Chapter 135: A Guilty Apology

Chapter 135: Chapter 135: A Guilty Apology

Upon hearing this, Chi Jie’s lowered eyes grew colder.

"The raw ingredients for the pickled cabbage can only be found in Nantong City. If you find it satisfactory, Your Majesty, I can offer it as a monthly tribute to the Empire..."

Niu Ding, head bowed, was still prattling on, trying to claim credit. Chi Jie’s expression remained unchanged, but the interest in his eyes had completely vanished.

’The South Copper City Lord only ever says what benefits him. He’s just fishing for a real reward. Besides, this is all secondhand information. How much truth is there to it?’

’How dull.’

Looking down at the South Copper City Lord in the hall, Chi Jie tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest.

He fell silent. Lip Fei, standing beside him, saw the King’s indifferent expression and turned to Niu Ding. "That will be all. You may leave."

Niu Ding retreated uneasily. After he was gone, Chi Jie descended from the throne, and Lip Fei followed behind the King.

’I can’t quite figure out the King’s thoughts. He had seemed so interested in the pickled cabbage before, so why did he suddenly lose interest?’

’He summoned the man but didn’t even get to the main point before dismissing the City Lord.’

Lip Fei was completely baffled. He replayed the South Copper City Lord’s words in his mind, then said cautiously from behind, "Your Majesty, that South Copper City Lord is hiding something." ’Like the person who created the recipe,’ he thought.

Chi Jie said flatly, "I know."

His gaze lowered, his expression growing even more inscrutable.

’In any case, he is the partner *she* chose. With a lucrative business like the pickled cabbage, Nantong City’s economy should do well. I don’t mind giving him a small reward.’

Chi Jie’s golden eyes shifted to Lip Fei beside him. "For the hunt in a few days, assign him to Region 89."

’That’s a region for hunting herbivores! The danger level is much, much lower. If he performs well, it will be noted in his City Lord evaluation, which will increase Nantong City’s prestige. This is basically special treatment, isn’t it?’

Lip Fei nodded in agreement.

’This City Lord of Nantong really lucked out, winning the King’s favor with pickled cabbage.’

Just as Lip Fei was internally debating whether to investigate the Nantong City affair more thoroughly, he heard the King ask a question in a low, detached voice.

"Tell me, how does one approach a female?"

Chi Jie strolled unhurriedly down the corridor, hands hanging naturally at his sides, his expression leisurely. Hearing this sudden question, Lip Fei’s mind exploded:

’Approach equals pursue.’

The question struck Lip Fei’s mind like a clap of thunder. ’No wonder the King seemed to be in a good mood today,’ he thought. ’This must be about the female he asked about last time.’

When the Prime Minister didn’t answer after a long moment, Chi Jie cast a light glance at Lip Fei with his golden eyes.

A sudden, oppressive pressure, like being plunged into the depths of a harsh winter, washed over him, causing Lip Fei’s pupils to instinctively contract into needle points. Snapping back to his senses, he asked tremblingly, "Approaching a female?"

Chi Jie gave a slight nod.

’In fact, after returning to Pantian City from Cang City, I even went to that banquet for females and still didn’t see her.’

’I have no experience getting along with females, and that nagging doubt makes me want to get close to Feng Si to clear up my suspicions. Yet, it’s hard to find a good excuse or opportunity.’

’And after that night, she must have seen my face.’

’I don’t know why she chose to run away, but for now, it means either she thinks I didn’t recognize her, or she isn’t the one I’m looking for.’

’So, I can first approach her and confirm things, without putting her on guard.’

Lip Fei, half a step behind the King, deliberated for a moment before saying, "Based on my experience courting my own female wife, it seems that females find unplanned encounters with male beasts quite heart-fluttering. Once is a coincidence, but if it happens many times, the ancient books have a word for it: fate."

Chi Jie thoughtfully tilted his head, his gaze drifting toward the distant mountain forest. A glimmer of interest flashed in the depths of his golden eyes.

"Mm."

...

Feng Si waited until evening, then went out again under the pretext of checking on the installation of the Energy Shield.

On the way back, while still in the flying car, she pulled five large jars out of her storage space, making it look as if she had just purchased them.

The sub-females at the manor saw the five strange, oversized jars—each nearly a meter tall—but didn’t ask any questions. Following Feng Si’s instructions, they moved them into a cool room on the first floor.

Feng Si kept the key herself, thus solving the problem of where the pickled cabbage was mysteriously appearing from.

After the pickled cabbage was taken out, the brine wouldn’t be discarded. Once the Lotus Fruit and Long Horned Beans were air-dried, she could just put them in the jars to soak.

The smaller jars for portioning had already been retrieved by the robotic steward that afternoon. Now, piles of them, freshly sterilized in boiling water, sat on a long table, steam billowing up from them.

Hu Fei saw Feng Si approaching with the young cub in her arms and asked, "Lady Feng Si, what are you preparing to do with all this?"

Feng Si said, "Earn large coins."

Hu Fei looked confused.

However, it wasn’t her place to question what Lady Feng Si was doing. As the Special-level Female Steward serving at S2 Manor, she quickly took the initiative to ask, "What do you need? Please, just give us the orders."

The task of jarring was simple: just fill the small jars with pickled cabbage and tighten the lids.

For now, before she moved off Boman Gate Island, her pickled cabbage business would inevitably be exposed to the sub-females. Feng Si hadn’t intended to hide it from the start, so she never refused their offers to help.

’When I leave, I’ll give everyone in the manor five thousand coins.’

With this in mind, Feng Si agreed to let Hu Fei call over ten sub-female helpers. She sat down, holding the cub, and instructed them to wash their hands, put on gloves, and wear silk scarves to cover their mouths, noses, and hair. Then, she directed them to portion out the contents according to strict weight requirements.

Yun Chi slept soundly on Feng Si’s lap, his long little body stretched out, his head turned toward his mother’s face.

As Feng Si was tallying the pickled cabbage to be sent to the shop on Secret Fragrance Pine Forest Street the next day, her communicator rang. A glance showed it was the South Copper City Lord, Niu Ding, whom she hadn’t heard from in a while. She accepted the call.

"Uh... I have some great news to tell you! Because of the pickled cabbage, I successfully got the Beast King to remember me! For the hunt in a few days, I’ve been assigned to Region 89 ahead of schedule. Who knows, maybe in a little while Nantong City will be promoted to a level-six city!"

When he received the notice of his hunting region assignment ahead of time, he was overjoyed. At the same time, he knew it was all thanks to Feng Si that he received such preferential treatment, which made him feel increasingly guilty. So, he decided to contact Feng Si and talk it over.

Niu Ding said in a hesitant voice, "At the time, I was too nervous meeting the Beast King, so I didn’t mention you regarding the pickled cabbage. Thinking about it now, what I did was out of line. Can I give you two gold bricks as an apology?"

Feng Si looked at the jar of pickled cabbage in front of her.

’What a coincidence. I also decided to start my own business here in Pantian City, and I didn’t notify you either.’

She said, "Congratulations."

Hearing that Feng Si seemed to agree, the heavy weight on Niu Ding’s conscience was lifted. With the serious business out of the way, he was now in a much better mood and continued: