"Brother Yifeng, you're really lucky. I just finished grilling the fish and you came. Better to come early than just the right time. Come on, let's have a drink together."
On the exquisite grill, a fish about three feet long, looking somewhat like an eel, was grilled until it was oily, and its aroma was mouthwatering.
On the table, Long Chen took out two exquisite wine bowls and poured fine wine.
"Wow, big brother, you really know how to enjoy yourself. You were sent by Princess Qianxue to raise fish. I thought you'd be feeling down, but I didn't expect you to have such a good attitude."
Come on, big brother, for my mistake, I'll toast you first as an apology. Zhu Yifeng originally wanted to comfort Long Chen, since it was all his fault. Even if he was scolded, he would accept it.
But unexpectedly, Long Chen was living so comfortably, even grilling fish here. After all, this fishery was the royal fishery, raising only precious species.
The fish here is delicious and has powerful nourishing properties, and can even be used in medicine and alchemy. It is considered a top-quality fish with astonishing value, making it unaffordable for most people.
"Haha, that's nothing. Come on, let's go." Long Chen laughed heartily. Only after arriving here did he realize this was a great place.
Many precious fish were raised here. Long Chen was patrolling the fishing grounds, whether ornamental or carnivorous. He was about to get a feast. While searching for a target, he noticed a golden dragon fish baring its teeth at him. Of course, Long Chen didn't indulge in its quirks. Since he had come to his doorstep, he directly put it on the grill.
"Wow, wow, wow, great wine." Zhu Yifeng took a gulp of wine and immediately exclaimed. It was the first time he had tasted such mellow, rich, and endlessly powerful wine.
"Could this wine be ...?" Zhu Yifeng said in shock.
"Of course, aside from the Wine God Palace, who else could brew such divine brew? Come on, drink as much as you want, plenty of food! "Long Chen doesn't have many friends in the Vermilion Bird Empire. It's rare for someone to come drink with him, and he was very happy, so he refilled Zhu Yifeng's drink right away."
Zhu Yifeng drank three bowls in a row. After each bowl, his face was full of amazement. How could such fine wine exist in the world? Compared to this, the so-called fine wine he had drunk before was nothing but plain water.
"Don't just drink alcohol—eat fish too. I have a feeling this fish has an unusual origin, and the meat is definitely delicious." Long Chen picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth. The fish melted instantly, juicy and oily in his mouth, yet it was rich but not greasy—exceptionally delicious.
"Wow, what kind of fish is this?" Is it really that delicious? I've never eaten it before. Zhu Yifeng took a bite of the fish, both surprised and delighted, his eyes shining. Today, he had truly indulged in meat.
"Hehe, I don't know what kind of fish it is. It's fine, if you like it, I'll catch a few to give to you. Anyway, I call the shots here."
Honestly, Princess Qianxue is actually quite nice—she gave me rare medicines and treated me to fish. Maybe I misunderstood her. Come on, let's go again. Long Chen's mouth was stuffed with fish, and he raised his cup indistinctly, drinking with Zhu Yifeng.
After finishing his drink, Zhu Yifeng looked satisfied, feeling a happiness he had never experienced before.
"Big brother, let me tell you, although Princess Qianxue has a bad temper, she's not scheming. Among all the princes and princesses, she's the least threatening to me.
That's why I dared to come find you. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't dare come over like this, afraid of being framed." Zhu Yifeng sighed.
"That's why, this place is a place of drama. Once I marry Qingxuan, I want her to live a carefree life, far away from these scheming and intrigue places. Come on, let's talk, but don't stop drinking." Long Chen raised his glass again.
The two ate fish and chatted, and Zhu Yifeng seemed to find a kindred spirit, constantly pouring out his grievances—like how strict his mother was, how cold his father was, how siblings openly and secretly fought each other, all looking like they were deeply trapped in a sea of suffering.
"I wonder when I'll finally be able to escape my misery!" Zhu Yifeng sighed.
"You're about to escape the sea of misery."
Just then, a cold voice rang out—it was Yu Qianxue, furious and rushing over. Her face was filled with murderous intent, her gaze fixed on Long Chen, and her expression seemed ready to bite Long Chen to death.
Yu Qianxue arrived with a fierce aura, accompanied by hundreds of guards, many of whom were formidable opponents Long Chen had never seen before. Each exuded a powerful aura, with several even surpassing Yu Qianxue's.
"Wow, so many people have come! Sorry, I only grilled one fish, and it's still not enough for everyone.
Before you come, give me a message—I have a lot of grilled buns. Long Chen said with a smile.
"Princess Qianxue, please have a seat and eat together. This fish is delicious, and there's fine wine too." Zhu Yifeng hurriedly stepped aside for Yu Qianxue.
"You should eat by yourself. Maybe this will be your last meal. Eat more, don't neglect yourself." Yu Qianxue said coldly.
"Princess Qianxue, what are you saying? It's just a mere fish, aren't you? Are you planning to kill the two of us?" Zhu Yifeng said with an awkward smile.
"Of course I won't kill you. Someone will, and because of you two idiots, I'm going to get dragged into it too. Long Chen, you jinx, are you trying to mess me up?" Yu Qianxue could no longer hold back and roared angrily.
Zhu Yifeng's expression changed instantly. He sensed something was wrong. He turned to look at the fish on the grill, his heart skipped a beat, and he said in a trembling voice to Long Chen, "
Big brother, does your fish have seven different colors?"
"No, I don't!" Long Chen shook his head.
"Oh my god, you scared me to death. As long as it's not seven colors, that's fine." Zhu Yifeng let out a long sigh of relief.
"Let me ask you, how many colors does its scales have?" Yu Qianxue asked.
"Five types." Long Chen said firmly, and he still remembered this.
"What about adding fish lips and fish tentacles?" Yu Qianxue said coldly.
"I didn't notice that. Now that you mention it, the fish lips and whiskers do seem to have different colors..." Long Chen pondered.
"Thud..."
"Brother Zhu, what's wrong?" Why does your face look so pale? Long Chen saw Zhu Yifeng plop down on the ground, his whole body seemingly limp, his face deathly pale.
"Big brother, we're doomed, we're doomed! You actually roasted Father's most cherished rainbow dragon fish." Zhu Yifeng spoke with a sobbing voice, completely terrified and completely lost.
"No wonder it's so delicious—turns out it's the emperor's food!" Long Chen suddenly understood.
"Nonsense! You don't know anything. That's a medicinal guide raised by Father, and the gall of the Seven-Colored Dragon Fish is the sacred medicine used to refine the Sanhua Jintian Pill. Do you know what the Sanhua Jintian Pill is?" Yu Qianxue was so angry she wanted to kill someone. Long Chen hadn't realized how big a mistake he'd made yet, thinking it was just eating a fish.
"I know. That's the pill needed for Earth Venerable to advance to Heavenly Venerable. The Seven-Colored Dragon Fish gallbladder is one of the main ingredients." Long Chen said calmly.
"Do you know? Throughout our Vermilion Bird Empire, there's only one Seven-Colored Dragon Fish. ... You ... You actually roasted it? Yu Qianxue was furious, grabbing Long Chen by the collar, spitting almost all over his face. At this moment, she couldn't care about royal etiquette anymore.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
At that moment, a eunuch's voice rang out, and Long Chen sensed the aura of flames approaching—the aura of anger.