Chapter 24: The Dazzling Pearl of Xianyang City—Pine Blossom Court

Songhua Court, a place resembling a terrestrial paradise, is clearly and uniquely divided across its two levels.

The first floor is a culinary wonderland, primarily gathering a wide variety of food and drink. The air is filled with tempting aromas, the distinct charm exuded by the cuisine. Prices here are very accessible, allowing the common folk of Xianyang City to visit with ease. Since the reforms, the standard of living for the people has risen significantly, and their purses have gradually grown fuller; now, each of them has the means to consume here and enjoy the pleasure that fine food brings.

The second floor is a different world, focusing on services such as bathing and guest rooms. Compared to the first floor, the prices on the second floor are generally higher. For the average person, being able to visit twice a month is considered quite good. Naturally, the services on the second floor are diverse, each with its own price, much like how precious gems of different qualities have their own distinct value.

Li Shimin, Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Jingde, and Li Ji, led by Li Shimin, quickly returned to their rooms to change out of their mourning clothes, which symbolized sorrow. They moved with agility, as if afraid of their whereabouts being discovered. Before long, the four were dressed in the attire of commoners. Li Shimin was even more cautious; to avoid being recognized, he specifically donned a face mask, leaving only his deep, sharp eyes visible.

Once everything was ready, the group rushed downstairs, excited as wild horses unbridled. The sight below made their eyes widen instantly; everywhere were shops of all sizes, each one like a mysterious treasure chest, exuding an irresistible fragrance. That scent seemed to possess magic, drilling straight into their noses. Cheng Yaojin inhaled deeply several times, looking like a starving man who had suddenly encountered a feast. He lowered his voice and said excitedly, "Your Majesty, it smells so good! I can even smell wine—it’s strong liquor!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin could not help but take a deep sniff as well. The aroma of the wine instantly lingered on his nose, making his mouth water as if every cell in his body were crying out to taste this fine drink. Below, people came and went in a bustling, lively scene; the streets were filled with the people of Xianyang. Every face was wreathed in a happy smile, blooming like flowers in spring—bright and warm. As an emperor, Li Shimin’s gaze was deep and far-reaching; naturally, he saw and thought much further than his old brothers. Looking at this scene of a peaceful and prosperous era, he was filled with emotion, silently thinking to himself: "A peaceful and prosperous age! It should be just like this!"

After wandering among the many shops, the group eventually chose the largest one on the first floor. It was called Songhe Tower. Although it was not a multi-story building, its sign was remarkably eye-catching. Furthermore, the bathing services on the second floor were also managed by Songhe Tower; after dining here, guests could go directly to the second floor through an internal passage without needing to walk around the main lobby’s staircase, a very convenient design.

Inside, Songhe Tower was as bustling as a marketplace. Seven or eight waiters worked like tireless spinning tops, rarely finding a moment of rest. They wove through the tables and chairs, their trays loaded with delicious dishes and fragrant wine. As Li Shimin and his companions approached, they found the place already packed. The shop was crowded with people, filled with laughter and chatter, as guests enjoyed the happiness brought by the food.

Just then, a sweet girl in simple attire walked toward them. Her face wore a smile as warm as sunshine, one that seemed capable of dispelling all the gloom in the world. She bowed slightly and said politely, "Dear guests, we have no empty tables at the moment; you will need to wait in line. Please take this tag, and I will notify you when it is your turn."

As she spoke, she handed a wooden queue tag to Li Shimin. Afterward, she arranged for them to sit at a small table and chairs outside Songhe Tower. These tables were set neatly, and the surrounding area was kept quite clean. The girl then returned to the shop and brought out some pastries, sweet potatoes, and corn to place in front of them.

"Dear guests, these are complimentary snacks from our shop. Please pass the time here, and if you need anything, feel free to call me!" The girl’s clear voice was as melodious as a nightingale. After speaking, she turned and fluttered away like a light butterfly to continue her work.

The four men looked at one another, their eyes filled with shock. As some of the most knowledgeable people in the Great Tang, what rare treasures or delicacies had they not seen? Yet, arriving in Xianyang today, they discovered they were like frogs at the bottom of a well; what they saw and heard completely exceeded their imagination. They hadn't spent a single coin, yet the shop had provided so many free refreshments. Grain was the lifeblood of the people! Every single kernel was hard-won, filled with the sweat and toil of the commoners.

Li Shimin fell silent, a flash of complex emotion in his eyes, before he called out to his three still-stunned old brothers: "Don't just stand there! It costs nothing, so let's taste it!"

His voice broke the short silence among the four. The warm service of Songhe Tower was delightful, and the complimentary snacks were exceptionally generous. For the four men, a single basin of pastries held a full ten pieces—snow-white like the first snow of winter, sprinkled with yellow osmanthus flowers. Those flowers looked like tiny stars embedded in the pastries; just the scent alone was sweet, making one feel as if they were in a garden of blooming osmanthus.

