69novels Chapter 550
Chapter 550
The chess game between Xie Yuchen and Zhuo Yichen was like a fierce battle, both players concentrating on every move. As the seconds ticked by, the game seemed to stretch on forever.
At this moment, Ying Lei and Bai Jiu walked into the hall of Zheng Palace with lunch. Bai Jiu looked around curiously and saw Xie Yuchen and Zhuo Yichen playing chess.
"Sister Wenxiao, haven't Brother Xiaozhuo and the others finished yet?" Bai Jiu tiptoed to Wen Xiao and Pei Sijing and asked in a low voice.
Wen Xiao smiled and nodded, then replied softly, "Yes, they are still playing chess."
Bai Jiu blinked his big eyes. He knew a thing or two about the rules of Go. He knew that he needed to remain quiet during the game because any sound could affect the thinking of both players.
Wen Xiao seemed to see through Bai Jiu's thoughts. She leaned close to Bai Jiu's ear and whispered, "Your brother Xiao Zhuo has already lost a round. This round was very tense."
Bai Jiu was so excited when he heard this that he almost cried out. Fortunately, Wen Xiao was quick to cover his mouth and whispered, "Shh! Don't make any noise. Let's eat in the corridor outside."
After saying that, Wen Xiao pulled the sleeve of Pei Sijing beside him, and then carefully took Bai Jiu and Ying Lei, like three little mice, tiptoed out of the hall and came to the corridor.
"Lady Goddess, Lord Pei, come and try my new dishes!" Ying Lei shouted excitedly, but he seemed to realize that his voice was a little loud, so he quickly lowered his voice, as if he was afraid of disturbing the two people who were playing chess in the room.
Ying Lei and Bai Jiu carefully took out a variety of exquisite dishes from the food boxes and placed them on the table. These dishes were delicious and mouth-watering.
Among them are the Jiangyao Clear Soup, which is clear and transparent, and exudes a light fragrance; the Fuxi Fragrant Fish, which has tender meat and a fragrant aroma; the Three-Strand Fish Soup, which has a rich broth and a mellow taste; the Fisherman's Mixed Fish Pot, which has all kinds of fish gathered together and tastes delicious; and the Pork Ribs Stewed with Red Dates and Wolfberries, which is nourishing and health-promoting, and leaves people with an endless aftertaste.
Every time Ying Lei brought out a dish, he would describe its name and characteristics in detail, as if they were his masterpieces. He then said, "I even specially prepared some desserts!"
"There's Xiaojiu's favorite almond yogurt, which has a delicate texture and is sweet and delicious. There's the goddess' favorite cherry condensed honey, which is crystal clear and looks like a work of art. There's Master Pei's osmanthus wine-fermented soft cheese, which is fragrant and sweet but not greasy. And there's Master Xiaozhuo's jade dew balls, which are cool and refreshing, perfect for summer enjoyment."
"As for what Master Xie likes to eat, I'm not quite sure, so I just prepared something casually."
The moment Ying Lei finished speaking, a clear and pleasant voice sounded behind him: "Brother loves to eat crabapple cakes."
This sudden sound was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples. Wen Xiao and the others were shocked and turned their heads to look, wanting to find out what was going on.
After seeing who was coming, everyone realized that it was Zhuo Yichen and Xie Yuchen who had walked out of the Zheng Palace together. They walked lightly, smiling, and the sunlight shining on them seemed to give them a golden edge, making them look particularly dazzling.
When Bai Jiu heard the sound, he was also startled and turned his head quickly. However, at this moment, he suddenly felt as if his neck was hit hard by something. A sharp pain came over him, making him completely unable to move. He could only smile bitterly as he watched Zhuo Yichen and Xie Yuchen gradually approaching.
"Brother Xiao Zhuo, please save me! My neck is tied and I can't move!" Bai Jiu shouted in pain, his voice revealing a hint of anxiety and helplessness.
Zhuo Yichen was originally immersed in the depressed mood of being killed by his brother without leaving a single piece of armor, but when he saw Bai Jiu's pitiful appearance, the unhappiness in his heart instantly disappeared without a trace as if blown away by a breeze.
He walked forward quickly, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and came to Bai Jiu's side, carefully holding his head with both hands, for fear of accidentally hurting her. Then, he twisted his wrist suddenly, and with a crisp sound of "click", Bai Jiu's neck finally returned to normal.
However, this "crack" sound was like a nightmare to Bai Jiu. He felt an indescribable pain surge into his heart like a tide, making him almost unbearable, and he couldn't help but scream "Ah".
Xie Yuchen slowly sat down on the chair, his eyes sweeping across the dazzling array of dishes on the table. A hint of surprise appeared on his face. He turned to look at Ying Lei standing beside him and asked doubtfully, "Did you make all these?"
When Yinglei heard Xie Yuchen's question, his heart suddenly tightened, as if he was being inspected by his boss. He straightened his body, his hands uncomfortably placed, and in the end he could only silently pick at his fingernails, appearing a little nervous.
