Back at the City Lord's residence, they happened to encounter Dai Wuya and True Master Mingyang returning from outside.
"Master, I didn't see you when I returned to Blue An yesterday. Where did you go?" Su Li asked with a smile, stepping forward.
True Master Mingyang glanced at Dai Wuya behind him and said, "It's all your senior brother. He suddenly wanted to learn poison, giving this old man quite a hassle."
Dai Wuya said sheepishly, "After this battle with Southern Frontier, I realized that learning poison isn't about harming people, but about self-preservation and saving lives."
Su Li nodded and said, "Master, haven't you always lamented Senior Brother's stubbornness? Senior Brother has come to his senses; you should be happy."
True Master Mingyang snorted and said, "I told him to learn it long ago, but he wouldn't. It's not too late to learn now, but it will require some effort. And you can't learn poison well by just talking about it on paper. So, this old man has decided to take him out to see the world."
Su Li asked in surprise, "Master and Senior Brother are leaving?"
True Master Mingyang nodded and said, "Yes, we just came to tell you. If you ask me, a letter would have sufficed, but this stubborn blockhead insisted on bidding farewell in person."
Su Li felt a pang of reluctance in her heart, but she also understood that her master would not stay in one place for long. At the same time, she found it a little amusing. Her master had always come and gone as he pleased.
Let alone bidding farewell in person, leaving a letter was already a courtesy. Such a free-spirited master, yet he had a disciple who valued rules so much. Her master was willing to make this trip, seemingly reluctantly, but he was a very good master, willing to indulge his disciple.
Su Li watched the two with reluctance. True Master Mingyang found such looks unbearable. He mumbled, "I told you not to come on this trip! Look, look."
Su Li put on a smile and said, "Master, since you're leaving, and we're also returning to the capital, today I'll show off my skills and cook a farewell feast for you both."
True Master Mingyang's eyes lit up. "That's more like it, girl! Don't worry, when you get married, your senior brother and I will rush back to drink your wedding wine. But speaking of which, when will you get married?"
Su Li turned to look at Jun Mo. Jun Mo stepped forward and said, "Master, our wedding date is in the twelfth lunar month."
"Twelfth lunar month? That's not long now," Dai Wuya said.
Jun Mo nodded, "Yes, and before that, we still need to make a trip to Western Chen."
Elder Dai raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is it because of the Thousand-Layer Frost?" Jun Mo nodded.
"Thousand-Layer Frost? I've only heard of it; no one has ever seen it. That's a bit difficult," Mingyang frowned.
Su Li sighed, "Even if it's difficult, we must obtain it!" She wouldn't give up even if there was only a sliver of hope, let alone just being difficult.
Seeing everyone standing at the door talking for so long, Su Li smiled and said, "Master, please go in first. I'll go to the kitchen and prepare some good dishes. Everyone has worked hard these past few days. Let's have a good meal."
"Su Su, you can cook?" Wan Yanxue walked out of the courtyard and heard Su Li say she was going to cook, immediately asking in surprise. Jun Ce, who was behind her, said, "Do you think everyone is like you?" Wan Yanxue retorted, "As if you can cook yourself?"
Wei Yuanling chuckled, "My cousin's cooking is exceptional. You all are in for a treat." Wan Yanxue asked in surprise, "Your Heavenly Qilin's noble young ladies even cook themselves?" Su Li smiled, "No, it's just that I enjoy it myself.
I occasionally cook for my parents." This cooking skill was something she had cultivated in her previous life to become a disciple. Thinking back now, she still admired her own persistence at that time.
"You all go in first. I'll go to the kitchen," Su Li said with a smile.
Lan Yan said, "I'll help you."
Su Li asked in surprise, "Miss Lan also cooks?"
Lan Yan shook her head, "No, but you can tell me what to do."
Wan Yanxue quickly said, "Then I want to help too! I can't do anything else, but I can wash vegetables." Su Li glanced at the eager Wan Yanxue, then at the cool-faced Lan Yan, who stood with her arms crossed in her battle attire. With these two helping, the kitchen might not survive.
"No need. There are servants in the City Lord's residence to help. You all go in and rest first. It'll be ready soon." After some thought, Su Li carefully refused.
