An Jing had prepared several kites, and as soon as Meng Zhuqing sent one soaring high, she handed the string to Su Muchen, who started to jog with the kite while the four little ones followed behind him. The five children were having a blast.
Watching them, An Jing and the others felt particularly happy.
Although the Emperor of Xiyun had come incognito, they still had several guards with them.
Observing the simple house amidst picturesque surroundings, the Emperor of Xiyun couldn’t help but exclaim, "The view is expansive, the mountains and waters are beautiful, filled with the songs of birds and the scent of flowers, truly refreshing the heart and delighting the soul. What a wonderful place."
An Jing smiled and said, "If the Emperor has time in the future, you could come here more often."
Before, they had lived in Qilin County, which was very far from the Imperial Capital; not like here, which was much closer, allowing the Emperor of Xiyun to visit anytime.
The Emperor of Xiyun nodded.
Noticing Xiao Changyi cutting bamboo segments, and since the bamboo was freshly chopped, the Emperor of Xiyun couldn’t help but ask curiously, "Yi Er, what are you doing?"
Xiao Changyi remained silent.
The Emperor of Xiyun paused for a moment. He had forgotten that Changyi wouldn’t speak to him for the next two days.
Then, he turned to An Jing to ask her the same question.
An Jing found the interaction between the Emperor of Xiyun and Xiao Changyi amusing. Sometimes she genuinely believed her husband was also just a child.
When the Emperor of Xiyun asked her, she immediately laughed and explained, "Your Majesty, I am making bamboo-tube rice for everyone to taste. We need fresh bamboo segments, so I let Changyi do the cutting."
"Bamboo-tube rice?" Both the Emperor of Xiyun, Su Chengyu, and Ning Wenxian looked as if they had never heard of such a dish before.
An Jing laughed and said, "I just made it up on my own. I found it quite delicious, and because we have to use bamboo tubes to roast it, that’s why I call it bamboo-tube rice."
The Emperor of Xiyun, Su Chengyu, and Ning Wenxian had never been to the kitchen, unaware of how meals were cooked, but they didn’t need to know how to cook – they just had to wait to eat.
Thinking this, even if they couldn’t understand An Jing’s words, they were all at ease.
Not far in front of the courtyard, a fire had already been set up where Xiao Changyi was roasting the bamboo-tube rice, while An Jing was at another fire, roasting a whole lamb.
Nearby, two tables were set up with plenty of stools and chairs; the Emperor of Xiyun, Su Chengyu, and Ning Wenxian were sitting there, drinking tea, chatting leisurely, admiring the beautiful mountains and waters, and watching An Jing and Xiao Changyi cook with the fascination of discovering a new world.
But, truth be told, it was really fragrant.
Having been part of the Royal Family, they had tasted all kinds of delicacies, but the roasted lamb that An Jing and the bamboo-tube rice Xiao Changyi were making truly smelled so appetizing that it made their mouths water.
Even the five children were drawn over, no longer playing, squatting next to An Jing and Xiao Changyi, watching the roasting lamb and rice, their little noses all inhaling the tantalizing aroma, looking extremely eager to taste it.
The Emperor of Xiyun couldn’t count how many times he had swallowed his saliva, but after one more swallow, he couldn’t resist asking, "Jingjing, how come what you and Yi Er are making smells so good? The Imperial Chef has also made roasted lamb before, but it doesn’t seem to smell as good as yours."
An Jing laughed heartily and said, "I just used some unusual seasonings to flavor it, that’s why it smells so good."
The Emperor of Xiyun immediately laughed and remarked, "With your cooking skills, Yi Er is truly fortunate."
Su Chengyu also laughed, "Your Majesty, the vermicelli that sister-in-law and brother made last time was also very delicious. I’m still craving it to this day. It’s a pity that sister-in-law and brother haven’t made it again."