The Idle Man of Zhenguan Intercepts Wu Zetian at the Start

Cheng Yaojin had arranged for the cooks to prepare some fruits and vegetables every day so that Changsun Dan could serve them to Li Tai. However, this was only the first day, and one apple was enough for each meal.

When Li Dejian and his men saw the fruit, their eyes lit up. It was no joke that the vegetable and melon team ate and lived with the ordinary soldiers. Each person had a bowl of fatty pork and cabbage soup and two large coarse steamed buns. They were full, but eating comfortably was out of the question. Even Cheng Chuliang was no exception, tilting his head and chewing the steamed buns with great relish.

Changsun Dan had been tormented for most of the day and was starving, but he couldn't stomach the few slices of fatty pork floating in the soup bowl. Just as he was about to throw them away, Wei Shuyu's eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped forward and asked:

"Does Liu Lang not like to eat meat? Why don't you give it to your elder brother?"

Looking at Wei Shuyu's slightly chubby figure, Changsun Dan thought to himself that behind every chubby boy really is a mouth that never refuses anything. There were only three pieces of fatty meat in the bowl, but each piece was about the size of a palm, and he gave them all to Wei Shuyu.

Chai Lingwu and Cheng Chuliang blamed themselves for being too slow and came over to surround Wei Shuyu, begging for their share. Wei Shuyu protected the soup bowl with his hands, saying, "Tomorrow, we'll share it tomorrow!"

Changsun Dan tore off pieces of steamed bun and dropped them into the soup bowl. It was a pity they weren't baked flatbread; steamed buns would easily get soggy in soup. Otherwise, a bowl of steaming hot pork stew would have been quite nice. Seeing the three of them huddled together just to get an extra piece of fatty meat, he found it somewhat amusing. Cheng Chuliang was one thing, after all, his father was such a cunning old fox, rough in every way yet calculating in every way. He even schemed to get his good wine and made him offer it himself. His skills in extorting and demanding bribes were unparalleled.

But Wei Shuyu was different. His father, Wei Zheng, was thin, upright, unyielding, and incorruptible, a man of great integrity. The contrast between his son and Wei Shuyu was so stark that it seemed somewhat unbelievable. At this moment, he covered the soup bowl with both hands, leaving only a small gap, which he used to block his mouth. He sucked a piece of fatty meat into his mouth and swallowed it with a slurp. Oil still clung to the corners of his mouth. He half-closed his eyes, shook his head, and looked completely satisfied. Cheng Chuliang and Chai Lingwu poked at it a few times with their chopsticks, but in the end, they couldn't even get a single cabbage leaf. They had no choice but to give up in disappointment.

Seeing that Changsun Dan's way of eating steamed buns by soaking them in soup was novel, they all curiously tried it as well. After only a few bites, it was as if they had discovered a new continent. They simply held the bowls to their mouths and started slurping them up.

Normally, it would take them half an incense stick's time to finish a meal, but this time they ate it all in the blink of an eye, still looking like they wanted more. Changsun Dan's lips twitched from laughing.

"You've never eaten like this before?"

Chai Lingwu let out a burp:

"It smells so good! None of the delicious food I eat every day can compare to this bowl of steamed bun and pork soup. Liu Lang, where did you learn to eat like this?"

Changsun Dan hadn't actually researched the history of the rise of mutton stew, but it seemed that it wasn't widely popular by the tenth year of the Zhenguan era. However, he couldn't let them mispronounce the name, so he made a point of explaining:

"This way of eating is called mutton soup with bread. You have to tear the baked bread into pieces and soak it in mutton soup. Our ingredients are a bit lacking, so it can barely be called pork soup with bread."

The same ingredients, prepared in a different way, brought a completely different taste experience. Du He was initially somewhat disdainful, but seeing Cheng Chuliang and the others wolfing down their food and still wanting more, she soaked the remaining steamed buns in the soup. Once she tried it, she couldn't stop. Usually, she would eat until her face was red and her neck was bulging, and her meals were far from delicious. But this way of eating, with the aroma of meat and wheat mixed together, left a lingering fragrance on her lips and teeth even after the food was gone. Du He smacked her lips and couldn't help but praise it:

"If Liu Lang had entered the camp earlier, we wouldn't have had to suffer so much. It seems that everyone's talents are being put to good use. Liu Lang can train horses and knows how to eat, so he's not entirely useless."

