Dad, don't be greedy! My brother climbed into the emperor's bed, and I became famous overn

Gu Mingli did not answer directly.

He simply stepped aside half a step and gestured "please" with his hand.

The light from the lanterns shone warmly through the porch, illuminating the stone steps.

A rich aroma of bone broth wafted out from inside, mixed with the distinctive smoky scent of roasted sesame seeds, carried by the night breeze.

Xiao Ye stood at the bottom of the steps, giving Gu Mingli a cold glance.

Without saying a word, he stepped over the threshold.

Geng Zhi followed closely behind, his hand never leaving the hilt of the knife.

Liu An followed with small, quick steps, glancing back at the guards in the courtyard as he went.

Keep a close eye on it.

King Xiao Jue of Qi walked at the back, tapping his palm lightly with his folding fan, unhurried and quite interested.

The group passed through the screen wall and went around the front courtyard.

The doors to the main hall were wide open.

Xiao Ye paused for a moment at the threshold.

The furnishings in the hall were different from those in the homes of ordinary officials for entertaining guests.

There were no long tables or separate seating areas; only a large round table was placed in the very center.

A copper hot pot sits on the table.

The charcoal glowed a dark red light through the openwork patterns on the base.

The soup in the pot has already boiled.

The thick, white bone broth bubbled with tiny bubbles, and a few slices of ginger and scallions floated on the surface.

Steam rose, creating a hazy white mist in the candlelight.

A dozen or so white porcelain plates were arranged in a circle around the copper pot.

Thinly sliced, tender lamb pieces are arranged on a plate, one on top of the other.

Next to it were cubed soft tofu, freshly washed seasonal mushrooms, and bright green vegetable leaves.

In the very center is a row of small bowls containing sesame paste, minced garlic, chopped green onions, sesame oil, and aged vinegar.

Each bowl was filled to seven-tenths full and arranged neatly.

The entire hall was filled with the aroma of a typical family's kitchen stove.

It has a completely different aroma from the delicate and refined flavors produced by the imperial kitchen.

Xiao Ye glanced at the table full of raw food and frowned slightly.

"What is this?"

Gu Debai was already waiting in the hall, dressed in a dark blue casual robe, and greeted him with a big smile.

"Your Majesty's presence at my humble abode fills me with immense trepidation."

He raised his hand and led the emperor toward the main seat, laughing as they walked.

"My son said that Your Majesty has been busy with state affairs lately and has not been eating well. As your subject, I dare not serve you any delicacies, but have prepared some simple home-cooked food to give Your Majesty a change of pace."

Having navigated the complexities of officialdom for over twenty years, Gu Debai was adept at such polite and diplomatic exchanges, speaking flawlessly and without a single slip-up.

Xiao Ye was indeed exhausted and hungry.

He simply sat down in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over Gu Debai's face before settling on the bubbling copper pot.

Somewhat curious.

"Raw meat, raw vegetables, and a pot of boiling water. Does Minister Gu intend for me to cook for myself?"

Gu Debai did not answer.

His daughter said that tonight, his only responsibility is to smile and eat along.

The rest was left to his excellent and favored son.

Gu Mingli calmly sat down to the emperor's right and instructed a servant to bring water for His Majesty to wash his hands.

"Your Majesty, this is called hot pot. It's not boiling, it's simmering."

He washed and dried his hands, picked up the serving chopsticks, and got to the main topic of the day.

Gu Mingli picked up a slice of mutton and waved it in the air.

"There's a specific way to prepare hot pot meat."

"Slice the meat thinly, put it into the boiling soup, and cook it in a few quick dips."

"Tender and juicy, one bite at a time, faster than steaming, boiling, stewing, or braising. Most importantly, it retains the original flavor."

Xiao Jue sat down to the side, placing his folding fan on the table.

He glanced down at the neatly arranged slices of mutton on the plate in front of him, picked up a piece, and examined it under the light.

"This is the first time I've seen meat sliced ​​so thinly."