The pastries were piled high, each one exuding an enticing aroma. The roasted sweet potatoes and corn were also provided in four portions. The skins of the sweet potatoes were roasted to a slightly charred, fragrant crisp, with small cracks revealing their sweet interiors. The corn was golden yellow, every kernel plump and round, like clear, translucent pearls.

Li Shimin picked up a pastry and examined it closely, his eyes full of curiosity and anticipation. He slowly brought it to his mouth; the moment his teeth sank in, a sticky, sweet sensation spread across his palate. The sweet flavor felt like an electric current, quickly racing through his entire body. Li Shimin felt as if he had been shocked, his eyes lighting up instantly. He quickly finished the entire pastry, the sweet flavor lingering in his mouth for a long time.

Li Shimin pondered silently: "This must be fine flour, and it's so sweet—they must have used a lot of sugar. Even in Chang'an, something like this wouldn't be cheap! The common people definitely couldn't afford it!"

After finishing his piece, Li Shimin noticed his old companions had also eaten theirs. He glanced at the remaining pastries on the plate with a playful glint in his eyes and quickly grabbed two. Seeing this, Cheng Yaojin was not to be outdone and immediately grabbed two as well. Looking at the final two pieces, Li Ji and Yuchi Jingde cast resentful glances at Cheng Yaojin and Li Shimin, having no choice but to take the last two for themselves.

After finishing his pastry, Cheng Yaojin licked his fingers, still wanting more, looking just like a greedy child. He said with an intoxicated expression, "This is the best thing I have ever eaten!" Hearing this, the other three felt the same, nodding in agreement.

"To give away such fine pastries for free—it's unheard of!" Yuchi Jingde also looked incredulous, his eyes wide as if trying to etch everything before him into his memory. Li Ji, meanwhile, looked at the empty plate and said with a touch of surprise, "Even this plate is made of glass!"

Upon hearing this, the others finally came to their senses and carefully examined their surroundings. They sighed inwardly, finally realizing just how extravagant the Crown Prince was! No wonder he started his ventures with fifty million coins—such a display was truly staggering.

Looking at the other plates containing roasted sweet potatoes and corn, the four did not know how to eat them, but they were no fools; they simply followed the lead of those around them. Li Shimin picked up a roasted sweet potato and gently peeled the skin, a steaming, sweet scent rushing toward him. He took a bite, the soft and sweet texture making him squint his eyes in delight. Yuchi Jingde picked up the corn and began to gnaw on it, the sweet taste providing him with a unique sensation as well.

Before long, the group was thoroughly enjoying themselves. Li Shimin even felt as though he were already full, a thought crossing his mind that he might not need to go inside to eat at all.

"Guests! There is a table available! Please come in and sit!" Just then, the young girl trotted over to them like a happy little bird. Small beads of sweat shimmered on her forehead in the sunlight—the mark of her hard work.

Li Shimin patted his nearly full stomach and smiled helplessly. "Lead the way!"

"Right this way, guests!" The girl’s voice was crisp and melodious, like a stream flowing through the mountains, making all four of them feel a rare sense of peace.

"Please wait a moment, guests, while I go fetch the menu!" With that, she hurried off like a gust of wind.

Watching her retreat, Li Shimin laughed and said, "To be honest, I’m already quite full. It would be rather embarrassing to leave without paying for a meal!"

Hearing Li Shimin refer to himself as "I," Cheng Yaojin, that irrepressible man, spoke up and addressed him as "Old Li." "Old Li, you’re a man who cares about his reputation; how could you be so stingy as to let the little girl entertain you for nothing?"

As soon as Cheng Yaojin spoke, everyone burst into hearty laughter. The sound echoed throughout Songhe Tower, drawing the gazes of nearby guests.

The menu was soon delivered. The girl held a brush and paper, ready to record their order. Li Shimin and his companions looked at the menu and found that the average price per dish was around fifty coins—not exactly cheap, but not too expensive either. Currently, the price of rice in Chang'an was five coins per dou, meaning one dish was equivalent to the price of ten dou of rice. The more expensive dishes were around two hundred coins. Compared to the high-end restaurants in Chang'an, the prices here were significantly cheaper, yet compared to the lower-end ones, they were quite a bit higher, sitting in a middle-ground state.

However, Li Shimin observed carefully and noticed that most of the people dining here were dressed simply and did not look like the wealthy elite. He couldn't help but feel puzzled: could the people of Xianyang already be this wealthy?

Suppressing his inner doubts, Li Shimin ordered a few dishes himself. He ordered a hot pot for two hundred and eighty coins, as the description on the menu had piqued his curiosity. He also ordered a dish of pickled fish for one hundred and twenty coins, as the combination of fresh fish and pickled greens sounded very tempting. Finally, he added a portion of braised pork for seventy coins—he didn't know what kind of meat it was, but he wanted to try it.

Lastly, he ordered a pot of wine for one hundred coins. He had never heard of this wine, but the menu listed it as "Little White Dry."