Miao Chu

Chapter 337 The Problem
Zhao Yu had no concubines in his harem, only Empress Deng.

Monogamy naturally saves a lot of trouble.

Perhaps because it was an adoption, or perhaps because she herself was a strong-willed person, and because she was the only one in the Empress Dowager's household back then, even though the Emperor and Empress had no children for a time, Empress Dowager Yang did not pressure them.

It was precisely because she never interfered that Empress Deng remained grateful to this Empress Dowager.

Empress Deng did not treat the emperor as an emperor, but only as an ordinary couple. With her mother-in-law being very tolerant, she was able to wholeheartedly plan for her husband's future.

She said, "I've noticed that the Empress Dowager usually enjoys trying new things. The last time the Duchess of Wei came to the palace, she mentioned that there was a fish soup stall on the Imperial Street that tasted different from other places. She couldn't wait until the next day, so that very night, before the palace gates closed, she had someone buy some to try..."

"I didn't think of that before. The Empress Dowager is getting old, so if His Majesty sees any new or interesting foods in the future, he can send them to her more often."

Zhao Yu hesitated for a moment, then said, "Today's events were for a reason. If I send them too many times in the future, I'm afraid there will be gossip outside, saying that I'm just trying to gain fame and reputation. If there's a suitable one, I'll take it back, and you can deliver it to Ciming Palace for me!"

"Mind your own business!" Empress Deng said bluntly. "Whatever His Majesty does or says, there's always something to say. If you ask me, you're just taking other people's opinions too seriously. This isn't about the court or state affairs; we're just family members living our lives behind closed palace gates. Who has the right to interfere?!"

"Besides, although I can send and offer gifts, it's still not the same as His Majesty giving them to me personally!"

Everything has its advantages and disadvantages.

The emperor, being kind and generous, inevitably becomes somewhat indecisive. He often leans towards one side when listening to the opinions of other ministers, and when he sees a memorial from another minister or official, he listens to yet another, always caring a great deal about external judgments—this is both good and bad.

Because he was adopted and suffered hardships in his childhood, his rise to power was also by chance. He was always cautious and humble, and was more willing to consider others, which made him less decisive and ruthless.

Now, the Prince of Lu, the Imperial Uncle, is still alive, but he has not taken up his fiefdom. He often associates with a group of powerful nobles and members of the imperial family. When they gather in groups, they privately criticize the Emperor, and some even comment to his face that "the Emperor has no majesty."

Upon hearing these words, the King of Lu actually laughed and drank his wine.

Even so, Zhao Yu was annoyed upon hearing this, but he didn't say or do anything, and could only swallow his anger.

Having received the Empress's words, he remained noncommittal, only saying, "Hurry up and eat. You've been waiting for me for half a day; you must be starving!"

Seeing that Zhao Yu was covered in dust, Empress Deng had a palace servant bring him clothes and helped him herself without asking anyone else to do it.

As she was changing out of her narrow robe, her hand touched something, and the emperor suddenly hissed in pain.

Empress Deng was stunned for a moment, wondering what had happened. She quickly took off his inner shirt to check, and saw that his right shoulder was red and swollen, with some bruising, but it was a long, flat wound.

She was startled and asked, "What happened? Where did Your Majesty get into this state?"

They had to call for the imperial physician again.

Zhao Yu was also a little embarrassed. He pulled the man aside and said, "It's nothing. Today, I saw many laborers carrying loads on the riverbank. I joined them for a few trips, but I didn't expect the sand and gravel to be so heavy. I knew something was wrong, but since I had already set it up there, I couldn't just give up halfway..."

He added, "Don't call the imperial physician. It's too much of a commotion. If word gets out, it will be a disgrace!"

Empress Deng felt both distressed and helpless, and said, "Why did you go to pick up sand and gravel when you were supposed to be patrolling the dike?"

After saying that, she hurriedly urged someone to bring the medicinal oil.

Zhao Yu smiled bitterly and said, "If the laborers can carry it, so can I. I'm only carrying it this once, but they carry it every day. Only by carrying it myself can I know the hardship... Alas, this year's flood season is really too long! After this is over, we must properly appease them and let them recuperate."

Empress Deng also thought of the several prolonged floods in the capital. Not only were the streets flooded, but several palaces within the palace were also inundated and leaking. Ordinary people were struggling to make a living. Feeling lingering fear, she replied, "Fortunately, it will be over soon. Everything will be fine by autumn!"

He added, “I have already had someone compile a list of palace maids and eunuchs, and I will release another batch during the autumn. This will reduce expenses and allow them to reunite with their families for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Releasing them earlier will also save on firewood and winter clothing in the palace during the winter.”

The two of them applied the medicine while chatting about other things, and finally sat down to eat.

Empress Deng was naturally pleased that her husband had brought back food, and she had to give him face no matter what.

She didn't take any other staple food, only steamed buns, and also asked the palace servants to place a few small dishes in front of her, intending to eat them with the steamed buns.

