Chapter 221: A Kiss Full of Retribution

Chapter 221: A Retaliatory Kiss

In an instant, several "revamped" dishes were brought back out.

All the dishes, without exception, were heaped with thick shreds of ginger, scallion segments, and bright red chilies. The intense pungent aroma assaulted their senses, like a carefully orchestrated siege.

The polite smile on Xiao Lingchuan's face completely froze.

His hand holding the chopsticks froze in midair for a moment, then slowly withdrew.

Chancellor Jiang, puzzled, still urged warmly, "Your Highness, don't be polite. Dig in!"

"Yes, Your Highness," Jiang Shuning looked up with clear, innocent eyes. "Why aren't you eating? Could it be that you find the dishes of our Jiang residence too unappetizing?"

Her tone rose slightly at the end, carrying a hint of mockery.

Xiao Lingchuan's eyes twitched slightly.

His mind flashed back to scenes from his past life when he occasionally accompanied her back to her family home—a table full of delicacies, all carefully prepared according to his preferences.

The contrast was bitterly ironic.

What else could he do?

He could only steel himself and dive in.

"How could that be? I'm not a picky eater." He forced the words out through gritted teeth, then, without changing his expression, picked up a big mouthful of plain rice and stuffed it into his mouth.

No matter—he could fill up on rice alone.

But Jiang Shuning wasn't about to let him off that easily.

She personally picked up a piece of chicken drenched in chili oil and placed it in his bowl.

"Your Highness, this is our chef's signature dish. Please try it. If you like it, every time you come from now on, I will have the chef prepare it for you!"

Xiao Lingchuan stared fixedly at the bright red piece of chicken in his bowl, almost able to imagine the terrifying taste that would explode in his mouth.

His scalp crawled.

Seeing him hesitate, Jiang Shuning feigned concern and pressed, "What's wrong, Your Highness? Don't you like it? I've said from the beginning that the Jiang family's food might be..."

"I like it!"

Xiao Lingchuan abruptly interrupted her. He took a deep breath, like a warrior marching to the execution ground, and resolutely stuffed the whole piece of spicy chicken into his mouth.

The spicy inferno instantly scorched his taste buds!

To avoid losing composure, he could only quickly shovel down a few big mouthfuls of plain rice, trying to suppress the rampaging burn with the rice, and then gulped everything down.

"...Delicious!" He lifted his head and looked at Jiang Shuning. On his usually cold and fair handsome face, a flush had uncontrollably spread, and even at his temples, fine beads of sweat had appeared.

In those deep eyes, there was surging rage and... a hint of humiliated hurt.

After teasing him this much, was she satisfied now?

"Since Your Highness likes it, then have some more."

Jiang Shuning's smile grew even brighter, and then she picked up a piece of fish drenched in minced ginger and garlic for him.

That fishy smell was another nightmare Xiao Lingchuan dreaded.

He stared at the fish in his bowl, was silent for three full breaths, then took another deep breath, picked it up expressionlessly, and swallowed it whole—without even daring to chew.

This scene finally made Chancellor Jiang and Madam Jiang, who were watching, sense something was off.

"Your Highness, if these dishes really aren't to your taste..."

"Chancellor Jiang, you worry too much." Xiao Lingchuan interrupted again, his voice already barely perceptibly hoarse, but his eyes were unusually firm. "I really like your manor's dishes. I will definitely taste every single dish!"

He was well aware that as long as he showed the slightest hint of retreat, Jiang Shuning would immediately seize on that and justifiably shut him out forever.

Want him to give up?

Dream on.

It's just ginger, scallions, garlic, and chili peppers; he'd see it through.

Every bite after that was pure silent torture for Xiao Lingchuan.

His face was as calm as stone, his movements without any pause, but the fine beads of sweat constantly beading from his forehead, and the slightly trembling fingertips when he occasionally put down his chopsticks, betrayed the agony he was going through.

Chancellor Jiang and Madam Jiang saw it, worried sick, and wanted to speak up several times to stop him, but seeing his unyielding, determined expression, they had to swallow their words.

For a moment, the dinner table atmosphere was so tense it almost solidified.

Finally, after forcing down the last dish, Xiao Lingchuan set down his bowl and chopsticks heavily, as if relieved of a great weight.

