322. I just found his face repulsive.

"Really?" The little dumpling's eyes lit up, but then she looked disappointed again, as if remembering something.

“But Yue’er originally wanted to share it with Father, Mother, Big Brother, Grand Tutor, and Brother Xie. Now that it tastes so bad, they definitely won’t like it either.”

"No, they all love you. Even if the food is bad, they'll still praise you for being capable," the second brother assured him, patting his chest.

Qu Zijin happened to be watching them and overheard their conversation. He smiled, put down his wine cup, looked at the steamer in the little dumpling's hand, and said curiously, "I'd like to try the pastries made by the princess. Whether they taste good or not, they are the princess's thoughtfulness and are definitely more special than what you can buy outside."

Marquis Beiding and Jin Qizhi both looked at him, hesitant to speak.

They had actually discovered long ago that the little dumpling had made the food herself, and they knew that what the little dumpling made was definitely inedible.

They pretended not to hear, for no other reason than that they didn't want to eat.

Since Qu Zijin had already spoken, they couldn't directly tell him it was too awful to eat and not to try it, so they could only stand by anxiously.

Marquis Beiding even secretly gave Jin Qizhi a wink, telling him to find a way to stop it.

Jin Qizhi...

Jin Qizhi thought that he was only ten years old, so shouldn't the Marquis of Beiding come up with a perfect plan?

Why was it handed over to him?

Tao Wanbi, sitting in the corner, became even more anxious.

If Qu Zijin eats snacks containing laxatives, he will not only get diarrhea.

More importantly, they will definitely investigate who did it. They'll find out who did it first, then trace it back to the little dumpling, and then find the laxative packet she dropped... then she'll be finished!

She disregarded her second brother's earlier scolding, forced an exaggerated smile, and said to the little dumpling, "Little sister, I didn't eat it carefully just now. After taking another bite, it doesn't seem so bad! Let's eat together; it tastes better when we eat big bites!"

As she spoke, she picked up a pastry, closed her eyes, and forced it into her mouth. She swallowed it without even chewing it twice, almost choking on her food.

You have to force yourself to remain calm and praise: "Look! It tastes so much better when you eat it in big bites! It's sweet and has a sesame aroma, it's so delicious!"

The little dumpling was a bit confused by what she said. She tilted her head to look at her, then looked at the snack in her hand. After hesitating for a moment, she picked up a piece and took a small bite.

She'd only chewed a couple of times when her face scrunched up like a bun, and she said with a pained expression, "It's still awful..."

"Don't swallow! Spit it out quietly!" Her second brother quickly came over, handed her a handkerchief, and whispered, "Spit it into the handkerchief, and we'll throw it away secretly."

The little dumpling nodded quickly, spat the snack in her mouth into her handkerchief, and then said a little disappointedly, "But Yue'er wanted to share it with the Grand Tutor. Now that it tastes so bad, they will definitely be unhappy if they eat it."

"It's okay, we'll cook something delicious next time and then share it," her second brother comforted her, then turned and glared at Tao Wanbi.

They just said it tasted bad, but now they're saying it tastes good. They must have ulterior motives.

Tao Wanbi ignored her second brother's gaze. In order to get the little dumpling to eat a few more bites, she scooped up another big spoonful, forced herself to put it in her mouth, chewed with a face contorted in pain, and still forced a smile as she said, "It's really delicious! You try it again, eat big bites, don't chew slowly, it'll definitely be different! Look, I've already eaten two pieces, they're so fragrant!"

As she spoke, she stuffed a lump of food into the little dumpling's hand, her eyes filled with eagerness, wishing the little dumpling would eat it immediately.

Qu Zijin looked at them with a puzzled expression.

Beside her, Xie Wenling, who had been silent, looked at Tao Wanbi thoughtfully, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.

The child was hiding in the corner, too afraid to approach.

Now, however, she's actively coming over and forcing herself to eat the unpalatable snacks, constantly urging the little dumpling to eat. Something seems off about her.

He looked at it for a while, then suddenly smiled. His aloofness dissipated, making his already handsome face appear more gentle. He then said with a hidden meaning, "Since Miss Tao thinks the princess's pastries are so delicious, why don't you let the princess give Miss Tao the portion she has? That way, Miss Tao won't have to come all the way here to ask for more."

Upon hearing this, the little dumpling nodded obediently and generously handed the steamer to Tao Wanbi, saying, "Okay, okay! Sister Tao, this one is for you too!"

