Chapter 287: Chapter 283: First Time Cooking

Feng Pu, originally named Feng Tong, was an important witness in the Qin Family grievance many years ago.

When they turned their attention to Feng Pu, he had died, perishing from a drunken fall off a horse.

Li Shu said that Feng Pu was murdered by people sent by Prime Minister Wang Maozhao.

The information packed in these words left the room in silence for a moment.

Li Mu laid out a new piece of letter paper and wrote the four words “Greetings, Duke Wang,” his demeanor showing no sign of heaviness.

Qin Rong frowned, “Did you already know?”

Li Mu did not answer.

Tang Xiaobai answered for him, “No, Ah Xiao didn’t know; at most, he might have guessed.”

Qin Rong gave her a sidelong glance, “How do you know he didn’t know?”

“He’d tell me if he knew!” Tang Xiaobai said matter-of-factly.

Qin Rong: …

It was only then that Li Mu lifted his head, cast a glance at Tang Xiaobai, and said, “Hmm.”

Then he lowered his eyes and continued writing, “Li Shu is likely about to make a move.”

Since encountering him at the Changshan Prince Mansion early last year, Li Shu had always shown a keen understanding of the times.

Planning cautiously before acting.

Feng Pu’s death was not something Li Shu just discovered; releasing the information at this moment certainly had a purpose.

Qin Rong pondered and also realized, “Is it because Wang Maozhao favors alliance through marriage that he feels he can start sowing discord between the Qin Family and Wang Maozhao?”

“Let him be,” Li Mu said, unconcerned.

Tang Xiaobai was watching him write the letter, and when she saw him writing about “Prince Jin mentioning Feng Pu’s death,” she gave him a surprised look, “Will this really persuade Wang Maozhao?”

Li Mu smiled slightly, “Originally, there was a seventy percent chance; now there’s another ten percent added.”

…

In the Capital City, at Wuben Village, in the residence of Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat Wang Maozhao.

When Wang Maozhao saw “Prince Jin’s mention of Feng Pu’s death,” he couldn’t help but smile and remark to the aide beside him, “Our young Crown Prince is finally growing up!”

The aide, having not seen the content of the letter, did not echo the sentiment, only asked, “Regarding the matter of fortification, what does the Duke intend?”

Wang Maozhao looked at the letter for a while.

The letter contained straightforward analysis of the pros and cons.

Wang Maozhao was, of course, already aware of these advantages and disadvantages.

The Crown Prince writing this letter was to show him that he also knew.

“Let’s see,” Wang Maozhao set the letter down leisurely.

Just then, a servant announced from outside, “Third Son requests a meeting.”

The Wang Family’s Third Son was Wang Jian, Wang Maozhao’s legitimate grandson.

“Let him in.”

The young man, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, walked steadily to the door and bowed with his hands folded in his sleeves, “Grandfather!”

Wang Maozhao had three sons, his eldest having two legitimate sons.

Wang Jian, though third in line, was the eldest son of the main line, known for his intelligence from a young age, steady in conduct, hence Wang Maozhao held him in high regard.

Especially last year during the Duke Yan Mansion upheaval, when Wang Jian insisted on proceeding with the marriage negotiations under the banner of “not losing faith and righteousness as the disciple of the Prime Minister,” it made Wang Maozhao regard him even more highly.

For a gentleman, action lies first in strategy, and second in decision.

Wang Jian possessed both qualities.

“What’s the matter?” Wang Maozhao asked.

Wang Jian straightened up, standing tall like a pine and cypress.

“Grandson heard that the court intends to build a fortification north of the river bend and wishes to go along with the Ministry of Industry!”

Wang Maozhao remained silent for a moment, then said slowly, “You want to go… Why?”

Wang Jian’s gaze was steady, “Grandfather has experienced campaigns in Yingzhou, Fengzhou, and Liangzhou. Since our dynasty’s rise, no one unaware of frontier affairs has been appointed as Prime Minister.”

Wang Maozhao fixed him with a gaze for a moment before bursting into laughter, “Good!”

…

Xuanping Village, at the Pei Family residence.

The figure of a young man was like the morning light streaming through the corridor into the house.

“Eleventh Son!”

Pei Kuan paused, nodded with a smile to Pei Xuan’s attendant, and asked, “Is Ninth Brother in?”

“Come on in!” Pei Xuan’s voice came from inside.

Pei Kuan walked in briskly, seeing Pei Xuan at the window reading a letter, brows slightly furrowed, he asked, “Whose letter is it?”

Pei Xuan remained silent for a moment, then replied, “A letter from Second Miss Tang.”

