Chapter 130
Chapter 130
An hour later, Liu Ye began serving the emperor.
“Here comes the first dish: Stargazy Pie!”
Several fish heads stared unblinkingly up at the diners.
The court fell silent. “Died with Eyes Wide Open” would have been a more appropriate name.
Then they discovered the true meaning of nightmare cuisine.
One dish, for instance, was called Fried Ghost.
They knew a fried dough stick by that name and had expected something similar. Liu Ye’s version, however, was quite literally a deep-fried ghost. Its endless screams left their legs trembling.
Even the emperor shook uncontrollably. He might be a fatuous ruler, but he had never witnessed anything so cruel.
He had imagined Liu Ye would offer him an immortal pill. He could even have accepted a potion, medicinal herbs, or something slightly stranger.
This was far beyond slightly strange.
“I-I have to eat that?”
Physician Zhou nodded reassuringly. “Your Majesty, only this can save your life. And don’t be deceived by its frightening appearance. Eating it is even more frightening. You will feel it rushing back up your throat, desperately trying to crawl out of your body. It is a sensation one might experience only once in a century.”
The emperor stared at him.
That had not been reassuring at all.
Once the dishes were ready, everyone contemplated the sticky lumps in their bowls.
Calling this food felt like an insult to centuries of culinary tradition. Yet refusing to call it food meant denying that it could save their lives.
They suppressed their nausea and prepared to swallow.
“Stop!”
A majestic voice rang out. Three Daoists with flowing robes and otherworldly bearings entered from outside the palace. One of them was Wushenzi.
He glared venomously at Liu Ye. Wushenzi did not know how the man had survived the Fiend Dragon, but Liu Ye had entered his territory now. He would make certain the man died without a grave.
The emperor flew into a rage at the sight of them.
“You demonic Daoists dared plot against me! Guards, seize them!”
“Your Majesty!” One of the Daoists standing before Wushenzi stepped forward. “Why do you falsely accuse us? This humble Daoist and his companions have always served Your Majesty faithfully, refining pills of immortality for you. How could that be attempted murder?”
“You still deny it? Look at that!”
The emperor pointed at the worm in the bowl.
The Daoist’s face filled with anguish. “Your Majesty, that is a pill worm I refined especially for you! It is called a Dragon-Cry Worm, and only one can be produced from a hundred medicinal pills. Eating it prolongs life and restores youth. Now it has been wasted. What a terrible pity!”
The emperor hesitated. If ugliness alone proved something was evil, then Liu Ye’s cooking was far more suspicious.
“But my vitality truly has declined. How do you explain that?”
“Your Majesty, those symptoms prove that you are about to ascend to immortality! Does an insect not grow weak before it emerges from its cocoon as a butterfly? Consume the Dragon-Cry Golden Pill during this period, and Your Majesty will shed your mortal body and ascend to the immortal realm. Alas, now that this king of pills has been wasted, another opportunity may not come easily.”
The emperor immediately began to regret his outburst. When he looked at Liu Ye’s party again, displeasure filled his eyes. They had never shown him the respect an emperor deserved.
Wushenzi stepped forward, his eyes red.
“Your Majesty, Liu Ye is possessed by an evil entity. During his time in office, he committed every manner of atrocity and earned the hatred of the people. My disciple Wuxinzi tried to expose his true nature for the sake of Nine Worlds County, but Liu Ye injured him. Then, to bury the truth, he destroyed the entire county seat. Now he even seeks to sabotage Your Majesty’s ascension. His treason knows no bounds. I beg Your Majesty to order the execution of this deranged villain!”
“Execute him, Your Majesty!”
“Execute him, Your Majesty!”
The emperor grew even more conflicted.
“Daoist Masters, what you say may well be true. I would certainly prefer to believe you. The problem is that I cannot kill him. Would you care to try?”
The three Daoists fell silent.
The emperor, meanwhile, thought he had devised a brilliant solution.
“Both sides make convincing arguments, and I cannot determine who speaks the truth. Why not hold a contest? I will believe whichever side wins.”
“Very well! We accept Your Majesty’s proposal. But please allow us a few days to discuss the precise rules.”
The leading Daoist agreed at once.
Physician Zhou became anxious. The emperor’s condition could not bear several more days of delay. Something might happen before the contest even began.
“Your Majesty-”
“There is no need to say more, Immortal Master. I know my own body.”
The emperor turned to Liu Ye. “Immortal Master Liu, do you dare accept their challenge?”
“No.”
Liu Ye answered without hesitation.
“Why should I perform like a trained monkey for you? I don’t care whether you live or die. Old Zhou, Eunuch Wu, let’s go.”
He turned and walked away.
Wushenzi could hardly let him leave so easily. “Are you afraid?”
“Not really. A contest with nothing at stake is just boring.” Liu Ye turned back with a smile.
The leading Daoist narrowed his eyes. “What sort of wager do you propose? Money, power, status?”
“Those are all too vulgar. How about this? Whoever loses strips naked and runs ten laps around Jingcheng.”
Everyone stared at him.
Was that supposed to punish the loser, or the entire city?
“Fine!” the Daoist agreed through clenched teeth. He did not believe they could lose.
The emperor scheduled the contest for three days later and declared that he would determine the events. He then ordered Eunuch Sun to arrange accommodations for Liu Ye’s party.
“Lord Liu, I…” Eunuch Wu began.
Liu Ye cut him off. “Don’t worry. I’ll win. I won’t embarrass you.”
“That isn’t what worries me. During the contest, please show a little restraint. Jingcheng has stood for centuries. Rebuilding it would not be easy.”
Liu Ye stared at him. Everyone seemed to harbor a profound misunderstanding about his character.
Before he could explain, a voice called from the distance.
“Qiqi, slow down! Come back!”
A tiny figure came racing toward them. Qiqi immediately hid behind Liu Ye’s legs.
Everyone stared in shock as the newcomer drew near.
Was that not Advisor Qi?
The Seventh Princess was a little girl dressed in palace robes. Apart from Advisor Qi’s two painted whiskers, the pair looked exactly alike.
“Advisor Qi, is she a relative of yours?” Liu Ye asked in astonishment.
The crowd fell silent.
Obviously not. Only then did they realize that Advisor Qi was clearly a child herself. Why had none of them noticed before?
Qiqi tucked her head behind Liu Ye’s leg and said nothing.
An elegantly dressed woman approached with a large retinue and swept the running princess into her arms.
She looked at Liu Ye’s party in confusion. “Who are these people?”
Eunuch Sun hurried over. “Your Majesty, this is the Immortal Master personally appointed by His Majesty. The emperor has granted him permission to stay in the palace.”
Disgust flashed across the empress’s face at the words “Immortal Master.”
“Since it is His Majesty’s command, take the Immortal Master somewhere suitable. Do not neglect him.”
She turned to leave with her daughter.
“Wait!” Liu Ye shouted.