Emperor Jing sat alone at the square table.
The large tavern was empty, and not many dishes were laid out on the square table—a plate of sweet and sour pork, a bowl of country chicken stewed with hazel mushrooms, a bowl of pork stew, and a plate of stir-fried liver tips.
Emperor Jing picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork but didn't bring it to his mouth.
He carefully observed the piece in front of him and sighed, "When I was young, this was my favorite, but now even my favorite dishes are hard to eat. That year, when I returned to the Imperial Capital from Yingkou, even while on the road, I thought to myself that once I completed this great task and became Emperor, I would sleep for a whole day and night, even if the sky fell. But since the day I stepped into the Imperial Capital, I haven't had a good night's sleep."
The eunuch whispered softly, "Your Majesty's concern for the country and the people is a blessing for the populace."
