The prince is more stable

Chapter 837 Friendship Among Commoners
Zhang Xiaoyi's wife's cooking skills were indeed superb. Even Zhao Xiaoqian, who had eaten her food for two generations, couldn't help but become obsessed with her cooking.

Clearly, Zhang Xiaoyi has struck gold.

If Zhao Xiaoqian married such a woman, undressing her at night would be like removing the hair from a pig's trotter.

Zhang Xiaoyi still lives in the same old place, a small house where he, his wife, and his blind mother live. They've been married for quite some time, but there haven't been any new additions to the family. As a friend, Zhao Xiaoqian is secretly worried about him, but it's not convenient for him to help...

Upon arriving at Zhang Xiaoyi's house, Zhao Xiaoqian naturally felt at home and entered without knocking.

The blind old woman sat in the yard basking in the sun, while her husband was busy in the kitchen. Zhang Xiaoyi was tending to the grapevines on the trellis in the yard.

Seeing the three of them looking so happy and content, Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't help but feel a little envious.

In fact, Zhao Xiaoqian's life was happier than Zhang Xiaoyi's. Unfortunately, Zhao Xiaoqian's social status meant that he could not enjoy such a peaceful and happy life at home for long. He had to travel around, and the couple were always separated.

Even if he ascends the throne and becomes emperor in the future, the situation will probably not be much better. After all, Zhao Xiaoqian has decided to personally lead the expedition and must destroy Liaoxia and complete the unification in this lifetime.

It is only when we lack something that we truly envy others, even emperors, who have the regret of wanting something they cannot have.

Hearing the gate being pushed open, the three people in the courtyard all looked over. Seeing Zhao Xiaoqian standing inside with a smile, Zhang Xiaoyi immediately showed a delighted expression and got up to greet him.

The blind old woman rolled her cloudy eyes and asked, "Son, who's here?"

Zhang Xiaoyi smiled and said, "Mother, it's Zian who's here."

The old woman was taken aback, then immediately stood up and angrily said, "You ill-mannered thing! His Highness Prince Cheng... will soon be the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, and you still keep calling him 'Zi'an'. Be careful that the officials don't hear you and arrest you and throw you in jail!"

Zhang Xiaoyi was taken aback and subconsciously looked at Zhao Xiaoqian, a hint of hesitation flashing across his face.

Zhao Xiaoqian remained silent, only smiling as he looked at Zhang Xiaoyi. He was eager to know how this friend, whom he had only known for a short time, would treat him now.

Their eyes met, and after a long while, Zhang Xiaoyi suddenly smiled.

“Mother, he is Zian. At least in our courtyard, he is Zian, not someone else.”

Zhang Xiaoyi spoke frankly and fearlessly, his eyes clear and devoid of any utilitarianism or greed.

Even after Zhao Xiaoqian became emperor, Zhang Xiaoyi only regarded him as a normal friend, someone with whom he could confide and even risk his life, but never the kind of friend who would curry favor or seek personal gain.

The old woman was furious, her weathered face contorted with rage: "You unfilial son..."

Zhao Xiaoqian strode forward, took his mother's hand, and said gently, "Madam, it is I, Zi'an."

The old woman was taken aback, then sighed, and then smiled again.

"Very well, since Your Majesty doesn't look down on my humble and poor friend, what more can I say? I've made the right choice in making Xiao Yi as a friend; he's a blessed man."

Zhao Xiaoqian laughed and said, "That's right, that's why I often come here to share in the good fortune of your son... no, your son, and to improve my own luck."

The old woman beamed with joy: "You are a benefactor, carrying the nation's fortune. My son, Xiao Yi, doesn't have that ability."

Zhang Xiaoyi nudged Zhao Xiaoqian with his shoulder, blinked, and said, "Want some steamed fish again?"

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and praised, "You're so thoughtful! That's right, you suddenly wanted to eat, so you came over. Quickly tell your wife to go buy some fish. Just cook it normally, no need for any innovations or inventions."

Zhang Xiaoyi called over the woman who was busy in the kitchen and asked her to go to the market to buy fish.

The woman remained introverted. Upon seeing Zhao Xiaoqian, she appeared very nervous, quickly bowed, and then ran out the door with her head down as if fleeing for her life.

Zhao Xiaoqian stared at her retreating figure and said with dissatisfaction, "How long has your wife had these symptoms? Am I that scary?"

Zhang Xiaoyi smiled and said, "My wife is a country bumpkin. She doesn't know what to do with her hands and feet when she sees important people. Don't take it to heart."

"Of course I don't care, I only came for her cooking skills."

As he spoke, Zhao Xiaoqian walked to the grape trellis in the yard. It was already May, and the grapes were almost ripe. The trellis was laden with green grapes, but they still seemed a little short of ripeness.

Zhao Xiaoqian, skeptical, reached out and picked a grape, popped it into his mouth, and then exclaimed with delight, "Wow! So sweet! How did you grow your grapes? They're ripe in May already! They taste amazing; they could fetch a high price at the market!"

Zhang Xiaoyi was stunned. Didn't he know when the grapes he planted would ripen? But Zhao Xiaoqian's surprised and delighted expression was too real, so Zhang Xiaoyi hesitated for a moment, then picked one and put it in his mouth.

Then, the two of them simultaneously vomited, spitting out the grapes in their mouths, their expressions contorted in discomfort.

Clearly, the grapes weren't as delicious as Zhao Xiaoqian had described; they tasted both sour and astringent, enough to make one shudder. Zhang Xiaoyi pointed at him, both amused and exasperated: "You..."

