"Southern Restaurant" is a well-known restaurant in the capital. Its main dishes are southern flavors. It covers an area of more than ten acres and is separated from the neighbors by fences. Inside the fence are several pools, pavilions, several rare flowers and trees, and a large lawn. At this time, spring is in full swing and the grass is green. The restaurant and the posthouse were only a few hundred steps apart, so the two of them left on foot, with several of Gongyang Song's boys following meanderingly behind.
It was already midnight, the sky was getting dark, and street vendors and shops all held lanterns in unison. Outside the door of the wine shop, several young people were welcoming and escorting me. I saw Gongyang Song and my group coming from a distance. A young man hurriedly ran inside, and another young man hurriedly came up to greet me. He said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Mr. Gongyang. The great guest is here, and the young one will guide you." After saying this, he walked sideways to the left, turning around frequently to make greeting gestures.
"Prince Gongyang, I apologize for missing you from afar!" A tall, well-dressed man in his thirties quickly walked over and greeted him with a smile.
"Boss Xu, the business of your wine shop is so good!" Gongyang Songwo said with a smile. "Haha, that's because you, the Crown Prince, treat guests with respect and enjoy the meal!" the tall man in rich clothes replied with a smile.
Gongyang Song I gestured to Mei Yuanchen with my head and introduced, "This is the son of Mr. Mei, the Secretary of Salt Administration of Anxian." Anyone who has a little knowledge of political affairs will know that the Secretary of Salt Administration of Anxian is a powerful official of the first rank in the dynasty. The tall, well-dressed man had lived in the capital for a long time and was engaged in banquets and entertainment. He was naturally familiar with the official system. He clasped his hands and said, "Mr. Mei, rare visitors!" After the tall, well-dressed man finished speaking, Gong Yang Song Wo pointed at him and said, "This is the owner of this wine shop, Xu Xu Gong from the Xu family in Ruozhou." Mei Yuanchen returned the greeting, "Hello, Boss Xu." Xu Xu Gong greeted the two happily. People go inward.
"The Xu family in Ruozhou? My adoptive father said that the Xu family in Ruozhou is the best family in the martial arts world, with more than 5,000 servants in the house. I also remembered what my master said back then. The eldest brother was so skilled in martial arts that he was defeated by only four masters in the world, and one of them was Xu Xiaoyi from the Xu family in Ruozhou is dead. I didn't expect that they actually have a family business in the capital. The wine shop that came with me today is actually owned by the Xu family." Mei Yuanchen suddenly thought of this, and then thought of the attack today. I just felt that something was quite strange, and the two might be related, so I kept an eye on it secretly along the way.
"Prince Gongyang, Mr. Mei, what kind of wing do you two want?" Xu Xigong asked with a smile as they walked to the corridor of the restaurant.
Gongyang Song I looked at Mei Yuanchen with a deliberation expression. Mei Yuanchen waved his hand and said, "Praise me, I never have any ideas about food. You can make the decision." Gongyang Song I nodded and said, " That's fine. Then let's go to the Lan Yue Pavilion on the top floor." The last sentence was addressed to Xu Sugong. Xu Xuggong agreed with a smile, "Yes. I'll guide you two." Mei Yuanchen watched carefully from behind, thinking, "This Xu Xuggong is described as plump and plump, and his behavior is respectful but not humble, respectful but not disrespectful." , it is easy for people to fall in love with him. He walks steadily without being anxious, his steps are calm and his breathing is even, obviously he has cultivated quite advanced internal skills. He is really a rare talent, this Xu family member is extraordinary. "
The Nanguo restaurant consists of five towers connected by four corridors inside and outside. The middle one is called "Gou Chen", which has five floors and is more than seven feet high. It is shaped like the Bagua Heavenly King's cage. There are four-star towers at the four corners of "Gou Chen". The east tower is named Yaoyuan, the north tower is named Dilu, the south tower is called Suzhai, and the west tower is called Wutai. The four floors are as identical as twins, and they are all three stories high and about four feet tall. It is eight feet long and shaped like a goose's paw.
The three of them walked slowly along the stairs, all the way to the top floor. They saw a plaque hanging on the door of the last wing of the corridor. Under the light, the three slender and vigorous characters of "Lan Yue Pavilion" were clearly visible.
"Two distinguished guests, please!" After saying that, he gently opened the compartment door and led the two of them in. The display in the wing is simple and elegant. There is only a pair of square dining tables in the middle. Each seat has a servant and a maid. The two maids opened the red sandalwood chairs and said in a clear voice, "Your distinguished guest, please take a seat!" After sitting down, the maid set up tea sets for the two of them and poured a cup of hot tea for each of them.
