Chu Dingjiang had meticulously planned this outing for two or three days, personally handling every detail down to the last wild vegetable. He had never put so much effort into any other scheme. Sighing, he reflected that while he had anticipated this situation to some extent, it wasn’t too bad. At least An Jiu trusted and relied on him, which was enough for now.

“A beard makes it inconvenient to cover one’s face,” he said calmly.

An Jiu nodded, accepting his explanation.

Not receiving the expected reaction, Chu Dingjiang made excuses for her in his mind, thinking that disregarding appearances was a virtuous quality.

Wanting to change the subject from his beard, he placed two pieces of meat in her bowl.

The perfectly marbled suckling pig meat sizzled with oil, its golden skin emanating an enticing aroma. As expected, An Jiu’s attention was diverted.

She quickly picked up a piece and put it in her mouth. The crispy skin, seasoned with salt and pepper and a hint of honey, was deliciously fragrant. Underneath, the meat was tender and juicy, melting in her mouth, while the lean parts provided a satisfying chew. Each bite left a lingering taste that further whetted her appetite. An Jiu ate several pieces in succession without feeling greasy at all.

Seeing her eyes sparkle, Chu Dingjiang resignedly thought that she was still like a child who hadn’t grown up inside. He was reminded of a young prodigy he had once known, who had an eidetic memory and vast knowledge, astonishing everyone. Yet this genius couldn’t tell grains apart, and after his family’s downfall, he starved to death within two or three months before anyone thought to check on him.

An Jiu wasn’t quite that bad, but her social skills were painfully lacking.

Chu Dingjiang brought the clay pot to the table.

While chewing meat, An Jiu stared at the chicken soup. The pot contained only a bare white chicken, looking plain and watery. However, when Chu Dingjiang turned the chicken over with long chopsticks and cut open the stitches on its belly with a knife, a rich aroma immediately wafted out.

An Jiu swallowed her mouthful of meat and eagerly picked up a chestnut.

Chu Dingjiang handed her a bowl of soup.

“Your cooking skills are impressive,” An Jiu managed to compliment between bites.

Chu Dingjiang’s spirits lifted. “After focusing on one thing for so many years, if I couldn’t develop some expertise, I might as well have died long ago.”

During those years on the run, the thing he pondered most each day was how to make delicious dishes with limited ingredients.

The past was too painful to recall!

While Chu Dingjiang sank into gloomy memories, An Jiu remained unaffected, devouring a pot of mushrooms and two large chicken legs like a whirlwind.

Not long after lunch, the sunlight turned golden red.

They lay on the grass, watching the clouds tinted red in the sky above, while the surrounding grass rustled in the evening breeze.

As darkness fell, Chu Dingjiang escorted An Jiu back to the palace gate.

In the night, two rows of palace lanterns hung on the battlements, illuminating the area in front of the city as bright as day.

After An Jiu had walked six or seven steps, she heard Chu Dingjiang say from behind, “Ah Jiu, Mei Yanran is staying in the courtyard next to yours. Find her, and I’ll arrange for you both to leave.”

She halted and turned back to see him in the dim lamplight, now wearing a dark cloak with a large hood covering most of his face. He had resumed his most common appearance.

“Will you come with us?” An Jiu remembered he had mentioned retiring together, and after today, she had developed some expectations.

“I will. I need to arrange everything, so I might be two or three months behind you.” Chu Dingjiang’s voice came from under the hood. “Go on now.”

An Jiu nodded and also donned a black cloak, concealing her face. She swiftly approached the city wall and passed through a hidden side door.

Upon returning to her quarters, An Jiu saw Sui Yunzhu and Li Qingzhi sitting on the steps in the courtyard. They both stood up to greet her as soon as she arrived.

“Did you buy the fried noodles?” Li Qingzhi asked eagerly.

An Jiu paused, then shook her head.

Li Qingzhi and Sui Yunzhu looked at each other in dismay.

“We didn’t buy any either…” Sui Yunzhu sighed. “One of you said you’d bring back something tasty, the other said you’d buy two bowls. I thought at least one of you would buy it.”

“I got carried away while out and only remembered on my way back. I figured you’d always think things through and would buy it, so I didn’t go out again,” Li Qingzhi had already explained many times. He asked An Jiu, “Weren’t you the first to suggest bringing back something tasty? Even if Yunzhu didn’t buy it, you should have!”

“About that…” She had completely forgotten as soon as she left the city gate!

“I bought some excellent tea leaves. Let’s take them to the master,” Sui Yunzhu said, then asked the other two, “What did you buy? Let’s take everything to pay our respects.”

Li Qingzhi immediately drew a short sword from his waist. “We can take this precious sword too.”

They both looked at An Jiu.

“I…” An Jiu felt her pockets and pulled out a white Yue kiln porcelain cup. She had found it beautiful and bought it on her way back to use for tea.

Sui Yunzhu accepted the cup without comment. “Good tea deserves a good cup. Perfect. Come with me to present these.”

The two reluctantly followed Sui Yunzhu to the eunuchs’ quarters in Gushe Palace.

It was rest time, and the eunuchs had quickly washed up and climbed into their shared beds. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the small courtyard fell quiet.

One eunuch remained in the yard, carrying water, while another emerged from the latrine, yawning and grumbling, “Don’t make too much noise. We’re all trying to sleep!”

The water-carrying eunuch said nothing but lightened his movements.

Crouching in the shadows, the three watched Gao Dazhuang carrying water back and forth, silently sighing. They could guess he was being punished for “slacking off” that morning.

In reality, he had only left for a short while but was treated this way. It was just the old hands bullying the newcomer.

Gao Dazhuang had long noticed the three. After filling two vats with water, he listened carefully to confirm everyone inside was asleep, then quietly slipped over to the wall.

As soon as the three appeared, Gao Dazhuang impatiently said, “Where are the noodles? I haven’t eaten all day! Hurry!”

The three: “…”

They stared at each other wide-eyed as Gao Dazhuang’s expression gradually darkened.

Sui Yunzhu hurriedly pulled out the tea leaves, teacup, and sword. “Master, would you like to have some tea first?”

“I…” Gao Dazhuang snatched the sword and unsheathed it, growling, “I’ll chop up you a bunch of blind little brats! Can’t you see what kind of life your lord has been living?”

Having such unreliable subordinates was truly infuriating!

Sui Yunzhu and Li Qingzhi dodged aside, but An Jiu didn’t move. Instead, she held out an object in front of him.

Gao Dazhuang’s blade halted as he saw a large oil paper package in her hands. His expression softened as he tossed aside the sword and took the package, snorting, “I knew you wouldn’t dare…”

An Jiu turned and ran, with Sui Yunzhu and Li Qingzhi quickly following suit.

Gao Dazhuang felt the package’s weight was off as soon as he took it. Seeing their reaction, he realized he had been tricked!