Concubine's Pond

On the day of the cooking competition, the sun was shining brightly, the sky was clear, and the entire capital city was cloudy and humid for several days.

The rare good weather brightened the mood of everyone in Shangjing. They were enthusiastic about gossip about the drama of "two daughters fighting for husband" that was reported from the palace seven days ago—— There is no way, who let the "husband" being contested in this "two women competing for husbands" be His Royal Highness Huangfu Ye, the God of War of Hengyue, who is proud of the whole Hengyue Dynasty, respects him like a god, is most loving and holy? !

And among the gossip heroines is Princess Yun, who is envied by women all over the world——[One couple for a lifetime, white heads never leave each other] Ah!

In the words of the 21st century, the idol effect is huge.

The east of the city is big enough to accommodate 10 people. The royal open-air martial arts arena set up like the Colosseum in ancient Rome can accommodate four-fifths of the seats for the common people to watch the ceremony. Since the imperial list was posted three days ago, its seat tickets have been widely discussed. The turbulent people smashed money and looted it all.

All kinds of gambling houses, large and small, have sprung up everywhere in the city, setting a high-rate bet for the final winner of this "two daughters fighting for husband".

Almost most people bet on Princess Hailan to win.

Originally, the support rate between Princess Yun and Princess Hailan was one-sided.

People in the capital are still very supportive of their own people, but after the night of the state banquet seven days ago, the faces of those who supported Princess Yun turned green, while those who sympathized with Princess Hailan and bought Princess Hailan's victory were earning money. To the face that is full of red light, full of polonium, and can laugh out loud in sleep...

It is very hard to save money, and the ordinary people can't afford to hurt it!You, my lord concubine, are really too disappointing and too weak!This is the heartfelt voice of more than [-]% of the people in Shangjing City who burst into tears with grief and anger after the outcome of that night...

As soon as Princess Hailan's title of "princess doctor" came out, [-]% of the people in the capital turned their backs, and overwhelmingly fell for Princess Hailan—even if they were unhappy with the princess's arrogance, no one would follow her. Silver can't make it through!

Only three or two kittens still insisted on betting on Princess Yun's victory.

Among them, Mr. Yun Zuoxiang was so shocked that he bet a huge sum of money on his daughter to win - if he doesn't support his daughter, who will support it!Even if he really wants to lose, he still has to support it to the end, what's more, his family Luo Ran hasn't lost yet!Besides, with His Highness here, is it possible for Luo Ran to lose?

"Bet, bet me 10 taels of gold, and I'll bet on my daughter!"

Master Zuo Xiang yelled with anger on the spot, but secretly sneered contemptuously, princess doctor?The godly doctor princess who farts, it is great to have a master doctor who is enshrined to the elders on the outskirts of the Valley of the Medicine King, and he ate his daughter to death?

I don't even think about who is standing behind Luo Ran in his family!

A group of dogs who look down on people in the crack of the door, he wants them to pay until their intestines are green!

……

"Is that why I'm so unpopular?"

Amid the din of people, Mooran, who was standing in the exclusive area of ​​the Martial Arts Field separated by the Imperial Forest Army, stared at the tall hanging wooden sign and asked the man next to him, wearing a mask and looking very unhappy.

"Yeah, buy one and get five back." Huangfu Ye pulled her into his arms with the corners of his lips curled up, with a strange and dangerous light in Jue Shi's eyes, "I've already asked someone to bet 500 million taels of gold to buy you to win." , Five times, after a while, you can earn 500 million taels of gold."

"Why don't you bet more?" Luo Ran, who didn't have a deep understanding of gold and silver in the Xuanwu Continent, pouted.

"...Princess, 500 million taels of gold is 25 billion taels of silver, which is equivalent to two and a half years' income of the national treasury. You, you...do you want to ruin the fortunes of the rich and powerful in the entire capital city?!"

Qingling next to her almost fell down in shock, her face was pale and pale, she almost couldn't get up and carry her back, and looked at her in horror.

The sky, the earth, 25 billion taels of silver, she still thinks such a shocking number is too little! ?

One tael of gold is worth 100 taels of silver!

100 taels of silver in Shangjing is enough for a moderate family of five to live a healthy life for three months!What kind of concept is that 25 billion taels of silver?You can't be so shameless and ignorant!

"Is that so?" Luo Ran was satisfied.

Huangfu Ye continued without changing his face, "Qing Ling, go, according to Wang Hao's wishes, add another one million taels of gold."

As long as she is happy, he doesn't care who lives or dies.Since those people dare to open this gamble, they have to be mentally prepared to lose their entire family and their families.

What! ! ! ! !Qing Ling was dumbfounded, and looked at his Highness in horror, completely losing the ability to speak!

Your Highness, are you trying to force to death at least [-]% of the rich and powerful families in the capital?