"This tea is good. It's called "Quliuchun". It's a famous tea unique to Xiahe County. Let's have a cup first." Gongyang Song pointed at the tea cup and I said. Mei Yuanchen had never been particular about drinking tea, but now that he was eating and drinking, he followed the custom and tasted it carefully. "Well, it's really not bad!" This tea is slightly sweet and has a slight aftertaste in the mouth. It is smooth and soft when it enters the throat. It suits Mei Yuanchen's taste and he can't help but praise it. "Haha, that's natural! "Going down to the meander of the river to stay in the spring" is not a name for nothing." Gongyang praised me.
"Two distinguished guests, here is a recipe book, please take a look!" The two maids each held a booklet in tribute to the two of them. Mei Yuanchen gently waved his hand to the maid, smiled and said, "Praise me, I will do whatever you like!"
"Haha, okay! You grew up in Qingxi, and I grew up in Mingsheng. The two counties are connected for hundreds of miles. The folk customs are almost the same, and the food and dishes are also not far apart. Now I want to see what your and my tastes are. No different." Gong Yang praised me and said with a smile, "Left and right! Note it down! Crispy brown moss, another plate of drunken blue sea bream, a braised Qingxi duck and white orchid fern, and a pot of aged "whale sucking drink", that's it That's all." The two maids wrote down one by one, looked at each other with strange expressions on their faces, bowed and left. The people who come to Lanyue Pavilion for a banquet are either rich or noble, and they all order expensive and rare dishes. Usually there are not more than a dozen, but there are seven or eight. It only takes four side dishes like this, which is really good. Never seen it. Mei Yuanchen didn't take it seriously at all. He looked out the window and admired the crescent moon rising quietly. He thought that this pavilion lived up to its name of "embracing the moon".
Gongyang Psalm I waved away the two boys and said to Mei Yuanchen, "Yuanchen, I come here to send you letters on the first day of every month, but this is the first time I see you."
"Oh, that's a coincidence. I also send a letter to Anxian to my parents on the first day of every month, but today is the first time I meet you." Mei Yuanchen said, "You also send a letter to your father, Mother?"
"Haha, I sent it to my brother. I have a young brother, his name is me. He is a very smart and kind-hearted boy, and he is the closest to me. No matter whether it is cold or hot, he will send me a letter every month and tell me some things. An interesting story about Cangsheng County's family. I haven't seen him in six years, and I don't know what he looks like now." Gongyang praised me as he talked. He was happy at the beginning, but by the end of the sentence, his face became desolate. "In the entire Cangsheng County, he is what I miss the most." Gongyang Songwo continued, "It's a pity, alas, it's a pity that I can't return to Cansheng County, and he can't come to the capital. I don't know when we can reunite. "After speaking, he poured a sip of tea into his mouth.
"Young man, here's some wine!" Gongyang praised me and then I remembered that the cup was tea, not wine, so he called out.
"Yes, you have been waiting for a long time!" The waiter agreed. As soon as he finished speaking, he gently opened the door and came in with a food tray. On top of it was a pot of wine and two lotus wine glasses. The waiter gently placed the jug and wine glass on the dining table and said respectfully, "Dear guest, I've been waiting for a long time!" When he saw Gongyang Song and I waved, he quietly withdrew again.
"Forgive me for being sensible since I was a child. When I was a child, he knew about the servants in the mansion and always asked for mercy from his mother. It was rare that the slaves in the mansion failed to receive his favor. Once, the child of the cook in the mansion came to the county school to study. , the county school superintendent refused to accept him, but the cook was worried. I don’t know where I found out about this, but I went to ask my father to write a letter of recommendation to help him enter the county school. The cook found out. I burst into tears with gratitude. Haha, what a wonderful child, he was only seven years old at that time." Gongyang praised me with a face full of intoxication. After saying that, he filled a glass of wine and drank it in one sip, "Huh~ this is really good wine!" Looking at Mei Yuan Chen smiled and said, "Would you like a drink too?"
Mei Yuanchen smiled and replied, "Okay!" while passing the cup.
I took the cup, filled it with wine, and gently handed it back, saying, "Try it, it tastes really good!"
"Zi~" Mei Yuanchen imitated Gongyang's praising me and finished it in one gulp. He regretted it as soon as the wine entered his throat. It was so spicy that he almost had tears in his eyes. The aroma of this wine is overflowing, with a slight amber color, and it is obvious at first glance that it is extremely mellow. However, Mei Yuanchen is the first brother of the wine shop, so how can he know these skills. Ode to the Ram almost made me laugh while watching.
Mei Yuanchen's complexion gradually calmed down, but Gong Yangsong me took another drink in the interval and said, "Six years ago, my father asked for an imperial decree to make me the crown prince, and he sent me to the capital to live in captivity. The last time I saw him Forgive me, it was just before leaving. I just remember that day he was pulled by the guards of the mansion, with tears on his face, trying desperately to get away from them, to come and hold my hand, and kept shouting, "Second brother, forgive me for not letting you go." ! "Every time I think of this scene, alas." After saying this, he hurriedly poured himself another two cups and sighed helplessly, "Sigh, my fate is up to God and not up to me!"
