Chapter 1285: Chapter 1263: Send Off

The servant placed the marinated deer meat on the iron plate, skillfully flipping it over repeatedly. In no time, the aroma filled the air. Liu Huan, insisting on roasting his own meat but charring it instead, immediately abandoned his piece and sat calmly, waiting to eat.

Feng Zongping and Yi Ziyang glanced at him with disdain and continued their own tasks.

They clearly did this kind of thing often, their skills far better than Liu Huan’s.

Two servants stood by helping them roast the meat, serving it on plates for them. It was the first time Manbao and her friends had tried deer meat, and they were extremely eager.

The three carefully took a bite, their eyes lighting up, then rolled the rest into their mouths. Liu Huan boasted, “Well, how is it, delicious, right?”

The three nodded simultaneously. Manbao said, “It doesn’t have the strong smell of lamb, is more tender than beef, it’s indeed delicious.”

Yin Huo smiled and said, “If you like it, when my father hunts a deer next time, I’ll have some sent to you.”

Bai Shan curiously asked, “Are they wild deer hunted in the mountains, or are they raised in the hunting grounds?”

Yin Huo replied, “Both, but the wild deer in the mountains are hard to hunt, and now it’s snowing, the wild mountains are dangerous, so they usually hunt in the grounds.”

Feng Zongping said, “Even in the hunting grounds, it’s difficult. The Ministry of Agriculture is quite neglectful of forest matters. Every year they release some fawns or throw some food, that’s it. Sometimes when we catch good game, they take it away, claiming it’s for breeding, but who knows how much is really used for breeding?”

Yi Ziyang also had complaints, “Last time we caught a roe deer, they insisted it was a pregnant female and took it away. But soon after, Li Yi invited us over for drinks, saying he was cooking roe deer. When we went, that roe deer looked awfully familiar.”

Liu Huan couldn’t help but laugh heartily at this.

Yin Huo and the others couldn’t help but laugh, saying, “Sometimes the Ministry of Agriculture gives my father some game, claiming it was obtained while their people were inspecting the hunting grounds.”

Yi Ziyang turned to Feng Zongping and said, “Look, I don’t matter, but even as the grandson of the Minister of Justice, you’re no match for the grandson of the Minister of Personnel or the son of the Capital Governor.”

Feng Zongping lightly stepped on his foot, jokingly scolding, “Get lost, you know my grandfather and the Minister of Agriculture don’t get along.”

Bai Shan and others were curious, “Why don’t they get along?”

Feng Zongping laughed, “It’s old and trivial matters, hard to explain, they just don’t get along. But it’s minor things, officials always have a few enemies, right? Even you guys have enemies, don’t you?”

Liu Huan looked up and asked, “Are you talking about Commandery Princess Yunfeng and Commandery Prince Xinqing?”

While eating, Manbao looked up and asked, “Are they coming for revenge against us?”

Feng Zongping and Yin Huo were the most informed, especially Yin Huo, whose father was the Capital Governor, had news from the palace far more promptly and accurately than the Minister of Justice. He said, “I heard the Empress Dowager is looking for a Prince Consort for Commandery Princess Yunfeng. She might get married next year.”

Manbao said, “That’s too early. She just came of age. It’s not good for girls to marry too early.”

Everyone: …Isn’t this concern a bit odd?

Yin Huo was about to speak when Manbao asked again, “Is there a prospective family? Hopefully, not in the capital or returning to Yizhou. We should steer clear of her.”

Yin Huo and the rest relaxed again, smiling as they shook their heads. Yin Huo said, “I heard the Empress Dowager is looking at small noble families in Jiaodong.”

“Commandery Prince Xinqing’s fief is in Dizhou. I guess the Empress Dowager is considering that area,” Feng Zongping said cheerfully, “When Prince of Yizhou first entered the capital, the Empress Dowager even asked my grandmother about me. Fortunately, my grandfather felt something was off while investigating Su Jian’s incident and had my grandmother decline tactfully.”

Yi Ziyang said, “They might not have even considered you. I heard that they originally intended the Wang Family in the palace. So, you should be careful when entering the palace these days.”

Bai Shan and others were listening attentively. They didn’t expect him to bring the topic to them, and blinked, asking, “What does it have to do with us?”

“Of course, it has something to do with you,” Feng Zongping said, “A displeased Commandery Princess Yunfeng might cause you trouble.”

Bai Shan laughed, “Honestly, I’m not really afraid of that.”

He looked at Manbao and raised an eyebrow, asking, “Are you afraid?”

Manbao shook her head.

Nowadays, she was either escorted by the Empress’s or the Crown Prince’s people when entering or leaving the palace, hardly encountering anyone else, and everyone treated her respectfully.

Outside the palace was another matter. She couldn’t believe Commandery Princess Yunfeng would personally trouble her in the palace.

Bai Shan’s confidence surely stemmed from seeing the sincere intentions of the Empress and Crown Prince.

Feng Zongping raised an eyebrow, gaining a better understanding of Zhou Man’s importance to the palace, although he really wanted to ask if the Crown Prince’s illness could really be cured.

But he swallowed the words at the last moment, suppressing the urge to ask. If his grandfather knew he asked such a question, he’d surely be in trouble.

Yet, he felt quite distressed.

Feng Zongping could only bring up another topic, “Senior Brother Tang has returned to the capital. Didn’t you say you were friends with him? Why not invite him out for a meal and drinks?”

The three said in unison, “No time.”

Feng Zongping sighed, “True, he’s joined the Ministry of Justice and is handling the leftover cases of the Prince of Yizhou now. He’s probably swamped, isn’t he?”

The three lifted their heads to glance at him, then silently lowered them. They meant they didn’t have time.

They were so busy recently, no time for gatherings. If not for Liu Huan mentioning he had deer meat…

Manbao and friends spent a wonderful day at Liu Huan’s home. The deer meat was truly delicious.

In less than half a day, several families had found out Zhou Man liked deer meat. Thus, the Li Family and Han Family each sent a deer leg to Changqing Alley, much to the amazement of the three youngsters, experiencing first-hand the benefits of harmonious doctor-patient relationships.

Manbao asked Aunt Rong to keep some, then divided the rest into two portions, sending one to Elms Alley, and the other to Zhou Wulang’s place.

Even the Crown Prince knew about it. The next day, when Manbao went to the palace to treat the Crown Prince, he asked, “Do you like deer meat a lot?”

Worried he’d also send some, Manbao hastily replied, “Your Highness, I already have a lot of deer meat at home, hanging frozen under the eaves, please don’t send any more.”

The Crown Prince nodded slightly, “Then I’ll eat it myself.”

Manbao suggested, “You’d best not eat it, maybe wait for another two months.”

The Crown Prince frowned, “I can’t even eat deer meat?”

“It’s not that, but deer meat is known for its tonic effects, I’m afraid it might make you impulsive.”

The Crown Prince: …

The Crown Princess, drinking tea nearby, suddenly sprayed her tea, quickly covering her mouth with a handkerchief and coughing.

The Crown Prince glared at her, then turned to Zhou Man and said, “Hurry up, you still have to visit Mother Empress’s palace later.”