Tang Dynasty: Slacking off in the Imperial Kitchen, exposed by Si Zi

Chapter 135 As long as the ships of the Great Tang can sail to the other side of the sea, we can have as many as we want!

With that bite, it felt like a hand warmer had been placed from her throat to her stomach, so comforting that she couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

"call--!"

Two rosy blushes visibly rose on Empress Zhangsun's pale face. The suffocating feeling that had been pressing on her chest for years seemed to melt away with this warmth.

"Is it good?"

Li Chengqian swallowed.

Empress Zhangsun didn't speak, but simply smiled and pushed another cup in front of him.

Li Chengqian picked up the cup, unlike the Empress who was so refined, and took a big gulp.

The thick, hot liquid was incredibly smooth and didn't need to be swallowed at all; it simply slid straight into my stomach.

bitter!

Li Chengqian's face scrunched up.

But as soon as the bitterness subsided, a sweet aftertaste immediately followed.

That kind of sweetness isn't just the sweetness of sugar water, but a sweetness wrapped in oil and aroma, so rich that it makes you feel grounded.

After taking that bite, a fine layer of sweat appeared on Li Chengqian's forehead.

The frustration of being forced to memorize texts by the teacher and the grievances of being scolded by the emperor these days have all melted away in this bowl of hot soup.

"Brother! Where's the diaper? Where's the diaper?!"

Seeing his mother and older brother enjoying their drinks so much, Xiao Sizi stamped his feet on the kang (a heated brick bed) in frustration, "I'm so thirsty!"

""

Su Mu handed her a small cup that he had prepared especially for her, filled with an unusually large number of cloud-shaped decorations.

The little girl didn't care that it was hot; she held the cup in both little hands and brought it to her mouth, slurping it down.

"Mmm! Mmm! It's so sweet!"

The little ox raised its head, its mouth surrounded by a ring of brown milk stains, making it look like it had grown a black beard.

A few unmelted marshmallows stuck to her lips, jiggling as she spoke.

"This cloud is so cute! It was so soft, and it disappeared in no time!"

She stuck out her little tongue, rolled the milk stains from the corner of her mouth into her mouth, and handed the empty cup to Su Mu with a lingering sense of satisfaction.

"More! I want that mud soup too!"

At this moment, the curtain was lifted again.

Li Shimin walked in with his hands behind his back, followed by the timid Wang Dequan.

His Majesty is dressed warmly today, but his face is still freezing.

As soon as he entered, his eagle eyes fell on the empty cups on the table and the black stains on the prince's lips that he hadn't wiped clean.

"Are they all just hiding here having a good time?"

Li Shimin snorted, and without waiting for anyone to offer him anything, he took off his boots and climbed onto the kang (heated brick bed). "I was reviewing memorials in the Liangyi Hall, and my hands were frozen stiff. And you all are here drinking—what is this stuff? Dishwater?"

He pointed to the little bit of brown liquid left in the pot.

"Father, this is called—"

Li Chengqian was about to explain, but he didn't know what the thing was called, so he turned to look at Su Mu.

Hot cocoa.

Su Mu poured Li Shimin a cup, but this time he didn't put any marshmallows in it. He simply handed it to him, saying, "There's no more sugar, Your Majesty, please make do with this."

Li Shimin took it with suspicion.

It was dark and didn't look like anything good.

But Empress Zhangsun's complexion reassured him. If even Guanyinbi could drink it, it must be something good.

He took a sip.

"hiss--!"

Li Shimin gasped, his brows furrowing instantly.

"Bitter! Su Mu, what kind of bitter medicine is this that you've given me? Are you trying to murder me?"

"Swallow it."

Su Mu didn't even look up; he was tidying up the table.

Li Shimin forced himself to swallow it.

Immediately afterwards, the sweet aftertaste and mellow aroma exploded in my mouth.

The heat felt like it was directly igniting embers in my stomach, instantly warming me up.

Even more amazingly, after drinking this, I felt much more energetic.

"what?"

Li Shimin took another sip and savored it carefully.

The more he drank, the smoother it became; the more he drank, the more he felt that the bitterness was potent, which suited his taste better than the soft, sweet soup.

"This stuff, is it for energizing?"

Li Shimin's eyes lit up.

"That's natural."

Su Mu poured the remaining half pot into a thermal earthenware jar. "This is the best way to replenish energy. Drinking a bowl of this on a cold day is equivalent to eating half a pound of meat."

Li Shimin stared thoughtfully at the cup in his hand.

"If it's a war, serve the soldiers a bowl of this in the winter—"

He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a soft tapping sound. "It can ward off the cold, refresh the mind, and stave off hunger. Su Mu, how much of this black powder do you have left?"

"That's all."

Su Mu dashed his hopes, saying, "This is just one jar, and it was even found somewhere. If Your Majesty wants to promote it in the army, you should first send the Tang fleet across the sea."

Li Shimin was taken aback and rolled his eyes at him in annoyance.

"You little rascal, you never tell the truth."

Su Mu pursed his lips. This wasn't a lie. If Li Er became the governor of Blue Planet, conquered the other side of the sea, and became a farm owner...

Hot cocoa is something you can have as much of as you want!

Li Shimin finished the rest of the hot cocoa in one gulp, feeling refreshed all over, and the humiliation he had suffered in court earlier had dissipated considerably.

Turning my head, I saw Li Chengqian holding a cup, lost in thought, his eyes unusually clear.

"Chengqian".

Li Shimin suddenly spoke.

Li Chengqian was startled and quickly put down his cup and stood up: "Your subject is here."

"sit down."

Li Shimin waved his hand, pointed to the empty cup, and asked, "Have you tasted the flavor of this soup?"

Li Chengqian paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "First bitterness, then sweetness."

"It's not just about enduring hardship before enjoying the rewards."

Li Shimin looked at his son and said, "Only a rich bitterness can complement the sweetness that follows. If it's only sweet, it becomes cloying after a while, and that's for weaklings."

If all you experience is suffering, then you're just asking for trouble. Figure out the reasoning behind this for yourself.

Li Chengqian's body trembled, and he looked up at his father.

This was the first time his father hadn't used those rigid Confucian doctrines to lecture him, but instead spoke to him like an ordinary father, using a bowl of hot soup as a pretext.

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your teachings."

Li Chengqian sat down again, this time with his back straighter.

The little ox standing to the side couldn't understand these profound principles.

She was leaning over the earthenware pot, watching eagerly as Su Mu packed up the remaining hot cocoa.

"Hey bro, are you taking this with you too?"

"For the old man."

Su Mu put the lid on. "It's so cold today, the Emperor Emeritus's rheumatism is probably acting up again. Send this jar to him, let him mix it with some hot wine, that's better than anything else."

Little Si immediately raised his hand: "I want to go! I want to take him! I want to see Grandpa's beard all black from drinking!"

Li Shimin watched this scene, and a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.

The wind and snow outside don't seem to be as intense anymore.

This little house, filled with the aroma of milk and bittersweet flavors, kept that majestic and cold palace just outside its window.

"Wang Dequan".

Li Shimin shouted.

"This servant is here."

"Go and bring me my black fox fur cloak and put it on this boy. It's hot in here, but he's dressed too shabbily and it's embarrassing for me."

Su Mu was tying the rope to the pottery jar when he heard this, he paused, and without expressing his gratitude, he just muttered something.

"Instead of wasting time, you should send two more baskets of silver frost charcoal. These honeycomb briquettes smell bad and will bother your daughter."

Li Shimin chuckled and scolded, then reached out and pinched the little boy's face, which was covered in black whiskers.

"Come on, I'll take you to see Grandpa and let him see my little kitten."