Gou Xi didn’t attend court, but Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t as willful as him. The next day she rose early to dress and attend court with Zhao Zhongyu.
Yesterday the Emperor had inspected the gifts Zhao Hanzhang sent and was very pleased with the new currency, even more delighted with the valuable glassware.
Because Zhao Hanzhang had established glass workshops in Xiping, Shangcai, Chen County, and Luoyang, ordinary glass cups, glass pots, glass mirrors and such had decreased in price on the market, and the middle class could basically afford them.
Only some special glass products remained expensive, following the rarity-makes-value route.
The glass Zhao Hanzhang gave the Emperor this time was specially designed by the Xiping glass workshop as a gift for Gou Xi—a brilliantly colored glass miniature house.
The house was approximately eighty centimeters wide, eighty centimeters long, and thirty centimeters high. The upper and lower floors could both be moved. More wonderfully, the house contained various landscapes and furniture. The glass workshop had also made two boxes of people, livestock like horses, and a box of weapons.
They could be freely arranged to designate those people’s identities, what they were doing, etc.
It was the highest realm of playing house in this era. Although Zhao Hanzhang herself didn’t enjoy playing and didn’t quite understand where the fun was in this game.
But because the glass house was exquisitely crafted and a unique item, Zhao Hanzhang considered it highly valuable.
However, she had already given Gou Xi glass gifts three times in a row. This time would be the fourth. As Zhao Ming said, all things come in threes. Constantly giving glass wasn’t good either—better to let the Emperor have it instead.
The Emperor himself felt Zhao Hanzhang’s sincerity. Plus she had always appeared humble and polite, gentle and mild in his presence, so he warmly welcomed Zhao Hanzhang to attend morning court.
The Emperor had someone set up a seat for her on his right side, directly opposite Gou Xi’s position.
Although Gou Xi didn’t attend court, his seat had to remain, and no one dared occupy it. Even the seat opposite his wasn’t allowed to be taken.
Zhao Zhongyu and other ministers all had to set their seats one step back. In any case, the area opposite Gou Xi was always left empty.
Now the Emperor was setting up a seat for Zhao Hanzhang opposite him. Court officials belonging to Gou Xi’s faction exchanged glances, their moods somewhat sour.
But this sourness wasn’t just toward Zhao Hanzhang and the Emperor, but even more toward Gou Xi.
As Grand General, Gou Xi’s ability to influence court politics from time to time certainly didn’t rely solely on himself.
Among the attending court officials were many who were his people. Otherwise, while staying in the Grand General’s residence all the time, how could he know about policies the Emperor had just issued?
He basically didn’t interfere with the Emperor’s policies and didn’t work, which didn’t mean he had no trusted confidants in court.
They felt some resentment—resenting that Gou Xi was too neglectful. If he were here, they would have more confidence. Encountering a leader who only wanted to eat, drink, and play without ambition really made them want to throw down their burdens and quit too.
Their positions were shaken again—perhaps they should switch allegiance to the Emperor or Zhao Hanzhang after all. Gou Xi really was finished.
Zhao Hanzhang attended court today only to give the Emperor face, mainly to meet the court ministers, let everyone recognize faces and exchange words. Afterward, unless the Emperor summoned her, she wouldn’t easily enter the palace again.
At noon, the Emperor kept Zhao Hanzhang for lunch as a show of favor.
Zhao Hanzhang ate a very delicious lunch—the best meal she’d had since New Year’s.
After iron woks appeared in Yuzhou, various new dishes emerged. Zhao Hanzhang, often poor, could only hear about them and savor them in her imagination, but today she actually got to eat them.
As Zhao Hanzhang ate, she thought: So the Emperor isn’t that poor after all. His life is much better than hers.
The Emperor also ate very happily. Only after Zhou Neijian escorted her out of the palace did she learn that the Emperor also rarely got to eat so many delicious foods.
