On the way back, Jiang Xuening happened to run into Yan Lin.

From his direction, he was heading toward Xie Wei’s quarters.

Seeing her face green as if poisoned and her feet treading on clouds, he couldn’t help but freeze. First looking behind her, he asked: “What’s wrong? Just came back from Master Xie’s place?”

Jiang Xuening’s mouth, throat, and even her entire stomach were all producing sour gas. She really didn’t want to say another word, waving her hand: “Master Xie seems displeased today. If you’re going to find him, you’d better be careful.”

Yan Lin was thoroughly confused.

But as Jiang Xuening spoke, she nearly couldn’t control another dry heave. She quickly took leave of Yan Lin and headed toward her own room.

This left Yan Lin somewhat puzzled.

He watched her back for a moment, lost in thought.

But he still went to find Xie Wei.

Along the way, he inevitably encountered Jianshu again and asked what he was carrying dishes for.

Jianshu smiled rather unpleasantly and said to feed the dogs.

Yan Lin found this odd again.

Soon arriving outside Xie Wei’s dwelling, he saw Daochin standing outside who bowed slightly in greeting. He then stepped forward and bowed at the doorway: “Yan Lin has come to see Master.”

Xie Wei was inside and told him to enter.

After entering, he observed Xie Wei’s expression—clearly light and breezy, no different from usual, not showing even half a sign of the “displeasure” Jiang Xuening had just mentioned.

The two discussed provisions matters.

Winter was already approaching.

The weather in the north grew colder and colder.

Since they were going to war, as long as the provisions didn’t arrive for one day, everyone’s hearts would be unsettled for that day. According to their original plan, Lu Xian should have arrived today but there had been no news from him, which was truly somewhat worrying.

Xie Wei’s side was constantly monitoring news about provisions and supplies, so he was well-informed about this, only saying: “Lu Xian carries nothing in front. The people from the Ren family salt works are following several days behind—they’re the ones truly responsible for provisions and supplies. Lu Xian not arriving on the appointed day doesn’t matter much. As long as the Ren family salt works people arrive on time, that’s fine. Lu Xian is someone with calculations in his heart; there’s no need to worry about him.”

The meaning in his words was quite clear—

Anyway, Lu Xian wasn’t responsible for transporting provisions and supplies. Even if some accident occurred and he died on the road, it wouldn’t be much of a pity.

Good thing Lu Xian himself wasn’t present, otherwise hearing these words, he’d certainly fume with rage.

Yan Lin finally vaguely heard that “displeased” flavor in these words.

Xie Wei sensed something and asked: “Something to say?”

Yan Lin raised his eyes and said: “I encountered Ningning on my way here earlier. Seeing her looking quite uncomfortable, she told me Master seemed in a bad mood today.”

Ningning.

Xie Wei’s long fingers turned a page of the Daoist scripture beneath his hand. His eyebrows, like distant mountains in light ink, quirked up. He smiled as if completely unconcerned and said lightly: “The little girl wasn’t very obedient. Discipline her a bit and it’ll be fine. I’m actually quite well.”

Yan Lin looked at him without speaking.

Xie Wei also turned his eyes to glance at him, but seemed not to feel he’d said anything wrong. Still quite detached, he brushed this topic aside as if nothing had happened and went on to discuss various military matters.

What exactly was wrong with that Xie?

After returning to her room, Jiang Xuening rinsed her mouth several times in a row and held several sweet preserved fruits in her mouth before barely suppressing that sour gas. But though the sour gas was suppressed, doubts slowly bubbled up.

Did she have no guesses at all?

Not entirely.

Sometimes Xie Wei did things quite obviously.

If she said she couldn’t guess even half a clue, that would be too false.

But if she guessed too clearly, it would inevitably create trouble for herself.

Better to pretend some confusion.

In any case, Xie Ju’an was also someone who knew propriety. Only doing without saying—he probably also knew some window paper couldn’t be punctured.

If it were truly punctured, everyone would be embarrassed.

So she figured that even if this person was bothered and displeased inside, he probably wouldn’t torment her for too long. Besides, even if he wanted to torment her, would she stupidly deliver herself to his door to be manipulated like this time?

Jiang Xuening felt that such a thing happening once wouldn’t happen twice.

So she felt much more at ease.

Half an hour ago, she’d eaten enough vinegar at Xie Wei’s place; half an hour later, she was already like someone to whom nothing had happened, having the kitchen prepare several fine dishes for herself to calm her nerves.

The next day, Xie Wei indeed didn’t send anyone to fetch her. Jiang Xuening strolled around the city and even bought a small spinning top.

The third day, Xie Wei and Yan Lin went outside the city to inspect the garrison stationed there. Jiang Xuening played leaf cards with her maids all evening.

The fourth day, Xie Wei summoned the military commanders for discussions. Jiang Xuening found the best tavern in the city and even had a couple of drinks.

