Chapter 341: Want to See What He Did

The front-row civilians passed around that plate of fried locusts, and some bold ones actually tasted it.

Don't mention it, it's quite fragrant and has no strange taste.

He Jinglan and An Qinghe only then finished breaking out in a cold sweat.

Just now the emperor temporarily added a scene, which scared them half to death.

Even using Gu Xixi's method, the left oil pot was filled with vinegar, with only a half-finger-thick layer of oil floating on the surface.

Still seeking caution, following Gu Xixi's saying of a "higher boiling point," An Qinghe found the Seedling Merchants Association's connections in the capital and, through intermediaries, had a foreign merchant procure a barrel of rapeseed oil.

They used rapeseed oil to replace the usual soybean oil.

The left pot was a vinegar-oil mixture, while the right pot was pure oil.

Gu Xixi said, when the vinegar just boils, it has only half the heat of ordinary boiling water,

The boiling vinegar churning below creates the illusion that the rapeseed oil above is boiling.

As long as one reaches in at that moment and quickly pulls out, no scalding will occur.

Gu Xixi even personally conducted an experiment to prove it.

But the emperor's hand is, after all, a dragon's body; damaging a dragon's body is a capital crime punishable by extermination of the clan.

Therefore, after everyone discussed it, they decided, for safety's sake, to have someone stand in for the emperor to perform this act.

It only required the emperor to be present to attest to the protection of the Heavenly Dragon Son of Heaven.

I never expected that this morning Mu Nan Zhao would suddenly choose Gu Xixi.

Even more unexpected was that the emperor himself ended up going up.

Only when they saw the emperor's hand unharmed did He Jinglan and An Qinghe resume normal breathing.

An Qinghe cursed in a Western Regions language that He Jinglan couldn't understand, saying, "Didn't he say he'd leave everything to him to arrange?"

"How did he arrange it? We were almost done for!"

This time He Jinglan did not side with Mu Nan Zhao, nodding and saying, "Not dead, but scared half to death!"

The fried locusts were passed to the two of them.

An Qinghe grabbed one without thinking and ate it; since Gu Xixi had eaten, how could he not share her fate?

He Jinglan certainly dared not eat it, only watching An Qinghe's reaction.

"How is it? Is it nasty?"

Gu Xixi today made a great sacrifice, even eating this thing.

In the previous rehearsals, there was no segment of eating insects.

An Qinghe frowned, chewed, looked up in thought for a moment, and said, "Quite fragrant, not hard to eat."

"It's just too small to really taste."

Although the newly hatched larvae aren't as crispy as when they're larger and fried, they're still passable.

He Jinglan felt a bit nauseous, waved her hand, and said, "You'd better not say more."

On the stage, He Jinghui saw the timing was about right and loudly declared, "In the same oil pot, the locusts have been fried into our dish, showing that the Locust God does not protect his own people."

"By contrast, our Majesty, whom everyone has seen, what is a true Son of Heaven?"

"With the Majesty's blessing, issuing an edict to exterminate the locusts, why should we fear these little locusts?"

"Do you really want to wait for the locusts to eat up all the grain you've sweated to grow?"

His words stirred up a thousand waves.

In the crowd, someone started the chant, "With the True Dragon Son of Heaven protecting our great undertaking, why worship any Locust God?"

Soon people everywhere echoed it.

"If the emperor can dip his hand in the oil pot unharmed, what are these tiny locusts?"

"Exactly, exactly! With such a Son of Heaven protecting us, why fear the locusts?"

He Jinglan and An Qinghe exchanged a glance and quietly slipped out of the crowd.

Those who started the chatter were all arranged in advance by He Jinghui, mixed among the common folk.

They only needed the situation to become clear, then raise their arms and shout, eliciting a hundredfold response.

"Exterminate the locusts! Protect my good fields!"

"Exterminate the locusts! Protect my good fields!"

……

A few people drove a hundred, a hundred drove a thousand, until the shouts merged into one.

At the same time, the eunuchs were in a frenzy, "Imperial Physician! Quickly summon the Imperial Physician!"

