Man Tang Huacai

Chapter 55
The lobby is as warm as spring, and the guests have already arrived.

When Xue Bai returned to the hall with the dishes, everyone had just exchanged greetings and sat at the small tables on both sides.

Yang Yuyao still asked him to come forward and sit on the same couch with her.

"I know you don't drink too much, so I prepared a ebony drink for you." She winked at him sideways, with some teasing intentions, "Don't get drunk again."

She doesn't need to please a man, she has to accompany him and make fun of him, just to make herself happy.

Xue Bai picked up the golden cup and took a sip, it was sweet and sour.

He took a deep look at Yang Yuyao, turned back, and whispered to himself in a slightly distressed tone: "I'm afraid I will still be drunk."

"Why?"

"Alcohol is not intoxicating, and everyone is intoxicated."

"Oh?" Yang Yuyao's beautiful eyes turned, "Why do people get drunk?"

If these words were replaced by Yang Zhao, it would be nothing more than a glib tongue like "You are so beautiful that I am drunk", which is very boring.

But Xue Bai just clicked to the end and stopped answering. He raised his hand politely and said: "I specially prepared delicacies for Yaoniang, please."

Yang Yuyao was a little unhappy.

She quite hated Xue Bai's somewhat high-handed and indifferent feeling.

At this point, the dishes are served.

"Hey, what are these dishes?"

There are only five dishes arranged by Xue Bai, and they are served in small porcelain white plates, and each plate is only a little less.But the color is bright and steaming, which makes people very appetizing at first glance.

Braised lamb short ribs, stir-fried shredded lamb tripe, braised crucian carp, stir-fried winter amaranth, and scrambled eggs with fungus.

Yang Yuyao picked up the chopsticks, looked back and forth at each dish twice, and first took a shredded lamb tripe into the mouth.

There was some oil on her red lips, she chewed carefully, and it turned out to be a delicacy she had never tasted before, her eyes lit up, and she turned to look at Xue Bai.

"Did you really prepare it for me?"

Xue Bai didn't answer but asked instead: "Is it delicious?"

"Really delicious."

Yang Yuyao nodded repeatedly, not realizing that Xue Bai deliberately overwhelmed her with his aura.

~~
There was a sound of praise in the hall.

Deng Lian picked up a small piece of braised crucian carp, closed his eyes and tasted it slowly, tasting it in his heart.

"Fry it in oil for a better taste, sauté green onion and ginger to enhance the aroma, and add rice wine to remove the fishy smell. Although it is not as fresh and tender as the fish, it is more delicious, and the flavors of the ingredients are well integrated... The heat is slightly over, and it has a slightly coppery smell. Astringent, there are still deficiencies, but it can be called 'beautiful'."

Soon, someone asked him: "How does Chief Official Deng comment?"

Deng Lian put down his chopsticks, stood up, crossed his hands and bowed solemnly to the host, and said in a loud voice: "The cakes for villains are just after-dinner snacks. This stir-fried dish can only be the main course."

Xue Bai saw that he was showing face in such a way, and hurriedly raised his golden cup filled with ebony drink to respect.

"Mr. Deng is overrated."

He knew that this meant that everyone had never eaten it before, and tasted something new. After all, Guanzhong is still the world of pasta.

At this time, everyone in the hall had different thoughts.

Yang Zhao gobbled it up in his mouth, but his eyes were full of complaints, knowing that the big gift given today has been overshadowed.Xue Bai gave Xue Bai thousands of gold and ten thousand gold, but Xue Bai didn't want to repay, and refused to share the credit for offering delicious food;
Sitting above him was Cui Huitong, the son-in-law of the Princess of Jin who was very good at writing poems.It's a pity that Li Taibai disturbed his thoughts, so that all he could think of was "the jade plate is ashamed and worth tens of thousands of dollars".

When he turned his head again, the five dishes had been eaten up by Princess Jin.

~~
"It's delicious, but unfortunately it's too little, not enough."

Suddenly someone got up, left his seat, walked into the hall, and said with a smile: "Mr Xue Lang is a bit too stingy."

In fact, Xue Bai had already noticed this person, and greeted him with a smile.

"Shenji Boy, we meet again. In the future, there will be another banquet in honor of Shenji Boy and all the lords."

Jia Chang got Xue Bai's help in the secret gambling workshop, and knew that he was the future son-in-law of the Xiangfu, so he was very close, he said: "There are many people in the hall, can Mr. Xue arrange to come?"

Xue Bai replied, "I will definitely think of a way."

Listening to this conversation, Du Wulang had an idea, turned his head and saw that Du Youlin had closed his eyes after eating the stir-fried vegetables, as if an old monk had fallen into meditation.

"..."

