SFS Chapter 39 Eating from the Rich
Chapter 39 Eating from the Rich
The imperial chefs were far less skilled than Yang Guang's cooks; even using the same ingredients, they couldn't produce anything delicious.
Jiang Feng was not in high spirits and stopped eating after two bowls of porridge.
Ao Ying ate heartily, having three different meals served. Finally, Empress Dugu had a large wooden tub brought out to feed her.
Empress Dugu watched in astonishment, her heart overflowing with sympathy, and said, "Poor child, how long has it been since you've had a proper meal?"
Ao Ying said pitifully, "It's been three years. Do you know how I've spent these three years?"
Jiang Feng said, "They stole three years' worth of offerings, so how else could they survive?"
Ao Ying's expression stiffened, and he snorted, "Eating offerings from my own juniors can't be considered stealing; it's filial piety, it's my sons and grandsons showing me respect!"
Then came the talk about dragon clan rules, and how a junior dragon had placed a fish head in the wrong direction while seated, and was therefore demoted to manage the wells, which filled the Jiaofang Palace with a cheerful atmosphere.
For his meritorious treatment of the Empress, Jiang Feng was rewarded by Yang Jian with 10,000 coins and 30 bolts of silk.
After thanking the emperor for his gift and agreeing on a time to reinforce the seal for the empress, Jiang Feng and his group took their leave.
As Jiang Feng left the palace, someone presented him with a reward. He carried the reward, which could have been contained in a single bundle, out of the palace gate and couldn't help but complain.
"Ao Ying is right about one thing: this emperor is really stingy. The reward given by an emperor is less than the money for incense oil given by a local rich man."
"Thirty bolts of brocade—that sounds nice, but it's just thirty scraps of cloth! Is this stuff going to make me half a patchwork garment, or is it going to be used as diapers for Ao Ying?"
Cui Ying tried to defend Yang Jian, saying, "His Majesty is frugal and self-disciplined, and his daily life is simple, but he doesn't seem to spend the money that the court should spend?"
Halfway through her story, she suddenly realized she couldn't continue.
Well, the current emperor is indeed stingy. He not only criticizes the palace's expenses but also cuts off necessary government expenditures, which seriously affects administrative and military efficiency.
The "Compassionate Fields" and "Good Wells" systems advocated by Jiang Feng existed in name only because the imperial court did not allocate special funds for them. Their implementation depended entirely on the mood of local officials and temple abbots.
Even when famine struck the people, in order to reduce the loss of grain during transportation, he once called on the victims to go to granaries thousands of miles away for food...
It is extremely rare for an emperor to be this stingy.
Cui Ying sighed helplessly, realizing she had followed Jiang Feng to an unfamiliar street, and asked, "Where are we going?"
Jiang Feng was taken aback: "Weren't you leading the way?"
Cui Ying asked in surprise, "I followed you!"
Jiang Feng realized something was wrong, glanced at Ao Ying walking ahead, and called out, "Ao Ying, where are you taking us?"
Ao Ying turned her face away and said matter-of-factly, "Let's find a Dragon King Temple nearby and get a free lunch!"
Jiang Feng was stunned: "So we're... stealing offerings? When did I become so badly treated? How come I didn't even know?"
After a moment of confusion, his eyes widened, and he declared with boundless pride, "Why go to the Dragon King Temple? I'll take you to a lavish feast!"
After saying that, he turned to Cui Ying and said, "Come on, let's have lunch at your place!"
Cui Ying: "..."
You're not much better than Ao Ying!
They arrived at a mansion, and Cui Ying introduced, "This is the mansion of General Cui Peng, my cousin. He has been in charge of the palace guards for more than 20 years and is deeply trusted by the Emperor."
As they were speaking, a burly middle-aged man came out to greet them with several servants.
The middle-aged man looked sickly and walked unsteadily, but he still walked quickly to the front and said with a happy expression, "Chan'er, why didn't you let me know you were coming to Daxing beforehand? I could have sent someone to pick you up."
Cui Ying smiled and said, "I wouldn't dare trouble you with such a concern, brother. This is Jiang Feng, the deputy chief steward of the Yangzhou General's Office, and this is Ao Ying. We've come here today to feast on your hospitality!"
"what?"
Cui Peng paused for a moment, then bowed to Jiang Feng with a somewhat complicated expression: "Greetings, Steward Jiang."
Jiang Feng returned the greeting and warmly grabbed his wrist: "General Cui, there's no need to be so polite. We hit it off immediately. Come home with me and have someone prepare wine and food. Today, I want to drink with you until we're completely drunk!"
In a daze, Cui Peng followed him home, feeling that his style seemed familiar, but something was off...
After taking his seat, he looked at the familiar layout of the lobby and suddenly came to his senses.
This is my house, you really have no manners at all!
Moreover, the "love at first sight" rhetoric seems to be the style of Prince Jin in dealing with people, right?
Are all the people in the Yangzhou General's Office so outgoing and familiar with each other?
Cui Peng, somewhat annoyed, had wine and dishes set out. He raised his wine cup to Jiang Feng and said, "I'm not feeling well and can't drink. Please forgive me, Brother Jiang."
Jiang Feng nodded and said, "I understand, I understand. Brother Cui, are you feeling unwell? Have you sought medical treatment?"
Upon hearing this, Cui Peng sighed: "I've seen the imperial physician, but he couldn't find anything wrong. I've made an appointment with Daoist Yuzhen today, and I'll go to her temple for treatment later."
Jiang Feng and Cui Ying exchanged a glance. Seeing her shake her head slightly, they asked, "Who is this Master Yuzhen? Is his medical skill very profound?"
Cui Peng said, "Master Yuzhen cultivates at Yuquan Temple in Zhongnan Mountain. She is very skilled in medicine and also knows how to exorcise evil spirits and change one's fate. She always keeps a low profile, so her reputation is not well-known."
Jiang Feng became interested: "In that case, Brother Cui, how did you get to know her?"
Cui Peng said, "My good friend Lu Zitao was having bad luck in his official career, so he went to Zhongnan Mountain to relax. He unexpectedly met Master Yuzhen, and after she changed his luck, he was promoted three ranks in half a year."
There were several others in similar circumstances, all of them high-ranking officials in the court. I only had the opportunity to hear their names through Lu Zitao's introduction.
Jiang Feng smiled and nodded: "I see. I happen to have nothing to do today, so I'll accompany Brother Cui to meet that master and broaden my horizons."
Cui Peng readily agreed. After the banquet, he asked them to wait in the banquet hall while he went to the back courtyard to change his clothes.
Cui Ying asked with some doubt, "You should have realized that my cousin was under a curse, right? Why didn't you tell him directly, and instead went with him to Yuquan Temple?"
Jiang Feng explained, "I also know the kind of spell that your cousin has been afflicted with, but since the reign of Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty, the Celestial Master Kou Qianzhi has forbidden Taoists from practicing this spell."
I want to go and see who is so bold as to use it so openly.
Cui Ying frowned and said, "Taoist magic? I don't know anything about it. Which sect's techniques are you referring to?"
Jiang Feng looked at her strangely: "You may have heard of its name. This technique is called the Fox Charm Technique, a type of Taoist bedroom art."
"??"
Cui Ying clenched her fists immediately and looked at Jiang Feng with a cold expression.
You'd better explain yourself clearly. How come you, a monk, know Taoist bedroom arts?