Chapter 77: Losing Teeth

This was a very special New Year's Eve.

Red lanterns were hung high in front of the hall, swaying with the cold wind, leaving a red shadow on the ground.

For the first time in their lives, the courtiers of the Han Dynasty saw such a lively and steaming New Year's Eve. On the large and round table, the thing called "hot pot" was steaming, and everyone who walked in felt like they were in a fairyland.

The air was even filled with a faint meaty fragrance, touching the taste buds, making people unable to help but drool.

"Is this the hot pot the Princess of Jianling mentioned?" An unknown minister stood in front of the round table, looking eagerly at the hot copper pot in the middle of the table, smelling the fragrance drifting from the pot, and couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

"It smells really good."

"There are many tables here, how should we take our seats?"

The ministers who had already arrived looked at each other. Although they really wanted to eat hot pot, no one dared to take their seats before the Emperor arrived.

The Great Changqiu of Jiaofang Hall brought a group of attendants over, with a sincere smile on his face, and began to arrange seats for the ministers: "The Princess of Jianling has arranged that those who like spicy food can sit at this table. Here, special products from Shu, Sichuan pepper sauce, have been prepared for you to taste."

"Those who like light flavors can come here. The soup bases at these tables are very light, including chicken soup, beef soup, big bone soup, and mushroom soup. The soup is rich and flavorful, and it will satisfy you."

"In addition, those who like sweet and sour flavors can come here to take their seats. This is a tomato soup base, which is sweet and sour and refreshing, with a unique taste."

Listening to the introduction of the Great Changqiu, everyone unconsciously walked toward the table they wanted to eat at.

"Brother Dongfang, why don't we go and taste this tomato soup base together? It looks red and looks very delicious." Minister A grabbed Dongfang Shuo, who wanted to eat the spicy pot, and invited him to taste the tomato pot.

Dongfang Shuo looked at the spicy pot eagerly, hesitated for a long time, and was pulled to sit at the next table. He complained: "I like spicy food."

Minister A pointed to the rolling tomato pot and said: "Don't you want to know what this tomato is?"

Dongfang Shuo thought for a while and said: "Tomato focuses on the word 'fan'. A beast's foot is called 'fan'. Could this red thing be the foot of some wild beast?"

Minister A listened to Dongfang Shuo's explanation and nodded thoughtfully: "Brother Dongfang has high insights. Could this rolling red color be blood?"

Dongfang Shuo: "It's possible."

On New Year's Eve last year, Dou Ying was still very lonely eating with his wife at home. There were only the two of them, lonely and cold.

On New Year's Eve this year, he was the Prime Minister sought after by the group of officials, one person below ten thousand. The ministers enthusiastically invited Dou Ying to take his seat. Dou Ying looked around and chose the table with the chicken soup base.

Soon, many ministers sat down on his left and right sides one after another, and everyone greeted Dou Ying one after another.

Dou Ying touched his beard and responded one by one, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness in his heart. When he lost power, these people went to please Tian Fen one after another and ignored him. Now that he had returned to the position of Prime Minister, these people came to flatter him again.

He had experienced wars, been a Great General, been a Marquis, been a Crown Prince's tutor, experienced three dynasties, been a Prime Minister, and had been demoted. He had experienced the ups and downs of officialdom, so he was exceptionally clear-headed and cautious now.

The current Emperor was different from Emperor Jing and Emperor Wen. He was more ambitious than the two late Emperors and hoped to hold power. If he wanted to stay in the position of Prime Minister for a long time, he had to obey the Emperor's wishes. Otherwise, the next Tian Fen could be himself.

Dou Ying couldn't help but think too much, and suddenly heard the attendant shout: "The Emperor is here!"

With a command, the officials who had already taken their seats stood up one after another facing the entrance, watching the Emperor and Empress walk into the hall hand in hand.

"Greetings to the Emperor, greetings to the Empress."

After A Jiao and Liu Che accepted the bows of all the officials, they also raised their hands to return the salute. Afterward, A Jiao said: "Everyone, take your seats. Today is New Year's Eve, no need for formalities."

"Nuo." Everyone responded and sat down one after another.

