Tie Yan suddenly said “Eh?” “With the fierce beasts fighting like this here, these cart-pulling horses are completely unaffected?”

Murong Yi pointed to the exceptionally tall and magnificent horses ahead: “These are Da Yan desert horses.”

Upon hearing this, Tie Yan let out a long, high-pitched “Ahh.”

Desert horses were famous steeds of Da Yan and indeed the entire world, half a body length taller than ordinary horses, divine and fierce, with extremely powerful limbs. It was said that they were bred generation after generation with wild horse kings of the northern desert, able to fight wild beasts. Because they were accustomed to roaring sounds, they also didn’t fear battlefield cannon fire, making them the finest war horses.

But because breeding was extremely difficult, they were nearly extinct. Whenever one appeared, probably all the royalty and wealthy merchants in the world would scramble for it.

The Tie imperial family currently had no horses of this legendary caliber.

Priceless treasures beyond market value were being used here just to pull carts.

Tie Yan rarely lost his imperial composure as he rolled his eyes.

Thinking: Such a spendthrift.

The cart quickly passed through this mountain forest area. Ahead there was a place with gates closed shut. Murong Yi didn’t direct the cart there and was about to turn, when Tie Ci glanced at her father’s expression and suddenly asked: “What’s over there?”

Murong Yi hesitated, then leaned close to her ear: “It’s a surprise I prepared for you, but it’s not completely finished yet, and also…”

And also I wanted to go play there alone with you…

Tie Ci didn’t let him finish this thought, already twisting his ear: “You’re hiding good things instead of honoring my parents with them—are you absolutely certain they’ve already agreed?”

Murong Yi tilted his head following her gesture, taking the opportunity to kiss her cheek, whispering: “Fine, fine, fine. Pleasing father-in-law and mother-in-law is most important. I’ll open it right now.”

Tie Yan suddenly coughed.

Tie Ci released her hand, looking somewhat embarrassed.

She had gotten carried away.

How improper to flirt in front of her parents.

Looking again, her father’s mouth was turned down with a poor expression—he might have already seen that stolen kiss. She quickly glared at Murong Yi, who suppressed his laughter and waved his hand, whereupon someone opened the locked gates.

The glass cart entered, and Tie Yan stared in amazement at what was inside—a large pile of steel machinery he had never seen before. Some wound and coiled like giant serpents, some towered several zhang high with water pools beneath. Some looked like giant hammers, some were dark houses, some were long winding stairs that twisted and turned confusingly.

“What is this?”

Tie Ci was also looking at those things, searching through the miscellaneous memories her master had told her about their place, finally determining this should be what her master had mentioned—their amusement park suitable for all ages, operating under the supreme principle of scaring people to death without compensation.

Murong Yi introduced from the side: “This is an amusement park. That is, a place for entertainment. I built it after consulting with a foreign elder. It’s just that many items are difficult to make because we lack something called electrical energy. Currently we can only make amusements using human power or water power.”

He pointed ahead to a large steel framework forming narrow paths, high and low, winding left and right.

On the framework were small carts for one person to sit in, some made in the shape of wild beasts, some shaped like flower baskets, others like rabbits and colorful clouds.

On both sides of the track was a strange-looking bearing connected to two pedal-like things, with seats above—Tie Ci recognized this at a glance as resembling a bicycle.

Her master’s estate had several of these. She had ridden them often as a child, but her master had never put them up for sale.

Murong Yi invited the imperial couple to choose a small cart. Tie Yan enthusiastically selected a dragon cart and got on. Consort Jing was reluctant, but seeing Tie Yan get on, she hesitated before choosing a colorful cloud cart.

Probably to better match the Emperor.

Murong Yi kindly reminded: “Your Majesty, this cart is somewhat thrilling. What do you think?”

Consort Jing hesitated, glanced at Tie Yan, then finally said softly: “Wherever His Majesty goes, I should naturally follow.”

Murong Yi smiled brilliantly: “Your Majesty is truly a model for the imperial harem. No wonder His Majesty treasures you.”

This kind of public display of affection between father-in-law and mother-in-law was something he was happy to see.

After all, this way, if he and Tie Ci were slightly improper, father-in-law would be too embarrassed to glare at him.

