The bowl of beef noodles in front of him made Xu Junying's appetite growl. The green vegetables, the white scallions, the brown beef slices were stacked on the smooth and even noodles, and the amber noodle soup was fragrant and tempting. He looked at Mei Niang and said, "Is this made by Madam Cai? Why haven't I seen her make noodles like this before?"
"You have to think about what you want to eat and tell her, then she will make it. Otherwise, she can only make what she is used to eating every day."
Mei Niang handed him the chopsticks with a smile: "This is the beef noodles that our Tsinghua Academy requested. Eat it while it's hot, Lord Hou!"
"You really don't want to eat? Share some!"
"I can't eat anymore. I ate too much for dinner."
Mei Niang picked up the chopsticks, picked up a piece of kimchi and put it into her mouth: "This is good for your appetite and digestion, you can eat it for fun!"
Xu Junying looked at the three or four small dishes on the table and asked, "Are these the side dishes you mentioned for the noodles?"
Mei Niang nodded: "Everyone has their own preferences. If you like pure fresh flavors, then don't use it. Lord Hou can try it. It's delicious, but a little sour and spicy!"
Xu Junying picked up a little and put it into his mouth, frowning: "You call it a little spicy? This is too spicy! How can you eat it?"
Mei Niang saw him gasping for air because of the spiciness, and smiled with her eyes curved. She picked up a candied fruit from the fruit plate and put it on his plate, letting him hold it in his mouth. She said, "This is called spicy cabbage. The kitchen put too much chili in this batch. But many people in the mansion like to eat it. Didn't you see that the old lady ordered a plate for every meal? The second wife can eat it too, and even the younger sisters like to eat some."
Xu Junying chewed the candied dates slowly, and the spicy taste in his mouth disappeared. He thought it was strange: "Sweetness can actually eliminate spicy taste!"
Mei Niang smiled and said, "Sweetness can reduce spiciness. I just learned this. Before, I only knew that sweetness can reduce saltiness."
"Did someone tell you?"
"Yes, a friend, she..."
Mei Niang paused. It would be hard to tell him about Lin Runan's hobbies, right? He ate salty food and spicy food, and then he ate spicy food and sweet food.
Seeing that she was only halfway through her sentence, Xu Junying stopped asking and lowered his head to finish his noodles.
Cui Xi and Cui Si poured warm water and hot tea to wash their hands and rinse their mouths. Cui Lian asked the little maid to come in and clean up the dishes and wipe the low table. Xu Junying pointed to two brocade boxes placed aside and said to Mei Niang, "I saw the Queen's reward. She asked the eunuch to bring it to me with a message: two copies, no matter how thick or thin. I asked why it was two copies, and the eunuch said that Madam Hou would understand!"
Mei Niang thought about it and decided not to mention Lin Runan. The emperor and the queen were so affectionate that they might not know who the queen's girlfriends were from the beginning. It was not until she pleaded for Lin Changqing that she told him the reason. She said that this case had implicated her good friend Lin Runan. It would only take a word for the emperor to agree to her request. Maybe he would just agree and that would be it. She would not take it to heart. No matter how good the relationship between Xu Junying and the emperor was, he would not know if the emperor did not tell him, so there was no need to tell him. She did not want Xu Junying to know that he and the queen had another relationship.
Mei Niang said: "I was just thinking about that. The Queen's reward is so generous!"
Xu Junying couldn't get anything out of the question, so even though he was curious, he had to give up. The two of them sat in silence for a while. Mei Niang asked Cui Xi to bring some tea. Xu Junying drank a cup of tea, said "let's take a break", and got up to go back to the east courtyard.
Mei Niang also quickly slipped off the bed, went into the inner room, and went to bed. Tomorrow was not an unknown, and things were arranged completely. She had to get up early to see Heng'er go to Jinhua Hall and Ziyun Hall. After finishing her "homework", she could run out of Xu Mansion, go to Xiankelai, go to Cen's house, and meet the King of Qi. It gave her a headache just thinking about it!
At noon, Xianmenlai was packed with guests, and all the seats from the first to the fourth floors were occupied.
Lu Xiangfeng accompanied Mei Niang, who had changed into apricot-red men's clothing, out of the back hall. As soon as they reached the center of the hall, they heard a shout: "Qin Er!"
She was so frightened that her legs went weak. She looked in the direction of the sound and saw a seat on the second floor next to the fence. Sure enough, the King of Qi was sitting there, leaning against the seat, pointing at her with a finger, his eyes gloomy, but there was no special expression on his face.
Mei Niang raised her hand and bowed to him from a distance, then turned to ask Lu Xiangfeng: "Why did you let this person sit there? Is there no private room?"
Lu Xiangfeng wiped the sweat from his forehead. "There are some things to sort out at the inn. I have been there all morning. I don't know when His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi came! He always comes to the inn to check on me once in the morning and evening these days. I followed Miss Lin's instructions and just said that you went away to visit an elder. He still comes, and every time he comes, he brings people with him. If there is no room in the private room, he sits outside. Sometimes, even if we have booked a private room, he will come out and sit casually. He doesn't ask for special care, but just says that he is not a guest and asks me to greet other guests!"
Mei Niang raised her head and glanced at the King of Qi again: "If he is not a guest, then what is he? Shouldn't we charge him money? He is yelling and shouting in public. Do you think he is letting people do business? How hateful!"
Lu Xiangfeng was frightened by her words and felt anxious. Before he could say anything, he quickly covered her face with his hands, as if this would block her voice from being heard.
Mei Niang tilted her head: "What are you doing?"
