Chapter 108: Chapter 59: You Were Originally a Beautiful Woman
Dong Lei’s cooking skills directly outshined Yuan Bao. As Gu Changsheng watched him eat without any sense of image, he almost swallowed his tongue, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly, “Can’t the County Prince’s Mansion feed you well?”
How could he look so much like a starving ghost rushing to reincarnate?
“Lady Changsheng… your kitchen maid… her cooking is truly remarkable!” Yuan Bao, while swallowing a shrimp ball whole, kept expressing his admiration.
“Mind your image, you are, after all, from the County Prince’s Mansion and have even mixed in the Imperial Palace. Even if you haven’t eaten at the imperial banquet, you should have seen it. How can you be so lacking in spirit, not afraid of embarrassing your master!” Gu Changsheng picked up a bowl of Ginkgo Tea, and slowly took a sip.
Ostensibly, Gu Changsheng’s demeanor was mostly dignified. Background and upbringing decide a person’s demeanor; in his past life, Gu Changsheng’s background was undeniably noble, and the education he received was exceedingly strict. Manners, deeply ingrained, entwined around one’s actions and speech, giving the illusion that even when Gu Changsheng behaved inappropriately, it seemed rightful and expected.
This was a peculiar feeling, a weirdly perfect blend of grace and roguishness.
“Lady Changsheng, may I come to your house for a meal again in the future?” Eunuch Yuan Bao’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Dong Lei, secretly pondering the possibility of enticing her to the County Prince’s Mansion, but he couldn’t help shaking his head; competing with Lady Changsheng for someone was akin to a long-lived man consuming poison—suicidal!
“My house isn’t a Dining Hall.” Gu Changsheng didn’t even look up.
“I’m supposed to help you build a house, right? There will surely be lots of stuff to busy myself with. Could I come eat while I’m busy?” Yuan Bao’s ordinarily dull brain was spinning rapidly in front of food.
“Yuan Bao, do you have any shame?” Gu Changsheng finally lifted his head to look at the shameless Yuan Bao.
Eunuch Yuan Bao looked at her seriously, then glanced at his lower body, replying with righteous indignation, “No!”
Following his gaze, Gu Changsheng glanced down and immediately covered her face in defeat, “You win!”
Alright, as for integrity, Yuan Bao truly had none!
A eunuch is still a eunuch! In ancient times, the Imperial Family eliminated the risk of being cuckolded through this inhumane yet somehow prestigious position. Everywhere they went, they were symbols of the royal presence, hugely impressive!
And Yuan Bao, he did not at all find shame in being a eunuch; rather, there was almost a pride in it.
Eunuch Yuan Bao was quite pleased, and Gu Changsheng felt suffocated, but thinking she still relied on his help, sacrificing some pantry stock seemed a small price to pay, considering she planned to dash to Baili Mountain in a few days to live a carefree life anyway—it wouldn’t be for long.
“Madam, the hot water is ready; you can go bathe now.” Xiao Cui, having quickly taken her midnight snack, had prepared the hot water and seeing that her mistress was almost done eating, called her.
Gu Changsheng stood up, but remembering something, she glanced again at Yuan Bao and Dong Lei, who were still battling the late-night snacks on the table. Dong Lei had indeed prepared a hefty portion; wouldn’t there be problems if they continued eating ?
Gu Changsheng, worried, was oblivious to the two foodies, who were joyously devouring the food.
“If the person protecting me is a man, it’s best if he steps back. I don’t want to bathe and change with a Gentleman on the Beam listening in.”
Leaving behind those words, Gu Changsheng turned and exited the dining room.
Yuan Bao, with a chicken foot in his mouth, exchanged glances with Dong Lei and then snapped back, “Ah! I forgot about that. Better report this to the lord.”
Considering the strict separation of the sexes, it was better to be cautious. If the lord came back in bad humor, he’d have more than he could handle, so reporting was the best way forward.
“Isn’t Commandery Prince out conquering Southern Fujian?” Dong Lei stretched his arm protectively in front of a plate of spicy snails to prevent it from being snatched by Yuan Bao.
“The lord did embark on a campaign, yes,” Yuan Bao answered, continuing his scavenging at the table.
“With him so far away, this trivial matter, and you still need to report it?” Dong Lei disapproved visibly, noting that Yuan Bao’s mannerisms were nowhere near those expected of the lady, confirming her mother’s strict standards were too tough for most; even someone from the County Prince’s Mansion failed to meet them.
“The lord said, regarding the lady’s affairs, no matter how trivial, they must all be reported.” Yuan Bao grabbed a spoon and advanced towards the Lotus Root Soup on the table.
“But at such a distance, can you even report it in time?” From Liuzhou to Southern Fujian was a journey of thousands of miles, mountainous and far. With messages going back and forth, who knew how much time would be consumed on the road.