The Great Tang's King of Provisions

Chapter 30: Love, Rojiamo-Style

Once Li Shimin and the others were about eighty percent full, and their hands and mouths had gradually slowed down, Li Xuanba cast a casual glance at Mei Hanxue and asked Li Shimin, “Second Brother, have you come to escort me into Chang’an?” “Whoosh!” Upon hearing Li Xuanba’s words, Mei Hanxue, Du Xingxuan, Du Shuangshuang, and the young beggars all turned to look at Li Shimin. Glancing at the three anxious women, Li Shimin’s lips curled slightly into a faint smile. “Of course we’re here to take you to Chang’an—and back to the palace. Otherwise, why would I have come here at all?” Ha ha! Surely the Great Virtue wouldn’t skip returning to the palace just because of these three women? That simply wouldn’t do. Who knows—he might even have to take these three women back to Chang’an with him. Hmm! Make them Da De’s primary consort? Or secondary consorts? Three women—this is going to be tricky! While Li Shimin was mulling over this tricky situation, he kept his mouth wide open, biting into his roujiamo. Even though he was about eighty percent full, his mouth still wasn’t satisfied! Li Xuanba turned his head to glance at Du Xingxuan and Du Shuangshuang. “Are you willing to come with me to the palace?” “We’re willing!” “We’re willing! Wherever Brother Xuanba goes, we’ll go!” No sooner had Li Xuanba finished speaking than Du Xingxuan and Du Shuangshuang replied in crisp, cheerful voices. They had already been entrusted to Li Xuanba by Du Hongzhuang, so naturally, wherever Li Xuanba went, they would follow. Besides, they had their own little plans as well. “Great! Once we’re in the palace, Brother Xuanba will help you solve your little problems!” Hearing the two girls’ obedient replies, Li Xuanba smiled and patted their little heads before turning to look directly at Mei Hanxue. “Whoosh!” Faced with Li Xuanba’s bold gaze, Mei Hanxue’s face instantly flushed pink. She lowered her head slightly and took bite after bite of the rice-grain-sized roujiamo, her heart pounding wildly. Looking at the roujiamo in Mei Hanxue’s hand, Li Xuanba’s eyes twinkled, and he smiled faintly: “My braised pork is as red, fragrant, and glossy as the sun; you are as pure as white snow embroidered with lotus blossoms. I wish to exchange my longing for a life spent together; I do not wish to merely share dreams with you.” “Miss Mei, would you be willing to accompany Xuanba to the palace to meet my old man?” Li Shimin: “……” The moment Li Xuanba finished speaking, Li Shimin and the others gaped, staring at him in unison with astonishment. They weren’t surprised by the way Li Xuanba addressed Li Yuan, but rather that Li Xuanba—known throughout the world for his ferocity—could actually compose poetry! And why on earth was the poem about a roujiamo? Using a roujiamo as a metaphor for love—that’s just ridiculous! “I, I…” No sooner had Li Xuanba recited this off-the-wall roujiamo love poem than Mei Hanxue suddenly felt the roujiamo in her hand prick her skin. She hurriedly set it down on the table, bowed her head, and stammered, her face flushed crimson, unable to form a single complete sentence. Seeing Mei Hanxue’s bashful expression, Li Xuanba reached out with his large hand and directly grasped her delicate hand, grinning mischievously. “Fine! If you won’t say it, I’ll take that as a yes!” As soon as Li Xuanba finished speaking, Li Shimin and the others nearby rolled their eyes in unison. What did he mean by “if you don’t say anything, I’ll take that as a yes”? Was that really the way to confess to a woman? Li Xuanba couldn’t care less about Li Shimin and the others’ reactions. Without letting go of Mei Hanxue’s struggling delicate hand, he called out to Chef Huang standing nearby, “Old Huang!” “Yes! At your service, Your Highness!” Old Huang was absolutely thrilled at that moment. He never would have imagined that his new employer was none other than His Highness the Prince of Wei of the Tang Dynasty—and that the Crown Prince had come to dine as well. These were the most prominent figures he’d ever encountered in his life—and he’d met two of them at once. “Thud! Under Li Shimin’s astonished gaze, Li Xuanba flipped his hand, producing ten gleaming ten-liang