Ning Huanyi didn’t want to tell Xiao Ning’an what she had just been thinking about. As she was pulled out of the kitchen, the sun was already setting in the west, painting the sky with a brilliant red hue.
“The sunset is so beautiful…” Ning Huanyi shifted her gaze to the evening glow, trying to hide her reddened eyes. But Xiao Ning’an didn’t look up at the sky—instead, her slender fingers gently brushed Ning Huanyi’s soft cheeks.
“Why were you crying just now?” Xiao Ning’an’s voice was always cool and detached. Despite her enchanting appearance, she was utterly oblivious to romantic gestures. Even with such a stunning sunset before her, she only cared about Ning Huanyi’s emotions.
By now, Ning Yuanxun had already finished his business and returned home. Ning Huanyi knew Xiao Ning’an would soon have to go to the main hall to meet her father. For some reason, a sudden reluctance welled up in her heart.
“Then… Your Highness, first tell me—why were you in the kitchen?” Ning Huanyi had already composed herself. Her white dress, bathed in the fiery glow of the sunset, made her appear both pure and mysterious. Her lovely face wore a rare, playful expression as she countered with a question.
Xiao Ning’an glanced back at the kitchen. The dough had already been taken over by the cooks, who had washed their hands. Who would have thought that after all that fuss, it would already be evening? Ning Yuanxun was back, Ning Huanyi had woken up, and there was no chance left to personally finish making the noodles.
Xiao Ning’an could only smile helplessly and lead Ning Huanyi away from the kitchen, heading toward the pavilion in Qiyan Pavilion. The evening wasn’t too cold, but a gentle breeze occasionally swept through.
Xiao Ning’an studied Ning Huanyi’s attire, then turned to instruct Qingdai to fetch an outer robe for her.
Qingdai covered her mouth with a smile as she left. It was truly delightful to see her young lady and her future “husband” getting along so harmoniously.
Ning Huanyi wasn’t in a hurry to press Xiao Ning’an for an answer. She simply sat there, sweet and obedient, watching Xiao Ning’an take a seat across from her. Her bright, expectant gaze made it impossible for Xiao Ning’an to evade any longer.
“I just remembered the locust flower cakes you made for me the other day. Since you dislike the bitterness of medicine, I thought I’d pick some flowers to make them for you.” Xiao Ning’an realized that while she usually spoke as concisely as possible with others, she couldn’t help but say more when it came to her future little bride.
Ning Huanyi’s cheeks flushed at these words. Locust flower cakes? And the flour on Xiao Ning’an’s face…
She burst into laughter, reaching out to wipe a smudge of flour from Xiao Ning’an’s cheek. Her soft fingers felt wonderful against Xiao Ning’an’s skin, and Xiao Ning’an hadn’t expected Ning Huanyi to take the initiative to clean her face.
“So… you were just now learning to make locust flower cakes? But someone as noble as you really shouldn’t be in the kitchen.” Ning Huanyi looked at Xiao Ning’an, feeling a twinge of guilt for the first time. Before, she had always thought that personally picking the flowers, delivering them to the kitchen, and supervising the cooks counted as making the cakes herself. But now, seeing Xiao Ning’an actually roll up her sleeves and step into the kitchen, she realized…
Would Xiao Ning’an think she had lied before? Ning Huanyi’s thoughts were written all over her face, and Xiao Ning’an could tell at a glance. Recalling the questions she had asked while picking the flowers and the reactions of the other cooks in the kitchen, it was clear that Ning Huanyi rarely set foot in the kitchen.
So, that day’s fragrant, soft, and glutinous locust flower cake, which clearly required skilled hands to make, probably wasn’t crafted by Ning Huanyi herself.
Xiao Ning’an deliberately bent down to look at Ning Huanyi, who was hanging her head low with endless guilt, and couldn’t help but smile: “Huanyi, why won’t you look up at me?”
Ning Huanyi bit her lip, deciding it was better to confess before someone else exposed her. So she lowered her head even further: “I picked those locust flowers myself and personally delivered them to the kitchen, but I didn’t make the cake myself. I deceived the Regent Princess—surely that’s not a crime punishable by beheading, is it?”
Ning Huanyi hadn’t originally thought such a small mistake would warrant execution, but after she spoke, Xiao Ning’an remained silent, as if tacitly agreeing.
Ning Huanyi quickly raised her head, her lovely almond-shaped eyes moist with disbelief: “For such a tiny matter, you’d cut off my head? Then you’d have no wife left!”
In her panic, Ning Huanyi remembered that she was soon to marry Xiao Ning’an and become the Regent Princess Consort, so she hastily used this as leverage.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ning’an finally got the words she wanted to hear and laughed. Only then did Ning Huanyi realize what she had just said.
Ning Huanyi had never been so embarrassed before—her cheeks flushed as red as the evening clouds. She lowered her head again, endlessly regretting her lack of restraint.
Xiao Ning’an was just… just… a little bit good-looking, that’s all…
Xiao Ning’an knew not to tease her too much, so she took the cloak Qingdai handed over and draped it over Ning Huanyi’s shoulders, speaking gently: “It’s alright. I actually don’t want you going to the kitchen too often anyway. Your health can’t handle the smoke and fumes.”
Xiao Ning’an didn’t care at all who made the locust flower cake—as long as it was delivered by Ning Huanyi, it was already sweet enough to melt her heart.
Qingdai also recalled how her young mistress had claimed she would personally make the locust flower cake, only to hand the flowers straight to the cook. Watching Ning Huanyi now, meekly hanging her head, Qingdai couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh. It seemed this Regent Princess son-in-law was the only one who could keep her mistress in check.
After being soothed by Xiao Ning’an’s gentle words, Ning Huanyi finally straightened up. But her pride didn’t last long—Qingdai brought out the bowl of medicine that had been simmering all afternoon, filling the courtyard of Qiyan Pavilion with the pungent scent of herbs. Ning Huanyi’s briefly uplifted spirits instantly wilted again.
“So soon? I haven’t even had dinner yet!” Ning Huanyi protested in a small, indignant voice. But Qingdai mercilessly exposed her: “Young Mistress, you just woke up and devoured an entire plate of pastries. Besides, you slept as soon as we returned to the manor, so you never took your medicine at all.”
Ning Huanyi froze. Wasn’t it normal to be hungry after waking up, especially since she hadn’t eaten well at noon? She stomped her foot secretly, then huffed and obediently picked up the medicine to drink.
Most of the time, though Ning Huanyi still dreaded the bitterness, she had grown accustomed to it. But today, perhaps because Xiao Ning’an was here and had protected her all day, she felt an urge to act spoiled.
Lost in these wandering thoughts, Ning Huanyi even forgot to reach for the candied fruit to ease the bitterness. When the taste spread through her mouth, her face scrunched up like a bun’s folds—yet it was utterly adorable.
Xiao Ning’an couldn’t help but smile. She brought over the candied fruits that Qingdai had belatedly delivered and offered them to Ning Huanyi, who quickly grabbed a handful and popped them into her mouth.
The bitterness that had been spreading in her mouth was now abruptly replaced by an overwhelmingly sweet flavor. Ning Huanyi found the taste rather peculiar. Xiao Ning’an then took over Qingdai’s task, bringing a cup of water to Ning Huanyi’s side.