Free Web NovelChapter 470: The Prefect Was Invited to Bear Witness (2)
"Butler, see Prince Yu and the young Prince out," Zhan Yi said, glancing over.
Prince Yu was speechless.
The butler entered the room. "Prince Yu, young Prince, this way, please."
"That won’t be necessary. It’s noon. We’ll head back after we’ve had lunch," Helian Chen said as he walked over and nonchalantly took a seat.
Prince Yu looked at his nephew, at once shocked and delighted. In that moment, it was as if his nephew was glowing—!
The butler froze for a second before retreating from the room.
Zhan Yi was also taken aback, his brow furrowing. ’He really hated entertaining these honored guests.’
"One of the aunties made me something delicious today," Ye Qianning said, reaching up to straighten Zhan Yi’s black beard.
"She cooked herself?"
"Mhm."
"What a rare treat. No wonder the young Prince wants to stay. Their cooking is even better than the chefs at the Drunken Immortal restaurant." Zhan Yi had eaten meals cooked by the concubines a few times, and they were indeed delicious.
The concubines doted on the little lass; they were only willing to cook if it was for her.
If any of them wanted to eat it, they had to ride on the little lass’s coattails.
He used to look down on Xiang Minghou for keeping so many concubines, but after staying here for a while, he felt that having many wasn’t so bad. Even when Xiang Minghou wasn’t at the residence, the little lass was always perfectly looked after, with her three meals a day, pastries, and snacks all taken care of.
The most important thing was their good character. Otherwise, he would have shamelessly pulled rank as a Xiang family elder and dismissed them all.
Zhan Chi had long grown accustomed to the food at the General’s Residence. While living there, he rarely went out to restaurants anymore.
Qian Fanji also felt the meals and tea at the General’s Residence were better than those outside. Even the same Biluochun tea, when brewed with water from the residence, was more fragrant and mellow than anywhere else.
He had looked into it and concluded it must be an issue with the water quality. He had also examined the water from the residence’s well; it was non-toxic and showed no other abnormalities.
In his youth, he had often come to the Xiang family home to drink tea and freeload meals, and the water quality then had been no different from any other residence in the Capital City.
’I haven’t been here in years. When did the water quality at the General’s Residence start to change?’
He had his people collect and study water samples from all over the Capital City, but not a single well had water like the one in this residence.
After making several inquiries in the back kitchen, he had his answer.
’The water quality started to change after Ye Qianning arrived at the residence!’
Before long, lunch was ready, and the maids brought out the dishes one by one.
Everyone took their seats. Luo Wen appeared, naturally taking up a position behind Ye Qianning.
"You don’t need to feed her today. This old man will serve my dear girl." Zhan Yi ordered Luo Wen to stand down.
"Okay," Ye Qianning nodded.
Zhan Yi sat to Ye Qianning’s left.
Zhan Chi tried to sit to her right, but Qian Fanji beat him to it. He could only shoot him a glare before sitting down next to his father.
Prince Yu led Helian Chen to their seats, none of the subtle interactions between the others escaping his notice.
’I heard that the old master of the Gu family also dotes on Miss Xiang. If she could make an introduction, perhaps the Gu family would agree to meet me.’
"Royal Uncle, the soup!" Helian Chen’s eyes lit up.
Prince Yu, already vexed, was rendered speechless. ’Soup, soup, soup! Is that all you know? As a Prince of Nanyuan, you don’t give a single thought to our nation’s welfare!’
"Is Prince Yu dissatisfied with the meal in some way?" Qian Fanji asked coolly.
Zhan Yi, who was in the middle of serving Ye Qianning some food, looked up at Prince Yu upon hearing this.
’Dissatisfied?’
’How could he be dissatisfied with a meal like this?’
Ye Qianning also looked up.
Prince Yu was taken aback and hurriedly said, "Not at all, not at all. The lunch is quite sumptuous."
"Then why did Your Highness seem somewhat agitated?"
"Well... sigh. Seeing such a sumptuous meal, this Prince couldn’t help but think of the common people of Nanyuan. Nanyuan is impoverished, and many of my subjects can’t even fill their bellies. For a moment, my heart grew heavy. If only the people of my nation could live and work in peace like the people of Beili, with every household having white rice on the table... how wonderful that would be." A sorrowful expression crossed Prince Yu’s face.
