Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Grilled Fish

Xia You's rising fever began to subside three days later, and by the fifth day, he was officially declared fit to leave the room by the Health Department's Chief, Meng Wenxuan.

Having been confined to bed by various medical devices for so long, Xia You and the black panther eagerly dashed outside, reveling in the courtyard for an entire afternoon.

Watching Xia You, who was sitting by the fountain and trying to touch the jet of water, Uncle Zhou smiled warmly and said, "Young Master, it seems the young gentleman is quite alright. Are you ready?"

Lu Yinghuai, uncharacteristically, responded with a hint of uncertainty, "...Yes."

Uncle Zhou held back a smile for a moment.

Logically, after Lu Yinghuai inherited the Lu family's legacy, along with the title of Prince and the position of Marshal, the family's elder steward should have addressed him differently, given his elevated status.

But back then, Lu Yinghuai had just lost his only family. Within a year, due to a war with the queen of the insect race, he developed a psychic disorder. The once undefeated Marshal was now reduced to a symbol confined to a wheelchair.

One after another, these blows struck the then twenty-something-year-old Lu Yinghuai. The steward, who had watched Lu Yinghuai grow up, retained the endearing address, a solitary gesture of warmth and familiarity.

After all these years, Uncle Zhou had thought his young master remained trapped in the prison of his past. Yet, hearing the title used for the young tutor who appeared seemingly out of nowhere, and observing Lu Yinghuai's distinctively tender manner towards him...

The elder steward slightly bowed and said with a smile, "Sir, I'll prepare afternoon tea in the floral chamber. Are there any specific preferences for the young gentleman's taste?"

Lu Yinghuai noticed the change in address from the old butler. His fingers hesitated for a split second before replying softly, "Rose tea will do, and please ensure the pastries aren't too sweet."

As Uncle Zhou was about to exit the room, Lu Yinghuai, with his eyes lowered, suddenly said, "Uncle Zhou."

The elder steward stopped and turned around.

"Thank you."

Uncle Zhou looked at Lu Yinghuai, sitting with his back to him in the wheelchair. For a moment, he seemed to see the fiercely independent and proud young master from years ago.

He smiled gently, bowed slightly, and left the room.

……

The garden of the Marshal's mansion was expansive — and it wasn't adorned with the typical precious flowers of noble families, nor were the trees pruned into uniform patterns.

Here, the flowers were vibrant wildflowers, the grass swayed freely in the wind, the trees stood in diverse forms, and even the birds sang more cheerfully and crisply than those in the imperial city.

However, the koi fish in the fountain were notably large and plump, seeming quite enticing.

Although it's called a fountain, its size was almost akin to a small pond, large enough for the black panther to swim back and forth a couple of times.

Xia You was squatting beside the fountain, eyes unblinkingly fixed on the koi fish swimming inside.

The black panther crouched beside Xia You, ears perked up, their gaze following the koi in the pond, with the tip of its tail slightly curled.

"Snap!"

Xia You and the black panther simultaneously made their move. The panther's sharp claws dug deep into the koi, securing it, while Xia You's whittled wooden spike pierced through the gills of the hefty fish.

A gentle breeze blew, lifting the panther's long whiskers to tickle Xia You's cheek. Grinning, Xia You released her spike, cupping the panther's face and giving it a playful rub. "Yuan Yuan, you're amazing!"

The panther affectionately nuzzled Xia You's cheek in response.

With a radiant smile, Xia You nodded, "Yes, I'm impressive too!"

It had been a while since their last fish hunt, but their skills hadn't dulled; their aim was on point.

"Ding Dong—"

The notification chime rang out. Xia You checked her holographic computer and saw a message from Lu Yinghuai.

Xia You looked around, puzzled, "The small garden?"

However, before she located the garden, from afar, she spotted Lu Yinghuai by the window on the second floor balcony of the main house.

Xia You: "!"

The sound of splashing water came from her side. Turning, she saw the panther, its head raised from the fountain, holding the hefty koi in its jaws and shaking water from its ears.

Xia You: "..."

So, had the prince been watching the entire time as she and Yuan Yuan fished out what looked like a well-fed, plump koi from the fountain?

How embarrassing.

"Ding Dong—"

[Nice aim you got there.]

Xia You: "..."

With the koi still in its mouth, the panther looked at Xia You, seemingly wondering why the companion it had just hunted with was now foregoing the meal.

The plump koi, still flapping its tail in the panther's jaws, looked utterly delicious.

Xia You swallowed discreetly, sneaking a glance at Lu Yinghuai high above, her fingertips swiftly tapping on the communication interface:

[Your Highness, fancy some grilled fish?]

Twenty minutes later.

The glass greenhouse of the Marshal's residence was located behind the main house, conveniently adjacent to the recently relocated rose garden.

Xia You sought a wind-sheltered spot, gathered some slightly thicker dry twigs as a base, and then combined thin straw with the cones of a pine tree.

After rummaging in her spatial storage, Xia You fetched a lighter. Soon, the sound of crackling flames filled the air, with occasional sparks shooting out.

Animals typically have an aversion to fire. The black panther that was initially sitting next to Xia You moved over to Lu Yinghuai's wheelchair, watching with him as Xia You grilled the fish.

