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Rong Xi smiled. "The honor is all mine."

If he could use this opportunity to let more people enjoy delicious food, Rong Xi would naturally give it his all.

After dinner, Hu Yulin had a carriage prepared to send Rong Xi and his servant back to Rong Residence.

Unwilling to delay, Rong Xi went to the study and had Zishi light the lamps and grind the ink. He sat before the desk, carefully sorting through his thoughts. Once his draft had taken shape, he lifted his brush and began to write.

He did not stop until midnight.

The next morning, at the hour of the dragon, Jiang Weiping brought his younger sister to Rong Residence.

Whenever Lady Jiang went out into the streets and markets, she often heard rumors, and Rong Xi's name was mentioned time and again. Yet in Jiang Weiping's telling, Rong Dalang possessed an entirely different character.

Compared with outsiders, she naturally trusted her brother more.

Liu Zishi came to greet them, smiling shyly. "Lord Jiang, Lady Jiang, my lord is in the study."

He led the two of them to the study, where Rong Xi was bent over his desk, writing.

His wide sleeve had slipped to the crook of his arm, leaving a stretch of jade-white flesh bare. It was soft and plump, rather adorable.

When he saw them approach, Rong Xi immediately rose to welcome them. "Brother Shouyuan and Lady Jiang are both decisive people. Xi greatly admires you!"

Lady Jiang was poised and generous. Seeing that Rong Xi truly was as her brother had described—elegant as jade, open and gentle—she smiled and said, "This young woman greets Lord Rong. For you to be willing to teach me the ways of the kitchen, such generosity is deeply admirable!"

She stood tall and graceful, simple and elegant. She possessed neither the frailty fashionable among women of the day nor any shy, timid air, instead displaying the beautiful qualities of self-reliance and strength.

At the sight of her, Rong Xi immediately took a liking to her.

After sitting down for a cup of tea and resting briefly, Rong Xi led the two of them to the kitchen.

Seeing the Thin Cauldron on the stove, Lady Jiang's delicate brows stirred. "When my brother forged this cauldron some days ago, I asked about it in surprise. Today, I finally get to witness its might."

Rong Xi smiled and asked her about the fundamentals of cooking. Her answers were smooth and forthright, showing that she had a solid foundation. Learning methods such as stir-frying and pan-frying should not be difficult for her.

The way of cooking held immense learning in such skills as knife work, seasoning, and control of the heat.

Rong Xi observed from the side. Lady Jiang's knife skills were quite good, and she washed her utensils thoroughly. He grew even more satisfied.

Once the ingredients had been prepared and the fire was burning brightly, Rong Xi began instructing her on how to stir-fry.

Lady Jiang had considerable talent. After only one attempt, she grasped the essence of it. She merely lacked experience; given enough time, she would surely achieve something.

Even so, as long as she first mastered a few dishes, that would already be enough to manage.

Half a month later, Liu Zishi returned home at the hour of the monkey, having hired a cart to bring back several custom-made wooden items.

"My lord, what are these things?"

Rong Xi did not answer. He merely picked out a square wooden board with a base beneath it, resembling a spirit tablet from an ancestral hall.

There was an ancestral hall in the residence. It had once contained the spirit tablets of Minister Rong's branch of the family, but after the Rong Clan moved to Shengjing, Minister Rong pondered it over and over before moving them to Shengjing as well.

The ancestral hall was narrow and shabby, once thick with cobwebs and swirling dust. Yet Rong Xi had personally cleaned it thoroughly a few days earlier.

An unnamed spirit tablet was placed in the seat of honor. Rong Xi burned incense in the censer, and wisps of smoke curled upward.

"My lord, whom are you worshipping?" Liu Zishi asked curiously.

Rong Xi answered with a faint smile, "My lifesaver."

Before the young Liu boy could ask another question, Rong Xi had already performed the rites and knelt in worship.

Rong Xi had died and returned to life only because the young Lord Rong had generously bestowed his body upon him, allowing him to walk the world through it. Yet no one else knew that the true son of the Rong Clan had already had his soul scattered beyond the heavens.

The spirit tablet bore no name. Rong Xi naturally prayed with all sincerity, wishing him peace and smooth fortune in his next life.

After the worship, Rong Xi personally prepared offerings and placed them before the spirit tablet.

Liu Zishi also lit incense and prayed.

As his lord's lifesaver, that person deserved his wholehearted respect.

After dinner, Rong Xi finally began sorting through those wooden items. Liu Zishi had been curious all along, so he helped carry them.

"My lord, what is this used for?"

The two of them lifted a long wooden object together. It was shaped like a boat and could fit only one person inside.

"It is for bathing." Rong Xi moved the long bathtub into the side room of his bedchamber and answered casually.

The bathtub he had used before was already old. Besides, he was accustomed to bathing while lying down, and ordinary tubs were far too cramped for him.

Liu Zishi only half understood, but that did nothing to diminish his admiration for Rong Xi.

"What is this, then?"

It resembled a table, with four legs, but its surface was only the size of one's backside. One side had a tall backrest to lean against, making it quite unusual.

Rong Xi taught him to sit on it and try it out.

"My lord, this is incredibly comfortable!" Liu Zishi beamed with delight.

Of course it was comfortable.

Rong Xi's smile deepened. Great Wei customs regarded kneeling as proper conduct, yet kneeling for too long harmed the legs and was exceedingly uncomfortable.

That was why he had commissioned high-legged chairs. He kept them inside his rooms and sat in them alone, without letting others see, so it could not be considered improper.

The remaining wooden items were even stranger.

Liu Zishi picked one up. "My lord, this thing truly leaves your servant baffled."

Rong Xi replied with a smile, "You will know tomorrow."

He had already had Liu He set up a horizontal pole in the courtyard, a little taller than a person, for drying clothes.

Though the people of Wei wore deep robes and long garments, they could still use hangers to dry their clothes.

When ordinary households dried laundry, they spread the garments flat and draped them over thick ropes. If there were too many clothes, the courtyard would be filled with fluttering robes, not only blocking one's view but also obstructing the path.

With hangers, that trouble could be avoided.

The next day, Liu Zishi saw the courtyard's open view and the unusual way the clothes had been hung out to dry. He then understood the use of the hangers, and his admiration for Rong Xi grew still deeper.

With Rong Xi's permission, after arriving at Feng Carpentry, he told Feng Shan and his son the uses of every wooden item apart from the spirit tablet and the high-legged chair.

Feng Shan and his son were astonished again and again. "Lord Rong is truly a man of great talent!"

"My lord said Master may promote these things and provide convenience to the common people." Liu Zishi was proud as though he himself had received the honor.

Feng Shan had taught Liu Zishi martial arts, a genuine kindness. Rong Xi did not wish to repay it with money or silk, so he used this method instead, and it greatly pleased Feng Shan.

"Thank Lord Rong many times on your master's behalf," Feng Shan replied with a hearty laugh.

And so, Rong Xi taught Liu Zishi to read in the mornings and taught Lady Jiang the art of stir-frying in the afternoons. His days became rather leisurely and pleasant.

Author's note: