Uncle Fu asked, "What are you looking for?"
Gu Moran opened his palm and looked at the lines on it.
"You can learn these ruthless moves in three days."
Uncle Fu remained silent for a moment.
"Your Highness, last-minute preparations are easy to injure yourself."
Gu Moran withdrew his hand and put it into his sleeve.
"It's better to be injured than killed. I don't intend to fight head-on, but I have to be careful. I'll recruit as many assassins of the Sixth Rank or above as possible from the capital."
Uncle Fu lowered his head, his expression somewhat unpleasant.
"Your Highness... all those of the Sixth Rank and above in the capital are in the palace, and the remaining few who are close to the Sixth Rank have been taken in by the Crown Prince and the Second Prince."
"So, everyone in our Prince Yi's Residence is useless?"
"Your Highness, do not panic. Her Majesty has secretly dispatched two Sixth Rank bodyguards for you. However, in this old servant's opinion, you should first take a look at Madam Lin. The Grand Commandant is the most powerful warrior in the capital, a mid-level Second Rank official. Madam Lin is also close to Sixth Rank official, and your Madam Murong is no less formidable."
Upon hearing this, Gu Moran raised an eyebrow.
Are these two tough nuts to crack, both highly skilled?
It seems we chose the right path from the very beginning.
Uncle Fu bowed and stepped back. As he walked to the door, he turned back again.
"Your Highness, please rest. This old servant will go and inform Boss Zhao."
"By the way, Madam Shen is preparing for the victory celebration banquet tonight."
Gu Moran looked up.
What's she up to now?
Uncle Fu said, " Madam Xie has brought honor to the Prince's Mansion, and Madam Shen said that not celebrating would be a disservice to those poems."
Gu Moran chuckled.
"Her celebration was a pretense; she really wanted to attend the banquet."
"Very well, to be honest, I have never had a reunion dinner with my six wives."
The sun is moving westward.
Shen Ling'er stood at the entrance of the front hall with a plate of pine nut candy in her hand. The aroma of osmanthus wine wafted from the mouth of the jar in Cui'er's arms. She smelled it and then peeked into the kitchen.
" Uncle Fu, is there enough food?"
Uncle Fu closed the ledger.
" Madam Shen, this is the fourth time you've asked that."
Shen Ling'er placed the sugar dish on the table, dipped her fingertips in the sugar frosting, and immediately hid it in her sleeve.
That's not enough.
Uncle Fu glanced at the kitchen.
"We have chicken, duck, fish, and meat."
"The pork knuckle is missing."
Shen Ling'er clapped her hands.
"Damn it, how could I forget my husband's favorite? I want a big one, stewed until it falls apart with a chopstick."
Uncle Fu said, "His Highness is still in the study."
Shen Ling'er waved her hand.
"He's busy with his own things, and Zhouzi is busy with his own."
Holding the wine jar, Cui'er asked softly, "Madam, didn't Madam Su say she was unwell? Will she really come?"
Shen Ling'er took a bite of a pine nut candy.
"Meeting."
She swallowed the candy and said mysteriously.
" Sister Su asked me for medicine to treat my sore throat and swollen cheeks."
Uncle Fu looked at her.
Shen Ling'er immediately raised her hand.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm a doctor with a compassionate heart, not someone who talks nonsense."
At three-quarters past the hour of You (5:45 PM), a round table was set up in the front hall.
When Gu Moran entered, there were already four people sitting at the table.
Shen Ling'er was closest to the kitchen, with pine nut candies in front of her, and a bulge in her left sleeve.
Xie Wanqing sat to her right, her hands on her knees, her back still straight, and her lips slightly looser than usual.
Murong Xue sat on the outside, her gaze constantly drifting towards the kitchen doorway.
Su Yao sat opposite Xie Wanqing, a glass of warm water in front of her, while Biyu stood behind her, holding a small porcelain bottle for soothing her throat.
Gu Moran sat down in the main seat and tapped her chopsticks lightly on the rim of her bowl twice.
"Not everyone is here?"
Shen Ling'er had a candy in her mouth.
" Sister Lin said she can't come."
"Reason."
" Zitang said, 'Miss isn't hungry.'"
Gu Moran turned to look at Uncle Fu.
"Has the kitchen at Iron Plum Courtyard been open for cooking today?"
Uncle Fu answered quickly.
"No."
Shen Ling'er laughed out loud.
