strictlysupreme Chapter 157 Lian and Qing's Story
Chapter 157 Lian and Qing's Story
The next day, the court was held.
The palace was stuffy and many people's backs were soaked.
Even the emperor, who had been fanned by palace servants, felt a little irritated by the heat.
Gu Xi took out a box of popsicles from the space, walked out of the queue, walked to the middle, and said to Emperor Jichang:
"Your Majesty, the gods in heaven are holding a refreshing banquet. I asked the Star Lord of Destiny for some refreshing food for your Majesty and your colleagues to try."
Well, it seems that Sima Xingjun is a person who is easy to talk to.
As he said this, he asked the eunuch to come over and give the emperor two.
The reason why there are two sticks is because emperors of all dynasties had a habit of letting eunuchs taste the food first, for fear that it would be poisoned.
The eunuch beside the emperor's eyes lit up after taking a bite.
In this hot summer, having a popsicle is so refreshing.
After Emperor Jichang tasted it, he couldn't help but praise it:
"The food eaten by the immortals is indeed extraordinary. It has a cool texture and a sweet taste. It is really a delicacy!"
If Gu Xi hadn’t taken it out in public, he, an emperor of his size, would have wanted to take it all instead of eating it all alone.
Gu Xi asked the palace servants to come and distribute them to the ministers. Even Shi Huairen, seeing that all the ministers had eaten them, could not help but take one.
Afterwards, there was endless exclamations of praise.
"It's amazing. It makes me feel cool all over."
"Take a bite and your whole body will feel refreshed. This thing should only exist in heaven!"
"It's not just in heaven, the national teacher said that this is obtained from the gods in heaven."
"We have only seen ice in winter. Who would have thought that there would be ice in summer?"
"Hurry up and blow it, it will all melt. How can we waste this immortal treasure?"
……
After finishing one popsicle, everyone looked at Gu Xi hopefully, wanting another one.
Emperor Jichang said:
"Since the Imperial Master can get such delicacies from heaven, I wonder if we can get some more?"
Gu Xi said awkwardly:
"Your Majesty, if you want to, you must find a reason."
One of the fat ministers was most afraid of heat and said to Gu Xi:
"Master, can I buy it with silver?"
Gu Xi still said with difficulty:
"Not all gods in heaven love money. I just think it's a bit embarrassing to always ask people for food."
That's true. It's really not elegant for a national teacher, a messenger of God, to always ask for food from gods just to satisfy his appetite.
Chu Zhao stepped out at this time, bowed, and said:
"Your Majesty, I have an idea. If the heaven can hold a cool banquet, we can do the same. This way, the Imperial Master will have a reason to ask the gods for food."
All the ministers nodded, this was a good idea, maybe they could bring their families along to enjoy the food together.
Seeing the expressions of the ministers, Chu Zhao thought, want to eat her Axi's food for free? Humph, no way!
Chu Zhao said again:
"Since it is a banquet, there will be no shortage of people, and more of these immortal products will be needed. I am willing to pay the money and crowdfund for this banquet."
Emperor Jichang asked, "What is crowdfunding?"
Chu Zhao said: "We can't take so many immortal items for free, and we can't let the Imperial Master spend all the money. Why don't we all raise some money for the Imperial Master?"
Emperor Jichang thought about it and realized that this was true. Immortal products must be very expensive, and he was not willing to let the palace pay for it.
He had bought elixirs from the Imperial Master several times, and now the inner treasury was not well-off, so crowdfunding was a good idea, so he said:
"Lord Chu, your idea is good. I will hold a cool banquet in the palace. All the nobles can bring their families into the palace. However, the more money you pay, the more family members you can bring. This is more fair."
Although the popsicles that Gu Xi wholesales are less than one dollar each, there are so many corrupt officials around, and it would be a shame to the people if they weren't killed!
So Gu Xi pretended to discuss this with the gods in heaven, and then said excitedly:
"Your Majesty, the Star Lord Siming has agreed and will provide more and better immortal products than the popsicles you just ate."
Is there anything better than popsicles?
Originally, they asked for money, and the ministers were still hesitating whether to bring their families. But now they thought, it’s just silver. This is the first time they have seen such a magical product, and they may not have the chance to eat it in the future.
Gu Xi finally set the ticket price for each minister at one hundred taels of silver, the same price for everyone, regardless of gender, age or status.
When the ministers saw how cheap it was, almost all of them signed up.
Gu Xi didn't ask for a high price because she wanted more people to enter the palace so that they could have a glimpse of Concubine Shi meeting her lover in secret.
That night, civil and military officials came to the palace with their families.
Because there were so many people coming, there were about four or five hundred men and women together, and no hall could accommodate so many people. So Gu Xi built an outdoor buffet square in the Imperial Garden, divided into men's and women's areas.
Rows of tables are filled with a variety of refreshing foods.
There are popsicles of various flavors, as well as shaved ice and smoothies of various fruit flavors.
Iced soda is also a must.
Well, there were also the hundreds of cups of iced lemonade she ordered from Mixue Ice City, which were cheap and ice-cold.
There were iced juices for the ladies and iced beer for the gentlemen.
As soon as everyone walked into the imperial garden, they felt a cool breeze blowing towards them.
The temperature dropped by several degrees.
Many ladies were amazed and couldn't wait to taste it.
Compared with civil and military officials, women are more fond of sweets. Once they try them, they simply can't stop.
This hundred taels is totally worth it!
Emperor Jichang naturally could not eat while standing like these officials, so he placed some seats between the male and female guest areas.
Emperor Jichang sat in the first seat, and on his left was the little-known empress. Because of the presence of Concubine Shi, the empress had almost no presence.
Moreover, the queen was nearly fifty years old, her looks faded, and she had lost her prince and son, so she was disheartened and just fasted and chanted Buddhist scriptures all day long.
The reason I can come here today is because the word "immortal product" is too tempting.
Sitting on the right is Concubine Shi, who is wearing a light and gorgeous palace dress. She is enchanting and charming, outshining all the other beauties.
There were also several more prestigious concubines standing next to them.
Sitting on the seats on the side were several older and more respected ministers.
Because a banquet was being held in the Imperial Garden, the main force of the Imperial Guards was stationed there to guard, and the defense of the harem became a little lax.
Gu Xi quietly left while there were many people around, and together with Chu Zhao, they climbed onto the wall of Concubine Shi’s palace.
The fake eunuch named Wang did not attend the palace banquet for fear of being recognized by Shi Huairen. At this moment, he was lying on a rocking chair in the yard, fanning himself to keep cool. His treatment was indeed different from that of other eunuchs.
Chu Zhao lowered his voice and said, "I have inquired about it. This eunuch is called Wang Qing and has been in the palace for several years."
Gu Xi said silently: "Tsk tsk, another story about Lian and Qing."
"what?"
"Nothing, just go and knock him out."
Chu Zhao looked around to see that there was no one else around, so he flew over and knocked Wang Qing unconscious with a single blow of his hand.
Gu Xi took him into the space and left quietly.