Consort Jing was delighted by his flattery and sat down in complete ignorance.

Tie Ci held her forehead.

She remembered the fear that had dominated her acrophobic Second Senior Brother on the roller coaster years ago.

As soon as the two sat down, steel bars popped out from the cart, securing them to their seats.

Tie Yan’s body stiffened again, but after glancing at Tie Ci, he calmed down.

Murong Yi asked Tie Ci: “One cart each?”

Tie Ci smiled and got on the small pedal seats on either side of the track with him.

This was a purely human-powered roller coaster, relying on leg power to send people up hills and down slopes, very testing of leg strength.

But this was really nothing for Tie Ci and Murong Yi. Before Tie Ci could exert force, Murong Yi’s long legs pushed once, and Tie Yan, riding his dragon, shot out like an arrow.

His Majesty’s “Ah!” hadn’t even left his mouth before it dispersed in the early winter cold wind, echoing faintly.

Tie Yan obviously wasn’t mentally prepared. He instinctively gripped the handrails, eyes wide, teeth clenched, back straight, his hair pulled straight by the wind.

Consort Jing was too shocked to make sound, screaming: “Stop!”

Tie Yan: “Don’t stop!”

Tie Ci: “Murong Yi, slow down! Give people an adjustment period, okay?”

Murong Yi: “Can’t slow down—we’re about to go uphill. Without enough momentum, rolling backward would be even more frightening!”

The next instant, with a whoosh, Tie Yan felt the blue sky suddenly rushing rapidly into his vision. His whole body felt like it was falling backward, wind violently racing past his ears, white clouds seeming to be scattered by his dragon charge.

This feeling was so extraordinary that at this moment, he finally forgot his imperial identity, forgot the constraints that had bound him since childhood, and roared wildly at the blue sky and chaotic clouds.

The sound was so loud it startled even himself, but was immediately scattered by the fierce wind from the heights.

The next moment, his backward-leaning body suddenly lunged forward. In an instant, the blue sky was thrown behind him while the earth crashed into his embrace.

Faster and faster, faster and faster, while his heart’s pounding became more and more intense, as if it would burst from his chest and explode on this yellow earth, shattered to powder.

All the scenery around became blurred chaotic shadows. Even his own shouts could barely be heard. His chest felt slightly painful yet airy, heaven and earth vast and open.

At the lowest point of the dive, at the peak of the dual-gender screaming, suddenly another launch upward!

Tie Yan roared until his voice broke, while Consort Jing’s screams turned to weeping.

Finally there was a stretch of level track ahead. Just as he caught his breath, suddenly there was a sharp right turn, and Tie Yan’s entire body bent like a crooked-neck tree.

After the right turn came a left turn. After several rounds, Tie Yan became a mad willow in the wind.

Consort Jing had already bent over, gripping the handrails, head buried in her knees, completely forgetting to maintain her perfect exemplary posture.

When the small cart finally slowly stopped, Tie Yan’s eyes were vacant, his whole body radiating lazy satisfaction.

Consort Jing’s knees were soaked in two large patches.

Tie Ci very thoughtfully brought a cloak over, wrapped it around her, lifted her from the colorful cloud cart, and carried her to the glass carriage.

After this, even if anything else was fun, Consort Jing would die before following her husband’s lead again.

Tie Ci thought: This time the story book had become “I Take My Father-in-Law and Mother-in-Law to the Amusement Park.”

Taking advantage of Tie Yan still being spaced out, Murong Yi quietly massaged Tie Ci’s legs: “Should I come give you a massage tonight? Otherwise you’ll be sore tomorrow.”

Tie Ci looked disdainfully at someone who was using public duty for private gain.

After that, Tie Yan put on a raincoat, sat on a raft, and tried the high-altitude boat drop. The exploding spray was like a giant curtain, through which emerged His Majesty’s dripping wet smiling face.

There was also a straight track suspended in mid-air with specially made small carts traveling along the track. This time he pedaled himself at a very slow speed. Beside the track were planted clusters of flowers, and at the track’s end were placed flower baskets. While pedaling, he picked flowers, gathering a basket full by the end. Tie Yan threw the fresh flowers to his daughter from the heights. Tie Ci turned to see Consort Jing watching hopefully and laughingly gave them to her instead.

