che, he was leaning comfortably on the cushion, also enjoying the singing and dancing.

Next to him was Wei Zifu, who would occasionally give instructions to Huo Xian, who was sitting awkwardly, and remind him of the exquisiteness of Chu Wu.

"Xian'er doesn't understand." Liu Che said with a smile, "He just stared at his waist. The dancers are dressed like this today just for him."

Wei Zifu also complained, "Your Majesty, Shan'er has some reputation in Chang'an. It would not be good if people knew that he only cared about Chu Wu's appearance."

"The King of Chu likes thin waists." Liu Che said jokingly, "Shan'er is similar. Some years ago, people said he didn't like women, but I don't think so. It would be strange if he could understand Chu Wu."

Huo Xian retorted unhappily, "How can I not understand? It's nothing more than looking at Chu Wu's waist a few more times occasionally."

"Then tell me, the spirit is curled up and stays, the bright and shining will never end." Liu Che said directly, "If you are right, when you return victorious, I will order people to welcome you with Chu dance when you enter Chang'an."

Huo Xian scratched his head and said uncertainly, "Sometimes she looks up, sometimes she looks down, her sleeves fluttering, she is so graceful and charming."

Wei Zifu whispered, "You mean Yanjian, which looks similar to Lianjuan. But Lianjuan is more curved."

Liu Che knocked on the table with a smile, "I am testing Shan'er, what does your message mean? It doesn't count. Since it is a Chu dance, let's change it to a mulberry forest dance. Queen, please don't remind Shan'er, let's see how he comments on the three bends."

"Then I can do it." Huo Xian suddenly became confident and stood up. "Listen, let's change to another song, Mulberry Forest Dance."

Wei Zifu smiled and said to Liu Che, "Your Majesty may have miscalculated. I dare not say anything else, but the Mulberry Forest Dance is what Shan'er is best at."

Sanglin Dance can be considered a traditional dance. It is said to have existed in the Shang Dynasty. It is also a large-scale sacrificial dance.

The emphasis is on strength, agility and dexterity, and the music is heart-stirring, with extremely high requirements for movement, rhythm and sound.

However, there are constant evolutions and changes. There is now also Sanglin Dance among the Chu dances, and some dances are no longer used exclusively for sacrificial ceremonies.

Liu Che sat up slightly and whispered, "If we really can't find anything he can comment on, he will be unhappy again. He has been the same since he was a child, and he is too competitive in his bones."

Wei Zifu thought about it and it made sense, so she said, "Then I won't say anything. He won't make a fuss, he's just angry with himself."

Liu Che said helplessly, "They are the same, father and son. If they are serious, they will probably go back to study hard and try to clear their names. Although I am competitive, I am not like them, father and son, who are competitive in both big and small matters."

Wei Zifu said, "Qubing and Shan'er are invincible because they love to win. When they have a desire to win, they will compete with anyone who eats more."

"My champion marquis is like this, too competitive." Liu Che said worriedly, "I'll talk to him more later. I'm afraid this kid is thinking of dying if he doesn't succeed."

Wei Zifu was horrified when she heard this, but when she thought about it carefully, she realized that this was indeed Huo Shan's character.

Not to mention the decisive battle with the Xiongnu this time, Huo Xian had this kind of thinking in every battle. Sometimes he just couldn't stand losing, he was too competitive! (End of this chapter)