Chapter 502: The Food Thief

Chapter 502: The Food Thief

"It's only a matter of time. Now that Princess Pingyang is keeping a strict watch over Helian Lin, she probably won't agree to his marriage right away. But someone as remarkable as Helian Lin—wouldn't he have the final say in his own marriage? As long as he falls for you and asks the Emperor for the marriage, the Emperor will surely grant it."

Lady Ding'an was full of confidence.

"Don't you remember how the Emperor indulges Tuoba Xiao?"

Meng Zhiyi felt her confidence grow, mirroring her mother's assurance. "Mother, I'll go change into it right away."

Meng Zhiyi hugged the tray like a treasure and went inside. After a while, she emerged gracefully, wearing a sky-blue silk dress with a white veil covering her face.

"Mother, do I look good?"

Lady Ding'an looked at her slender waist and nodded in satisfaction. "You look beautiful. My Zhiyi has always been a little beauty since she was a child."

Meng Zhiyi blushed but then thought of something, causing her small face to darken. "But I have to pretend to be that 'veiled beauty.' Mother, why should I have to impersonate some mysterious woman?"

As the legitimate daughter of the Ding'an Marquis House, did she really need to pretend to be a woman of unknown origins?

Lady Ding'an smiled. "Zhiyi, to win a man's heart, you have to play to his interests."

"Helian Lin is the only one with the potential to rival Tuoba Xiao. Zhiyi, if you don't act fast, he might end up with someone else. There are plenty of girls in the Holy City keeping an eye on him."

Her mother gave her a knowing look.

Meng Zhiyi's temper immediately dissipated. "Mother, I'll do as you say... But do you think that woman will appear again?"

"Don't worry, my dear. I've already arranged everything. At the Chrysanthemum Viewing Banquet at the Duke's estate in a few days, there won't be any other veiled woman." Lady Ding'an said with a smile.

Meng Zhiyi felt relieved and nodded. Thinking of Helian Lin, with his tall and handsome figure and deep, dark eyes, her face flushed red again.

Although people said Helian Lin's face was scarred, she didn't mind. Just thinking about his fleeting, magnificent presence in the martial arts arena made her heart race.

After the Chrysanthemum Viewing Banquet, every woman in the Holy City would know that Helian Lin was hers.

As the evening approached.

Shen Yuanzhen was already throwing a tantrum because he hadn't gotten his bamboo shoots, despite it being late.

He was throwing things around in his room and stomping his feet, just like his mother, Madam Fang, when she got angry. The attendants and maids were trembling in fear but didn't dare to stop him.

Though young, the Fifth Young Master had a temper that was anything but small. When his temper flared, it wasn't like a quick storm; it was more like a relentless downpour.

If his mother found out, she would definitely take it out on them.

"Nanny Liang lied to me!"

Shen Yuanzhen stomped his little feet in anger.

After throwing a fit, his temper still hadn't subsided. He dashed out, intending to find Nanny Liang.

Wutong Courtyard was in a secluded spot, rarely visited by anyone. However, when people cooked, there was always smoke, and occasionally, the aroma would drift out. Even though it was faint by the time it reached him, one whiff was enough to make his mouth water.

Before Shen Yuanzhen had even made it halfway, the aroma hit him, and his stomach growled.

A flicker of hesitation crossed his chubby face.

To the left was the path to complain, but the delicious smell was coming from the right.

After hesitating for less than three seconds, Shen Yuanzhen suddenly decisively ran towards the right.

Hungry, he would fill his stomach first before finding Mama Liang!

He took off running with his short little legs, leaving Xiao Linzi stunned. “Fifth Young Master, my lady’s courtyard is this way, where are you going?”

But Shen Yuanzhen ignored him, and Xiao Linzi had no choice but to follow along.

The closer they got to Wu Tong Courtyard, the stronger the aroma became, and Shen Yuanzhen’s short legs moved even faster.

When he reached the entrance of Wu Tong Courtyard, it suddenly dawned on him that he had arrived at that wicked woman’s place again.

He glanced down at the wound on the back of his hand, a flash of caution passing through his eyes as he hesitated in front of the courtyard door.

“Fifth Young Master, Fifth Young Master, you ran too fast,” Xiao Linzi huffed and puffed, seeing his young master standing at the entrance of Wu Tong Courtyard. He immediately pushed the door open with a servile attitude.

Shen Yuanzhen then saw that the courtyard was empty, but the main hall’s table was set with food.

Xiao Linzi took a deep breath of the aroma in the air.

He could smell several fragrances he had never encountered before: scallion oil, sauce, bone broth, and an indescribable peppery aroma.

In an instant, Xiao Linzi’s mouth watered and drool almost fell from his lips.

“So fragrant, so fragrant…”

Both of them eyed the dining table.

Almost without a word, the two of them ran towards the table.

On the table, there was a large plate of dark red braised beef, several golden scallion oil cakes, a big bowl of yam and pork rib soup garnished with scallions, a dish of fried tofu puffs, and a dish of shiny pickled mustard cubes.

Although there was no glutinous bamboo shoots that they had seen the other day, it was enough to make both of them drool.

Shen Yuanzhen, being the most impolite, reached out to grab a fried tofu puff.

The tofu puff had just been taken out of the frying pan and was still a little hot. The golden tofu ball was passed from his left hand to his right, back and forth twice before it was no longer hot. Impatiently, he stuffed it into his mouth, only to burn his tongue and tear up. But the delicious flavor in his mouth made him unwilling to spit it out.

After a while, the temperature became just right. Shen Yuanzhen chewed, and the outside of the tofu was crispy and fragrant, while the inside was soft like flowing cream. Generally, fried tofu was fragrant on the outside but only had a light beany taste inside. However, the tofu puff in Shen Yuanzhen’s mouth was different. The tofu inside actually had a meaty, juicy flavor. It was crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside.

Shen Yuanzhen finished the tofu puff in just two or three bites, but the lingering fragrance in his mouth was so delightful that he was almost dizzy.

Next to him, Xiao Linzi watched with a watering mouth. “Fifth Young Master…”

Shen Yuanzhen was having so much fun eating that he wasn’t stingy anymore. He grabbed a tofu puff and tossed it to Xiao Linzi, then grabbed several more into his hand.

Xiao Linzi took a bite and nearly cried from how good it was.

Man, he had no idea tofu could be this good! Was this something only the gods could make?

Shen Yuanzhen ate several tofu puffs before reluctantly grabbing a scallion oil cake. Each cake was perfectly golden, all the same size and shape, like they came from the same mold, yet you could still see the traces of hand-rolled dough.

Each cake was made of several layers pressed into one and cooked without breaking or revealing the filling. The outside was crispy and fragrant, the inside soft and tender. One bite made you think of how masterfully the cook had controlled the heat.

Shen Yuanzhen usually didn’t like eating cakes, but the appearance of this one was so appealing, with its golden exterior dotted with green scallions, that he couldn’t resist picking it up.

But this bite almost made him fall in love with eating cakes.

His bright, round eyes sparkled like a puppy that had just found a treat.

Just as he reached out to grab the braised beef, a low chuckle suddenly came from behind him.

“Look, who’s this little food thief?”