Chapter 160: Hot Pot "Family Feast"!

A single bowl of egg custard had the two little ones eating with absolute delight. It was clear that the steamed egg custard held a tremendous appeal for children. Even Li Shimin could not resist taking a small taste, after which he praised it endlessly. Empress Changsun also had a few bites, her face beaming with smiles. Because the Empress had recently been undergoing treatment by the Daoist master Sun, she had to drink a great deal of medicinal broth every day. Simply drinking medicine had filled her up, making it hard for her to swallow anything over the past couple of days. This egg custard happened to suit her appetite perfectly. The others wanted to eat some as well, but there was not enough custard to go around, leaving them to gaze on with envy and grumble that Li Yi was being stingy for not steaming a larger batch. In the end, Li Yi had to reveal the method for making the steamed egg custard before the company finally let him off the hook.

"Alright, young man! Explain what all this is! Circles inside circles!" Seeing that the two little ones had finished eating, Li Shimin finally turned his attention to the hotpot.

"Uncle Li, this is called a hotpot. Actually, this dish is even better when eaten in winter, but your nephew had a real craving for it, so we are having it now!"

Hearing this, the others grew interested. Just how delicious could something be to make even Li Yi crave it?

"Tell us quickly, how do you eat it?"

"It is very simple. Whatever you want to eat, you just put it into this pot and let it cook in the boiling water, and then you can eat it. Oh, that's right! When you eat it, you must dip it in this special sauce!"

"Like this!" As he spoke, Li Yi placed a thin slice of meat into the pot and swished it around. Before long, he scooped it out, dipped it thoroughly into the pre-mixed sauce, and put it straight into his mouth.

"Ha—hiss—ha—hiss—" Li Yi gasped and panted as he chewed. The slightly hot meat, combined with the intensely flavorful sauce, rolled over and over in his mouth. The taste, the sensation—how could mere words describe such sheer pleasure?

Everyone was captivated by Li Yi's expression of pure enjoyment. Unable to resist, they each picked up a piece of meat, swished it in the broth, dipped it in the sauce, and soon joined in the gasping and hissing!

Empress Changsun and Princess Changle also could not help picking up some vegetables and swishing them in the pot, though the two of them ate much more gracefully—at least they knew to blow on their food first! Unlike Li Yi, Li Shimin, and the others, who ate while huffing and puffing. However, according to Li Yi, a hotpot could only be truly enjoyed when eaten this way.

At first, everyone ate rather demurely, chatting and talking as they went, but soon they stopped speaking altogether! Everyone performed the exact same sequence of actions: picking up food, swishing it, dipping it in the sauce, and hissing!

Noticing the situation, Li Yi took a moment to have Eunuch Yang bring over the ice he had made earlier. Li Yi broke off a large chunk and placed it into the wooden bucket containing the wine. Before long, cups of chilled wine were ready. Li Yi poured a cup for everyone and then went back to his huffing and puffing.

Li Shimin was fine, since he at least knew that Li Yi possessed the skill to make ice. The others, however, had no idea. The military exercise had only taken place a few days prior, and because Cheng Yaojin was afraid of losing face, he had strictly ordered everyone not to spread the word. Li Shimin, too, had pushed the matter to the back of his mind. Therefore, no one else knew that Li Yi could manufacture ice. Consequently, when Li Yi presented the ice, every single person froze in astonishment.

They wanted to ask questions, but seeing that Li Yi had already served the wine right up to them, they all took a sip first!

Empress Changsun: "To be able to eat ice in the middle of summer? This concubine truly could not have imagined it. Yet it is indeed wonderfully refreshing; I feel my spirits lifting quite a bit."

Li Shimin: "Hahahaha! Very well then, make sure this boy leaves the secret formula behind later! Even We forgot about this matter; this rascal always manages to give people surprises!"

Li Yi: "........"

Li Ke: "Hiccup—! Splendid! Brother Yi, I want the formula too. I believe the Commercial Alliance can make good use of it!"

Li Chengqian: "It is indeed exceptional! Then this Prince will not stand on ceremony either!"

Li Tai: "This is truly a luxury! Brother Yi must not treat us with favoritism!"

Li Yi: "........"

Changle secretly tugged at Li Yi's sleeve and whispered, "Brother Yi, you've been wronged!"

Li Yi returned a look of nonchalance, though inside his heart was bleeding. These people were nothing short of a gang of highway bandits!