Su Li arrived at the kitchen, and the servants quickly bowed. "Don't be nervous. I'm just borrowing the kitchen. Leave one person to watch the fire for me, and the rest of you can go out for now," Su Li said gently.
The kitchen maids looked at each other, a little troubled. None of them believed that this delicate Princess Consort could cook. What if, by mealtime, there was no food for everyone...? But the other party was the Princess Consort, and since she said so, they could only obey.
After everyone left, only a fire-stoking maid remained. The kitchen maids didn't dare to go far, staying just outside the kitchen, ready to take over at any moment. To their surprise, the sound of chopping vegetables soon echoed from inside.
Judging by the sound, her knife skills were quite good. Several of them peered through the window. They had thought the fire-stoking maid was chopping, but unexpectedly, it was the Princess Consort herself.
"Cough!" Everyone turned around to see the handsome Prince Jing standing behind them.
"Your Highness..." Jun Mo interrupted their greeting, lowering his voice, "Go now." "Yes!" After they left, Jun Mo walked to the window. Through the window, Su Li stood with her back to him, her sleeves rolled up, revealing a section of her jade-like forearm.
The pearl pendant on the wooden hairpin in her hair swayed slightly with her chopping movements. The rhythmic "thump, thump, thump" sound, along with the scent of cooking, warmed one's heart.
"Yaya, you can light the fire now," Su Li gently instructed, having prepared the ingredients. "Okay," the fire-stoking maid replied, beginning to light the fire. Soon, the kitchen filled with a heavier aroma of cooking, and the sound of woks and spatulas was incessant.
"Yaya, help me get a plate," Su Li instructed. A plate appeared beside her. Su Li took the plate, and as she was about to serve the dish, she remembered the hand that had handed her the plate—distinct knuckles, long, and strong. Su Li turned her head and met Jun Mo's smiling eyes.
"Ziyan? Why are you here? Quickly go outside; it's smoky in here." The dishes she was making were those they had eaten in Shu. They could be a bit pungent to cook.
"No need. I'll just watch from here and help you with dishes," Jun Mo said with a smile. Su Li was startled, but didn't forget the dish in the pot. As soon as the dish was served onto the plate, Jun Mo took it. Su Li smiled and said, "Ziyan, you are a prince.
Besides, a gentleman keeps his distance from the kitchen." Jun Mo placed the dish on the cutting board and turned around, saying, "If the Princess Consort cooks herself, what's so strange about this prince helping out? Besides, Li'er should know that 'a gentleman keeps his distance from the kitchen' doesn't mean men can't cook. It advises people to avoid creating unnecessary slaughter."
Su Li naturally knew the actual meaning of these words, but nowadays, men were typically outside the home and women inside. It seemed natural for cooking to be women's work, which made people overlook the true meaning of the phrase. She never expected him to think this way. Su Li's lips curved, and she no longer urged him to leave.
One wielded the spatula, the other assisted. It was a warm scene. Yaya, silently tending the fire, occasionally looked up at the two. Through the sparse cooking smoke,
two picturesque figures stood around the stove. It was as if this wasn't a kitchen, but a painted boat on a Jiangnan Lake. His Highness and the Princess Consort are truly a perfect match!
As noon approached, the dishes were finally ready. The servants carried the dishes out in a line, heading to the front hall. "So fragrant!" Before the dishes even entered the door, Wan Yanxue sniffed and exclaimed loudly. When the dishes were laid out, a table full of food. Su Li and Jun Mo arrived hand-in-hand.
Jun Ce smiled, "I wondered why it took so long for you two to return. Turns out you went to help." Su Li smiled, greeting everyone, "Everyone, please take your seats. I hope you'll enjoy the food." Everyone sat around the table, all smiles.
"If they don't get used to it, then it's all for me," Wei Yuanling chuckled. Wan Yanxue snorted, "Dream on! These dishes are perfect in color, aroma, and taste. They look delicious!" Everyone looked at the lavish table of food and began to eat.
In the military camp, alcohol was forbidden. Everyone looked at True Master Mingyang, who was eating and drinking, with envy. But military rules were ironclad, and no one dared to break them.
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