Tled by Serena Love

Unedited

Chapter 57: Hot and Sour Fern-Root Noodles

After Xu-shi and Zhou-shi left, Jiang Shuyao asked the maids to bring in the remaining roast duck.

Xie Xun changed into his official uniform and came back to the east wing. He saw the roast duck on the table, and his mood warmed up, "Is this for me?"

Jiang Shuyao hesitated for a moment and nodded with a guilty conscience, "Yeah." She originally planned to keep a whole duck for Xie Xun, but they had a big appetite, and only half a duck was left.

Xie Xun quietly breathed a sigh of relief when he heard her affirmative reply.

Then he froze for a while. Isn't it right? Why so nervous about this?

Throwing the doubts happily, Xie Xun quickly solved the roast duck and the lotus leaf buns dipped in sauce.

Usually, he would go to the study to read a book after dinner and then return to the east wing when it was time to rest.

But today, instead of going to the study to read, he followed Jiang Shuyao to the kitchen.

Jiang Shuyao was busy preparing food for tomorrow and ignored him.

He coughed slightly, "Did you eat with eldest sister-in-law and second-sister-in-law?"

"Yes, what's the matter?" Jiang Shuyao continued working her hands.

"Well, it's nothing. I just ask." Xie Xun said vaguely.

Jiang Shuyao didn't care and continued what she was doing.

Xie Xun watched quietly and then suddenly said, "Does eldest sister-in-law often bring her children over?"

Jiang Shuyao stopped her hands, wiped them, and frowned at him, "No, why are you asking about this?" It sounds strange.

Xie Xun also didn't understand why he asked this and said uncomfortably, "Nothing, but I just think that you are bored in the yard all the time, and it's okay for you to walk around." His words were both sincere and insincere.

"Of course." Jiang Shuyao packed up the ingredients that she would use tomorrow, turned around, and walked out of the small kitchen. She said, "Especially the second sister-in-law. Second sister-in-law... you know, she has a life-saving grace for me. I also sympathize for her experience, and I want to accompany her more, to comfort her."

Xie Xun followed behind her, listening in silence.

This is the first time that she talked about the second branch matter to Xie Xun in a serious manner and said, "To be honest, she is very sad. I think if second sister-in-law can forget her worries when she is with me, and can enjoy food happily, that's great! Isn't that the essence of food?"

It is not good to talk bad about his brother in front of Xie Xun. Jiang Shuyao was a little embarrassed after she finished speaking and stopped talking.

Xie Xun watched her getting into the east wing, stood in the yard for a while, and thinking in silence.

Even if Jiang Shuyao didn't confide in him, he could understand her concerns. Thinking of his second brother's mess with his concubines, he couldn't help but sigh.

With the second branch's example, no matter how he wanted to avoid it, he had to work hard to prove to her that he and the second brother are not the same kind.

He doesn't know how difficult the road ahead, or whether he can do it.

Xie Xun walked under the moonlight while thinking and unknowingly walked to Qushui Pavilion. When he looked up, he saw his two brothers again.

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But today, they were not playing chess but were enjoying the moon and drinking.

The two were drunk, lying on the table as if they were dreaming.

He knows his two brothers. Tomorrow is not a day off, but the two drink without restraint. Most likely, they are sad and had difficulties.

His gaze fell on Xie Lang, who was frowning and muttering vaguely, and then looked at the slumbering Xie Li next to him. It must have been his eldest brother dragged to drink by his second elder brother.

He was about to turn around and walk away when he suddenly heard a loud "bang--"

Xie Lang was completely drunk and didn't place his head on the table properly. He was crooked and fell from the stone table, firmly to the ground.

The ground was cold and hard. Xie Lang gasped in pain, but it did not sober him up. He was twisting on the ground a few times and unable to turn over, then he simply lay on the floor.

Xie Xun paused.

His brother fell to the ground. How could he watch idly?

He rushed and strode forward to Xie Lang. His second brother is lying on the ground, his face full of pain. He didn't seem to fall lightly. He was still in pain after so long.

Although it was summer, it was still cold on the ground. It was not good to lie down like this. He had to get up quickly.

So Xie Xun looked worried and anxiously... lifted his right foot and kicked Xie Lang's leg.

Hey, no response.

Xie Xun kept his hands on his back and switched to kicking his arm with his left foot.

Still no response. Why is he so drunk?

He sighed quietly and wandered away with his hands behind his back.

Not far from Qushui Pavilion, he ran into a passing maid. He stopped the person, "Go to the first branch and tell the lady that the eldest brother fell asleep at Qushui pavilion, so that she will send someone over to help him back, so he won't catch a cold."

The maid curtsied and hurried to the first branch.

As for his second elder brother, he didn't know who to call with the mess in his courtyard. So he simply waited for his eldest sister-in-law to send someone for his eldest brother and pick him up on the way. However, they would have to call for more manpower and let him lie on the ground for a while.

