Heroine Saves A Gentleman

Although they were in the temple, the bandits weren’t actual monks that abstained from eating meat. There were all sorts of meat in the kitchen, along with fresh fish.

Zhou Xiaoxiao first cooked one big cask of rice and then sliced three layers of meat into squares, adding a spoonful of lard into the pot. After it was heated up, she added white sugar and waited for it to melt into a golden thick liquid before adding pork into the pot, once it was slightly fizzled. She stir fry the pork until it changed to a layer of caramel color; then she added: cooking wine, five spices seasoned, anise, Chinese cinnamon, and slight salt. She poured this into a casserole and cooked it with small fire.

After that, she slaughtered the fresh fish and scraped the meat from the bones, dumping the fish fillet in hot oil after it was marinated. Then, she took it out, leaving it to the side for later. After that, she added slight oil in another pot and stir-fry the fish bone by itself for a while, adding boiling hot water and onions. She cooked a cream white soup, adding in pickled vegetables and bamboo shoots. When the soup was cooked, she added in the already heated fish fillet and quickly carried the pot out.

Everyone had been exhausted and dehydrated, all famished when they suddenly smelled a captivating and appetizing smell of meat. They watched as Zhou Xiaoxiao carried out a bowl full of sparkling and translucent oily red braised pork while Juanzi held a cream white pot full of fish.

They placed it on the table, smiling and declaring, “Time to eat!”

At that moment, one could hear everyone gulping their saliva.

Zhou Xiaoxiao, Yu Xingzhi, Cheng Shiqi, and Cheng Shizhao sat in one table. They watched as Cheng Shiqi choked while eating but wolfed down the rice, saying, “Wu, wu, wu, this pork isn’t too oily and it’s delicious. Wu, wu, wu, this fish soup is fresh and appetizing. Even the rice smells delicious, wu, wu, wu. I have never been starved this much before since I was a child.”

On the other hand, Yu Xingzhi had been placing food on Zhou Xiaoxiao’s bowl while she ladled soup for him.

Although the food was delicious, Cheng Shizhao didn’t have much of an appetite. There was something in his mind and he placed his bowl down not long later, walking out of the main hall.

On the steps of the main hall, the guards sat in groups and each had a bowl of rice and fish soup. Red braised pork, soaked with its juices, was piled high on the rice, as soldiers enjoyed fish and meat. Elite guards from all over the world were chatting while eating.

“This meat is so damn good.”

“Us Shanxi people love drinking sour soups. It’s amazingly delicious.”

“If I had to say, this Lady Zhou has great cooking skills and efficient as well. Lord Wu’s taste is excellent. If I were to marry in the future, how good will my life be if I found a woman like her?”

“You’re right. If you’re going to find a wife, you must not find those delicate and pampered young misses from the capital. All they know is to cry and cause trouble. Find someone who is good at cooking and has a straightforward personality.”

“I heard that the Lady of State Duke didn’t agree to their relationship and the State Duke almost beat Lord Wu to death because of this.”

“Why didn’t they agree?”

“Look at State Duke Residence’s status. They obviously want to form connections with wealthy young misses from noble families through marriage. How can people like us even think about marrying into the residence?”

“Well, I didn’t know this. If Lord Wu and Lady Zhou can’t be together in the end, I will go and ask Lady Zhou if she doesn’t mind me — Hey!”

Cheng Shizhao kicked them off the steps from behind and scolded, “A group of filthy and small-minded people. You dare discuss about the Prince?!”

Everyone immediately kneeled down and kowtowed nonstop.

Guo Suren latched onto Cheng Shizhao’s legs and said, “Prince, please calm down. The brothers are just uneducated people that speak their minds. Please have mercy on them.”

Cheng Shizhao angrily turned around just in time to see Zhou Xiaoxiao’s tender white face peeking out from the main hall’s door.

When the two were about to walk past each other, Cheng Shizhao suddenly stopped.

“This time, this Prince owes you a favor. When we return to the capital, this Prince will naturally try my best to speak for you and Xingzhi in front of Aunt.”

Zhou Xiaoxiao suddenly froze, not knowing what was the matter with him right now.