Harem: Biography of Concubine Qin

Chapter 99 Crucian Carp Soup

The emperor and Chen Wenyi were dealing with Jia Ruzhu's case, while she and Bai Lu took Xiao Lizi for a stroll in the market.

Naturally, the following protection of a group of soldiers is indispensable.

Taking those middle-aged and elderly adults out for shopping is not only conspicuous, but also uncomfortable for her.

It's better to go shopping with Bai Lu and the others.

She was surrounded by soldiers, and there were still people looking at her.

Could it be that wearing a veil is too conspicuous?
Chen Wenxin whispered to Bai Lu, and Bai Lu shook her head vigorously after listening, "No, I can't pick it off!"

Showing her original face is definitely more eye-catching.

At this time, I saw a stout man running over from a short distance, shouting: "Miss Bailu, Miss Bailu!"

This is also strange, how could anyone here recognize Bai Lu?

Bai Lu looked out in surprise, "Oh, it's the man selling cakes, the son of the old man from yesterday!"

The man approached, the soldiers stopped his footsteps, lest he should run into Chen Wenxin.

He didn't dare to make mistakes, and after a few steps away, he saw a woman in a beautiful dress covered in white gauze beside Bai Lu.

He thought, is that their wife that Bai Lu was talking about?

The man knelt down and kowtowed to her, kowtowed three times in a row, and said, "Thanks to this kind lady for saving my father, yesterday I was making cakes at home and didn't come to the street, my father was almost beaten to death by Tang Papi!"

After hearing this, the peddlers around gradually put down their business and surrounded him.

Someone recognized the soldiers in Tsing Yi, "Isn't it? They were the ones who blocked Tang on the street yesterday."

"I heard that this is the wife of a high-ranking official in Beijing. She has completely removed the title of the county magistrate Jia."

"Then we can get back the money we paid in the past two years, thanks to them."

The common people heard that she was an official's wife. Although they didn't know what official position her husband was in, it was always right to visit her.

For a moment, everyone on the street knelt and kowtowed, saying something, "Thank you Madam for eliminating harm for the people."

Chen Wenxin hurriedly asked the people to stand up, and said softly: "Everyone, why be polite, it's really my master's work, and I have nothing to do with it."

This lady is dressed luxuriously and has an air of dust.Although she covered half of her face, she was a great beauty just by looking at those bright eyes.

Her voice was so kind, she did not put on airs of an official's wife at all.

The biscuit seller boldly said: "The young family has received Madam's kindness, and there is nothing good to dedicate to Madam. Two days ago, the little brother next to Madam came to buy my cakes."

He recognized Xiao Lizi next to him. Last time when Xiao Lizi came to buy his cakes, he called him big brother, and he got mad at him.

Thinking of this, he felt a little embarrassed, "If Ma'am doesn't mind, please accept this pack of freshly baked Yitou pancakes, brother?"

He looked at Xiao Lizi, and Xiao Lizi looked at Chen Wenxin.

The folk customs here are simple and honest, it seems that this man is also a sincere person.If she doesn't accept it, I'm afraid he will feel bad about it.

It's better to accept it, so that he can feel at ease.

Chen Wenxin nodded, "In that case, thank you very much."

The man was overjoyed, he didn't expect the nobleman to be willing to accept such a crude thing from him.

With him making the head start, the rest of the hawkers also rushed to give her something, taking pride in being accepted by her.

"This little brother also bought my big bun that day!"

The steamed stuffed bun peddler next to the thick man's Yitoubing also squeezed over, "Ma'am, if you don't mind, please accept this steamed stuffed bun, brother?"

The young peddler held up a greased paper bag in his hand, and the warm smell of meat wafted out of it.

It's hard to say no to something you've already started.

Chen Wenxin knew that the people were really grateful to them, so he didn't stop them.

Xiao Lizi held a large bag of Yitoubing and steamed buns in his arms, and vendors kept stuffing things into his arms.