"I've finished my meal. Many thanks to Chancellor Jiang for the generous hospitality."

At that moment, Jiang Shuning personally brought a bowl of clear lamb broth and placed it before him, her voice uncharacteristically tender and gentle.

"It's cold at night, Your Highness. Have some hot soup to warm you up."

The soup looked harmless; Xiao Lingchuan, unsuspecting, lifted it and took a big gulp—

The next moment, an aggressive, spicy heat erupted in his throat!

The choking peppery burn, like a thousand fine needles, instantly shattered the defenses he'd built up all evening.

He coughed violently, his handsome face turning bright red, and even tears of pain welled up at the corners of his eyes.

"Your Highness!" Chancellor Jiang was horrified and said hurriedly, "Quick! Get His Highness some water!"

A maidservant hurriedly handed him a cup of water. Xiao Lingchuan downed it in one gulp, but it did nothing to calm the fire.

"...I want some tea." He held onto the edge of the table, his face red, and managed with difficulty.

"Ning'er, hurry His Highness to the flower hall and serve the best tea!"

"Yes, Father." Jiang Shuning, knowing she'd taken the joke too far, didn't dare say another word and led the disheveled-looking Xiao Lingchuan to the flower hall.

The flower hall's quiet serenity only highlighted Xiao Lingchuan's dishevelment.

He leaned back in the chair, his hair at his temples wet with sweat, his rapid breathing not yet calmed.

Jiang Shuning looked at him, looking both infuriating and somehow pitiful, poured a glass of ice water and handed it over, but didn't miss the chance to jab:

"Your Highness, drink some water to wet your throat. You have no one to blame for tonight's ordeal but yourself. You knew these dishes wouldn't agree with you, yet you insisted on..."

Before she could finish, Xiao Lingchuan yanked her into his arms!

His lips, burning hot and punishing, slammed onto hers without warning.

The strong masculine scent mixed with the lingering pepper flavor instantly overwhelmed all her senses.

"Mmph!"

She tried to struggle, but he held her tightly with his iron arms, his other hand gripping the back of her head, leaving her no choice but to endure this kiss of revenge.

After a long moment, he slowly released her, looking at her flushed and slightly swollen lips, and murmured with satisfaction in a husky voice:

"Now, do you understand how potent that bowl of mutton soup was just now?"

Jiang Shuning, embarrassed and furious, wiped her lips forcefully with disgust: "Shameless!"

"I am shameless," he chuckled, his laughter vibrating through her chest, "and Miss Jiang is venomous. Aren't we perfect for each other?"

"Your Highness, your late-night visit can't be just about this meal, can it?" Jiang Shuning asked through gritted teeth.

Xiao Lingchuan's gaze fell on her rosy lips, and he went momentarily dazed.

"Of course not. I came to ask if you ever mentioned to Princess Rui that there is a painting in my study that you particularly want."

Jiang Shuning's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately remembered the lie she'd made up on the spot to brush off Jiang Yaozhen at Laifu Restaurant.

She looked away guiltily: "I was just speaking offhandedly. Is that not okay?"

"I am merely curious," Xiao Lingchuan's tone turned playful. "What kind of painting is it that has made you two sisters so fixated? Princess Rui even sent someone to break into my mansion at night for it, and after the matter was exposed, she set fire to my kitchen."

"What?!" Jiang Shuning was horrified. She never imagined that Jiang Yaozhen would actually be foolish enough to steal!

How badly did she want that Nanyue jade token!

"Princess Rui said that the painting involved your reputation, so I wasn't supposed to know about it." Xiao Lingchuan stepped closer to her, his tall figure almost completely overshadowing her.

He bent down, his warm breath brushing against her ear, his voice low and dangerous:

"I really can't figure out what's hidden in my mansion that relates to Miss Jiang's reputation."

"If you want it, why not come directly to me? Why go the long way around and make a deal with Princess Rui?"

Jiang Shuning met his inscrutable gaze and instantly understood everything.

Jiang Yaozhen's theft attempt had failed, and she was caught red-handed by Xiao Lingchuan.

To escape, she didn't dare mention the Nanyue jade token, so she used her earlier lie as an excuse to redirect this demon of a man to Jiang Shuning!