“Don’t just stare—hurry, bring some plates!”
At Ye An’an’s command, Chen Zhu and Fuyun, who had been waiting nearby, immediately brought over several large white porcelain plates.
Ye An’an picked up a slotted spoon and carefully lifted items from the pot.
First out were the easiest-to-cook pieces: chicken feet and duck wings.
They had been braised until tender, the reddish-brown skin glistening with oil. A gentle shake seemed to make the meat nearly separate from the bones. The rich aroma, close up, was overpowering and irresistible.
Glug.
Xie Zhao swallowed hard, his eyes widening. If Lu Chengyuan hadn’t been holding him back, he probably would have leaned over the plate and devoured them right there.
Next came the pig trotters.
The braised trotters had completely transformed. Their skins glowed like amber, bouncy to the touch, and thick braising liquid clung to the surface. One poke with chopsticks revealed a soft yet elastic texture that was utterly satisfying.
Finally came the most psychologically daunting dish: the braised pork intestines.
After long hours of simmering, the intestines had softened thoroughly, infused with flavor. Cut into small sections, the inner lining was cleaned meticulously. Each layer had absorbed the braising liquid, turning a deep brown. The original pungent smell had vanished, replaced by a rich, savory aroma of meat and spices.
Three steaming platters of braised delicacies were carried to the stone table in the courtyard.
Ye An’an also brought out pre-prepared dipping sauces: minced garlic, chili oil, and fragrant vinegar, arranging them in small bowls.
“All ready, everyone. Please, enjoy!” She gestured with a hand, her face radiating barely concealed pride.
Yet, the three men at the table didn’t move.
Xie Zhao wanted to eat but didn’t dare go first. His eyes darted between the glossy pig trotters and Xiao Jingshi, filled with longing.
Lu Chengyuan was still in shock. He could not reconcile the perfectly cooked, aromatic dishes before him with the heap of offal he had seen in the kitchen earlier.
As for Xiao Jingshi, he stared at the translucent, braised trotters, brow furrowed. Logic told him these were lowly ingredients, unfit for someone of his status. Yet that commanding aroma felt like an invisible hand teasing his senses, tugging relentlessly at his appetite.
His obsession with cleanliness and his hunger were waging a full-blown battle in his mind.
Ye An’an noticed their hesitation and shook her head with amusement.
She picked up a pair of chopsticks, grabbed the plumpest chicken foot, and without a second thought, bit into it.
“Mmm… delicious!”
The chicken foot melted in her mouth. A gentle bite separated the skin and meat, releasing a flood of gelatinous richness. The salty flavor carried a hint of sweetness, while the complex spices blossomed on her tongue.
She ate with relish, the sounds of her enjoyment silently tempting the others.
“Your Highness, I want to try too…” Fuyun, watching, could no longer contain herself and whispered, drooling.
“Eat! Don’t be shy! There’s plenty for everyone today!” Ye An’an waved her hand generously.
The two maids cheered and carefully picked up duck wings with their chopsticks.
“Mmm… so good!” Fuyun’s eyes sparkled as she took a bite. “This duck wing is so flavorful! Spicy, fragrant, and chewy!”
Chen Zhu nodded repeatedly, completely forgetting her earlier distaste.
Encouraged by them, Xie Zhao finally gave in.
“I… I’ll try it too!”
He clenched his teeth, stomped once, and picked up what looked like the “safest” piece: a chicken gizzard.
The gizzard had been scored into a flower pattern, and after braising, the cuts opened slightly like little blossoms.
He closed his eyes, bracing himself, and bit down.
The next second, his eyes shot wide open.
The gizzard was crisp yet tender, each chew cracking satisfyingly. The braising liquid’s savory flavor had permeated every crevice. Simple and honest—it was utterly delicious.
“This… this is amazing!” Xie Zhao exclaimed, then, without pause, reached for the pig trotters.
He grabbed the smallest one and, under everyone’s watchful eyes, popped it into his mouth.
The skin was soft and gelatinous, sticky to the lips, while the lean meat beneath was tender and flavorful, rich but not greasy. The deep, savory aroma instantly filled his entire mouth.
“My heavens…” Xie Zhao mumbled, eyes squinting in bliss. “How… how can pig trotters taste this good?”
Seeing Xie Zhao’s rapture, Lu Chengyuan finally let go of his doubts. He carefully picked up a trotter and took a small bite. Soon, his refined, gentle face mirrored the same expression of shock and delight.
Now, only Xiao Jingshi remained without touching the food.
All eyes turned toward him.
Ye An’an watched his indecisive, proud-but-hungry expression and couldn’t help laughing.
She picked up the largest, most beautiful pig trotter, placed it on a clean plate, and set it in front of Xiao Jingshi.
“Your Highness,” she said with a teasing smile, “try it. I promise it’s clean—absolutely nothing dirty about it.”
Xiao Jingshi looked at the shimmering trotter, then up at Ye An’an’s smiling eyes, which seemed to see straight into his thoughts.
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
Under everyone’s gaze, torn between reason and appetite, he slowly—deliberately—reached out with the chopsticks he usually used for reviewing memorials.
He hesitated for a moment, then finally brought the trotter to his mouth.
Time seemed to stop.
Rich, soft, savory, with a hint of sweetness… a flood of flavors and textures exploded across his finely honed taste buds of twenty-one years.
Delicious.
So delicious that he forgot about his cleanliness obsession, forgot protocol, forgot what the food had been originally.
His mind went blank.