Chapter 1571: True Love Hotpot

After a full day of hype, White Cloud Tower's prestige in the Imperial City had reached its peak.

Whether high officials and nobles or common folk, everyone considered it an honor to eat a meal of Hot Pot.

However, although the taste of the Hot Pot was extraordinary, the selling price remained unaffordable for common people, so soon only high officials and nobles came to dine.

Seeing sales figures begin to gradually decline, Xu Que once again instructed the Shopkeeper to go out and spread rumors.

Imperial City, Sky Walk Teahouse.

This teahouse was rather special; the guests it received were all talented scholars and beautiful ladies, or imperial relatives and nobility.

Since Xuan Yuan Wanrong had taken power, the influence of imperial in-laws had grown increasingly strong, so nowadays half the people in this tower had some connection to Xuan Yuan Wanrong.

At this moment, a Scholar was vividly recounting a story.

Everyone around sat encircling him, listening with rapt attention.

"It is said that before the Matchmaker ascended to heaven, he once had a beloved woman in the Mortal World; alas, a Human Immortal and a Mortal cannot love each other, and the two were destined to part."

"So the Matchmaker wondered, what method could he use to bring this woman up to heaven?"

"Finally, he thought of a way: to transfer the Immortal Qi within his own body into the woman's body; as long as the woman possessed his Immortal Qi within her, she could be brought up to heaven by him."

"But the Immortal World has regulations; an Immortal cannot directly transmit Immortal Qi into a Mortal's body, as this violates the law... ahem, violates the Heavenly Laws."

"So the Matchmaker racked his brains for a long time, and finally he devised a method."

Saying this, the Scholar fell silent, instead lifting his teacup and slowly taking a sip.

The surrounding listeners immediately grew anxious and began urging him on.

Only when everyone had waited long enough did the Scholar finally speak again.

"And so, the Matchmaker made a Hot Pot, using the finest Immortal Medicine and Immortal Grass from the Immortal World, and ate the Hot Pot together with that woman."

"While eating the Hot Pot, the Matchmaker transmitted his Immortal Qi into the Hot Pot; because the Immortal Qi of the Immortal Medicine concealed it, the Immortal Qi he transmitted would not be detected by the Immortal World."

"That woman took one bite of the Hot Pot, and immediately Immortal Qi overflowed, Immortal Qi drifted elegantly, possessing an Immortal bearing and Daoist bones... in short, that woman attained Immortality right there on the spot, and flew off to live happily ever after with the Matchmaker."

"From then on, the two accompanied each other day and night in the heavens, tying Red Threads for couples in the human world, arranging marriages for you all."

The Scholar snapped his folding fan shut, smiling faintly, "From then on, a legend remained in the Mortal World: if a man truly loves a woman, he should treat her to the most expensive Hot Pot to prove his sincere heart; when the Matchmaker in heaven sees this, he will understand your intentions and tie your Red Threads tightly, so you shall never be separated for all eternity."

"This is the origin of the saying—'Hot Pot lasts forever, one bite circulates eternally'!"

As his voice fell, the surrounding listeners wore expressions of sudden realization, and the women among them especially showed faces blooming like peach blossoms, flushed crimson.

"Oh my... this is too romantic, boo-hoo-hoo, so the Matchmaker and the Matchmakeress actually had such a poignant love story." A woman, eyes misty with tears, moved beyond measure, grabbed the man beside her, and said softly, "Husband, you will also treat me to the most expensive Hot Pot, won't you?"

The man coughed lightly: "No... this story isn't poignant, and besides, he never said that woman was the Matchmakeress..."

"What do you mean? Are you unwilling to treat me to the most expensive Hot Pot?"

"No, I didn't mean that..."

"Then why didn't you agree immediately! You just don't love me anymore!"

"Ah, this..."

With this precedent set, the women in the teahouse one after another turned their gazes toward their male companions.

Meanwhile, some men wore thoughtful expressions and voluntarily asked, "Sir, is that Hot Pot you mentioned the Sea King Hotpot from the Heaven-Exploding Gang that recently appeared?"

The Scholar raised an eyebrow, shook his head, and said, "I'm not clear on that, but according to legendary records, these two items seem quite similar; perhaps... that Sea King Hotpot from the Heaven-Exploding Gang truly hides this True Love Hot Pot."

Subsequently, the story of the Matchmaker began to circulate throughout the entire Imperial City, and with certain interested parties fanning the flames, almost everyone came to accept one principle.

Only those who ate the True Love Hot Pot from the Heaven-Exploding Gang's Sea King Hotpot deserved to be called couples of true love!

In an instant, crowds surged, heading straight for White Cloud Tower.

The Shopkeeper of the Hot Pot tower initially refused to yield, until even the nephew of the current Queen, who was also Xuan Yuan Wanrong's nephew, appeared; only then did the Shopkeeper step forward to explain personally.

"Everyone, our Heaven-Exploding Gang's Sea King Hotpot sells only one hundred portions of True Love Hotpot per day, at a price of ten thousand Silver per portion; if you gentlemen can accept this price, feel free to enter."

Ten thousand Silver!

This price immediately frightened away many people; among them, numerous young Scholars who had come attracted by the reputation changed color upon hearing the price.

Only the sons of high officials and nobles possessed the capital to enter.

Yet this was merely the beginning...

Inside the Prime Minister's Mansion of the current court.

The Prime Minister sat in the courtyard, reviewing documents, pondering how to handle the recent issue of the empty Imperial Treasury.

The Prime Minister's wife walked over, glanced at him, and said with sarcastic tone, "I heard... Chief Minister Zhang took his wife today to eat the True Love Hotpot at the Heaven-Exploding Gang's Sea King Hotpot..."

The Prime Minister frowned, lightly stroking his beard: "It's merely rumor; why follow the trend?"

"So you old good-for-nothing! I knew you didn't love me anymore!" The Prime Minister's wife's face instantly changed; hands on hips, she angrily scolded, "I've been with you for so many years, and now you won't even let me have a meal of Hot Pot?"

"Ai, wife, what kind of talk is this..."

"I knew it; lately you've always been thinking of taking a concubine; what, now you look down on me, is that it? Hmph, indeed, all men are the same!"

"Sigh... Eat, eat; this husband will take you to eat right now."

Similar scenes occurred simultaneously in the mansions of other high court officials.

Although ten thousand taels of Silver was no small sum, for these lords who had served in court for many years and held high power and heavy responsibility, though it pained them somewhat, the expense was worth it for the sake of family Harmony.

The one hundred portions of True Love Hotpot were quickly sold out, and the single-day sales revenue instantly soared to one million taels of Silver!

Several days later!

During the morning court session, Xu Que, in front of all the civil and military officials, ordered the one million taels of Silver to be carried entirely into the court hall.

The glittering silver rolled onto the ground, nearly blinding everyone's eyes.

Shocking the court and the countryside!

"Here, take it; one million taels of Silver for military expenses." Xu Que yawned, looking somewhat sleepy.

Pretending to be a Scholar these past few days and going everywhere to tell stories had exhausted him considerably.

That General trembled with both hands, dropped to his knees with a "Thump!" in the Great Hall, eyes brimming with tears: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Xuan Yuan Wanrong was also stunned: "You... where did you get so much silver?"

Xu Que glanced at her, a cheeky grin spreading across his face: "Were you just thinking that even if my restaurant really sold Hot Pot, it couldn't possibly earn a million taels of Silver?"

"Yes... but what does that have to do with you? I'm asking where you got so much silver?"

Xu Que's eyes grew deep as he spoke meaningfully: "People in love have no brains..."