World Co-Cooking

Chapter 8

Zhou Fu curiously looked at the old official and returned the greeting.

The other elder who had come with the old official Zhang Zhao stepped forward and bowed. "This subject is Zhang Kaidi. I have already retired for more than five years. I fear that Your Highness has never heard of this subject."

Zhou Fu politely nodded his head, his face red from being stared at. He shyly said, "Greetings to the two Lord Zhang."

Zhang Zhao stroked his long beard and smiled in satisfaction. "Good, good."

Zhao Gao raised his head in surprise and calmly sized up the two elders who did not reveal anything. His heart was filled with astonishment.

Zhang Kaidi, wasn't this Zhou Zhou's last Prime Minister?

After him, the position of Prime Minister had been abolished by Emperor Zhou. How could anyone have imagined that this old official who had disappeared without a trace after his resignation was actually living in seclusion in the Mausoleum of the Zhou Emperor?

The young man who had followed the two old officials was half a step behind Zhou Fu's group. Seeing Zhou Fu's curious gaze, he returned a dimpled smile.

Zhang Zhao took them on a general tour of the massive Mausoleum of Zhou and then led Zhou Fu to a place to rest.

Although the Mausoleum of the Zhou Emperor was massive, there were only a few people inside. It was vast but sparsely populated. Each side room was separated by a tomb with a coffin. Zhang Zhao warned Zhou Fu that he could not enter the sealed doors, but he could move freely in the unsealed areas.

"Lord Zhang, can I live with the number one?"

Zhou Fu led his mastiff over. Man and dog both looked at them with watery eyes. Zhang Zhao directly faced this barrage and replied in a trembling voice, "Of … of course you can."

Zhang Zhao looked at Zhang Kaidi. Zhang Kaidi lightly coughed. "Your Highness only needs to restrain your dog and not let it run to places it should not go."

The young man behind them occasionally glanced at the mastiff. Although he appeared very calm, Zhou Fu could sense his passionate desire. Zhou Fu suspiciously glanced at him and raised his guard.

The two most authoritative elders of the Mausoleum of the Zhou Emperor had both nodded, so the others naturally had no objections.

Zhang Zhao also did not keep them. After a long journey, it was time to rest and reorganize. "The evening meal will be delivered to your room. Your Highness should go wash up."

Zhou Fu nodded and happily led his dog back to his room to wash up and rest.

Zhao Gao helped Zhou Fu make the necessary arrangements. The Fifth Imperial Prince's ability to take care of himself was extremely strong. There were some personal matters that required him to take care of himself in the mausoleum. Zhao Gao also did not stay idle. He sorted the bamboo slips that Zhou Fu had brought over and placed them on the bookshelf. He also fed the number one until he was full. Only then did he see Zhou Fu use a cloth to rub his wet hair and walk out.

"Let me do it." Zhao Gao took the silk cloth from his hand and helped him smooth out his wet hair bit by bit.

Zhao Gao lowered his head, his hands carefully wiping the silky black hair. The Fifth Imperial Prince sat obediently. His slender neck looked as if it could be crushed with a pinch. It looked soft. This kind of child should be well protected. Would he be able to shoulder the future of the Great Zhou?

He was lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about?" Zhou Fu broke the silence in the room.

"Your Highness, do you know who the two Lord Zhang's are?" Zhao Gao asked softly.

"I don't know. I only know a little about the people in the imperial court." Zhou Fu actually knew, but he could not possibly talk about the history of the Huaxia in the other world, right?

In the knowledge that Nana had given him, Zhang Zhao was entrusted by Sun Ce before his death to assist the young Sun Quan in his ascension to the throne. In his later years, because of Sun Quan's change, he resigned and returned home.

Zhang Kaidi did not need to be mentioned. He was the Prime Minister of Korea during the Warring States Period. He had an awesome grandson called Zhang Liang, who assisted Liu Bang in establishing the country.

Of course, that was only in a parallel universe. Zhou Fu glanced at Zhao Gao and muttered in his heart, "The super eunuch Zhao Gao has already become a gentleman like the wind. How can I still look at them from the perspective of knowledge?"

During dinner time, in the afternoon, the young man who accompanied Zhang Kaidi knocked on Zhou Fu's door. He looked very kind and liked to laugh. When he saw Zhou Fu, he smiled and said, "Grandfather said that Your Highness must be tired from the journey. You should eat some porridge first. Your Highness should not eat too much at night. After dinner, Your Highness can go for a walk outside to digest your food. Rest early today. Tomorrow, you will have to pay respects to your ancestors."

Zhou Fu thanked the young man. He felt that this young man with a kind face was a very good person.

Look at him winking. Zhou Fu blinked. After the young man left, he put the spoon into the porridge and took out a soft and white boiled egg.

"Eh?" Zhao Gao said in surprise, "That person just now, is he Lord Zhang's grandson?"

Zhou Fu ate the extra food happily. After swallowing it, he said, "He's trying to be friendly with me."

"Why?

What is so special about Your Highness? It should be Lord Zhang who takes care of Your Highness more. "Zhao Gao was puzzled.

"You've met your match." Zhou Fu glanced at Zhao Gao. "Look at how deep your plain clothes are. Now, let's meet someone who is at the same level as you."

Zhao Gao did not answer. He changed the topic and said, "Zhao Gao is ashamed. I still have to rely on Your Highness's advice."

