The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

I braved the wind and snow to return to my long-awaited home. The house that had not been occupied for a long time seemed particularly deserted, but it still made people feel friendly and comfortable. There is no place better than home.

When Yunlin returned home, he spoke and laughed much louder. He felt more confident being at home. Even Bawang was happier when he returned to his own yard, and he ran around wildly.

When the servants saw their master coming back, they quickly boiled water, lit the fire and made the house warm so that they could wash off the dust. The kitchen also hurriedly prepared food for them.

After Min Xi and Yun Ji had their meal and rested, the water in the bathtub was heated, the room was warm, and they took a comfortable hot bath. Only then did they truly feel like they were back home.

Yunlin didn't want to sleep alone and wanted to sleep with his two brothers. He lay on Minxi's bed waiting for them to take a shower, but ended up falling asleep while waiting.

Yun Ji looked at Yun Lin who was sleeping soundly on the bed, and patted Yun Lin lightly with a mixture of love and hate: "Stinky boy, you are so grown up, but you are still so clingy!"

Min Xi suppressed his laughter: "Don't wake him up. Come over quickly and dry your hair. It's cold, don't catch a cold."

Even though there is a floor heating system in the house, you still need to use charcoal fire to dry your hair after washing it. Otherwise, if you wipe it with a towel and let it dry naturally, it will take an unknown amount of time and you will easily catch a cold and get sick.

The two sat on the chaise longue, warming themselves by the fire and brushing their hair. Min Xi lay on Yun Ji's lap, flipping through a book while Yun Ji helped him brush his hair. The two chatted, looking particularly comfortable and happy in such a quiet winter night.

During the time they were away, they had brought some books with them to learn, but Wanli was always sticking to Min Xi, so they had almost no time to study. The imperial examination was still in two months, so studying now was just a last-minute effort.

Min Xi flipped through two pages of the book and said, "I will definitely not pass the imperial examination this time. When I fail, I will go and ask His Majesty to arrange a small official position for me in the Ministry of Works. I will be a technician, and you continue to study and strive to pass the imperial examination as soon as possible."

Yun Ji's hands moved gently, with a smile on his face: "Maybe it will work."

"If I win, it will be like a blind cat catching a dead mouse, and smoke will come out of my ancestors' graves, hehe." Min Xi laughed.

"Who can predict things like exams for sure?" Yun Ji was not pessimistic about the examination. He also knew that with their current relationship with Wanli, even if they failed to pass the imperial examination, they might still have an official position in the future, but they just could not become a high-ranking official.

"No matter what, take the exam with all your heart and don't worry about us being separated. Even if we both pass, we should both stay in the capital." Yun Ji knew that if they both passed the imperial examination, there was a high possibility that they would both stay in the capital. The emperor needed a few trustworthy people and would most likely keep them all.

"Got it. I'll do my best." Min Xi yawned and touched his hair. "My hair is dry, but yours isn't yet. Let me wipe it for you."

"Okay." The two exchanged positions, Yun Ji lay down and Min Xi wiped his hair.

In the end, Yunlin was carried to the inside of the bed, and the three of them slept on one bed.

Yunlin was the first to wake up in the morning. He went to bed early and woke up early. Min Xi and Yun Ji were too tired, so they slept very deeply. When Yunlin woke up, he saw his elder brother and second brother sleeping in the same bed. He happily stretched out his arms and touched his second brother's face, and then touched his elder brother's face. It was great to see his two brothers when he woke up in the morning.

Without even opening his eyes, Yun Ji reached out, grabbed his arm and stuffed it into the quilt, saying in a low voice, "Aren't you cold?"

Yun Lin smiled happily: "It's not cold!"

Yun Ji opened his eyes and reached out to tap him on the forehead: "If you remember, put on your clothes and go downstairs."

Yun Lin huddled into the bed: "I won't get up, I want to sleep a little longer." Actually, he had a strong urge to pee, but he felt he could hold it in for a while.

"Be careful not to wet the bed!" Yun Ji said as he got up, put on his clothes, pulled Yun Lin out, and put on his clothes for him.

Yunlin giggled happily in his elder brother's arms.

Yun Ji said: "You are already such a grown-up, you should dress yourself from now on."

"I know, I usually wear them myself." Yunlin said, "Brother, did you have fun in Songshan?"

"It's fun." Yun Ji said.

“What does Songshan look like?”

"It's spectacular, the cliffs are steep, and the rocks are like books. I'll draw it for you later." Yun Ji said.

"Okay!" Yun Lin was very happy, "When I grow up, I want to go to Songshan too."

"Okay." Yun Ji quickly helped him put on his clothes, "Okay, go out and play. Let your second brother sleep a little longer."

