The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

The three were chatting when Wanli suddenly remembered something: "Min Qing, why didn't I see you at the morning court the other day? I only saw Yun Qing."

Min Xi didn't expect that he would notice that he didn't attend the morning court, so he smiled embarrassedly and said, "I just took care of the affairs at the Honglu Temple and then reported to the Metropolitan Procuratorate, so I didn't make it to the court that time."

Wanli stared at him: "Even if you don't go to the Censorate, you can still go to court."

Hearing what he said, Min Xi couldn't help but laugh: "Anyway, I don't understand the duties of the Censor, so I was lazy for once. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, Wanli could not help but snorted: "Now you know how hard it is for me to go to court, right?" as if expressing his dissatisfaction.

Min Xi heard that Wanli was joking, so he just let it go: "Thinking of your majesty getting up early to attend court since he was ten years old, I feel ashamed of my laziness. Your majesty is really a role model for me. I will never be lazy again and will attend court on time."

When Wanli heard this reply, he nodded with satisfaction and said, "That's good enough. I hope to see Min Qing at the court meeting tomorrow."

It was almost noon when they arrived at Liulichang on the outskirts of the city. Min Xi and Yun Ji were shocked when they saw the scale of Liulichang. It was much larger than they had expected.

Most of Yunji's farm in the suburbs of Beijing has become a glass factory, and the number of glass kilns has increased several times. The key is that Yunji doesn't know about this, and he hasn't had time to understand it yet.

Min Xi asked Wanli: "Your Majesty, have you been here since then?"

Wanli shook his head, "No. But it has changed a lot. The eunuch Feng Ruo is quite capable. He told me that the colored glaze is selling well and making a lot of profit. The colored glaze factory can't keep up with the production. The goods ordered by the merchants have to wait until the next year, so he wants to add a few kilns. I agreed and gave him full authority, so he added so many kilns and workshops."

Min Xi smiled and said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty. Eunuch Feng is a capable man with a talent for business and can make a lot of money for Your Majesty."

"This is also inseparable from the contributions of my two beloved ministers. I want to reward you. What do you want?" Wanli was in a good mood and waved his hand, ready to reward them.

Min Xi and Yun Ji couldn't think of what reward they wanted. The rewards the emperor gave were nothing more than promotion, treasures and beauties. They had already been promoted, and they had no shortage of gold, silver and jewelry. Any more would just be icing on the cake and not have much meaning. They had no use for the beauties at all.

Min Xi thought for a long time and finally got an idea: "Your Majesty, I don't need any reward. Can I ask for a grace?"

"What grace do you want?" Wanli asked.

Min Xi said: "I am now the Censor-in-Chief. I will be responsible for impeaching officials and giving advice to Your Majesty. I may offend Your Majesty at any time. I hope that if my advice causes Your Majesty's anger in the future, you can spare my life."

Wanli looked at him and laughed twice: "Are you asking me for a golden medal to avoid death?"

Yun Ji also said: "I don't need any reward. Your Majesty, please change the reward you gave me into grace. This grace will be given to my ninth brother."

Wanli looked at Yunji again: "Are you sure?"

Yun Ji said with certainty: "I am sure!"

Wanli waved his hand and said, "Alright, I agree! I will award Min Qing two gold medals to save him from death."

Anyway, the purpose of letting Min Xi go to the Censorate was to let him give him advice. He might not be willing to listen to others' advice, but when Min Xi gave him advice, he would at least listen carefully. And with Min Xi's ability to make money, how could he bear to kill Min Xi? Even if he was given two gold medals of immunity from death, he would not be able to use them at all. But since he wanted it, then he would give it to him.

Min Xi and Yun Ji were overjoyed: "Thank you, Lord!" They didn't expect Wanli to agree so readily.

This trip was worth it, at least I got myself two amulets.

Because the emperor was traveling with a guard of honor, they spent a lot of time on the road, so the time they spent in Liulichang was very limited. They could only visit the Liuli kilns and workshops in a cursory manner, and could not play in the village for a day and have a picnic like before.

Moreover, today is the Lantern Festival, and Wanli has to return to the palace to attend the royal banquet. Shortly after lunch, the emperor returned home.

Min Xi and Yun Ji did not go with them. They would go back later and find out more about the situation from the people in charge of Liulichang and Zhuangzi.