The emperor took the hand‑wiping cloth, "Nonsense, why call an imperial physician? I'm fine."

The chief eunuch, reacting fairly quickly, at once shouted down the crowd and, bowing to the emperor, said with a smile:

"I am but a mortal flesh; I almost forgot that Your Majesty's holy body enjoys heavenly protection—I deserve a beating, I deserve a beating!"

Seeing the great task accomplished, the emperor quickly stepped down from the platform, "Returning to the palace."

"All my beloved officials, no need to follow; disperse if there's nothing else."

Fan Grand Secretary originally wanted to approach the oil pot to have a look, but was blocked by the Golden Warrior Guard filing in.

The Golden Warrior Guard surrounded the two oil pots.

Leading them was Assistant Commander Meng Chengping.

He was seen in full armor, imposing, his gaze unwavering as he shouted, "The city gate is a vital spot; lest the oil pot catch fire, we have been ordered to station here again."

"Wait until the oil pot is completely cooled before disposing of it!"

The Golden Warrior Guard are the emperor's personal guards; what they do is exactly what the emperor desires.

Grand Secretary Fan, seeing the situation, could only resentfully give up.

He has lived to such an age, and having spent half his life in officialdom, he has become a shrewd veteran.

Naturally, he would not believe the commoners' claim that a heaven‑mandated emperor enjoys divine protection.

But he really couldn't understand: the same boiling hot oil that instantly fries locusts, why does putting his hand in it cause no harm at all?

Fan Ge Lao lifted his gaze, looking toward the Regent Prince…… and the woman standing behind him.

Mu Nan Zhao's eyes turned cold, he stepped forward, and stood in front of Fan Ge Lao.

"Do not look upon what is improper, Master Fan—you're already this old, staring at a young lady like that, your manners are worse than a three‑year‑old's."

What sort of person is Fan Ge Lao? Of course he isn't so easily provoked.

He chuckled, his eyes kind and benevolent, saying, "Everyone says the Regent Prince has no fondness for women; I don't know when he came to cherish this one, but he's reluctant to let her show her true face."

Mu Nan Zhao replied calmly, "My household never uses female attendants; I'm sure Master Fan is well aware of that."

"This woman is merely a maid temporarily borrowed from the He household."

Fan Ge Lao and Mu Nan Zhao's eyes met—one hid a knife behind his smile, the other remained expressionless.

Finally, Fan Ge Lao clasped his hands, saying, "My old bones really can't endure standing long; I take my leave, Your Highness, please do as you wish."

Fan Ge Lao left with his entourage of supporters.

He Jinghui came over laughing; having won a great victory today, he was in excellent spirits.

"Hey, what did he just say to you?"

"The old man wailed his loyalty in public, only to become a laughingstock; he must be unwilling to accept that, right?"

Mu Nan Zhao said coldly, "Since the Emperor himself is involved in this matter, even if he remains unwilling or doubtful, he cannot possibly expose the Emperor to the world, can he?"

He Jinghui laughed, "Unless he doesn't want the lives of the entire Fan family."

As the two departed, they passed in front of the Commander of the Golden Wu Guard, Meng Chengping.

He Jinghui saw Mu Nan Zhao give Meng Chengping a slight nod in greeting; after they had walked past, he asked:

"Speaking of which, this Commander Meng also hails from the Northwest Army,"

"Did you know him before?"

Mu Nan Zhao hummed in affirmation, "I know him."

He paused, then said, "Sooner or later, you will come to know him as well."

He Jinghui frowned, puzzled, "I already know him now; I just haven't spoken much with him."

"Why do I feel you have some deeper meaning?"

Mu Nan Zhao didn't answer, only saying, "Jing Lan and the others are still waiting—hurry up."

He still needs to make a trip to the palace.

Gu Xixi then followed the He siblings back to the He household.

When they arrived home, the two young ladies got down from the carriage.

Then they heard He Jinghui arguing with An Qinghe, saying, "An Brother, if you put it that way, you're wrong."

"Indeed, he didn't give any prior notice, just had Gu Xixi go fry in the oil pot, yet he himself had personally tried it seven or eight times yesterday."