See the situation.
Gu Moran quickly reached out with his chopsticks, tore off a large piece of meat from the pork knuckle, and put it into Murong Xue's bowl.
He tore off another piece and put it into Lin Qingdai's bowl.
"One is faster with a knife, the other is steady with chopsticks; both have their points."
"But tonight, eat what I've set aside first."
Lin Qingdai looked at the meat in the bowl.
"You're good at smoothing things over."
Gu Moran also picked up a piece for himself.
"Playing the field is also a skill."
Murong Xue sheathed her dagger and lowered her head to eat the meat.
Lin Qingdai poked the piece of meat with her chopsticks, then picked it up and ate it.
Gu Moran picked up a piece of stir-fried yam with his chopsticks and placed it on the edge of Su Yao's bowl.
The yam slices were still steaming hot, just right for her throat today.
Su Yao looked at the bowl.
Gu Moran put the chopsticks away.
"Eat something light."
Shen Ling'er immediately looked up.
"My husband is biased."
Gu Moran picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and put it into her bowl.
"You still have a few candies hidden in your sleeve pocket?"
Shen Ling'er stopped talking.
What sleeve pocket?
Gu Moran tapped her left sleeve with his chopsticks.
"It's bulging out."
Shen Ling'er pulled her hand back.
"Nonsense, that's a handkerchief."
The handkerchief won't make a sound.
Cui'er stood behind, her shoulders trembling from holding back her emotions.
Shen Ling'er took out three pine nut candies from her sleeve pocket and slapped them on the table.
"Fine, fine, are your ears made of dog ears?"
Gu Moran didn't respond to that, but turned around and put a piece of steamed sea bass on Xie Wanqing's plate.
The fish meat is tender and white, with a light soy sauce aroma.
Xie Wanqing caught it.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Gu Moran looked at the empty teacup beside her.
"You won beautifully on the poetry stage, eat more tonight."
Xie Wanqing pursed her lips.
"I just did what I was supposed to do."
Shen Ling'er immediately responded.
"Eat, eat, eat! The Prince's reputation rests on your shoulders!"
Murong Xue gnawed on a bone.
"In the Northern Territory, those who have rendered meritorious service get to pick the meat first."
Lin Qingdai looked at her.
"You barbarian lands of the Northern Territory, do you really think you'd lack meat?"
Murong Xue glanced at her.
"What do people who have never seen the vastness of the world know? Only meat is truly substantial."
Gu Moran let them bicker, her chopsticks stopping in front of the crab roe tofu.
Liu Ruyan sat diagonally opposite, the dish was not far from her, but since she sat down, her chopsticks had only moved within three inches of her face.
She was unusually quiet.
Gu Moran picked up a piece of crab roe tofu and put it in her bowl.
Liu Ruyan looked up at him.
The steam between them carried the aroma of crab roe, but she didn't touch her chopsticks.
Gu Moran, "Try it, the kitchen stewed it quite well."
Liu Ruyan looked at him for a moment.
He put the tofu in his mouth, chewed it twice, and swallowed.
After a while, Xie Wanqing put down her chopsticks, picked up a piece of stir-fried yam, and put it into Su Yao's bowl.
Su Yao's chopsticks stopped in mid-air.
She turned to look at Xie Wanqing.
Xie Wanqing did not look up.
" Sister Su's throat isn't fully recovered yet, so yam can soothe it."
Su Yao looked at the yam in the bowl.
A moment later, she picked it up and ate it.
Shen Ling'er slammed her hand on the table opposite her.
"Well, everyone's learned how to use their chopsticks to pick up food, but I'm the only one nobody cares about."
Murong Xue didn't even look up, and tossed a piece of pork knuckle skin from her bowl into Shen Ling'er's bowl.
Shen Ling'er frowned as she looked at the glistening piece of flesh.
I don't eat fatty foods.
Murong Xue gnawed on a bone.
"On the grasslands, the fattest meat is given to those closest to you."
Shen Ling'er paused, then looked down at the fleshy skin, and became happy.
"Then I'll eat it, even if I have to."
Lin Qingdai snorted beside her.
"Whom did you give yourself to on the grasslands?"
Murong Xue replied quickly.
"My horse."
Shen Ling'er covered her mouth, almost bursting out laughing.
Gu Moran sat in the main seat and rubbed his head.
This table is too noisy.
Half an hour later, only leftover food remained on the table.
Xie Wanqing got up to help clear the table, her eyes reddening, but she held back her tears.
