A husband found in the village? I bought a regent for a penny!

The people in the front row passed around the plate of fried locusts, and some of the bolder ones even actually tasted them.

Surprisingly, it smells quite good, and there's no strange taste at all.

He Jinglan and An Qinghe finally broke out in a cold sweat.

The emperor's last-minute addition to the play had given them quite a fright.

Even using Gu Xixi's method, the oil pot on the left was filled with vinegar, with only a thin layer of oil floating on the surface.

Seeking a safer approach, and following Gu Xixi's suggestion of something with a "higher boiling point," Anqing and his connections in the seedling association in Beijing managed to obtain a barrel of rapeseed oil through other merchants.

Rapeseed oil was used instead of the more common soybean oil.

On the left is a pot of mixed vinegar and oil, and on the right is a pot of pure oil.

Gu Xixi said that when vinegar first boils, it only reaches about half the temperature of regular boiling water.

The boiling and swirling of the vinegar at the bottom creates the illusion that the rapeseed oil at the top is boiling.

As long as you reach in at this time and quickly remove your hand within a short period of time, you will not suffer burns.

Gu Xixi even conducted her own experiments to prove it.

But the emperor's hands are, after all, the body of the dragon, and to damage the body of the dragon is a heinous crime that results in the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire clan.

So after discussion, everyone decided that, to be on the safe side, they should choose someone to stand in for the emperor and complete the play.

All that is needed is for the emperor to be present and to provide evidence that "there is a Heavenly Dragon Son of Heaven protecting him."

Unexpectedly, Mu Nanzhao suddenly chose Gu Xixi this morning.

Even more unexpectedly, the emperor ended up taking the throne himself.

Only when they saw that the emperor's hand was unharmed did He Jinglan and An Qinghe resume normal breathing.

An Qing cursed in a Western Regions dialect that He Jinglan couldn't understand, saying, "Didn't he say he would handle everything?"

"What did he do? We were almost all doomed!"

This time, He Jinglan didn't side with Mu Nanzhao, but nodded and said, "Even if he's not dead, he's probably scared to death!"

The fried locusts were brought to the two men.

An Qinghe grabbed one without thinking and ate it. Xixi ate it, so how could he not share her suffering?

He Jinglan dared not eat, and could only watch An Qinghe's reaction.

"How is it? Is it bad?"

Xixi made a huge sacrifice today, even eating this stuff.

The previous rehearsals did not include the part about eating insects.

Anqing frowned, chewed for a moment, looked up at the sky and savored the taste, "It's quite fragrant, not bad."

"It's just too small, so I didn't really taste it."

Although newly hatched larvae are not as crispy as when they are fully grown and deep-fried, they are still edible.

He Jinglan felt nauseous and waved her hand, saying, "You'd better not say anything."

On stage, He Jinghui, seeing that the oil was almost ready, loudly proclaimed, "The same oil pan, but the locusts were fried and became our food. This shows that the Locust God did not protect his people."

"On the other hand, everyone has seen what a true Son of Heaven is."

"With His Majesty's blessing and decree to eradicate the locusts, why should we fear these mere locusts!"

"Do you really want to wait for locusts to eat all the food you've grown with your blood and sweat?!"

His words stirred up a huge wave of discussion.

In the crowd, someone spoke up first, "With the true dragon emperor protecting our great cause, why bother worshipping the locust god!"

Soon, people everywhere echoed his sentiment.

"Even the Emperor was unharmed after being boiled in oil, so what are those tiny locusts compared to him!"

"That's right! With such an emperor protecting us, what are we afraid of those locusts for?"

He Jinglan and An Qinghe exchanged a glance and quietly squeezed out of the crowd.

Those who started the conversation were all arranged in advance by He Jinghui, mingling among the common people.

We are just waiting for the situation to become clear before we raise our arms and shout, and a hundred people will respond.

"Kill the locusts! Protect my fertile fields!"

"Kill the locusts! Protect my fertile fields!"

……

A few people lead a hundred, a hundred lead a thousand, until the shouts become one.

