When Tang Zhuyun saw no sign of anger or frustration on the Prince of Jin's face, she couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. She couldn't be bothered with him, so she went back to the kitchen to finish cooking the noodles.
Old Madam He said, "Miss, I can take care of this. Why don't you make another couple of dishes? His Highness is here, after all!"
Tang Zhuyun didn't want to, but Old Madam He went on, "Even if you won't show the monk respect, you should show it to the Buddha. He's the emperor's own son. And who is the emperor? He's our master's master."
Her words were rough, but her reasoning was sound enough.
"All right, I'll make two more dishes," Tang Zhuyun said glumly.
She made crispy sweet-and-sour pork and stir-fried sliced melon with eggs, both of which Linlin liked.
Then she cooked Linlin's portion of noodles herself and carried everything in together on a tray.
Chang Zhi and Linlin were sitting in the lower seats, while the Prince of Jin sat at the head. None of them had started eating yet, and they were still talking about what had happened yesterday.
Chang Zhi was talking with spit flying, still full of enthusiasm, and was already addressing the Prince of Jin as a brother.
The Prince of Jin wore an indifferent expression, but he didn't interrupt him.
"Sister, what dishes did you make? You added these specially because His Highness came, didn't you?" Chang Zhi said dramatically.
Tang Zhuyun rolled her eyes. Didn't you just say that? Now you're putting on an act again, making it look as if I'm trying to curry favor with the Prince of Jin.
Heh, I'm afraid he'll think I have an ulterior motive.
So she set the dishes in front of Linlin and said, "Eat more. These noodles are yours. Go on."
Linlin obediently lowered his head and dug into his noodles. Chang Zhi awkwardly urged the Prince of Jin to eat his, then muttered, "Sister, did you run out of time today? Make us some mao xue wang another day, and that cold dish you toss together..."
"Mao xue wang isn't fit to serve on an occasion like this, but there is a cold dish. I'll have Xiu'er bring a plate in a moment." Tang Zhuyun didn't dare go too far, so she answered him.
As Linlin ate, he uncovered a fried egg with his chopsticks. Beside him, Chang Zhi had already slurped down a whole bowl of noodles, and there had been no egg in his.
Linlin couldn't help looking at Tang Zhuyun.
"None of them have eggs, only you do. You're a child, so you're the most precious," Tang Zhuyun said. "Eat up."
Chang Zhi: "..."
The way she put that...
He hurriedly explained to the Prince of Jin, "She didn't mean it that way. She meant an egg, not balls."
Tang Zhuyun was speechless. No one would have noticed if you hadn't said anything, not even me. The more you try to clear it up, the murkier it gets. Why are you explaining so hard?
She took Chang Zhi's bowl with a resentful huff and served him another bowl of noodles.
The Prince of Jin didn't wolf down his food. Compared with Chang Zhi, he was rather pleasing to watch.
But! Tang Zhuyun declared that she wouldn't be taken in. She knew what sort of man the Prince of Jin was, and he could forget about beguiling her with his looks.
Although a man's features sometimes influenced her values, when she herself was involved, she saw things with perfect clarity-scumbags, begone!
The Prince of Jin finished a bowl of noodles. Paired with the cold dish, they were unexpectedly delicious.
Plain food and simple fare, yet one of life's quiet pleasures.
It would have been even better if Tang Zhuyun hadn't kept slicing at him with looks like knives.
Had he offended her?
Even if something had happened at the flower-viewing banquet, hadn't she tried and failed to force herself on him?
He had even spoken up for her, hadn't he? Why on earth was she so hostile to him now?
He had never had much close contact with women. For the first time, he felt that women's love and hate both came so inexplicably.
The Prince of Jin finished the noodles in his bowl. They were rather good, and he wanted two more bowls.
He didn't expect Tang Zhuyun to serve him. He hadn't been born a favored son of heaven, and he was used to doing things himself, so he stood up, intending to get another bowl.