"She's not hungry; she hasn't even touched a snack today."
Before the words were finished, footsteps arrived at the door.
Lin Qingdai stepped over the threshold, first looked at the table, then at Gu Moran, and finally sat down in the seat furthest away from him.
Zitang followed behind, keeping her voice low.
"The young lady came because she smelled the pork knuckle."
Lin Qingdai turned around and glared at her.
Zitang lowered her head and shut her mouth.
Gu Moran placed the chopsticks horizontally on the table.
"My beloved concubine, aren't you hungry?"
Lin Qingdai picked up her teacup.
I've come to see how bad your table manners are.
Shen Ling'er rested her chin on her hand.
"Want to grab a couple of bowls of food after watching?"
Lin Qingdai ignored her.
Gu Moran looked at the empty seat.
Where is Liu Ruyan?
Shen Ling'er glanced towards Misty Waters Courtyard.
Sister Liu doesn't like to join in the fun.
Gu Moran towards the door.
"Go to Misty Waters Courtyard and tell the Prince that there's crab roe tofu on the table that she likes, but it won't taste good when it's cold."
The maidservant responded and ran away.
Shen Ling'er blinked.
How did you know Sister Liu likes to eat this?
Gu Moran used the tea lid to stir the tea leaves.
"The woman I married doesn't even know what she likes to eat. What kind of considerate and good husband is she?"
Su Yao picked up the cup of warm water, brought the rim to her lips, and said nothing.
Xie Wanqing lowered her eyes, her fingertips gently pressing down on her knees.
Lin Qingdai snorted coldly.
"Rhetoric."
Gu Moran looked at her.
" Madam Lin also has one."
Lin Qingdai looked up.
What do I have?
"Pork knuckle."
Lin Qingdai put down her teacup.
"Glib and smooth-talking."
After an incense stick had burned, Liu Ruyan arrived.
She changed into a pale white casual dress, tied her hair up with a wooden hairpin, and wore no makeup. She walked slowly, but did not hide.
She curtsied in greeting.
"You're late."
Gu Moran pointed to the empty seat.
"Perfect timing, the food is just right."
Liu Ruyan took her seat.
Gu Moran slammed his hand on the table.
"Everything's ready, let's serve the dishes."
The kitchen staff brought in a tray; eighteen dishes filled the round table.
In the very center is a large, dark red pork knuckle, its skin glistening, steam rising with the aroma of meat. The osmanthus wine has been opened, but the alcoholic flavor has been suppressed.
Murong Xue was the fastest; she drew a dagger from her waist and slashed at the elbow.
Lin Qingdai used her chopsticks to block the blade.
The tip of the knife was only half an inch away from the skin of the meat.
The chopsticks landed on the side of the knife, requiring little force, yet they deflected the blade's path.
Gu Moran stopped in her tracks as she was about to pick up some food.
That's enough to see.
Murong Xue was swift, her blade flashing without hesitation.
Lin Qingdai was steady and controlled her wrists.
In a real fight, one side will strike first at the opponent's vital points, while the other will counter with a counterattack.
Gu Moran picked up a peanut, popped it into his mouth, and as the salty aroma filled his mouth, he immediately imagined the two of them in the training ground.
Murong Xue is a good teacher to teach him how to avoid being killed in one blow.
Lin Qingdai is suitable to teach him how to control the chaotic Sixth Rank qi and blood within his hands and feet.
very good.
This braised pork knuckle tonight was well worth it.
Lin Qingdai looked at Murong Xue and said unhappily.
"Using a knife for eating?"
Murong Xue looked up.
"On the grasslands, you should use a knife to eat meat."
Lin Qingdai said, "This is the Prince's Mansion in the capital."
Murong Xue said, "The meat from the Prince's mansion must also be cut."
Lin Qingdai said, "Chopsticks can pick it up."
Murong Xue said, "Your chopsticks are too slow."
Lin Qingdai pressed her wrist down.
Bringing a knife to the table is unsightly.
Murong Xue pushed the dagger forward half an inch.
"Even fighting has to be aesthetically pleasing?"
Lin Qingdai looked at her.
Eating is not fighting.
Murong Xue replied quickly.
"Just grab the meat."
Shen Ling'er popped the pine nut candy into her mouth, chewing as she looked around.
"Let's fight! Let's fight!"
Su Yao looked at her.
Shen Ling'er immediately changed her tune.
"I was just reminding them not to break the table."