Everyone turned around and saw Xiao Xiuning, dressed in a red dress, walking in from outside the door.
Upon seeing this, everyone was about to get up and bow, but Xiao Xiuning raised her hand to stop them.
At this moment, Xiao Xiuning's eyes were fixed on the bubbling red pot on the table.
For Xiao Xiuning, who usually eats only light and bland food, this chili pepper is definitely a very impactful seasoning.
Xiao Xiuning pointed curiously at the things on the table and asked.
"What is this? And why does it smell so pungent?"
Mu Zian replied with a smile.
"You've come at the perfect time; the more people eating hot pot, the more lively it becomes."
"hot pot?"
Xiao Xiuning found this quite novel.
However, Xi'er, who was following behind Xiao Xiuning, spoke up upon seeing this.
"Are we going to share the same food?"
"Your Highness is..."
Before Xi'er could finish speaking, she was interrupted by Xiao Xiuning.
"Since it's more lively to eat with more people, why should I spoil the fun?"
Seeing this, Mu Zian smiled calmly and then asked the kitchen to prepare another pot.
Only then was Xiao Xiuning arranged to take her seat.
In this era, there are still boundaries between men and women, even though Mu Zian upholds the concept of equality for all.
However, widespread adoption is not something that can be achieved overnight.
Mu Zian could only barely guarantee that they wouldn't be assimilated by this era.
Mu Zian sat at the head of a round table, with Xiao Xiuning to his left and Liu Rushi to his right.
Only Mu Zian could enjoy such top-notch treatment.
Mu Zian picked up a slice of meat, thin as a cicada's wing, and dipped it in the boiling hot pot.
The scalding hot pot immediately cooked the meat slices, and then Mu Zian put the meat slices coated in red oil into his mouth.
In an instant, the spicy sensation shot straight to the top of his head, and Mu Zian was so moved that he almost cried.
Who can understand the satisfaction of that bite!
Seeing this, Xiao Xiuning and Liu Rushi followed Mu Zian's method and put the slices of meat into the pot.
Once the meat slices are cooked, pick them up and put them in your mouth.
The spiciness of the first bite made them both cough involuntarily.
Upon seeing this, Xi'er immediately screamed.
"Quickly! Go and fetch the imperial physician!"
Xi'er had just made a sound when Xiao Xiuning grabbed her arm.
After coughing twice, Xiao Xiuning showed no discomfort whatsoever; on the contrary, her eyes lit up.
"It's alright."
After getting used to the taste of chili peppers, the true charm of hot pot is revealed.
Even Liu Rushi, who usually doesn't eat much, ate quite a lot this time, which was unprecedented.
Xiao Xiuning also abandoned her princess status and indulged in a rare feast.
The tense atmosphere that had been created by Xiao Xiuning's arrival eased considerably.
Xiao Xiuning put a piece of tofu into her mouth, and it was so hot that she exhaled several breaths of hot air.
After swallowing the tofu, Xiao Xiuning spoke.
"The Crown Prince of Fuyang was taken back to the embassy by the seventh princess of Zhao yesterday."
Despite hearing this, Mu Zian continued working, because he discovered that the flesh he had plucked would disappear in an instant.
"The Zhao delegation's visit this time is not well-intentioned."
Xiao Xiuning skillfully used her chopsticks to pick up a piece of cooked mutton from the hot pot with red oil, and then stuffed it into her mouth with lightning speed.
Even when breathing heavily from the hot scald, they couldn't bear to spit it out.
"Zhao and Li are adjacent to each other, and the current emperor of Zhao is no ordinary person; he also has the ambition to conquer the world."
"Now that our Great Li has won the war against the Xiongnu, I'm afraid this Zhao emperor will have no sleep, which is why he sent an envoy to the capital as the year draws to a close."
Liu Rushi, who was standing to the side, also spoke up.
“The Prince of Fuyang acts so domineeringly; logically speaking, such a spoiled brat should not be the deputy envoy.”
Zhao Dahu, who was quietly eating nearby, suddenly spoke up.
"In my opinion, these people from Zhao are here to cause trouble!"
"Otherwise, why would they appoint such a thing as the deputy envoy?"
Zhao Dahu's words were truly a wake-up call.
Besides this explanation, Mu Zian could not fathom the purpose behind Emperor Zhao's decision to send the Crown Prince of Fuyang on this mission.
With this thought in mind, Mu Zian spoke.
"It seems this year's end is destined to be turbulent."
However, despite this, Mu Zian did not take the Zhao delegation seriously at all.
Since they were already there, Mu Zian was quite curious to see what kind of trouble they would cause.
In no time at all, all the food on the table was gone.
Just as everyone had finished their meal, a servant hurriedly came to the pavilion and spoke.
"Reporting to the young master, there is a young lady outside the door requesting an audience."
As soon as the servant finished speaking, Mu Zian felt as if she were being pricked by needles.
Xiao Xiuning wiped the stains from the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief and said with a smile.
"The Duke of Zhenguo has quite a few female confidantes."
"Isn't having me and Sister Liu enough?"
Mu Zian smiled awkwardly upon hearing this, but didn't know how to explain.
Before long, a little girl dressed in a floral jacket was brought to the backyard.
The little girl looked around curiously, her nose twitching every now and then.
It seemed to be curious about what the lingering scent of the loyal subjects in the air was.
The little girl recognized Mu Zi'an at a glance as soon as she arrived at the pavilion.
"You are the Duke of Zhenguo of Dali? I saw your portrait in my young lady's room."
Upon hearing this, Mu Zian, who was drinking tea, immediately spat out all of his tea.
For a moment, Mu Zian seemed a little flustered.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com