Zhou Neijian walked beside Zhao Hanzhang with a bowed back, smiling ingratiatingly, “These new dishes were all transmitted from Yuzhou and Luoyang. His Majesty even said that serving Provincial Governor Zhao dishes from Yuzhou and Luoyang was like showing off one’s meager skills before an expert, and asked that you not take offense.”
Zhao Hanzhang quickly said, “Not at all, not at all. Even in Yuzhou I rarely get to eat so many delicious foods at once.”
Zhou Neijian: “That’s good, that’s good. His Majesty isn’t quite accustomed to Yuncheng’s flavors either. Since moving the capital here, His Majesty has greatly missed Luoyang cuisine. Only when eating Luoyang dishes and these new dishes does his appetite improve somewhat.”
Zhou Neijian was subtly expressing the Emperor’s love for and longing for Luoyang.
Zhao Hanzhang could only nod in agreement, nearly blurting out that Luoyang missed the Emperor too.
Zhao Zhongyu had another explanation for this: “When these new dishes first emerged, they were rare and expensive. Even His Majesty couldn’t afford them. Only after the Grand General’s residence tried them and found them good did Gou Xi send two cooks to His Majesty, allowing him to afford them. But even so, not all dishes can be eaten.”
Zhao Zhongyu said to Zhao Hanzhang, “Several new dishes from Yuzhou use lots of oil and salt. They’re delicious, but too extravagant.”
Using lots of oil and salt was the highest praise in this era. Zhao Hanzhang instinctively deflected blame, “These new dishes have nothing to do with me.”
Zhao Zhongyu glanced at her, “Who said they had anything to do with you? But you are Provincial Governor of Yuzhou. During these difficult times, you should promote frugality, not such extravagance. The top sets the example for the bottom—don’t follow in the footsteps of Prince Donghai and Gou Xi.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded repeatedly, somewhat aggrieved, “Uncle Ming and I have always promoted frugality and economy. To demonstrate thrift, I only eat meat twice every ten days and haven’t made new clothes all year. Look at me—what I’m wearing now are last year’s clothes let out. When there wasn’t extra fabric, I cut and patched pieces on. Uncle Ming, to show his position, only drinks one jar of wine a month, counting his cups each day.”
Zhao Zhongyu listened in astonishment, asking, “Are you promoting frugality deliberately, or have you really run out of money?”
Zhao Hanzhang paused before saying, “A bit of both. What I mainly want to express is that we’re trying very hard, but some trends can’t be changed because of Seventh Great-uncle.”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “These new dishes were all created by Seventh Great-uncle. He uses them in his own restaurants and taverns, hosting grand banquets. I… can’t stop him.”
Nor did she want to.
Zhao Hu was now one of her major taxpayers. Most importantly, what he did really greatly promoted Yuzhou’s economic development. So while she practiced frugality, she still had to help Zhao Hu push things forward.
Zhao Zhongyu couldn’t understand, “Since they’re new dishes from his restaurants and taverns, shouldn’t he keep the recipes secret? How did they spread everywhere?”
Zhao Hanzhang’s expression was complex, “So that’s why Seventh Great-uncle is a commercial genius. He published the recipes for the new dishes, but not the secret recipes.”
“For one dish, there’s a simple method and a complex method. He only published the general method, keeping some small details to himself. Speaking of these new dishes, the best are still made in Seventh Great-uncle’s restaurants and taverns.”
“Think about it—His Majesty’s new dishes here are already this delicious, but Seventh Great-uncle’s tavern dishes are even more flavorful and appetizing. Knowing this, don’t you think His Majesty would crave them and want to try them?”
Zhao Zhongyu: … Whether the Emperor wanted to try them or not, he didn’t know, but Zhao Hanzhang had piqued his interest.
Zhao Hanzhang said, “He definitely would, so people travel thousands of miles to Yuzhou for this taste. Now Seventh Great-uncle’s taverns are world-famous. The Rare Delicacies Building and Zhao Qi Hall haven’t lost customers because recipes were published—instead, they’re overflowing with guests.”