Chapter 193 A Private Visit
It was noon in the capital city.
Although it wasn't yet time for the Regent's army to officially enter the city, the atmosphere inside was already somewhat tense.
The people were abuzz with discussion, speculating about the bloodshed that the god of war would unleash upon his return to the capital.
However, at the entrance of Juxianlou, the largest restaurant on Dongda Street, the most bustling street in Beijing, a completely different scene unfolds.
The place was bustling with noise and filled with enticing aromas.
The freshly roasted fruitwood duck exuded an irresistible aroma of oil, which wafted across three streets, whetting the appetites of passersby.
"Slurp—"
A swallowing sound was heard.
A man and a woman were standing at the entrance of the restaurant.
The man wore a moon-white brocade robe and a jade belt around his waist, his posture upright like a pine tree.
Although he was wearing a conical hat that covered half of his face, his exposed jawline was still exquisite and aloof, exuding an innate air of nobility.
The woman was wearing a pale yellow ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her hair was styled in a cloud-like bun, and she held a round fan in her hand.
He was standing on tiptoe, staring longingly at the bright red and oily roast duck in the restaurant window.
It was Pei Yunjing and Tang Li who secretly broke away from the main group and rode fast horses into the city ahead of time.
"I can't take it anymore... I really can't take it anymore..."
Tang Li tugged at Pei Yunjing's sleeve, her eyes, which once commanded countless beasts on the battlefield, now gleamed with a hungry, wolf-like green light.
"These past few months in the North, eating dry rations and drinking snow water every day, I've been craving this roast duck so much!"
"I want them fresh out of the oven! Crispy crust! Sizzling and dripping with oil! They can't be cold for even a second!"
Although she had privileges in the military camp, her conditions were ultimately limited.
For a top-tier foodie, this is like making a tiger eat vegetarian food—it's practically torture.
Pei Yunjing looked down at the little woman beside him, who was practically drooling with desire.
His usually indifferent eyes were now filled with helpless doting affection.
Who would have thought?
The "goddess" who had just destroyed a country and made the Northern Rong people tremble with fear did not go to the capital to receive the worship of the people, nor did she go to the palace to show off her power.
Instead, just to have a bite of roast duck, he forced the regent to change into civilian clothes, leaving his 100,000-strong army behind, and riding back thirty miles to join the queue.
"Okay, as you wish."
Pei Yunjing reached out to shield her from the surrounding crowd, his voice gentle:
"Since you want to eat, then eat your fill."
“But…” Tang Li glanced at the sun and hesitated, “The army will be at the city gate in half a day. Would it be bad if we sneaked away like this? The people in the palace must be waiting for us to get their necks long.”
After all, today is a "triumphant return," and it would be as absurd as the groom not showing up at a wedding if the main character wasn't there.
"wait?"
Pei Yunjing chuckled lightly, his tone revealing a nonchalant arrogance:
"Make them wait."
He raised his hand and helped Tang Li straighten the hair ornament in her hair:
"The army is moving slowly and will not arrive for another half day." This half day...
Pei Yunjing glanced at the bustling restaurant, his eyes softening:
"That's enough for us to have a quiet meal."
In his view, having dinner with his beloved concubine was a million times more important than going to the palace to watch those clowns put on a show.
"Let's go in!"
With the Regent's endorsement, Tang Li immediately straightened her back and pulled Pei Yunjing inside.
"Oh dear! Sirs, I'm so sorry!"
As soon as they reached the door, a waiter with a white towel draped over his shoulder stopped them with a beaming smile:
"Business is booming today, both the private rooms and the main hall are full! If you two don't mind, you'll have to take a number at the door and wait a little while?"
"queue?"
Pei Yunjing's brows furrowed instantly.
As the all-powerful regent, he had never experienced the meaning of "queueing" in his life.
Wherever you go, you see streets being splashed with clean water and roads being paved with yellow earth.
He instinctively reached for the token at his waist.
The oppressive aura emanating from him, a power he had always possessed as a superior, couldn't help but leak out slightly.
Xiao Er felt a chill run through his body, as if he were being stared at by a ferocious beast, and his calves started to cramp.
"Oh, hey, hey! My husband!"
Tang Li reacted quickly, grabbing Pei Yunjing's hand and blinking frantically at him:
[Keep it down! Keep it down! We're on an incognito visit!]
If I reveal my identity now, I won't be able to enjoy this meal in peace! I'll definitely be surrounded by a bunch of officials who came after hearing the news.
Looking into her pleading eyes, Pei Yunjing took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his aura.
"Alright."
Tang Li turned to the waiter with a sweet smile, took out a silver ingot from her sleeve, and stuffed it into his hand:
"Waiter, please do us a favor, we are starving."
The waiter weighed the silver in his hand, his eyes immediately lighting up: "Alright! Please wait a moment, esteemed guests, I'll go and prepare the best private room by the window for you right away!"
Amidst the envious gazes of the crowd, the two were respectfully led upstairs by the waiter.
Sitting in the private room, I listened to the noisy sounds of the city below and smelled the aroma of food in the air.
Pei Yunjing poured Tang Li a cup of tea, but his gaze drifted through the window to the magnificent eaves and brackets of the palace.
At this very moment, the area is probably already teeming with weapons and danger.
The Empress Dowager and the young emperor were probably sweating with tension, checking the poison and the hidden troops over and over again, waiting for a decisive battle with him.
And what about him?
He's sitting here, debating whether to dip the roast duck in white sugar or sweet bean sauce.
"Oh."
Pei Yunjing picked up his teacup, a cold, mocking smile playing on his lips.
They're sharpening knives in the palace, while we wait for our food.
"The ducks are here—!"
With a shout from the waiter, a roast duck, its color a deep red and its surface glistening with oil, was served on the table.
Tang Li's eyes instantly lit up with stars, no longer caring about conspiracies or imperial ambitions.
"start!"
She picked up her chopsticks, and across from her, the man who held the reins of power rolled up his sleeves and resignedly and skillfully began to roll her a pancake.
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