Bai, however, was puzzled. She even took a bite of the seafood porridge but didn't notice anything wrong with it. She exclaimed in surprise, "No way, it tastes just like usual!"
"Anyway, it's not very good." Xuan Yuanzhan pouted, as if he had only taken one bite and never wanted to eat it again, and looked at the side dishes with disdain: "The side dishes aren't good either."
Hearing him complain about the side dishes again, Su Xuening blushed even more, lowered her eyes and drank her porridge, not daring to utter a sound.
Bai frowned, tasted a few more bites of the side dishes, and found nothing wrong. She immediately became angry: "Doesn't this taste the same as usual? Are you here to nitpick?"
Bai Shi ignored Xuan Yuanzhan and looked at Su Xuening, who was engrossed in drinking her porridge: "Ning'er, do you think this tastes alright?"
The seafood porridge and side dishes taste exactly the same as usual, there's no difference. Didn't he always enjoy them when he came back before? Why has his taste changed this time?
Whether he changes his mind or not, she doesn't care. As long as Ning'er can eat it, that's fine. If Ning'er can't eat it, then the Holy King's Mansion should change its chef.
Su Xuening looked up and smiled at Bai Shi: "It tastes pretty good."
Seeing that Su Xuening liked it, Bai was pleased: "That's right, the seafood porridge and side dishes are the same as usual, what's wrong with them?"
She dared not speak of anything else, but the imperial chefs of the Holy King's Mansion were even more skilled than those in the palace. Over the years, Xuan Yuanpeng had sent all sorts of top-notch ingredients to the Holy King's Mansion.
Therefore, the food, clothing, and daily necessities in the Holy King's Mansion are even more exquisite than those in the palace, far surpassing even those of Consort Su, who manages the harem.
"Ning'er, let's ignore him. These shrimp dumplings are good, eat more."
The more Bai looked at Su Xuening, the more she liked her. She didn't care whether Xuan Yuanzhan ate or not. He could eat or not, she just kept serving food to Ning'er!
"Thank you, Mother." Su Xuening was somewhat unable to resist Madam Bai's enthusiasm.
Before long, a large plate of food appeared in front of me.
Looking at the mountain of delicate snacks and delicious side dishes, Su Xuening was at a loss as to where to start.
There were so many, she was already full just looking at them.
Xuan Yuanzhan saw through Su Xuening's thoughts. He was originally unwilling to touch his chopsticks, but now he was putting food on Su Xuening's plate. He ate shrimp dumplings and steamed cakes one after another, and he was eating with great relish.
...Su Xuening and Bai Shi were both stunned.
Bai stared blankly at Xuanyuan Zhan.
This kid has always refused to eat the food she puts on his plate since he was little. You know, when he was a child, if she put food on his plate even once, he would go on a hunger strike for days. So, she naturally stopped putting food on his plate.
What's wrong with him now? Has he forgotten that the food on this plate was given to Ning'er by her?
And wasn't he just complaining that these things tasted bad? Now he's eating them so happily?
It took Bai Shi a while to come to her senses. She raised her hand and slapped Xuan Yuanzhan: "What are you doing? There's so much on the plate, why do you have to eat Ning'er's!"
"You've put so much food on her plate, how can she possibly finish it all? Don't make things difficult for her."
Xuan Yuanzhan quickly finished most of the food on Su Xuening's plate, leaving only a small portion. Seeing that she could finish it, he put away her chopsticks.
Su Xuening gave Xuan Yuanzhan a grateful look.
He truly understood her; she didn't even say a word, yet he understood her distress.
Bai finally figured things out. She glanced at Xuan Yuanzhan with a mocking expression, said nothing, and stopped serving Su Xuening food. She just watched her pig, who had fallen in love.
Bai Shi's "I understand everything" look made Xuan Yuanzhan extremely uncomfortable, feeling as if he were sitting on pins and needles.
As soon as Su Xuening finished eating, Xuan Yuanzhan got up to leave.
Seeing this, Lady Bai quickly said, "There will be a banquet in the palace tonight. That person invites you to the palace for the banquet."
Upon hearing the name of that person, Xuan Yuanzhan's face darkened horribly, and his tone became extremely aggressive: "I'm not going!"
"Don't I know my own son?" Bai Shi didn't bother arguing with him and turned to Su Xuening, saying, "If he doesn't want to go, then so be it. Ning'er, your mother will take you!"
Seeing her acting as if she had him completely under her thumb, Xuan Yuanzhan was utterly enraged: "Bai Fuya!"
Xuanyuan Zhan was furious, and Bai Shi's face also darkened instantly, making the atmosphere in the room tense.
Seeing this, Su Xuening quickly comforted Bai Shi: "Mother, don't worry, we will go."
As Su Xuening spoke, she stood up and curtsied to Madam Bai, saying, "This concubine takes her leave."
After bidding farewell to Bai Shi, Su Xuening walked to Xuan Yuanzhan's side, pulled him along, and left.
Looking at Xuan Yuanzhan's stiff but obedient figure following behind, Bai Shi raised the corners of her lips slightly: "It seems you were right. This boy has probably already fallen for Ning'er."
If he hadn't fallen for her early on, how could this guy, with his aloof and indifferent demeanor, have so easily been moved by worldly desires? He even ate for her, let her hold his hand, and let her pull him away so easily? How could that be possible!
But when did this guy fall for her? He only returns to the capital two or three times a year, and he's only spent a handful of years there in the past thirteen years. So when did he take a liking to this girl? She had absolutely no idea!
And what a coincidence, she even helped him marry this girl.
Granny Shang smiled. She had raised the prince herself, and she could see through his little scheme at a glance.
"This boy is stubborn. I wonder if Ning'er can persuade him?" Madam Bai said worriedly.
Granny Shang hurriedly reassured her, "Your Highness, do not worry. The Princess is very clever and will surely be able to persuade the Prince."
When Su Xuening was mentioned, Madam Bai's expression softened: "I really made the right choice in marrying this daughter-in-law. As long as the young couple is doing well, I have nothing to worry about."
"His Highness will understand your good intentions towards him sooner or later," Granny Shang gently advised.
Bai Shi pinched her temple with a bitter expression: "Whether he understands or not, I have done what I was supposed to do, and I have also done what I shouldn't have done! I have lived my life with a clear conscience and have not wronged anyone!"
She owes no debt to any of the men in the Xuanyuan family!
Granny Shang felt sorry for Bai Shi and wanted to say something more, but when she opened her mouth, she couldn't say a word.
At Linshui Pavilion, Su Xuening pulled Xuan Yuanzhan back to the main house.
Once they arrived at the room, Su Xuening realized what was happening and immediately let go of Xuan Yuanzhan.
Xuanyuan Zhan glanced at his hands, his expression somewhat unnatural.
Su Xuening felt a little embarrassed. After a while, she calmed down and said, "I have just entered the manor and I should not say much about Your Highness's family affairs. However, I think Your Highness should attend the palace banquet arranged by the Emperor."
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