It was just as she had expected. When Yun Feng brought forward the stone mortar filled with the black-and-yellow, sticky, and mushy dish, the Marquis of Ningwu’s face instantly darkened several shades.
The dish consisted clearly of several lumps of pitch-black and amber-colored matter, stirred and tangled together with soft, earthy-yellow strands. It looked exactly like the leftover slop used to feed chickens and ducks—nauseating in color and highly offensive to the eye.
“This is the result of your combined efforts?” Qi Xun frowned, his gaze landing squarely on Xue Li. “Do you have anything to say for yourself?”
Xue Li, hearing her name called, had already prepared a pitiful expression. She replied in a soft, delicate voice, “To answer the Marquis, this dish is called ‘Pounded Eggplant with Century Eggs,’ a new creation of this humble girl. The century eggs within are made by coating duck eggs in a slurry and storing them in jars for several weeks. Although the appearance is coarse and unrefined, the flavor is truly excellent.”
Hearing this, Yun Feng took a step forward. “Marquis, this dish is black in color. I fear it contains poisonous substances; we cannot easily trust her words!”
You brat! Xue Li thought. I gave you those Cloud Milk Buns for nothing!
Seeing that the displeasure remained etched in Qi Xun’s brow, Xue Li quickly added, “Before this Lieutenant arrested me, I had already taken several bites. If there were truly poison, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have lived long enough to be brought here! Furthermore, Chef-Overseer Guo may personally test this dish to prove it is absolutely harmless!”
“Huh?!” Guo Lixiang’s eyes widened to the size of broad beans as he stared intently at Xue Li. “I… I, I…”
Qi Xun raised his hand slightly. Yun Feng understood immediately, placed the stone mortar and utensils in front of Guo Lixiang, and untied his bonds. “Chef-Overseer Guo, please.”
Guo Lixiang was practically moved to tears—of grief.
If he had known it would come to this, he should have just hardened his heart and taken a bite earlier. See? No matter how much he dodged and hid, didn’t he still have to eat it in the end?
His hand trembled as he picked up the chopsticks, hovering waveringly over the pile of strange matter for a long time without descending. Watching him made Xue Li feel like her heart was being scorched by fire.
If he continued to dither like this, even if the dish weren’t poisonous, it would be deemed so—and identified as lethal venom at that!
Xue Li gave two light coughs as a signal. Guo Lixiang glanced at her with a look of utter despair, then finally closed his eyes, steeled his heart, and picked up a mouthful, stuffing it quickly into his mouth.
Thank heavens, he finally ate it.
Only then did Xue Li breathe a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to look away, she unexpectedly caught Qi Xun’s gaze again.
Why was this Marquis of Ningwu always staring at her?
If she weren’t feeling a bit guilty right now, she really would have done what she did when he was hiding behind the rockery: catch his gaze and stare right back! Hmph!
Xue Li lowered her head, appearing as submissive as water, but she missed the fleeting, faint trace of a smile in the depths of Qi Xun’s eyes.
On the other side, as soon as Guo Lixiang took the Pounded Eggplant with Century Eggs into his mouth, he initially didn’t even chew, planning to swallow it whole. But as soon as the flavor touched the tip of his tongue, his brow involuntarily relaxed.
Eh? This taste… seems much better than he had imagined?
Guo Lixiang dithered for a moment, then couldn’t help but pick up another mouthful and savor it carefully.
The grey-black runny yolk flowed slowly, like lava enveloping the translucent, dark crystal exterior of the century egg, tasting crisp, springy, and rich. The eggplant strips, which had soaked up the sauce, had already been pounded soft in the stone mortar. Now, they rolled up the minced garlic and cornel berry fragments, intertwining with the runny yolk into a chaotic, lingering cloud of flavor.
The first bite brought the unique alkaline fragrance and hint of ammonia of the century egg, exploding on the tongue. At first, it made one frown slightly, but in an instant, the spicy heat from the mashed eggplant surged up from the throat, washing away the original strange smell. The most wonderful part was the semi-melted yolk; as it slid down the throat along with the eggplant flesh, it actually brought out a hint of sweetness. The combination was incredibly strange, yet it possessed a distinct flavor that made it impossible to stop!