Lu Xiangfeng said, "Miss, please be careful with your words. If people hear this kind of words, you will be punished!"
Mei Niang chuckled: "If he wanted to criticize me, he would have done it a long time ago. In fact, he is not that scary. You just need to serve him well and don't let him get angry!"
After saying that, she let Lu Xiangfeng go and do his own thing. She imitated the men's actions, brushed her clothes, and walked upstairs.
Going up to the second floor and approaching the King of Qi, Mei Niang was stunned. She had expected that the King of Qi was not alone, but she had not expected that there were so many people around him!
Sitting around the table were not only Zhang Jingyun, Lingxuzi, and Lin Runan dressed as a man, but also Xu Junying!
This seat was completely hidden behind a row of carved partitions. People sitting here could have a panoramic view of everything downstairs, from the gate to the hall and the stage. However, people downstairs could not see what was going on behind the partitions. The King of Qi must have seen her just now and then ran to sit in that unobstructed space and called out to her deliberately.
Zhang Jingyun and Lingxuzi looked at her calmly. Xu Junying couldn't tell what was in her eyes. After King Qi glanced at her, he poured wine for himself. Lin Runan suddenly stamped her feet, and King Qi's wine spilled. He glared at Lin Runan and said, "If you move again, go sit in the private room!"
Lin Runan dragged out his voice and said, "I'm not that lucky, and I can't afford it!"
"You!" King Qi's face changed slightly, and he looked up at Mei Niang again: "What kind of friend are you making? You're like an old maple ball, it pricks people wherever you put it!"
"I, I'm Old Maple Ball?"
Lin Runan was annoyed, but she didn't dare to be too presumptuous. There would be no good results if she offended the King of Qi. She was impatient with the disturbance caused by the King of Qi these days.
"I wish I were Old Maple Ball. I could prick whoever I want!" she said angrily.
Mei Niang smiled at Lin Runan. She didn't know what the old maple ball they were talking about was. King Qi used it to describe Lin Runan's personality, so it should be a thorny person.
The King of Qi looked at her and said, "What are you laughing at? You laugh at everyone you see, even Manager Lu, but you don't like me! Tell me, where have you been these days? You only said you would take a break for two days, but you left me alone for five or six days. What kind of a master are you?"
Although Mei Niang was wearing a mask, it was somewhat unnatural to be so close to Xu Junying. She tried to get closer to Lin Runan and looked at the diners around her. She found that the tables nearby seemed to be occupied by the King of Qi's people, separating the King of Qi's table from the diners outside. Those tall and strong guards were not very quiet. They ate and drank and talked about something, not paying attention to what was going on here. She bowed slightly to the King of Qi and said:
"I'm sorry, Your Highness. One of my elders has been feeling unwell recently, so I went to visit him. I have already asked... asked Master Lin to tell you about this!"
As he spoke, he exchanged glances with Lin Runan. Lin Runan raised her chin towards King Qi and raised her eyebrows, which meant: Did you hear me? Did I lie to you
The King of Qi snorted, "You don't take my words seriously, do you? I told you not to play this trick on me again. The last punishment is not over yet, and you come again this time. Do you know how many times I ran to the Cen residence? Tell me, how should I punish you?"
Mei Niang glanced at Zhang Jingyun and Lingxuzi, lowered her eyes, and said, "I didn't mean it last time, but this time? Logically speaking, Your Highness can't punish me!"
The King of Qi raised his lips and said, "Tell me, why can't I punish you?"
"Your Highness just said that I am your master! Once I am your master..."
The King of Qi sat up straight and raised his hand to stop her: "Stop!"
Zhang Jingyun smiled and raised his glass to Lingxuzi and Xu Junying, saying, "Come on, let's have a drink together!"
Lin Runan laughed first, then looked up at Mei Niang, and couldn't help but giggle.
The King of Qi glared at her fiercely: "Shut up!"
"You can't do this to me. I'm your master's equal!" Lin Runan dodged his sharp gaze and said, "Actually, that's not what she said next!"
King Qi looked at Mei Niang: "What do you mean?"
Mei Niang said seriously: "Being a teacher for one day does not mean being a teacher for life. Everyone has strengths that others lack. We can learn from each other and become each other's teachers!"
"That's better." The King of Qi waved his hand and said, "You can choose for yourself. At least give me an explanation!"
Mei Niang glanced at the table and reached out to pick up Lin Runan's glass: "I offer a glass of wine to Your Highness. Your Highness, please feel free to do as you please. I'll drink it!"
The King of Qi watched her cover her face with her sleeves and finish the wine, and said, "That's it?"
Mei Niang asked, "What else do you want?"
The King of Qi pointed at Xu Junying, Zhang Jingyun, and Lingxuzi and said, "They are all my acquaintances. This is Marquis Weiyuan, this is Master Zhang, and this is Master Xia. Let's toast to each of them!"
Mei Niang looked at him and gritted her teeth secretly: Damn it, you think I'm a bar girl!
While complaining in his heart, Lin Runan had already poured the wine, stood up and said, "I'd like to toast to Weiyuan Hou on behalf of Master Cen..."
The King of Qi knocked on the table lightly: "Sit down! If you make any more trouble, I will lock you up in the private room!"
Lin Runan glanced at the door of the private room on the right, moved his lips, and sat down obediently.
Mei Niang also looked over there curiously. Why was Lin Runan afraid to go to the private room? What was inside
Seeing Meiyan's interest in the private room, the King of Qi felt a little uncomfortable and said in a deep voice: "Cen Meimei, drink your wine!" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.) (To be continued)