Turning back to see Murong Yi looking somewhat disappointed, she knew this game should have been prepared for her, and the flower basket was meant to be his offering to her, but Father Emperor had stolen the thunder.

However, Murong Yi quickly rallied—after all, before winning his wife, smoothing his father-in-law’s ruffled feathers was more important.

This way, at least when the civil and military officials submitted memorials wanting to break up the lovebirds, father-in-law might keep the memorials in the palace.

His Imperial Majesty also tried a shooting game. On a round large plate with seats all around the circumference, Tie Yan sat on a rotating seat, holding a modified firearm that shot iron nails, shooting at several human figures in the center of the plate. At the heart position of the human figures hung colorfully painted inflated pig bladders.

His Imperial Majesty’s performance was quite good, but after shooting, looking at those human figures, Tie Yan’s expression was puzzled as he murmured: “Why do they look so familiar?”

Tie Ci’s expression was blank.

Of course they looked familiar.

One wore white lotus embroidery holding a small umbrella; one in black robes and red clothing with half an earring; one in blue shirt with sword, holding excrement in a bowl; one in snow-white clothing and armor with a shiny bald head.

Though none had faces, she felt sorry for Rong Pu, Dan Ye, Qi Yuansi, and Xiao Xueya.

Especially Commander Xue—clearly they mutually disliked each other, but just because he was handsome, tall, and well-built, he somehow attracted the jealous king’s malice.

How wronged.

She said: “Dad, of course you find them familiar. Aren’t these Murong Yi’s own statues?”

“Really?” Tie Yan said in surprise. “Then his interests are quite peculiar—he likes shooting himself!”

…

Due to technical and time constraints, parts of the amusement park weren’t open yet, but even so, it kept Tie Yan enthusiastically playing until afternoon. Midway they held a picnic under golden silk maples, spreading thick Western woven gold felt blankets on the ground. Fresh seasonal fruits in tall goblets hung with crystal dewdrops, while barbecue stands, soup pots, and large cauldrons were arranged in a row by the stream. Ingredients were brought from the shops at the fastest speed. Murong Yi personally cooked, frying, stir-frying, steaming, and deep-frying, determined to use his superior personal qualities of being able to grace the hall and work in the kitchen to quickly capture the hearts of his father-in-law and mother-in-law.

Tie Yan had tasted Murong Yi’s cooking before. Though he hadn’t said it was particularly good at the time, he inevitably found it unforgettable afterward. He had originally wanted to play a bit more, but seeing Murong Yi take his position at the stove, his legs involuntarily sat down.

Consort Jing was too shocked to have much appetite and didn’t like sitting on the ground to eat, feeling it undignified. But when Murong Yi brought up a bowl of soup, its aroma was so impactful that Consort Jing’s gaze involuntarily fixed on it.

This thing looked much like tofu pudding—appearing tender, smooth, and white—but what ordinary tofu pudding had such rich, captivating fragrance?

Murong Yi explained eloquently: “Your Majesty has poor appetite, why not try this chicken tofu pudding. It’s fresh, light, and extremely tender. The chicken is northern snow chicken, with the most plump and delicate meat, carrying pine fragrance. Using broth from three chickens simmered and stewed, selecting the most tender wing meat mixed with pork, chopped into paste, then mixed with egg whites to form chicken paste. Pour the chicken paste slowly into heated broth, simmering over low heat to congeal into this tofu pudding-like form…”

Before he finished speaking, Consort Jing had already consumed half the chicken tofu pudding.

It wasn’t that she was crude—the chicken tofu pudding really was like tofu pudding, extremely tender and smooth, sliding down in one gulp, yet the taste was incomparably superior to real tofu pudding.

The chicken tofu pudding Murong Yi prepared for Tie Yan was spicy, with red oil he had personally refined and fried. The aroma was intense, the red and white colors in the bowl distinct like red sun on snow. Fresh and spicy made the best combination. Tie Yan drank it in one gulp, throat rumbling, a fine layer of sweat appearing on his forehead.