Yun Feng watched as Guo Lixiang continuously shoveled the dish into his mouth, and a sense of astonishment rose in his heart: Could this black mess really be edible?
“Marquis, I am willing to guarantee with my life that this dish is absolutely non-toxic!” Guo Lixiang hurriedly swallowed the last bite, wiped the corners of his mouth, and spoke with such excitement that spittle flew. “Miss Xue’s cooking methods are indeed a bit strange and rare, but every single dish is astonishing. For instance, the Sour Bean Braised Goose Webs, Bamboo Shoot Roasted Quails, Milk-Scented Box Crabs, and Crispy Croissants the Marquis has eaten lately…”
Once Guo Lixiang started reciting the names of the dishes, he couldn’t stop. He poured them out one after another, getting more excited as he went. Only when he saw Qi Xun’s expression sink did he hurriedly shut his mouth, skipped the middle part, and blurted out: “All these dishes were made under the guidance of Miss Xue to suit the Marquis’s palate. If the Marquis does not believe it, why not try this dish as well? I dare to guarantee that the flavor of this dish will surely convince you!”
Hearing him speak so passionately, Qi Xun’s gaze couldn’t help but fall on the pitch-black mess in the mortar, his brow furrowing slightly.
“Marquis, would you like to…?” Yun Feng offered the bowl and chopsticks sheepishly from the side.
He admitted it—he was actually curious and craving a taste himself.
Qi Xun did not move an inch. He gave him a flat look, and Yun Feng quickly withdrew the utensils, hiding them behind his back.
“Wait! Stay your hand! Spare her!”
Before Qi Xun could speak, a woman’s startled cry burst in from outside the courtyard.
Before anyone could react, everyone was stunned as Qi Yue rushed in, panting and covered in sweat. She grabbed Yun Feng’s hand in a panic, but a moment later, she looked bewildered. “Eh… why is it a bowl and chopsticks? What you’re holding isn’t a sword?”
Yun Feng was also surprised. “Miss Yue, why are you here?”
Xue Li was equally stunned, her eyes filled with confusion as she looked at Qi Yue.
This… what kind of scene is this?
There was a moment of silence in the courtyard. Only Qi Xun remained calm, acting as if nothing had happened. “What? I raided your restaurant, and now you’ve come to be anxious with me?”
He knew all along!
Qi Yue stared blankly at her brother. It took a while before she found her voice, and she quickly explained, “Brother, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have snuck out of the estate to eat, nor should I have been so willful as to go on a hunger strike… but Li’er is innocent! She only cooked because I coerced and enticed her; she had no choice! You cannot take your anger out on her!”
“Brother?”
Xue Li’s eyes widened as she looked at Qi Yue, her face filled with disbelief. “You… you call him ‘Brother’?”
Seeing that Qi Xun remained silent, Qi Yue immediately turned back to wink at Xue Li, making a “hush” gesture. She then turned back instantly, raising three fingers to the sky to swear: “With Heaven and Earth as my witness, I, Qi Yue, am willing to eat three meals a day without fail from today onward, if only my brother will set Li’er free. Brother, good brother…”
By the end, she simply started acting like a spoiled child, leaning over to Qi Xun’s side and shaking his sleeve incessantly.
Guo Lixiang, still on the ground, also helped by speaking up. His small eyes twinkled as he smiled. “Marquis! This Miss Xue’s culinary skills are exceptional; both the young lady and I have witnessed it personally. Furthermore, she is well-versed in pharmacology and excels at preparing medicinal cuisine. Why not let her stay in the estate to prepare some of her specialty dishes? Firstly, it will prevent Miss Yue from going on hunger strikes again, and secondly, she can provide dietary nourishment to help you recover from your injuries. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
Hearing this, Qi Yue nodded repeatedly, her eyes shining. “Exactly, exactly! Hasn’t the Emperor been looking for a suitable chef for my brother? I think Li’er is very suitable! No, she is the most suitable person!”
At this point, the look Qi Xun gave Xue Li held a hint more of scrutiny.
