Tang Mingfan felt that today's court session was particularly long and hard to endure. Standing below the throne, he listened to the censors yammer and cursed them up hill and down dale in his heart. These old geezers don't do any work. All they do is yammer and waste time.
Although he was a civil official himself, he was a man of action, nothing like them.
His high rank placed him near the front, and the emperor, seated on the dragon throne, could see that he seemed somewhat restless today. He could not help asking with a smile, "Minister Tang, do you have a matter to report?"
The emperor was tired of the censors too, but he did not dare say anything. Otherwise, they would smash their heads against the pillars, eager to die on the spot and go down in history, while he would be remembered as a foolish ruler.
Damn it, enough already.
So he called on Tang Mingfan purely to interrupt the censors.
The censors could find no fault with Tang Mingfan. At most, they could pick at trivial matters involving his children, and they dared not say much about those either. What family did not have an unfilial descendant?
Besides, Tang Mingfan's sleeves were clean of a single coin. Who dared claim to be more upright and self-disciplined than he was?
Tang Mingfan was one of the emperor's great weapons against the censors.
Holding his court tablet, Tang Mingfan stepped out of the ranks. "Your Majesty, this old minister has nothing to report. I am simply so hungry that I feel faint."
The Prince of Jin, who stood a little ahead of him, glanced back at him. The others needed no mention; they broke into murmurs, not having expected Tang Mingfan to behave like this today.
The emperor roared with laughter. "Minister Tang, you are a pillar of the state. What would we do if hunger harmed you? In that case, court is dismissed. Wang Fu, help Lord Tang to his meal."
Wang Fu was the chief eunuch and had served the emperor for decades. He was the emperor's most capable attendant, and he immediately replied, "This servant obeys."
Only then did everyone realize that court had been dismissed today simply because Tang Mingfan was hungry.
That poor, shabby Tang Mingfan really has won the emperor's favor. We can't compare with him. Best steer clear of him from now on.
Wang Fu helped Tang Mingfan to the dining hall. Knowing that he never brought his own food, he scolded the young eunuchs. "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and have the food served! Tell the imperial kitchen to prepare proper meals for all the lords. If I catch them slacking off or cutting corners, I'll skin them alive!"
Everyone knew he was saying this to show Tang Mingfan favor. After all, no one else ate the food here.
To their surprise, Tang Mingfan said leisurely, "There's no need. I brought my own food today."
Everyone's eyes fell to the floor.
Has the sky started raining red? Tang Mingfan actually brought his own food today?
Just then, someone nearby said, "Lord Tang, what money-making venture have you found? You've bought a carriage and brought your own food."
The man who said this had already seen Tang Mingfan arrive by carriage that morning.
Tang Mingfan looked proud. "My daughter was being filial and prepared it for me."
The Prince of Jin had spoken with the emperor for a while and was the last to leave. He entered just as Tang Mingfan said this.
Tang Zhuzi again? Why is she everywhere?
His subordinates had urged him to marry Tang Zhuzi to secure his position, but he had disdained to do so.
That day, he had originally intended to wait until Tang Zhuyun came to the bedside, then get up and humiliate her so she would retreat in the face of difficulty. To his surprise, she had fled on the eve of battle instead.
Later, at Prince Rong's residence, he had seen her fight fiercely, again reshaping his understanding of women.
He had not expected to hear Tang Mingfan mention her today, either.
The Prince of Jin walked to his seat without betraying any emotion. A young eunuch immediately showed his perceptiveness by opening his food box for him.
His bearing was cold and unyielding, keeping people a thousand miles away, and he showed no one any consideration. So as soon as he entered, the dining hall fell almost silent.
Tang Mingfan leisurely blew on the charcoal stove, then calmly waited for the maoxuewang to come to a boil.
Soon, the whole dining hall was filled with the powerful aroma of maoxuewang.
Tang Mingfan picked up his chopsticks and his bowl of rice and began eating with relish, paying no attention to the entire room watching him, including the ever-cool and aloof Prince of Jin.
Everyone wondered to themselves whether Tang Mingfan was doing this on purpose.
Could he have plotted something with the emperor beforehand? Why else the strange behavior?
Tang Mingfan thoroughly enjoyed his meal, while everyone else ate with their minds elsewhere to one degree or another.
What are the emperor and Tang Mingfan planning?
Tang Mingfan: I just want to show off. Aren't you tired of thinking so much? What a bunch of fools.
On the second day, he brought spicy crayfish.
On the third day, he brought boiled fish in chili oil.
On the fourth day, blisters appeared at the corners of his mouth, and he finally brought plain congee, side dishes, and steamed buns. But why were his buns shaped like little frogs and pigs?
Tang Mingfan: My grandson was being filial.
And why did even the cold dishes he brought fill the air with fragrance?
But everyone was finally less alarmed than before, and they began to suspect that Tang Mingfan wanted to show off his family's cook.
But he doesn't seem like that kind of person!
None of what happened in the dining hall escaped the emperor's notice, of course.
One day, after court had been dismissed and everyone was eating, the emperor came.
Tang Mingfan was eating crayfish at the time, though today he had switched to the garlic-flavored kind.
When he saw the emperor, he hurriedly wiped his hands and joined the others in paying his respects. To his surprise, the emperor sat down across from him and said with a smile, "Minister Tang, I followed the fragrance here. Would you let me have a taste?"
Tang Mingfan shielded his bowl. "These are humble things not fit to be served. This minister would not dare present them to Your Majesty."
You've got to be joking. The emperor has so much money, and he still wants to fleece me?
If he wants something to eat, he can have his daughters make it. He has more than a dozen daughters! Though all of them together still can't compare to my one.
The emperor said, "If you can eat it, so can I. Attendants, serve my meal here as well."
The hearts everyone had only just settled back into their stomachs leaped up again. It seemed the emperor was indeed planning something, and that cunning old fox Tang Mingfan must know about it.
The emperor had never eaten anything like crayfish before. Attending him, Wang Fu copied Tang Mingfan and peeled one for the emperor, then placed it in his bowl.
Tang Mingfan said, "It tastes good dipped in the sauce."
Wang Fu: "..."
My lord, aren't you and His Majesty a little too comfortable with each other?
The emperor, however, laughed. "Dip it, dip it!"
Wang Fu could only do as he was told. Lord Tang had already eaten from that sauce...
Everyone stared at the emperor without blinking.
The emperor tasted one. "Not bad. It's actually very good. Minister Tang, this dish of yours is very good."
"Your Majesty flatters me. My daughter simply made it while fooling around at home."
Wang Fu: Lord Tang, when you're being modest, could you lower your head? Holding it high like a proud peacock-isn't that damaging the lifelong reputation you've earned as minister of the Court of Judicial Review?
Even the emperor knew that Tang Mingfan had a daughter who caused him endless worry. Looking at him now, had she turned from evil and returned to the right path?
How touching are the hearts of parents everywhere. The emperor could not help looking toward the Prince of Jin.
Everyone's hearts jolted again. What does this mean?
Tang Mingfan mentions his daughter, and the emperor looks at the Prince of Jin?
The events of the flower-viewing banquet were still fresh in their minds. The emperor's behavior now was enough to set their imaginations running wild!
Tang Mingfan's daughter had a terrible reputation, but he and his son were both talents fit to be pillars of the state. If the emperor bestowed a marriage, did that mean he favored the Prince of Jin?
This was serious.
Just as everyone was speculating, the emperor spoke.