Chapter 17: The Sugar-Blowing Emperor Becomes Intrigued

Three streets south of Dengshi Street is Miaoyou Street, and further to the left is Erlang Street.

This place is a prime spot for the night market in the capital; once evening falls, the lanterns shine brightly and the crowds surge like a tide, with all manner of food and entertainment available.

Because it encompasses everything, whether they are high-ranking officials and nobles or common folk in the capital, if they have nothing to do at night, they will all come here to stroll.

Gradually, it has actually become a sight of the capital.

This day, just past the Hour of the Rooster (5:00–7:00 PM), more than ten people crowded around two young gentlemen and arrived at the entrance of the street.

It was none other than the Wanli Emperor and Zhang Yunxiu's party.

The few stood at the street entrance and took a look inside.

The entire street was surging with people, shrouded in smoke and mist; pedestrians on the road were rubbing shoulders and bumping heels, enveloped within the haze.

For a moment, sounds of laughter, cursing, calls to make way, and hawking were all woven together.

How lively!

The eunuch at the side thought about having to squeeze through later and couldn't help but feel fearful in his heart, so he suggested, "Young Master Zhu, there are too many people here; how about I have someone disperse them all?"

"Disperse what?" The Wanli Emperor glared at the man and said, "I—this young master—want to enjoy the festivities with the people. If it were empty, it would lose its flavor, wouldn't it, Zhang Yunxiu?"

"Yes," Zhang Yunxiu nodded in agreement.

"Very well, I happened to bring five hundred taels of banknotes out today, and I intend to have a good time," the Wanli Emperor said, stepping forward to squeeze into the crowd.

Zhang Yunxiu and the others' eyelids twitched, and they hurriedly followed.

Once they entered the street, the Wanli Emperor's desire to play surged; he looked here and peered there, finally being attracted by several bursts of laughter.

He looked up and saw several children surrounding an old man.

The old man was sitting on a small wooden stool, and in front of him was a square box filled with yellow maltose.

He took out a portion of the maltose, inserted a bamboo skewer, and then pinched a tail.

He picked up the tail and blew into it; the maltose puffed up and gradually turned into the shape of a tiger. Before long, a lifelike sugar tiger appeared right before their eyes.

The surrounding children burst into joyful laughter, and the old man chuckled and handed the sugar tiger to one of the children.

Immediately after, the old man followed the same method; rabbits, carp, monkeys—none were not lifelike.

The Wanli Emperor watched, mesmerized, and unknowingly walked up to him.

The old man saw the Wanli Emperor's noble air and the crowd surrounding him, knowing he must be a young master from some household.

So he stood up, smiled, and bowed, saying, "This old man greets the two young masters."

The Wanli Emperor waved his hand and asked with a tense face, "Old sir, can you blow anything with your sugar figures?"

"That is natural; as long as you have seen it, I can blow it."

"Good, then blow a dragon for me."

"A dragon?" The old man hesitated for a moment, glanced at the group, shook his head, and said, "This old man dares to blow anything, but I dare not blow a dragon. If the Emperor were to blame me, this old man could not bear the consequences."

"I am fine, the Emperor cannot see it," Wanli said, not caring at all.

"That is not something to be said," the old man said, his face full of nervousness as he lowered his voice. "The Emperor has opened his Heavenly Eyes; he can see the affairs of the world just by sitting in the Forbidden City."

"Hahaha, Emperor, is he really as formidable as you say?"

"Otherwise, how could he be the Emperor? They are of dragon seed; how could they be the same as ordinary people?"

Seeing the two chatting with increasing enthusiasm, Zhang Yunxiu stepped forward to interrupt and interjected, "Old sir, if you cannot blow a dragon, then blow a python for this young master—a four-clawed python."

"That's great, blow a python then," Wanli also called out.

The old man nodded in agreement, hunched his back, and took out his tools to begin. He picked up a cloth to wipe his hands, took out the maltose, pinched a tail, and aimed his mouth to blow into it.

"Wait."

The eunuch at the side shrieked in a sharp voice. The Wanli Emperor frowned, turned his head to glare at the eunuch, and barked, "Sun Hai, you dog, what are you yelling about? You've ruined this young master's mood; I won't spare you when we return."

"Oh, my young master, this sugar figure isn't clean; I'm afraid you'll get a stomachache if you eat it."

"Pah, pah, pah!" The old man was suddenly angered, pointing at Sun Hai and scolding, "I've been setting up this stall for thirty years and have never seen anyone get a stomachache; you're the only one with so much trouble."

"Old sir, don't mind him, just keep blowing."

"Young Master!"

"Shut up, if you speak again, I won't spare you."

Sun Hai shrank his neck and pulled back, not daring to speak again.

But as soon as he saw the old man's dark fingernails and thought about how the old man had to blow and pinch the sugar figure, he felt goosebumps all over his body.

Just as he felt disgusted, a giant python had already been pinched into shape.

Wanli happily took it and pulled out a banknote to hand over.

The old man took it and looked; his expression changed drastically. This was actually a one-hundred-tael banknote. His sugar figures were only three or four wen each; where could he find change for this?

"Young Master, this banknote of yours..."

"What about the banknote? Is it not enough?" Wanli asked foolishly.

"It is too large, this old man cannot provide change," the old man replied, trembling.

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and shook his head; the Emperor truly had no concept of money.

He stepped forward, fumbled for a long time, took out a piece of broken silver, and slapped it into the old man's hand: "Old sir, our young master is happy today, so he is buying out your entire stall."

"That won't do; if the children can't eat this old man's sugar, they won't be able to sleep at night," the old man said, repeatedly waving his hands in refusal.

Zhang Yunxiu looked at the old man again and said, "How about this: we give you this silver, you make one for each of us, and you can give the rest to these children, how about that?"

"I want one more; make me a big tiger," Wanli added.

The old man nodded in agreement, and after some hard work, he made a sugar figure for everyone in the party.

Zhang Yunxiu got a small rabbit, and the Wanli Emperor couldn't help but mock, "Your rabbit is small; my big tiger is still more impressive."

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and didn't answer. The Wanli Emperor asked, "I am tired; you choose the remaining places. You must know the fun places in the capital much better than I do."

"That, of course, has to be Minglan Pavilion," Zhang Fu gave a lewd smile, couldn't help but lick his lips, and said, "The young ladies there are one more gentle and lovely than the next."

"What kind of place is that?"

"It's a place for the flesh trade." Zhang Yunxiu glared at Zhang Fu, then turned his head to look at the Emperor and answered.

"Oh, a meat shop! I am not a cook, I don't buy meat. Why would I go to such a place? Not going, not going!" Upon hearing this, the Wanli Emperor lost interest and shook his head repeatedly.

Everyone's faces flushed red as they desperately held back their laughter inside.

Han San, standing to the side, observed their expressions and knew that the young master must want to take the Emperor to somewhere elegant, so he turned his thoughts and spoke up: "This humble one does know of a good place."

"Speak quickly."

"It's not far down the street ahead, there is a fine place that is guaranteed to satisfy the young master."

"Then what are we waiting for? Why not lead the way?" the Wanli Emperor urged.

Han San nodded in agreement, cast a reassuring look at Zhang Yunxiu, and after Zhang Yunxiu nodded, he began to lead the way ahead.

(End of this chapter)