Although she couldn't yet pinpoint the source of Ji Ke's inner turmoil, after nearly two weeks, Jiang Ning had largely figured out his taste preferences.
Not only did he have a sweet tooth, but he also enjoyed spicy food—though his only indication was taking an extra bite or two.
Over these two weeks, because Ji Ke had to take the Little Crown Prince to court before dawn, they never saw each other in the mornings. However, at noon and in the afternoon, she would go to the waterside pavilion to cook, as she essentially served as Ji Ke's personal chef.
During this time, she mostly used ingredients readily available in the kitchen. While her dishes weren't bad, they often lacked a certain depth of flavor.
When braising meat, the lack of spices made the broth less fragrant.
When stewing old hens without a pressure cooker, the resulting broth wasn't as rich.
The Little Crown Prince could always devour two bowls with gusto, but Jiang Ning and Ji Ke, each preoccupied with their own worries, had little appetite.
Putting that aside, shouldn't summer be the season for milk tea?
She hadn't experienced that simple joy in a long time.
Since she hadn't unlocked the ingredients in the System, Jiang Ning was mostly limited to making simple foods like cookies and biscuits. Making milk tea was completely out of the question.
After all, cow's milk was a luxury—how could it possibly be available for her use?
Staring at the Little Crown Prince's chubby cheeks, Jiang Ning fell into deep thought.
Although the imperial seal was kept in Ji Ke's custody, it had to be used when they reviewed memorials together. However, as long as Ji Ke was present, she couldn't possibly trick him into handing it over.
Lost in her thoughts, Jiang Ning caught a cool, piercing gaze from the corner of her eye, instantly dispelling the summer heat.
Meeting Ji Ke's dark eyes fixed directly on her, Jiang Ning instinctively flashed a bright smile—as enthusiastic as if she were greeting a boss offering a hundred-thousand monthly salary.
Ji Ke's gaze paused briefly before he turned his head away, handing another memorial to the Little Crown Prince.
"You don't need to wait here. If you're bored, you may leave."
"Understood, sir."
Jiang Ning replied without hesitation, showing no pretense of modesty in this regard. She strode out of the waterside pavilion in no time.
Ji Ke hadn't paid attention to her whereabouts, but as the Little Crown Prince was explaining solutions to the flood problem, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed from the pavilion's corridor.
Pressing his thin lips together, Ji Ke's gaze settled on the disheveled young woman who had rushed to the corridor.
Ji Ke was always proper and disciplined, and he expected the same from his subordinates—but Jiang Ning was an exception.
She was like resilient grass, bending immediately under pressure but springing back to her original posture as soon as the pressure eased, standing tall and swaying proudly in the spring breeze.
For instance, now—after realizing she had disturbed the two, she performed a deep bow, apologized with a smile, retreated to the railing, and took out biscuits to feed the speckled koi in the pond.
Her actions were undeniably irritating, yet she could immediately soothe others. Such a person was truly cunning.
Ji Ke shook his head slightly, poured himself a cup of tea, and shifted his attention back to the Little Crown Prince.
Only after Ji Ke withdrew his light yet intensely oppressive gaze did Jiang Ning relax her stiffened shoulders.
Ji Ke preferred tranquility, but he also enjoyed watching the lively koi in the pond. Sometimes he could lose himself staring at them for hours. However, the koi in the pond had recently developed a fondness for the biscuits she baked.
One thing conquers another—she didn't need to guess to know Ji Ke wouldn't be angry this time.
The biscuits in her hand were crispy and fragrant, made without dried fruits. With a gentle snap and rub, they crumbled into fine crumbs. Scattered into the pond, the koi would soon gather around.
Jiang Ning absentmindedly fed the fish, glancing back from time to time.
She had originally planned to return and make some loquat juice, but halfway there, she spotted Eunuch Fu hurrying over with a horsetail whisk in hand.
Those under Ji Ke’s command were exceptionally disciplined, never acting inappropriately within the palace. This Eunuch Fu had truly inherited Ji Ke’s ways—even if his backside were on fire, he wouldn’t shout or run around, at most quickening his pace.
Judging by the frequency of his hurried steps, Jiang Ning guessed something urgent had come up.
The thought that Ji Ke might be called away, leaving the imperial seal with the Crown Prince, spurred Jiang Ning into action. Without a moment’s delay, she turned and dashed back to the waterside pavilion, adopting the pose of “I’m not leaving yet—I’m feeding the fish.”
But after waiting and waiting, no one arrived. She had already fed three or four pieces of cookie, and any more dawdling risked drawing Ji Ke’s attention.
When Ji Ke taught state affairs to the Little Crown Prince, he rarely allowed interruptions. They usually arrived together and left together at the appointed time. Situations where the Crown Prince might be left alone were rare—she had to seize this opportunity.
Jiang Ning’s fingers unconsciously tapped the wooden railing, her attention fixed behind her. After another wait, footsteps finally sounded from the rear.
Her face lit up with joy, but instead of the blue robes commonly worn by palace attendants, she saw the black and red brocade robes Ji Ke wore today. Embroidered with silver-threaded cranes, the robes occasionally shimmered with a silvery glow under the sunlight.
Due to his aversion to food, his frame appeared somewhat slender, but his height stretched that slenderness into a tall, graceful figure.
With Ji Ke’s snow-and-moon-like complexion and his cool, noble demeanor, even thin as he was, he carried the bearing of an immortal.
Jiang Ning took a few steps back and bowed. “My lord.”
Ji Ke didn’t look at her, instead lowering his gaze to the koi in the water, their mouths open as they waited to be fed, remaining silent.
