213, Feeling Guilty (3 more updates)
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Yuanbao expressed his thanks and then, with a tomato in hand, he left the kitchen and approached Li Hengyi.
Li Hengyi took it to feed the three critters.
The greediest and smartest three, it was quite fun teasing them.
Xie Zhinuan finished preparing the steamed pork, stepped out of the kitchen for some fresh air.
Seeing Li Hengyi feeding tomatoes to the animals, she furrowed her brows slightly, “How much have you fed them? Eating too much of this isn’t good!”
“Just a few, not too many!” Li Hengyi said as he gestured for Yuanbao to take the basket away.
Yuanbao hurriedly took the basket and then brought over some water to help Li Hengyi wash his hands.
“…”
Watching this, Xie Zhinuan thought Yuanbao was the most considerate servant she had ever seen.
Her observational skills were truly impressive.
“The meal will be ready soon. I only steamed one basket. Can we all sit down and eat together?” Xie Zhinuan asked.
Li Hengyi grunted in agreement, not rejecting the suggestion.
He enjoyed eating with Xie Zhinuan. Whatever she ate always seemed delicious, making him feel hungrier just by looking.
When the steamed pork was ready and the porridge had thickened, Xie Zhinuan had Silly Girl carry it to the small hall, calling out for someone to arrange the bowls and chopsticks, and the cold dishes were also brought over.
Li Hengyi sat in the seat of honor.
Taking a deep breath, his face showed a few hints of joy, “Let’s sit down and eat!”
He was hungry.
“Sit down, sit down!” Yuanbao cheerfully called out, sitting beside Li Hengyi.
Xie Zhinuan sat on the other side of Li Hengyi.
Silly Girl sat next to Xie Zhinuan, with Yin Suwen beside her, and Yin Zhe next to Yuanbao.
Xie Zhinuan’s steamed pork had one light side and one spicy side, with a stronger flavor, but was especially tasty and delicious.
Eating the steamed pork, taking a sip of porridge, and then biting into a cucumber or tomato to cut the greasiness – the flavors were exceptionally good.
Everyone was silent, only quietly eating.
Yin Suwen sneaked glances at Li Hengyi several times and did the same towards Xie Zhinuan.
If they were a couple, but it did not seem so, as Xie Zhinuan was too indifferent.
If they were not, then the Prince Consort seemed too indulgent towards Xie Zhinuan; almost anything she said went unargued, without any contradiction.
During the meal, someone outside came to deliver a message, “My lord, Young Master of the Xu Family requests to see Miss Xie!”
Upon hearing this, Li Hengyi lifted his gaze and spoke indifferently, “Let him wait!”
“Yes!”
The guard immediately went out to convey the message, glancing at Yuanbao with envy as he left.
Yuanbao raised an eyebrow, returning a defiant look.
A few stares exchanged between them, and they had already fought several rounds in their minds.
The guard came out to see Xu Xuanjin and said nonchalantly, “Miss Xie is having lunch, you’ll just have to wait!”
Xu Xuanjin hastily agreed, “Yes, yes!”
Even if he felt slightly uncomfortable, he thought about how the person was a relative of the Prince Consort, and he was just a merchant; he could not compare.
So he would wait.
Even if the aroma of the food was so tantalizing, drifting over and making him involuntarily swallow hard.
Hastily grabbing his cup, he took a sip of tea, which only seemed to make him hungrier.
Xu Xuanjin’s gaze kept sweeping over there.
The guard watched, quietly exhaling.
Perhaps he should go to Miss Xie and suggest that they pick some oranges or fruits from Xiaohe Village, considering there were plenty, and Grandma Chen and Aunt Chen couldn’t eat them all – it would be a waste otherwise.
No matter the multitude of thoughts running through their heads,
Xie Zhinuan ended up overeating.
As did Li Hengyi.
In fact, everyone overate, having devoured the entire steamer of food.
Xie Zhinuan stood up and asked Li Hengyi, “I’m going to meet with Young Master Xu. Do you want to come along?”
“Let’s go together!”
He wanted Xie Zhinuan to lean on his power, so of course, he needed to play the part to the hilt.
Besides, the manor they were negotiating to buy was being paid for with his silver, so naturally, he aimed to drive the price as low as possible.
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Chapter 214