xymnovel Chapter 130 Using Poisoned Dumplings to Form a Sworn Brotherhood!
Chapter 130 Using Poisoned Dumplings to Form a Sworn Brotherhood!
Chapter 130 Using Poisoned Dumplings to Form a Sworn Brotherhood!
But he was happy.
This dizziness that shot straight to his head reminded him of the days when he ate meat and drank wine in large bowls in Wagang Village.
"Good lad—hiccup!"
Cheng Yaojin let out a wasabi-flavored burp, then slammed a large hand down on Su Mu's shoulder, nearly breaking Su Mu's frame. "Your skills—absolutely amazing! Those green dumplings were deadly, but this wine—this wine is lifesavers! One round, so satisfying!"
He slumped to the side, half-hanging on Su Mu, his breath reeking of alcohol: "From now on, you're my brother! Anyone who dares to bully you, just mention my name! I'll twist their head off and use it as a football!"
Su Mu struggled to support the 300-pound drunkard, looking disgusted: "General Cheng, let go, my clothes are going to tear."
"So what if it breaks? I'll buy you ten replacements!"
Cheng Yaojin, slurring his words, was about to pull Su Mu to his knees when he shouted, "Come on! Let's, brothers, chop off chicken heads and burn joss paper right here today! Let's become sworn brothers!"
He looked around but couldn't find the chicken. His gaze fell on the remaining bowl of mustard dumplings on the stove.
"No chicken heads? We'll use these poisonous dumplings instead!"
Cheng Yaojin grabbed a wasabi dumpling, held it above his head, and solemnly declared: "Heaven and Earth above! I, Cheng Zhijie, today—and—"
He hesitated, then turned to look at Su Mu with blurry, drunken eyes: "Brother, what's your name again?"
Su Mu rolled his eyes, just about to push the drunkard away.
A cold snort, tinged with anger, suddenly came from the doorway.
"Outrageous! This is utterly disgraceful!"
Wei Zheng stood at the door with a dark expression, holding a memorial in his hand.
He had come by imperial decree to discuss with Su Mu the details of promoting coal stoves throughout the Tang Dynasty, but he never expected to hear ghostly wails and howls inside as soon as he arrived at the door.
Upon entering, wow!
The dignified Duke Lu, a veteran general who helped found the Tang Dynasty, was currently hanging on a servant's back, holding up a bright green dumpling and asking to become sworn brothers!
His face flushed red and then turned pale, and his face was covered with tears and snot. Where was the majesty of a great general?
"Cheng Zhijie! Have you no shame?!"
Wei Zheng was so angry that his beard trembled. He strode forward, pointed at Cheng Yaojin's nose, and berated him, "You're causing trouble here while drunk, and even dragging Su Xiaoge along! If His Majesty finds out, you'll be punished for your disrespect!"
Cheng Yaojin was stunned by the scolding and stared at the old man with the dark face for a long time before he could see who it was.
"Hey—isn't that Wei Xuancheng?"
Cheng Yaojin grinned and shoved the crumpled mustard dumpling in his hand toward Wei Zheng's mouth: "Old Wei! Here! You should try some! This stuff—hehe, it's invigorating!"
Wei Zheng smelled the pungent odor and took a step back in disgust.
"Su Mu! Hurry up and sober him up!"
Wei Zheng turned to look at Su Mu, but his tone was not full of blame; instead, it carried a hint of helplessness. "Once this rascal gets drunk, not even nine oxen could pull him back."
Su Mu shrugged and scooped a ladleful of refreshingly cool well water from the water vat.
"We don't have hangover soup, but we do have brain-clearing tonic."
Whoosh!
A bucket of cold water was poured over my face.
Cheng Yaojin shuddered, blankly wiped the water off his face, looked at Su Mu, then at Wei Zheng with a dark expression, and finally looked down at the green dumpling in his hand that had been crushed to pieces.
The memory of that pungent, spiciness that had just shot straight to the top of my head was slowly returning to my mind.