After inspecting the dike, he learned that the river water had temporarily receded; he went to the Imperial Academy and saw that the officials had made timely improvements and that the scholars had not been mistreated; after returning, he also visited Ciming Palace and offered his filial piety. Zhao Yu felt that everything had gone smoothly today, and he was full of hope. Although his shoulder was a little sore, he was in a good mood and high spirits.

Seeing Empress Deng take out steamed buns, he hurriedly said, "Try that roasted pork and char siu steamed bun—it has the most unique flavor, I've never tasted it before. Also, the pickled vegetable steamed bun is good, it's very appetizing! Today, my students have been urging me to try everything, saying they're all delicious. You should try them too!"

These several sentences, seemingly meant to persuade the emperor to eat steamed buns, were actually a subtle way of showing that the emperor himself had won the hearts of his students.

Having been married for many years, Empress Deng knew all too well about her husband's reserved nature and couldn't help but praise him.

I don't know if it's because people are in a good mood, but everything tastes delicious. Whether it was Empress Deng or the Emperor, they all thought the steamed buns tasted especially good today.

The dough can be soft, fluffy, or even slightly chewy. Different fillings are paired with different doughs, and you can taste the difference in one bite—the different doughs clearly highlight the characteristics of the fillings.

Tofu steamed buns, pickled vegetable steamed buns, and mutton steamed buns are all common flavors, but this one is particularly good in terms of seasoning. It doesn't try anything new; it's just the most familiar flavor. The proportions of saltiness, meat and vegetables, filling and dough are just right, making the steamed bun taste exceptionally harmonious.

Even after half a day, it still smelled delicious thanks to the charcoal in the food box's compartment that kept it warm.

These dishes already taste great. There are also a few new flavors: roasted pork and char siu steamed buns, golden sand steamed buns, and crispy steamed buns. Each of them is delicious in its own way, and because they are fresh, they seem to taste even a little bit better.

Empress Deng was most surprised by two things.

It's a steamed bun with salted egg yolk filling, and the salted egg yolk filling is thick with milky aroma. The flavor is very rich. When you bite into it, the filling bursts out, flowing like sand and syrup. The salty and sweet flavors intertwine, and it seems that the milky sweetness has the upper hand. But if you taste it carefully, the fine salted egg yolk is like a layer of salty and fresh sand in your mouth, which is impossible to ignore.

Another item is the crispy steamed bun, with diced cured ham mixed with minced meat and finely chopped shiitake mushrooms. With one bite, the meat juices flow out, carrying the unique salty and savory flavor of the cured ham. The crust is especially soft, a kind of crispy and tender texture, layer upon layer, oily and fragrant...

She couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, this is good, please try it!"

Inside the Funing Palace, a couple was happily eating. At the Imperial Academy, after Zhao Yu left, he searched around for Master Cao and finally caught him. He then led several old men to corner Chancellor Deng in his classroom.

Upon entering, Chief Scholar Deng, having heard the commotion, was already at the door and greeted him warmly: "It's Old Cao! Oh, Old Sun, Pingsong, and Little Gao is here too? Senior Brother?"

Master Cao didn't argue with him. He went straight to the point and asked about Song Ji's dishes, saying, "It's fine that the steamed buns and dishes were offered to His Majesty, but what about my other food box? The servants said that food box was given to the Chancellor as well—where did it go?"

Deng, the Imperial Academy Chancellor, feigned surprise and said, "Isn't that Song Ji adding dishes to the Imperial Academy?"

As Master Cao grabbed the man, the other masters who had gone behind him cried out in pain almost simultaneously.

"Old Cao! He's here!"

"Come quickly!"

A group of people rushed into the inner room.

Two desks were hastily put together, with only scraps of food left on them. There were eight or nine plates and bowls; some plates had a lot of food left, while others were completely empty.

Just then, a man stood in a corner, picked up a food box from the ground, and exclaimed, "Isn't this from Song's shop?!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and sure enough, there was a clear "Song Ji" stamp on the side of the food box handle.

Everyone stared at Chief Instructor Deng, as well as the several academic officials who had been sitting at the table but had now hurriedly stood up.

The officials hurriedly shook their robes and stretched their sleeves.

However, someone else has already discovered another piece of evidence.

"Is that salt-baked shrimp?!"

On the bone plate on the table, shrimp shells were piled high, along with a long leftover pork rib bone.

An old scholar, upon seeing the bones, nearly lost his balance and exclaimed angrily, "Those are Miss Song's grilled ribs! I specially ordered them, asking her to grill them until they were tender and fragrant, to leave enough juice, and to marinate them thoroughly before grilling—you've gotten them all for free!"

Old Cao's heart was broken.

On the bone plate on the table, there were still coarse salt grains that couldn't be cleaned off in several places on the shrimp shells, including the shrimp rostrum and mouthparts—clearly, it was their own salt-baked shrimp!
Seeing that the situation was getting awkward, Chief Minister Deng quickly cleared his throat and said, "My subordinates said that it was Song Ji who brought it to add dishes for the teachers, so I didn't think much of it. I hadn't had time to eat yet..."