The two little ones: "We want some too!"

Li Shimin shot a look at Li Yi, leaving the young man no choice but to put down his chopsticks, prepare two cups of iced juice for the two little ones, and then resume eating.

This time, Li Yi's eating speed visibly accelerated. He had made up his mind to eat with all his might and reclaim everything he had lost today!

The fragrance of incense burned down as everyone finally finished eating their fill. Li Yi gave Eunuch Yang a look, and the eunuch presented the final course—a platter of fruit.

Everyone began to take turns eating a piece here and there. After all, the meal had been rather greasy, and some fruit would help cleanse the palate.

When the last piece of chilled melon entered Li Tai's stomach, the company finally set down their chopsticks. The piping hot hotpot paired with the ice-cold wine delivered a sensation of ice and fire that was extraordinarily exhilarating!

After resting for a short while, Li Shimin led everyone out to stroll through his inner courtyard.

"Today is little Sizi's fifth birthday. When each of you turned five, your imperial father hosted a family banquet. There was no other purpose than to let you grow closer to one another! Now, the only ones among you capable of standing on your own are you few. As for the fifth prince's affair, I will say no more; you are all well aware of it. We do not wish to see such a thing ever happen again!"

As Li Shimin spoke, his expression turned icy. Everyone, including Li Yi, finally experienced what it meant for an emperor to be wrathful. It seemed Li You's betrayal had truly broken Li Shimin's heart.

Empress Changsun gently took Li Shimin's hand and said softly, "Your Majesty, rest assured! They would never commit acts so intolerable to heaven and earth."

Li Shimin patted the Empress's hand. "Let us hope so."

As he spoke, Li Shimin's expression softened as well.

"Aside from you few, the others are still too young, so We did not summon them this time. Chengqian, you are the eldest brother and also the Crown Prince. We hope you can set a proper example!"

Li Chengqian hastily replied, "Please rest assured, Imperial Father. This son will certainly not fail your expectations!"

Li Yi cast a deliberate glance at Li Tai. Seeing no trace of improper emotion in the prince's eyes, Li Yi guessed that Li Tai had not yet begun to display his extraordinary talents, nor had Li Chengqian fallen out of favor. Thus, no conflict had yet arisen among the brothers. However, by Li Yi's estimation, that day was not far off.

Li Shimin turned his gaze back to Li Yi and said, "As for why We summoned this rascal today, you can all probably guess. Changle, We do not oppose the affair between you and this young man, but if this boy thinks he can enjoy the blessings of multiple wives so easily, he is mistaken. This time only counts as passing the first hurdle for you, lad. As for the rest, it will all depend on your own efforts!"

Li Yi hurriedly offered his thanks. At this moment, he was so thrilled he scarcely knew what to say. Damn it! Half a year—he had worked hard for a full six months, and today he finally had a result! Although only one obstacle had been cleared, Li Yi was well satisfied. At the very least, he now had drive!

Princess Changle was overjoyed as well. Hearing her father's assent, she buried her face in Empress Changsun's arms and wept tears of joy.

Empress Changsun was equally delighted. She was quite fond of Li Yi as a prospective son-in-law. In the Tang Dynasty, where political marriages were commonplace, for a princess to win a husband after her own heart was truly a rare blessing.

Li Chengqian, Li Ke, and Li Tai were also happy to have gained a brother-in-law and stepped forward to offer their congratulations. Li Chengqian and Li Ke were especially glad—the latter because the two were already quite familiar, and the former because Li Yi was one of the few people he could truly call a friend. They were genuinely pleased to have Li Yi as their brother-in-law.

Even the two little ones clapped their hands with cute, babyish gurgles of approval.

Li Shimin smiled warmly. "Very well! That is all for today; go about whatever business you have! Chengqian, stay behind."

Li Yi and the others offered quiet farewells and departed together.

On the way out, as Li Yi reflected on the day's events, he surmised that Li Shimin truly intended to bring him out from behind the scenes and into the political arena. This banquet was meant primarily to help forge good relations between this group of imperial princes and Li Yi. After all, Li Yi was still young; Li Shimin was paving the way for these princes—or more accurately, paving the way for Li Chengqian. Suddenly, Li Yi felt a mounting sense of pressure. The treacherous waters of the imperial court were a place he would have to step into after all. Yet, deep down, his ideal goal remained finding an idle sinecure and coasting along. His personality was truly unsuited for navigating official circles.