Meanwhile, the eunuchs were in a flurry of activity, shouting, "Imperial Physician! Quickly, summon the Imperial Physician!"

The emperor took the handkerchief and said, "Foolish thing, why call for the imperial physician? I am perfectly fine."

The chief eunuch reacted quickly, immediately stopping the crowd and bowing to the emperor with a smile:

"This servant is but a mortal, and almost forgot that His Majesty's holy body is blessed by Heaven. He deserves to be beaten, he deserves to be beaten!"

Seeing that the mission was accomplished, the emperor quickly stepped down from the high platform and ordered, "Prepare the carriage to return to the palace."

"My beloved ministers need not follow. You may all disperse unless there is something else to discuss."

Grand Secretary Fan wanted to get closer to the oil cauldron to take a look, but he was blocked by the Imperial Guards who filed in.

The Imperial Guards surrounded the two oil cauldrons.

The leader was Meng Chengping, who had joined the army.

He stood imposingly in full armor, his eyes fixed straight ahead, and declared, "This is a strategically important city gate. To prevent a fire, we are ordered to stand guard once more."

"Wait until the oil in the pan has completely cooled down before proceeding!"

The Imperial Guards are the emperor's personal guards; what they do is exactly what His Majesty desires.

Seeing this, Grand Secretary Fan had no choice but to give up in frustration.

Having lived to such an old age and spent half his life in officialdom, he has become a shrewd and experienced man.

Naturally, they wouldn't believe in the idea that a true emperor is blessed by heaven, just like ordinary people do.

But he really couldn't understand why the same boiling hot oil could cook locusts instantly, but his hand was fine when he put it in.

Grand Secretary Fan raised his eyes and looked at the Regent... and the woman behind him.

Mu Nanzhao's eyes turned cold, and he stepped forward to block Elder Fan's path.

"Don't look at what is improper. Lord Fan is so old, staring at that young lady. How can you be less polite than a three-year-old child?"

Who is Grand Secretary Fan? Of course, he is not so easily provoked.

He chuckled, his face kind and gentle, "Everyone says the Regent is not interested in women, but I don't know when he gained such a favorite, and he can't bear to let her show her true face."

Mu Nanzhao said calmly, "My household never employs female servants, as Lord Fan is surely well aware of."

"This woman is merely a maid temporarily borrowed from the He family."

Grand Secretary Fan and Mu Nanzhao met eyes; one smiled with a hidden dagger, the other remained indifferent.

Finally, Grand Secretary Fan cupped his hands in greeting and said, "This old body can't stand for long. I'll take my leave now. Your Highness, please make yourself at home."

Grand Secretary Fan left with his supporters.

He Jinghui came over with a smile. He was in a great mood after today's resounding victory.

"Hey, what did he just say to you?"

"The old man cried and wailed while publicly professing his loyalty, only to become a laughing stock. He must be resentful, right?"

Mu Nanzhao said coldly, "His Majesty was personally involved in this matter. No matter how unwilling or suspicious he is, he can't expose His Majesty to the world, can he?"

He Jinghui laughed, "Unless he doesn't want the entire Fan family to die."

As the two were leaving, they passed by Meng, the military advisor of the Imperial Guard.

He Jinghui saw Mu Nanzhao nod slightly to Meng Chengping in greeting, and only after he had passed by did he ask:

"Speaking of which, this Military Advisor Meng also came from the Northwest Army,"

Did you know him before?

Mu Nanzhao hummed in agreement. "I know him."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Sooner or later, you'll get to know them too."

He Jinghui frowned, puzzled. "I know him now, but we haven't talked much."

"I have a feeling you have ulterior motives."

Mu Nanzhao didn't answer, only saying, "Jinglan and the others are still waiting, hurry up."

He still needs to go to the palace.

Gu Xixi then followed the He siblings back to the Xiao He residence.

When they arrived home, the two girls got off the carriage.

Then I heard He Jinghui arguing with An Qinghe, "Brother An, you're wrong to say that."

"Indeed, he didn't give any prior notice before sending Gu Xixi to put the oil in the pan, but he himself had already tried it seven or eight times yesterday."