"Ahem, no need, you can't kill people like this, you have to leave a way for people to survive." Luo Ran blushed under the mask, coughed lightly, left Huangfu Ye's embrace, and said righteously.

She didn't know the concept of gold and silver exchange here, and she didn't feel anything about the 500 million taels of gold. After knowing it, even if she was as hard-hearted as her, she felt that Huangfu Ye was too unkind...a man can't be so cruel.

Although his pet makes her feel very happy.

Looking at the empty hands, Huangfu Ye glanced at her playfully, the corners of his lips curled up high.

"The emperor is here—the empress dowager is here—!"

Suddenly, a high-pitched shout came, and the Royal Martial Arts Arena, which was full of people, fell silent for an instant.

"Kowtow to the emperor, long live the emperor! See the empress dowager, the empress is a thousand years old!"

The sound of the tsunami-like Shan Hu Long Sui Qian Sui resounded through the sky above the Martial Arts Field, it was deafening and made people's blood tremble.

"Pingshen." The beautiful empress dowager, who was dressed in a golden phoenix robe, showed her own graceful and luxurious royal demeanor, and the little emperor, who was dignified and smiling and held powder and jade carvings in his hand, but had a natural aura of dragon appearance and nobility. Raising their hands to the kneeling people, they entered the arena gracefully and walked towards the VIP area where Huangfu Ye and Luo Ran were.

And behind the two mothers and sons, there are naturally palace maids and eunuchs and civil and military officials who are in good order, inviting the Hengyue royal clan elders, the chief royal chef of the palace, the Ryukyu Kingdom Lord Xiao, the Ryukyu Kingdom's many envoys, and all the people who are judged today. Princess Hailan, one of the protagonists of today's competition, is eye-catching.

"Look, look! The last girl in the costume is Princess Hailan, right?"

"It should be, that suit has the logo of the Ryukyu royal family on it!"

"Oh, it turns out that this Princess Hailan is so beautiful, no wonder she is so confident to compete with Princess Yun for the favor of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent!"

"Hey, no matter how beautiful Princess Yun is, it's a matter of time ago!"

"Yeah, it's a pity..."

"Hey, with such a princess entering the Prince Regent's palace, Princess Yun's life may be difficult in the future..."

"Fart, I don't believe that His Royal Highness the Prince Regent would be willing to do something to make Princess Yun sad! Your Highness loves Princess so much, and he almost gave up his life because of her. How could he move on because Princess Yun is disfigured, Your Highness Not such a superficial and ruthless man!"

"Tch, so what, if you say one thousand words and ten thousand, there are three ways to be unfilial and have no descendants. That is, no matter how much Your Highness loves the princess and doesn't want to hurt the princess's heart, he has to accept the concubine again for the sake of the heirs! Who told the princess Such bad luck, not only disfigured, but also unable to have children!"

"Oh, yes..."

"The princess is so pitiful..."

Standing up and watching the group of people heading towards the exclusive VIP area for the royal family, the three aunts, six wives, seven uncles and eight fathers were suddenly excited like ants that had exploded their nests, pointing and discussing one after another.

After hearing the people's comments, the father and daughter, Princess Hailan and Lord Xiao, who were walking in the middle of the procession, suddenly became more energetic, raising their chins domineeringly, with the same self-satisfied smiles on their faces.

show off.Let you be embarrassed, soon your father and daughter will not be able to laugh.Yun Zhihuan watched with cold eyes, a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth.

The officials and ministers of Daoqing in Chaozhong also cast a contemptuous look at the father and daughter, even if they won, so what, so what if they became Princess Ping?Even if most of them are now betting on their father and daughter to win, it doesn't mean they will agree with their father and daughter—hmph, stupid father and daughter, don't you know that you have made His Highness extremely displeased?To be so unrestrained, wanting to be favored?Dream it!

"Sister-in-law Huang, here we come." Huangfu pulled Luo Ran over at night, and nodded lightly to the empress dowager mother and son, even if he had seen the ceremony - even if he wanted to bow down, the empress dowager mother and son would not dare to accept the gift.

Not to mention that he is a brother-in-law Regent and Hengyue God of War, his status is so special, he can see that the emperor will not kneel, but he is not, just because of his status as a master who has broken through to the innate heaven and human realm, the secular emperor will not salute him It's disrespectful, the mother and son of the Empress Dowager who already knew about his breakthrough dared to let him salute, not even the salute of the same generation!

However, in the eyes of Lord Xiao and Princess Hailan, this scene has a different meaning. It makes the father and daughter more determined to win the victory by any means. With Huangfu Ye as their big backer, their father and daughter Women can walk sideways in Hengyue, even if the emperor and empress dowager see them, they have to avoid them and take a detour!

