Chapter 8: Cooking Fine Meals, Coaxing the Second Young Master

Chapter 8: Cook a Good Meal, Win Over the Second Young Master

"Has he eaten?" Steward Li Yuan came back to give his report, and before he could speak, he heard his master asking a question.

Li Yuan was surprised, thinking he hadn't seen his master look this anxious in a long time.

In the past, no matter how big the matter, the servants always reported first, and the master decided afterward.

Xie Jingxing realized he'd spoken too hastily the moment the words left his mouth.

Today, using his inner energy to blast Ning Xishi across the room was really because the guy had run his mouth and seriously offended Xie Jingxing—even if they were married, you don't pull that kind of shameless talk in broad daylight.

Not to mention the two had no feelings for each other; they'd both been roped into this marriage against their will.

Although Xie Jingxing was a military general who'd spent years crawling through the ranks in the army, always easygoing and open-minded, when it came to romance, he was just as clueless as anyone.

Ning Xishi's disrespect naturally pissed him off.

But Xie Jingxing hadn't expected to shove Ning Xishi so hard that he ended up on the ground.

Too bad the palace matrons were there at the time, so Xie Jingxing couldn't make amends.

All he could do was let Ning Xishi storm off in a huff.

Eight years ago, because his older brother was suspicious of him and he'd racked up too many military achievements, to keep his brother from thinking he was gunning for the throne, Xie Jingxing refused all marriage proposals and publicly announced he was into men.

—After all, even as the late emperor's own flesh and blood with military honors, once word got out he liked men, it would be a huge black mark on his name. Even if he really tried to seize power, the so-called righteous officials at court would never accept him, and the people of the realm would despise him for it.

That was exactly why Xie Jingxing got to guard the borders in peace for eight years.

Then, eight years later, Xie Jingxing was secretly summoned back to the capital by imperial decree, and in less than ten days, they'd arranged a husband for him.

And this husband—he was the second legitimate son of the Minister of Rites, a big name in the righteous faction.

This really made the General's Estate and the righteous faction sworn enemies.

One could say that after this, the righteous faction would paint Xie Jingxing as the poster boy for arrogance and merit that threatened the throne, and a hundred years from now, history would brand him a traitorous minister.

But Xie Jingxing didn't care.

He didn't care about reputation, didn't care about power, only cared that the border troops got enough to eat and could fight without worry; only cared that not a single inch of land was lost and the common folks could live in peace.

If trashing his reputation could buy all that, what did it matter if he went down as a crooked minister?

Anyway, back to the point. Steward Li Yuan saw his master look away and clear his throat, and knowing he couldn't just leave his master's question hanging, quickly replied: "Second Young Master Ning was definitely hungry, and the food was right up his alley. He's already eating."

Xie Jingxing nodded, letting out a breath he didn't even know he'd been holding, and said: "Send all the servants the Minister's Estate sent over to his courtyard. Since he was forced into this marriage too, don't give him a hard time about anything else. Let him treat this place like his own home—whatever he did at the Minister's Estate, he can do here."

Li Yuan was taken aback, hesitating: "General, but our kitchen runs on a fixed schedule, and the cooks have to head to the training grounds after they're done cooking. I heard that at the Minister's Estate, Second Young Master Ning could order food whenever he wanted."

Xie Jingxing said: "Then hire some kitchen maids to cook for Ning Xishi every day."

Li Yuan was floored. He knew that to keep other factions from getting their hooks into the General's Estate, even the cooks and the people doing the laundry were soldiers. And now they were hiring kitchen maids... all for some spoiled rich kid.

Li Yuan had actually gotten the sense when he first met Ning Xishi that the kid wasn't a bad sort, but the General's Estate's interests came first, no question.

He walked out looking deep in thought and happened to bump into Qiu Changyu, who was just about to walk in and casually asked Li Yuan what was up.

Li Yuan was still standing at the door, and since the general didn't stop him, he went ahead and spilled the news about possibly hiring kitchen maids.

"Our General's Estate has always been a tight ship, and outsiders are just waiting to pounce. If we bring in kitchen maids now, there's no telling if they've got their own agendas."

The big worry was that the general's leg still needed careful nursing, and the estate's pharmacist was trying all kinds of remedies to see if the general's legs could get any feeling back.

It was a long shot, but there was always hope.

At this critical moment, if even one thing went wrong with the general's food, he might never walk again.

No wonder Li Yuan was so on edge—every outside force was circling like vultures.

Their General's Estate had always been a tight ship, and now shipping in a 'madam' had already shattered the estate's peace. If they hired cooks for this 'madam' and opened that door, who knows how many more people they'd have to let in down the line. The General's Estate would know no peace.

That was precisely the emperor's goal.

Li Yuan spoke of this in front of Qiu Changyu, hoping the strategist would persuade the general to retract his order.

When Qiu Changyu heard this, his first reaction was the same as Li Yuan's—that this would be playing right into the enemy's hands.

Just as he was about to speak, a thought suddenly struck him. His eyes darted around, and he suddenly burst out laughing: "Seems the general does have some special feelings for that Second Young Master Ning."

Li Yuan: "Huh?"

