Сhаpter 8: Тrуing tо Роach
Xi Ning’s аttitudе was firm. Nannу Su and Rendоng, fеаring shе might асtuallу sеnd thеm аway, hurriеdly pleadеd fоr merсу.
“Мiss, this оld sеrvant knоws shе wаs wrong. We wоn’t sрeаk out of turn agаin in the futurе. Pleasе don’t sеnd us awау.”
“Yes, Miss. If I еver talk nonsеnsе аgаin, you саn рunish mе by not lеtting me еat for а day… nо, three dаys!”
Rendong lоvеd еating mоrе than anything, sо this punishmеnt wаs more sеvere tо her thаn thе еighteеn tortures. Тhe faсt thаt shе could say she wouldn’t eat fоr thrеe days showеd shе was truly afrаid.
“Нmm, just this once. Both of you are my people, and I hope from now on you’ll only listen to me.”
She was not Pei Zhao’s appendage. She didn’t want her servants constantly thinking about how she should please Pei Zhao. What she wanted was to establish a foothold in this era with the two of them.
Xi Ning’s expression remained stern. Nanny Su and Rendong nodded repeatedly. “Miss, don’t worry. We’ll definitely remember this time!”
“Good, go eat.”
…
For dinner, Pei Zhao couldn’t bring himself to eat the green rice cakes. Chang Lin thought his master disliked them because they had gone cold and was going to throw them away. He waited eagerly nearby, hoping to snatch them up, but to his surprise, Pei Zhao carefully handed them to the cook.
“Heat them up tomorrow morning. I’ll take them to the Eastern Palace.”
He served at the Eastern Palace, where lunch was provided, but Pei Zhao still preferred to have breakfast at home.
It was the cook’s first time seeing green rice cakes. These round, soft, and sticky pastries looked absolutely delicious.
She wanted to ask what they were made of, but seeing Pei Zhao’s cold expression, she held her tongue.
Forget it. The Third Master has traveled far and wide and must have seen many things. These pastries were probably made by some master chef; otherwise, the Third Master wouldn’t treasure them so much.
Chang Lin, who had been hoping to taste them, was disappointed. In the past, the Third Master would never have acted like this—someone who didn’t even care for delicacies from land and sea now treated a few pieces of pastry like treasures.
Ah, it seemed that Miss Xi was truly remarkable.
They say that to capture a man’s heart, you must first capture his stomach. Now that their master’s stomach had been captured, was his heart far behind?
Perhaps this Miss Xi would one day become his mistress.
Chang Lin had also heard about the agreement between Pei Zhao and Xi Ning, but he always felt things wouldn’t be that simple. Their master never let go of the things he liked easily.
And that Miss Xi was clearly a special existence.
The next day, as dawn broke, the lights in the third household of the Duke’s residence were already lit.
After washing up and changing his clothes, Pei Zhao was handed the reheated green rice cakes by Chang Lin.
Although the green rice cakes had been reheated, their flavor remained fresh and delicious. On the still chilly spring morning, they brought a sweet and comforting warmth.
Pei Zhao picked up the bamboo basket, lifted the hem of his robe, and mounted his horse. The spring morning light gradually brightened, and many vendors on the streets of the capital had already begun setting up their stalls. The cries of hawkers filled the air—this was likely what they called the warmth of human life.
The sound of hooves clopped against the bluestone bricks. The bamboo basket at Pei Zhao’s side swayed gently, and the green rice cakes, still warm, transmitted their heat through the basket to his skin, lifting his spirits.
Many people had already arrived at the Eastern Palace. As Pei Zhao entered, a young man with delicate features and lively movements waved to him.
“Third Brother! Over here!”
Pei Zhao frowned, showing a look of disdain as if he didn’t want to see him, which made the young man clutch his chest in heartbreak.
“Third Brother, I specially had my family’s cook prepare breakfast for you—meat pies, which our cook is best at. And you still look down on me!”This young gentleman was exceptionally handsome, his furrowed brow tugging at one’s heartstrings. However, Third Master Pei was cold and unfeeling; besides, he was already accustomed to this person’s antics and would never believe his words.
