The legitimate daughter was reborn, and the emperor’s little Jiaojiao went crazy.

Chapter 969: Eating at the Same Table with the Emperor

At that time, Anxia knew that the people's happiness depended on wise rulers governing the country and honest and capable officials like his cousin.

The two of them finalized the account books for the Lantern Festival and chatted for a while before Qiu Zhiyan stood up to say goodbye.

In the flickering candlelight, Qiu Zhiyan's thin face showed the character of a scholar, and his jawline was as thin and neat as the folds of rice paper. The official uniform that once fitted him now hung loosely on his body, with wide sleeves blowing in the wind, giving him a sense of desolation.

Shi Anxia called him softly, "Cousin."

Qiu Zhiyan turned around holding the account book, his brows and eyes were gentle, "Cousin, is there anything else?"

Shi Anxia stood up and waved her sleeves, a faint smile on her lips, "I just want to ask my cousin to have dinner with me."

He understood in his heart that this was not to ask him to accompany them, but it was obvious that they were afraid that he would just have a few bites outside again.

His eyes fell on his cousin's thin shoulders, thinking of how she became a widow at a young age, raising three children alone, and the long years ahead... Alas!

Qiu Zhiyan sighed secretly, put the account book gently on the table, and replied in a good temper: "Okay."

In the dining hall of the inn, Shi Anxia instructed that the prepared Huizhou dishes be placed on the table.

The pork elbow in the blue and white porcelain dish is like amber, with the gelatin under the skin trembling slightly; the snow peas are stewed until soft and soft, and they are faintly visible in the thick soup. There is also a bowl of tangerine peel and old duck soup, with oil stars floating in the green smoke, and the fresh fragrance is subtle.

Several authentic Huizhou home-cooked dishes were scattered among them, especially a dish of pickled radish tops in yellow and green, sour and refreshing. Ordinary ingredients were skillfully prepared and made people salivate.

Qiu Zhiyan stood up and left the table, saying softly, "The magic of Huizhou elbow is all in the dipping sauce. I'll go make some for my cousin."

Shi Anxia smiled and nodded.

When Qiu Zhiyan returned from the kitchen with a small celadon plate, there were three uninvited guests at the table.

Emperor Zhaowu sat in a plain robe, and Zhuo Qiran and his teacher Mr. Ye Xun were also present.

Qiu Zhiyan paused slightly, but saw that the emperor had a calm look and Mr. Ye Xun looked composed.

He walked forward calmly, not performing the formalities of a king and his subjects, but rather the etiquette of an ordinary meeting between scholars.

She greeted Lord Zhuo and Mr. Yexun one by one, but thought to herself: If Mr. Yexun knew that the emperor was in front of him, would he lose his leisure? Isn't my cousin afraid that this weirdo Yexun might frighten the emperor?

Qiu Zhiyan first placed the small celadon dish in front of Emperor Zhaowu. "It is a crude workmanship. Please... appreciate it, sir." The honorific he came up with hung on the tip of his tongue. Out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of a smile in the emperor's eyes.

He lowered his head quickly, sweat on his forehead due to nervousness. He never dreamed that one day he would be able to eat at the same table with the emperor.

Shi Anxia also gave her portion of sauce to the person on the left, "Mr. Ye Xun, please."

Ye Xun didn't hesitate and just raised his hand to take the small celadon plate.

Qiu Zhiyan turned around and went back to the kitchen, the corner of his robe swirling in a half arc of breeze at the doorstep. When he came back, everyone had a plate of sauce in their hands.

He took his seat, consciously taking his place at the bottom. The person sitting at the top, the main seat, was still Shi Anxia.

The table was extremely quiet for a moment. Mr. Yexun took the first step with his silver chopsticks, picked up a piece of crystal pork elbow, dipped it in the sauce and ate it.

Zhuo Qiran's forehead was covered with sweat, and Qiu Zhiyan's knuckles turned slightly white while holding the chopsticks.

Mr. Ye Xun was completely unaware of it. He chewed slowly without even moving his eyebrows.

Qiu Zhiyan thought, Mr. Ye Xun is really not afraid of losing his head. He remained silent, waiting for the emperor to start eating, and glanced at the emperor's expression from the corner of his eye.