Probably the soldiers in Tsing Yi had swords on their waists and serious faces, so the vendors consciously didn't touch them, but flocked to Xiao Lizi.

Bai Lu only cared about supporting Chen Wenxin by her side, never leaving her.Seeing that Xiao Lizi was holding a pile of things in his arms, and he was still piling up...

"Thank you Madam for saving us little people, this is my family's apple!"

"This is our family's dried fish!"

"My family's rattle!"

……

A hobbled old lady came up and stared at Chen Wenxin for a moment.

She put the bamboo basket on her arm on the ground, knelt down on the ground with her stooped and thin body, and kept praying, "Goddess of Mercy has appeared, and Namo Amitabha has appeared..."

The old man was nagging, and regarded Chen Wenxin as the Guanyin Buddha statue in the temple.

Chen Wenxin was amused again, seeing the old granny being so pious, she was moved again.

"Bai Lu, hurry up and help the old man up!"

Bai Lu went forward to help the old grandma, she tremblingly got up from the ground, staring at Bai Lu.

"Oh, golden boy and jade girl, this is the jade girl..."

Muttering to herself, she took out an egg with a red paper from her bamboo basket, and walked to the golden boy, Xiao Lizi.

She stood on tiptoe and put the egg squarely on Xiao Lizi's shoulder.

The egg swayed on Xiao Lizi's shoulder a few times, and it was about to roll down.

Snapped.

A guard in Tsing Yi couldn't stand it any longer, and reached out to catch the fallen egg.

He spread his palm, and the egg landed firmly on his palm.

Chen Wenxin only said to go out for a stroll and then came back. She did not expect to bring so many things with her when she came back.

After seeing the prefect of Jinan, the emperor was talking with Chen Wenyi and others in the backyard of the county government office.Just as she was about to send someone to see if Chen Wenxin had finished shopping, she came back.

The emperor looked at Xiao Lizi who was about to be crushed by something, "What good things have you bought so much?"

Chen Wenxin signaled Xiao Lizi to put all the things on the table and lay them out for the emperor to see.

The two bachelors were particularly curious, wondering what there was in this little Dezhou that would catch the attention of the concubine Qin.

As a result, when the things were opened up, everyone was puzzled.

A big bag of Yitoubing, a big bag of meat buns.

There are also dried fish and unknown scallops.

There are also various fruits such as apples, cherries, and oranges.

The strangest thing is that there are also children's toys such as rattles, windmills and spinning tops...

A soldier in blue came up and put an egg with a red paper in his hand on the table.

"I didn't buy it, it was given by the people on the street."

Chen Wenxin opened the package of Yitoubing, "It's still hot, do you want to try it, Your Majesty?"

She handed a piece to the emperor, and then to Chen Wenyi and Wang Xi.

"We hadn't gone far on the street when the man who sold Yitoubing recognized Bai Lu coming. When he said this, everyone said that I was the wife of a high-ranking official in the capital."

"People say that this mysterious high-ranking official in the capital investigated Jia County Magistrate and returned all their money."

"They are grateful to Dade, but they can't see this high-level official, so they have to let me, the high-level official's wife, take advantage of it."

Huang Ji cupped his hands and said with a smile: "The emperor is wise. It seems that the common people are very satisfied with the handling of this matter."

Wang Xi glanced at his folded hands, half of Yitoubing was hidden inside.

He secretly slandered that after being out of the capital for so many days, even Huang Ji didn't behave properly...

The emperor was very happy when he heard this, "What can satisfy the people is what a place really needs. Only when the people are rich and happy can the country be prosperous and stable."

Chen Wenyi frowned, and looked at the solitary egg, "Why is the egg still stuck with red paper?"

Wang Xi twisted his beard and said: "The chicken eggs are washed clean, and red paper is pasted on them. They are used for worshiping gods."

Chen Wenxin repeated the words of the nagging old lady to him.

