Grand Commander Luo found Luo Sheng with a grave expression.

“His Majesty specifically requested to eat beggar’s pork knuckle made by Xiu Gu?”

“That’s right.” Facing his daughter’s bright eyes, Grand Commander Luo felt somewhat guilty.

If His Majesty truly took Xiu Gu away, he would have no way to help Sheng’er get her back.

“Understood.”

Seeing Luo Sheng’s calm reaction, Grand Commander Luo felt even more guilty.

Could it be that Sheng’er hasn’t thought of this yet?

Struggling between reminding her and not reminding her, Grand Commander Luo ultimately chose silence.

He would delay as long as possible. If he couldn’t delay any longer, then he’d deal with it.

Catching sight of the crimson-robed young man walking this way, Grand Commander Luo’s anger immediately flared.

Arriving as soon as mealtime approached—more punctual and diligent than him, the father.

If Prince Kaiyang hadn’t hunted a wild boar and had Xiu Gu make beggar’s pork knuckle, how would Xiu Gu’s reputation have reached His Majesty’s ears?

This crisis was caused by Prince Kaiyang!

Wei Han, who had approached, keenly sensed that today’s Grand Commander Luo seemed rather murderous.

Had he offended Grand Commander Luo in some way?

Wei Han thought seriously.

No.

Wei Han walked over calmly and politely greeted him: “Grand Commander came quite early today.”

Grand Commander Luo’s nose nearly twisted from anger.

Was Prince Kaiyang suggesting it was unusual for him as the father to come a bit early?

However, though angry in his heart, he had to maintain a smile on his face.

“I came today on official business.”

Wei Han looked at Grand Commander Luo with some surprise.

So in Grand Commander Luo’s mind, eating wasn’t official business?

Grand Commander Luo paused.

Prince Kaiyang’s expression somehow made one inexplicably irritated.

Grand Commander Luo cleared his throat: “His Majesty wishes to taste beggar’s pork knuckle.”

Wei Han’s heart stirred, and he immediately glanced at Luo Sheng.

The young woman showed no abnormality and calmly handed a beggar’s pork knuckle wrapped in a mud shell to Grand Commander Luo: “It just so happens to be ready. Father, please deliver it to His Majesty.”

The mud shell was still hot, cushioned by several layers of lotus leaves.

Grand Commander Luo held it in his hands, finding it hot to the touch, his heart rising and falling uneasily.

After His Majesty ate it, would he or would he not take her away?

Grand Commander Luo walked away with heavy steps.

Luo Sheng paid no attention to the young man beside her, taking a long-handled wooden ladle to gently stir the rolling soup.

Today Xiao Qi had led Luo Chen to gather quite a few mushrooms in the woods, perfect for stewing a pot of pork bone mushroom soup.

A pot of soup stewed until it turned white required few additional seasonings. Just sprinkle a handful of tender green wild scallions when it was done, and it would be delicious enough.

“Aren’t you worried?” The man’s somewhat low voice rang out.

Luo Sheng turned her head to look at him: “Worried about what?”

Her gaze was calm and serene, as if she knew nothing of it all, or perhaps understood everything.

Wei Han was silent for a while, then said softly: “I would be somewhat worried.”

That time when Prince Pingnan became obsessed with eating the braised pot knuckle Miss Luo made, Miss Luo shot him with an arrow.

Now, His Majesty had developed an interest in the beggar’s pork knuckle Miss Luo made—a thought one dared not contemplate deeply.

Luo Sheng ladled a bowl of soup and handed it over: “Your Highness should drink some soup.”

She didn’t need others to worry for her—she just needed others not to ruin her plans.

Speaking of which, Prince Kaiyang’s position was somewhat strange…

Luo Sheng became lost in thought, forgetting to release the bowl she was holding.

Wei Han tried but couldn’t take it, so he also held the bowl while looking at her.

The two held the same bowl together, the scene rather comical.

“You two… don’t your hands burn?” Luo Chen, who had gone to fetch some bird eggs and returned, couldn’t bear it any longer upon seeing this scene.

Luo Sheng came back to her senses and calmly let go, smiling at the somber-faced youth: “You found bird eggs?”

“Found quite a lot.” Xiao Qi said excitedly.

Luo Chen glanced at him sideways and quickly walked to Luo Sheng, handing over a small bamboo basket lined with thick grass leaves.