The fifth day…

The fifth day, Xie Wei finally had leisure time.

Early that morning, just as Jiang Xuening opened her eyes, Jianshu’s voice outside was requesting her presence like a soul-summoning call.

She was startled completely awake.

Despite making all sorts of excuses and having ten thousand reasons, determined in her heart not to fall into the same pit twice, her will to refuse quite resolute—in the end, she couldn’t withstand Jianshu’s ghostly statement: “Master says if you don’t want to go with dignity, then being tied up and brought there also works.”

“…”

Jiang Xuening surrendered.

She never expected that besides digging pits for people to jump into, there were also such shameless coercive methods—simply despicable and base!

When she arrived at Xie Wei’s room, naturally another table of fine dishes appeared.

Jiang Xuening ate as fearfully as if testing for poison.

However, surprisingly, this time it truly was straightforwardly a table of fine dishes. The sourness was the kind that moved one’s appetite, the spiciness was the kind that made one’s mouth water. Crispy meat rolled in oil soaked in white soup with floating green vegetables—one mouthful warming from throat to stomach. Diced chicken dipped in Sichuan pepper stir-fried with round, tender green peas—mixing it with rice, after just a few spoonfuls one trembled from lips to tongue tip…

At first, she looked at Xie Wei like an out-and-out demon. After eating, looking at him again, she felt he was like a sage saving the suffering.

After this meal, Xie Wei seemed to have leisure time, while on the contrary Yan Lin was so busy his feet didn’t touch the ground and he was never at the residence.

As expected, war was imminent.

As a general, he couldn’t possibly be idle.

So for the next several days, Jiang Xuening had meals every time and ate happily each time, as if Xie Wei’s anger had already dissipated. She figured she’d be magnanimous and simply forget that nightmare-like meal from before.

Unexpectedly, one day Xie Wei suddenly asked her: “Now you dare eat boldly again?”

Jiang Xuening shuddered and nearly choked to death on the meatball in her throat.

Xie Wei handed her a cup of water.

After drinking it and coughing twice, she put on a smile: “Master has a sage’s heart. You don’t necessarily have to cook for others. If someone gets to eat this, she should be endlessly grateful. Even if there’s a mistake, it must certainly be her mistake.”

These words were quite ingratiating.

Xie Wei felt displeased hearing them.

He curved his lips into a smile: “You truly remember the food but not the beating.”

Jiang Xuening thought to herself: Isn’t that exactly the result you wanted by giving a stick followed by a nest of sweet dates? How are you turning sour on me now?

She pretended not to understand.

Only seeming confused, she said: “Who told Master to make such excellent dishes? They’re truly too good—even wanting to remember, one cannot remember.”

Xie Wei found her fake smile annoying. He turned the wine cup in his hand once and raised an eyebrow: “Oh?”

Jiang Xuening clenched her fist: “Willing to brave fire and water for Master.”

Xie Wei snorted: “I’m afraid it’s not for Master, but only for this food?”

Jiang Xuening’s eyes darted around, but like a little fox, she smiled shyly with squinted eyes: “If in this world only Master can make such supreme flavors, then whether it’s for Master or for this food—aren’t they the same?”

Xie Wei watched her for a long time without speaking.

But Jiang Xuening felt her palms starting to sweat. Though she warned herself to stay calm, when her eyes and eyebrows flickered, she still inevitably revealed some unease.

Xie Wei stared at her for a long while before withdrawing his gaze to look at the wine cup in his hand, but suddenly said: “Tell me, you and Zhang Zhe mutually loved each other—how did you not end up together?”

Jiang Xuening’s pupils abruptly contracted.

The old affair with Zhang Zhe was a scar grown on her body, but Xie Wei’s words were a knife mercilessly picking it open!

He was deliberate.

Even malicious.

Her gaze turned cold as she said: “Those who love don’t always end up together. The world is unpredictable, white porcelain with cracks is hard to mend—what does it have to do with you?”

Xie Wei truly wasn’t any kind of benevolent person. Seeing her posture with thorns bristling all over, he actually felt much better inside. Only the gaze watching her inevitably added three parts mockery: “White porcelain with cracks?”

Jiang Xuening clenched her hands tight.

Xie Wei only gave a cold laugh, casually tossing the wine cup onto the table with a loud “thunk”: “Indeed. If you could figure out why you and he couldn’t be together, you wouldn’t be called Jiang Xuening, and today you certainly wouldn’t be sitting here.”

This cowardly appearance, afraid of pain and hardship, deceiving herself and others.

She deserved to have him deal with her.

He was too lazy to say another useful word to this blockhead. Flicking his sleeve, he rose and walked outward, only saying: “The more you eat, the stupider your brain gets. Lu Xian and You Fangyin are already outside the city. Stop eating and come along.”