Shen Ling'er grabbed her shoulder.
"What's wrong? Aren't you full? Your eyes are red."
Xie Wanqing sniffed.
"I haven't eaten like this in a long time since my mother passed away."
Shen Ling'er slipped a pine nut candy into her hand.
"Then we'll eat it often from now on."
Xie Wanqing held the candy, but didn't put it in her mouth immediately.
As Su Yao stood up, she glanced at Gu Moran.
This gaze lasted longer than usual.
She didn't say anything, and turned to leave.
Biyu quickly followed.
The system panel lit up at the edge of Gu Moran's line of sight.
[Group dining among women triggers a sense of belonging]
[ Su Yao's favorability +2, currently 11.]
[ Shen Ling'er's favorability +1, currently 53.]
[ Murong Xue's favorability +3, current -20.]
[ Liu Ruyan's favorability +2, currently -11.]
[ Lin Qingdai's favorability +10, current -54.]
[ Xie Wanqing's favorability +3, currently 53.]
Gu Moran turned off the control panel and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.
A total of thirty-two.
Given the system's usual practices, the next reward tier will most likely be capped at fifty or one hundred.
This meal was worthwhile.
Especially that clinking of the knife and chopsticks.
wonderful.
He left the front hall and returned to his study.
Uncle Fu entered through the side door, looking rather unwell.
"Your Highness, Boss Zhao has sent an urgent reply."
Gu Moran took the note and read it by candlelight.
The abandoned Hong Martial Arts School in Shun'an Lane in the south of the city was anonymously bought up today and has been reopened.
The money involved went through three different channels before finally being traced back to the Jizhou Chamber of Commerce.
Gu Moran folded the strip and tucked it into her sleeve.
Jizhou Chamber of Commerce.
Uncle Fu lowered his voice.
"It's the chamber of commerce that sponsored Ye Qingyun's trip to Beijing; Zhou Wenyuan is behind it."
Gu Moran walked towards the study.
"They bought Ye Qingyun a training ground."
Uncle Fu followed.
"Your Highness, shall we stir it up?"
Gu Moran pushed open the study door and turned to look at him.
"Stir?"
Uncle Fu stopped at the door.
"He's practicing too fast; Your Highness could be in danger."
Gu Moran entered the study and closed the door behind her.
The candlelight fell on his face, and the relaxed atmosphere at the dinner table vanished.
"Don't panic, panic will only lead to chaos. Ye Qingyun now owns a martial arts school and people are even giving him money."
"Your Highness, you should think about what you have and how to win in one fell swoop."
What do I have?
He looked down at his hands, which had just reached the Sixth Rank but had never practiced any moves.
The image of Murong Xue drawing her knife and slicing a pork knuckle flashed through his mind.
Lin Qingdai's wrist, which was pressing down on the knife with chopsticks, dodged again.
She looked up at Uncle Fu.
"I don't know any martial arts techniques, but I have the status of a prince, the secret guards assigned by my mother, you and Boss Zhao, and two wives who know martial arts."
Uncle Fu remained silent for a moment.
"Your Highness, please allow this old servant to speak."
"We haven't received any news from the Grand Commandant's Residence yet. Perhaps we should ask Madam for her guidance first?"
Gu Moran placed the map of the hidden agents in the capital on his desk.
"Say 'please' instead of being so formal."
Uncle Fu asked, "And His Highness?"
Gu Moran picked up the folding fan and clapped his hands.
"I've been looking to improve myself lately and want to learn a couple of moves to strengthen my body and, incidentally, for self-defense. As your wife, I naturally want to share your burdens."
Uncle Fu looked at him.
"Didn't His Highness say he wouldn't do it himself?"
" Uncle Fu, it's always good to be prepared; you need to be strong yourself to succeed."
"Would Madam Murong believe that?"
Whether she believes it or not doesn't matter.
"As long as she's willing to hit me."
Uncle Fu then asked, "Where is Madam Lin?"
Gu Moran closed his fan.
"She's simpler."
Send over an even bigger pork knuckle.
Uncle Fu paused for a moment, then nodded.
Gu Moran looked out the window at the darkening sky and lowered his voice.
Ye Qingyun has a martial arts school where he practices.
"I have my wife with me."
"Moreover, I am kind-hearted."
He put down his folding fan.
"If Ye Qingyun wants fame, then let him see it."
"He wants to prove himself, so I'll give him a stage that the entire capital can see."