Chapter 1398

"Everyone, sit down. We're about to eat."

The crowd had been acting cautious and careful, but the moment Bai Susu spoke, the others obediently took their seats.

Before long, the door of private room number two was knocked on, and eight young servers walked in from outside, four carrying poles on their shoulders, bearing a four-layer jumbo burger roughly the size of a round table.

"This…"

Gong Bailiu was utterly dumbfounded, the others were stunned, and even Bai Susu was at a loss.

Was he really going to let them eat this? Setting aside the taste, just the sight of eight servers carrying it in was overwhelming enough. Apart from the thick buns on the top and bottom, the vegetables and meat patties in the middle were each as thick as an adult's fist.

She finally understood what that strange smile on Lin Cheng's face had been about.

You really don't treat us like people—even magical beasts couldn't eat like this.

Elsewhere, Lin Cheng, who was eating with Li Jian, thought of Bai Susu and the others, and the stunned looks on their faces when they saw the jumbo burger, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"What is it? Is my way of eating that funny?"

Li Jian's face reddened a little. He had always been pampered and raised in the imperial palace, every movement elegant, yet here he had shown such an ugly display—but it really wasn't his fault.

He never could have imagined that something as simple as bread stuffed with vegetables and meat patties could be this delicious. The perfectly balanced sweet and sour sensation, the crispness of the vegetables, and the tender, juicy texture of the various meat patties inside the burger—all bursting open in his mouth at once, far surpassing the delicacies he had eaten in the palace.

The flavors blended together without clashing, a wonderful taste that simply left him unable to stop.

Like a starving commoner, he wolfed down a burger, then gulped down a glass of a drink called lemonade.

Zhang Zui let out a satisfied burp, free of any restraint, and Li Jian exclaimed that it was exhilarating.

"No, Your Highness, I was just thinking of something funny," Lin Cheng said in all seriousness.

"Mm."

Li Jian gave a reply. He didn't believe Lin Cheng's words, but he didn't mind either.

Who said it was just him? Anyone eating this burger would surely look exactly the same.

"Your Highness, don't just eat burgers—they fill you up too fast. Try the other things: fries, chicken nuggets, fried chicken, and grilled meat."

"Mm-hmm, I won't miss any of them."

Li Jian wolfed down the various delicacies on the table. The preparation, as Lin Cheng had said, was very simple, but the taste far surpassed delicacies from land and sea by several times over.

What a pity—he rarely got to come out, otherwise he'd really want to eat these delicious foods every day.

Outside the window, after a brief rest, Despair once again picked up her pipa, preparing to perform.

Ding!

A deep, resonant note from a guzheng rang out, as if prying open the hearts of everyone present. The restaurant instantly fell silent. Then came the gorgeous accompaniment—the band supporting Jueqing's singing began to play softly. Each instrument took its turn in an endless stream, blending together in a performance that was both brisk and elegant. Every light drumbeat urged people to calm their hearts and slowly savor it, until a unique feeling welled up within.

"「Immortal song, jade flute spirit～ wine cup, jade dew clear."

A line of lyrics sung clearly by Jueqing, as if carrying an invisible magic, leading people to begin a wondrous, extraordinary journey through life.

A stroke of thick ink leaves a poem of wild passion.

Jade robe, long sword, worthy of romance.

Mountains and rivers do not dwell on the past.

Writing poems in wild abandon, without a care.

They say the banished immortal's jade palace is hard to keep.

Go to the mortal world, red chambers, compete in wine.

Tender, passionate gaze.

Ink falls on poetry scrolls—how many more bouts of wine?

Pour the world's strongest wine.

Lie atop Chang'an's towering high tower

And watch all beneath heaven—who could be like him, without a care?

The melodious singing, the flourish of brush and ink, the white robes and long swords, the mountains and rivers, the palaces of immortals and gods. Every line of lyrics lit up before the crowd's eyes, the corresponding scenes appearing vividly as if they were right there, making people (Qian Lihao) drift into reverie and feel deeply moved.

In the past, these high officials and nobles had not lacked opportunities to hear singing girls perform, but those singing girls had never made the beauty of music appear so clear, so dazzlingly rich.

Today, the singing girl Jueqing's performance simply opened their eyes. Before they knew it, a song had ended, yet in their ears it was as if the lingering notes still circled around—the lovely singing voice and music still echoing in their minds.

"So wonderful!"

"Yes, I feel as if I've seen the legendary immortals and gods, drinking and seeking pleasure just like us mortals."

"Such moving music exists in the mortal world—I'm so touched."

"One more!"

A mercenary, simply finding it beautiful, couldn't help but shout out.

GLOSSARY

【Lin Cheng, Li Jian, Zhang Zui, Bai Susu, Gong Bailiu, Jueqing, Despair】