Inside the basket were dozens of bird eggs, still bearing clear droplets of water.

“You washed them?”

“Mm.” Luo Chen reluctantly responded, glancing at the dark-faced youth. “Xiao Qi said if we wash them clean, they can be boiled and eaten directly.”

He had figured it out.

Why compare his weaknesses to another’s strengths? The dark brat had grown up in the wilds—it was perfectly normal for him to be better at these things.

He could read, after all.

Having found his balance, the youth was less wary of the brat trying to steal his sister.

He was this excellent—Luo Sheng wasn’t blind.

Seeing the two youths’ relationship improve somewhat, Luo Sheng smiled with relief.

Grand Commander Luo arrived outside Emperor Yong’an’s golden tent carrying the beggar’s pork knuckle.

“Your Majesty, Grand Commander Luo has arrived.”

Emperor Yong’an nodded slightly.

“This subject greets Your Majesty.”

Emperor Yong’an glanced at the blackened object in Grand Commander Luo’s hands and asked with some curiosity: “What is Grand Commander Luo holding?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, this is beggar’s pork knuckle.”

Emperor Yong’an cast a glance at Zhou Shan.

Zhou Shan quickly asked on Emperor Yong’an’s behalf: “Grand Commander, how should this beggar’s pork knuckle be eaten?”

“The outer mud shell needs to be cracked open.”

Grand Commander Luo took the mallet handed to him by an inner court attendant, cracked open the mud shell and removed the lotus leaf wrapping. A peculiar fragrance immediately wafted out.

Zhou Shan took the beggar’s pork knuckle, first testing it for poison with a silver needle, then cutting off a slice to taste.

As soon as the thin slice of knuckle meat entered his mouth, Zhou Shan’s eyes went straight.

This was too delicious—how could it be called beggar’s pork knuckle!

Unable to resist for a moment, he tasted another slice.

Emperor Yong’an looked deeply at Zhou Shan.

Zhou Shan’s expression remained calm and honest.

Such a large knuckle—how could eating just that tiny slice be enough for poison testing?

For His Majesty’s safety, he had to eat more.

If it was poisonous, let it poison him to death—it would count as loyal service to his sovereign.

After a while, Zhou Shan presented the sliced knuckle before Emperor Yong’an: “Please taste it, Your Majesty.”

Emperor Yong’an lifted his chopsticks and ate a piece, nodding slightly: “The taste is indeed excellent. Grand Commander Luo, this was made by the cook your daughter brought?”

Grand Commander Luo’s heart immediately rose to his throat: “Indeed so.”

“Reward her.”

Hearing Emperor Yong’an utter this word, Grand Commander Luo secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed his daughter’s cook was safe for now.

Walking out of the golden tent, Grand Commander Luo heavily exhaled a breath of stale air.

Inside the golden tent, with only the attending inner court servants and palace maids remaining, Emperor Yong’an ate another slice of knuckle meat and instructed Zhou Shan: “Go invite Noble Consort Xiao to come.”

Zhou Shan took the order and went to the neighboring golden tent to relay the message.

“His Majesty invites me to eat knuckle meat?” Hearing Zhou Shan explain the purpose, Noble Consort Xiao’s expression was peculiar.

“Your Grace, please proceed. His Majesty is waiting for you.”

Noble Consort Xiao went to Emperor Yong’an’s place with curiosity.

As soon as she entered the golden tent, she smelled a mouth-watering fragrance.

“My beloved consort has arrived.” Emperor Yong’an, who always wore a stern expression before his ministers, revealed a hint of a smile. “My beloved, taste this beggar’s pork knuckle.”

Noble Consort Xiao washed her hands and sat beside Emperor Yong’an, taking the silver chopsticks handed to her by a palace maid and eating a slice of knuckle meat.

“How is it?” Emperor Yong’an asked with some anticipation.

After a good while, Noble Consort Xiao nodded: “Delicious. I wonder which imperial chef made it?”

This dish reminded her of her youth.

Back then she had been mistreated by her legitimate mother. At her worst, she was punished by being made to kneel in the ancestral hall, forbidden food and drink.

Her maid had secretly obtained a fat chicken wrapped in mud.

Many years had passed, but she could never forget the fragrance when the mud was cracked open.

Her maid had been beaten to death by her legitimate mother.