"You say you're serving food to the teachers of the Imperial Academy, but are you, the academy officials, really the teachers of the Imperial Academy??"

“You guys always snatch things without thinking when you're doing things, but now that it's time to eat, you suddenly seem to think without thinking!”

A group of old men, who didn't want to be officials and weren't afraid of their superiors, relied on their seniority and seniority, and had two mentors, Chen and Cao, behind them, so they didn't flinch at all when they started criticizing them.

The Grand Master of Ceremonies, seeing that his superior was unable to extricate himself, had no choice but to step forward and help, saying, "It was truly an accidental mistake—why don't we return some dishes to you gentlemen? We'll have the kitchen prepare them right away."

It's better not to say it at all.

The old men immediately erupted in anger.

"Return the dishes? You actually dare to name dishes from the kitchen to return the dishes made by Lady Song?! How shameless!!"

"Now you know about the imperial kitchen? Why didn't we just eat there before?"

"You're out there working for me all day, giving me all sorts of problems, and yet when I come back, I'm the one holding you back. Where is your integrity? Where is your conscience?"

"What do you mean by 'lunch provided'? What are the Law School and the Ministry of Personnel feeding us every day? The steamed buns that Song Ji sends to the Imperial Academy every day don't even mention sending a few to us. We have to figure it out ourselves—and fine, we're about to get them, and you just snatch them away. You don't even have a chance to explain!"

"I've been looking forward to salt-baked crab and salt-baked shrimp for ages—and you're saying they've all gone into your stomachs??"

The group of academic officials were in the wrong after all, and they didn't dare to talk back when they were being scolded. However, when they heard the last sentence, they all looked up.

"What? Salt-baked crab?"

Do you have salt-baked crab?

"And salt-baked crab?? Where's this?"

The sounds may come in different orders and have different timbres, but the shock within them remains constant.

Five or six pairs of eyes turned to the side almost simultaneously.

The person being stared at, noticing the strange looks from everyone, hurriedly said, "This was all the food I brought in, nothing else—what, do you suspect I stole some?!"

"No, bring that servant here, he must clear my name!"

"Stop talking nonsense—so are there crabs or not?"

The academic officials were fighting amongst themselves, and the old men were making a ruckus. In the end, even Chief Instructor Deng stopped his duties and resorted to his trump card: "It was my fault. I'll have someone reserve a table at that Song's Restaurant that you mentioned, and have them deliver the food. We'll treat everyone to a meal, okay?"

"You've all worked hard these past few days, setting questions for everyone. This is a good opportunity to reward you!"

“It’s not the same thing. The one who sets the questions is still the one who sets the questions, and today’s questions are still today’s questions—it should be two meals!” Master Chen, who had been standing in a corner without saying a word, casually interjected.

While the two apprentices were arguing over salt-baked shrimp and crab, Song Miao, two streets away in Suanzao Alley, was unaware of all the trouble that had ensued over steamed buns and additional dishes.

She was facing a group of bodyguards who were on shift.

The thieves and their driver who broke into the house last night have been caught, and the three old men who were trying to extort money have also surrendered. The Imperial Censor Cao has also come to collect the transcribed documents and take them back. It shouldn't be long before we have a result.

In that case, there's no need for so many people to guard Song's place all the time; just leave one or two people on duty in shifts.

But deciding which one to keep became a major problem.

"Captain, make arrangements for me!"

"Alright, just arrange it for me. My younger brother is young and not as mature as I am. It's not about the meals provided here, but I've been a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) for over twenty years. I'm very familiar with the details. If it's a rotation, I'm the most suitable. I won't neglect anything, and Miss Song won't have to worry about anything!"

"Why not arrange it for me? I don't sleep much at night!"

"You think you need little sleep? I need little sleep too! I can take turns sleeping day and night!"

Xu Erlang wanted to say something several times, but seeing the scene, he didn't dare to speak.

Just as they were talking animatedly, a man carrying a bundle came in from outside. After listening for a while, he said, "If you want to take turns, then I should be the one to take turns! You are all men, and the restaurant is full of women. It's fine when there are many people and things are urgent, but now there are only one or two of you. How convenient is that? But I am different! I am a woman too. Although I can't compare to my sister-in-law who runs escort missions all day long and has all the skills, am I inferior to you??"

However, it was Xu Niangzi, who had long forgotten that she had a nephew who was eager to show off, who, remembering the late-night snack she had eaten at Song Ji's, was also eager to make a name for herself here.

Who would dare to argue with the accountant who manages the money?

Besides, what she said does make sense.

So that night, Madam Xu happily stayed overnight at Song's restaurant.

She was very diligent and didn't eat for nothing. Apart from her regular chores, after seeing off all the long and short-term employees, she didn't rest. She insisted on helping to tidy up the tables and chairs. Seeing that it was getting late, she was about to close the door when she suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves outside. She raised her lantern and went out to look, and saw someone riding a horse coming from outside the alley.

Upon seeing who it was, Madam Xu didn't think much of it and hurriedly asked, "So it's Young Master Han—are you here for dinner so late?"