At the tender age of eight, he was hastily dragged out and made emperor!

The rain fell silently.

Boom~

Accompanied by occasional flashes of lightning and muffled thunder in the distance, the oppressive atmosphere was very much like the turbulent political situation in the court today.

Weiwei Temple.

Main hall.

Chu Hui leaned back in his chair, casually turning the lid of his cup. Huang Long sat upright with his arms crossed over his chest. The two of them stayed there for quite some time.

"Gentlemen!!"

Liu Chen put down a document, placed his hands on the table, looked at Chu Hui and Huang Long, and said, "It's getting dark. If we don't leave soon, the capital city will be locked down."

"Then let's stay at the government office."

Chu Hui smiled, picked up his teacup, and looked at Liu Chen, saying, "What? Does Aunt intend to punish Uncle for not coming home?" After saying this, Chu Hui lifted the lid of his teacup and took a small sip of tea.

Liu Chen: "..."

"Your Highness, shall I prepare some food?" Huang Long glanced at Liu Chen, then said to Chu Hui, "After all, you haven't been eating properly these past few days."

"Sigh, I'm so worried that I don't even have the appetite to eat."

Chu Hui sighed and put down her teacup. “But it’s strange, seeing my uncle has made me a little hungry. Go, take my token and go into the palace to get some food. Also, bring out two jars of the fine wine that my brother has been collecting. Later, we’ll have a good drink with my uncle.”

"Yes!"

Huang Long stood up and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Your Highness, this is not appropriate."

Liu Chen's lips twitched as he looked at Chu Hui.

"What's wrong?"

Chu Hui said, "This is worth it. Tonight, it's not my uncle's turn to be on duty at the Imperial Guard Temple, and there's no need for me to be on duty at the Imperial Clan Court either. What's wrong with having a few drinks?"

"Can……"

Liu Chen wanted to say something, but before he could finish speaking, Chu Hui interrupted him.

"But what? This isn't like Uncle's personality."

Chu Hui smiled slightly and said, "In front of the important officials of the three provinces, he talked about relieving the worries of the national treasury and mentioned such an important matter as bidding for border quotas. I admire him very much."

Liu Chen: "..."

In fact, Liu Chen knew perfectly well why Chu Hui had come: he wanted Chu Hui to do something to alleviate some of the pressure Xiao Jing was under.

In the past few days, the entire city of Yu has been in an uproar, like a ladle of water being poured into a boiling oil pot. Everyone is talking about all sorts of things.

"Your Highness~"

"No rush, it's not too late for Uncle to tell his nephew after the food and drinks arrive."

Seeing that Liu Chen had something to say, Chu Hui stood up, said something to Liu Chen, and then walked out of the hall.

The moment I stepped out of the hall, a gust of cold wind swept over me.

This made Chu Hui shudder.

wow~

It rained harder and harder.

Watching this scene, Chu Hui felt a pang of emotion. Many things in the Great Yu were completely different from what he had imagined. It was precisely because of this that Chu Hui understood his elder brother, the Emperor, even more.

This doesn't involve profit, so everything is negotiable.

The state of the central government and the local governments will not cause any significant changes in the political landscape.

But once profit is involved, everything changes.

Chu Hui still vividly remembers the look of surprise and excitement on Xiao Jing's face when he saw the Xuanke Department.

Chu Hui found Xiao Jing to be too complicated and too divided.

In short, as long as he believes that what he is doing is beneficial to the country and the people, he will do it firmly, regardless of how others evaluate him.

Such a person is good, but as time goes by, more and more people will inevitably misunderstand Xiao Jing's behavior.

Chu Hui didn't know what Xiao Jing would do in the future, but he did know one thing: as long as Xiao Jing remained in the central government, the Great Yu would continue to change.

And this is exactly what my imperial brother wants!

"Your Highness, it's cold outside. Please put on your cloak." As Chu Hui sighed, Liu Chen, carrying a cloak, walked out of the hall and said to Chu Hui, then draped the cloak over Chu Hui's shoulders.

“Nephew, you’re cold, and someone still cares about you.”

Chu Hui raised his head and looked at Liu Chen, saying, "But there are some people who have never been cared about."

"Your Highness, things are not as simple as you think."

Liu Chen's expression was complicated. "What Xiao Jing did is different from what I did. What Xiao Jing did violated some major taboos in officialdom."

"is it?"

Chu Hui frowned and said, "Does disaster relief necessarily mean taking advantage of the people's hard-earned money? If that's the case, then what is disaster relief?"

"The money and supplies have been paid, but the criticism continues!!"

"I know, Uncle will say that's just human nature. I understand these things too well. If it weren't for my elder brother's succession to the throne, and if he hadn't cared about me, I would be in a very different situation now."

At this point, a sneer appeared on Chu Hui's face.

Liu Chen hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

"But it is precisely because I understand human nature that I cannot, damn it, stand idly by and do nothing about certain things!!" Chu Hui rarely swore.

"The Ministry of Revenue personnel have already left Yudu in batches to go to various places for disaster relief. The national treasury has squeezed out three million taels of silver for disaster relief."

"The Northern Army led by Duke Han Qing of Pingguo also dispatched a group of elite soldiers to accompany these disaster relief envoys. I can even imagine how much pressure these disaster relief envoys, chosen by Xiao Jing, will face when they arrive at the disaster-stricken areas, and what kind of constraints and challenges they will encounter."

"But did they hesitate?"

"Damn it!! There isn't one!!"

"What did this person do wrong? All they wanted was to do something practical for the Great Yu. For that, why should they face such questioning and criticism before even leaving the capital? If this counts as forming cliques for personal gain, then I hope there are more people like that!!!"

"At least at this moment, their hearts are with the nation and its people!!"

"They really don't deserve to suffer this."

Liu Chen clenched his fists, his brows furrowed, and said, "If you do a good job with disaster relief, no one will praise you, because it's something you're supposed to do."

"But if you do something wrong, then just wait, a large number of people will come one after another to impeach you. That's always been the way of officialdom. Some people value certain positions more than their own lives, because that's their life."

"And if, during this period, anyone dares to touch upon certain interests or some unspoken rules that everyone tacitly agrees to, then... hehe!!"

Liu Chen's smile said it all.

"Your Highness! Let's have hot pot!!"

At this moment, Huang Long led Guo Huang and his group, running quickly through the heavy rain. Seeing Liu Chen's puzzled expression, Huang Long said, "This rain has made it quite cold. Eating hot pot will warm both our bodies and our hearts."

"I'm really craving this."

Chu Hui, on the other hand, grinned and said, "It's been a long time since I've had hot pot since I left Shanglin Garden. Don't run away, everyone. Let's eat together."

"Yes!"

Guo Huang and the others responded with smiles.

Under Liu Chen's astonished gaze, Huang Long and his group, carrying various items, quickly walked into the hall, and soon got to work.

"Come on, lend a hand and move this table over here."

"Guo Huang, go and make charcoal."

"Got it."

"I'll go wash the dishes!!"

"Put the wine aside for now."

Liu Chen looked at the busy crowd with a strange expression on his face. This was the first time he had ever encountered this kind of way of eating.

"Your Highness~"

"Uncle, don't just stand there like an idiot." Chu Hui said with a smile, "When eating hot pot, you have to get involved. When my brother was at Shanglin Garden, he was always busy."

"Hey, hey."

Seeing Chu Hui say this, Liu Chen dared not hesitate and followed Chu Hui into the hall to get busy.

The oppressive atmosphere vanished in that instant.

Instead, bursts of laughter filled the air.

When the officials of the Imperial Guard on duty tonight heard this commotion, they were all puzzled. Although they were very curious about what was happening in the main hall, none of them dared to approach without permission.

gudu~

gudu~

On the table where everyone sat, a copper pot was placed in the center, the water inside boiling. Pairs of eyes were fixed on the copper pot, and Guo Huang and his group of Imperial Guards all had their Adam's apples bobbing.

