"Your Highness, please wait a moment."
Lu Xuan quickly ran out and went to the kitchen to prepare snacks to go with the drinks.
Inside the room, the prince chatted with a man named Changyuan.
"Changyuan, what do you think of this person?"
"Having only met him once, we can't tell much. But based on Your Highness's previous description, this County Magistrate Lu is shrewd despite his rough exterior. He's definitely more than just a swordsman from the Western Regions."
"Just as I thought. I noticed this person was special back in court. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I felt he was somewhat similar to you. It was a similarity in temperament. Even though he made quite a fool of himself in court, making everyone think he was a country bumpkin from the Western Regions."
But I felt he was mocking us. It was a detached, indifferent air, like someone standing aside and observing coldly. It was very subtle, or rather, he concealed it very well. But having been with you for so long, I'm quite sensitive to that kind of attitude.
"If what Your Highness says is true, then this person may have some talent and wisdom."
"Yes, I think so too. By the way, I came across a poem a few days ago, Changyuan, would you like to read it?"
"Your Highness, please speak."
"Hundreds of thousands of houses resemble a game of Go, and twelve streets are like vegetable plots."
"From afar, I faintly see the morning fire, a single star shining west of the Five Gates."
Changyuan initially appeared calm, but after listening to the entire poem, he pondered for a moment before revealing a hint of surprise.
"This poem, though not particularly ornate, is concise and powerful in its language, and quite profound. It was definitely not written by an unknown person." After saying this, he paused for a moment, then looked at Li Heng.
"Your Highness, could this poem have been written by this County Magistrate Lu?"
"It was he who did it. These were the lines of poetry he casually recited when he entered and left Chang'an. Someone from the Secret Service recorded them and gave them to Father Emperor, which made Father Emperor very happy and gave him a higher opinion of him."
"In the main hall, he said that he might have been educated, but due to a head injury, he couldn't remember the specifics. Now it seems that it's probably more than just being educated. Your Highness, this person needs to be observed more closely to know his true nature. However, Your Highness might as well show him some favor first and keep him on your side."
"Changyuan, you really know me inside and out. You think exactly the same thing as me." Just then, footsteps came from outside the door. It was Lu Xuan who walked in carrying a pot of warmed wine and a few snacks to go with it.
Stir-fried cabbage with vinegar and bok choy with shiitake mushrooms—two refreshing and vibrant vegetable dishes. There was also braised mutton and a Jade White Soup. Two vegetarian dishes, one meat dish, plus a soup. Though simple, the aroma was irresistible. Especially the Jade White Soup (using spinach, called "Bo Ling Cai" in the Tang Dynasty), which Lu Xuan had simmered in broth over low heat, saving for his own consumption.
Lu Xuan noticed that Changyuan was a Taoist priest, so he prepared mostly vegetarian dishes. Sure enough, the dishes were all very much to their liking.
"This cabbage is just an ordinary vegetable, but this side dish is sour and delicious, and it suits my taste very well."
"I prefer this dish of shiitake mushrooms and bok choy. The shiitake mushrooms and bok choy are simply blanched in hot water. But the sauce served at the end is the finishing touch."
The Crown Prince and Changyuan quietly commented on Lu Xuan's dishes while pouring themselves a small cup of wine and drinking it down together.
"Cough cough cough..." The two coughed almost simultaneously. Lu Xuan was so startled he nearly drew his sword. He had a feeling that if they continued coughing like that, a group of imperial guards would rush out from around them. At that point, he would have no choice but to fight his way out.
However, the final result only proved that Lu Xuan had overthought things. Neither the Crown Prince nor Changyuan considered this a big deal. On the contrary, they both praised the wine.
"It's as dry as a raging fire, stirring the heart and lungs. It's truly a fine wine."
"That's right. Although this wine is slightly less fragrant, its merits outweigh its flaws. Given time, it will surely become popular in Chang'an and even throughout the Tang Dynasty."
"Hahaha, Changyuan. See? I told you I had a good nose. This trip not only led me to discover a delicious restaurant, but also allowed me to drink such a unique and flavorful spirit. It was truly a worthwhile trip."
"Changyuan has benefited from following His Highness's lead."
Seeing that they were enjoying their meal, Lu Xuan didn't approach them but quietly slipped away. He remembered who this young man named Changyuan was. This guy would later become Li Bi, the Director of the Jing'an Division, theoretically the second-in-command, but actually the leader. The one who would later cooperate with Zhang Xiaojing to save Chang'an.
Rumors circulated that he and the Crown Prince were close friends, and seeing them today confirmed it. However, the difference in their social status was simply too great. Lu Xuan naturally wouldn't stoop to their level and try to strike up a conversation. In a feudal dynasty, confusing seniority was a capital offense.
Seeing Lu Xuan quietly leave, the Crown Prince's opinion of him rose even higher.
"Well, Changyuan, now you can re-evaluate this person," the Crown Prince said with a smile.
Li Bi pondered for a moment, a slight hint of helplessness flashing across his face.
"I can't see through it."
"Can't see through him?" Even the Crown Prince was somewhat shocked. He knew that his friend had been considered a child prodigy since childhood. Later, he accompanied him in his studies, and the two grew up together. He knew his friend very well. Although he was gentle and polite in his dealings with others, he was extremely proud at heart, and very few people could meet his standards. And for him to say that someone was "unfathomable" was completely unprecedented.
"Yes, I can't see through it. These dishes, though simple, are unlike anything I've ever seen before. Your Highness was born into the royal family and is unfamiliar with the common people. Just this cooking technique alone is something that ordinary families cannot inherit."
Not to mention these uniquely styled, yet remarkably refined, dishes. These things should absolutely not be coming from a Western Regions chef. But he has them nonetheless. That's why I can't understand him.”
"Now that you mention it, County Magistrate Lu does indeed possess many extraordinary qualities. The court officials made a fool of him in the main hall that day; it seems they misjudged him... Changyuan, give me the truth. Do you think this man is capable?"
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Chapter Thirty-Three: The Issue of Eating Pork in the Tang Dynasty
Lu Xuan's tavern became a hit. That strong liquor, in an era lacking entertainment, was a necessary form of spiritual consumption. A single glass of strong liquor, and the whole night was gone.
It wasn't just the strong liquor; the dishes in his tavern also began to become popular in Chang'an.
Lu Xuan sometimes marveled at the beauty of this era. Because he didn't need to do anything earth-shattering; he could easily win everyone's attention by making small changes in any aspect of his life, such as clothing, food, housing, and transportation.
Of course, this doesn't mean he truly loves this era. At least not until toilet paper is invented.
"Master, this is the account book for this month. There is a profit of two hundred strings of cash. This is because the shop is too small and can only serve a small number of customers each day. If our shop could be several times larger, we could make at least five hundred strings of cash this month."
"Expanding the store is fine. But don't make it too big, and definitely don't make it too crowded. We've already been making quite a splash lately, and our foothold in Chang'an is still shallow, so we shouldn't be too high-profile. By the way, how's Xiao Si doing?"
"Not bad. That kid is clever. He's basically learned all the recipes you left behind. I've tasted them all, and he's about 80% as good as you, boss."
"That's good. From now on, the restaurant will be in your hands. Also, hire a tutor for Xiao Si to teach him to read and write, and it would be best if he could read some books."
"What's wrong, boss? You're still planning to send him to school? This kid is clever, but his cleverness doesn't lie in this area."
"Whether or not to go to school is another matter. But if a person doesn't even know how to read, wouldn't he have lived a wasted life?"