Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Upon returning to the hospital room, Xie Qingfeng encountered the doctor checking his foster father’s condition.

The foster father hadn't awakened yet, but his condition was improving, with the doctor predicting he would wake up by the latest tomorrow morning.

The foster mother, overjoyed and relieved, clung to Xie Qingfeng: "Xiao Feng, did you hear? The doctor just said your dad will wake up tomorrow, it's such good news..."

She continued to chatter excitedly, holding her husband's hand and talking incessantly.

Xie Qingfeng left the hospital only after his foster mother had rested, taking his time as his residence was nearby and there was no rush.

Stepping out of the hospital building, he looked up to see Hao Jinxin leaning against a pillar outside the lobby, watching in his direction.

Hao Jinxin hurried over with a grin: "Master, are you heading back to the hotel?"

His sister's recovery had lifted a weight off his heart.

Upon awakening and learning about how she was saved, Hao Jinzhu was extremely grateful to Xie Qingfeng and wanted to thank him personally.

Since she's currently too weak to leave her bed, she asked Hao Jinxin to express her gratitude to Xie Qingfeng on her behalf.

Hao Jinxin also had a favor to ask but was hesitant to disturb Xie Qingfeng, so he had been waiting here.

He indeed managed to run into him.

Xie Qingfeng, guessing his intention, began walking outside: "Do you want me to visit your house to check things out?"

First, it was Hao Jinxin's incident, followed by his sister's. They both should have been of prosperous and safe fate and shouldn’t easily encounter such troubles.

Yet, both had mishaps successively, which could only mean that not just Hao Jinxin's, but also Hao Jinzhu's birth charts might have been tampered with.

What worried Hao Jinxin the most was the safety of the rest of his family, so to be on the safe side, he wanted to request Xie Qingfeng's assistance.

However, the Hao family lived in the same villa complex as the Xie family, albeit some distance apart – they were likely to run into each other.

Hao Jinxin feared Xie Qingfeng might be reluctant to go there.

Just as he was unsure how to broach the subject, Xie Qingfeng saw right through his hesitation.

"Master, you’re always spot on. Indeed, I had this in mind. I usually don’t think too much about these things and can’t recall who our family might have offended. So, I would really appreciate it if you could make a trip there." He couldn’t tell his parents yet to avoid worrying them or alerting the potential culprit.

What if the main troublemaker was hiding right among them?

Now, Hao Jinxin was suspicious of everyone as potential threats to his family.

Xie Qingfeng was indifferent to it all; having severed ties with the Xie family, they meant nothing to him now.

"Discuss the timing with your parents, I'm flexible on my end." As long as the payment is made, he remains an accommodating employer.

Hao Jixin's eyes gleamed as he eagerly agreed, quickly following up with another request to invite Xie Qingfeng for a meal.

"I've reserved a spot at a private kitchen. We can still make it for a late-night snack. My sister asked me to thank the master on her behalf, and she'll come to express her gratitude in person once she's better." The Hao family always reciprocates favors shown to them.

Material gifts are one thing, but showing genuine gratitude is another.

Xie Qingfeng was initially uninterested, but just as he was about to refuse, Hao Jixin quickly added, “Master, you must not have had a proper meal staying in the hospital all day. This private kitchen is famous for its imperial cuisine; the ancestors of the chef were royal cooks. The food is excellent.”

Xie Qingfeng paused mid-step, “Imperial cuisine?” He wasn’t usually particular about food, having eaten rather plainly over the years, so he wasn’t bothered by the hospital meals these past days.

However, the mention of 'imperial cuisine' piqued his interest. Was there imperial cuisine even a thousand years later? He wondered how different it would be from what he had eaten before.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the private kitchen. It was past nine o'clock, yet the place was still full.

The restaurant resembled a holiday villa hidden in a bustling city, exuding an ancient charm. Lanterns hung around, and as they passed through the alley, they were greeted by a surprisingly tranquil and almost ancient atmosphere.

Dressed in a cheongsam, a waitress guided them to their reserved private room. The room was decorated with screens, artificial mountains, and a fountain. It seemed soundproofed; once the door closed, they were enveloped in a serene tranquility, with only the sound of trickling water adding to its elegance.

Hao Jixin was in high spirits, “Master, how do you like this place? Nice, isn’t it?”

After settling at their table, Hao Jixin passed the tablet menu to Xie Qingfeng, thoughtfully opening it to the vegetarian section.

His intuition told him that Xie Qingfeng preferred a vegetarian diet, as he exuded an air of asceticism.

Hao Jixin guessed that Xie Qingfeng must have trained under a Taoist master, assuming a vegetarian lifestyle would be part of his practice.

Xie Qingfeng, upon receiving the menu, didn't find anything amiss. Browsing through the dishes, he recognized several familiar options.

Just as he was about to make a selection, he paused mid-action.

Xie Qingfeng hadn’t thought much of it since he had always followed a vegetarian diet.