Next came beef tongue cut into thin strips and marinated, wrapped in a layer of deboned white fish meat, wrapped in a layer of egg white, then wrapped in a layer of pork caul fat, finally wrapped in thin rice batter skin, steamed until cooked, then deep-fried in oil. Fried once until cooked, twice until crispy, then sliced and skewered. Upon eating, the outer skin was crispy and fragrant—you could hear the tiny crackling sound of the fried pork caul fat breaking, immediately followed by rich yet clear fragrance. The inner layers had rich textures—the richness of pork fat, the delicacy of fish meat, the chewiness of beef tongue, all gathering together in complementary flavors, leaving lasting fragrance between lips and teeth.

There were also three types of dipping sauces, each offering different flavors.

Spice-loving Tie Yan’s plate was quickly piled high with dried orange peel spicy rabbit dice, pickled pepper mountain delicacy fish slices, and salt-and-pepper stuffed fried rice birds fried until crispy, stuffed with three types of minced meat.

Before Consort Jing were Western tomato cups with shrimp, crystal shumai, and three-set duck opened layer by layer before her, offering only three pearl-like concentrated pigeon eggs. There were also shark fin and bird’s nest “gold and jade filling the hall” befitting her status. The latter used the finest bird’s nest, soaked in the lightest, most wonderful spring water, braised with the richest chicken broth plus jade mushrooms and ham until tender, then using top-grade blue shark fin with fat crab, hen, pig trotters, bamboo shoots and vermicelli stewed for an entire day, then adding sea cucumber, sea shrimp, fragrant mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, mountain chicken slices, and daylily flowers to create a golden thickening. Finally, removing all foam and taking only a cup of pale golden broth, served in snow porcelain lotus cups, lifted with silver spoons, thick but not scattered.

Though called a picnic, they still enjoyed palace-quality cuisine. Consort Jing was very satisfied.

After lunch, Tie Yan wanted to return to the palace. Being emperor meant managing ten thousand affairs daily—having taken half a day to pick up his daughter today meant working overtime tonight.

But Murong Yi said that since he had frightened Your Majesty earlier, he wanted to invite Your Majesty to inspect his shops as apology, listing his various shops, including many famous stores in the capital recently that even deep palace consorts had heard of. The types included fabrics, jewelry, gems, beauty products, etc… This made Consort Jing very interested, and she looked hopefully at Tie Yan.

Seeing her like this, Tie Yan said: “Since it’s so, such opportunities are rare. Go browse as you wish. If you fancy anything, I’ll compensate you for it later.”

His Imperial Majesty’s meaning was: We are royalty after all—don’t be shallow-eyed and take too much of other people’s things. If Tie Ci doesn’t want him in the future, it wouldn’t look good to come demanding debts.

Consort Jing nodded happily, not knowing if she understood.

This place wasn’t far from the imperial palace. Murong Yi insisted on first escorting His Imperial Majesty back. When getting off the carriage before the palace gates, Tie Yan took advantage of Tie Ci getting off first to instruct Consort Jing: “I see A Ci and that boy are somewhat overly intimate. Pay attention to see if this is so, and when you have time, talk to A Ci about it. Though she’s Crown Princess, she’s still a young lady—she should avoid suspicion where appropriate. No matter how good the man is, she shouldn’t casually give herself…”

Consort Jing hesitated.

Tie Yan knew her well and immediately asked: “What’s wrong? Did you discover something?”

Consort Jing hesitated again before leaning close to Tie Yan’s ear and quietly saying something.

Tie Yan: “!!”

Just then, Murong Yi stepped onto the cart shaft, smiling as he lifted the carriage curtain: “Your Majesty, you can…”

Tie Yan stood up, stepped onto the cart shaft, suddenly lifted his robe, and gave Murong Yi’s butt a fierce kick with his big foot!

When he first raised his foot, Murong Yi sensed it.

A martial artist’s instinctive reaction would be to dodge.

If he wanted, he could slip away to the other end of the plaza like smoke in an instant.

However, in this moment of lightning-fast thought, he ultimately decided not to dodge or avoid.

“Bang.”

Murong Yi was kicked right off the cart, landing face-down in a sprawled position.

“…”