Chapter 346 The Returned Prodigies (7,000-word chapter please subscribe)

Who is coming?

In the room, Qi Ping was a little surprised, and his consciousness subconsciously swept out. Immediately, his expression became strange.

The few people who were sweating profusely after eating also stopped. Generally speaking, if someone from the shop comes, it is impossible to move the carriage, then...it can only be a guest.

"I'll go take a look." Qi Ping stood up and said.

He stepped towards the gate and saw a green brick courtyard with dead trees and snow. Halfway there, there was a knock on the door. Qi Ping responded, opened the courtyard door, and immediately his eyes lit up.

I saw that a low-key and luxurious carriage was indeed parked in the alley. At this moment, a handsome middle-aged man wearing light purple satin clothes, a hair crown, and a jade belt around his waist was standing at the door with a smile.

This man's appearance is similar to that of the emperor. He is very noble, but less majestic and more lazy and free-spirited like a scholar.

Behind the middle-aged man, several servants in green clothes stood on the left and right. When Qi Ping was stunned, a petite figure flashed out.

"Master Qi, long time no see." Princess Anping, with her delicate pink face and star-like eyes, said as if she were a lady.

It's just that the blinking eyes reveal a narrowing of eyes, as if to say: Are you surprised, are you surprised?

"Princess." Qi Ping was "surprised." He immediately looked at the middle-aged man, seemed to confirm, and said, "I have met Prince Jing!"

Yes, King Jing!

Strictly speaking, this is the first official meeting between Qi Ping and Prince Jing, but in the chaos of Kyoto, how can he be a stranger to this prince?

It is easy to judge based on the scene in front of you.

King Jing smiled and said: "Master Qi, there is no need to be polite. I have always wanted to see you. I have some free time today. Is it convenient for me to take the liberty of visiting you?"

Qi Ping was flattered and hurriedly stepped forward to invite him in: "Prince Jing is here to visit my humble abode. Please come quickly."

The group of people were admitted to the hospital immediately. During the process, Qi Ping glanced at the princess and saw Anping smiling and winking at him.

Speaking of which, after Qi Ping came back a few days ago, she wanted to meet him, but the eldest princess stopped him and said that Qi Ping was busy with disaster relief.

Finally, the disaster was over, and he was thinking of finding a reason to leave home, but King Jing took the initiative and asked her to introduce him. This coke spoiled Anping, so he agreed with a pat of his chest.

At this time, several people entered the hospital, followed by the servants who carried several large food boxes in their hands.

"Prince Jing?" The other people in the hall also put down their chopsticks and stood up, and Mr. Yun said in surprise.

King Jing cupped his hands and said, "Student, I have seen the Grand Tutor."

The people around were stunned. Lin Miaomiao and others were surprised by the prince's visit. Qi Ping was surprised by King Jing's attitude. Well, that's right. The emperor and the prince were the same age. They must have studied together when they were young. They were also students of Mr. Yun.

After the two sides exchanged pleasantries, King Jing smiled and said:

"I have always been very fond of Qi Shikui's poems. I wanted to invite him several times, but unfortunately I never got there. I read the poem "The Charcoal Seller" a few days ago, and I felt sad. I learned that Qi Shikui offered his words and suggestions to raise donations to save the people. I

The king admired him very much.

It just so happened that I got some good ingredients recently and wanted to be cooked by the chef at home, so I brought them here. It just so happens that you all can taste them together."

He was quite confident when he said this.

Because King Jing is a famous gourmet in the empire, everyone in the upper circles of Kyoto knows that King Jing likes poetry, has a taste for elegance, loves good food, and has a wide range of friends.

He often hangs out in Kyoto's literary circles and is also a well-known connoisseur. Therefore, this idle prince was able to occupy the position of "judge" at the Momo River Poetry Festival.

Not because of his noble status, but because he really understands poetry.

His preference for gourmet food is even more well known. He wrote a "Food List", which is the first-class food book in the empire.

It is said that when he was young, he traveled around Kyushu and tasted delicious food from all over the world. If he met a chef he liked, he would pay a lot of money to invite him to Kyoto.

So much so that the cooks in the palace are said to be better than the royal chefs in the palace.

When King Jing visited his friends, he not only brought his bodyguards but also his cook, prepared his own ingredients, and when the conversation and laughter started, he ordered the chef to cook on the spot, which became a favorite story in Kyoto.

And everyone who is lucky enough to taste Wangfu’s delicacies is full of praise.

Princess Anping also nodded and said: "The chefs in the palace are very good, even the best restaurants in Kyoto can't compare with them."

However, the expected surprise did not happen. From Mr. Yun to everyone, no one showed any yearning for it. Instead, they felt a little headache.

If you don't eat the food that the prince has brought, you will lose face, but if you eat it... what should you do with the hot pot?

