Chapter 122: The Stingy Emperor

Zhao Huan felt a wave of exasperation. He simply could not bring himself to eat locusts raw; he couldn't help but admire Emperor Li Er for his willingness to sacrifice his own comfort for the sake of the nation.

However, the suggestion put forward by Li Ruoshui suddenly illuminated his mind. That’s right! How could he have forgotten that locusts are edible?

"Deep-fried crispy grasshoppers, ten yuan a catty, buy one get one free!" This catchy advertisement slogan suddenly popped into Zhao Huan’s head.

"Got it!" Zhao Huan clapped his hands and said happily, "Here is the plan: tomorrow, I will host a grand banquet for all the officials at the Zuixian Pavilion. I invite you all to enjoy a delicious feast."

The officials looked at each other in bewilderment, unsure of what this "grand feast" might entail. But seeing Zhao Huan’s confident demeanor, it seemed as if the meal would be quite something.

Consequently, the front page of the *Great Song Daily* published the news that Zhao Huan would host a grand banquet for his officials at the Zuixian Pavilion the following day. The entire city was abuzz with speculation, wondering what the Emperor was up to—why would he choose to host such a banquet, and at a restaurant outside the palace gates, no less?

Regardless, the news caused quite a stir. Early the next morning, crowds of commoners gathered around the Zuixian Pavilion, as opportunities to catch a glimpse of the Emperor were rare.

The staff at the Zuixian Pavilion were exceptionally busy that day. They weren't worried about the quality of the food; the restaurant’s cuisine rivaled that of the imperial kitchens, and the head chef was a direct protégé of Zhao Huan, producing dishes that even many imperial chefs couldn't match.

Yet, Zhang Erke, the head chef, was deeply troubled. Zhao Huan had ordered a "Locust Feast." How on earth was he supposed to prepare that?

With no other choice, Zhang Erke braced himself to seek instruction from the Emperor once more.

Zhao Huan was currently in the Xiying Palace with his favorite consort, Xi Ying. He wasn't the least bit surprised to see Zhang Erke arrive. "What is it?" he asked. "Is there some difficulty with the Locust Feast?"

Zhang Erke gave a bitter smile. "Your Majesty, this commoner is dull-witted. I humbly request your guidance."

Xi Ying, who had also heard about the upcoming banquet, had been listening intently, her curiosity piqued.

Zhao Huan playfully flicked her nose and laughed. "Trying to eavesdrop, are you? This is a secret recipe; it’s not for outsiders."

"Hmph, 'not for outsiders'—I’m no outsider," Xi Ying said with a coquettish pout. She was a clever woman who knew that men sometimes enjoyed it when women acted spoiled.

Zhao Huan only meant to tease her. He turned back to Zhang Erke and said, "It’s actually quite simple. The locust plague in the Shu region has made these insects ubiquitous, so you needn't worry about the supply."

Zhang Erke nodded, quickly adding, "I have already followed your instructions and procured hundreds of catties of locusts from the Shu region. It is more than enough for the officials tomorrow."

"But I do not know how to prepare this feast," Zhang Erke admitted helplessly. "Your Majesty, these locusts are tiny and have no meat on them. I have pondered for a long time, but I simply cannot see how to turn them into a proper meal."

Zhao Huan nodded. "You need to broaden your perspective. Don't think about it in terms of 'eating meat.' Since they have hard shells, you can make them crispy. If you can't stir-fry them, you can deep-fry them. Sprinkle on some spices, and it will surely be a delicacy."

Every good cook is a food lover at heart. With Zhao Huan providing the direction, Zhang Erke’s culinary expertise allowed him to grasp the concept immediately. Sometimes, a good idea is like a layer of window paper; once pierced, everything becomes clear.

"Besides," Zhao Huan continued, "even if they are hard, they aren't tougher than mutton. You can mince them into a paste and make 'Lion's Head' meatballs. As a chef, you must be bold enough to experiment!"

Zhang Erke felt as if he had received a priceless treasure. He prostrated himself before the Emperor. "Your Majesty is wise! I never dared to imagine such things, but hearing your words, my mind is suddenly enlightened."

Zhao Huan waved his hand. "Go and prepare. But I have one requirement for this feast: the recipe must be made public to all the common people. You understand what I mean, don't you?"

Although Zhang Erke was not a government official, he wasn't stupid. Zhao Huan’s intention was clear. Since there was a famine in the Shu region and people were starving, they could eat locusts. If the Emperor and his officials could eat them, surely the refugees could too.

"I understand! Since the recipe is provided by Your Majesty as a gift to the people of the world, it is a great blessing for our nation!" Zhang Erke flattered.

"Enough, enough with the flattery. Get going! Your priority is to make this feast delicious. If you pull this off, I will reward you!" Zhao Huan said.

At the mention of a reward, Zhang Erke’s teeth ached. He knew better than to trust the Emperor’s empty promises. He still had the slip of paper from his last reward in his pocket: "Half a horse, half a bolt of silk, half a golden belt..." Everything had been given in halves. The Emperor was truly stingy. Zhao Huan had claimed it was because the treasury was empty and everything needed to be kept simple, but Zhang Erke still found it ridiculous—was he supposed to cut a horse in half to take it home?

Of course, that was impossible. The meaning was clear: when the next half was awarded, he could collect the full horse. It just went to show how miserly the Emperor was.

Still, Zhang Erke was secretly pleased. If he received another half-horse this time, he would finally have a whole one.

"This commoner takes his leave to make preparations," Zhang Erke said, bowing respectfully before retreating.