"Little Emperor!" The little emperor's eyes lit up, cheering, he rushed over to hug Huangfu Ye's leg, "Hug!"

Huangfu Ye raised his eyebrows and looked at the Empress Dowager—it doesn't matter in the palace and in front of the courtiers, but outside, one must maintain the dignity and manners that an emperor should have, right?

"My family, you don't need to be so restrained. Besides, the emperor is still young." The empress dowager smiled gently and looked at her son lovingly, with a gloomy look in her eyes. She thought that even if Huangfu Ye left, it would be her son's eldest son. When an adult is able to control the dynasty, who knows it will be so soon... She now wishes for her son to get closer to Ye, and it is best to win more attention and love from Ye before Ye leaves. Only the emperor's seat can be more secure - Ye Yue loves this little nephew, so it will be better to leave him with more backhands and cards, isn't it?

And when the time comes, if the son encounters any accident that endangers his life, with this little brother-in-law taking care of him in the dark, will he be happy in the end?

Hearing this, something flashed in Huangfu Ye's eyes, his indifferent and handsome silhouette seemed to melt a little under the sunlight, he bent down and hugged the little emperor.

The empress dowager sighed softly, calming down the worry and uneasiness in her heart because Huangfu Ye was about to leave, losing the most powerful protective shield, and looked at the masked, slender girl standing beside Huangfu Ye .

A meaningful smile flashed in her eyes, and the empress dowager asked with concern, "How are the younger brothers and sisters?"

"Ahem... Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your love. I'm fine. I'll be fine if I rest for a while." Luo Ran blessed her body gracefully, and the voice that floated out from under the mask was soft and a little weak .

——No way, the news released by Huangfu Ye is that she is not only disfigured, but also suffers from serious internal injuries and must be bedridden for more than a year, even though it is 'rumored' that she has taken the rare healing medicine in the secret vault of the palace, and she has recovered by four or five points Yes, but she can't reply in a full-fledged manner, pretend, she has to pretend to be weak...

"Then today's competition will take a long time, can the siblings hold on?" The Empress Dowager was even more concerned.Of course, the playful smile in her eyes deepened even more—this question was arranged in private long ago, in order to confirm the rumor that "Princess Yun's internal injuries are not healed and her body is weak".

"It's okay, Your Highness has prepared Yunling pills for my body. I don't feel well, and I can just take a pill when I can't handle it." Luo Ran stretched out her white and jade-like hands, and put a small black porcelain bottle with a thin neck in it. Everyone's eyes lighted up, and they dispelled their doubts about the long hours of work they had been waiting for.

Sure enough, as soon as these words came out, the suspicion and inquiry in the eyes of everyone present disappeared.

"That's very good." The Empress Dowager smiled slightly, then looked up at the sky, and said, "It's not too early now, since the siblings are not in good health, let's start this competition as soon as possible."

The maid waiting next to her immediately understood, and respectfully handed her a blue stone trumpet carved and polished into a trumpet shape, with a warm luster like jade.

"Silence!" The Empress Dowager strode up and shouted lightly, not angry and prestige, but also with Fengyi Tianxia's atmospheric voice, which spread far and loudly, "At the request of the Regent, the Ai family has full authority to supervise Princess Yun and the sea. For the competition between Princess Lan, the first round of the national banquet has already been compared, so now it is the second round of the cooking competition. Naturally, the rules of this competition are also determined by Aijia!"

Antique Megaphone! ?

Could it be that the legendary Xuanwu Continent sound amplifier stone? !

Luo Ran was dumbfounded!

Well, this world is really amazing... However, she has even encountered such a magical thing as crossing, and she has also seen the legendary lightness kung fu of appearing and disappearing, and there is nothing unacceptable for another amplifying stone to appear.

Luo Ran touched the mask on his face and calmed down.

"In order to avoid suspicion and to show fairness, the judges of this competition are no longer Aijia and the emperor, but the four elders of the royal family and the chief chef of the palace Guo Mingjiang!"

The empress dowager's concise, powerful and majestic voice slowly echoed in the quiet martial arts arena, "Ai Jia feels that there are always all kinds of special ingredients in the world, which can make extremely delicious food very easily. But Aijia thinks that the delicacy made with such ingredients is really nothing special except for admiration. If the same delicacy is made with ordinary ingredients, then it is called a strong culinary skill! Test a woman's Cooking skills should use the most basic things, so Aijia decided that most of the common ingredients in the market will be used for the ingredients used in the cooking competition between Princess Yun and Princess Hailan today!"

Common common ingredients?

Hearing these words, Luo Ran narrowed her black pupils slightly, and subconsciously looked back at Yaoxi who was standing quietly in the corner like a puppet holding a jar. The chicken broth she cooked for five days is not a foul, right?