After Xie Xun's heart felt more relieved and when he returned, he felt much more comfortable.

In the evening, when he went to the bedroom with Jiang Shuyao, his tone became more relaxed, and he went gossiping with her, "How is my mother-in-law?"

Jiang Shuyao is very interested in this topic, "Mother said that she plans to open some restaurants in other docks, one after another, and then plan to open more restaurants. I think she wants to make the brand bigger."

"That's good, just opening one restaurant is a waste of your recipes and methods."

Jiang Shuyao sighed, "I don't know how these restaurants will be."

Xie Xun said, "If you are curious, let's see if we can go."

Jiang Shuyao raised her head to look at him, "Really?"

"Naturally. We should take it seriously." Her appearance amused Xie Xun. "I will accompany you and do whatever you want."

Jiang Shuyao was slightly stunned.

The light in the room was dim, and Xie Xun couldn't see her expression clearly, "You can tell me what you want and think in the future. Since I promised to take good care of you, I won't break my promise."

To some extent, Jiang Shuyao has something in common with the Zhou-shi when she was just married to the Xie family. Xie Xun thought about Xie Lang and Zhou-shi's current relationship and added, "Don't worry too much in front of me. Don't act with restraint, I... I don't want to see you become second sister-in-law."

He didn't hear Jiang Shuyao's answer for a long time after he finished speaking, and when he thought she would not answer, she suddenly approach him.

Jiang Shuyao looked at his eyes earnestly and said softly, "Xie Boyuan, you have to do what you say."

Her warm breath sprayed on his face, causing half of his cheeks to feel numb for a moment, and his mind went blank. It took him a long time to utter the word "Okay."

As soon as the voice fell, a sound suddenly came from outside the door to break the two's hazy atmosphere.

"Miss, the fourth young master's stomach has a problem. The first branch asked for a doctor and alarmed the old madam."

Jiang Shuyao was startled and suddenly sat up from the bed.

Xie Xun was also startled. He quickly got up, put on his robe, and then opened the door to let Bai Zhi in.

Bai Zhi told the whole story roughly.

Xie Yao's body was weak. For him, vomiting twice in one night was a serious matter. Jiang Shuyao and Xie Xun rushed to the first branch worriedly.

When she arrived at the first branch, the old madam was there and asked Xu-shi with a calm face.

Seeing Jiang Shuyao was coming, she immediately aimed the fire at Jiang Shuyao. After all, Xie Yao had a bad stomach at her place.

The doctor came out just after she started.

The old madam shut up immediately and looked at the doctor anxiously.

"It's just that he ate too much food. I think the dinner was a bit greasy. The little boy feels uncomfortable in his stomach, so he just vomits it out.

It was a false alarm, and everyone was relieved.

But the old madam is here, so this matter can't be lightly dismissed just because Xie Yao is not in serious trouble.

The old madam asked about Xie Yao's dinner carefully, and she was dissatisfied, "Duck skin is fatty, and Ah Yao has a bad body. How did you let him eat so much?"

Xu-shi tried to defend her, "Ah Yao is already much better, and he rarely has such a good appetite. I saw him eating happily--"

The old madam interrupted her displeasedly, "Okay, let's find so many excuses to do something bad."

Xu-shi had no choice but to bow her head and said, "Daughter-in-law knows it was wrong."

"He is your son, and when he is sick, you are the one who feel uncomfortable. It is useless for me, an old lady, to say too much, but you--" The old madam cast her eyes on Jiang Shuyao, "I will punish you for this. Do you agree?"

Jiang Shuyao hadn't spoken yet, Xie Xun was ready to speak out to defend her, "Mother..."

As soon as he said the word, he saw Xu-shi winking at him.

Originally, the old madam was only going to punish lightly. After all, Jiang Shuyao was indeed responsible. But if Xie Xun opened his mouth to help her, the old lady might not give a simple punishment.

"I accept the punishment." Jiang Shuyao said. She was worried about Xie Yao and felt guilty and uneasy. "I will accept whatever punishment was imposed." It was indeed her negligence.

The old madam softened her tone after seeing the worried and anxious look on her face, "This matter was caused by eating too much, so please seal up your small kitchen for ten days."

For Jiang Shuyao, this was indeed a punishment.

She nodded, "Okay."

"I will send someone over tomorrow morning." The old lady was too old and tired after tossing so much once. She didn't want to say anymore, "Okay, you can go in and see Ah Yao."

After she finished speaking, Jiang Shuyao immediately got into the inner room. Xie Xun was about to follow her but was stopped by the old madam.

She had just watched Xie Xun and Jiang Shuyao enter the courtyard together, and she felt strange. Now she saw him with a gloomy expression after hearing her punishment. He looked uncomfortable and distressed. The old madam felt even more unpleasant, "I punish her, and you are not happy?"