The boy’s fair face was suddenly tinted with a slight red, “Why… why hasn’t she returned to the Capital City yet? Duke Yan is back already.”

Pei Xuan’s gaze fell on the letter, his expression somewhat complicated, “She went to Hedong.”

“Hedong?” Pei Kuan was taken aback.

Hedong has been at war for over a year; what’s a girl doing going there?

“She is now on the northern bank of the Yellow River, at Fuyun Heap—” Pei Xuan also didn’t expect Tang Xiaobai would run off there.

But, upon learning this, he didn’t feel very surprised either.

Qin Xiao is there.

Previously, it was evident that this pair of young ones had a good relationship, but back then, it was a master-servant relationship; now…

“Ninth Brother? Did Second Miss Tang write to you about building the fortress?” Pei Kuan also thought of this.

Pei Xuan nodded, “She wants us, the Pei Family, to support the fortification work.”

The last time she sought his help was for the Duke Yan Mansion, this time it is for Qin Xiao.

It seems the Eleventh Brother has no luck in this matter…

“Shall we support it?” Pei Kuan asked.

From his tone, one could easily hear tension and anticipation.

Pei Xuan glanced at him, and said, “Let me discuss it with Father before making a decision.”

Pei Kuan hesitated for a moment and asked, “If truly to build the fort, can I… go?”

…

On the first day of the first month, the memorial was sent out.

By the fifteenth day of the first month, there was a response from the Capital City.

When the message arrived, Tang Xiaobai was in Li Mu’s tent eating noodles.

Today was her thirteenth birthday, the little ancestor, whose cooking skills’ origin was unknown, personally cooked her a bowl of longevity noodles.

Just like the last time she cooked for the little ancestor, it had a lamb broth base with a poached egg on top.

As it was brought over, Qin Rong leaned closer to take a look and loudly mocked, “Our Second Miss celebrates her birthday with just this?”

Tang Xiaobai quickly pulled the noodle bowl closer, assertively saying, “I like eating this!”

Qin Rong’s expression changed and she left.

Tang Xiaobai had a puzzled look, “What’s wrong with her?”

Li Mu was indifferent, “Ignore her.”

But how could she ignore it? It was the little ancestor’s sister!

“Is it because there’s been no news from the Capital City, and Sister Qin is feeling pressured?” Tang Xiaobai speculated as she picked up noodles.

The message from the Capital City was delivered at that moment.

The letter opened in Li Mu’s hands, and Tang Xiaobai hastily put down her noodles to take a look.

Yet Li Mu swiftly put the letter away, “Finish your noodles first!”

Tang Xiaobai reluctantly continued eating her noodles.

As she ate, she watched anxiously, waiting for Li Mu to read the letter and tell her the contents, but he remained still.

Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help but ask, “Why aren’t you reading it?”

“We’ll read it together when you’re done eating,” Li Mu said.

“You could read it aloud to me while you read.”

“When you do two things at once, neither gets the full taste.”

Tang Xiaobai had no choice but to keep eating her noodles silently.

Eating alone wasn’t enough for him, he even added a request, “Eat slowly, if you choke, you won’t get to see the letter.”

Tang Xiaobai looked up at him with grievance.

His tone softened, and he added, “It’s my first time cooking…”

Tang Xiaobai’s heart softened instantly, and she began to chew slowly and carefully.

This time she ate very slowly, taking a full two quarters of an hour.

After setting the bowl down, her lips were glistening and red, like ripe cherries.

Looking at her, Li Mu inexplicably felt flustered, quickly turning away to find a cloth to wipe the corner of her mouth.

As he pressed, he touched warmth and softness.

He quickly pulled his hand back.

“What’s the matter?” Tang Xiaobai took the cloth and wiped the corner of her mouth herself.

Li Mu shook his head, “Are you still comfortable with it?”

She immediately laughed, her eyes bending into crescents, nodding her head, “Delicious! You have a talent for this!”

Not knowing if there was any bias, she indeed found it quite tasty!

With a hot head, Li Mu blurted out, “Then I’ll cook for you again tomorrow!”

Tang Xiaobai was slightly taken aback, then laughed wildly, “It doesn’t have to be tomorrow hahaha… Isn’t it usually said it’s cooked for birthdays only? Every day would be too much hahaha…”

Li Mu’s face turned red, and he stammered a correction, “Every birthday, I’ll cook for you.”

Tang Xiaobai couldn’t stop laughing.

Li Mu kept a straight face while taking out the letter.

Tang Xiaobai immediately stopped laughing and scooted closer to him, “What does it say? Did they agree?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep