Chapter 104

Chapter 104

"No way!" Xiao Yuanping firmly refused.

When Minghe and the egg were in Shuiqing Lane, they saw a strong man eating noodles with raw garlic, crunching it like juicy fruit. They were so tempted that they secretly tried a bite, only to end up with tears and snot flowing from the spiciness. Since then, they've stayed away from raw garlic and didn’t even touch the sugar garlic pickled by their uncle, so they didn’t know what sugar garlic tasted like. Together, they said, "Then why did you say it’s sweet!"

"It is sweet!" Xiao Yuanping smacked his lips again, confirming its sweetness.

Children also care about their dignity, so Xiao Yu quickly helped Xiao Yuanping save face: "That's right, sugar garlic, it does contain sugar, so it's sweet. But you kids have a milder palate and tasted the spicy flavor before the sweetness, that's why His Highness cried from the spiciness."

Xiao Yuanping nodded vigorously, saying in a babyish voice, "Exactly, exactly."

"Then I won’t eat it either," Minghe declared.

The egg nodded, "Me neither."

Xiao Yuanping said, "I won’t eat it in the future either."

Minghe and the egg, pointing at the sugar garlic scattered on the ground, asked, "What about these?"

Xiao Yuanping pointed at Pei Yanli, "Give them to Uncle Yan, he’s an adult."

Before Pei Yanli could speak, Xiao Yu said, "He can't, he’s injured and can’t eat spicy or stimulating food!"

Pei Yanli looked at Xiao Yu and smiled gently.

"Then, then…" Xiao Yuanping pointed at Xiao Zhongzi, "Give them to you."

Xiao Zhongzi looked at Xiao Yu, unable to hide his joy, "Xiao Ziqing, may I?" He had once tasted the sugar garlic made by Xiao Ziqing, which was sour, sweet, and crunchy like fruit but more exciting than fruit, and he loved it.

"Xiao Zhongzi, would you like it?" Xiao Yu asked.

Xiao Zhongzi nodded.

Xiao Yu said, "Then I’ll clean it up later and find a new jar for you. You can enjoy it slowly."

"No need to trouble Xiao Ziqing," Xiao Zhongzi happily said. "I can do it myself."

"You can’t," Xiao Yu explained, "Sugar garlic mustn’t touch oil or raw water; otherwise, it easily spoils."

Xiao Zhongzi was surprised, "Is it that particular?"

"To make it taste good, some care is necessary," Xiao Yu said as he went to wash his hands. He then fetched clean chopsticks, picked up each piece of sugar garlic, washed them with the brine from another jar, and carefully placed them in a new jar. He added the brine from the other jar, covered it, and handed it to Xiao Zhongzi, "Here you go."

"Thank you, Xiao Ziqing, thank you so much," Xiao Zhongzi repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

"Remember to brush your teeth after eating," Xiao Yu advised.

"And eat a piece of dried tangerine peel candy," the egg suggested.

Minghe added, "Otherwise, your breath will smell."

Xiao Zhongzi nodded in agreement.

Minghe and the egg then turned their gaze to Xiao Yuanping.

Xiao Yuanping paused for a moment, ran up to Minghe and the egg, exhaled sharply, and asked, "Does it smell bad?"

Minghe and the egg quickly ran away.

"Brother Emperor, Minghe, does it smell?" Xiao Yuanping chased after them, asking.

Minghe and the egg ran away, laughing.

The three children played together.

Xiao Yu looked at Pei Yanli and said, "Let's go inside the room."

Pei Yanli nodded in agreement.

"I'll change my clothes, you sit for a while."

"Okay," Pei Yanli responded.

Xiao Yu changed into a clean, light cyan robe with a dark cyan waistband, looking as upright as bamboo. Pei Yanli couldn’t help but stare in admiration.

Unaware of this, Xiao Yu sat down beside Pei Yanli and asked, "How do you feel?"

"Very handsome," Pei Yanli continued to gaze at Xiao Yu.

It was then that Xiao Yu noticed Pei Yanli's intense look. He rolled his eyes and said, "I was asking about your injury."

Pei Yanli grasped Xiao Yu’s hand, "It's nothing serious now."

