82Your Majesty has a brilliant plan!
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Chapter 82 I have a brilliant plan!
Emperor Ren coughed dryly and said, "Empresss given name, I have already rewarded Minister Shen before."
The Empress said, "Your Majesty, that was your reward. Today is my Qianqiu Festival, and Minister Shen has worked so hard, I should reward him."
Emperor Ren said, "The Empress speaks reasonably. Then let's reward him."
Since it was the Empress's birthday today, Emperor Ren naturally didn't care whom she wished to reward.
After Shen Yulou expressed his gratitude, he looked up and met the Empress's gaze.
This exchange of glances made the Empress's heart flutter, her eyes filled with amorous feelings.
However, Eunuch Chen, seeing this scene, was extremely displeased.
He looked towards Imperial Advisor Sun Xun, who nodded at him and gave him a meaningful look.
Then he said, "Your Majesty, why don't we let Eunuch Chen taste the baby food Shen Yulou made first, to see if it's suitable for the Imperial Princes? Eunuch Chen's palate is truly exceptional."
Emperor Ren was taken aback, "Oh? What do you mean by that?"
Sun Xun said, "Eunuch Chen's sense of taste is very famous throughout the Imperial City. No matter what is put in a dish, he can taste it in one bite.
There's a restaurant in the Imperial City called Yan Chi Lou. Once, the shrimp oil used in Yan Chi Lou's signature dish was from the previous night, and Eunuch Chen tasted it. Since then, Yan Chi Lou's business plummeted."
Emperor Ren was somewhat surprised, "I didn't expect you to have such an ability?"
Eunuch Chen stood up and respectfully said,
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this old servant may not be good at other things, but this tongue of mine is naturally very keen. I can taste any oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, bitter, sweet, spicy, even if it's just a tiny difference."
Emperor Ren said, "Since that's the case, then you taste Minister Shen's food and tell me what you think?"
"As you command!"
Chen Rongmao picked up a small spoon and tasted the fruit rice paste made by Shen Yulou, then shook his head.
"Your Majesty, the rice used is from last year. Although it's refined, it's old rice. As for the grapes in it, they are not Dragon Pearl grapes, and besides grape juice, a few drops of orange juice were added, which is even more of a flaw.
This rice paste is not sweet enough for adults, but a bit too cloying for children.
This old servant believes that this item is a bit showy and should not be promoted.
Shen Yulou is young after all, and the task of looking after the Imperial Princes' diet should not be entrusted to him."
Originally, everyone who tasted the rice paste had nothing but praise for Shen Yulou.
But, as soon as Chen Rongmao said that, everyone immediately put down their spoons.
Wasn't Lord Shen's rice paste very impressive? Many children used to clamor for it, and even Lord Qin, who was originally in charge of baby food, couldn't compare.
Now, in Eunuch Chen's mouth, how could it be so terrible?
Emperor Ren also frowned. He had tasted it just now, and the rice paste tasted pretty good.
And it only contained fruit juice and rice, so it shouldn't be a problem for children to eat.
Yet, even so, Chen Rongmao could find so many faults. This tongue was indeed worthy of its reputation.
"Minister Shen, what do you think of Eunuch Chen's critique?"
Shen Yulou merely smiled slightly, "Eunuch Chen's critique is very pertinent. Your humble servant will definitely learn from it."
Chen Rongmao frowned, surprised that Shen Yulou didn't even retort, leaving him with a feeling of punching cotton.
Emperor Ren was about to speak when his expression suddenly changed. He clutched his stomach and said,
"He Shun! Help me up... I can't hold it, quickly get the commode!"
He Shun's face changed drastically, and he quickly said,
"All Imperial Consorts, please withdraw!"
Seeing this, everyone knew the Emperor had an upset stomach and wisely withdrew quickly.
Just as Shen Yulou and the others were about to leave, Chen Rongmao suddenly said,
"Shen Yulou! Don't leave yet! His Majesty must have gotten diarrhea from eating your rice paste. Why don't you kneel and accept your punishment?"
Shen Yulou said calmly, "All the Imperial Consorts also ate the rice paste, and Eunuch Chen also ate it. Why are you all fine? This crime is not this official's; I dare not falsely claim it."
Chen Rongmao snorted coldly, "That's because we ate little. His Majesty just ate a bowl, so naturally, it's more serious for him than for us! We'll determine your guilt after the imperial physicians have finished their diagnosis!"
Shen Yulou stood by indifferently. This Eunuch Chen was truly seeking death; he would have to find an opportunity to deal with him.
Emperor Ren indeed had an upset stomach, his face pale.
After using the latrine, the imperial physicians immediately gathered around to diagnose him.
Everyone spoke at once, but no one could pinpoint the cause.
Emperor Ren's stomach hurt terribly. Supported by everyone, he returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Throughout that afternoon, Emperor Ren kept having bowel movements, to the point where his face was devoid of color.
The imperial physicians prescribed medicine, but it was of no help.
Emperor Ren said weakly, "You group of useless people! Why am I not getting better after taking the medicine?"
Emperor Ren felt his rectum was numb. If this continued, something terrible would happen!
The imperial physicians knelt on the ground, each with a very grim expression.
At this moment, Li Hui, who was standing at the door, suddenly said,
"Your Majesty, why not let Lord Shen try? Previously, My Son had diarrhea for seven consecutive days, and it was Lord Shen who came up with a miraculous cure."
After Li Hui finished speaking, everyone's eyes instantly fell on Shen Yulou.
Eunuch Chen's earlier words had made them all suspect Shen Yulou.
They thought it was the effect of his rice paste, but now it seemed that it shouldn't be.
If eating rice paste was truly that serious, then the Imperial Consorts would probably also be ill.
Emperor Ren said, "Minister Shen, do you have any brilliant ideas?"
Shen Yulou stepped forward to take Emperor Ren's pulse, then said with some difficulty,
"Your Majesty, there is a method, but it is not easy to implement."
Emperor Ren was a bit anxious, "What's not easy to implement? I am the Son of Heaven, is there anything I cannot do?"
Emperor Ren was truly eager to recover. In his current state, he felt worse than death.
Shen Yulou said, "Your humble servant knows an ancient method that can cure Your Majesty's diarrhea, but it requires someone to cooperate."
"How to cooperate? Tell me! I approve of everything!"
Shen Yulou said, "There is a prescription in ancient texts that can cure diarrhea, and it is effective immediately.
However, this prescription involves flexible compounding of medicines. The proportion of the agents needs to be adjusted according to the patient's physical condition."
"It requires someone with an extremely keen sense of taste to sample Your Majesty's night soil, accurately describe the proportions of bitterness and sourness, in order to administer the correct medicine."
"If the proportions are incorrect, then Your Majesty's condition will become even more severe!"
"Therefore, this method absolutely requires a dedicated person to cooperate."
After Shen Yulou finished speaking, everyone in the Hall of Mental Cultivation immediately shifted their gaze to Eunuch Chen.
Earlier at the Qianqiu Festival, the Imperial Advisor had said that Eunuch Chen's tongue was the best in the world, capable of tasting anything.
And Eunuch Chen himself had demonstrated his ability to everyone, even being able to distinguish whether rice paste was made from old or new rice. This ability was indeed unique.
Emperor Ren's gaze also fell on Eunuch Chen.
At this moment, Emperor Ren was very anxious to be cured. From his eyes, it was clear that no matter whether Shen Yulou was right or not, they had to try it.
Eunuch Chen's face suddenly changed.
Shen Yulou, damn you!
Making this servant eat shit