That Kitchen Knife Was Only 0.1 Centimeters Away from Me!

"What?! Those two guys came too?"

Hearing that Xue Wuji and Xue Mingtong had come as well, Su Xian's anger immediately flared. Intense fury burned in his eyes, seeming ready to scorch the void itself.

Fuck!

They hadn't visited my residence in eight hundred years, but now that they smelled food, they came running!

This is brotherly affection?!

Pah!!

Do they really think this is some communal cafeteria where they can eat without paying?!

Looking at the three dishes already prepared, Su Xian was furious beyond endurance.

He had originally planned to make just four dishes. It would have been enough for Qian Renxue and him.

But with the Empress Dowager, Aunt Xue, and Xue Ke, he would need to add several more dishes—six dishes and a soup, at minimum.

Now there were seven people!

And judging by Xue Wuji and Xue Mingtong's appetites...

Fuck!

Even a few more dishes wouldn't be enough for those two to demolish!

Was he supposed to spend the entire afternoon cooking in the kitchen?

Oh~ It seemed he could still bring out a dish and show his face in the main hall or something...

As the protagonist, I'm fucking stuck cooking in the back kitchen?

Do you two not know I'm the author's beloved son? You've got some nerve!

This is too much!

This is absolutely too much!!

With rage shooting from his head, Su Xian grabbed a Kitchen Knife and charged straight toward the main hall.

You think you're skilled, huh? How about getting acquainted with a Kitchen Knife?!

"Empress Dowager, we were simply worried that you and Aunt Xue might be bored, so we came to keep you company and chat."

After viciously glaring at Xue Wuji, his pig teammate, Xue Mingtong smiled calmly, carrying himself with the composure of someone unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed before him.

As soon as he finished speaking, Nan Gongling rolled her eyes at him speechlessly.

"Normally, when I'm in the palace, I don't see you even four or five times a month. Now you've suddenly become so filial?"

Her tone was full of grievance. Like a desolate valley that had not seen a soul for ages suddenly swept by a cold wind, Nan Gongling felt deeply hurt.

As their Empress Dowager, she couldn't even compare to a good meal. How chilling!

Xue Wuji and Xue Mingtong instantly felt enormous pressure, their limbs turning cold.

Xue Mingtong was the first to recover. His face was filled with guilt as he explained apologetically, "Empress Dowager, haven't we been busy? We have to study at the academy and handle various trivial matters of the empire. How could we possibly have that much free time?"

"Empress Dowager, we'll definitely visit the palace more often in the future and keep you company," Xue Wuji added remorsefully.

"Sister, the two children have it hard enough. Don't blame them anymore."

Knowing that Nan Gongling was merely angry in the moment—and having spent many years in the harem, she had probably long grown accustomed to such things—Yang Consort spoke up to support them and give her a way out.

"Since Aunt Xue is pleading for you, the Empress Dowager will spare you this time. Remember what you said."

Nan Gongling knew that the two were busy and did not take it too seriously. Xue Wuji and Xue Mingtong hurriedly agreed, not daring to provoke her displeasure.

"You two rice buckets, get your asses out here! Today, I'm going to teach you how to behave!"

Just as the two were about to sit down, a thunderous roar exploded through the air, freezing them in place.

Not only were the two of them stunned, but Nan Gongling and the other two were also dumbfounded.

Whoosh!

Before they could react, Su Xian had already entered the main hall with a Kitchen Knife slung over his shoulder, his eyes fixed directly on Xue Wuji and Xue Mingtong.

In an instant, it felt as if a cold wind had swept in from an icy canyon. Xue Wuji and Xue Mingtong both shuddered.

Grabbing them by the backs of their collars with both hands as though they were chicks, Su Xian dragged them straight outside.

Inside the hall, only their wails and cries for help continued to echo.

The three women: ...

"Sister, was that really Xue Qinghe just now?" Yang Consort covered her small mouth, her eyes nearly popping out with disbelief.

In her impression, Xue Qinghe had always been the Prince with the most royal bearing—elegant and refined in noble etiquette, never having uttered a single curse word.

Today... was she still dreaming, or had she run into a ghost?!

Especially when she recalled Su Xian holding that Kitchen Knife, charging in as if trailing sparks and lightning, she was even more bewildered.

"Probably..."

Nan Gongling was equally stunned. She nodded uncertainly, no less horrified than Yang Consort.

Seeing the expressions on Nan Gongling and Yang Consort's faces, Qian Renxue's expression changed slightly. Yet in the blink of an eye, she smiled again as though nothing had happened. "Perhaps my husband has been too busy lately, which is why he's so temperamental. The Empress Dowager and Aunt Xue must have found that amusing."

"Hehe..."

At that, Nan Gongling and Yang Consort covered their mouths and laughed. As expected of a married couple—she already knew how to make excuses for that boy.

Seeing their teasing looks, Qian Renxue blushed and lowered her head shyly.

"Xue Er, you must learn to take care of Xue Qinghe. You should also learn from him when it comes to cooking."

"The Empress Dowager and Aunt Xue are here, so we won't mind. In fact, seeing you two getting along so well as husband and wife makes us happy."

"But Xue Qinghe is a Prince, after all. When outsiders are present, you should take greater care to preserve his dignity." Nan Gongling's expression was gentle as she reminded her earnestly.

Nan Gongling did not blame Su Xian much for his rude behavior.

Xue Ye had already hinted to her that Xue Qinghe might have changed. His appearance and personality might change, but his eyes and feelings could not!

Nan Gongling knew that the person before her was still her child, and that was enough.

Besides, the current Xue Qinghe made her happier and more at ease. Within the royal family, excessive kindness was a sin.

"Mm!"

Qian Renxue nodded earnestly. Naturally, she would not let Su Xian keep doing everything for her, or she would feel bad about it too.

"Alright, let's go take a look. We shouldn't let anything happen."

Nan Gongling nodded in satisfaction. Thinking of Xue Wuji and Xue Mingtong's cries for help, she immediately rose and walked out, with Qian Renxue and Yang Consort following behind.

In the kitchen courtyard, an intense confrontation was currently underway!

"Second Brother, why don't we join forces? Big Brother definitely won't be a match for us."

"I think we can do that."

Seeing the two communicating with their eyes, Su Xian immediately knew what they were thinking.

"You want to gang up on me two against one? Do you think you can beat me?!"

Whoosh!

Silver light flashed. The air was sliced apart like thin paper, and with a thunk, the Kitchen Knife buried itself deeply in the floor less than half a finger's width in front of Xue Mingtong.

Whoosh!

Xue Mingtong's heart trembled. Cold sweat instantly broke out all over him as he glanced at the Kitchen Knife in terror.

Many years later, whenever Xue Mingtong recalled what had happened that day, he could not help but sigh.

At the time, that Kitchen Knife was only 0.1 centimeters away from my foot!

But after one breath, its owner would completely forgive me, because I made the most correct decision of my life.

Although I made countless correct decisions in my life, I considered this one the most perfect.

"Big Brother, Second Brother was the one who dragged me here! This has nothing to do with me!" Xue Mingtong cried miserably, his face full of grievance.

Xue Wuji: ...

Fuck!

You coward!!

"Big Brother, don't listen to him. This brat is the one full of bad ideas. Otherwise, why would I have come here?"

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