There is a happy inn in the capital.

The next day, Li Shuchen leaned against the window of the Sanbao Hall and looked down.

"The streets are bustling with activity. Where are those people from? Judging from their clothes and appearance, they don't seem to be from our dynasty."

Grape: "Miss, today is the day the delegation arrives in the capital."

Li Shuchen: "A mission?"

Grape: "Yes, the guests in the reception hall are all saying that today is the day the delegations from Lili and Laji are arriving in the capital together."

Liang Yuying asked, "Isn't the Kingdom of Laji at war with our dynasty? Why have they suddenly sent an envoy to the capital?"

Grape frowned: "I don't know either."

Li Shuchen: "We've arrived! We've arrived!"

Looking up, I saw a group of tall, imposing men with fair skin, deep-set features, blond hair, blue eyes, and wearing amber and beeswax jewelry walking by.

"Miss, it's Lie Liguo! This is the first time I've seen someone with blue eyes and blond hair. The young master riding the white horse in front is so handsome!"

Grape rested her chin on her hands, looking infatuated, her gaze fixed on the white horse prince.

Li Shuchen also glanced at the man riding the white horse. His face was delicate and handsome, his skin fair with a rosy glow, and his physique strong and well-proportioned. He certainly possessed considerable good looks. He sighed.

"It's quite beautiful."

Liang Yuying looked at Li Shuchen and said quietly, "Is he prettier than me?"

Hearing that Liang Yuying's tone was off, Li Shuchen turned around and chuckled, "Of course he's not as handsome as you. You're much more charming than him."

Liang Yuying gave a soft "hmm," smiled slightly, and lowered her head to continue reading.

Seeing that Yu Ying's mood had improved, Li Shuchen turned his head and continued reading.

Another group appeared, with yellow skin and black eyes, wearing seashell jewelry, slightly petite in stature, but with shrewd eyes. The wind that passed by carried a slight fishy smell.

Grape: "Miss, this is the Kingdom of Laji. Just as others said, I smell fishy."

After Grape finished speaking, Li Shuchen wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt that the elegantly dressed man at the front of the group glanced at her quickly.

After reading it, Li Shuchen asked Yu Ying, "Have the delegations from both countries come to the capital to negotiate peace with our dynasty?"

Liang Yuying: "If peace is reached, it will be a great blessing for our dynasty, and the people will suffer less from the ravages of war."

Li Shuchen sat back down at the octagonal table to drink tea, and poured a cup for Yu Ying, handing it to her: "You're right, peace between the two countries is not only a blessing for the people of our dynasty, but also for the people of other countries."

In the afternoon, Princess Changning and Gu Ziying, both looking worried, went to find Li Shuchen.

Li Shuchen put down the grapes in his hand and asked, "What happened? Everyone seems so unhappy. Is there a problem with the fruit shop?"

Princess Changning plopped down on a stool and muttered, "I don't want to attend the banquet. They say it's to welcome the delegation, but I think it's just a way to pick on people for marriage alliances."

Gu Ziying sat down on the stool with a furrowed brow, remaining silent.

Li Shuchen pushed fruit in front of them: "Are you both going to participate?"

Gu Ziying nodded: "Yes, the families of officials of the third rank or above, and the unmarried women who have reached the age of fifteen, must go."

Gu Ziying's voice grew lower and lower as she spoke.

Princess Changning: "I don't want to go on a marriage alliance. Lieli Kingdom is covered in ice and snow all year round, and they can't even grow fruit because everyone freezes to death. Laji Kingdom lives by the sea and eats fish every day, so everyone's become fishy. Who can stand that?"

Li Shuchen asked, "When does the banquet begin?"

Gu Ziying: "The 30th"

Li Shuchen calculated the time; there were still three days left.

Li Shuchen comforted her, saying, "It might not be a marriage alliance; it could also be an exchange of goods."

Gu Ziying sighed: "I hope we're just supporting characters."

A shrill voice rang out

"The decree has arrived"

Li Shuchen quickly stood up. An imperial edict? How could an imperial edict appear in her place?