Xie Xun looked at the old madam and was speechless.

What effect does the closing of the small kitchen have on Jiang Shuyao? She has been eating in the second branch recently, so she can cook and eat over there.

He is different. His lunch and even dinner have to be cooked in the small kitchen.

Rather than punishing Jiang-shi, the old madam is torturing her son.

He said depressedly, "Mother, go back to sleep. I'm going in first to see Ah Yao."

The old madam was left in confusion.

＊

Before the old lady sent someone to seal the small kitchen early in the morning, Jiang Shuyao made Xie Xun's last lunch and packed it for him.

Xie Xun carried the food box to the East Palace, looking unhappy.

The bruises and blood on his forehead had dissipated, only leaving behind a shallow trace. With his very cold expression today, it is inevitable that everyone will guess about what happened.

When it was time for lunch, Xie Xun opened the food box to prepare his meal.

Probably because this would be his last lunch box for a while, Jiang Shuyao specially made a big bowl for him. This one meal worth two the usual meals.

Xie Xun's face became more resentful when he thought about this, making his face even colder. Everyone was so scared that no one was sitting at the table around him.

Lin Cheng came forward as always, and before he had time to guess what surprises would be eaten today, Xie Xun lifted the lid, and a strong sour and spicy aroma flowed out.

There is a large porcelain bowl in the food box, and the white bowl is lined with a clear brown soup. The contrast of colors is very eye-catching.

The porcelain bowl is filled with fern-root noodles sprinkled with chopped peanuts, green onion, and chicken shreds. The black fern-root noodles make the finely chopped red pepper extra eye-catching. The soup is watery and looked cool.

Jiang Shuyao processed all the chili peppers that Lin-shi sent and wanted to test the taste of chili. Today, she specially made hot and sour fern-root noodles containing both diced red pepper and some pickled peppers. As a result, the fern-root noodles have a unique sour scent of pickled peppers, which smells refreshing.

Seeing the large portion, Xie Xun simply gave Lin Cheng half a bowl of noodles.

After the two separates, they immediately lowered their heads and ate.

The fern-root noodles are smooth. After being soaked in the cold soup, the smoothness becomes more obvious and easily slid with chopsticks. Compared with rice noodles, it is more refreshing, non-sticky, and crisp in the tenderness.

The soup is refreshing and does not stick on the fern-root noodles. Making the fern-root powder have a unique taste of soup water. The smooth and tender fern-root powder is a perfect combination of the hot and sour soup base constantly dripping away. Together, people can't help but take a big breath while eating.

As soon as he tasted it, a strong hot and sour taste instantly filled his mouth. Both the acidity of vinegar and pickled peppers, combined with the spicy taste, spread from the tip to the base of the tongue. It was crisp and numbing. The sourness was so refreshing that it made saliva gushing out like a spring.

However, this hot and sour is not thick and heavy, but a cool and refreshing, hot and sour. It is appetizing and relieving greasiness.

It is tender and refreshing, delicious and sour. You can't stop after a bite. The sour and spicy taste is so overbearing.

After sucking and eating for a few mouthfuls, the spicy numbness on the tip of his tongue gradually climbed up, and Xie Xun picked up a cup of tea and poured it into his mouth.

The tea was hot, and the spicy sensation on the tip of his tongue was enlarged countless times at that moment. Xie Xun hurriedly put down the teacup, but the spicy sensation lingered on the tip of his tongue. It was so hot that his forehead was sweaty, and his eyes were full of tears.

One person saw it first. Then one by one, and the whole room saw Xie Xun's force holding back the tears in his eyes.

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The bluish-purple on the forehead, and the gloom at the time combined, is enough to make up a sorrowful story.

Thinking like this, they cast their eyes on Lin Cheng.

As a close friend, Lin Cheng must know what happened to Xie Xun.

Lin Cheng, who everyone was watching, raised his head at this time. A line of tears suddenly slipped down from the corner of his eyes. Then with a "Pata" sound, his chopsticks dropped on the table.

Everyone: ?!

A man does not raise his head when he has tears! What happened?!

They leaned over to Lin Cheng to persuade him, but Lin Cheng wiped away his tears and hissed, "What are you talking about?"

In the mentality that he can't be crying of spiciness by himself, Xie Xun said, "This fern-root noodles is very delicious. Would you like to try it?"

Everyone was confused and came over with their small bowls.

...

When the crown prince came back to the East Palace from the Central Palace, he stopped by as he passed the East Palace's dining room. He was preparing to express condolences to the officials for the poor meals.

As soon as he entered the door, he felt like he was struck by lightning.

The people in the room were standing or sitting, all with tears and red eyes. Some even wiped their tears while sniffing!

The dark aura in front of him almost frightens him.

What sort of big mistake in the political affairs made the East Palace officials cry together silently like this?!

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