As it turned out, even a noblewoman disguised as a man was still a noblewoman at heart—kind and compassionate.
Young Master Feng watched as Jiang Pengji’s group approached, his inner admiration warring with his outward curiosity.
He shamelessly edged closer to the campfire she had built, seeking warmth.
Her guards, meanwhile, were efficiently arranging a makeshift bed on the ground.
The group’s orderly conduct was far too disciplined for a mere merchant caravan.
The ground was damp and chilled, and Master Silang, already suffering from a cold, couldn’t withstand the dampness.
The guards did their best to keep him as close to the fire as possible.
Jiang Pengji felt the “Skinny Bamboo Pole” staring at her.
She offered a cold smile, hoping he would be smart enough to read the situation.
Young Master Feng watched her with growing intrigue, his suspicions swirling.
“May I ask how to address you, sir?”
“My surname is Liu.”
Jiang Pengji had already butchered the wild boar—no small animal—with startling efficiency.
She had gutted it and removed its heart right in front of the strangers.
Despite her best efforts to be careful, her clothes were now splattered with blood and filth.
The stench, of course, was even worse—a smell no pampered young master or noble lady could ever endure.
Young Master Feng wrinkled his nose at the foul odor and gestured for two of his guards to go and help her.
“I recall the Liu clan of Hejian had a young master around your age.
Could it be you?”
“Since you’ve already figured it out, why keep playing games?”
Jiang Pengji retorted irritably.
The dagger Wei Jingxian had given her was poisoned, making it useless for preparing game.
Fortunately, this bandit stronghold, though small, was fully equipped.
Pots, pans, and all sorts of cookware were readily available, and there were even some fragrant spices to season the meat.
Thus, the livestream’s content shifted abruptly from wilderness survival to an outdoor barbecue.
The System, meanwhile, was completely unresponsive, pretending to be dead.
“I know you are exceptionally clever, Young Master.
I trust your mind is as discerning as your actions suggest, and that you know how to weigh your options carefully.”
Young Master Feng’s lips twitched.
Was she threatening him to keep his mouth shut?
How intriguing.
A noble lady disguised as a man, deceiving the world with her ruse?
The viewer count in the channel silently rose to ten.
Bullet comments drifted across the screen from time to time, and Jiang Pengji secretly answered a few of them.
When she set up her makeshift grill, sliced bamboo skewers with a flourish as if performing a magic trick, and threaded the cleaned meat slices onto them…
the entire vibe of the livestream’s comments section shifted.
What was even more incredible was that she personally explained how to stew snake soup…
Mary Sue’s Love: #LOL, the vibe of this livestream is so weirdly captivating.
Weren’t we promised palace drama?
Unlucky Stowaway: Am I the only one who noticed that the “Skinny Bamboo Pole” kid the streamer is talking about looks completely lost?
Orchid May Wither, Jade Remains Unbroken: Couldn’t sleep in the middle of the night, so I came here to just idle around.
Now I’m being force-fed a food review.
This is torture.
Wujiang Pickled Mustard: I can practically hear a stream of “What the hell is wrong with you?” running through their minds.
#Delighted
You’re So Handsome: #Thirst.
Have you guys noticed how great the guards’ figures are?
And that kid is so cute!
Let me just lick the screen…
Jiang Pengji read the last comment and replied to it seriously in her mind.
Streamer V: They haven’t bathed in at least seven days.
They’ve been on the run and are injured.
They’re filthy.
You’ll get sick if you lick them.
The few bored viewers in the chat fell silent.
The next second, a barrage of “6666666666” [Note: Means Awesome!] flew across the screen.
Jiang Pengji’s grilling skills were as formidable as her sharp tongue.
She hadn’t overcooked the meat, and she’d applied a light seasoning.
Of course, she hadn’t used too much, considering the noble ladies’ preference for bland food.
She knocked on the door and said, “Jing’er, open the door.
Take these inside, and remember to reheat them over the fire.”
The wooden bolt groaned, and the tightly shut door creaked open just a crack, revealing not a single fold of clothing or a hem of a skirt.
“Where did you just come from?
You stink,” Wei Jingxian remarked, cracking the door open just a sliver to take the skewer of roasted meat Jiang Pengji handed her.
Though the noble ladies found the food novel, they were still discerning.
One look told them this was the finest, most tender cut of wild boar, perfectly marbled with fat and lean, its aroma so rich it promised to be savory without any greasiness.
“I carried a whole wild boar back on my shoulders.
How could I not stink?
I’ll find a place to wash up in a bit.
The snake soup is still simmering outside—I’ll bring it in for you to drink soon.
It’ll drive out the chill and keep you warm so you don’t catch a cold.
There’s already a sickly fellow outside who’s come down with a chill…”
Jiang Pengji chatted with Wei Jingxian as if no one else were present, completely ignoring the humiliated expressions of the group nearby.
“A…
chill?
Is it serious?”
“He’s not going to die from it, but his group seems to be on the run from enemies.
They haven’t had the means to care for him properly on the road…
As long as he doesn’t catch any more cold, warms himself by the fire, and lets the fever run its course for a few days, he should recover.”
Why should we bother caring about other people’s problems?
The roughly roasted meat was something they would have normally refused to even look at, but now, driven by extreme hunger, it seemed exceptionally delicious.
The grilled meat was too hot, so they ate it cautiously.
Even though they were starving, they still had to maintain their manners.
Eating too much meat also became cloying.
Jiang Pengji guessed they weren’t used to this kind of diet, so she retrieved a string of dried mushrooms and a few pieces of ginger from the bandits’ kitchen.
After confirming they weren’t poisonous, she added some chopped scallions and boiled a pot of light soup.
She even re-scrubbed the earthenware bowls used to serve the soup.
After all, the bandits had used them, and she had to be mindful of the young girls’ fastidiousness.
The System, playing dead, muttered secretly, I didn’t expect the Host to be so attentive.
She’s got the air of a virtuous and capable housewife…
It felt that perhaps it didn’t need to despair so soon.
See?
Jiang Pengji actually had the traits of a virtuous person and a wife.
She could hunt outdoors and cook at home!
“This is limited to pretty and cute girls only.
I don’t have this kind of patience for anyone else.”
System: “…Actually, shota boys can be very pretty and cute too…”
“But the gender is wrong.”
System: “…”
The one with the wrong gender is clearly you!
Jiang Pengji wasn’t as meticulous with herself.
The wild boar meat was mostly coarse, so she grilled the most tender and fresh parts and sent them in.
She simply skewered a few pieces for herself to grill; after all, her teeth were strong, and it wasn’t like she couldn’t chew the meat.
The viewers who watched the entire stream were completely bewildered.
Especially when they were informed that this “max boyfriend energy” streamer was actually a twelve-year-old girl…
or rather, a loli?
As a result, another viewer, who appeared to be a girl, immediately sent a bullet-chat message condemning her own boyfriend.
Fox Lover: My boyfriend can’t even compete with a little girl in terms of “boyfriend energy.” Trash!
What’s the point of having you?!
@National Male God
Jiang Pengji took a bite of the fragrant, roasted meat and glanced at the scrolling comments on the screen, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.
She poked the System, boasting smugly, “Back in the day, how many guys in the Seventh Legion became single dogs because of me…”
Trying to compete with her in the “boyfriend energy” department was a guaranteed path to never finding a girlfriend.
They might as well settle for living with their Thumbelina [Note: a reference to the small, cute girl in the fairy tale].