Changsun Dan was both amused and exasperated. These bumpkins were so excited about a bowl of pork stew, they really had never tasted fine food. Especially Du He, that scoundrel, he was full of praise and insults. He took two crabapples, put the big one in his mouth and took a bite, and left the small one for the King of Yue.

Du He and the others were unaware that Li Tai had also entered the military camp. They assumed that Changsun Dan was being treated specially, and they were all resentful. After all, their elders were dukes, and they were all legitimate sons with even higher status. Cheng Chuliang couldn't bear it at all and banged on his copper bowl.

"We also need to eat fruit, so why is Liu Lang treated differently?"

The cook, with a fawning smile, was the Duke of Lu's beloved son. Although he received the same treatment as ordinary soldiers, his father was, after all, the commander-in-chief of the Zhenbei Camp.

"This was arranged personally by Commander Cheng. The King of Yue's meals are to be handled by the County Magistrate of Wannian. All food preparations must be carried out according to the County Magistrate's arrangements."

Du He and the others were stunned. What use was the Prince of Yue in the army with his weight? Moreover, Changsun Dan only prepared one apple for him, and he even ate the big one himself. A prince, and he was only given one apple for a meal?!

Cheng Chuliang couldn't help but ask:

"Where is the King of Yue now? Sixth Brother, could you perhaps give us one of your crabapples?"

Changsun Dan took another bite with great relish:

"I've imprisoned the King of Yue. For the past few days, I've only been giving him two apples a day."

Du He's eyes widened. The Prince of Yue was imprisoned by him? Even Changsun Wuji wouldn't have dared to do that. Everyone knows that His Majesty dotes on the Prince of Yue the most. Apart from not giving him the position of Crown Prince, he has everything the Crown Prince has, and he even has things the Crown Prince doesn't have!

Changsun Dan limped away, and Cheng Chuliang followed behind with his eyes fixed on Lin Qin Guo. He didn't believe what Changsun Dan said; this kid wanted to eat it all by himself? No way.

Du He gave a wink, and even Yuchi Baolin got up to follow and see what was happening. Changsun Dan approached Li Tai's wooden house, smiling as she looked out the window. Li Tai, his face frosty, was pacing around the room, sweating profusely. But upon seeing Changsun Dan, his expression immediately changed to a smile.

"Brother Dan, you've finally arrived! I'm starving!"

Changsun Dan handed the crabapple to the King of Yue:

"Your Majesty, please have some. The food in the army is hard to swallow. These crabapples were specially prepared for Your Majesty by Duke Lu. Look at me, I've only been here half a day, and I'm still hungry and almost got beaten to death."

The King of Yue eagerly stuffed the crabapple into his mouth. Something he would normally not even bother to glance at was now no less precious than a celestial fruit from the Jade Pool. It was just too small, and he finished it off in two or three bites, even swallowing the pit.

"Brother Dan, is there any more? Give me a few more." Seeing that Changsun Dan's face was indeed bruised and swollen, he felt extremely satisfied, but he suppressed his laughter and said with a serious expression:

"Why is Duke Lu so reckless? My brother Dan is here to train under imperial orders, not to be beaten."

Changsun Dan sighed: "That's why I especially envy the Prince of Yue. He has food to eat and can sleep whenever he wants. I dare not resent the Duke. You and I each have our own goals in the military camp. If we don't achieve anything, I'm afraid His Majesty will not only be disappointed, but may even make us stay here indefinitely!"

Upon hearing the words "disappointed" from His Majesty, King Li Tai of Yue's longing for food slowly faded, replaced by a resolute expression.

"Hold on, Brother Dan! I won't be defeated so easily!"

When Du He and the others saw that the King of Yue was really imprisoned by Changsun Dan, and that he was only given a small crabapple for each meal and was spouting nonsense, they all felt a chill. This kid is really ruthless!

Li Dejian, in particular, couldn't help but shudder:

"He won't retaliate against me, will he?"