BSI Chapter 67 Zhu Yao's life was even the envy of Zhu Yuanzhang!
Chapter 67 Zhu Yao's life was even the envy of Zhu Yuanzhang!
The moment the group stepped inside the Pentagon, a heavy and solid aura swept over them, once again shocking everyone.
Everywhere you look are monolithic reinforced concrete walls, with smooth and sturdy surfaces.
No matter how hard you tap with your fingers, only a dull, heavy sound is produced; it remains completely still.
Zong Yonghe was filled with amazement and sighed repeatedly.
As everyone continued deeper into the corridor, they all stopped in their tracks when they reached the very center of the building, their faces filled with astonishment and surprise.
It turns out that the once simple and elegant old Liu family mansion was not demolished at all. Instead, it was completely surrounded and protected in the very center of the giant Pentagon building, firmly enveloped and guarded by the new building.
Zhu Yuanzhang turned to look at Zhu Yao and jokingly said with a smile, "Yao'er, I thought you had torn down the old house."
Zhu Yao nodded gently, his tone calm: "The old house is our root; it would be a pity to demolish it."
After admiring the scenery inside the building, Zhu Yuanzhang's stomach started rumbling with cravings. He rubbed his hands together and said bluntly, "Yao'er, after wandering around for so long, I'm getting hungry. I want to eat your hot pot again."
Zhu Yao smiled gently upon hearing this, his gaze sweeping tenderly over Empress Ma beside him, and said softly, "Today, Madam has come from afar and is visiting for the first time, so let's change things up and not have the usual heavily spicy red soup."
He immediately turned to Chen Zhong and instructed the kitchen to prepare a hot pot with the new recipe and serve it to the guests as soon as possible.
Chen Zhong acknowledged and withdrew. A moment later, a servant carried a huge iron pot into the hall and placed it steadily in the center of the table.
The broth in the pot is bright red and clear, but it is not as heavy and strong as the red oil hot pot of the past. The broth is clear and bright, and the aroma is light and mellow. It is pleasant to smell and not pungent or dry.
Zhu Yao raised his hand to signal everyone to start eating, and introduced with a smile: "This is my improved sour soup hot pot. It still retains the red soup base, but the extreme spiciness has been removed."
"The sourness enhances the freshness, the soup is mellow and smooth, and the taste is delicious and long-lasting. It is not dry or greasy, and it is suitable for all ages, especially for ladies."
Everyone nodded in agreement and started cooking their own food in the hot broth. The food was coated in the steaming broth and tasted incredibly fresh and delicious.
Empress Ma took a small bite, her eyes lit up instantly, her face full of joy, and she repeatedly exclaimed that she had never eaten such a warm and delicious hot pot.
Zong Yonghe took a big bite and found the taste to be absolutely wonderful. It was fresh but not greasy, sour but refreshing, and had a sweet aftertaste that far surpassed any delicacy in the world.
Zhu Yuanzhang ate with great relish, taking bite after bite without stopping, praising the food loudly as he ate, exclaiming that this was the taste of heaven.
The three of them felt warm and refreshed after the meal, and they all exclaimed that no matter how many delicacies they had, they could not compare to the deliciousness of this pot of sour soup hot pot.
As Zhu Yuanzhang ate, he was filled with emotion, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt the contrast was enormous.
He was now the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, ruling the world and possessing vast lands and imperial palaces, but his life was constrained and tense, far less carefree and unrestrained than Zhu Yao's, who lived a life of exquisite food and clothing and did as he pleased.
The hot pot meal was a delightful affair for both host and guests. After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, the banquet was cleared away, and the guests sat around the hall chatting and laughing in a warm and relaxed atmosphere.
After chatting for a while, Empress Ma looked at the tall and upright Zhu Yao beside her, her eyes full of tenderness, and then raised her hand to signal the maid standing beside her.
The maid understood immediately, quickly stepped forward, and gently handed a finely crafted undergarment to Empress Ma.