He pressed his fingertip against the young gentleman’s shoulder, pushing him away, then carefully placed the bamboo basket on the table.
“No need, I brought my own.”
“Huh? You actually brought breakfast too.” The young gentleman, Shen Ji, tilted his head to look over.
Though he was two years younger than Pei Zhao, his temperament was lively and unrestrained. While others feared Third Master Pei’s icy demeanor, Shen Ji persistently stuck close, eventually securing a place by Pei Zhao’s side through sheer thick-skinned determination.
He had a sweet tooth, and even while on duty, he always had snacks within reach. His breakfast pastries were always brought from home, but this was the first time Pei Zhao had brought food.
Curious about what he had brought, Shen Ji fixed his gaze intently on the bamboo basket.
Pei Zhao hadn’t eaten anything that morning and was already hungry with an empty stomach. He lifted the lid of the bamboo basket and took out the green glutinous rice balls inside.
On a white jade plate lay five plump, round green glutinous rice balls, looking utterly appetizing.
The rice balls had been warmed in the morning and still retained a slight warmth, making them perfect to eat.
Shen Ji was seeing such a fresh delicacy for the first time, and the sweet aroma made his mouth water uncontrollably.
“Third Brother, what flavor is this? Let me try one—I’ll trade you my meat pie!”
As he spoke, he tried to shove his meat pie toward Pei Zhao, but Pei Zhao sidestepped, subtly shielding the plate in front of him.
“No need, keep it for yourself.”
“Then let me try one of these green rice balls.”
As the youngest in his family, unlike Pei Zhao, Shen Ji was an expert at throwing tantrums and pestering, and most people couldn’t outlast him. Even Pei Zhao found him a headache.
“Only one.”
“Fine, I want the biggest one!”
Seeing Pei Zhao finally relent, Shen Ji’s face immediately brightened. Afraid Pei Zhao might change his mind, he quickly snatched one from the plate and popped it into his mouth.
“Mmm! So sweet and chewy!”
He happened to get one with red bean paste filling. The dough, made from mugwort juice and glutinous rice, wrapped around the sweet, soft, and sticky red bean paste. The freshly warmed filling was so sweet and tender it seemed about to melt, almost oozing juice in the mouth.
Shen Ji loved sweets the most, and the red bean paste filling in the green glutinous rice ball was not cloying at all, perfectly suiting his taste.
He finished it in two bites, the lingering sweetness on his tongue leaving him far from satisfied.
Shen Ji licked his lips, rubbing his hands together as he looked at Pei Zhao with a fawning expression.
“Third Brother, give me another one, please—even half is fine. I barely tasted the last one.”
Pei Zhao’s face darkened as he protectively held the plate against his chest, refusing to relent no matter how much Shen Ji pestered.
“Stingy! I offered you my meat pie, and you have five but only gave me one!”
Shen Ji felt wronged. He and Pei Zhao were so close, yet Pei Zhao wouldn’t even share a pastry with him. His heart was breaking.
But Pei Zhao paid no attention to his antics, quietly enjoying his own food.
The savory meat filling was delicious, and the salty, savory pork floss was appetizing. Shen Ji swallowed his saliva despite himself, unable to voice any more complaints.
“Third Brother, at least tell me where you bought this pastry. I’ll have my family servant go buy some, alright?”
“They weren’t bought.”
No one else could make such delicious food.
“Not bought? Then was it made by the Pei family’s chef?”
Pei Zhao didn’t respond, and Shen Ji felt he had guessed correctly.
Resting his chin on his hand, his fingers stroking his jaw, a glint of cunning flashed in his round, clear eyes.When did the Pei family’s cook become so skilled? No, he had to find an opportunity to poach this person. Then he could enjoy such delicious pastries every day in the future.
Unaware that he was about to be poached, Pei Zhao swallowed the last bite. He also felt regret in his heart, wondering if he would ever have the chance to taste such exquisite food again.