Chapter 622 - Rouge Rice
Inevitably, the first person to ‘rebel’ and ‘lead the revolution’, was Tang Si.
She flung her chopsticks down. “Can’t you just have mercy on us? It’s already been several days since we’ve been able to have a proper meal. Don’t you know how awful your dishes taste? No, they can’t be called awful, they’re practically inedible!”
What? Jing Rong was shocked. Weren’t they praising him before that? Now, they actually used the words ‘awful’ and ‘inedible’ to describe his dishes. How hurtful!
The next, was Mo Ruo. He didn’t throw as big a tantrum as Tang Si. He merely put his chopsticks down gently on the table, got up, and smiled, “Mn… I’ll go order a few dishes at the restaurant. We’ll sit down and have a proper meal then.”
Eat your head! Jing Rong’s expression started turning black and the furrow of his brows grew deeper. “Don’t the dishes that this prince made taste good?” He also started muttering to himself.
“I’ve already said that it’s not a matter of how good or how awful they taste… but whether or not they are edible.”
Jing Rong was speechless.
Mo Ruo patted his shoulder, “Bro, just don’t be so stubborn. Your hands are not meant for cooking.”
Jing Rong didn’t want to say any more. Just why did he wake up so early? Wasn’t it all so that he could prepare a steaming hot table of dishes for everyone? In the end, the evaluation result was a bucketful of cold water splashed onto him. His whole body seemed as if it were covered with a solid layer of ice that was cold enough to give off clouds of condensation.
In the end, Mo Ruo and Tang Si happily skipped out of the mansion to the restaurant. Only Ji Yunshu was left at the dining table. After two days of diarrhea, she had lost a bunch of weight, her bright and soulful eyes had turned wan and dull, and her face was pale and white as a sheet. She sent Jing Rong a pleading look, as if to say, bro, please let me off!
However, what came out of her mouth was, “Actually, the dishes really are not that bad. They’re just a little unpolished and will be fine with more practice.”
Oh no! Ji Yunshu regretted her words the minute they left her mouth.
Jing Rong was bewildered. Was his cooking really that terrible? He looked at the state Ji Yunshu was in, and finally understood. He sighed, then picked Ji Yunshu up in his arms and walked towards her courtyard. He ordered, “Have someone make a bowl of porridge and bring it over.”
Ji Yunshu’s lithe body was cradled against that firm chest which radiated smoldering heat along with the strong and regular thuds of his heart. Slowly, her body warmed up as she basked in that embrace. She craved an embrace just like this! It felt as secure as a solid wall that surrounded her completely and carefully protected her, ensuring that nothing could harm her. She also knew that she would never be hurt as long as Jing Rong was around. [1]
Jing Rong looked down and noticed the shy gaze that she tried to hide away. He smiled secretly and held her more tightly as he carried her back into her room. “Why are you so silly? Just say that you won’t eat if it’s not good. Why would you punish yourself?”
She leaned against the bed and smiled gently, eyes fixed on the handsome brows of the man in front of her. “How is it punishing myself? I couldn’t be happier that you’re willing to cook for us.”
“Why?”
“Because where I come from, men that can cook are the most charming, and can attract the attention of many girls.”
“Where you came from?” Jin Rong was puzzled. “This prince has also stayed in Jinjiang for a while. Why have I never heard of this?” [2]
“Maybe you’re just out of touch with things.”
Jing Rong looked at her smug expression and also said proudly, “Alright, since you said that many girls would like men that can cook, then this prince has decided to learn cooking properly. You might never know, in the future, I’d have a house-full of concubines.”
Ji Yunshu choked a little when she heard that, and her expression fell slightly, “As long as Your Highness is happy.”
However, Jing Rong suddenly tugged on her long fingers and gazed at her soulfully, “This prince only needs you in this lifetime. There’s no space in this prince’s heart for any woman but you.”
Ji Yunshu’s heart clenched as her heartbeat started galloping and her two cheeks started to warm. She bit her lip as the corners of her mouth stretched into a blissful smile. The next moment, Jing Rong gathered her into his arms.
Unfortunately… “Ahem, ahem…” Lang Po coughed awkwardly, unsure of what to say. Why was it always him?
Jing Rong let go of the woman in his embrace and turned to glare fiercely at him.
“Your Highness, your subordinate is here to deliver the porridge.” Lang Po passed him the bowl. “Your Highness, then… your subordinate will go out.”
“Don’t go. Stand there.”
“Huh?”
“Huh what huh? Just stand there as I said.”
That isn’t very appropriate, isn’t it? Lang Po didn’t dare to voice his thoughts and could only obediently do as he was told.
Jing Rong held that bowl of porridge and told Ji Yunshu, “This prince will feed you,” and proceeded to hold up spoonful after spoonful to her mouth.
Ji Yunshu opened her mouth to eat, but felt it was extremely awkward to have Lang Po next to them.
Of course, Lang Po felt even more awkward. He finally understood why His Highness had ordered him to stay. He stood there, ramrod straight, eyes averted and not daring to look at that scene, his forehead beaded with sweat. In other words, this was torture for the single dog! [3]
…
At the other side, Mo Ruo had brought Tang Si out to eat, but instead of a teahouse, it was a brothel. The minute they stepped in, the ladies swarmed forward to fawn and titter over them. Mo Ruo already was rather handsome, so the ladies unsurprisingly were all happy to stick to him, and many didn’t hesitate to drape themselves all over him. However, Mo Ruo also liked to flirt and provoke the ladies, which made them all the more enthusiastic.
Tang Si was crowded and pushed far, far away by the swarm of ladies. Before they had entered, she was still puzzled over what kind of place this was. Now, she was crystal clear that this was a house of ill-repute.
She immediately was enraged and pushed her way through the swarm of ladies to reveal Mo Ruo at the center. With a forceful tug on his collar, she yanked him towards her. Those ladies were baffled and stood there whispering and muttering to each other behind their handkerchiefs and fans.
Tang Si clenched her teeth and hissed at Mo Ruo, “Is this the place where you said we were going to eat?”
Mo Ruo shrugged. “The food here is fragrant.”
“Fragrant indeed, it’s all the smell of rouge, of course it’s fragrant.”
“Miss Tang, I invited you out to eat, there’s nothing wrong with me choosing the location.”
Tang Si glared at him and muttered, “I’ll tell you, you better quickly bring me out of here, or I’ll let all the ladies here taste something called whipped meat.” It was a blatant threat!
Mo Ruo’s head throbbed. He put on a despondent and disappointed expression as he jerked his chin towards Tang Si’s hand which still had a firm grasp of his robes. “Let go first, it’s too embarrassing.”
“Then are you leaving?”
“Of course, what more do you want me to do?”
Finally, Tang Si loosened her fist and dusted her hands, “Then let’s go,” as she dragged him away from the brothel. The ladies chased after them for a short stretch, but stopped in fear that Tang Si would hit them.
[1] Oh gosh what's with this sudden OOC gushing? I'm getting goosebumps.
[2] Hmm... this is the 2nd? time in recent chapters author has mentioned the modern times. Is JYS gonna confess soon?
[3] 'Single dog' is slang for a sad single that wants a partner but can't find one. Accordingly, couples that flaunt their relationship are 'scattering dog food'.