King Jing was stunned for a moment when he saw this. He didn't understand why a group of people looked embarrassed... Finally, Mr. Yun said with a smile:

"Maybe I haven't tasted the palace's delicacies for a long time, but I might have wasted it today."

King Jing asked curiously: "What do you mean, Master?"

Mr. Yun smiled and pointed behind him: "I ate too much spicy food, my mouth and tongue are numb, and I can't taste anything else."

It was only then that King Jing noticed the steaming copper pot in the house and the chili peppers floating in the churning soup.

"What is this?" King Jing, who was well-informed, was surprised.

Qi Ping said with a smile: "This is a dish I invented, called hot pot. Well, the taste is definitely not as good as that of Wangfu, but it is better than the stimulating taste. In this cold winter weather, it is the most refreshing to eat..."

He explained briefly.

King Jing looked surprised and eager to try: "Can I have a taste?"

Qi Ping smiled and said: "Of course, little sister, go get a new pair of bowls and chopsticks."

Not long after, King Jing picked up his wooden chopsticks and took a bite according to Qi Ping's instructions. He felt uncomfortable at first and frowned slightly.

But soon, as the taste of spicy oil exploded and the juice filled his entire mouth, King Jing felt an unprecedented stimulation that penetrated his whole body. The chill in his body that he had rushed over instantly subsided.

He chewed it hard a few times, swallowed it, and his eyes suddenly lit up!

Immediately, he picked up another piece, a third piece, a fourth piece...

In the past, King Jing would evaluate a delicacy after tasting it.

However... this time, he didn't say a word and ate a few mouthfuls in succession. Then, regardless of elegance, he suddenly pulled up a chair and sat down, rolled up his sleeves, exhaled, and ate a mouthful of soup.

"Father..." Next to her, Princess Anping, who was pretending to be a lady, was stunned. She didn't understand how this strange-looking thing could make her father behave like this.

"Would you like to try it, Princess?" Next to him, Qi Ping smiled and handed over the bowls and chopsticks.

Princess Anping's watery eyes blinked, and she reluctantly said, "Yes."

After a while, both father and daughter became angry, completely losing their aristocratic demeanor.

"This thing...this thing..." King Jing stuck out his tongue and held his chopsticks, as if he didn't know what words to use to evaluate.

Qi Ping said: "It's cool."

So cool... King Jing was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "As expected of Qi Shikui, this word is wonderful! Wonderful!"

It's strange, this food is obviously not as exquisite and delicious as the dishes prepared by the palace chef.

In fact, the original taste of the ingredients has been covered up. According to common sense, he should sneer at such heavy-flavored things, but...

This hot pot is contrary to common sense.

"If I read it right, the focus should be on this spicy thing." King Jing said in deep thought.

Qi Ping took the lead and told about the chili peppers he obtained in Yuezhou. The foodie prince's eyes widened and he was amazed.

He decided immediately and ordered people to go to Yuezhou to look for the chili pepper.

"I didn't expect Qi Shikui to be so accomplished in this delicacy." King Jing admired, looking at him with a strange look. Then he sighed softly again, with a hint of annoyance in his tone:

"If we knew that there were such strange things, I would have paid a visit long ago. I hate seeing you so late. I hate seeing you so late."

Qi Ping smiled and was a little surprised. Although he had heard many stories about this elegance-loving prince in the past, when he really came into contact with him, he found that he was much more friendly than expected.

It is hard to imagine that a prince, a relative of the emperor, would roll up his sleeves so naturally and sit with the common people.

Moreover, it is not a pretense, for example, because Taifu and Qi Ping pretend to be very close to the people, but it is not true that there is a sense of leisure in their behavior.

"Your Majesty, what about the food you brought here..." The servant waiting at the door, holding a food box, finally spoke.

King Jing waved his hand: "No more. It's just like what the master said, after eating this spicy...pepper, it will be too tasteless to eat these things again."

The servants looked at each other. You know, the dishes in the house are all of the highest quality, but they were rejected.

The two people who unexpectedly joined in made the meal a lot more lively. Fortunately, there were enough ingredients, so everyone sat down and chatted while eating.

King Jing really just came to see him, and during the dinner they talked about disaster relief, poetry, Go, food... There was no theme, it was just like chatting with friends.

Qi Ping talked and laughed freely, and the guests and hosts enjoyed the meal. Princess Anping's face turned red from eating. Her eyes turned into crescent moons as she watched her father talking to Qi Ping.

Only Yun Qing'er looked unhappy, feeling that she was being robbed of food, but when she saw the food boxes put into the house, she started to smile.

After the meal, both parties drank another cup of tea before King Jing left.

"Master, is this prince really just here to see me?" Qi Ping looked at the leaving carriage and asked with some uncertainty.

Mr. Yun smiled and said: "Prince Jing is so elegant. In the past, your status was too low, but now you are considered appropriate."

Really? Qi Ping thought to himself, but I met the emperor when I was still a captain.

…

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Daoyuan, Maple Courtyard.
To be continued...