"But I don't know how Mr. Xue Lang came up with this method of cooking?"

"I have lost my memory and my life experience, but recently I vaguely remembered that I have seen people cook vegetables in an iron pan, which is very delicious, so I gave it a try."

"Iron pot? Iron pots, iron pots and other utensils are only found in the army. Could it be that Xue Langjun's family is serving in the frontier army?"

"Can't remember, maybe."

Today, everyone has tasted the delicious stir-fried vegetables, not Xue Bai's mouth.Then, if someone accuses him of being Xue Ru's son in the future, he can remind them to think about it again and realize "No, Xue Ru has never served in the frontier army."

At this time, no one cared at all, and their minds were completely focused on cooking.

"Oh? This dish can be fried even better."

"After all, it is not perfect, and many materials and utensils are insufficient."

All the dignitaries here are rich and powerful, so they will not be short of these, and they all promised to send spices and objects to Xue Bai, in short, it made Yang Yuyao happy.

The impact of the five dishes of cooking still needs to be fermented.

~~
After drinking and eating, the next step is to have fun.

The prodigal chicken boy Jia Chang never let the atmosphere of the banquet cool down.

"Everyone! It has been agreed today that we will not enjoy singing and dancing but only watch cockfights. Is there anyone who wants to bet on it?"

"No, who doesn't know how interesting it is to bet on your magic chicken boy fighting cocks?"

"Then let's change the game. You only see fighting cocks, and I don't want to teach you which one is mine. I'm just the banker of the bet, how about it?"

"..."

Soon, two fighting cocks came into play.

One is General Jin Hao and the other is General Tie Ju, both of whom have red crowns, with strong spirits and fierce eyes... They are quite similar to Li Linfu.

Above, Yang Yuyao had already drank several glasses of wine, her cheeks were rosy, and she was leaning lazily on Xue Bai's body.

Xue Bai looked into the hall, but saw Mingzhu standing behind the old monk with her head down, with a sad and self-pitying expression, which was out of tune with the surrounding atmosphere.

He then said: "Uncle Guo quarreled with that old monk, I should be blamed for this matter."

"Why?"

"Yang Shenjin sent her out because he failed to stop Ji Wen from searching her other house that night..."

At this time, everyone else was betting on cockfights. Yang Yuyao usually watched a lot and was not very interested, but she was attracted by the stories Xue Bai told.

He whispered next to her ear, and sometimes his breath blew into her ear, making it a little itchy, but her mind fluctuated with the things he said.

"I think it was precisely because of this that Yang Shenjin sent her out."

Yang Yuyao snorted coldly: "Why give it to such an ugly old monk? A man's husband can't protect his own woman, and instead blames her for all his sins."

"Yes." Xue Bai stopped.

"You think I invited them in to vent my anger on Yang Zhao?" Yang Yuyao smiled slightly, "Just watch."

She beckoned and asked the servant girl to call the old monk to come forward and answer.

……

"Madame Guo is in good health."

"I ran into him on the road, but I haven't asked the master's name yet, where do I practice meditation?"

"Back to Madam Guoguo, I have returned to the common world and returned to the world of mortals. I am no longer a disciple of Buddhism. I use the lay name Shi Jingzhong."

Yang Yuyao didn't care what his name was, her gaze had already fallen on Ming Zhu, and said: "So, you can bet on the cockfight?"

Shi Jingzhong looked embarrassed, and replied: "Although I am not bound by discipline, it is a pity that I have no property."

Yang Yuyao turned her head to signal, and immediately a maid took out a large wooden box with golden horseshoe gold inside.

"You can bet on this concubine. You are allowed to bet first. As long as you win, the gold is all yours."

Shi Jingzhong looked at the gold, then at the pearl, and finally at the two fighting cocks, and said: "Then respect is worse than obedience. I will deposit a small amount of money for the general to win."

Yang Zhao wanted to help Mrs. Guo Guo, so he immediately signed a bet, betting on General Tie Ju with [-] yuan.

"Are you still betting?!" He patted Du Youlin's desk.

Du Youlin was sitting in that old monk's samadhi, he was startled by the drink, but when he opened his eyes, he couldn't tell which was a gold hair and which was an iron distance, his long beard trembled twice, and helplessly pressed once. ten thousand dollars.

The cockfight started, and it didn't take long for the majestic General Tie Ju to lose.

Before Du Youlin saw it clearly, the [-] yuan was gone.

"Come again."

Yang Yuyao's face remained unchanged, and she ordered the maidservant to bring out two large wooden boxes containing gold, and asked Shi Jingzhong to bet on the concubine and the gold he won.

Shi Jingzhong's expression changed, and he secretly scolded the woman for being too domineering. He looked at the two fighting cocks being brought up, and chose one.