Gu Mingli nodded.

"This lamb was brought from the north by Butcher Liu in the west of the city. It has a mild gamey smell and tender meat."

"The knife skills for slicing meat are the specialty of our family's chefs. They freeze it first and then slice it, making it as thin as paper."

Xiao Ye didn't respond.

Liu An stepped forward, bowing low, and spoke in a very low voice.

"Your Majesty, this meal... hasn't been tested yet."

The air in the hall visibly tightened as soon as those words were spoken.

Geng Zhi stood two steps behind the emperor, his gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping back and forth between the Gu family father and son and the ingredients on the table.

Gu Debai wore a smile on his face, but inwardly he was utterly disdainful.

However, inviting the emperor to dinner at home without prior notice was indeed against the rules.

But he still smiled and poured the emperor a cup of wine.

There will definitely be no problem with what my daughter has arranged.

Gu Mingli, on the other hand, looked completely at ease.

He glanced at Liu An and pointed to the bubbling copper pot on the table.

"This pot contains a rich broth made by simmering large pork bones for four hours, using spring water from the western suburbs outside the city."

He pointed to the white porcelain dishes.

"The mutton was bought fresh this morning, the mushrooms were picked by Aunt Zhang in the south of the city, and the tofu is braised tofu from Wang Ji at the alley entrance."

"The source of the ingredients can be traced."

He paused, his tone serious.

"If Your Majesty is still concerned, I am willing to test the poison for you."

After saying that, he picked up a piece of mutton and put it into the boiling pot.

The thin slices of meat curled and changed color the moment they hit the water, turning from bright red to tender pink, with a slightly translucent, oily sheen around the edges.

He rinsed it seven or eight times, then lifted it up and rolled it in the sesame sauce dish.

The thick sauce coats the slices of meat, the aroma of sesame seeds mingling with the spiciness of minced garlic, and a small puff of steam rises.

He put the meat into his mouth.

Then he turned to Xiao Ye and chewed.

Xiao Ye: "..."

My stomach rumbled again.

Gu Mingli pretended not to hear, picked up another piece of food with his chopsticks, and continued chewing in front of the emperor.

They ate with great relish.

Liu An watched from the side, feeling as if he had a thorn in his side.

Since meeting Editor Gu, his life as a palace attendant has been an eye-opener.

He had served the emperor for over a decade, and this was the first time he had ever seen a minister so eager to provoke and harass the emperor.

Just as Gu Mingli was about to take a third slice of meat, the emperor spoke.

"Alright, no need to try it."

Gu Mingli then stopped talking.

He prepared a bowl of dipping sauce for the emperor and placed it on the table.

"Your Majesty, eat."

Xiao Ye's gaze fell on the chopsticks that Gu Mingli had used to cook the meat.

Eating raw food and cooking it fresh is indeed a novel way to eat.

It has never appeared in the imperial cuisine.

but……

He's not very good at operating it.

Xiao Ye glanced at Gu Mingli.

This blind fool doesn't even know how to serve you properly.

Just then, the system panel in front of Gu Mingli reappeared furtively.

A line of text, bubbling with hearts, unfolds.

[Triggered His Majesty's temporary desired service]

[Option 1: Personally serve His Majesty food. Favorability +5. Reward: Can be selected once.]

[Option 2: Perform a dance for the Emperor to entertain him. Favorability +5. Reward: Increases the frequency of the Emperor choosing consorts by 30%.]

Gu Mingli's eyelid twitched.

I selected 1 with a blank expression.

He knows how to feed people!

This is all to take care of critically ill patients.

Gu Mingli picked up the serving chopsticks and took another slice of mutton.

Put the chopsticks into the pot.

The broth churned and boiled, and the slices of meat flipped several times in the heat, quickly changing color.

He picked it up and rolled it in the sesame paste dish, coating it evenly with the sauce.

Then, he stretched out his arm and steadily placed the chopsticks to the emperor's lips.

"Come on, open your mouth."

The room was completely silent.