"Oh …" Zhou Fu put down the spoon and said, "He's eyeing my family's number one."

Zhao Gao was stunned. "I really didn't notice this. I also didn't see Lord Zhang's grandson take a second look at her."

"He's the same as you. He knows how to hide, but I can feel it." Zhou Fu smiled.

Zhao Gao was unable to refute his intuition.

"My family's number one is still a virgin. How can I let him have his way? Even if he is … I can't." Zhou Fu said awkwardly.

"…" No, Your Highness. I think he's eyeing the mastiff itself, not the number one's chastity.

In the middle of summer of the 26th year of Zhou Wangdu, it was the season with the most prolonged rain. An earthquake swept through the entire Zhou Wangdu. More than half of the buildings were destroyed. There were countless casualties. The third prince's mother, the imperial concubine, died in the collapse of the palace. The third prince was unable to recover from the setback.

The priest divined and wrote: The twins will usher in the year of Heavenly Calamity. If this continues, it will lead to an even greater disaster.

The imperial family's taboo against twins was recorded in ancient texts. Emperor Zhou did not believe in the will of heaven. There was no reason for him to sacrifice his own children to heaven. He flatly refused and ordered the priest to be captured and thrown into prison.

Everything that happened in the imperial court had nothing to do with Zhou Fu and the others in the mausoleum of Emperor Zhou. Ever since they entered the mausoleum, they had been cut off from the outside world.

After paying respects to the ancestors, the two Lord Zhang began to take turns teaching Zhou Fu. They analyzed the situation in the imperial court in detail and guided him on how to think from the perspective of an emperor.

Everyone knew that these two old officials were the team that Emperor Zhou had left for the future Crown Prince.

After the two lords discovered Zhou Fu's astonishing knowledge of reading, they were clearly very satisfied. However, on the surface, they shook their heads, saying that his knowledge was in a mess and had not been properly organized, that he could not learn and apply it flexibly.

Thus, they arranged for Zhou Fu to study and educate him in Sparta. Besides the fixed time to exercise his body, Zhou Fu's time was packed to the brim. They were constantly unearthing Zhou Fu's potential. The more they unearthed, the more they were amazed by his potential.

Often, Zhao Gao would feel tired on behalf of Zhou Fu, but a certain youth was actually enjoying himself. Zhou Fu played happily every day.

In the depths of the Great Zhou Imperial Mausoleum, there was a mysterious area. The two old officials had tightly concealed this area. There was no seal, but it was very difficult for ordinary people to enter.

The various formations outside were enough to make people dizzy and disoriented. Unknowingly, they had returned to the periphery of the Great Zhou Imperial Mausoleum.

Zhou Fu had come to this place by a freak combination of factors. This was all Number One's fault. Its dog nose was really too sensitive. The young man from before had relied on the fact that he was Lord Zhang's grandson and shamelessly approached Number One in the name of taking care of Zhou Fu. Every time he came, he would bring super delicious meat. Not only had he conquered Number One's stomach, he had also conquered Zhou Fu's stomach, making him feel too embarrassed to refuse.

The dog's nose was already able to smell the delicious meat when it was far away from it. It followed the faint fragrance all the way into the array.

Zhou Fu rarely had a bit of rest time, but he used it all to follow Number One around and explore.

Number One was an intelligent dog. It knew the severity of the seal. After being warned, it understood human nature and would never go near the place with the seal.

After following Number One out of the formation, they arrived at a valley. In the depths of the forest in the valley, there was a stone table. Beside it, there was a small stream flowing. Birds chirped and flowers bloomed. It was strange. They were clearly in the middle of the mausoleum, so how could there be such an outdoor scene?

Zhou Fu saw a figure with its back to him eating with relish. That familiar fragrance was coming from the stone table.

Sensing someone, the figure turned its head. Zhou Fu was stunned.

How should he describe this person?

He was really too old. His face was covered in wrinkles, and there were many more grooves than Zhang Zhao's. His back was stooped, but his eyes were filled with the light of wisdom. He had a head of fluffy silver hair, making him look especially fashionable.

Seeing Zhou Fu and Number One, the fashionable old man put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and asked, "Little guy, how did you get here?"

What answered him was Number One wagging its tail and howling.

Zhou Fu helplessly smiled. "Sorry to disturb your meal, old grandpa. My dog smelled the fragrance of the meat, so it followed us."

"Your dog?"

The fashionable old man stroked his beard and suddenly understood. "Right, you are the new disciple of the Zhang Clan's boy, Prince Zhou?"

Zhou Fu bashfully nodded. He naturally had respect for the elderly. To be able to live to this age, which one of them had not eaten more salt than he had eaten rice?

Their experience was unimaginable to a little baby like Zhou Fu. This was the wealth that time had brought them, the glory that time had brought them.

The fashionable old man took out a walking stick and quickly swept it towards Zhou Fu's leg.

Zhou Fu blinked and tilted his body to dodge.

The fashionable old man blinked and muttered, "Don't dodge, let me hit you."

Zhou Fu dodged again and again. The fashionable old man was angry. He used all his strength and hit Zhou Fu's body. The walking stick broke.

Zhou Fu touched himself and did not feel any pain. He innocently looked at the fashionable old man. "Old Mister, I didn't know that the quality of your walking stick was not good. If I knew, I would have dodged."