I Am Truly Not a Treacherous Minister Your Majesty

Chapter 62: Conversation at the Dining Table

Qin Ji felt that the Fifth Prince probably had long planned to discuss some head-losing topics with him (although they wouldn’t lose their heads).

Real fish or fake fish? Why are you asking me this? You should directly tell Xia Yuxiao to her face. I’m sure your nine clans would be very happy… Oh, I forgot, you are a member of the royal family and won’t be sentenced to death.

“Your Highness, you have a point,” Qin Ji agreed. However, just as the Fifth Prince was about to continue, he suddenly said, “But, although both real and fake fish are good, fake fish is still fake. If you want to imitate real fish to perfection, as you said, it takes too much effort.”

At this point, he turned to Ling Yan: “Ling Yan, let me ask you, if I want to eat a fish, regardless of whether it’s real or fake, as long as it tastes good, would you prefer to directly make a real fish and serve it to me, or go through so many procedures to make a fake vegetarian fish?”

Ling Yan was curiously staring at the fish, but although she could sit at the table, she didn’t actually use her chopsticks because, in front of outsiders, she couldn’t lose her manners as a guard.

A guard fighting with the master and the guest for fish would be too absurd. No matter how much she couldn’t figure it out, she understood this principle.

Facing Qin Ji’s question, she almost answered without thinking: “Of course, I would make a real fish for you, young master. Fake fish takes too much time.”

Ah, but she wasn’t very good at making fish. She was good at simpler cooking and stewing. Even if she really made fish, she would just throw it into the pot and add seasoning to stew it.

“You see, Your Highness, I think most people prefer simpler procedures. After all, instead of going through so much effort to imitate fish, why not just make a real fish?”

At this point, Qin Ji looked at the empty bowl in front of Ling Yan, paused for a moment, then picked up a large piece of “fish” and put it in her bowl.

No, if I ask you to support the scene, you really just support the scene. Sitting there with an empty bowl makes it look like I’m mistreating my subordinates. At least eat something.

“Thank you, young master.”

Ling Yan looked up at Qin Ji and then said softly.

“Eat whatever you want. Today, the King of Rongsheng and I are having a private gathering, not so many formalities.” Qin Ji said and then asked, “Isn’t that right, Your Highness?”

“Naturally.”

“This dish is good, it’s rare to make something fake look real,” Qin Ji said, taking another bite. “But Your Highness, if it were me, I wouldn’t like to make fake fish—too much trouble, and very complicated. If the technique is slightly lacking, all the effort would be wasted.”

“Fake fish is still fake fish. If done to perfection, it’s fine, but few can achieve that level. The risk is high,” Qin Ji said, folding his hands on the table and smiling. “Your Excellency likes fake fish, but if you were to make it yourself, do you think you could achieve this level?”

“No.”

The King of Rongsheng answered straightforwardly.

“But honestly, we two get along quite well. You see, I like eating fake fish, and although you don’t exactly like it, you find it rare. We both like this dish, so why don’t we share it more often in the future?”

On his delicate scholar’s face, there was a flicker of an almost uncatchable, nearly mad desire.

Of course, this wasn’t a desire to eat fish, because the fish was right in front of him.

Qin Ji noticed his change and then replied to him in a calm tone:

“The fish is good, but I can’t guarantee that the cook can always make the vegetarian fish taste like real fish. But real fish is different, no matter how the cook prepares it, it always has the taste of fish. Moreover—I recently like a kind of fish that is even more delicious among real fish.”

“Oh? What kind of fish?”

“Yellow croaker.”

“……” The expression of King Rongsheng was somewhat subtle.

However, Qin Ji didn’t care about his expression. At this moment, the dishes were served one by one. There were also fresh fruits, which were chilled and quite nice.

“What a pity, this fish is so delicious.” King Rongsheng Xia Yun sighed.

“There are many delicacies in the world, Your Highness, why insist on just this one fish?” Qin Ji laughed heartily and then pointed to the “braised pork” in front of him, “Look, there are so many delicious dishes, there is always something suitable for oneself. As for me, although I have studied fish, it is not my favorite food.”

“Oh? What do you like to eat?”

“That’s a secret. If I say too much, it won’t be mysterious anymore.” Qin Ji said mysteriously.

“Hahaha, indeed, come, drink!”

“Oh no, I can’t drink alcohol.” He hurriedly refused.

“I know you can’t drink much, this is tea, very fragrant,” Xia Yun said, getting up to pour Qin Ji a cup, “Since you are here at the Zongzheng Mansion, I must remind you that although the royal family sounds like one family, it is not something that can be solved by ordinary family methods.”

“I understand.”

Xia Yun continued, “In the court, everyone is loyal to His Majesty, but no matter how strong Da Xia is, it will eventually come to an end.”

“Your Highness’s words are indeed reasonable,” Qin Ji pretended to be very interested, “May I ask what insights Your Highness has?”

“As the Grand Minister of the Empire, you naturally know, right? I once did some educational work,” Xia Yun took a sip of tea, removing the taste of the sweet and sour vegetarian fish from his mouth, then picked up a piece of “meat,” “You should also know, I failed.”

The five-layered, very classic braised pork.

Mushrooms as lean meat, winter melon as fat meat, cooked to be soft and tasty, with an overflowing aroma.

“Why did Your Highness do such a thing? Although there are many official schools in Da Xia now, privately running schools is not something that can be achieved overnight. Most of the common people in Da Xia do not worry about food and clothing, but this is also based on the fact that Da Xia’s children help their families from a young age. Changing the current situation of Da Xia is not something that can be done in one stroke.”

“So, do you think my hope to promote education is good or bad?”

“In the long run, it is good.”

“So, is there any problem with what I did?”

Xia Yun and he were now discussing his past measures, as if he was eager for recognition.

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“There is a problem.”

“Where is the problem?”

“The problem lies in what I said—In the long run, it is good. Precisely because it is long-term, it cannot be considered so quickly.” Qin Ji said this while looking thoughtfully at King Rongsheng.