“Boss, three more customers have ordered the crispy fried meat.” Iris brought over three slips, but the moment she saw the beautiful Sweet and Sour Carp, her eyes were instantly captivated.
“What is this? It’s so pretty!” She sniffed the sweet and sour aroma mingling in the air; it was slightly tart, yet it made one’s appetite grow even more.
Iris’s eyes darted around the stove.
Every time her mistress made something delicious, she would save a bite for her, and she was always the first one to taste it.
This time, Jiang Mo didn’t spoil her; she flicked her finger against Iris’s forehead.
“You can’t eat this one. I’ll make you some another day.”
It was such a perfect whole fish; if a piece were missing, it would be obvious at a glance. How unsightly that would be.
Iris wasn’t disappointed. She obediently lifted the Sweet and Sour Carp and headed outside, shouting loudly as she walked.
“Sweet and Sour Carp, coming through!”
Her voice was exceptionally excited, attracting many people to turn and watch.
Once they looked, it was extraordinary.
What was that thing with the tail curled up on the plate?
It was golden, a beautiful golden color—it looked wonderful!
The area around the Sprinkled Gold Bridge remained prosperous even in winter. The streets, lined with shops, were as busy as weaving looms. The poor wiped sweat from their brows as they continued to rush about for their daily livelihood, while the rich leaned against railings, gazing out and giggling as they played, fiddling with lanterns tied with red silk hanging under the eaves.
Suddenly, hearing the sound of gongs, drums, and wind instruments, the crowd made way, craning their necks in anticipation.
“Is that the Prince of Qin’s wedding procession?”
“It must be. I heard long ago that the procession would be passing through our Jiangzhou these past two days.”
A flash of fire-red, like the morning clouds on the horizon, gradually entered everyone’s eyes. It was grand and magnificent; the musicians were dressed in festive red, holding suona horns and trumpets, playing a tune of “The Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Prosperity.” Flowers rained down wherever they passed, leaving behind a lingering fragrance.
The eight-bearer sedan chair moved slowly forward. Golden beads and tassels hung from its four corners, and the Shu silk curtains were embroidered with dragons and phoenixes that looked so lifelike they seemed ready to fly. On both sides walked personal maids in scarlet robes, followed by an endless stream of dowry chests that stretched as far as the eye could see.
Just then, one of the maids took a paper scroll tied with a red ribbon from her sleeve, poked it through a small window of the sedan chair, and lowered her voice.
“My Lady, this is the homework you must memorize this month. I have placed the relevant books in the secret compartment of the sedan chair. The teacher instructed me to remind you not to forget.”
The half-inserted paper scroll was silently pushed back out.
Tianli pushed it forward again and persuaded, “You really should take a look, or you will fail the exams at the end of next month, and the teacher will punish you by making you copy the lessons a thousand times again. This time there are six or seven books in total.”
This time, the paper scroll flew directly out of the small window.
Tianli was helpless and had no choice but to pick it up and keep it for now.
Inside the sedan chair, Chu Ying lifted her red bridal veil; her beautiful, delicate face was filled with grief.
Homework, homework, always homework.
Homework at home, and homework even when getting married.
Before she could finish her depression and indignation, the soft voice of Xueli drifted in from the small window on the right.
“My Lady, today eleven carrier pigeons have arrived with messages, along with seventeen letters and a skylark. Including the ones not yet processed, there are nearly two hundred in total. The people below are urging for a response; when would you like to handle them?”
Chu Ying gritted her teeth. “I have no time!”
She was a bit hungry. She opened the first secret compartment and found it full of books.
The second was full of envelopes.
The third was also full of envelopes.
Chu Ying: So annoying!
She slapped the compartment shut.
She would absolutely not yield to homework!
Just then, a burst of explosive aroma wafted in from outside the sedan chair, mixed with a hint of tartness that made one’s mouth water instantly.
Chu Ying sniffed; she was about to drool.
What was that smell? It was so fragrant.
“Stop! Hurry, stop!” she shouted to those outside the sedan chair.
“What is it, My Lady?” Tianli asked hurriedly.
“I’m hungry. Where is this aroma coming from? I’m going to eat!”
Chu Ying jumped off the sedan chair, completely disregarding the fact that she was on her way to be married, and followed the aroma straight into the nearby Taoyuan Residence.
Looking up, she saw a large, beautiful, golden-yellow fish!
Oh, wow~
“Let go of that fish and let me have it!!”