Xiao Yu smiled and held his hand back, "Then you should listen to the imperial physician and rest more."

"Moving around a bit like this is rest for me."

Indeed.

Pei Yanli, being a military officer used to wielding weapons, was accustomed to physical activity. Still, Xiao Yu advised, "Then you should be careful and keep your movements gentle."

"Okay," Pei Yanli agreed.

Xiao Yu added, "Don't catch a cold."

Pei Yanli enjoyed hearing Xiao Yu’s concern for him and smiled, "There’s underfloor heating here, I won’t be cold."

Xiao Yu still worried about Pei Yanli’s health, "Are you not going back now?"

Pei Yanli pretended to be dissatisfied, "Are you trying to send me away?"

Xiao Yu laughed, "I’m just concerned about you."

"Can I stay here for the night then?" Pei Yanli’s calloused fingertips gently caressed Xiao Yu’s palm, appearing slightly aggrieved.

Xiao Yu, amused, said, "Okay, how about we have hotpot for dinner?"

Accepting this as an agreement to stay, Pei Yanli asked with a smile, "What kind of hotpot?"

Xiao Yu replied, "Pig stomach and chicken hotpot, it’s good for your recovery."

Pei Yanli didn’t want Xiao Yu to go through trouble, "Won’t it be a hassle?"

"Not at all, it's quick to prepare," Xiao Yu added, "I also want to make it."

"Alright."

After chatting for a while, Xiao Yu went to the kitchen, followed by Pei Yanli.

Seeing this, the palace staff withdrew, discussing with smiles.

"General Pei and Xiao Ziqing really have a great relationship."

"Yeah, they both are so good-looking."

"General Pei looks at Xiao Ziqing as if his eyes are dripping with honey."

"It's so enviable."

“……”

Hearing this, Xiao Yu looked at Pei Yanli.

"The Eastern Palace is also called the Little Imperial Palace, with many palace servants. You'll need to get used to it," Pei Yanli said.

"I'm adapting well," Xiao Yu responded.

Pei Yanli smiled, "That's good," and took Xiao Yu's hand again.

"I'm cooking," Xiao Yu smiled and withdrew his hand. "There's grease and smoke here. Maybe you should wait outside."

"I don't want to," Pei Yanli answered firmly, with a kind of willfulness similar to Minghe, the egg, and Xiao Yuanping, which was somewhat endearing.

Xiao Yu also wanted to stay with Pei Yanli, finding it pleasant to be together even if they didn’t speak much. So, he didn’t send Pei Yanli away and went to the chopping board.

It had to be said, the Eastern Palace was truly grand. Even the kitchen was more spacious than that of a prince's residence, with a wide variety of ingredients. The palace staff had already prepared the pig stomach, cleaned chicken feet, cut the whole chicken into pieces, and readied the other ingredients.

The cook then lit the fire.

Xiao Yu first stir-fried white peppercorns in the pot until they popped and released their fragrance, then ground them and added them to the pot along with fresh pig stomach, chicken feet, codonopsis, Solomon's seal, Chinese yam, dwarf lilyturf root, ginger, and angelica. He added clear water and stewed it on high heat for half an hour.

After half an hour, the soup turned milky white, and the flavors of the ingredients began to emerge.

Xiao Yu removed the pig stomach and chicken feet to cool them down, strained out the ginger and other ingredients, poured the broth into a smaller pot, and seasoned it with rock sugar and salt. He then sliced the pig stomach and added it back to the soup with the chicken feet, goji berries, and red dates, before carrying the small pot to the hall.

A half-height table was already set with a small charcoal stove.

Xiao Yu placed the small pot on the charcoal stove, surrounding it with raw chicken, green vegetables, mushrooms, and winter melon, all looking delicious.

As the bubbling sound began, the aroma spread all around.

Minghe, the egg, and Xiao Yuanping, who were visiting the Eastern Palace, returned just in time and rushed in, attracted by the fragrance.

"It smells so good," Minghe remarked.

Xiao Yuanping audibly slurped his saliva.

The egg curiously asked, "What is Uncle making?"

"Pig stomach and chicken hotpot," Xiao Yu replied, placing fresh chicken pieces into the pot.

"Can we eat now?" the three children were eager.

"Yes," Xiao Yu said, looking at Pei Yanli, "Let's eat together."

Pei Yanli sat next to Xiao Yu, scooping soup for him with a spoon.

Surprised, Xiao Yu asked, "You know it’s mainly about the soup?"

"One is influenced by one's surroundings," Pei Yanli said.

Xiao Yuanping, with his chubby face uplifted, asked, "Uncle Yan, are you calling Xiao Ziqing a pig?"

Pei Yanli, Minghe, and the egg looked at Xiao Yuanping with disdain, as if to say, "So uncultured."

"Haven't you been studying?" Xiao Yu inquired.

Minghe said, "He hasn’t come across that phrase yet."

"Alright, then I forgive you," Xiao Yu said, smiling as he explained the meaning to Xiao Yuanping.

Xiao Yuanping understood.

"Let’s all drink the soup together," Xiao Yu said with a smile.

Everyone lifted their bowls and took a sip. Not only were Pei Yanli and the others amazed, but Xiao Yu himself hadn't expected this batch of pig stomach and chicken hotpot to be such a success, rich and flavorful enough to make one want to bite their tongue.

"It's really delicious!" the three children exclaimed in unison.

Pei Yanli nodded, "It is indeed very tasty."

Xiao Yu chuckled, "Drink more, it warms the heart and stomach."

"I want more meat!" the egg and Minghe said.

Xiao Yuanping said, "I want to eat mushrooms."

"Wait a moment, I’ll get them for you."

Before Xiao Yu could finish speaking, Pei Yanli had already served the three children.

Xiao Yu glanced at Pei Yanli and smiled.

Pei Yanli continued serving food to the three children.

The two adults and three children, like a family, sat together and joyfully finished all the ingredients in the pot, leaving no soup behind.

The three children's bellies were bulging.

Concerned about overeating, Xiao Yu and Pei Yanli took them for a walk around the Eastern Palace to aid digestion and to view the night scenery.

With mountains, lakes, pavilions, and towers, it was truly beautiful.

No wonder everyone says the Eastern Palace is like a miniature Imperial Palace.

Walking and playing, they arrived at the palace gates.

Xiao Yu said, "It's getting late, Your Highness should head back."

Aware of the time, Xiao Yuanping obediently followed the palace attendants to leave.

Xiao Yu then turned to Pei Yanli, "You should go back as well."

Pei Yanli looked at Xiao Yu without saying a word.

Xiao Yu took a couple of steps towards Pei Yanli, blocking Minghe and the egg from their view, and quickly kissed Pei Yanli on the cheek, saying, "Go back, take good care of your injury. I'll come to see you when I can."

Pei Yanli, pleased, nodded with a slight smile, "Then I'll leave."

"Mhm."

Accompanied by his subordinates, Pei Yanli stepped out of the Eastern Palace gate.

Xiao Yu guided Minghe and the egg back.

Xiao Zhongzi quickly approached, "Xiao Ziqing, has General Pei left?"

"Yes, what's up?" Xiao Yu inquired.

"You asked me to prepare a soup thermos for General Pei, but I haven’t given it to him yet."

Concerned about the cold winter and Pei Yanli’s unhealed injuries, Xiao Yu had instructed Xiao Zhongzi to prepare a soup thermos to keep Pei Yanli warm on his way back. Absorbed in the moment of bidding farewell, Xiao Yu had forgotten about it. He quickly took it and turned to run outside, saying, "I'll go deliver it."

"I'm coming too!" Minghe followed in pursuit.

The egg also ran after them.

Xiao Yu ran quickly, turning around the palace wall, where he spotted Pei Yanli and Fang Ru'an, each holding a lantern.

The two stood facing each other, without any attendants or servants nearby.

Xiao Yu abruptly stopped, quietly observing them.

Neither of them noticed his presence, seemingly engaged in a conversation.

Fang Ru'an looked down, visibly upset.

Pei Yanli's brow furrowed slightly.

Suddenly, with a "crack," a branch nearby broke off abruptly, hurtling towards Fang Ru'an.

"Be careful!" Without thinking, Xiao Yu lunged forward, knocking Fang Ru'an to the ground.

The branch then crashed down.

"Xiao Yu!"

"Uncle!"