Little Imperial Physician Pei had never treated such a highly-positioned person in his life. Both hands trembled with fright.

Zhao Yishi withdrew his gaze.

“I don’t eat people. Learn from Miss Li.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Little Imperial Physician Pei suddenly remembered something and quickly pulled out a letter from inside his clothes.

“This is from my brother for Your Highness.”

Zhao Yishi accepted it but didn’t open it, instead pressing it under his palm.

“How was your journey?”

“Quite smooth.”

Little Imperial Physician Pei finished speaking and began cleaning His Highness’s wound.

Zhao Yishi frowned. “Just that one sentence?”

Little Imperial Physician Pei was completely confused.

That’s right—it was quite smooth.

Besides, even if there were hardships, he couldn’t complain to His Highness!

Shen Chong saw this young man wasn’t very perceptive and quickly reminded in a low voice, “What about Miss Li?”

Asking about this, Little Imperial Physician Pei had a bellyful of grievances to pour out.

“Except for eating and sleeping, Miss Li just drives the carriage. She drives the most fiercely—could jolt a person to death. Tell her to slow down, be steadier, and she says I’m just like my brother.”

Hearing this, Zhao Yishi smiled silently.

Where’s the similarity?

Mingting’s mouth was far more caustic.

“Oh right, she also complained sitting in carriages is too slow, riding horses is better. Riding horses at most jolts your bottom, but sitting in carriages jolts your skull cap right off.”

“Pfft—”

Little Imperial Physician Pei’s eyes widened as he looked at the Grand Prince in horror. What’s so funny about that?

Zhao Yishi composed his expression.

“How are things in the capital?”

Little Imperial Physician Pei, remembering his elder brother’s instructions before leaving, recounted the recent capital news while cleaning His Highness’s wound.

…

When Li Buyan returned after washing up, the gauze on Zhao Yishi’s arm had been changed to fresh bandaging.

His face showed no expression as he continued reading memorials.

Nearby, Little Imperial Physician Pei was energetically pounding medicinal herbs.

Shen Chong had gone somewhere.

“What should I do?” Li Buyan wondered.

With nothing to do and no one managing her, standing here dryly was also tiring. Better to sit down first.

After sitting, her eyelids began to feel heavy. Forcing herself to stay awake like this was too uncomfortable. Why not sleep first and talk later?

She actually fell asleep, dreaming of going up the mountain with Yan Sanhe to pick mulberries, eating until their mouths were full of juice and even their tongue color changed.

After eating mulberries, they went to the river to catch two fish, built a fire, and roasted them.

Just as the fish reached her mouth, her tongue was scalded. Li Buyan startled awake to find her stomach growling with hunger. Her eyes stole a glance at the person at the writing desk.

That person didn’t look up. “Prepare the meal.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Good heavens!

Li Buyan was utterly amazed. Could this person read minds?

Zhao Yishi set down the memorial in his hand and looked up at Li Buyan. “Would the young lady be willing to dine with me?”

“Not imposing, not imposing.”

Li Buyan’s smile was radiant. “I’m truly hungry.”

Zhao Yishi, supported by the young eunuch’s hand, stood up. “Little Imperial Physician Pei, come along as well.”

“Eh?”

Little Imperial Physician Pei was so shocked his whole body shook. His hands and feet went soft again.

…

On a small round table sat three sets of bowls and chopsticks.

Zhao Yishi made a gesture of invitation. “Don’t be constrained. Please sit.”

Li Buyan sat down straightforwardly.

Pei Jing tremblingly sat on half a buttock.

The eunuch Wang Yin took dishes from the food box one by one and placed them on the round table, then took out silver needles to test for poison in each dish.

Li Buyan thought—by the time you finish testing, the food will be cold.

Finally finishing the poison testing, Zhao Yishi sat properly without moving. Li Buyan grew anxious. “Your Highness, may we eat now?”

“Yes!”

With that single word from him, Li Buyan immediately picked up her chopsticks and began eating. This frightened Pei Jing into quickly checking the Grand Prince’s expression.

Seeing His Highness’s face showed no particular emotion, he dared take a bite of rice.

He was hungry too!

Li Buyan ate very quickly, finishing one bowl of rice in no time.

“May I have another bowl?”

Wang Yin immediately added another bowl for her.

Li Buyan accepted the bowl and continued eating with her head down.

Zhao Yishi originally had little appetite, but watching her eat so heartily, he tried a few bites before putting down his chopsticks.

Pei Jing just ate plain rice without daring to touch the dishes. After finishing, he pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped his mouth, saying “Your Highness, please take your time,” then sat waiting.

Actually, his stomach was still hungry, but another bowl?

Forget it!

He didn’t have that courage.

Li Buyan finished her second bowl and passed the bowl over again. “One more bowl.”

This time even Wang Yin was dumbfounded.

How could this young lady eat one bowl after another? Dining at the same table as the Grand Prince, she should restrain herself a bit like Little Imperial Physician Pei. This was the rules!

Wang Yin filled another bowl to the brim.

Only with this third bowl did Li Buyan’s pace slow down, beginning to chew carefully.

Zhao Yishi observed unobtrusively.

Though she wolfed down her food, her eating manner was good—making no sound at all, and only taking dishes directly in front of her.

Of eight dishes, she had touched seven, leaving one dish of steamed yellow croaker untouched.

“Does Miss Li dislike fish?”

Li Buyan swallowed the food in her mouth before speaking. “Afraid of bones.”

“Been pricked before?”

“My mother was pricked. I became afraid too, thinking I’d rather not eat than risk being pricked. Besides…”

Li Buyan shook her head.

“This fish doesn’t look very appealing. Its eyes are bulging—clearly not fresh. Your Highness, your subordinates are fooling you.”

Wang Yin pursed his lips.

Did this person understand anything? The food His Highness ate was specially supplied—you couldn’t find fresher fish in all of Lin’an Prefecture.

Wang Yin looked aggrieved. “Your Highness?”

Zhao Yishi waved his hand and smiled at Li Buyan. “Does Miss Li understand these things?”

“I grew up by the sea. Haven’t seen much else, but fish…”

Li Buyan’s little eyes were quite smug. “Seen plenty.”

She picked up a chopstick-full of fish meat.

“Look at this fish meat—falls apart at the slightest touch, not firm at all. It’s been sitting for a day or two. However, this is sea fish, so taking a day or two to transport here is normal.”

Hearing this, Wang Yin finally released the breath he’d been holding.

Who knew that just as he’d released half of it, he heard her continue:

“This kind of fish shouldn’t be steamed. Steaming requires the freshest ingredients. Clearly, the chef here isn’t competent either.”

Wang Yin, hearing this, nearly failed to draw his next breath.

On this trip, the Grand Prince didn’t bring Yan Xi but brought him instead, putting him in charge of His Highness’s clothing, food, housing, and transportation.

Finally having a chance to distinguish himself, they encountered assassins.

The assassins aside—after all, that wasn’t his concern—but this speech was practically condemning him to the eighteenth level of hell, the kind where he’d never be redeemed.

Wang Yin quietly protested. “The fish isn’t good, the chef isn’t good—if you’re so capable, you do it!”

Li Buyan acted as if she hadn’t heard, continuing to eat with her head down.

Struck dumb, haven’t you?

Wang Yin’s eyes looked aggrievedly at his master: Your Highness, see? This maidservant is just spouting nonsense. Don’t believe her.

His Highness smiled without taking it seriously.

Last time in his study, this Li Buyan had been quite bold in her speech.

Just then, Li Buyan finished the last sip of soup, gently set down her bowl and chopsticks, and resoundingly declared three words:

“Bring it on!”