Xia You’s grilling skills were commendable. Previously at the Marshal's residence in the imperial capital, both Wei Cheng and Meng Wenxuan had praised her continuously. Now, grilling for the prince, she fixed her gaze intently on the skewered fish, utterly focused.

Lu Yinghuai looked at the six neatly arranged grilled fishes beside him. Xia You had already allotted three for each of them when she was applying the seasoning earlier – not leaving any for the fountain pond.

Personally, Lu Yinghuai had no interest in fish-keeping. Neither did Uncle Zhou. Although the fountain pond had fresh water, both its inlet and outlet were small. Without someone tending to them, it was improbable for the fish to grow so plump.

"Your Highness, you have a knack for raising fish! I've never seen fish that looks this appetizing," Xia You said as she grilled, sniffing appreciatively. Even though it was only past three in the afternoon, she felt a pang of hunger.

Lu Yinghuai felt it necessary to clarify: "Xia You."

"Yes?"

"The fish in the fountain pond are not raised by me."

Xia You paused in her grilling, staring wide-eyed at Lu Yinghuai.

Lu Yinghuai continued, "Uncle Zhou doesn’t enjoy fish, and he has no interest in fishing or fish-keeping."

"Then Major General Wei and Doctor Meng..." Xia You began, trying to piece things together.

Lu Yinghuai watched Xia You silently, raising an eyebrow slightly.

Xia You: "..."

Right, Major General Wei and Doctor Meng had stayed with them in the imperial capital for quite a while.

Xia You glanced at the nearly-done grilled fish, then turned her gaze to the gutted fresh fish lined up next to her, waiting to be grilled.

So, could anyone else be raising fish in the fountain of the Marshal's residence?

The seemingly composed and gentle Marshal watched the young boy's conflicted expression of wanting to eat yet being apprehensive. He discreetly hid a smile behind his hand, the ruby ring on his finger glinting in the sunlight.

After much inner debate, Xia You offered the first grilled fish to the top BOSS of the Marshal's residence. She squatted in front of Lu Yinghuai's wheelchair, holding out the grilled fish and said eagerly, "Your Highness, you first."

If the prince's leopard was an accomplice in fish theft and the prince was the first to taste the grilled fish, then... should the owner of the fish come to claim them, the prince would surely have Xia You's back, right?

Lu Yinghuai nearly burst into laughter but held back, gracefully accepting the young sir's collaborative plea.

"Go on, eat."

"Great!" Xia You's eyes sparkled. She immediately placed two skewered fish over the fire. As the large black panther gently placed a paw on his shoulder, the boy turned and nuzzled the panther's paw, saying, "Wait a bit longer, Yuan Yuan. Let it cool down a bit before you eat."

While it's true panthers fare better with raw food, an occasional taste of unseasoned grilled fish wouldn't hurt.

After both the boy and the panther had devoured all evidence of their 'crime,' Xia You lay down, rubbing his belly, taking a contented deep breath.

The black panther sat beside him, its tail playfully swaying.

Xia You gently encircled the tip of the panther's tail with his fingers and whispered a proposal, "Yuan Yuan, I'm so full. How about you give me a belly rub?"

The black panther growled softly and lay down next to Xia You.

Xia You hadn't seriously expected a panther to give him a belly rub. With Yuan Yuan's weight, one press might just make him regurgitate his meal.

Lu Yinghuai, who was previously engrossed in some task on his holographic computer, glanced over upon hearing Xia You's playful cajoling.

The panther's golden eyes shimmered with hints of purple. It gracefully raised its paw and gently pressed it onto Xia You's belly.

Xia You's eyes widened in surprise, "Yuan Yuan! I was just joking— wait!"

Feeling the gentle yet firm pressure from the panther's paw, Xia You relaxed, settling into a blissful stupor, resembling a well-fed, sun-basking fish.

Is this what an intelligent beast of the interstellar age feels like?

Oh, totally smitten!

As the young boy's breathing became more even and relaxed, Lu Yinghuai paused his task, sitting quietly and gazing into the distant jungle.

The unexpected bouts of unconsciousness meant that, when awake, Lu Yinghuai was always racing against time, orchestrating every moment, like a bowstring pulled taut.

With a gentle closing of his eyes, Lu Yinghuai's breathing gradually softened.

The black panther yawned, paused, and rested its massive head on its front paws, closing its eyes.

Xia You peeked open one eye, stealing a glance at Lu Yinghuai, whose hair fluttered in the breeze, a gentle curve forming on his face.

After all, occasionally letting time slip by without purpose can be such a blessing.

……

"Xia You?"

In his grogginess, Xia You awoke and instinctively reached out for the panther, only to find it missing.

"Xia You? Wake up."

"…Hmm?" Xia You sat up, rubbing his eyes, his voice still thick with sleep.

At some point, a hardcover book had appeared on Lu Yinghuai's lap, with the man's slender fingers resting on its cover.

"Your Highness?" Xia You, gently rubbing his cheeks, looked up, "Do we have plans this afternoon?"

Lu Yinghuai replied softly, "It's time for your lesson."

Xia You froze, his eyes, blue as the ocean, widening in disbelief as they met Lu Yinghuai's gaze.