Shaohua is Junqing

Although the emperor would "open his pen" and "open his seal" on the third day of the Lunar New Year, there would not be any major events during the New Year period. The emperor would not actually start attending court and handling state affairs until after the Lantern Festival.

Prince Chen's Palace.

"Your Majesty, we had hot pot at the Hot Spring Palace before, and we said that we would invite the emperor to taste it after we return to Beijing. Do you think we should go to the palace to cook for the emperor? Or should we invite the emperor to the palace to eat?"

"I think it would be better to invite the emperor to come to the palace. After all, the palace has many rules and it is not as comfortable as the prince's mansion."

"That's right, Your Highness, please go to the palace first and tell the Emperor to come to the mansion tomorrow. I will prepare the things first."

"Okay, I'm leaving."

Imperial Palace, Baohe Hall.

"Why does the emperor uncle come to the palace at this time?"

"When I was at the Hot Spring Palace, the princess made a delicacy called "hot pot", which tasted very good. The princess wanted to invite the emperor to try it, so I came here to invite the emperor to my house to taste it."

"Hotpot? This is the first time I've heard of it. This era always has amazing performances. Well, since the princess has invited me, I'll go."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Tomorrow at noon, the princess and I will be waiting for Your Majesty at the mansion."

On the second day, the emperor came to Prince Chen's Mansion in casual clothes, accompanied only by Eunuch Zhou and four guards.

Prince Chen led the emperor to Xiling Pavilion, where Siyu was already preparing. Because Siyu was afraid of the cold, the fire was lit early in Xiling Pavilion, and the temperature inside the house was already much higher than outside.

"emperor."

"This is not the Imperial Palace. I am here incognito, so there is no need to be formal."

"Yes. Your Majesty, please take a seat. You will be served food soon."

"This room is actually a bit warmer than my warm room."

"Because I am afraid of the cold, I lit the fire early."

After a while, Yan Haiyun came.

"Your humble servant greets His Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince Chen, and Princess Shaohua."

"No need to be polite, just sit down."

Yan Haiyun was so happy when he received Shao Hua's invitation yesterday. Although he didn't know what hotpot was, he was very much looking forward to it. He was so excited that he couldn't sleep all night.

Siyu placed the bowl of prepared ingredients in front of the emperor, Prince Chen and Yan Haiyun.

"Hotpot is a way of eating hotpot. You put whatever you like into the pot and cook it. You can eat it when it's cooked. You can eat it while it's cooking."

"This way of eating is quite novel." The emperor looked at the dishes on the table next to him, picked up a few pieces of oyster mushrooms and winter melon and put them into the pot. "Don't be restrained, you can eat too."

Several people picked up their favorite dishes and put them into the pot. The soup in the pot was bubbling.

After the ingredients had been cooking in the pot for a while, Siyu looked at them and said, "Your Majesty, it's ready to eat. Dip the vegetables in the bowl before eating, it will taste better."

The emperor followed Shaohua's instructions and picked up the dishes from the pot, dipped them in the bowl of condiments, and then ate them.

"It tastes good. It's really different from the dishes that the imperial kitchen usually makes."

"As long as the emperor likes it. Young Master Xiaoyan, you can try it too."

Because the emperor was present, and he admired Shaohua, he had been very reserved since Yan Haiyun came in. He didn't dare to speak or move. At this moment, Shaohua asked him to taste the hot pot, and he carefully picked up a vegetable from the pot and put it in the bowl, but did not eat it.

"This hot pot tastes good, and the way to eat it is novel. The princess has opened my eyes again."

"If the emperor likes it, then this servant's efforts have not been in vain."

"You have allowed me to taste delicious food today, so I should also show my appreciation. I remember that among the tribute items sent by Xidan Country, there was an exquisite jade hairpin, which was crystal clear and would suit you very well. How about I give it to you?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward."

After finishing the hot pot and cleaning up everything, everyone sat together drinking tea.

"After I finish this cup of tea, I will return to the palace."

"Are you in such a hurry?"

"I went out incognito. Except for a few people who accompanied me, no one else knew where I went. The Queen Mother didn't know either. I was afraid that if I stayed away for too long, the Queen Mother would find out and scold me."

"Then Your Majesty should return quickly. If I cause Your Majesty to be reprimanded, I will feel bad too."

"You don't have to be nervous, and you don't have to blame yourself. I'm just saying this. Okay, I'm leaving now."

"Congratulations to the emperor."

Prince Chen personally escorted the emperor out of the palace gate before returning to Xiling Pavilion.