Chu Chu tugged at Feng Yi's sleeve. "You said yourself that you make the best sweet and sour ribs! Even Lord Ji said yours are better than the ones from Gathered Fragrance Pavilion!"
"Please forgive this humble servant, Your Highness and Imperial Concubine. It's not that I don't know my place, but the steward has given strict orders that this dish is no longer to be prepared in the residence..."
Chu Chu blinked rapidly at Xiao Jin Yu. "But if the Prince wants to eat it, what can the steward say about that?"
"Well... that would depend on His Highness's command."
Xiao Jin Yu glanced at Chu Chu's expectant face before turning to the nervous Feng Yi. "Are your sweet and sour ribs truly that good?"
"Your Highness, this humble servant merely experiments on her own. It's really nothing worthy of presentation!"
After a moment's consideration, Xiao Jin Yu said, "Prepare it today then..."
"This servant... truly dares not embarrass herself before Your Highness."
Xiao Jin Yu smiled faintly. "If they're genuinely better than Gathered Fragrance Pavilion's, I'll inscribe a plaque for you."
Chu Chu's eyes sparkled as she frantically pulled at Feng Yi's sleeve. "Auntie Feng, quickly agree!"
"Yes, yes... Thank you, Your Highness!"
Only then did Xiao Jin Yu return his gaze to Chu Chu. Her appetite had always been robust, and having skipped breakfast this morning, she must be starving by now. "Besides sweet and sour ribs... what else would you like to eat?"
Chu Chu answered without hesitation, "Sticky rice chicken and braised pork belly!"
"...Add a plate of mushrooms with bok choy, and a bowl of millet porridge for me."
"At once, Your Highness."
Chu Chu added urgently, "Auntie Feng, don't forget the sweet and sour ribs!"
"Yes, yes..."
As Feng Yi's flustered footsteps faded down the corridor, Xiao Jin Yu leaned his stiff, aching back against the chair and frowned slightly at Chu Chu. "Do you particularly like sweet and sour ribs?"
Chu Chu shook her head with complete seriousness. "There's too little meat on the ribs. Braised pork belly is much better."
Xiao Jin Yu raised a hand to massage his temple. "Then why insist on having sweet and sour ribs?"
To be honest, he wasn't particularly eager to see this dish again anytime soon...
"I want you to eat it."
Xiao Jin Yu was taken aback. "Why?"
Chu Chu pursed her lips. "Auntie Feng says she makes the best sweet and sour ribs, but now the steward won't let her cook them anymore, so her skill is going to waste... Everyone here is afraid of you and listens to you. If you eat Auntie Feng's dish and say it's delicious, the steward won't dare stop her from making it." She added with conviction, "Auntie Feng is a good person. If she says it's good, it must be good."
"Very well, I'll try it..."
Chu Chu's almond-shaped eyes curved into happy crescents. "Your Highness, you're such a good person! A truly great person!"
Xiao Jin Yu smiled wryly to himself. "Am I..."
"Yes!"
Weren't you just calling me a scoundrel earlier...
As Xiao Jin Yu picked up a small piece of sweet and sour rib and took a delicate bite, Chu Chu immediately asked eagerly, "Well? Is it delicious?"
Xiao Jin Yu nodded gently. "Quite good."
"I knew it! It must be delicious!"
Chu Chu grabbed a large piece and took an enormous bite, stuffing her small mouth completely. "So... so good!"
After quickly devouring one rib, she picked up a large chunk of braised pork belly and shoved the whole piece into her mouth. Juice spurted out with the first bite, so hot it nearly brought tears to her eyes, yet she chewed vigorously several times and swallowed.
Xiao Jin Yu couldn't help pushing several dishes closer to her. "No need to rush... They're all yours. No one will take them from you."
It didn't take long for Xiao Jin Yu to realize his words were completely unnecessary.This girl showed not a hint of politeness, sweeping through the remaining sweet and sour ribs, glutinous rice chicken, braised pork, and even that plate of mushroom-stuffed cabbage hearts he had only taken two bites from. If she hadn't truly reached her limit, she'd probably have helped him finish the remaining half-bowl of millet porridge too.
Xiao Jin Yu watched with stomach-churning discomfort. Though she usually ate plenty, he'd never seen her consume so much in one go. "Did you... skip dinner last night?"
Chu Chu licked her lips, rubbing her round, stuffed belly. "I only had one meal yesterday—breakfast."
"Why?"
"You'd just woken from your coma at noon, so I had to watch over you. Then before I could eat dinner, you sent me off for corpse examination."
Xiao Jin Yu felt as if something hot had seared his heart, burning with pain. "My illnesses are frequent occurrences. Next time, there's no need to mind me..."
"That won't do! You were bestowed to me by the Emperor—how could I not care for you?"
Xiao Jin Yu choked on a cough. How did she always manage to say such things with such unshakable confidence...
While he was still silently embarrassed, Chu Chu declared triumphantly, "You said if Feng Yi performed well, you'd inscribe her shop sign. Can you do it now?"
"No."
Chu Chu grew anxious. "But you just said it was excellent! You have to keep your word!"
"It is good, but we don't know if it's better than Gathered Fragrance Pavilion's... We'll go taste theirs tonight. My treat, as thanks for your care."
"Deal!"
Xiao Jin Yu arrived at Gathered Fragrance Pavilion right at dinner hour, yet the main hall was dimly lit, eerily silent, and as chillingly cold as the world outside.
Xiao Er, roused by the sound of someone entering, yawned as he lifted his head from the table. Grabbing a cleaning rag, he wiped it haphazardly across his face and mumbled drowsily, "G-Guest... here for a meal or lodging?"
Xiao Jin Yu scanned the empty hall and frowned slightly. That girl had clearly left earlier than him. "I'm waiting for someone... Could you move a stool, light a charcoal brazier, and boil some water?"
Xiao Er slumped back onto the table impatiently, pushing a teapot to the corner with his arm. "What's wrong with sitting at the corner? No fire. Pour your own tea."
Xiao Jin Yu reached out and touched the teapot—ice cold.
"Where's your manager?"
Without lifting his head or opening his eyes, Xiao Er sneered, "Plenty of folks want to sleep with our manager. Someone like you wouldn't get a turn even in the next life. Don't dream..."
Xiao Jin Yu gave a cool smile. "Is that so..."
Xiao Er muttered as if talking in his sleep, "I haven't had my turn, let alone a cripple like you..."
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