Since being found and taken in by his master at the age of six, he had been practicing alongside him.

Following his master’s vegetarian habits, Xie Qingfeng had naturally adopted the same diet from a young age.

As time passed, everyone assumed he was a strict vegetarian, and even after he became the national master, the staff at the national temple prepared only vegetarian meals for him.

By then, his focus wasn't on culinary pleasures, and he had grown accustomed to this diet, never bothering to correct others' assumptions.

The only person who knew of his childhood preference for meat was probably... the young emperor.

Found outside the palace by his master at six, Xie Qingfeng traveled with him for two years before returning to the court.

At eight years old, although he had been disciplined for two years, his childlike curiosity and innocence hadn't completely faded away.

Usually serious and studious, his youthful demeanor was still convincing enough to awe others.

When he first met his senior brothers, he was only eight, but they were much older and already had several disciples.

Those disciples were about his age, yet he held a higher rank in the hierarchy.

Xie Qingfeng spent most of his time in secluded cultivation with his master, showing exceptional talent and achieving significant progress in just two years.

His stern demeanor and junior Taoist robes intimidated the other young disciples of his senior brothers.

Xie Qingfeng, while running an errand for his master, caught a whiff of roasting meat in the palace. Curious, he found several junior disciples roasting a pigeon.

The juniors, caught red-handed, trembled with fear. Before Xie Qingfeng could say anything, they scattered, leaving behind a roasted squab on a stick as a bribe.

Xie Qingfeng found himself alone, holding the skewered bird, its tantalizing aroma filling the air.

It had been so long since he last tasted meat, he couldn't remember when.

Despite two years of vegetarianism, the sight of the squab awakened his appetite.

His master never forbade him from eating meat; it was his own decision to follow a vegetarian diet.

Yet, he couldn't resist the temptation of the roasted pigeon.

His rumbling stomach was even less resistant.

Holding the squab, he looked towards the source of the noise and saw a skinny young boy perched on a wall.

This was his first encounter with the young emperor, then a little prince confined to the cold palace, unrecognized by the old emperor.

Xie Qingfeng snapped back from his memories, wondering why he had drifted into the past.

Perhaps being in a strange place intensified his nostalgia.

Hao Jixin, noticing Xie Qingfeng's distraction, recommended several dishes: "This one, and that, all are famous vegetarian dishes here."

Xie Qingfeng glanced up and nonchalantly scrolled past the page, quickly finding what he wanted: "Who told you I eat vegetarian?"

Now in a new era, no longer a national master, why would he stick to a vegetarian diet?

Hao Jixin, taken aback by Xie Qingfeng's serene appearance, stammered in surprise.

Then he watched in amazement as Xie Qingfeng, whom he thought suited to a life of austerity, ordered a lavish spread of meat dishes.

Hao Jixin's expression turned complex, realizing his mistake in judging by appearances. He hadn't expected the master to be so fond of meat.

Xie Qingfeng thoroughly enjoyed his supper, savoring flavors that were just a vague memory in his previous life.

Xie Qingfeng's few memories of eating meat were from the meals left by the young emperor before going to war, seemingly intentionally prepared with an abundance of meat dishes.

He was even 'thoughtfully' encouraged to partake.

Xie Qingfeng ate without hesitation, enjoying the excellent flavors, but maintained his image by primarily sticking to vegetarian dishes.

Rumors in the palace later suggested that the young emperor deliberately made things difficult for him by preparing these meals.

Xie Qingfeng didn't mind and found the meals particularly satisfying.

Just as he considered asking to change the National Master Hall's menu, the regent's rebellion occurred.

The imperial cuisine at the private restaurant paled in comparison to what he had eaten in the past, resembling the original only by a fraction. Nonetheless, Xie Qingfeng, who rarely experienced genuine meat dishes, found the taste sufficient to warrant a return visit.

However, after seeing the final bill, he resolved to prioritize earning money.

Xie Qingfeng slept well that night, but in the distant Da Jing Dynasty's royal palace, it was a night of unease and insecurity.

Especially around the Imperial Study, everyone was on tenterhooks, barely daring to breathe while on duty.

The chief eunuch, looking somber, felt his position as head steward was nearing its end, sensing his demise was not far off.

The emperor finally emerged from the small treasury two days ago, leading the chief eunuch to believe he had accepted the National Master's death.

To his shock, upon opening the door, the emperor dragged him to a shelf, pointing to an empty spot, and hoarsely asked, “Was there a jade thumb ring here?”

The head eunuch was puzzled.

The Emperor, his eyes bloodshot but startlingly bright, said, “My jade thumb ring was just here, and now it’s gone.”

The head eunuch trembled in fear: How could he not understand? It's gone, but why does the Emperor seem so pleased?

The next moment, he was released. Before he could properly kneel, he heard the Emperor murmuring to himself, “The National Master is still alive; he must be here. He took the jade ring; he is guiding me…”

The head eunuch was stunned, feeling as if struck by thunder.