The emperor couldn't help laughing, only Lu Zong felt very sad.

If he was the one who wandered the streets today, there must be no common people to send him these meals!
Huang Ji is younger, and he is more comfortable traveling with the emperor these days.Seeing that Lu Zong was silent at the side, with a strange expression on his face, he made fun of him.

"Fortunately, it's the concubine Qin who went out today, isn't it our Imperial Physician Lu?"

Lu Zong shuddered when he heard Huang Ji's words, and an ominous premonition welled up in his heart.

Wang Xi asked him frankly, "Mr. Lu? What if Mr. Lu goes out?"

Huang Ji said with a smile: "If Grand Physician Lu goes out, the old woman will still worship him. It's just that she won't think that it's the manifestation of Guanyin, but the manifestation of the God of Plague!"

The god of plague is red-haired and red-faced, with protruding fangs, often scaring children.

Huang Ji compared Lu Zong with the god of plague, which is really vivid.

Isn't Lu Zong just a black and red face?Just like the bottom of the boiler.

Chen Wenxin laughed out loud when he heard the words, and suddenly thought that he couldn't laugh so exaggeratedly in front of foreign ministers, so he suppressed his laughter.

She turned to look at Wang Xi, who clapped his hands and laughed.He was already an old man, and he seemed to have suddenly forgotten what it means to be disrespectful in front of the imperial court.

Only the emperor and Chen Wenyi were able to control it, laughing silently.

The emperor scolded Huang Ji with a smile, "Well, you Huang Ji, I never noticed before that you are so witty."

In the past in Beijing, the etiquette in the palace was restricted, how could Huang Ji dare to arrange other courtiers in front of the imperial court?

That is to say, when he was on tour and saw that the emperor often thought Lu Zong was ugly, he was just making fun of it!

Usually the emperor made fun of Lu Zong, but today even Huang Ji started to make fun of him.

Lu Zong was miserable, he secretly scolded the emperor in his heart, it was all ruled by the emperor, now everyone is laughing at him!

The emperor seemed to have noticed that Huang Ji made fun of Lu Zong because of his attitude, "Actually, Lu Qing is not that ugly, but he can't stand with Lan Xiang. Standing next to the plague god statue is better than the plague god. "

Lu Zong, who had an angry face just now, was so flattered to hear the emperor call him Lu Qing so kindly.

Chen Wenxin only saw his starry eyes, and an extremely moved expression appeared on his thick black face.

"With the words of the emperor, my minister, I will die without regret!"

She rolled her eyes, Imperial Physician Lu, Imperial Physician Lu, have you forgotten who thinks you ugly every day?

The emperor just said that you are more beautiful than the god of plague, and he moved you like this...

She couldn't help but think of the fat thief in the palace, and she could only sigh that the emperor really has a natural aura that makes people submit and fear.

………………

After staying in Texas for three days, they set off again and headed south.

The emperor's main destination was in the south of the Yangtze River, so they were almost on their way along the way.Staying in Dezhou is also because of the corrupt official Jia Ruzhu, who has a lot of troubles.

Jia Linyuan was not punished in the end, and the emperor ordered him to take charge of the government affairs of Dezhou temporarily, and waited for the county magistrate of Dezhou to be re-selected by the Ministry of Officials in Central Beijing.

What moved the emperor most was his filial piety, and his refusal to report was also for the sake of his biological mother, so that he could enjoy his old age peacefully.What's more, he collected Jia Ruzhu's criminal evidence, which can be regarded as making up for it.

Chen Wenyi admired this person quite a lot, and said that it would be great if he could be transferred back to Beijing in the future and become one of Chen Wenyi's subordinates.

The emperor ordered Wang Xi to write a letter and send it back to Beijing in a hurry six hundred miles away, scolding Tong Guowei.

People in Beijing knew that the emperor did not go on tour much, and Tong Guowei was one of them.