“Uncle, this was a bit rushed. When there’s another chance, I’ll treat you to an authentic Shanglinyuan hotpot,” Chu Hui said with a smile, looking at Liu Chen.

"Then I must try it."

After hearing this, Liu Chen smiled and said.

"Don't just stand there, get the meat in!" Chu Hui picked up the bowls and chopsticks, looked at Guo Huang and his group, and said with a smile, "What? You want me to serve you?"

"Your Highness, I have been waiting for you to say these words."

"Hehe, I've been craving this for a long time."

"His Majesty said that eating hot pot is only fun when a group of people are gathered together."

"That's right, the meat needs to be plentiful!"

Under Liu Chen's astonished gaze, Guo Huang and his group of imperial guards stood up one by one with smiles on their faces. Some took spoons to scoop boiling water and poured it into small bowls, while others grabbed plates of meat and began to put it into the copper pot. Liu Chen, who had never seen this way of eating before, was at a loss for what to do.

"Uncle, this is sesame paste. You need to stir it like this." Chu Hui handed the bowl of mixed paste to Liu Chen, then picked up the bowl in front of Liu Chen and started stirring it again. "Uncle, don't just stand there. Add some fermented bean curd, just like Huang Long and the others do."

"Hey, hey."

Seeing this, Liu Chen picked up his bowl and chopsticks, and then, looking at Huang Long and his group who were busy, he followed suit.

"Your Highness, to be honest, I still miss Shanglin Garden quite a bit."

Huang Long stirred the sauce and said to Chu Hui with a smile, "Especially when we ate hot pot for the first time, none of us knew how to eat it, which made His Majesty so angry that he had to teach us how to eat it step by step."

"Haha."

Chu Hui laughed, "I still remember some people who, after the meat is cooked, don't dip it in anything, just pick it up and stuff it into their mouths, and while they're eating, they're muttering, 'Why doesn't it taste like anything?!'"

"Guo Huang, do you still remember him?"

Upon hearing this, one of them immediately grinned and said to Guo Huang.

Hello everyone!

Guo Huang glared and said, "They all look like starving ghosts, grabbing as much meat as they can and eating as much as they can, as if they're afraid of not satisfying their appetites!!"

“Oh, that was a gift from His Majesty. You can’t overindulge or eat it. His Majesty will be unhappy if he sees it!” One person raised his chin and said.

"Yes."

After hearing this, another person followed up and said, "I still remember it to this day. The first time His Majesty ordered people to prepare hot pot, it was when we were fighting the Shanglin Army to a standstill. We, the apprentices, even surpassed our master. It's something to be proud of."

"You have no pride whatsoever."

Huang Long glared and said, "Compared to the various units of the Shanglin Army, you are the worst. You are usually so good at riding and archery, but when it comes to the real test, you are completely useless."

"I was just nervous."

The man said awkwardly.

"Ha ha!!!"

A burst of laughter erupted in the hall.

"Stop laughing, everyone! Hurry up and get the meat out of the pot!!" Chu Hui, laughing loudly, saw that the meat in the pot was cooked and immediately picked up his chopsticks and pointed, saying, "Any slower and the meat will get overcooked!!"

"Hurry!!"

Under Liu Chen's watchful eye, Chu Hui, Huang Long, and their group busied themselves with their tasks. However, Liu Chen's heart was filled with complex emotions, and there were some things he didn't know how to say.

"Ha~"

"good to eat!"

“That’s the taste!”

None of Huang Long's group of guards cared about their image, and they ate the hot pot meat covered in sauce with gusto.

"Don't just focus on eating, add some meat!"

"Quickly, add the meat!"

Liu Chen ate in small bites. To be honest, having tasted all sorts of delicacies, the first bite of this hot pot meat was indeed novel, but after that, it was just so-so.

But Chu Hui and the others seemed so happy.

"Here, have a drink."

Chu Hui put down his chopsticks and bowl, looked at the freshly cooked meat in the pot, and smiled as he raised his wine glass, "You've all worked hard these past few days."

"Your Highness, I do not find it tiring."

"Compared to Shanglin Garden, this is nothing."