In the middle of the hall, there was a large table and a small table, which were reserved for the Emperor and the royal family. After A Jiao took Liu Che to take his seat, the Grand Princess Liu Piao, who followed, and the Emperor's three sisters and brothers-in-law all sat at this table.

Liu Piao sat beside her "daughter", looked around at the people who had taken their seats, and asked in a low voice: "Why don't I see A Li?"

Liu Che pointed to the small table next to him and said: "A Li said that children should sit at the children's table when eating."

Liu Piao looked in the direction Liu Che pointed, and sure enough, she saw Liu Li, Princess Yue, Princess Ling, and some children of the Marquis who followed their fathers to attend the New Year's Eve banquet sitting at the small table.

On the other side, Princess Nangong gently pulled A Jiao and asked in a low voice: "Your Majesty, why don't I see Mother?"

A Jiao sighed and said: "Mother said she was unwell, so she would not come to the New Year's Eve banquet." She guessed that the Wang Taihou used the excuse of being unwell because of the assassin incident before, so she did not come to the banquet.

Princess Longlu hurriedly said: "Then after the banquet, I will go to Changle Palace to see Mother."

A Jiao nodded: "Okay."

Liu Ling rarely spent New Year's Eve in Chang'an. She sat next to Princess Longlu and heard that Princess Longlu planned to visit the Wang Taihou after the banquet, and said with a smile: "Sister Longlu, why don't you and Sister Nangong go with A Ling after the banquet."

Princess Longlu thought for a while and nodded: "Okay."

"Hey, why don't I see Xiucheng Jun? Isn't she also the Emperor's sister?" Liu Ling mentioned it, whether intentionally or unintentionally, which happened to be heard by Liu Piao opposite.

Liu Piao smiled contemptuously: "This is a royal banquet, what qualifications does that Xiucheng Jun have to attend?" Although she was the daughter of the Empress Dowager and the eldest sister of the Emperor, she was really not qualified to attend.

Liu Ling covered her mouth innocently, then lowered her head gently.

Liu Che frowned, feeling dissatisfied with Liu Ling's behavior. After the New Year, he would find an excuse to drive this troublesome woman back to Huainan.

The adult table was surging with undercurrents, but the children's table was relatively harmonious.

Liu Li considered that the round table was too large and she, as a child, would not be able to reach the food, so she specially asked the carpenter to make a table suitable for children to eat. It just so happened that there were a group of children about her age at the New Year's Eve banquet, who could sit together.

The children who could follow their fathers to attend the New Year's Eve banquet must have good family backgrounds, so these children were basically Liu Li's classmates in the Imperial Academy. Since everyone was familiar with each other, they would not be too restrained when sitting together to eat.

Considering the children's tastes, their table was just an ordinary beef soup base. Liu Li added a lot of Sichuan pepper sauce from Shu to her bowl, which satisfied her spicy taste.

The adults drank the golden pulp wine brewed in Weiyang Palace, and the children's table had the hawthorn juice that Liu Li had specially soaked before, which was sweet and sour and very greasy.

There were nine tables in the hall, four on the left and right, and the Emperor's table was in the middle. The dancers and singers of the Music Bureau performed on the stage in the middle of the hall.

"Cousin A Li, how did you think of such strange but delicious things?" Cao Xiang, who was sitting on Liu Li's left, liked this hot pot very much and couldn't help asking.

Liu Li said while eating the boiled beef: "Because I am very intelligent."

"After returning to the mansion, I will ask the people in the mansion to make this hot pot for me, and I will eat it every day." Cao Xiang drank a sip of hawthorn juice: "This is also delicious."

"If you think it's delicious, drink more." Liu Li responded, burying her head in eating.

Although it was hot pot, the variety of dishes was still very rich. There were various vegetables and wild vegetables, as well as sliced potatoes, and even tofu blocks improved by Liu Li.

In addition, there were thinly sliced beef, lamb, pig ears, pork meatballs, chicken, duck, goose meat, etc.

These were all prepared by the palace kitchen under Liu Li's command, and it could be said that they were more sumptuous than the New Year's Eve banquets of previous years.

Liu Li never ate vegetables when eating hot pot. She ate every kind of meat on the table, and she really felt like eating hot pot in modern times.