The emperor's letter is a secret letter and will not be made public.Tong Guowei accepted the anxiety in his confidence, but he couldn't show it on his face.

He is not stupid, the emperor sent a secret letter to scold him, why would he publicly humiliate himself?
The emperor accused him of shielding Jia Ruzhu Yurou Xiangli, and violating the laws of the Qing Dynasty, making his two brothers the magistrate and county lieutenant of the same county.

He had no memory of Jia Ruzhu at all, after careful investigation, he found out that he was the in-law of a distant branch of Tong Jia's family.

He could only swallow this breath, the Tong Jia clan has a large population and complicated relationships.But they are relying on Tong Guowei's power, there is no doubt about it.

Who told the emperor's biological mother to be his sister, and the noble concubine in the palace to be his daughter?

This huge Tong Jia clan is not only his glory, but also his burden.

Chen Wenxin read the letter written by Wang Xi, and had to say that this Grand Master Wang was not only well-founded in his words, but also unequivocal in his scolding.

The most frightening thing is that this kind of swearing does not contain dirty words.

When the emperor scolds someone, of course he can't bring the other party's immediate family members, or even his body parts.

What Chen Wenxin didn't understand was why the emperor didn't deal with the prefect of Jinan Prefecture. He also had at least one crime of dereliction of duty due to lack of strict control.

The emperor leaned against the wall of the carriage, and smiled when he heard the words, "You think I'm so confused, can't you see that the magistrate is guilty?"

Jia Ruzhu dared to be so unscrupulous, if he said that he did not benefit the prefect of Jinan Prefecture, the emperor would not believe it.

There is no benefit, how can you cover up like this?
Even if there is no cover, it is not a good official to be so neglectful of the states and counties under him.

"You must have seen it, but why didn't you treat him?"

"If he is punished, it will not be a serious crime. But if this is the case, who will I ask to punish Jia Ruzhu?"

"When the water is clear, there will be no fish, and when people observe it, there will be no disciples. Others can be jealous, but I have to take the overall situation into consideration."

"Shang Jun advocated severe punishment and heavy law, and in the end he himself ended up decapitated. I think it is better to use the Confucian doctrine of the mean. Some people should be severely punished, while others should be relaxed."

If all officials who made local mistakes were investigated, who else would act for the emperor?

The emperor's words made her suddenly enlightened.

She had to admit that the emperor was an enlightened monarch.He has a far-sighted vision, and his eyes are not limited to the immediate moment.

What he thought more about was the Jiangshan Sheji of the Qing Dynasty.

Such an emperor made Chen Wenxin feel both familiar and strange.

The car drove through Qilipu, Pingyuan County, passed through Yucheng, and then arrived at Fufucheng, Jinan.

The emperor is very fond of Baotu Spring and Pearl Spring, and he never tires of writing inscriptions and plaques with two bachelors.

Only Chen Wenxin is very interested in Daming Lake.

She was dressed in peach red Suzhou embroidery, holding a paper umbrella in the slight drizzle, and walked along the embankment of Daming Lake.

Bai Lu and Bai Shuang followed closely behind, and the soldiers were left far behind.

The emperor sat in the pavilion by the lake listening to the rain and drinking tea, and saw her coming from a distance.The beautiful pink figure, reflecting the green willows on the embankment of the lake, is very beautiful.

The emperor watched her gracefully walk into the pavilion, and handed the umbrella to Bai Lu behind her.

She stepped forward and was blessed.

"My lord, do you still remember Xia Yuhe on the beach of Lake Daming?"

The emperor was taken aback, "Who is Xia Yuhe?"

Immediately afterwards, I saw Chen Wenxin covering her mouth and laughing, sitting down beside the emperor, laughing so hard that she couldn't straighten her waist.

The emperor didn't understand what she was laughing at, so he insisted on asking who Xia Yuhe was.

Could Chen Wenxin want to tell him that Xia Yuhe is your grandson-in-law?

