Upon leaving the Crown Prince Mansion, Feng Zhan Tian received a reward of five hundred taels, his face beaming with joy. This time, Feng Bailing was definitely set up.
Inside the Princess’ Mansion, Dugu Wu and Lu Yin visited with Dugu Xiaojin.
Upon seeing Xiaojin, Feng Xiaoli dragged him off to see the Miniature Pig. Before leaving, a few excellent Yulan Flowers were stuffed into the hands of a stiff-faced Dugu Wu.
"Ah Ling is busy in the dining room. Prince and Dr. Lu, your timing is impeccable."
Dongfang Lianhua was all smiles upon seeing her future son-in-law.
Not long after, Ouyang Chenchen arrived, and her face fell at the sight of Lu Yin.
"Skinny Lu, why do I see you wherever I go?"
"Fatty Ouyang, that’s my line. You’re here to mooch a meal, aren’t you?"
The two of them couldn’t stand each other, trading barbs back and forth.
Dugu Wu and Dongfang Lianhua had just sat down when Feng Bailing and Mrs. Su came out. Feng Bailing did not expect Dugu Wu and Lu Yin to come, especially Dugu Wu, who awkwardly held a bunch of flowers. Something was off about this picture.
"Xiaojin brought these for you."
Dugu Wu hurriedly tossed the Yulan Flowers he held to Feng Bailing. Feng Bailing glanced at the flowers, didn’t pay much attention, took them casually and asked Mrs. Su to place them in the vase in the bedroom.
"I didn’t know Prince Wu and your company were coming. I only prepared some noodles and barbecue, but I’m not sure if you’re accustomed to it."
Leading everyone to the dining hall, which was a side hall, tastefully arranged due to the fewer people at the Princess’ Mansion.
On a round table, there were several dishes filled with colorful vegetables, slices of red and green carrots and cucumbers, stir-fried green bean sprouts, silky-smooth scrambled eggs, shredded chicken, minced garlic, green onions, and chili pepper, white sesame seeds, with seven or eight dishes containing various unknown condiments.
The last to be served was a platter of grey-black noodles.
"Tonight’s dinner is vegetarian cold noodles, buckwheat noodles I prepared to help Chenchen lose weight. I’m not sure if you’re used to it."
Feng Bailing personally mixed a serving for Dongfang Lianhua, then for Xiaojin and Xiaoli.
Lu Yin and Ouyang Chenchen, not shy at all, followed Feng Bailing’s example and mixed their own. Lu Yin praised the dish after just one bite.
Dugu Wu sat there, his gaze sweeping over Feng Bailing, his tone icy.
"I don’t eat vegeta..."
Before Dugu Wu could finish, Dugu Xiaojin and Feng Xiaoli, who were trying to tackle the vegetables in their bowls, looked up with their round eyes at their father, and Dugu Wu closed his mouth.
"Please enjoy, Prince Wu."
With eager courtesy, Feng Bailing served him a big bowl of vegetarian cold noodles, filled with so much cucumber, bean sprouts, and carrots that Dugu Wu wondered if she was trying to poison him with vegetables.
And those noodles—dark and unappetizing.
Dugu Wu ate expressionlessly. The buckwheat noodles were freshly made on request by Mrs. Su, boiled then chilled with ice water.
Chewing the noodles, they were resilient with a lingering aroma of wheat between his lips. The eggs were smooth and fresh, without any fishy smell, and the normally annoying carrot and cucumber strips, as well as bean sprouts, had a crunchy texture and a light sweetness.
The garlic and green onion in the cold noodles were just right, not only that, there was the fragrance of sesame, and several types of delicious sauces. Dugu Wu started slowly when mixing his noodles but then gradually sped up.
"Try my newly developed chili sauce."
Feng Bailing added a spoonful of chili sauce to Dugu Wu’s noodles.
"Prince Wu can’t handle spicy, let me try."
Lu Yin volunteered eagerly.
"You’re not up to it."
Dugu Wu snorted coldly, taking a bite, his cool face turned red in an instant.
He began coughing fiercely.
The chili pepper at the Princess’ Mansion was cultivated with Genetic Seeds and watered with Spiritual Spring, making it much spicier than ordinary peppers. Prince Wu wasn’t accustomed to spicy food, and that one bite was harsh.
A gentle hand patted Dugu Wu’s back, and Feng Bailing chided.
"If you can’t eat spicy food, just say so. Xiaoli, give your papa the iced milk tea. It’s chilled to relieve the spiciness."
Dugu Wu’s back stiffened, but with each pat, he felt his face and body growing even hotter, an unfamiliar sensation spreading throughout his limbs.
"Daddy, Your Majesty, are you showing off your love?"
Dugu Wu’s coughs worsened, and Feng Bailing’s hand froze.
Lu Yin and Ouyang Chenchen suddenly found the noodles in their hands less appetizing, wondering if they should consider the feelings of two single people?
This dinner lasted until the moon came out.
After the meal, as everyone was about to disperse, a guard came to report from outside.
"Reporting to Commandery Princess, several Government Officials from the Capital Governor are outside, saying they have orders to invite Commandery Princess to the government office."