"Hehe, I really miss the days in Shanglin Garden, so peaceful and comfortable!"

"That's right, reassuring!!"

Upon hearing this, Chu Hui spoke emphatically and then drank the fine wine in his cup. Seeing this, Huang Long and the others followed suit and started drinking as well.

"Drinking like this isn't enjoyable."

Chu Hui glanced at Liu Chen and then said, "Go and find some large bowls."

"it is good."

Guo Huang immediately got up and brought over a stack of prepared bowls. Some people immediately got up, some helped Guo Huang distribute the bowls, and others went to get the wine jars to pour the wine.

"Uncle, do you know why we are so enthusiastic about eating hot pot?"

Chu Hui picked up his chopsticks, pointed at the copper pot in front of him, and smiled at Liu Chen.

"Your subject is dull-witted."

Liu Chen lowered his head slightly and said.

"Because my elder brother once said something."

Chu Hui said with a smile, "When a bunch of people gather together for hot pot, your chopsticks and my saliva all get mixed together. Only a considerate person would think there's anything good about it."

"If you don't mind me, I won't mind you. We all gather together, chatting and laughing as we eat. We might even shove our chopsticks together for a piece of meat, but we'll never get angry about it."

Why is that?

Chu Hui paused deliberately at this point in his speech.

"Because it's thoughtful."

Huang Long said in a low voice, "Everyone knows that if you eat one more bite, others will eat one less bite. If you prepare too much, it's fine, but if you prepare too little, that's another story."

Liu Chen's expression turned complicated.

Only at this moment did Liu Chen understand Chu Hui's meaning.

Is this hot pot?

This is a meal about friendship!

What kind of existence is the Emperor? He can eat with the Imperial Guards in the Shanglin Garden. Liu Chen knows how strict and numerous the rules are in the palace.

But judging from Huang Long and the others' expressions just now, Liu Chen knew one thing: before he knew what had happened in Shanglin Garden, the emperor, who was high and mighty, was easygoing in front of the Imperial Guards.

When you reach a certain age, sentiments and beliefs are all very abstract things. What's meant to be worn away has already been worn away. You don't have to take everything and everyone too seriously. What's the point of taking things too seriously?

"I know, Uncle has it tough too."

Chu Hui picked up his wine bowl and stared intently at Liu Chen. "To put it bluntly, even an outsider like Xiao Jing is willing to do things for our Great Yu, yet we just stand by and watch? Letting some people shake the foundations of the nation, is that really a good thing?"

Huang Long and Guo Huang didn't say anything. They picked up their bowls and chopsticks and ate the meat from the copper pot in small bites.

"Your Highness is right."

Liu Chen sighed softly, "Some things, you can't stay out of it. What does it matter if I get a lot of bad reputation? Anyway, I have a lot of bad reputation."

"There are quite a few nephews too."

Chu Hui grinned.

“Starting tomorrow, I will send some people to convey the matter of the quota of border officials.” Liu Chen picked up his wine bowl and met Chu Hui’s gaze, saying, “We need to keep this matter going for a while, but once it’s started, I can’t say for sure what will happen when the auction begins.”

"I think Uncle shouldn't overthink this."

Chu Hui picked up his wine bowl and lightly clinked it against Liu Chen's. "Would my brother-in-law watch his uncle make a fool of himself?"

"!!!"

Liu Chen was alarmed at this moment. Yes, how could he have forgotten this? The matter of the Customs Administration was the Emperor's will from beginning to end. He was just helping to pave the way on the surface, but the actual implementation still required the Emperor's will. How could the Emperor let such a big matter be implemented?

"Come on! Let's drink!!"

Liu Chen raised his wine bowl, looked at Chu Hui, and then at Huang Long and the others, saying, "Tonight, let's drink until we're completely drunk!"

"The prince consort is so domineering!!"

"I'll accept your offer!!"

Upon hearing this, Guo Huang and the others all put down their chopsticks and bowls, and with smiles, picked up their wine bowls and said to Liu Chen.

Seeing this, Chu Hui and Huang Long exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly.