Chapter 534 Can a Stolen Man Be Kept?

Chapter 534: Is a Stolen Man Worth Keeping?

With just a single palm strike, Xiao Ruilin instantly killed seven or eight people, immediately striking fear into the citizens of the city and the escaping spies from the Southern Mingyue Kingdom.

Seeing the spies escape, Xiao Ruilin was about to chase after them.

However, Little Ruo Xi called out to stop him.

"Brother, don’t chase a retreating foe!" Little Ruo Xi said.

Xiao Ruilin always listened to his little sister. Hearing this, he immediately stopped and nodded.

"You’re right, little sister. I won’t chase them!" Xiao Ruilin said.

"Let them go back and report. We’ll restore order to this mess of a city!" Little Ruo Xi’s expression was uncharacteristically solemn, unlike that of a child her age.

Xiao Yin walked over, picked up Little Ruo Xi, and patted the dust off her clothes. "Leave this place to your uncle. Why don’t you go rest with Hongmei for a while?"

"Your Majesty, leave this to us. You should take the Young Princess for a stroll," Bai Qi said as he approached.

The Young Princess had just gone berserk, terrifying everyone who witnessed it.

The talisman she threw out enveloped those men in crimson flames, and their agonized screams still echoed in everyone’s ears.

"Very well," Xiao Yin said, holding his young niece. "Then I’ll take Xier around for a walk. It’s been about ten years since I last visited this border city. I still remember there’s a beef pastry shop not far ahead—it was quite good."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I’ve had those beef pastries too. When I ate there, the owner told me that even the princes of Great Wei had tried their pastries. I figured it must have been you!" Yuan Hui said.

"Indeed. The shop had a charming young woman back then, newly married. It’s been ten years now. Come on, Xier, let’s go see how she’s doing!" Xiao Yin said, holding Xiao Xi'er as he walked away.

His biological son stood behind, muttering helplessly. "Lin'er, should we get to work or follow His Majesty?"

"Of course, we should work. What’s the big deal about some woman? She’s not as cute as my little sister. Besides, no girl compares to my sister, so there’s nothing worth seeing. We might as well work!" Xiao Ruilin said.

Xiao Yuzhe gaped at Xiao Ruilin. "Wow, Lin'er, you’re really clever! How did you figure that out?"

"Let’s get to work, brother!" Xiao Ruilin said with a mature demeanor.

Hancheng had no special features except for its beef pastries.

Of course, the beef pastries were just one flavor and not widely sold.

"Are you… the prince from Great Wei?" The woman, now a middle-aged woman, wore a patchwork plaid dress.

"You’ve been running this shop for years. Why is business still so bad?" Xiao Yin asked, glancing around.

"This place… there’s no helping it. Beef is too expensive, taxes are high, and… the people from Southern Mingyue don’t like beef. They prefer fish pastries. So most of the time, we make fish pastries instead. Would you like to try some? Oh, you must be the Emperor of Great Wei now, right? When you visited my humble shop before, you suggested some flavor adjustments, and business really picked up afterward. But these past few years, times have been tough for everyone. Still, we’re better off than many!" The woman remained optimistic.

Little Ruo Xi ate the beef pastry—just as her uncle had said, it was delicious. The woman was also pleasant to look at, with an ageless beauty.

As for the fish pastry, it reeked of fish. It was unclear whether the woman’s cooking skills were to blame.

Yuan Hui had come along with Xiao Yin. He picked up a fish pastry and took a bite, only for his eyes to bulge in shock.

"What’s wrong?" Xiao Yin asked.

Little Ruo Xi also stared at him, sensing trouble.

"Blech! Gross! This is disgusting!" Yuan Hui spat out the fish pastry in disgust. "How could it turn out like this? At least add something to remove the fishy smell!"

"This is what the people of Southern Brightmoon like to eat. When I cooked it thoroughly before, they didn’t like it, so now I have to sell it this way!" the woman said.

"So that’s why!" Yuan Hui tossed the meat pie aside, rinsed his mouth, then ate several beef pies. Covering his mouth with his hand, he sniffed again but still found the smell fishy. "I just don’t get their taste. Why would anyone eat something so awful?"

"They’re sea-dwelling folk... They survive on fish and shrimp, so of course they eat like this," Xiao Yin said.

"But for crying out loud, cook it properly!" Yuan Hui shook his head. "Don’t get me wrong—I’ve eaten raw beef, freshly slaughtered, but I’ve never had half-cooked fish and shrimp like this. If it were totally raw, maybe I’d try it, but this fish pie seems to have something else mixed in!"

"It’s sheep’s blood," the woman came over and explained. "In winter, they say the water is too cold, so they prefer piping-hot food. The fish pie has to be served hot, but not too well-cooked. So they asked us to add some sheep’s blood to preserve the freshness of the fish."

"No wonder it reeks and tastes like garbage!" Yuan Hui shook his head. "What a weird place. Thankfully, our Imperial Tutor left Southern Brightmoon when he was young. At least he has normal tastes."

"Little Heart’s got weird tastes!" Ruo Xi Baby shook her head, eyeing the meat pies in front of her. "He had it rough growing up, so that’s why he eats like that."

"Wait, are you guys talking about the young prince of Southern Brightmoon? I heard he’s already returned. Oh, and I heard he and the princess of Great Wei…" The woman looked at Ruo Xi Baby, then at Xiao Yin, suddenly recalling something she’d heard before. She smiled and said, "Silly me, I forgot—the three of you must be the most famous figures in Great Wei: His Majesty the Emperor, the princess, and the general! As for that Imperial Tutor, I heard he went back to get married!"

"Married?" The three of them turned to the woman in unison.

"My fish pies are always pre-ordered in large quantities. Sometimes, when customers come and we haven’t made enough, they have to wait and chat. Just the day before yesterday, I heard that the young prince returned unexpectedly, and the royal family is preparing for his wedding. They say the condition for the marriage is that he ascends the throne!" the woman said.

"So he’s being forced into marriage?" Yuan Hui asked, glancing at Xiao Yin and then at Ruo Xi Baby. "What are you two planning to do?"

"Go there, of course!" Xiao Yin said. Ruo Xi Baby, munching on a beef pie, nodded. "Yep, we’re gatecrashing that wedding!"

"Uh…"

The owner of the meat pie shop pursed her lips. "Your Majesty, is a man you have to kidnap even worth it?"