It was quiet for a moment above the court hall.

"Mu Qing, what is writing poetry backwards?"

Seeing the confusion on the faces of the officials, the empress felt a little proud in her heart.

Mu Bai eloquently explained: "The so-called reading poetry backward means that you can read it along or backward, and you can form a poem, so that the whole body is palindromic, and the beginning and end echo."

As soon as these words came out, everyone's expressions became extremely ugly. If someone could really do this, writing one poem would be as difficult as ten!

This man is also known as the most talented person in this dynasty.

Lu Yuanchi prided himself on being talented in literature, but after hearing Mu Bai's explanation, cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Anyway, he couldn't compose such a poem.

The empress saw that no one among the officials dared to openly question the matter, so she asked Mu Bai to quickly come up with poems.

"Mu Qing, come and sing."

Mu Bai bowed slightly, then put one hand behind his back and pointed diagonally at the dome with the other:

“The flowers have fallen in the late spring and green grass remains, and the night is cool and the moon is low and the tung trees are half withered.

People follow the distant city of Yanbian at dusk, and the rain reflects the sparse curtains and embroiders the empty pavilion."

This poem read backwards by a layman from Dongpo is a masterpiece in ancient and modern times.

After Mu Bai finished reciting the poem, the whole hall was silent.

The expressions of the officials were thought-provoking. Some of them squinted their eyes and chewed every word carefully.

Some were stroking their beards with two fingers, their eyes dull.

The word "enjoy" is written on everyone's face.

Lu Yuanchi clenched his hands into fists and almost jumped up with excitement. For a long time, he held back one word:

"good……"

A chill arose in my heart.

Whether this poem is read forward or backward, it can describe a beautiful spring night scene.

He couldn't do it even if he was beaten to death.

He wanted Mu Bai to make a fool of himself in public, but it turned out that the clown was himself.

"Good poem, really damn good poem, hehe!"

There was a burst of vulgar praise from the general.

It was Tong Dingzhuo. He didn't understand a word he said, but whenever he saw Wei Qian's party members being defeated, he became excited. At this moment, he was as happy as a child weighing more than 200 pounds.

The empress had a smile on her lips. Judging from the looks on the officials' faces, they had already convinced Mu Bai and it was time to get down to business.

"Mu Qing, you just said that the reward system for Minister of Household Affairs Lu Qing is inappropriate? Why is it inappropriate?"

Mu Bai held up the Chao Hut and said:

"Master Lu's method has a huge drawback, which is that it underestimates the corruption ability of Qingzhou officialdom.

If people are rewarded with a penny for catching ten catties of locusts, then some people who dare to catch one catty will be rewarded with ten catties.

The one million taels of silver will most likely end up in the dirty official's belt."

The officials listened carefully and found that it was indeed the case.

Unless the problem of corruption is resolved, no one can guarantee that the reward system can be implemented smoothly.

Lu Yuanchi's face was red and he had not yet woken up from the humiliation just now.

"Namuda, is there a better way?"

The person who spoke this time was Wei Qian, the auxiliary prince, with his different eyes that were old and strong, and menacing.

Mu Bai looked at Wei Qian and said loudly:

"Master Wei, the way to lower the official position is to not let Qingzhou officials intervene and completely use the market adjustment mechanism to catch the locusts."

Market regulation mechanism?

At this moment, everyone, including the empress, was confused again.

What the hell is that again?

Unheard of!

Wei Qian's eyes flashed coldly: "Mr. Mu, don't use these obscure words to confuse the saints. If you can't come up with a good solution today, please punish him for contempt of court."

Wei Qian's words echoed in the hall, making people feel even more stressed.

The empress took a deep breath, also puzzled by this unfamiliar term.

However, Mu Bai seemed confident and unhurried.

I saw a pretty and agile figure walking quickly at the gate of Weiyang Palace, followed by a group of young eunuchs.

One of them was holding a birdcage covered with black cloth, and there was a buzzing sound inside.

Some of the other young eunuchs carried pots and pans, while others carried stoves and red-hot coal fires.

All the officials were confused, what was going on?

Shuiyue gave Mu Bai a "safe" look, and Mu Bai nodded in thanks.

After everything is arranged neatly, the fire is burning red and hot oil is added to the pot.

Mu Bai put on an imperial kitchen apron over his official uniform, bowed and begged the empress:

"I beg your Majesty to allow me to cook a dish in court."

"Wow……"

This time the court exploded.

"Bold Mu Bai, the court is a solemn and solemn place for a country, how can you be allowed to be presumptuous?"

"Old minister...I beg your Majesty to...punish Mu Bai severely..."

As soon as Mu Bai finished speaking, the censors headed by Cao Jianren immediately greeted him with quarrels and quarrels.

"Okay!" The empress slapped her palm directly on the armrest of the dragon chair.

"Mu Qing, what on earth are you going to do?"

The empress also felt that the situation was a little out of control.

With a smile on his face, Mu Bai took the bird cage from the little eunuch's hand. When the black cloth was unveiled, everyone was dumbfounded.

Inside were thumb-sized locusts, commonly known as grasshoppers.

Visually, there are about a hundred of them, all of them are flying around and showing teeth and gaping mouths.

These little things can be seen everywhere in their yards, but at this time of locust plague, they are really scary. People say that these things are extremely evil and are a natural disaster. If they are bitten, it will be bad luck.

There are even some people with unstable minds who have already taken two steps back.

Mu Bai turned around and said with a smile:

"Your Majesty, gentlemen, although locusts are pests, they are also delicacies. There is a famous dish in Weichen's hometown called butter grasshoppers.

The preparation is very simple. You only need to wash the grasshoppers, pour sesame oil into them, fry them until crispy, and stir-fry them with onions, ginger and garlic. It is a delicious delicacy."

When Wei Qian and others heard this, they were so angry that they rolled their eyes.

Someone directly scolded: "How can you live in a refined society if you eat rough food in the countryside?"

Eating locusts? Then Lu Yuanchi was giggling on the side, this Mu Bai is dead.

After hearing Mu Bai's words, the empress' peerless face instantly froze.

Shuiyue's palms were also cold and her chest was beating.

"Mu Qing, are you sure... locusts can be eaten?"

"Weichen has been eating it since he was a kid. This locust is rich in protein. No matter men, women, old or young, after eating it, the skin will be more delicate and delicate, and it has a miraculous effect in beautifying the skin."

As soon as these words were said, the beautiful eyes of the empress and Shuiyue suddenly lit up. They are both great beauties. If it really has such a miraculous effect, why not eat it a little bit harder?

The empress hesitated for a moment: "Okay, then you... try to make one."

"Your Majesty... never..."

Bah!

Cao Jianren and others were about to stop Mu Bai, but they saw that the first locusts had already taken to the pot.

"Mu Bai... you, you, you..." Cao Jianren was so angry that his beard stood up.

Soon, the aroma of oil filled the hall, and Mu Bai transformed into a chef, flipping the spoon and turning the pot, cooking in style.

After a while, a plate of buttered grasshoppers was ready.

All the officials' eyes were fixed on the plate of locusts on the table.
To be continued...