silver ingots, which he tossed onto the table. He instructed Chef Huang, “Take this money. For the time being, our restaurant won’t be open. Just come by every day to cook for Gouzi and the others and tidy up the place. Oh, and—Don’t forget to make Doggie some ginseng-stewed chicken—he hasn’t fully recovered yet. I’ve already prepared today’s portion; just serve it to him in a little while.” “Yes, sir! Old Huang will take care of it!” Seeing Li Xuanba display his supernatural abilities, Old Huang didn’t dare show the slightest hint of greed toward the hundred taels of silver. He hurriedly bowed deeply to Li Xuanba and agreed to his instructions! Li Xuanba nodded at Chef Huang, then turned to the young beggars and said gently, “Stay here and take good care of yourselves. If you have any friends, bring them over too. Eat and live here together—don’t go out begging anymore, okay?” “Mm-hmm, we know, Master.” “Got it, Prince Brother. I’ll call Liuzi over.” Amid the chatter, the little beggars grinned and nodded in unison, agreeing to Li Xuanba’s instructions. Li Xuanba patted each of the little beggars on the head in turn, then looked with a beaming smile at Li Shimin, who had already finished eating. “Second Brother, I’ve taken care of my business. Let’s head to Chang’an right away! I’m still eager to see what the Tang Dynasty’s Chang’an looks like!” “All right! Let’s go!” Li Xuanba was decisive, and so was Li Shimin. Suppressing the surprise and doubt in his heart, he waved his hand and turned to walk toward the door. Before riding off on “Chasing the Wind Ten Thousand Li Cloud,” Li Xuanba looked at Mei Hanxue and the other two women with a mischievous grin. “Come on! Hanxue, let me help you onto the horse. You’ll sit behind me and hold onto my waist. Xingxuan and Shuangshuang, sit in front of me!” Li Xuanba was quite something—Mei Hanxue hadn’t even truly agreed to return to Chang’an with him yet, and he’d already changed the way he addressed her. “But…” Hearing Li Xuanba’s words, Mei Hanxue’s lingering shyness flared up again. What kind of relationship did they even have? Just riding on the same horse! “Stop saying ‘but’! Second Brother and the others didn’t have a wedding palanquin when they set out,” Li Xuanba said, his mischievous grin widening as he watched Mei Hanxue’s bashful expression. He wrapped his arms around her soft waist and gently set her upon the massive saddle of “Chasing the Wind Ten Thousand Li Cloud.” “Hehe! She really does smell wonderful!” Having just released his arms from around Mei Hanxue, Li Xuanba—under her bashful gaze—secretly sniffed the scent lingering on his hands and raised an eyebrow smugly. “You…,” watching Li Xuanba take advantage of the situation, Mei Hanxue bit her red lip with her pearly teeth, her eyes filled with reproach. Li Xuanba shot Mei Hanxue a smug look, then turned, spread his arms wide, and scooped up Du Xingxuan and Du Shuangshuang. “Come on! Xingxuan, Shuangshuang, I’ll lift you onto the horse!” Once the three women were settled, Li Xuanba tapped the ground with one foot and soared effortlessly into the air, landing right in the middle of them. Feeling Mei Hanxue’s softness and the faint fragrance of Du Xingxuan before him, Li Xuanba raised an eyebrow slightly, revealing a mischievous grin. He gave “Ten Thousand Miles Chasing the Clouds” a light tap on the flank with both feet and said with a calm smile, “Ten Thousand Miles Cloud, let’s go—off to Chang’an!” “Neigh!” “Thump, thump, thump, thump!” As soon as Li Xuanba gave the order, Wanli Zhui Feng let out a whinny. Without daring to leap high into the air, he swung his limbs and galloped steadily toward Chang’an. “Haha! Looks like Da De has finally caught on! Let’s go! Giddy-up!” Seeing how Li Xuanba prioritized his lover over his brother, Li Shimin shook his head and chuckled, then muttered a playful curse under his breath. He gave his horse a light kick in the flank and set off in pursuit of Li Xuanba. “Giddyup! As soon as Li Shimin set off, Cheng Yaojin and the others also gave their horses a light tap on the flanks and set off in pursuit of the Crown Prince and the Prince ahead of them, racing toward Chang’an! *The Tang Dynasty’s Provisions King*: Entering Chang’an to See Loved Ones