To his surprise, he had barely risen with his bowl when Tang Zhuyun said coolly, "You're a guest, Your Highness. Just leave the bowl and chopsticks for me to clear away. You don't need to lift a finger."
The Prince of Jin: "..."
Chang Zhi was a fool and let himself be led by the nose. "Your Highness, you're full already?" he asked in surprise. "You've eaten so little! Then have some more dishes."
The Prince of Jin had no choice but to put down his bowl and sit back down, pretending he really was full.
Linlin said, "Your Highness ate too little. You won't grow taller that way. But I suppose it doesn't matter. Your Highness is very tall."
The Prince of Jin: "..."
"Exactly. Instead of worrying about others, hurry up and eat properly so you can grow taller," Tang Zhuyun said, picking up a piece of crispy sweet-and-sour pork for him. "Don't you love sweet-and-sour food? Come on, eat more."
The meat looked strange. So it was sweet and sour?
The Prince of Jin, who hadn't eaten his fill, bobbed his Adam's apple. He rose and said, "I'm going out for a walk."
As Tang Zhuyun helped Linlin eat, Chang Zhi whispered, "What's wrong with you? Why are you deliberately picking on His Highness? I heard about what happened last time too. Don't tell me you're angry and embarrassed because you couldn't have him."
Tang Zhuyun said, "Pah! Who wants to have whom is hard to say!"
"Good heavens, keep your voice down," Chang Zhi said, glancing outside worriedly. "That's His Highness!"
Tang Zhuyun had done it on purpose. She hated the way the Prince of Jin looked at her with those "innocent" eyes.
Hmph, you think I don't know? Your lackey already spilled the beans!
He wanted to cling to her father's thigh and win him over to his side too. If she treated him nicely, she was afraid he'd latch onto her!
She wasn't stupid. An imperial prince like the Prince of Jin belonged to a high-risk group.
One wrong move and nine generations of her family would suffer. It was best to stay far away from him.
She didn't know what had gotten into the emperor, insisting on placing him at the Court of Judicial Review. It was so annoying.
The Prince of Jin stood in the courtyard, stroking Gale. Everyone in the capital knew he loved horses.
Then he saw Tang Zhuyun come out and go into the kitchen, before carrying out a plate of something.
It looked as though it was made of ice, with something white like milk poured over it, though that had set solid. Cut cherries and strawberries were scattered around it, and it looked delicious.
"Linlin, time for an ice bowl!"
Linlin cheered. "Oh, there's an ice bowl to eat!"
This was fruit ice cream Tang Zhuyun had developed herself. Some things the ancients did were beyond imagination too, such as storing ice in winter so they could use it all year round.
"You can't eat it all, or your stomach will hurt. And the uncles have all worked hard and never had any before. We should let them have a taste, shouldn't we?"
The Prince of Jin heard her speaking to Linlin, her manner gentle yet firm, and something stirred in his heart.
Soon, Chang Zhi came out with Linlin after finishing his meal, intending to teach him to ride. He even mocked himself, saying, "I'm swinging an axe in front of Lu Ban."
Linlin looked up at the Prince of Jin. "Your Highness, are you very good at riding?"
The Prince of Jin didn't know why, but when he met those bright, clear dark eyes, he felt a moment of tenderness.
He smiled and said, "I'm fairly good."
Chang Zhi laughed. "Your Highness is too modest. Come on, Linlin, get on the horse first."
"Get on what?" Tang Zhuyun said. "Didn't I say he just ate and needs to rest for a quarter of an hour first? You don't listen to me at all. Linlin, come here and take a walk with Auntie to rest a while."
Then she took Linlin by the hand and went out, saying as they walked, "Haven't I told you many times that you can't exercise vigorously right after eating? Your stomach and intestines are still delicate. How could they stand it? Your stomach and intestines are like a young girl; you have to take good care of them..."
The Prince of Jin watched her receding figure thoughtfully.
"Your Highness," Chang Zhi said, "I brought you here. Can you tell me the truth now? What exactly did you come here to do?"