His lips twitched, and he threw the mushy lump of dough on the ground.
"Hey—Old Wei, the weather's nice today, and I suddenly remembered I have some meat stewing at home, so I'm off!"
The snow is beginning to fall.
The snow on the red wall couldn't withstand the weak sunlight and broke apart, falling onto the bluestone slab with a dull thud.
Su Mu pushed open the creaking wooden door of the woodshed, and a blast of cold air instantly crept up his collar.
He tightened his cotton robe, picked up a bamboo broom, and slowly swept it around the yard.
The snow was thick, and when the broom swept it, the sound was muffled and heavy.
Today, Xiao Sizi was dressed like a red ball, wrapped in a thick fox fur vest, and the ears of the tiger-head hat on her head swayed with her movements.
The little girl was bending over and straining in the snowdrift, her little hands red with cold, but she wouldn't stop.
"Brother! Come quick and help the duck!"
Su Mu stopped sweeping and looked at the little guy who wasn't even as tall as the snowdrift.
"What are you up to now?"
Little Sizi painstakingly scooped up a handful of snow and patted it onto a round snowball.
"Let's make a big, round duck! It has to be huge, and with big ears!"
Su Mu chuckled and continued wielding the broom.
"Why would you want to build a statue of me? It would be more practical to build a statue of the God of Wealth and have him sprinkle some gold into our little courtyard."
Little Sizi tilted her head back and sniffed.
"Golden Fragrance Duck, sprinkle with meat, sprinkle with lots and lots of big chicken drumsticks!"
Su Mu shook his head; this little foodie's mind had never strayed from the right path.
Just then, a faint noise came from the base of the somewhat dilapidated wall in the backyard.
The tiles collided with a creak.
Su Mu stopped sweeping.
A head popped out from over the wall, followed by a young man in a brocade robe who clumsily stepped over the wall.
The boy was clearly not used to such thieving activities; when he landed, his legs gave way and he fell directly into the thick snow.
"Ouch!"
The boy let out a soft cry, and because of the sudden movement, his official hat was caught askew by the tree branch.
Little Sizi stared wide-eyed at the disheveled figure in the snowdrift.
"Look, buddy! There's a thief stealing meat!"
The little girl reacted very quickly, running over with her short legs, still clutching a loosely clenched snowball in her hand.
"You bad guy! Don't you dare steal the succulents from the family!"
The snowball hit the boy's shoulder with a thud, scattering into a cloud of white powder.
The boy hurriedly scrambled up from the snowdrift, brushing the snow off his body while coughing awkwardly.
The boy was about ten years old, with a lingering weariness in his eyes and brows, and even some melancholy that he had suppressed for many years.
He wanted to get angry, but when he saw that the girl in front of him was a beautiful little girl, all his frustration turned into helplessness.
"Is it...is it my older brother?"
Little Sizi leaned closer and finally recognized the face.
Li Chengqian, the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty.
His face was flushed, whether from the cold or embarrassment, it was hard to tell.
Li Chengqian never expected that someone would live in this remote and cold backyard of the imperial kitchen, including his most favored little princess.
"Sizi, what are you doing here?"
Li Chengqian lowered his voice and subconsciously glanced outside the wall, his expression tense.
Su Mu leaned against the broom handle, looking completely at ease.
"Your Highness, the classes at Chongwen Academy haven't ended yet, have they? If Lord Wei sees you with that kind of agility, he might break a pillar in the main hall during tomorrow's morning court session."
Li Chengqian looked at Su Mu.
The man was dressed in ordinary servant's clothes, but when he saw the crown prince, he didn't even bend his waist, let alone kneel down to pay his respects.
Moreover, the tone of his voice sounded like an elder lecturing a younger person.
Li Chengqian was in a state of turmoil. His mother had just recovered somewhat, and his father was becoming increasingly strict with his studies. The great Confucian scholars were talking to him about governing the country and maintaining peace every day, which made him feel suffocated.
He just wanted to find a secluded place to hide.
"I'm just lost."