The ingredients she uses for the Buddha Jumping Wall are all common ingredients—common in the Xuanwu Continent, and she has investigated them all.

Originally, she didn't intend to find any special ingredients for the competition from the beginning.

I don't know how the brain-dead princess would feel about this?She heard the information from Huangfu Ye's hidden guards that she has been using a lot of special ingredients to practice recently...

With a slight smile on her lips, Luo Ran glanced at Princess Hailan from the corner of her eye, and noticed that there was a slight livid on that beautiful face.

Luo Ran immediately gloated.

Poor brain-dead kid, all your efforts in those days were in vain...

But I heard that this brain-dead kid is really good at cooking, I hope she won't be too bad at ordinary ingredients, otherwise this game will be boring.Luo Ran gave an unkind smile.

"Secondly, in order to make this competition more fair and just, the second chef, the maid, who is serving and assisting the two contestants, does not accept the two contestants' own people. chosen from among the royal cooks and handmaidens."

With a wave of the empress dowager's majestic hand, a row of royal chefs and a row of maids from the royal dining room came out from the crowd at the end, "Princess Yun, Princess Hailan, please, each person is limited to one second chef and two maids." .”

Now, Princess Hailan's face changed completely.

"Yes." She glared at the Empress Dowager and Luo Ran with an ugly face, tried hard to endure the dissatisfaction in her heart, and walked forward first, and randomly selected the second chef and two maids to come out.

At this time, what did she not understand? These rules seemed fair and reasonable, but in fact almost all restricted her!

Princess Hailan gritted her teeth secretly, hum, it seems that someone doesn't want her to win this round!And the person behind the scenes must be that damn Princess Yun! (Idiot boy, you are blaming Mooran wrongly, this is what Empress Dowager Su means...)

However, Yun Luoran, do you think that this will make it difficult for me?Do you think you've won?It's so naive. Although the princess's attainments in common ingredients are not as good as those in special ingredients, they are not far behind. Let's wait and see!

Moreover, even if I lose this round, I will be the one who wins the third round of fighting doctors. If you win two out of three rounds, you can't stop me from becoming Princess Ping!

Thinking of this, the determined Princess Hailan smiled coldly, and cast a provocative look at Yun Luoran, "Princess 'sister', you should be careful, don't faint in the middle of the competition."

After saying that, she turned around proudly and led the people to the high platform in the middle of the martial arts arena, where two small kitchen stoves had already been set up.

Luo Ran behind the mask smiled indifferently, followed by selecting a second chef and two maids, but did not immediately walk to the stove that belonged to her.

"Empress Dowager, my concubine has prepared a jar of high soup as seasoning for this competition, I wonder if I can bring it into the arena now?" Beckoning Yaoxi from the corner to come over, Luo Ran smiled, although her voice was very weak, she was neither humble nor overbearing stood up straight.

Hearing this, everyone's piercing gazes "brush" all on her.

Even Princess Hailan, who was halfway to the high platform, stopped suddenly, turned her head angrily, and stared at Luo Ran unkindly!

Her father Xiao Guozhu's face turned livid in an instant, and his eyes almost burst into flames!

Too much bullying, she is cheating naked|naked|naked, foul!

"Your Majesty, I protest! This is a foul, it's too unfair to the little girl!" He strode out, accusing mercilessly.

"Oh? Is it a broth made from special ingredients?" The empress dowager, who was startled for a moment, calmly glanced at Xiao Guozhu, with a flash of contempt and disgust in her eyes, and slightly raised an eyebrow at Luo Ran.

If it was a broth made from special ingredients, even if she wanted to help her, she wouldn't be able to slap herself in the public eye, violating the rules she set.

"No, it's just ordinary chicken broth." Under the mask, Luo Ran smiled cunningly.

"Oh, that's no problem, I'm sure." The Empress Dowager frowned, and looked suspiciously at the big brown pottery altar that Yaoxi was holding.

"My king refuses to accept it!" Xiao Guozhu shouted with a ferocious expression, "She said it was ordinary chicken broth, but is it just ordinary chicken broth! What does the Empress Dowager think of the eyes of the people in the world?"

"..."

There was a sudden commotion among the people around, and even the [-] to [-] people sitting far away in the auditorium also had a commotion and booed everywhere.

That's right, although I don't want to doubt Princess Yun's character, it would be too partial if I don't test it like this...

"Since Lord Xiao doesn't believe it, why don't you ask Lord Xiao to taste this pot of soup with the chief chef, Guo Mingjiang, and test it out." He stared coldly at Lord Xiao, then at Huangfu Ye's calm face, and then looked at it again. With Luo Ran wearing a mask and unable to see his expression, the Empress Dowager hesitated for a moment, and decided to be fair, otherwise, it would be difficult to stop the people of the world!

"Come here, open the altar to test the soup!"