CHAPTER 646: [640] QING CHUAN CHENG WANGFEI 9 (1 MORE UPDATE)

Because Xiyuan had approached Chef Zhao before and he had refused, Xiyuan understood the implications when Little Yuanzi mentioned him, and he took the initiative to seek him out again.

Thinking about her husband, she realized he was not as cold as she had imagined.

Once Yun Mi entered the mansion, Xiyuan was informed immediately and she sent someone to inquire.

"Reporting to Prince, Princess Consort has just learned how to make boneless pork knuckle, would you like to come and try it?"

Due to the incident with the guard, Yun Mi hadn’t eaten since last night. Seeing his Princess Consort making an overture, he naturally took the opportunity to descend gracefully.

"Good, I will come over in a while."

After Su He delivered the good news to Xiyuan, she hurriedly joined Chef Zhao, and together they prepared four dishes: pickled vegetable stir-fried tofu, spiced shrimp with tofu and eggs, and chicken with precious mushroom powder, along with the boneless pork knuckle. Lastly, she cooked two bowls of snow fungus and lotus seed soup. Of course, she was slow and lacked speed, merely spectating and assisting. Having observed once, she had already mastered most of the techniques, only lacking her own practice.

"Princess Consort, wouldn’t four dishes be too few? Normally we prepare around ten dishes for the Prince."

Xiyuan shook her head, "As long as there is enough to eat, more would just be wasteful. The money saved could be used to give everyone some benefits—wouldn’t that be nice?"

"But," Chef Zhao wanted to continue, but Xiyuan smiled and said, "Rest assured, I will naturally discuss this with the Prince, and your monthly salary will not be less than before."

"I dare not, I dare not, that’s not what I meant,"

"I understand, and I’m not questioning your intentions. I just want to say that food, from the ground to the table, passes through so many hands and is so precious. If we are too extravagant and wasteful, it would be against natural law,"

Over many lifetimes, what hadn’t Xiyuan done or enjoyed?

Yet, she had developed a good habit of frugality; even when she had been extremely wealthy, she consumed the most ordinary food, as she was just an ordinary person, unlike some who spent hundreds of thousands each month on food alone. The thought alone was frightening.

She wasn’t without money, but she didn’t want to live that way. Perhaps having lived through so many lifetimes, she became more compassionate and increasingly stern with herself.

For two people, four dishes and a soup seemed quite sufficient. However, she still didn’t know what Prince Cheng would think. Later, she could tentatively ask.

Yun Mi changed his clothes and went to the West Garden. Upon entering, he smelled the strong aroma of meat and saw that the flower garden had been transformed into neat patches of soil, momentarily dazing him before he remembered that this was the prelude to the Princess Consort wanting to grow vegetables. However, it seemed that his own garden hadn’t been touched?

Xiyuan also changed into her regular clothes; at home, there was no need for formal court wear or elaborate costumes, which were reserved for important occasions. Normally, she dressed no differently from the Han people: embroidered shoes with Manchu attire.

Previously, Xiyuan had always used heavy makeup to cover her facial flaws, but since a certain incident, the now awake Xiyuan preferred a fresh and natural style. Although it didn’t enhance her beauty, it elevated her demeanor several degrees and avoided vulgarity.

At fourteen, she would still be considered a child in modern times, but in ancient times, she had already begun to face trials that shouldn’t befall someone of her age.

After Yun Mi sat down, Xiyuan then sat, with only four dishes and two bowls of rice laid out on the Eight Immortals table.

During this period, he also learned from Little Yuanzi that Princess Consort did not eat much, only two dishes and a bowl of rice each time. Initially, he truly believed she ate little, but later he found out that she finished both dishes every time, without leftovers, which raised another question—was his Princess Consort quite frugal?

Even today, when he came over for a meal, there were only two extra dishes on the table, showing no deviation from her original intent because of his arrival?

This impressed him greatly.

"Prince, I took the liberty of preparing only four dishes and one dessert. The dessert is still warming on the stove. I’m not sure what you like. Besides this braised pork hock, which I helped prepare, the other three dishes were made by Chef Zhao, who is still waiting in the kitchen. If it’s not enough, we can add more,"

"No need, four dishes are enough. Instead, it’s your well-being—I see you bustling about, yet you’re still recovering."

"I am no longer hindered,"

"Since you are unhindered, let’s pick a good day for you to visit Shangshu Mansion again."

"Yes, thank you for your concern, Prince."

"As I should."

Following this, Xiyuan carefully served Yun Mi with public chopsticks, every movement complying with protocols. Without questioning, and no confessions made, this made Yun Mi even more curious about his Princess Consort.

"I notice you’ve done quite a bit of work with the flowerbeds in our mansion. What are you planning to plant?"

Upon hearing this, Xiyuan cautiously glanced at Yun Mi and, realizing he wasn’t questioning her in a harsh tone, relaxed.

"I’m not an expert myself. Before my marriage, I read quite a bit about farming. It feels like a waste to use this soil just for flowers. If we could plant some vegetables that we eat daily, not only would it be convenient, but it would also save some expenditures for the mansion. Of course, that’s one aspect. The other is that I am too idle and just killing time,"

"Since you’re interested, feel free to overhaul the flowerbeds in the East Garden as well. My elder brother has been unwell recently, and I have to often attend to him. If you get bored, you may invite your close girlfriends over for gatherings. With your health not at its best, resting for a couple more years wouldn’t hurt."

Xiyuan blushed at his words; she understood what he meant—was he suggesting they wait another two years to try for a child?

Thinking it over, it made sense. She was just fourteen, and he only seventeen—both of them still young. Why rush to have children?

It must be said, Prince Cheng was truly a considerate husband. Not only did he generously praise the meal she prepared and served himself generously, but he also supported her hobbies as much as possible. Apart from not having consummated their marriage, they were quite respectful to each other.

Of course, this definitely also had to do with her less appealing looks, which might not stir his interest.

After finishing their Noon meal, Yun Mi did not leave but casually lay down on the soft couch. By the time Xiyuan, having tidied up the dining table came to the side room, he had already fallen asleep. She covered him with a light blanket and watched him thoughtfully.

From the dark circles under Yun Mi’s eyes and his occasional absent-mindedness during the meal, she sensed that the Young Prince had something troubling his mind.

"Where is Little Yuanzi?" She quietly asked Su He as she stepped out of the side room, to which Su He quickly replied, "The Prince didn’t bring him along today; he should be in the East Garden now!"