The early spring air was biting cold. Even though the sun was now warm enough to melt the ice and snow, it was still no match for the piercing chilly wind.

Because of this, Yin Shuhuai invited the ministers to have hot pot for lunch that day.

Following Yin Shuhuai’s tips, the cooks from the Ministry of Imperial Entertainments fried a spicy beef tallow broth using ingredients like evodia fruits, beef fat, star anise, scallions, ginger, and Sichuan peppercorns. They also whipped up a seafood broth made from oysters, crabs, fresh shrimp, daylilies, dried scallops, nori, clams, kelp, and dried jujubes. In keeping with modern hot pot habits, Yin Shuhuai also had the cooks prepare garlic oil dipping sauces and sesame dipping sauces.

The Yin dynasty practiced a system where everyone ate individual portions. The eunuchs placed a split pot, dipping sauces, and various ingredients in front of each minister.

Having worked hard all morning, the ministers looked on with curiosity as they caught the aroma wafting from the copper pots. They had eaten hot pot for a long time, but they had never tried these two types of broths before. The scent was incredibly bold and commanding.

Huo Quan took a deep breath and said solemnly, “The Emperor truly possesses earth-shattering talent, to be so well-versed even in the culinary arts.”

Jiang Yang agreed wholeheartedly, “As the old saying goes, food is the first necessity of the people. The fact that the Emperor could guide the Ministry of Imperial Entertainments to invent so many delicacies just proves that he loves his people like his own children.”

The aristocratic officials present felt their faces turn darker and darker as they listened.

What on earth were they talking about? These things were not related at all, yet they forced the flattery anyway.

They were truly nothing but sycophants.

Wang Su, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, let out a heavy snort in his heart. He then adopted a serious expression and said, “Since the Emperor took the reins of government and began ruling in person, he has produced iron pots, established coal yards, opened weaving mills, improved heated brick beds and farm tools, and manufactured pressure water wells and waterwheels. The common people have benefited greatly from the Emperor’s grace, praising his virtue every day. They believe the Emperor is truly a sagacious ruler on par with Yao and Shun.”

Huo Quan and his followers all looked over askance. As expected of the deeply rooted, prestigious aristocratic families, they certainly knew how to flatter better than anyone else.

Shentu Yang had no patience for the scheming and rivalry among these people. He dumped the plates of rolled mutton and beef from his table straight into the pot to swish them around. He then impatiently stuffed the meat into the oil and sesame sauces, mixed it all up, and buried his head in his food to eat to his heart’s content. Eating until sweat broke out on the tip of his nose, he finally said with sheer satisfaction, “Splendid!”

Compared to Shentu Yang’s frantic devouring, Yin Shuhuai’s eating manners were much more elegant. He took a piece of tripe, which had been meticulously prepared and cleaned by the cooks, swished it up and down seven or eight times in the beef tallow broth, and leisurely dipped it into the oil sauce before putting it in his mouth. Feeling the crisp, fragrant, and spicy flavor in his mouth, Yin Shuhuai closed his eyes in pure contentment.

As expected, eating tripe required a garlic oil dipping sauce.

This kind of rich, numb, spicy, and savory aroma was truly a long-lost comfort.

Shentu Yang had also noticed the tripe placed on his table, but he had never eaten swished tripe before. Holding onto the simple notion that one shouldn’t touch strange and unusual things, he had initially left it alone. Now, seeing the Emperor’s immensely satisfied and fulfilled expression, Shentu Yang grew hungry for it instead. He copied Yin Shuhuai’s manner, swishing the tripe and dipping it into the oil sauce before putting it in his mouth. He was instantly blown away by the texture.

Was it really this delicious?

Shentu Yang looked at the plate of tripe in front of him with a face full of shock. The next second, he poured the entire plate into the pot, scooped it out a moment later, and devoured it all like slurping noodles.

This was absolutely spectacular!

Meanwhile, Yin Shuhuai was already swishing crispy duck intestines.

The aristocratic officials, who rarely ate animal organs, looked at the unusual ingredients on their tables with expressions of deep self-doubt. They then looked at Yin Shuhuai and Shentu Yang, who were eating with complete focus and devotion. They couldn’t tell if this ruler and minister truly found it delicious, or if they were just putting on a show.

Maybe they should give it a try too.

When the aristocratic officials cautiously swished the tripe and duck intestines and put them in their mouths, everyone’s eyes widened in shock the very next second. They felt as if they had just opened the door to a whole new world of ingredients.

So animal organs could actually taste this delicious?

The Emperor truly lived up to his title! He certainly knew how to enjoy food far better than they did.

By the time the meal was well underway and the eunuchs served freshly made fried rice to everyone’s tables, the ministers, who had never tried pairing hot pot with fried rice, were shocked once again.

How could there be someone in the world who knew how to eat so brilliantly?

Confucius said that one should never tire of refined food or finely cut meat, but the Emperor had done more than just achieve that standard, he had completely surpassed it.

This meal left everyone utterly amazed by the sheer perfection of it all.

Some officials could not help but think that if the palace could provide them with such exquisite and delicious meals every day, they would be willing to stay on duty around the clock.

Only Shentu Yang was unwilling.

After lunch, unable to bear it any longer, Shentu Yang chased away all the eyesore ministers, leaving himself alone to accompany the Emperor for a walk in the garden to aid digestion.

“Wenruo told me that he has already found the Tangshan hot spring that Your Majesty was looking for.”

It was early spring, and the flowers, plants, and trees in the garden were beginning to sprout and bud. Looking out into the distance, the view was full of the vibrancy of spring.

Shentu Yang casually picked a wind-blown foxtail weed, bit it in his mouth, and said with a playful grin, “Wenruo sent people to turn the mountains and forests around Ji County completely upside down, and they finally found the spring eye Your Majesty mentioned. Currently, craftsmen have been dispatched to build a traveling palace near the spring. By winter this year, Your Majesty can go to the hot spring palace to spend the winter.”

As for the cost of building the palace, Shentu Yang had just returned from Goguryeo, after all. He had seized the wealth of the entire Goguryeo capital and had beaten up so many local tyrants and corrupt gentry on his way back with the army. The wealth and treasures he plundered were more than enough to build a hot spring traveling palace for the Emperor.

Thinking of this, the corners of Shentu Yang’s mouth curved up with even more self-satisfaction.

Who else in the whole world could provide for the Emperor so exceptionally well? Only he, Shentu Yang, the Duke of Yan!

Yin Shuhuai looked at the gloating Shentu Yang. This man was like a domineering, arrogant dragon, but he was also childishly adorable.