Yunlin nodded: "Yeah, okay!"

Yun Ji opened the door and saw someone waiting outside. When he saw them coming out, he quickly poured hot water for them to wash up. Min Xi was actually awake, but he just didn't want to get up, so he went back to sleep.

Until Yun Ji came to urge him: "Ninth brother, get up, someone from the palace has come to deliver the reward."

Min Xi sat up with a start: "So early!"

He quickly got dressed and washed up. Yun Ji also helped him tie up his hair, put on his hat, and dressed himself neatly.

When the two arrived at the front hall, Angel had already been drinking tea for quite some time.

Min Xi bowed and apologized immediately when he saw him: "I am sorry for keeping Eunuch Yao waiting for so long!"

Eunuch Yao put down the teacup and said, "It's okay. We can warm ourselves by the fire and have a sip of hot tea. You have accompanied His Majesty on his tour. Thank you for your hard work."

"I don't deserve it. It's our honor to accompany Your Majesty on his trip!" Min Xi said.

Eunuch Yao said, "Your Majesty has praised Minister Min and Minister Yun highly. The Queen Mother has specially ordered people to open the storehouse and counted a lot of things to reward you. Accept the order!"

Min Xi and Yun Ji both knelt down to receive the decree. Eunuch Yao took out the imperial edict and read it out. It was basically a list of items, all of which were tributes of various kinds, including the four treasures of the study, gold, silver, jewelry and other ornaments, silks and satins, and yellow and white items. This reward was much greater than the reward for donating the ship. Perhaps in the Queen Mother's heart, the affairs of the court were not as important as her own son. Also, her son was the most important person in the world.

After expressing their gratitude and taking the imperial edict, the two men felt the pain in their knees. Kneeling in front of the emperor like this was really an unbearable punishment.

Since they had received the reward, they naturally could not treat badly the eunuchs Yao and others who had rushed out of the palace early in the morning to deliver the reward. Not only eunuch Yao, Yun Ji also gave rewards to every palace servant who accompanied them, after all, it was a lot of suffering to go out on such a day.

Yun Ji was very generous and every palace servant received a lot of rewards. Everyone left happily with the reward money.

Yun Lin saw that the people in the palace had left, so he quietly leaned over and said, "Big brother, second brother!"

Min Xi waved at him: "Come in quickly, it's so cold outside."

Yun Lin looked at the things that filled the room and couldn't help but come closer to take a look: "Wow, so many things, are they all rewards from the emperor?"

"Yes, they are all rewards from the emperor. Come here, Lin'er, I'll get you a pen. This pen is very useful. Your elder brother and I used this pen when we took part in the provincial examination last time." Min Xi picked out two purple-hair brushes from the four treasures of the study and gave them to Yun Lin.

Yunlin took it carefully and said, "Then I will use it to take the provincial examination as well."

Min Xi smiled and said, "You don't have to wait that long to use it. A brush will break if it's not used for a long time. This Duan inkstone is nice, I'll give it to you too. This Hui ink smells really good, I'll give it to you too."

Yun Lin looked at Min Xi stuffing things into his arms and said, "Second brother, I don't want so much. You and eldest brother can keep it for yourselves."

"It's okay, there are still plenty. The things sent from the palace are all double, enough for me and your elder brother." A set of the four treasures of the study was given to Min Xi and Yun Ji, and each set of pens, inks, paper and inkstones of different specifications came in pairs, so the quantity was quite large.

Things like ink sticks are given in boxes. Although inkstones are given individually, they are very durable. The inkstones given as rewards last time are still in use.

Min Xi patted the various colored imperial papers and said, "I won't give you this paper. Keep it for your elder brother to draw and write. If you become good at calligraphy and drawing in the future, come and use it."

"Okay!" Yun Lin answered crisply.

Yun Ji looked at the silks and satins and said, "Keep some of these fabrics to make clothes, and give the rest to my grandparents."

Min Xi looked at the Yunjin and Shujin and sighed, "They are so beautiful, but it's a pity that you can't use them. Can you ask His Majesty for a favor and remove your family's business registration?"

"That's not necessary. It's good for us to always be reminded of our roots," said Yun Ji.

The rewards from the palace, such as the four treasures of the study, yellow and white items, and silk and satin, can still be used. If you can't use them yourself, you can give them away, but the ornaments can't be given away. You have to find something to put them in for display. These are rewards from the emperor, and they have the words "made in the palace" on them. They can't be traded, because the palace has records. If you find out that they were lost from them, you may be killed.

After sorting all these things out, he counted the things sent back from the dock yesterday, found out the gifts he had brought for everyone on the way, packed them together with the rewards given by the emperor, and asked someone to deliver them to Tao's house.