This time Shi Jingzhong won again,
"Come again." Yang Yuyao directly asked the servant to move out several large boxes, and wrote lightly: "You have the ability, until you win my money."

What everyone didn't expect was that Shi Jingzhong won five games in a row, and the horseshoe gold he won had piled up into a hill in the hall.

Yang Zhao was shocked and kept yelling at the "monster monk".

Even Jia Chang's expression changed, he wished he could get out of the game and bet first.

Only Yang Yuyao's face remained unchanged, and she continued to make people carry out gold, silver and jewelry.

"Madam Guo Guo, how about forgetting about it today?" Shi Jingzhong deliberately showed his ability, then picked up a gold horseshoe, and said with a smile: "I only need this ingot of gold, it is enough."

He has the ability, I hope Yang Yuyao can take a look at it, and then raise his hands high.

Yang Yuyao still leaned lazily on Xue Bai's body, and said leisurely: "I told you, you have to win all my money."

It's a gamble, but it's tantamount to stealing it.

Shi Jingzhong felt resentful in his heart, but he could only smile apologetically. He knew that he couldn't offend Mrs. Guo Guo, so the cockfight he chose this time was finally defeated, and he handed over Mingzhu's identity.

In the end, he could only gouged Mingzhu with a greedy look, left Mrs. Guo's mansion empty-handed, and went to Pingkangfang Sanqu to vent his hatred.

Yang Zhao was overjoyed, and quickly saluted, "Thank you Mrs. Guo Guo for standing up for me!"

"Who said it was because of my cousin?" Yang Yuyao giggled, "I want to keep this beauty at home... Mingzhu, come here."

Yang Zhao was stunned for a moment, and stared at Mingzhu bewilderedly.

Mingzhu didn't even look at Yang Zhao anymore, she wiped away her tears and walked towards Yang Yuyao, kowtowed to the ground, and said, "Madam Guo Guo is so kind, Mingzhu will never forget it."

Yang Yuyao stood up, stroked her face, and said softly, "I heard Xue Bai tell you about you, so don't be afraid. From now on, when you are by my side, no one can bully you."

"Thank you, Mrs. Guoguo, and Mr. Xue Lang."

Mingzhu closed her eyes obediently, feeling the temperature of Yang Yuyao's fingers.What came to mind was Yang Zhao's torture and Yang Shenjin's indifference. He personally destroyed the past vows of eternal love and sent her to Shi Jingzhong, as if pushing her into hell.

She was still very weak and could not take revenge on them, but a deep hatred took root in her heart little by little.

~~
It's not dark yet.

On Yushi Terrace, Pei Mian stood in the corridor, watching Wang Chi come out of Yang Shenjin's public room.

Wang Chi also served as the censor, and had been staring at Yang Shenjin's position as the censor Zhongcheng for a long time.

"Your Majesty." Pei Mian went up to Wang Ji and said in a low voice, "I heard that Yang Shenjin came to Du's house to hire her last night, and there have been rumors about it."

"Be patient for a while longer." Wang Hao said: "Sooner or later, he will be moved, but this time is definitely not a good time. Now is the time when the Right Minister most needs Yu Shitai to bite the East Palace to death. Yu Shi Zhongcheng can't have an accident, otherwise he will mess up his own position."

"The prince is righteous, and the overall situation is the most important thing."

Pei Mian said: "He made an unexpected incident, if it spreads to the ears of the sage, because he dislikes Yang Shenjin and suspects Yushitai, it will be a mistake."

Wang Ji snorted coldly: "Your Prime Minister has personally made the arrangements, so it won't happen for the time being. That is to say, Yang Shenjin must be killed after this matter, otherwise how could it be so peaceful? Remember, the crown prince must be abolished first."

"understood."

Pei Mian glanced back at Yang Shenjin's private room, thinking that he should indeed keep this Censor Zhongcheng who is not good at power.

I believe that the Youxiangfu never expected that Donggong's strategy of clearing up the suspicion would also fall on this nobleman who was born in two kings and three Kes.

Finish this matter first, and then find a way to silence, so as not to reveal your identity, but right now you can't make extra troubles... Pei Mian thought so.

~~
Xue Bai sipped the ebony drink, planning to win some protection tonight.

He is very clear that now is the time when the struggle between Youxiangfu and Donggong is the most intense, both sides are engrossed and can't care about anything else.

Just like two boulders colliding with each other, gravel like Jiwen cracks and creates gaps, giving weed seeds a chance to take root.

But it's not enough. If it doesn't have time to grow in the future, it will have to knock more between the two boulders to create a bigger gap.

Where should I knock at that time?Xue Bai thought so.

(End of this chapter)