The garment was a waistband from the Ming Dynasty, a very common type of close-fitting undergarment at the time, with a shape that fits the body and is soft and comfortable against the skin.
The waistband is mostly made of cotton or silk, and it fits snugly around the waist. It can protect the chest, abdomen, waist and back, resist wind and cold, and also slim and shape the body. It is an excellent close-fitting garment for keeping warm in autumn and winter.
In the Ming Dynasty, the main waistbands were clothes that mothers or stepmothers often sewed by hand for their sons. Every stitch was a symbol of care and concern, representing enduring love and affection.
Empress Ma held the soft waist of the main character with both hands, her eyes gentle, and spoke softly to Zhu Yao.
"Yao'er, this is a waistband I sewed for you by hand in my spare time. Winter is coming soon and the weather is getting colder. Wearing this will protect your waist and abdomen, keep you warm and protect you from the cold."
"I have never seen your figure. I only heard your father describe your height and weight in his daily conversations. I sewed it based on my feel and experience. I don't know if it will fit your figure."
As soon as she finished speaking, Empress Ma disregarded her formality and stepped forward, smiling gently, "Come, child, let me try it on for you and see if it fits. If there's anything wrong, I'll go back and make some alterations."
Zhu Yao was slightly taken aback, and his heart warmed instantly. He felt somewhat awkward but also deeply moved. He stood obediently and let Empress Ma take care of him closely.
Empress Ma moved gently and delicately, her fingertips soft and tender as she carefully removed Zhu Yao's outer garments. She gently pressed her soft waist against his back, chest, and abdomen, carefully smoothing the edges and adjusting the tightness with patience.
Her movements were skillful and gentle, her eyes filled with the loving tenderness and affection one would show to one's own child.
Zhu Yao stood there, his body slightly stiff, a warm current surging in his heart. Having lost his mother at a young age, he had never felt such delicate and gentle maternal love. His nose tingled slightly.
He thought to himself that the woman before him, whom he had never met before, was gentle, kind, loving, and warm-hearted, truly as considerate as a biological mother.
Zhu Yuanzhang, sitting quietly to the side, watched this scene with a gentle smile in his eyes, feeling at peace and gratified.
"Yao'er, you've had a hard life since childhood, losing your birth mother at a young age. Now, we are reunited as father and son..."
He said solemnly, with a hint of expectation, "My wife is your stepmother. Today we are officially meeting, so please address her as 'Mother'."
Everyone present fell silent, their eyes all fixed on Zhu Yao, waiting for him to change his mind and acknowledge his family.
To everyone's surprise, Zhu Yao shook his head slightly upon hearing this, his expression calm and composed, showing no sign of rudeness, yet his attitude was exceptionally firm.
"Father, I thank you and my wife for your kindness, but I only have one mother in this life."
"I was born without a mother, but my birth mother, Liu Qiao'er, risked her life to give birth to me, exchanging her life for my life and giving me flesh and blood. No one can repay this kindness."
Zhu Yao looked up at Empress Ma, his eyes filled with apology, and bowed slightly in apology.
"I apologize, Madam. It's not that Yao'er is ungrateful, but my birth mother's kindness is immense, and I truly dare not overstep my bounds in terms of status."
After saying that, Zhu Yao raised his hand to remove the main garment he was wearing, wanting to return this generous gift and not wanting to take any of the sentiment.
Seeing this, Empress Ma quickly reached out and gently pressed his wrist, tenderly stopping his movement.
"Child, it's alright. I understand your feelings and admire your filial piety. There's no need to force a formal title."
Her eyes were gentle, she smiled softly, and her tone was both easygoing and indulgent: "From now on, you can just call me Madam as always. I really like that title."
"This waistband was specially sewn for you. Every stitch is made with my heart. It fits you perfectly and looks great on you. You are not allowed to take it off."
Empress Ma, fearing he might feel burdened, jokingly added, "Consider this my reward for the delicious sour soup hotpot I had today. Now you can rest assured, right?"