Sitting opposite Liu Li, a son of a Marquis whose name she didn't know roared: "Where are the meatballs I just put in? Why are they gone?"

(Continued from above)

The little boy next to him had a meatball in his mouth: "I ate it."

"Return my meatball." The two almost fought over a meatball.

Compared to these boys, the girls at the table were much more elegant when eating hot pot.

Chen Ran had the honor of entering the palace with Liu Piao. She sat on Liu Li's right, and she was very reserved whether she was picking up vegetables or eating them.

This was her first time away from her parents, spending New Year's Eve in Chang'an, and with so many people, it was inevitable that she was not used to it.

Liu Li saw that she only ate vegetables and asked puzzledly: "Cousin A Ran, why do you only eat vegetables?"

Chen Ran's little face was flushed from eating. She leaned into Liu Li's ear and whispered: "I... I just put a piece of beef in, and I couldn't find it in the blink of an eye."

Liu Li chuckled and told her: "The beef is cut very thin. You hold it with chopsticks and put it in, count to five in your heart, and you can eat it."

Chen Ran blinked her eyes: "Really?"

Liu Li nodded: "Mm-hmm, try it."

Chen Ran followed Liu Li's instructions, held the beef slice with chopsticks and put it into the pot, counted silently in her heart, and after counting to five, she took the beef out and put it into the bowl.

Finally, she ate a piece of hot meat.

Liu Yue, who didn't know how to eat hot pot at first, heard the conversation between Liu Li and Chen Ran, and she also learned to pick up a potato slice and put it into the pot, counted to five in her heart, and then picked it up.

Who knew that just as she picked it up, Liu Li reached out and pressed it with her chopsticks: "You can't eat it."

Everyone looked up at this scene, perhaps because Liu Li's action was a bit big, it also attracted the attention of the adults around.

Liu Yue's face was a little red, she bit her lip and asked: "I... why can't I eat it?" Why did Princess Li still target herself at this time? She clearly didn't do anything, just eating a potato slice was not allowed?

Cao Xiang: "Liu Li, what are you doing?"

Liu Li explained: "Didn't I say before that potatoes must be cooked before they can be eaten? Uncooked potatoes are poisonous." She looked up at Liu Yue: "This potato slice of yours was just put in and is not cooked through, so it cannot be eaten."

Liu Yue let go of her chopsticks in a daze, and the potato slice she was holding fell back into the pot.

Liu Li also withdrew her hand. She had to stand up, her voice raised several times to ensure that everyone in the hall could hear, reminding everyone to cook the potatoes for a while longer when eating them.

Everyone responded one after another, and Liu Li sat down again.

"Princess of Jianling." Someone suddenly shouted, and the originally lively hall became quiet again. Everyone looked at the speaker—Dongfang Shuo.

Dongfang Shuo was now a Grand Master of the Palace and was a relatively talented person in the Inner Court. After Liu Li came into contact with him, she felt that this person had a humorous personality, had insights into some things, and was a very talkative person.

It is said that Dongfang Shuo wrote three thousand bamboo slips to praise her, successfully attracting Liu Che's attention, and finally was able to meet the Emperor and stayed by Liu Che's side as an Imperial Attendant.

The evaluation of Dongfang Shuo in history is mostly aimed at his literary works, not his political achievements. After all, his highest position is the current Grand Master of the Palace. It's just because there are many wild history legends about Dongfang Shuo, so Dongfang Shuo's favorability can be exchanged for 5 times the points.

Liu Li glanced at Dongfang Shuo's current favorability value for her: 40. She put down her chopsticks, turned to look at Dongfang Shuo, and asked: "Does Mr. Dongfang have any advice?"

Dongfang Shuo's attitude toward unknown things was still very humble. He pointed to the tomato pot in front of him and asked: "May I ask the Princess, what exactly is this thing called tomato? And what kind of wild beast is 'qie'?"

Liu Li was dumbfounded after hearing this: "Ah?" Why could she understand every word he said, but when connected together, she couldn't understand it?

After Dongfang Shuo repeated his question, Liu Li understood what he meant, and then tried her best to hold back her laughter.

