Chapter 78: Lianhua Courts Death

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Lianhua Courts Death


At this moment, in front of the tavern, exclamations of admiration were incessant.


These voices came from the students drinking tea in the surrounding area.


The release of this poem stunned everyone.


"This poem is truly unparalleled, both ancient and modern!"


"Hearing such a perfect poem in this life leaves no regrets even in death."


"A jug of wine among the flowers, Flower Garden Ode? What a great name. This tavern producing such an unprecedented verse together with such a name, a perfect match."


"I wonder who possesses such literary talent, truly admirable."


"No matter who it is, it comes from the ’Flower Garden Ode’ tavern. We should go inside to drink wine and tea, and perhaps experience a different charm."


"Yes, let’s go drink at the ’Flower Garden Ode’!"


Where there’s one, there’s two, and where there’s two, there’s three.


One after another, those who were watching the scene earlier or watching from other taverns now all rushed to the ’Flower Garden Ode’.


Jokes aside, with so many people crowding, if you run too slowly, there won’t even be a good seat left.


The continuation of Journey to the West is told inside the ’Flower Garden Ode’, how can you hear it if you don’t go in?


You must go in!


Push, push, push!


’Flower Garden Ode’ was already crowded, while the surrounding taverns started to empty.


Those shopkeepers stomped their feet anxiously, trying all sorts of tricks to retain their customers.


"Dear guests, don’t leave, we just released a new song..."


"Noble guest, Miss Ru Hua just got some time..."


"The dish you just ordered has arrived, please don’t go."


...


However, those who were meant to leave could not be retained. Those who stayed were likely distracted, thinking that since today was too crowded, they would check out ’Flower Garden Ode’ tomorrow.


Today, ’Flower Garden Ode’ caught so much attention; having not only a Journey to the West story but also such a perfect poem, after today, the name ’Flower Garden Ode’ would surely echo in every street and alley.


Even before today ended, a noble guest dined on Chang’an Street and, seeing the usually bustling taverns half-empty, couldn’t help but ask what was going on.


"’Flower Garden Ode’ opened today, and most of the guests on this street went there to dine," someone eager to explain said.


The noble guest frowned and asked, "What Flower Garden Ode? Never heard of it. They must have used some flashy gimmicks to lure people in, right?"


It seemed that taverns had done such things before, only to be short-lived.


"But they’re all just vulgar tricks!" The noble guest snorted through his nose.


However, looking at the sparsely populated tavern, he couldn’t bring himself to step inside.


Dining out was supposed to be lively, and now, with such a desolate scene, he even lost his appetite.


The noble guest frowned even more as he decided to walk towards the crowded place.


At this moment, ’Flower Garden Ode’ was packed to the brim, with layers of people surrounding the outside.


This noble guest couldn’t even get close, furrowing his brows so tightly they almost knotted. He was fanning himself rapidly, obviously quite impatient.


"It’s just a tavern; is all this necessary, is all this necessary?"


Having said that, the nobleman impatiently looked around and accidentally caught sight of the red couplets on the door.


The guard accompanying him tried hard to make a way, but there were too many people, with everyone trying to squeeze in, and no one would yield or care about anyone else; maybe only a "The Emperor is coming" shout could calm them.


But how could that happen?


"Sir, shall we pick another place?" the guard whispered.


Yet the nobleman, now intrigued, was determined to see for himself the spectacle inside the tavern, unwilling to leave easily.


However, with so many people crowded together, should there be anyone with ill intentions, it could be dangerous.


The guard was troubled until he heard someone say, "Mr. Huang, this way, please."


The man known as Mr. Huang turned, recognizing a familiar guard, and asked, "Where is your master now?"


"My master led the master into ’Flower Garden Ode.’ Seeing the noble guest here from afar, he sent me to guide you," the guard replied.


"Where to lead?" Mr. Huang asked, fanning himself.


"The front is crowded, we’ll go through the back door." The guard bowed slightly after he spoke.


Master Huideng was attracted by that poem and was in no hurry to leave, thinking to take a look at that tavern.


But there were too many people at the front, and to avoid any harm to the master, Pei Ji’an led the master through the back door, catching sight of a familiar figure and sending a guard to guide them.


In the tavern, there are always a few private rooms reserved for special guests, like Master Hui’en or Mr. Huang.


The group took seats in a private room, which provided a good view of the ground floor central area. There was already a table set, a fan, and a wooden gavel.


Unlike the simple setup at the entrance earlier, this setup was more formal, clearly designed for future storytelling.


The storyteller hadn’t arrived yet, taking a break due to exhaustion and hunger, resting their voice before returning.


The crowd eagerly awaited in excitement.


"A storyteller," Mr. Huang said from his seat on the second floor, fanning himself, full of disbelief in his tone and eyes.


"What kind of story draws so many people clamoring to listen? Truly curious. But the poem at the entrance was nice, though, who wrote it?"


After all, it was that poem that made him stop; otherwise, he wouldn’t have considered coming in to take a look.


Pei Ji’an hadn’t heard the story either and didn’t know what the story was about, so he couldn’t provide an answer, but he knew something about the poem.


"It was composed by a high master who isn’t here."


He didn’t reveal Qu Fulan; since she made up an excuse about dreaming, there must be a reason.


During the wait for the storyteller’s meal, people began ordering food, as they couldn’t just sit and do nothing inside the shop.


Looking at the menu, filled with a dazzling array of dish names like Salt and Pepper Eight Treasure Chicken, Hechuan Meat Slices, Braised Duck Treasure, Fish-flavored Shredded Pork, Bean Paste Crucian Carp, Ginkgo Steamed Duck, and so on.


Overwhelmed by it all, they simply ordered a few dishes randomly, not caring too much.


Some discerning people would order all the shop’s signature dishes.


Meanwhile, the kitchen was bustling, busy preparing meals for guests per Qu Fulan’s instructions, so busy the stoves were in high demand.


Lianhua knew the Princely Heir had come, was overjoyed, and wanted to come to the kitchen to personally make his favorite dishes.


Every time she cooked for the Princely Heir, Lianhua would sincerely wash her hands, using a copper basin for washing, with water from a mountain spring, carefully cleaning each finger and then drying them with a clean white towel.


"Miss Lianhua wants to use the stove. You two make way, don’t delay Miss Lianhua’s cooking for the Princely Heir," Lianhua’s sycophant said to the two cooks.


The two cooks were preparing food for guests, how could they stop midway?


However, Miss Lianhua held favor with the Princely Heir, not to mention her mother also managed the kitchen, so they dared not offend her, feeling quite conflicted.