She thought about it for a while, and said with a measured tone: "It's a book I listened to outside before entering the palace. The Xia Yuhe in the book belongs to the emperor..."

What identity should be used to describe it?
Chen Wenxin finally thought of the most appropriate word, "outside room."

The emperor became interested, "Is the emperor's capital in Jinan in the book? Why did he keep his outer room by the Daming Lake?"

"It's not in Jinan, it's in the capital. He didn't keep his wife here on purpose. He went on tour like a husband. When he saw Xia Yuhe by the Daming Lake, he fell in love with her."

The emperor smiled and said: "Then at the end of this book, Xia Yuhe must be welcomed into the palace by the emperor as a concubine, or even an empress?"

There are first-class storytellers in the folk, and the books they edit are the most ridiculous.

For example, someone who is talented and beautiful, a rich lady, sees a weak scholar and falls in love with him.Regardless of his reputation and shame, he gave his innocence to others.

Such a scholar can still win the first prize, and come back to marry this shameless young lady?

That is also a miracle.

In fact, these stories about talented scholars, beauties, emperors, generals and ministers were all made up by the people in the market.Where do they know the rules of official households, they just make up these.

It's just to satisfy the common people's fun, so that their poor scholars can have beautiful ladies come to their door, and they can win the first prize.

To put it bluntly, it is to write the content of daydreaming into the book.

The emperor also read these scripts when he was young, and found it interesting at first, but the more he read it, the more outrageous it became.

According to the common people's dreams, this common girl Xia Yuhe must have been brought into the palace by the emperor and given a high position.

Unexpectedly, Chen Wenxin shook her head and said: "The emperor has been in chaos and finally abandoned, leaving Xia Yuhe here. After 18 years, Xia Yuhe gave birth to a daughter who looks exactly like her and went back to find the emperor."

The emperor laughed, "This is even more out of the question. Since it is of royal blood, how could the emperor not know that she has her after 18 years? The emperor is also very confused."

Chen Wen thought to himself, if Xuanye met such Xia Yuhe, even if he wanted to give up, he would tell Li Dequan after Yunyu——
Do not stay!

Then there's nothing wrong with Xia Ziwei.

They were talking here, when three figures in coir raincoats came in, they were Lu Zong, Wang Xi and Huang Ji.

The coir raincoat has burrs, and the coir coir grass is stretched out, making the whole person look bigger.When you look at it unexpectedly, it is also shocking.

The emperor saw Chen Wenxin's graceful posture walking in the rain holding an umbrella, and then saw the three people wearing such stupid coir raincoats, it was really disgusting.

Coir raincoats are off-putting, but the wooden barrels in their hands make Chen Wenxin very appetizing.

It turned out that these adults had just gone fishing in the rain, and there were a few gray-blue crucian carp swimming in the wooden barrel, which were very fresh.

Lu Zongdao: "Although this fish is small, it is very lively. If Madam likes it, she can keep it for fun."

Chen Wenxin shook his head, "It's a pity to enjoy it, so many fish are enough to make soup."

The emperor knew that Chen Wenxin would never forget to eat it no matter where he went, so he asked, "What kind of fish are these, can I eat them?"

This question is for Lu Zong, he is an imperial physician, and he should be the most clear about what can and cannot be eaten.

Lu Zong was at a loss for words.

He didn't go fishing for food, it was his first time in Jinan, how could he know if the fish in the water were edible or not...

Seeing that Lu Zong was at a loss for words, Chen Wenxin looked at Wang Xi and Huang Ji, only to see that these two adults also looked bewildered.

It seems that this crucian carp is too common, and these adults have never eaten it.

They haven't eaten it, let alone the emperor.

Chen Wenxin explained patiently: "This fish is called crucian carp. Although it is smaller, it is still edible. The meat is very delicious, and the soup it makes is rich and delicious."

The emperor raised his eyebrows, Chen Wenxin loves to eat so much, it is not surprising that he knows one more fish than everyone else.

but……

"Gentlemen, is there anyone who can cook soup?"