Xiao Shuzi, who was standing nearby, was wearing the uniform of a servant, with his head lowered and his fingers clenched. He was thinking that since he had no chance to test the poison, eating it first would be a good way to test the poison.

He watched Ye Xun eat without any problems, and then he breathed a sigh of relief. He wanted to step forward and add, "Master, you can have your meal now."

Emperor Zhaowu didn't take it seriously. "Today, it's... ahem, it's really a new experience for me." He almost blurted out the title but it turned in his throat, "I'm so lucky."

Shi Anxia smiled and explained, "It's a real treat. My cousin is from Huizhou, and I made this especially for him."

Qiu Zhiyan stood up upon hearing this, with his sleeves hanging down as he performed a standard scholar's salute, "Thank you, cousin, for your concern."

Shi Anxia quickly asked him to sit down, "We are all family, there is no need to be polite, cousin."

Emperor Zhaowu laughed loudly upon hearing this, and brushed his black cuffs across the golden nanmu table, "Quickly sit down, I will taste the Huizhou flavor carefully."

The silver chopsticks lightly picked up a piece of trembling elbow meat, the gelatinous texture glowing under the candlelight. When dipping the meat, the meat was scraped three times on the edge of the celadon plate to remove the floating oil.

The moment he took a bite, the emperor's eyebrows slightly raised, "Excellent! The skin is as smooth as cream, and the meat is like clouds. It's even more tender than the ones I've tasted in the capital. But the sauce is the soul of this dish."

Qiu Zhiyan was flattered. He was about to stand up and bow. Just as his knees were three inches off the table, Emperor Zhaowu's silver chopsticks were already weak. "Sir Qiu, please wait. Let's eat. You scholars should change your habit of bowing at every turn. You will feel full after a whole meal just by bowing."

Ye Xun suddenly chuckled, but said nothing. He just turned the dipping sauce dish in a circle between his fingers.

Qiu Zhiyan caught a glimpse of Ye Xun's expression from the corner of his eye and returned to his seat in embarrassment.

Bei Hui was about to pick up the jug to pour wine, but Nan Yan took it first and pressed her fingertips on the back of her hand inconspicuously.

Nan Yan's meaning was very clear. She was unwilling to let Bei Hui serve Lord Zhuo personally.

Bei Hui understood Nan Yan's painstaking efforts and appreciated her kindness.

She wanted to leave, but Shi Anxia called her back, "Bei Hui, you also take your place."

Bei Hui was shocked and said, "No."

Besides the young master, there is also the emperor! Is this going to shorten her life?

Shi Anxia smiled and said, "I'm afraid you'll have to get used to it in the future. Soon you'll be Mrs. Zhuo, and there will be many opportunities to eat at the same table with her. It's okay to practice now."

Bei Hui's ears blushed, knowing that Madam was trying to please her, but she could not really sit at the table regardless of status.

Especially since Nan Yan was still pouring wine and serving food for her. She thanked him again and again and insisted on leaving. Her eyes met Zhuo Qiran's lightly, and two blushes flew across her cheeks.

Shi Anxia didn't force it. Since there were more people coming, she asked the kitchen to serve a few more side dishes.

However, the crystal pork elbow and tangerine peel and old duck soup were still the most popular dishes at the table.

When the sauce dish in front of Ye Xun was empty, he took the initiative to speak for the first time, "This sauce is excellent, please add more."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhaowu hurriedly pushed his plate forward and said, "I want some too." After saying this, he glanced at Ye Xun meaningfully.

It turns out that this person has a mouth and can speak.

Ye Xun raised his eyes and looked at him.

The two of them looked at each other and then separated, as if an invisible edge gently collided in the air. No one at the table seemed to notice it, except that the steam from the bowl of tangerine peel and old duck soup was blown a little messy by the wind.

Qiu Zhiyan asked Shi Anxia and Zhuo Qiran, "Princess and Master Zhuo, do you want to add more?"

Shi Anxia shook her head gently. She had always been very restrained in her dinner, and just now she had only dipped her chopsticks in the sauce twice, leaving the aftertaste of the sauce between her lips and teeth.

Zhuo Qiran, however, had a rare good appetite. "Thank you, Lord Qiu. I didn't expect that Lord Qiu had such a great cooking skill."