Qiu Changyu laughed: "Since ancient times, heroes have always struggled to resist beautiful women. That Second Young Master Ning is exceptionally handsome from every angle, and he's got impressive horsemanship skills too. It's no surprise the general took a liking to him. Steward Li, just do as the general says and hire some kitchen maids."

Li Yuan was utterly shocked. Strategist Qiu had always put the general's safety first—how could he be so indulgent of the general?

Qiu Changyu patted Li Yuan's shoulder: "Go on. The general and I have matters to discuss."

That was a dismissal. Li Yuan had no choice but to leave with a face full of sorrow to find suitable kitchen maids.

Sigh, and he'd have to set up a small kitchen in the General's Estate just like the one at the Minister's Estate that spoiled their second young master.

—Not even a properly married bride would be indulged like this.

After Qiu Changyu closed the door, he found Xie Jingxing staring at him the whole time and immediately grinned: "What, you're shocked that I guessed your plan?"

Xie Jingxing thought to himself, I don't even know what my own plan is.

He was simply confident in his own abilities. After all, he'd already survived the most difficult period when he had no one trustworthy by his side. Now, no matter how many spies were planted, he'd kill them one by one.

Qiu Changyu looked directly into Xie Jingxing's eyes and shrugged helplessly: "General, you can't be displeased just because I guessed your plan to fish for traitors, right?"

Xie Jingxing: "..." What a plan to fish for traitors.

But Qiu Changyu was already rubbing his hands in anticipation: "Times have changed. We've already taken a big step back. If anyone dares to push their luck, we'll fight back! Send one in, kill one; send two in, kill two! Do they really think our General's Estate is a soft persimmon to squeeze?"

Xie Jingxing had already picked up the military reports on the table: "The strategist's words align perfectly with my thoughts. Then this matter will be left to the strategist from now on."

Qiu Changyu: "..." Wait, how did he, a dignified strategist, suddenly get assigned this job?

Qiu Changyu argued: "This kind of household inspection is usually the lady of the house's job..." Seeing Xie Jingxing's gaze turn murderous, he quickly changed his tune: "I think this task will really exercise my abilities. I'll serve as the general's vanguard, through fire and water, without hesitation."

Xie Jingxing didn't want to listen to his nonsense and directly shifted to military affairs. The two chatted in the study for about an hour before Qiu Changyu left.

By then, the guests at the General's Estate had mostly dispersed. After all, neither of the main figures was present. If they were just eating and drinking, with so many people around, it was hard to discuss important matters. They could only exchange pleasantries and empty words—how boring.

Only one young man of about eighteen or nineteen was lurking suspiciously near the rockery at the boundary between the outer and inner courtyards of the General's Estate, seemingly up to something.

This person has no martial skills at all, thinking he was very well hidden behind the rockery, completely unaware that the guards watching from the shadows had gone from one to three, just waiting for his next move to tackle him on the spot.

Qiu Changyu had just been tasked with reorganizing the household affairs of the general's mansion and flushing out external spies. Though it was overkill, like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, Qiu Changyu himself quite enjoyed this kind of work.

He was sly and mischievous by nature, delighting in letting the culprit go all the way to the final step, allowing them to glimpse the light of victory before utterly crushing their hopes.

And so, Qi Huairui became Strategist Qiu's first guinea pig.

Seeing that Qi Huairui hadn't noticed him, Qiu Changyu quietly shook his head at the hidden guards. The guards stationed between the inner and outer courtyards suddenly looked up at the birds overhead, and Qi Huairui clumsily pushed his way through the flower bushes.

The noise was so loud it was impossible not to hear.

Fortunately, Qiu Changyu quietly trailed behind him, escorting him all the way, making sure this silly goose didn't get caught.

Qi Huairui's original intention was simply to find Ning Xishi. As the third young master of the Qi family, Ning Xishi was his only good friend. For two months, with his friend gone from the academy, Young Master Qi had been utterly miserable. Having finally seen him, he wanted to pour out his grievances to Ning Xishi.

He had been able to control his impulses, but after a couple of drinks at the banquet, he completely lost his self-control, wanting only to find Second Young Master Ning and pour his heart out to him.

Qi Huairui was also quite lucky to run into Dongshuang, who had come out to fetch water. Dongshuang was startled at first, but didn't think twice and immediately invited him inside.

Qiu Changyu, following behind Qi Huairui, narrowed his eyes, thinking that today he might really land a big fish.

Given how generously the general treated this Second Young Master Ning, this person was certainly no pushover.

Qiu Changyu suppressed his breathing and landed lightly on the roof of Ning Xishi's quarters. At that moment, Ning Xishi was eating and was startled by Qi Huairui's arrival, missing such a faint noise.

Ning Xishi soothed Qi Huairui's emotions: "Actually, think about it, marriage isn't all benefits. Though I don't have to go to the academy, don't have to see the teacher, don't have to fear getting my palms smacked again, and maybe someday when I run into the teacher on the road, he'll have to bow to me and call me 'Your Highness'..."

At that, Qi Huairui burst into even louder sobs.

==========Author's Note:==========

Goodnight, my darlings.