The emperor asked Wang Xi and the other three, he knew that Chen Wenxin would not do it.

I've never heard her cook before.

The three adults shook their heads together, and the emperor said: "Lan Xiang went to inspect the neighborhood and will be back soon. I wonder if he can make soup?"

If Chen Wenyi knew how to make soup, then the sow would also be able to climb trees.

Chen Wenxin volunteered, "I'll burn it!"

"Burn what?"

Just when Chen Wenyi came back from his inspection, he heard Chen Wenxin impassionedly say that she came to burn this sentence.

After knowing that it was fish soup, Chen Wenyi raised the corner of his mouth and smiled, "Master, my wife and I have been at home for 14 years, and I have never seen her cook soup."

Ah no, if boiling water counts as soup, then Chen Wenxin must have been boiled.

The emperor looked like he was going to smile or not, he knew it was so.

"If Madam really wants to eat, why not take it to a restaurant in the city? It's better to wait until the rain stops."

Chen Wenxin decisively rejected Wang Xi's proposal.

What do you mean, you look down on her, don't you?

You don't believe she can cook fish soup, do you?
She wanted to burn it for them to see.

There is a stove and charcoal fire on the carriage, and a set of knives, plates and chopsticks are all ready-made.

A stove was set up in the pavilion on the spot, and a casserole was placed on the stove.

Chen Wenxin asked Yu Jie to help kill the fish, but refused Bai Lu and the others' help, so as not to make people think that Bai Lu and the others did it for them.

"Scrape off the contents of your stomach, and don't leave a little bit behind."

Chen Wenxin directed Yu Jie, but he himself did not dare to look at Shayu.

The emperor, Chen Wenyi and others were sitting on the other side of the pavilion, talking and looking at the scene on her side from time to time.

After Yu Jie dissected and washed the few small fishes, Chen Wenxin poured oil into the casserole first, and then put the fishes in.

There was a creaking sound from the oil pan, and the emperor couldn't help but smile.

Everyone also saw what the emperor was laughing at, and they didn't know whether the concubine Qin was cooking fish soup or frying fish?
She waited until the smell of fish came out of the pot before she poured in water and put down the onion and ginger.

There are these seasoning materials on the carriage, just in case.But not a lot, that is, oil, salt, sweet and sour, onion, ginger, pepper and so on.

This is enough for Chen Wenxin.

This crucian carp soup is the most bluffing, the process is simple, but the taste is excellent.

She usually doesn't cook because she is too lazy.

It happened to be in the palace, and there was no need for the concubine to cook in person.

She was having fun.

But today, in front of the emperor, Chen Wenyi and several adults, she had to show her skills to impress everyone.

She doesn't just eat.

The drizzle is gurgling outside the pavilion, and the smell of fish has risen in the pavilion.

It was just a few small fishes in total, and they were cooked quickly.

Yu Jie served the soup on the stone table in the pavilion, lifted the lid, and a strong aroma came over his face.

Chen Wenxin personally served the soup in a silver bowl, and saw that the soup was as white as milk, and the fish was tender and smooth.

She first served a small bowl to the emperor, followed by Chen Wenyi, Wang Xi, Huang Ji and Lu Zong.

In the end, I saved a bowl for myself.

Seeing that the fish soup was delicious, Wang Xi and the others did not dare to drink it right away, and they all accused her of guilt.

This is baked by the concubine Qin herself, it is more decent than the imperial meal rewarded by the emperor!

If they were not outside the palace, how could they have such a blessing.

Chen Wenyi took a sip of the fish soup, it was delicious, it could be said to be full of color, fragrance and taste.

He stared at Chen Wenxin, feeling her strangeness for the first time.

There is no such thing as crucian carp in the palace, and she never burned it in her mother's house.

So, when did she learn to cook crucian carp soup...

(End of this chapter)