The reason why tomatoes are called tomatoes is because the origin of this thing is South America, and it was later introduced to China. Because it is an exotic species,

the name contains the word "fan", translated as foreign.

And in the current Western Han Dynasty, there is basically no exotic food. The word "fan" began in the Western Zhou Dynasty and is a pictographic character, composed of the two characters "cai" and "tian", interpreted as the hoof of a beast.

No wonder Dongfang Shuo would think that "qie" is an animal rather than a plant.

Liu Li thought for a while and said: "Tomato is not a wild beast, but a plant. It mainly grows in the Western Regions, so it is named tomato. Tomato tastes sweet and sour, and the fruit is red, so the tomato soup base also presents a red color, rather than the blood of a wild beast."

Dongfang Shuo suddenly realized: "So that's what it means." He bowed to Liu Li: "The Princess of Jianling has profound knowledge. I claim to have read many books, but I am not as good as the Princess."

This flattery was so good that Liu Li was embarrassed. She hurriedly said modestly: "Mr. Dongfang is over-praising."

After being praised by Dongfang Shuo, Liu Li found that the favorability of many ministers whose names she could name had increased a bit.

For example, Zhu Fu Yan's favorability for her had risen to 70 points, the cruel official Zhang Tang's favorability was 60 points, the attendant Ji An's favorability was 50, the Right Neishi Zheng Dangshi's favorability was 90, and Prime Minister Dou Ying's was 90 points.

In fact, Liu Li knew that the favorability of these famous ministers for her should not be considered favorability. To put it another way, this should be the status and reputation of her, the princess, in the hearts of these ministers.

Those who already had full favorability, such as Sang Hongyang and Dong Zhongshu, had an exceptionally trusting and respectful attitude toward her.

In any case, this was a good thing.

The New Year's Eve banquet was almost over, and it was time for the Emperor to give New Year's money to the younger generation. This year, A Jiao did not make Liu Li special again. Every child at the banquet received the same amount of New Year's money.

"Zhang Tang." After A Jiao finished distributing the New Year's money to the children, she suddenly named Zhang Tang.

Zhang Tang, who was among the ministers, came out and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, I am here." Perhaps because he drank a lot of wine, Zhang Tang's figure swayed slightly.

A Jiao said: "I heard that your wife just added a new child to you not long ago, which is a happy event. This New Year's money will be bestowed upon your son."

Zhang Tang was flattered and hurriedly said: "I thank Your Majesty for your kindness on behalf of my little son, Anshi."

A Jiao nodded slightly: "No need for formalities. The New Year's Eve banquet is over, everyone should go back early and spend more time with your wives."

The ministers responded one after another: "Nuo."

Liu Li's gaze, however, kept staring at Zhang Tang. Taking advantage of everyone preparing to leave, she held her New Year's money and quietly approached Zhang Tang: "Minister Zhang, can I go to your house to see your son in the future?"

Zhang Tang in history was appointed as Minister of Justice by Liu Che because of his merit in investigating Empress Chen's witchcraft case. Zhang Tang in this space-time was appointed as Minister of Justice by A Jiao after A Jiao and Liu Che swapped bodies because he insisted on making Beauty Wang pay with her life for the princess drowning case in the third year of Yuanguang.

Zhang Tang turned to look at the enthusiastic Princess of Jianling and hurriedly said: "Why does the Princess want to see my son?"

Liu Li blinked her eyes and said sincerely: "I prefer children."

Of course, it was because Zhang Tang's son, Zhang Anshi, was also a famous historical figure, and he was one of the "Eleven Meritorious Ministers of the Qilin Pavilion". This fame was even greater than his father, Zhang Tang.

The newly born meritorious minister of the Qilin Pavilion, she really wanted to see him.

Zhang Tang was dumbfounded when he heard the reason Liu Li gave, but he still said seriously: "As long as the Princess doesn't mind my humble home, I welcome the Princess to visit at any time."

Liu Li smiled: "Okay."

After sending Zhang Tang away, Liu Li touched the Five Zhu coins in her hand happily, rubbing the pattern she designed on it. She was thinking now, should she find all the future second-generation officials and then unlock their favorability?