Zhao Xiaoqian spat and said with a wicked smile, "When I'm feeling down, I like to drag someone down with me."

Listening to the two joking around, the blind old woman sat in the yard, her face crinkling with laughter.

Not long after, his wife returned with the fish, still keeping her head down and not daring to look at Zhao Xiaoqian. She quickly disappeared into the kitchen and refused to come out again.

After waiting for a long time, the steamed fish was finally served. Zhang Xiaoyi also brought a jar of wine, and his wife prepared a few side dishes. She first served rice and dishes to his mother, who sat in the yard with her bowl and ate slowly. However, his wife refused to sit at the table and went back into the kitchen.

At the table, Zhao Xiaoqian and Zhang Xiaoyi were drinking and chatting.

Zhao Xiaoqian picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. His eyes lit up and he nodded repeatedly in approval.

He craned his neck and shouted loudly towards the kitchen, "Sister-in-law, the steamed fish tastes great! Keep it up!"

There was no response from the kitchen; the woman was probably terrified. After all, she had heard that this man was the future emperor of the Song Dynasty, about to ascend the throne. How had her husband been so incredibly lucky to have met such a powerful figure?

Zhang Xiaoyi said with a wry smile, "Alright, Zian, your wife is timid. Don't scare her. It's best if we pretend she doesn't exist; that will put her at ease."

"You still have to praise them when they deserve it. What if the taste is bad later if you don't get praise and recognition? I'm a very picky eater, and there aren't many things that can meet my standards."

Zhang Xiaoyi raised his cup, offered a toast to Zhao Xiaoqian, and then drank it all in one gulp.

Setting down his wine glass, Zhang Xiaoyi suddenly laughed and said, "You're about to ascend the throne, Zi'an, are you happy?"

Zhao Xiaoqian hummed in agreement and said, "I wouldn't say I'm particularly happy, but it's an acceptable result."

Zhang Xiaoyi was a little surprised by his calm reaction: "That's it?"

"Yes, that's it. My father and I did a lot and took great risks to get this position. We weren't even sure we could succeed. Beforehand, we sent my mother, wife and children out of the Song Dynasty, because we were afraid that if we failed, our whole family would be wiped out."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "Fortunately, I was lucky and this matter was accomplished. Of course, you also helped me. If you hadn't helped me create a buzz in the streets and spread the rumor that 'the virtuous should be chosen over the eldest son,' it would probably have been more complicated to achieve today's result."

Zhang Xiaoyi shook his head: "I'm too embarrassed to ask for such a small favor. It's all thanks to your abilities. But what I'm curious about is, you're about to become emperor, so why aren't you excited at all? If it were anyone else, they would probably be ecstatic."

Zhao Xiaoqian said indifferently, "For me, becoming emperor is just a change of job, and this job is even harder and more tiring than my previous job. To be honest, there's nothing to be happy about. Once I ascend the throne, I will naturally know how hard this job is."

After a pause, Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly said, "Do you want to be an official? Now that I have supreme power, I can easily make you an official. Tell me, what kind of official do you want to be? A high-ranking official in the capital or a local official to benefit the people?"

The courtyard suddenly fell silent. The old woman, who had been eating in silence, also stopped and pricked up her ears to listen to Zhang Xiaoyi's answer, a complicated expression on her face.

There was no more movement in the kitchen, which meant that Zhang Xiaoyi's wife was also interested in this topic.

Zhang Xiaoyi remained calm. Becoming an official out of nowhere was like a windfall, but he showed no emotion whatsoever.

Zhang Xiaoyi glanced casually at the kitchen, a smile appearing in his eyes.

"I don't want to be an official. This kind of life is quite good. My parents are still alive, my husband and I are loving, and although we are not rich, we have enough to eat, wear, and use. My family and I can live happily together. I don't want anything to change."

“Being an official changes everything. Life changes, and so do people. Someone like me, who is barely literate and doesn’t have any remarkable skills in dealing with people, would definitely face a lot of trouble. That kind of life is not suitable for me, and it would also cause my family a lot of worry. It’s better to be a commoner.”

"If you are destined not to be rich and noble in this life, do not force it, otherwise you will inevitably bring disaster upon yourself."

Zhang Xiaoyi spoke calmly, as if missing out on a windfall wouldn't cause him any emotional fluctuations, just like looking at someone else's wealth while he himself was nothing more than an indifferent person.

After Zhang Xiaoyi finished speaking, the old woman in the yard smiled, and the woman in the kitchen suddenly ran out, looked at Zhang Xiaoyi with affection, and then quickly darted back into the kitchen, still refusing to come out.

Zhao Xiaoqian clicked his tongue, picked up a piece of steamed fish with his chopsticks, chewed a few times, and then frowned: "This fish doesn't taste right."

Zhang Xiaoyi was taken aback, then quickly took a bite, asking in confusion, "The taste is the same, what's wrong?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said seriously, "It's clearly fish, so why does it taste like dog food to me?"

Zhang Xiaoyi put down his chopsticks, sighed, and said helplessly, "I've fallen for your trick again. You're so cunning; no wonder you could become emperor..."

Zhao Xiaoqian laughed heartily, drank a cup with Zhang Xiaoyi, and then said, "Everyone has their own ambitions. It's fine if you don't want to be an official. Let's just be friends as ordinary people. Maybe this story will be recorded in history books a thousand years from now."

Zhang Xiaoyi raised his cup, looked into his eyes earnestly, and said, "Congratulations on your ascension to the throne, Zian. May you prosper and may the Song Dynasty flourish under your rule. This is from the bottom of my heart."

(End of this chapter)