CHAPTER 126: CHAPTER 125 JIANGNAN TRIP 3

"Master, you should think about what you want for dinner tonight!"

As the saying goes, those involved are muddled, while bystanders see things clearly. The Emperor truly doted on her master; how could her master not see it? Consort Yun was practically green with envy! She didn’t even dare to meet that gaze!

Xia Ruqing thought for a moment, then said, "But I really feel like the Emperor looks at me strangely!"

Thinking about it, Xia Ruqing recalled Zhao Junyao’s gaze, tender enough to make one melt, and then... she got goosebumps all over. Emperor, can’t we just have fun without worries? Why are you scaring me, Your Majesty?! I know you are good to me, Your Majesty, but... is it necessary to be so... affectionately attentive? Ugh... goosebumps again.

At this, Zi Yue just shook her head. "Master, you’re overthinking it. How could I not have noticed? Isn’t it... the same as before?"

Xia Ruqing, interrupted by her, waved her hands. "Forget it, forget it. Let’s just go eat!"

No matter what, eating is a top priority and absolutely cannot be delayed. Besides, perhaps I misjudged. For the Emperor, women are merely a diversion. Affectionate attentiveness? My foot! Yes, I’ll stop thinking about it!

"Yes, Master!" Zi Yue responded.

「 」

Although it was a private visit in disguise, the rules were the same as in the palace. If the Emperor didn’t call for you, you couldn’t just go and seek his attention! So, that evening, everyone had their meals sent to their rooms. After all, Eunuch Li had instructed that they could order whatever they wanted, as long as the inn had it!

At this, Xia Ruqing’s lips curled into a smug smile. "Then I won’t hold back!"

Eunuch Li smiled, said nothing, and left. In this small town, how much Silver could she possibly spend? Lady Xia is truly interesting, so different from the other consorts! No wonder the Emperor cherishes her from the bottom of his heart. Content and unassuming, living her life quietly—that’s good! Isn’t the Emperor lacking just such a person by his side?

Xia Ruqing didn’t care what Li Shengan was thinking. After sending off Eunuch Li, she went downstairs with Zi Yue. The innkeeper was already waiting below. In the past, he had seen plenty of merchants come and go, but he had never seen such a large entourage. Especially this Third Master Huang—he was so lavish! He booked the entire inn on the spot, without even haggling! One hundred taels of Silver a night. In the past, he might not have earned that much even after half a month of hard work. The innkeeper grinned from ear to ear as he counted the Silver!

"Innkeeper!" Zi Yue called out.

The innkeeper jumped in fright and quickly shoved a bag of Silver into his bosom. He was about to get angry when he looked up and saw a young lady coming downstairs. Looking again, the veiled lady behind her seemed very familiar. Oh my... isn’t this... from today... The one Third Master Huang carried off the carriage today... his concubine. Oh my, this was truly unexpected.

The innkeeper shoved the Silver deeper into his bosom, stretched his neck forward, bowed his back, and hurried over. "Madam, if there’s anything you need, just give the order—there’s no need for you to make the trip yourself!"

Zi Yue stepped in front of Xia Ruqing, asking directly and seriously, "Don’t address her incorrectly. This is Miss Xia, who attends to our Third Master. May I ask if you have any wine here?"

As Zi Yue asked this, she was inwardly reluctant. But since her master had instructed her, she had to order a few small dishes and a little wine.

"Wha... What? Wine?"

"Yes... yes! What kind of wine would you like, Miss Xia? Our inn has everything, all aged from last year!" The innkeeper hurriedly corrected himself, calling her ’Miss’. After all, only a principal wife could be called ’Madam’; it was improper to address a concubine so. His earlier address was merely an attempt at flattery!

Xia Ruqing, her face veiled, looked at the innkeeper’s obsequious manner with a touch of disdain, but she had other concerns and simply asked, "Fruit wine, something suitable for women to drink!"

The innkeeper nodded repeatedly. "We have it! Plum wine, apple wine, grape wine—all available! Our inn’s wine is the best brewed in town. The ladies from prominent families often send people to buy from us, so we always keep it in stock!" The innkeeper ended up praising his own inn in the process.

Xia Ruqing silently gave him a thumbs-up for his marketing skills and salesmanship.

"Good! I’ll take some of each, some appetizers to go with the wine, a bowl of porridge, and a few thin pancakes. That should be enough!" With that said, Xia Ruqing left Zi Yue to settle the bill and went upstairs herself.

The innkeeper was a bit stupefied. "May I ask what appetizers Miss Xia ordered? Could you please specify?" he asked Zi Yue, somewhat confused. There were so many kinds of appetizers to go with wine; he couldn’t just prepare anything! What if it wasn’t to the guest’s taste and he offended them? This place was so close to the Capital City, and the traveling merchants were often influential. He couldn’t afford to offend any of them!

Zi Yue smiled and told him not to worry. She then asked, "Do you have someone here who can make roast meat?"

"Roast meat?"

"Yes! It’s pork belly cut into peanut-sized cubes, threaded onto bamboo skewers, marinated with seasonings, and roasted over a charcoal fire!"

"This..." The innkeeper felt immense pressure; he couldn’t bluff his way through this!

Just as he was about to refuse, Zi Yue took out two Silver ingots, each weighing Five Taels, and said, "This is a tip for you!"

After speaking, Zi Yue also left.

The innkeeper, on the verge of tears, pleaded, "Miss, please don’t go!"

"What else is there?"

"I can have it made, but I’ve never heard of such an exotic dish. If you know how, could you please explain the method? I’ll have the cooks learn it right away. We’ll be sure to serve Miss Xia well!"

Zi Yue thought for a moment and then nodded. "Alright then!" Roast meat... she had learned a fair bit from her master; it would be enough!

「About half a Shi Chen later.」

Xia Ruqing was sipping grape wine when Zi Yue came up with skewers of roasted meat. "Master, those cooks were quite difficult to teach, but... now that they’ve learned, they did a good job. Would you like to try it?!"

Xia Ruqing picked up a skewer, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and took a bite, savoring the fragrant, juicy meat as it sizzled. She mumbled with her mouth full, "This dish isn’t really that difficult to begin with. It’s quite easy to learn, and it’s hard to make it taste bad!"

Zi Yue then took out those ten taels of Silver and said, "The innkeeper said to thank you for teaching the cooks and broadening their experience. He said they didn’t need the Silver and that it was a token of appreciation from the inn."

Xia Ruqing quickly pocketed the Silver, her smile reflecting her complete satisfaction. "That’s even better! Free food is the best. Quick, come and eat!"

She had barely finished speaking when a knock came at the door.

"Elder Sister Xia, are you there?"

Xia Ruqing and Zi Yue exchanged a look.

"It’s Honored Lady Xi!"

"Should I let her in?" Zi Yue whispered.

Xia Ruqing gestured helplessly and then nodded.

Zi Yue shook her head with a wry smile and went to open the door.

As Honored Lady Xi stepped in, she looked around with a smile and asked, "Elder Sister Xia, what are you eating? I could smell how wonderful it was from my room next door!"