After a while, Ying Lei came back to his senses. He stammered and replied, "Yes...I did it. Thank you, Young Master."
Xie Yuchen looked at Ying Lei's nervous expression, and his interest could not help but rise. He raised the corner of his mouth slightly, and continued with a smile: "Well, these dishes look very good. I just wonder if your cooking skills can compare with those chefs of century-old restaurants?"
Ying Lei was stunned when he heard what Xie Yuchen said, then he quickly waved his hands and said a little embarrassedly: "Master Xie, you are joking. My cooking skills are just average. How can I compare with those chefs from century-old restaurants!"
In fact, when Ying Lei had nothing to do, he especially liked to ask Zhuo Yichen for some money, and then go to those small restaurants hidden in the alleys of the city with great interest to explore the unique flavor of the dishes that the people of Tiandu praised so much.
These so-called "fly-sized restaurants" may not be large, but they have a long history. They are often old shops that have been passed down from generation to generation, not only with craftsmanship passed down from generation to generation, but also with the memories and emotions of countless old customers.
Before tasting these dishes, Ying Lei was full of confidence in his cooking skills. However, after he actually tasted them, this confidence disappeared instantly.
At this moment, Xie Yuchen's words were like a bucket of cold water, mercilessly extinguishing the fire of pride in Yinglei's heart. He stood there listlessly, like a balloon that had suddenly been deflated, with his head drooping, as if all life had been lost.
Seeing this, Zhuo Yichen naturally understood Yinglei's mood at the moment. He turned to look at Yinglei, who looked listless, and then looked at his brother, whose eyes flashed with embarrassment, and suddenly understood.
"Brother, Yinglei's cooking skills are already outstanding among his peers. How can you compare a child with an adult right away?" Zhuo Yichen hurriedly spoke to comfort him, trying to ease the slightly awkward atmosphere.
After hearing Zhuo Yichen speak for him, Yinglei's heart was illuminated by a bright light. His eyes sparkled with surprise and gratitude, as if the whole world had become brighter. He couldn't help but shout out, "Master Xiao Zhuo!"
Zhuo Yichen hadn't expected Yinglei to rush over so excitedly. His body stiffened slightly, and he felt a little overwhelmed. However, facing Yinglei's expectant gaze, he finally smiled helplessly, gently touched Yinglei's head, and said in a slightly doting tone, "Brother doesn't mean any harm, he's just teasing you!"
Xie Yuchen had been watching Ying Lei, who was about to pounce on him. Seeing this, he immediately reached out and steadily stopped Ying Lei's movements. His voice was gentle but firm. "Even though Yuanbao said I was teasing you, you all know where I live. I can even have a full banquet, let alone here!"
Ying Lei's heart tightened when he heard Xie Yuchen's words. He couldn't help but worry whether the food he cooked was really not good enough. However, just when he felt a little disappointed, Xie Yuchen's next words instantly cheered him up again.
"However, being able to prepare these home-cooked dishes like this already shows great talent," Xie Yuchen said with a smile, his eyes falling on Ying Lei with a hint of admiration. "If you come to my place in the future, perhaps I can take you to learn from those chefs whose ancestors were imperial chefs."
Xie Yuchen looked at Ying Lei, who was in tears, and said quickly, "You've been busy all morning and haven't had a good meal yet. You must be hungry now! Sit down and eat! Eat lunch and take a nap. Daddy and father should be back by evening."
When Zhuo Yichen heard that his father and Ling Ge would not be back until the evening, he asked, "Brother, what did father and Ling Ge do? Why are they coming back so late?"
Xie Yuchen wanted to conceal what his father had done, but he could reveal a few things to his father. "I don't know what my father is going to do! You know, they never discuss anything with us. But I do know a thing or two about my father."
Xie Yuchen placed a piece of fish on Zhuo Yichen's plate with his chopsticks. "Gong Shangjiao brought Shangguan Qian and the others to gather those forces affiliated with the Gong Clan and headed to Lixi Town, where Wufeng's headquarters was located. They were planning to strike first. Meanwhile, Gong Shangjiao was worried that the Gong Clan, having lost its elite troops, would fall prey to Wufeng's scheme to lure the tiger away from the mountain. So, he broke away from his father and headed to the town where Wufeng's stronghold was to suppress the bandits."
Zhuo Yichen's heart instantly jumped into his throat. "Did Yuan Zheng go to that Lixi Town with Gong Shangjiao and the others?"
Xie Yuchen: "Yuanbao, you know that Yuanzheng can't let go of his friendship with Gong Shangjiao, and this time he went to Wufeng headquarters for revenge. How could Yuanzheng go with him?"
After hearing Xie Yuchen's talk about revenge, Zhuo Yichen naturally understood why Gong Yuanzheng followed Gong Shangjiao out of the palace gate. "No wonder I didn't see Yuanzheng coming out to collect herbal dew today."
Xie Yuchen glanced at the untouched dishes and rice on Zhuo Yichen's plate and bowl, "Yuanbao, if you don't eat now, Yinglei and the others will eat it all!"