Taking advantage of the fact that they are still young or not yet born, should she hurry up and brush their favorability? The second-generation officials she had unlocked so far were only Huo Qubing and Cao Xiang.

For example, the Eleven Meritorious Ministers of the Qilin Pavilion, except for the newborn Zhang Anshi, others didn't seem to have appeared.

"Princess of Jianling." Sang Qian's voice came from behind, and Liu Li looked up at him.

Sang Qian handed the New Year's money he received to Liu Li and whispered: "Can I exchange a copper pot with you for this New Year's money?"

Liu Li blinked, looked down at the New Year's money he handed over, and smiled: "No exchange."

Sang Qian: "Why not exchange? There are eight left in the palace, what's wrong with exchanging one with me?"

"I'll give it to you." Liu Li said generously: "After the palace servants wash the copper pot clean, I will ask someone to send one to the Sang mansion."

Sang Qian raised an eyebrow, raised his hand and bowed: "Thank you, Princess, for the pot."

Liu Li looked at Sang Qian and sighed with regret. Sang Qian could be considered a proper second-generation official, but his fame in history was too small to unlock favorability.

Cao Xiang, who was on the side, heard that Sang Qian and Liu Li wanted a copper pot, and he leaned over and said: "Cousin A Li, you should also give me a copper pot, so that I can eat hot pot every day after I go back."

Seeing this, others actually wanted to ask for a copper pot to take back, but they were not as familiar with the princess as Sang Qian, nor were they the princess's cousin like Cao Xiang.

A teenager gathered his courage, learned from Sang Qian, and intended to exchange a copper pot with Liu Li for New Year's money. Seeing him like this, others followed suit, willing to exchange New Year's money for a copper pot.

For others, Liu Li was not polite. She took the New Year's money from them one by one, and then said: "There are eight copper pots left. I have recorded everyone who exchanged with me for New Year's money. After the copper pots are cleaned, I will arrange for people to send them to your homes."

The children who paid the New Year's money were happy.

Cao Xiang watched Liu Li collect the New Year's money from seven people, and he hurriedly stuffed his New Year's money over: "Give me the last one."

Liu Li took his New Year's money: "Okay, the last one is for you."

Although he got the copper pot, Cao Xiang was not very happy: "Why don't you collect Sang Qian's New Year's money? I am your cousin, but you want to collect my New Year's money." According to the relationship of closeness, shouldn't he, the cousin, be closer to her?

Liu Li had several strings of Zhu coins hanging on her left and right hands. She couldn't hold them anymore, and finally, she simply hung these strings of Zhu coins around her neck.

Listening to Cao Xiang's questioning, Liu Li raised an eyebrow: "Little cousin, if you are unwilling to buy a copper pot from me, I can return the New Year's money to you."

Cao Xiang: "..."

After a long pause, he said sullenly: "No, the New Year's money is already given to you, you must give me the copper pot."

Liu Li nodded: "No problem."

With five or six strings of Zhu coins hanging around her neck, and many more on her arms, Liu Li's appearance attracted the attention of everyone.

Everyone only saw a pink-carved and jade-carved little girl, wearing copper coins, passing by everyone, smiling with curved eyebrows, looking like a little money fan, so cute!

Liu Li originally wanted to walk to A Jiao's side and leave the hall with the Emperor and Empress. Who knew that because the copper coins hanging around her neck were too heavy, she felt like she was moving forward with a load.

She even felt a trace of rust in her mouth, and there was something inexplicably in her mouth.

Liu Li slowly paused in place, and her expression became a bit strange. Under the eyes of everyone, she reached out and caught a mouthful of blood spit out from her mouth.

This scene made everyone gasp. A Jiao exclaimed: "A Li, what's wrong with you?!" She almost subconsciously walked quickly to her daughter's side and half-crouched to check if Liu Li was injured.

Liu Li smiled awkwardly, revealing her leaky front teeth: "Father, I seem to... have lost a tooth."

A Jiao's expression froze on her face: "..."

The ministers who hadn't left yet: "..."

Finally, everyone burst into a hearty laugh, sending the final joy to this New Year's Eve banquet. Their clever and intelligent Princess of Jianling was actually still a child.