Before I could think too much, a group of people dressed as eunuchs were already in front of me.

Liang Yuying struggled to get out of bed and kneel down. Li Shuchen quickly went to help her up.

Everyone knelt down, wondering to whom the imperial edict was for.

Eunuch Wu unfolded the imperial edict and read aloud.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Liang Yuying, the eldest daughter of the Imperial Censor, is dignified, elegant, gentle, and virtuous, possessing the beauty of a lotus flower. She shall attend the Lotus Banquet on the thirtieth of the seventh month and shall not refuse for any reason. This is the imperial decree."

Despite the pain from her wounds, Liang Yuying stretched out her hands to receive the imperial decree.

"Yu Ying, accept the imperial decree and express your gratitude."

Everyone stood up, and Li Shuchen gave Grape a look behind him.

Grape subtly slipped a heavy purse of silver into Eunuch Wu's hand, which he then accepted with a concealed gesture.

Before leaving, he said, "Miss Liang, please take good care of your injury."

Liang Yuying: Thank you for your concern, Father-in-law.

After Eunuch Wu left, Li Shuchen saw the imperial edict for the first time. Incredibly curious, he reopened it and read it again.

Li Shuchen: "I never expected the imperial edict would be for Yuying."

But is the poem on it definitely referring to Yu Ying?

Gu Ziying: "I was surprised too."

Liang Yuying clutched her shoulder and lay back on the bed: "Looks like I have no choice but to go to this lotus banquet."

Li Shuchen went over to check Yu Ying's wounds: "You're so badly injured, how can you go? You don't even have anyone to take care of you. I wish I could go too, so I could take care of you."

Princess Changning: "You can go. You can disguise yourself as Yuying's maid."

Li Shuchen nodded: "This method is feasible."

Princess Changning walked back to the table and sat down, sighing softly, "I thought Yuying would escape this calamity because of her serious injuries, but I didn't expect she still has to go. It seems that making excuses to refuse won't work."

Because of this matter, I, the princess, am so worried that I can't even eat.

Li Shuchen looked at Gu Ziying and asked, "Ziying, haven't you eaten either?"

Gu Ziying: "Hmm, I have no appetite."

Li Shuchen smiled slightly and said, "Perfect, I'll make some vermicelli for you."

Li Shuchen went to the kitchen. The potato starch had been filtered all day yesterday and dried this morning; it was just right to use now.

Li Shuchen: "Aunt Wang, Shuang'er, Chuxia, come and learn. If you do well, you can add it to the menu."

"Yes, miss." *3

Li Shuchen washed the four potatoes, peeled and cut them into chunks, and steamed them until cooked.

After steaming, mash it into a puree, add four tablespoons of potato starch, stir well, then add two tablespoons of cornstarch and stir well until it becomes soft and stringy.

Li Shuchen found a bamboo tube, poked some small holes in the bottom, filled it with the mashed potatoes, and squeezed it with a thick wooden stick.

Bring water to a boil in a pot, then reduce the heat to low.

As Li Shuchen squeezed the potatoes, he said, "Remember to mash them out in circles at this point, using even pressure, and try not to break them. Keep the heat low throughout."

"Yes"*3

Li Shuchen squeezed out the potato noodles and looked at the pot. She called them vermicelli, but she couldn't make them very thin; they were more like thin rice noodles.

Never mind, that's fine, it won't delay our meal anyway.

When Li Shuchen and other fans surfaced, some small green vegetables were added.

Next, prepare four bowls of seasonings: minced garlic, chopped chili peppers, a spoonful of vinegar, a spoonful of soy sauce, salt, chopped green onions, Sichuan peppercorn oil, and chili oil.

There was also a bowl with only vinegar, soy sauce, salt, and chopped green onions.

Li Shuchen also prepared two small bowls to hold chili oil and vinegar, so that whoever wanted to eat whichever flavor could add more of it.

After serving the glass noodles, a large spoonful of beef bone broth was placed in each bowl. It was tangy, spicy, and incredibly delicious.