Normally, Qi Yue and Guo Lixiang were the two most fastidious people. One was delicate and temperamental, while the other was overly critical. Now, they were speaking up for her in unison—it was quite interesting.
Reflecting on the snacks he had tasted from Qi Yue earlier, and considering Chef-Overseer Guo’s increasingly improved skills of late—all of which had come from her hand—Qi Xun pursed his lips.
“Since…” Before his words could land, Xue Li cut him off.
“I can’t, I can’t! I cannot stay in the Marquis’s estate!” Xue Li jumped up, her words coming out faster than her brain could process.
Four gazes in the courtyard turned toward her simultaneously, making her spine feel cold. She gave a sheepish smile. “What this humble girl means is that I still have an eatery to manage. If I also serve in the Marquis’s estate, I fear I would be stretched too thin and neglect the honorable members of this household, which would be bad.”
Where was the good in both working inside the Marquis’s estate and running a shop in the marketplace?
Once she entered these gates, she would not only have to close the Rare Delicacies Shop and dismiss Xiyu and the three little ones, but she would also have to hand over her freedom. Most importantly, she would have to face this “Lord” every day and live her life with extreme caution. It wasn’t worth it—definitely not worth it.
Thinking this, she actually nodded lightly to herself, expressing deep approval and support for her own thoughts.
Opposite her, Qi Xun keenly captured the small expression on her face and the flash of cleverness in her eyes. His lips curled slightly.
A little fox. She really is a very shrewd little fox.
He couldn’t be displeased, could he? Or is he already angry?
Xue Li’s heart skipped a beat. Looking at Qi Xun’s iceberg-like face, she tried to guess his thoughts while also breaking into a cold sweat for the sake of her own life.
With that outburst just now, she had forgotten this wasn’t the era she originally belonged to. In this dynasty where the Emperor was supreme and the powerful families were bathed in glory, she might very well be arrested on a charge of “insolence toward superiors” and sent to rot in prison to taste the flavor of iron bars.
Furthermore, based on her understanding from various sources recently, this Marquis of Ningwu was both fastidious and harsh…
Xue Li looked up at the bright, beautiful sun in the blue sky, nearly shedding a line of clear tears. She wondered if this would be the last time she would be bathed in such warm and gentle spring light.
“Shopkeeper Xue’s words are reasonable,” Qi Xun finally spoke. “In that case, I shall trouble you to manage the Marquis’s kitchen while running your Rare Delicacies Shop. As for the salary…”
Qi Xun paused appropriately for a moment, seeing the sudden spark of excitement in Xue Li’s eyes. He gave a faint smile. “The official salary provided by the Imperial Court has always been generous.”
“Tell me, what did he mean by that sentence?”
In the kitchen of the Rare Delicacies Shop, Xue Li was plucking chicken feathers to relieve stress while asking Jiang Xiyu irritably.
“The official salary provided by the Imperial Court has always been generous”? Xue Li curled her lips. She wasn’t an official, so how did it involve an imperial salary?
“You haven’t figured it out yet?” Jiang Xiyu shook her head. “That means you’ve answered the Imperial Notice, and from now on, the one paying your salary is the Imperial Court.”
“Answered the Imperial Notice!?” Xue Li stopped her movements abruptly and looked at her in shock. “When did I ever answer that Imperial Notice?”
Jiang Xiyu shrugged helplessly. “You didn’t personally take it down, but the Marquis’s words made it clear as day.”
“But I never agreed!” Xue Li was dazed for a long while, carefully recalling the conversation with Qi Xun that day. “I did agree to help out in the Marquis’s kitchen every day, but I never said I would be the head chef who answered the notice!”
Jiang Xiyu walked over to her and patted her shoulder earnestly. “My dear Li’er, it’s better if you accept the reality sooner. Who is the Marquis of Ningwu? If he says you answered the Imperial Notice, then you answered it. It doesn’t matter who else says otherwise. Besides, if you become the one who answered the notice, your name will be known throughout the world. Who knows how booming the business at our Rare Delicacies Shop will be in the future!”
Xue Li was left speechless and remained silent for a long time.
Making a fortune versus being played—the two emotions fought a fierce battle in her heart. In the end, the former won a resounding victory.