Tao Wanbi froze instantly, almost dropping the plate in her hand.

She had just forced herself to eat two pieces and was almost throwing up. If she ate the whole portion of the little dumpling, not only would the laxative not work, but she herself would be tortured by the taste!

"No, no need!" Tao Wanbi quickly waved her hand, her voice trembling slightly. "I... I'm already full. Please leave this portion for my sister, or for the Grand Tutor!"

Xie Wenling didn't speak, but his gaze remained fixed on her. His tone was still gentle, yet it carried an undeniable sense of pressure: "Didn't Miss Tao just say it was delicious? And that it tastes best when eaten in big bites? Why aren't you eating it now? Were you lying just now, deliberately trying to coax the princess into eating such unpalatable pastries? Or do you have some ulterior motive?"

Upon hearing this, Marquis Beiding, Jiang Xiyue, Qu Zijin, Jin Qizhi, and their second brother were all stunned and looked at Tao Wanbi with a hint of doubt in their eyes.

Tao Wanbi's behavior just now was indeed a bit strange. She kept urging Yue'er to eat, and even forced herself to eat, but now she suddenly refused. It was really not right.

Tao Wanbi felt flustered under everyone's gaze, especially Xie Wenling's eyes, which were calm yet sharp, as if they could see right through her. Her palms were sweating profusely. "I...I didn't lie, and I didn't have any ulterior motives. I just...I just suddenly felt a little full..."

"Oh? A little full?" Xie Wenling said with a half-smile. "But Miss Tao was eating so eagerly just now, how come you're full so quickly? Or is there something inappropriate added to this dessert that Miss Tao doesn't dare to eat more of?"

Tao Wanbi froze in fright, no longer daring to refuse. She could only steel herself, reach out and take the steamer from the little dumpling's hand, her voice trembling as she said, "No, there's nothing I shouldn't have added. I'll eat it, I'll eat it..."

As she spoke, she picked up a pastry, closed her eyes, and shoved it into her mouth like poison, forcing it down. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she dared not spit it out. She could only pretend to be calm, chew a couple of times, and mumble, "So...so delicious..."

The little boy looked at her, a little puzzled, and said, "Sister Tao, why is your face so pale? Are you feeling unwell?"

"No, I'm not feeling unwell!" Tao Wanbi quickly shook her head, picked up another pastry, and forced herself to put it in her mouth, cursing the system a thousand times in her mind.

That damn system should come back already!

If they don't come soon, she'll be driven to her death by these awful snacks and Xie Wenling!

Damn it, why did they have to assign this stupid task?!

The second brother frowned, feeling increasingly uneasy. He got up and moved closer to Jin Qizhi, whispering, "Big brother, don't you think Tao Wanbi is a bit strange? She seems afraid of Brother Xie, yet she forces herself to eat the awful snacks her sister made. She's definitely up to no good!"

Jin Qizhi nodded, a hint of wariness in her eyes: "Yes, I also feel something's not right."

Qu Zijin looked at Tao Wanbi thoughtfully, without saying a word, but he already had a plan in mind.

Only the little dumpling didn't think much of it and assumed that Tao Wanbi genuinely thought the pastries were delicious. Touched, she said, "Sister Tao, please eat slowly. If you're still hungry, Yue'er will go to the kitchen and make you more!"

Upon hearing this, Tao Wanbi nearly fainted: "No, no need! That's enough! I, I'll eat this much!"

After saying that, she picked up another pastry and forced herself to put it in her mouth.

Damn that damn system! If it doesn't come back soon, she's really going to die here!

After she ate most of the basket with a ferocious expression, Marquis Beiding couldn't help but tell her to go back to her seat and eat, instead of standing next to the little dumpling.

Tao Wanbi, carrying a steamer full of pastries, slunk back to her corner.

The moment my bottom touched the chair, I felt a gaze fixed on me.

Without a doubt, it must be Xie Wenling.

She secretly glanced up and saw Xie Wenling leaning back, his hand supporting his forehead, holding a wine glass. His eyes were flushed with a drunken red, and although he seemed to be looking up casually, he was actually watching her as she continued to eat.

Tao Wanbi groaned inwardly, but dared not stop, so she picked up a pastry, closed her eyes, and stuffed it into her mouth.

Now she no longer finds Xie Wenling handsome; she only finds him repulsive.