Chapter 2654 - 2587: I Call the Shots (Part 1)

Manbao was still looking at the Emperor, so she saw his eyebrows slightly furrow, and she immediately snapped back to attention, finally waking up completely.

She straightforwardly said, "It can be eaten, but don’t eat too much, or you’ll get diarrhea."

Minister Han also put down his bowl, smiled slightly, and said, "As long as it can be eaten, that’s good. I’ve noticed that Lord Wei’s appetite hasn’t been great these past two days, so it’s nice to have something he enjoys."

Manbao felt a bit exhausted and looked at Wei Zhi.

Lord Wei showed little reaction, his expression calm. After finishing the bowl of douhua, he handed the bowl back to the palace maid and smiled, "Another bowl, please."

The Emperor immediately said, "Yes, give me another bowl too. This stuff is good, how is it made?"

Manbao replied, "It’s made with a few fewer steps than tofu but a few more than doujiang. If you like it, I’ll give the recipe to the imperial kitchen later."

The Emperor nodded in satisfaction.

Yin Li, who had been silent until now, suddenly said, "Tofu is cooling, suitable to eat in this weather, and it’s not expensive. However, the kitchen in the temporary palace can’t compare to those outside in taste. I’ve heard that Lord Zhou’s sister-in-law has great culinary skills?"

Manbao proudly said, "My sister-in-law’s cooking is the best. Her soy milk, tofu, and douhua are all delicious."

Yin Li then smiled, "I wonder if Lord Zhou’s sister-in-law would be willing to take an order from our imperial guards for some summer refreshments like douhua."

Manbao’s eyes brightened, and she nodded, "No problem at all."

The Emperor also wanted to request some for the imperial kitchen, but Gu Zhong quietly said, "Your Majesty, you can’t be so casual about what you eat."

Just now, when he wanted to eat douhua, he had also first eaten half a bowl to make sure it was fine before eating more.

The Emperor then kept silent.

Manbao sneakily exchanged a knowing wink with Bai Shan, feeling very pleased with herself.

Bai Shan couldn’t help but press his lips together in a smile.

Aside from Manbao, the happiest at this moment seemed to be Bai Erlang. He whispered to Manbao, "Later, we can have sister-in-law send up some delicious food."

Manbao asked, "What do you want to eat?"

Bai Erlang, having had a refreshing afternoon and just eaten douhua, felt his appetite grow and whispered, "I want to eat fried meatballs."

Manbao thought of those aromatic fried meatballs and swallowed some saliva, whispering, "Steamed meatballs are good too."

Bai Erlang nodded in strong agreement.

Next to them, Changyu heard and kept glancing at the two.

Mingda pulled at her.

The Emperor didn’t pay attention to their whispers. Seeing that the place had mountains, water, trees, and wind, and no shortage of food, he felt very carefree and said to Gu Zhong, "Go, fetch my fishing gear, we will fish here. Official matters can be postponed."

He added, "Tell the capital that I’m not feeling well lately, let the Crown Prince handle more of the petitions, and only send ones here that are absolutely necessary."

Wei Zhi: ...

Gu Zhong nodded and agreed but didn’t leave immediately, waiting for someone to offer a word of advice.

As expected, Wei Zhi said, "Isn’t Your Majesty’s health much better?"

The Emperor gritted his teeth and said, "Lately, I’ve felt tired again, perhaps the dampness in my body is worsening, Zhouqing should take a look for me later and see if I need a different prescription."

Minister Li suggested, "Why not take a look now?"

"Oh," the Emperor waved his sleeve and said, "It’s rare to have a moment of leisure, why rush this moment? I’ll wait till the evening."

He told Gu Zhong, "While the sun is still up, send someone to the capital with the message."

Gu Zhong then bowed and left, "Yes."

Manbao thought the Emperor was quite pitiable; when they didn’t want to work, they could take a leave or even a sick leave, but even when the Emperor was genuinely sick, he had to rest with a large group of people blocking him.

Truly pitiful!

The Emperor, seeing that no one was stopping him now, grew happy, got up, and went to the railing to look down, stroking his beard, saying, "Not bad, this water looks quite clear."

Wei Zhi dampened his spirits, "Which means there won’t be many fish, Your Majesty might not catch any."

The Emperor was momentarily annoyed but then regained his composure, "Others may not catch any, but I will certainly catch some."

Upon hearing this, Gu Zhong quietly retreated again, shortly returning, avoiding Wei Daren and the few with Yin Li with meaningful glances.

Yin Li glanced at him coolly and could only follow him out.

The Emperor, together with his daughters and sons-in-law, enjoyed familial happiness, while Manbao and Bai Shan, feeling a little bored, stood with Yin Huo and witnessed this scene, curious.

Seeing Lord Yin turn away and speak to an imperial guard, Bai Shan and Yin Huo exchanged mischievous glances, whispering, "Wouldn’t Lord Yin actually have people put fish in the water for His Majesty to catch?"

Yin Huo pondered deeply.

Seeing his expression, Bai Shan was somewhat aghast, "No way?"

Manbao also said, "No way?"

Yin Huo looked down and said, "Possibly."

Everyone turned to look at the Emperor.

The Emperor, hands behind his back, was strolling around, exclaiming, "You’ve picked a good spot, I walked by here a few days ago, how come I didn’t think to cool off here in the afternoon?"

He turned to give orders, "Later, have a high table and chair set here, I’ll review petitions and discuss matters with the ministers here, it’ll be cooler and more comfortable than discussing in the palace."

Manbao hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, it’s fine occasionally, but if you stay too long in this pavilion, it could really increase the dampness."

This cold spring is truly cold, it’s not deceiving at all!

Wei Zhi and other ministers immediately said, "Please take care of your health, Your Majesty."

The Emperor, feeling a bit disappointed, could only say, "Alright then."

Changyu suggested, "Father, let’s eat some fruit to cool our tempers. In the future, I’ll often come here, so when you get tired of reviewing petitions, you can come directly and eat what’s ready."

When the Emperor heard this, he couldn’t help but laugh, "I can’t stay here long, and you think you can?"

He said to Changyu and Mingda, "You’re girls, you shouldn’t crave the cool too much, especially you, Mingda, your health isn’t good, no mischief allowed."

Mingda said, "Father, I won’t be mischievous."

Bai Erlang nodded in strong agreement, Mingda was indeed obedient.

The Emperor glanced at Bai Erlang but said nothing.

Soon, an attendant brought a fishing rod, and the Emperor took it and went down, found a good shady spot under a tree, baited it, and cast it into the water.

Bai Shan and the others also got fishing gear, but they were more concerned about the cold spring’s condition, tiptoeing to look upstream.

The Emperor saw them and looked up, asking, "What are you looking at?"

Bai Shan and the others immediately averted their gaze, indicating they were looking at nothing, obediently finding a place to drop their line, then sitting on the grass waiting for fish to bite.

However, looking at the water flowing down, even Bai Erlang quietly muttered, "Can we actually catch fish here?"