Jiang Ning followed his line of sight for a few seconds before pulling another cookie from her small pouch and offering it to him.
“Would you like to try, my lord?”
Jiang Ning had concluded from her observations over the past few days that Ji Ke liked koi, but he had never fed them himself—it was always the attendants by his side who did the feeding.
Ji Ke turned to look at the cookie in her hand, giving a slight nod. His cool eyes reflected the shimmering ripples of the pond.
“Since you’ve said so, I shall feed them.”
Though she didn’t understand the connection between her words and his decision to feed the fish, Jiang Ning offered a professional smile.
Ji Ke pursed his lips and, before scattering the cookie, took a bite himself to taste it. “Acceptable.”
“…”
Ji Ke had an aversion to food. She had already coaxed him into drinking half a bowl of sweet porridge earlier—there was no way he could eat more now… Was he tasting it for the fish?
Jiang Ning’s gaze toward him grew subtly peculiar.
Ji Ke crushed the remaining half of the cookie, pinched a bit and tossed it out, immediately withdrawing his hand. He lowered his eyes to watch the koi swim over and eat.
Once they finished, he tossed out another pinch and promptly withdrew his hand to observe them again. This manner was neither composed nor ethereal.
Who fed fish like this?
Just as Jiang Ning was inwardly criticizing, Eunuch Fu finally arrived at the entrance of the waterside pavilion’s corridor, hurrying over with quick, small steps.
“Supervisor, Minister Qu is again petitioning at the palace gates.”
“Understood.”
Ji Ke’s expression remained unchanged as he scattered all the remaining cookie crumbs in his hand, then couldn’t help but let out a light cough.
Covering his mouth with the back of his hand, he coughed while tapping the doorframe of the waterside pavilion. Only when the Crown Prince looked up did he withdraw his hand.
"Write your insights on each memorial on paper."
After uttering these words, he followed Eunuch Fu and left the waterside pavilion.
This pavilion within the palace was considered an important location. Once Ji Ke departed, no one except the Little Crown Prince was allowed to enter or leave freely—which was precisely why Jiang Ning had hurried back early to feed the fish.
Watching Ji Ke’s slender, tall figure disappear around the corner, Jiang Ning turned and entered the pavilion. The Little Crown Prince was buried in his studies—
And, incidentally, snacking.
It was the spicy strips Jiang Ning had secretly made earlier to satisfy her cravings. Later discovered by the Little Crown Prince, he had pestered her for them, and they had since become his go-to snack for sneaky indulgence.
The Little Crown Prince was only ten years old, small in stature with lingering baby fat. His large, bright eyes blinked as he looked at people, utterly endearing.
At that moment, his mouth was red from eating, and his gaze toward Jiang Ning grew increasingly admiring.
"Sister Jiang Ning, is there anything delicious today?"
He wore a bright yellow robe that made his little face appear even more rosy and adorable.
Jiang Ning knelt beside him, her expression serious.
"There is a delicacy that, with just one sip, can whisk away all your worries and let you drift in an ocean of joy. It pairs perfectly with summer, and few in this world do not love it."
The Little Crown Prince chewed on his spicy strips, quietly awaiting her next words.
"It comes in many varieties—fruit tea, milkshakes, milk tea with pudding—and the ingredients added are diverse, yet it still has a unified name: milk tea."
The Little Crown Prince wiped his hands, his posture relaxing considerably as he flashed her an adorable smile, his childish voice crisp and clear.
"Just say it directly. What ingredients are you missing? I’ll have Ji Ke allocate them to you."
Jiang Ning licked her lips, gesturing with both hands.
"It’s that kind… very rare, square-shaped, leaves an imprint when pressed."
The Little Crown Prince had never set foot in a kitchen. Within his limited knowledge, such a food did not exist: "I don’t think I know what that is…"
Jiang Ning’s gaze drifted toward the desk, winking repeatedly in that direction.
Following her line of sight, the Little Crown Prince thought: rare, square, leaves an imprint…
The imperial seal!
With lightning speed, the Little Crown Prince grabbed the imperial seal and darted to the window, eyeing her warily. His expression and demeanor bore a striking resemblance to Ji Ke.
Before he could call out to the attendants stationed outside the pavilion, Jiang Ning snapped back to reality. She clasped her hands together as if in prayer, her expression tense, and lowered her voice.
"Don’t panic! I’m not trying to steal it, I swear!"
This kid moved way too fast. His sudden dash left Jiang Ning momentarily stunned.
The Little Crown Prince pouted, wishing he could press the imperial seal into his stomach. He glared at Jiang Ning with wide, round eyes, but mimicked her by lowering his voice.
"Ji Ke said that oaths are the least trustworthy, even those sworn on one’s own misfortune."
Jiang Ning felt somewhat speechless. She pointed to the attendants and guards stationed outside, then patted her own feeble arms.
"Could I possibly defeat them? Stealing it would be suicide, wouldn’t it?"
Seeing the Little Crown Prince’s still-wary expression, Jiang Ning worried about accidentally delaying until Ji Ke’s return. She simply pulled a silk ribbon from a nearby drawer, tied her own hands with it, tightened the knot with her teeth, and showed him.
"Is this acceptable?"
The Little Crown Prince glanced at the people surrounding the pavilion. Though still suspicious, he slowly returned to his seat.
He no longer wore the innocent smile from before; instead, his expression was calm, his eyes fixed intently on Jiang Ning.
"What do you need the imperial seal for?"
If nothing else, the look in his eyes as he asked this question was at least eighty percent similar to Ji Ke’s.
"…To burn paper."
"?"
Author's Note:
Rolling around and acting cute, begging for bookmarks~