Chapter 227 – An Appetite that Encompasses All
Long Yu put down the brush in his hand to focus on Yan Xiaosi.
“Did I say you could go?”
Yan Xiaosi could only stand still without speaking.
Since she couldn’t leave, she would just quietly wait for the War King to give orders.
The two silently faced each other for a while. Long Yu suddenly asked in a gentle tone, “Are you hungry?”
Yan Xiaosi hadn’t eaten anything in the morning before coming to Tongluo Plain, so naturally, her stomach was already hungry.
“What?”
She just couldn’t quite believe her ears.
The lofty War King actually asked if she was hungry.
“Do I need to ask again?”
Yan Xiaosi had heard clearly just now. She quickly waved her hand.
“No need. This commoner is indeed hungry. If Your Highness has any other orders, please give them quickly so that I can finish the task and hurry home to eat.”
It was already well past mealtime and Yan Xiaosi wasn’t just hungry – she had been starving for a long time.
As soon as she finished speaking, a rumbling sound echoed inside the tent.
Long Yu saw her looking weak from hunger and withdrew his gaze, ordering to the outside, “Send in some food.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Long Yi responded from outside and briskly left.
Before long, a soldier in charge of meals carried food into Long Yu’s main tent.
The soldier had yet to salute Long Yu when he heard Long Yu’s slightly authoritative voice above his head, “Put the food down and leave.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The oppressive atmosphere in the tent was so heavy the soldier didn’t even dare lift his head. He quickly walked to the wooden table in the center of the tent, put down several dishes, and silently retreated.
Long Yu left his desk and strolled to Yan Xiaosi’s side.
Yan Xiaosi didn’t know his intentions, so she watched him with tense nerves.
Suddenly, a relatively gentle voice spoke, “Aren’t you hungry? Go eat.”
As he spoke, Long Yu walked around Yan Xiaosi to the table, lifted his robe, and sat down.
Yan Xiaosi had no choice but to follow and stand beside him, glancing at the table.
There was rice, steamed perch, stir-fried cabbage with dried shrimp, a bowl of thick soup, and a plate of exquisite pastries.
One meat, one vegetable, one soup, and some pastries. Although these dishes were a bit beneath Long Yu’s status as the War King, for Yan Xiaosi, it was a full feast for the senses.
She stared at the steamed white perch, unable to stop herself from licking the corner of her mouth.
Seeing her standing beside him like a wooden chicken, Long Yu’s brows furrowed slightly. He glanced at the stool across from him, indicating for Yan Xiaosi to sit there.
Yan Xiaosi also saw that the table was set with two pairs of bowls and chopsticks. One set was probably prepared for her.
However, thinking of how last time at the county court, she had accidentally become Long Yu’s military doctor just for eating a plate of his pastries…
She didn’t dare eat Long Yu’s pastries and food carelessly anymore.
What if she inadvertently ate something bestowed by the emperor again…
She strolled to the seat across from Long Yu and slowly sat down, but didn’t reach for the chopsticks. Instead, she smiled and asked Long Yu, “Your Highness, are the dishes on the table bestowed by the current emperor?”
The corner of Long Yu’s mouth twitched.
“No. Feel free to eat.”
Since it wasn’t food bestowed by the emperor, Yan Xiaosi had nothing to worry about.
Hunger compelled her to swiftly pick up the bowl and chopsticks in front of her, fill a big bowl of white rice for herself, then start wolfing down food right in front of Long Yu.
After demolishing two bowls of rice, she put down her chopsticks with satisfaction and let out a hearty burp. Only then did she notice Long Yu sitting there properly, his slightly surprised gaze fixed on her, his own bowl and chopsticks clean and seemingly untouched.
Looking at those clean utensils, then at the leftovers on the table, her expression suddenly turned a bit awkward.
Could it be that the War King hadn’t even touched his chopsticks and she finished all the food on the table by herself!
As she marveled at her own all-encompassing appetite, Long Yu calmly asked, “Are you full? If not, I can have them…”
Even Long Yu was stunned by Yan Xiaosi’s appetite.
Back when he was staying in the dilapidated temple at the edge of the village under the alias Long Hao while recovering from injury, he already knew Yan Xiaosi was a rice barrel. But he didn’t expect this rice barrel to be so big…
Eating so much each meal, how come this kid still looked so scrawny after all this time?
Yan Xiaosi didn’t have the nerve to eat anymore. Suppressing another burp, she said, “This commoner is full. Thank you for the meal, Your Highness.”
Only then did Long Yu let the matter drop. He ordered those waiting outside to come clear the table.
Her hunger sated, Yan Xiaosi’s mood greatly improved. She stood up and properly stood beside the table, waiting for Long Yu’s next command.
She originally thought Long Yu would have her do more work befitting a personal servant, but instead heard him say, “There’s nothing else. You may go.”
Unexpectedly delighted, Yan Xiaosi smiled excitedly and saluted Long Yu with cupped hands.
“This commoner shall take my leave.”
She was just about to exit the tent when Long Yu raised his brows and stared at her, suddenly reminding her coldly, “Spend less time with Tian Dazhuang. He’s your brother-in-law.”
Yan Xiaosi didn’t plan to hang out frequently with Tian Dazhuang anyway. She was a girl; in the near future, Tian Dazhuang would become her brother-in-law. If a sister-in-law and brother-in-law were too close, it would easily attract gossip.
“Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness.”
Yan Xiaosi readily accepted his advice. Long Yu’s mood turned quite good. The corners of his mouth imperceptibly curled up as he watched Yan Xiaosi lift the curtain and leave his tent. Only after she left did his smile fade.
The scene switches to the Tian family home in Shaoyao Village.
Tian Dazhuang brought Murong Qinjian to his house.
Ms. Wang was lying on the bed. Seeing a red-clad Murong Qinjian who was as pretty as a fallen immortal, her heart jumped.
In her half a lifetime, this was the first time she saw such a good-looking man. He was simply several times more beautiful than a woman.
Noticing Tian Dazhuang standing behind Murong Qinjian, she reacted and asked, “…Dazhuang, didn’t you go to Big Sister Peak to find Yan Xiaosi? Who is this gentleman?”
Before Tian Dazhuang could introduce him, Murong Qinjian waved his folding fan, hooked the corner of his lips, and smiled at Ms. Wang in a harmless manner.
“Auntie, my surname is Murong. I’m a friend of Young Master Yan. I also know some medicine. Young Master Yan had business at the Tongluo Plain military camp today, so I shall treat your wounds in his place.”
Women have a natural affinity for very handsome men. Moreover, Murong Qinjian was smiling so harmlessly at the moment that Ms. Wang took an even greater liking to him.
“So you’re Yan Xiaosi’s friend.”
As she spoke, her gaze appraised Murong Qinjian, noting his distinguished air and bearing. She felt quite fortunate to have turned down the marriage with the Yan family’s main household.