Zhuo Yichen looked down and saw that the dish that was originally full now had only a few pieces of food left. When he wanted to pick up some food with his chopsticks, he caught a glimpse of Xie Yuchen's smile out of the corner of his eye.
He looked down at the bone plate beside him. It was filled with dishes, and even the soup was placed on the side, just waiting for him to taste it.
Zhuo Yichen pouted and looked at Xie Yuchen, who loved to watch the show, with a bit of helplessness, "Brother!"
After a hearty meal, Bai Jiu begged Ying Lei with a smile on his face to go with him to visit Gong Yuanzheng's medicinal garden. Although Ying Lei was a little reluctant, he finally gave in to Bai Jiu's constant persuasion and agreed.
Meanwhile, Wen Xiao enthusiastically dragged Pei Sijing to the back garden of Zheng Palace to admire the blossoming flowers. Hand in hand, they strolled among the flowers, feeling the fragrance and the gentle breeze, their moods particularly joyful.
Xie Yuchen took Zhuo Yichen back to the room and prepared to take a nap to restore his energy.
Just when the palace gate was showing a peaceful scene, suddenly, a huge "boom" sound came from the back mountain. The sound was like thunder, resounding throughout the palace gate, shocking everyone.
Whether they were busy or leisurely, they all stopped what they were doing and looked up towards the back mountain.
The valley, which was originally shrouded in haze, suddenly seemed to be gently pushed away by a huge hand. The haze gradually dissipated and the sunlight shone through the clouds.
"The sun is out!"
"The sun is out!"
"The sun is out!"
People shouted in surprise. These three shouts of "The sun is out" not only meant that the dark clouds that had been hanging over the palace gate had finally been completely dispelled, but also foreshadowed the future prosperity of the palace gate.
Everyone in the Zheng Palace who was napping was startled awake by the sudden roar. They rubbed their eyes sleepily and looked around in confusion, trying to figure out what had happened.
At that moment, Zhuo Yichen rushed out of the bedroom, his clothes slightly disheveled, holding the Cloud Light Sword. His hair was a little disheveled, as if he hadn't had time to tidy it up in his haste, but his eyes were unusually sharp, revealing a sense of tension and alertness.
"Wen Xiao, Lord Pei, Xiao Jiu, Ying Lei, are you okay?" Zhuo Yichen shouted loudly while quickly glancing at everyone around him, fearing that someone might be injured or in danger.
When he saw Bai Jiu running out of the room screaming with a look of fear on his face, his heart tightened even more. He quickly ran to Bai Jiu and asked with concern: "Xiao Jiu, what's wrong? What happened?"
Bai Jiu was clearly terrified. Her face was as pale as paper, and her body was still trembling slightly. She clutched Zhuo Yichen's arm tightly, crying, "I... I don't know. I was just sleeping when I suddenly heard a loud bang outside. I was so scared..."
Zhuo Yichen patted Bai Jiu's back gently and comforted him, "Don't be afraid, I'm here." Then, he raised his head and his eyes fell on Wen Xiao and Pei Sijing who were following closely behind.
Wen Xiao's face was equally pale. She followed Pei Sijing closely, looking a little frightened. Seeing this, Zhuo Yichen hurriedly asked, "Wen Xiao, are you okay?"
Wen Xiao shook his head and moved his lips slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't say it.
After Zhuo Yichen calmed Bai Jiu down, he looked around again and suddenly realized that one person was missing—Ying Lei. His brows furrowed tightly as he anxiously asked, "Where's Ying Lei? Where did he go? Xiao Jiu, did you see Ying Lei when you came out of the room?"
Zhuo Yichen looked at Bai Jiu, only to see that his face was as pale as paper, his eyes wide open, and he was clearly still in extreme fear, completely unable to recover. He sighed helplessly, thinking, "What should I do?"
So, Zhuo Yichen decided to drag Bai Jiu back to their room first, let him have a good rest and calm down. He carefully helped Bai Jiu up and walked towards the room step by step.
However, just as he stepped into the door of Bai Jiu and Ying Lei's room, an unexpected scene suddenly appeared in front of him. He saw Xie Yuchen carrying a person out of the room, and that person turned out to be Ying Lei!
Zhuo Yichen opened his mouth in astonishment, not knowing what to say for a moment. Various speculations flashed through his mind quickly. Could something have happened to Ying Lei?
At this time, Xie Yuchen seemed to notice Zhuo Yichen's gaze, and hurriedly explained: "Don't worry, Yuanbao, the little mountain god may be sleeping too soundly! He hasn't woken up yet!" As he said, he gently placed Yinglei at the door.
Zhuo Yichen looked closely and indeed heard a slight snoring sound coming from Yinglei's mouth, as if he was really just sleeping. He breathed a sigh of relief, but the doubts in his heart were not completely dispelled.
However, seeing that everyone was already there, Zhuo Yichen felt a little relieved. At least everyone was safe now, which was a blessing in disguise.