Ling Shumo took the food box from his hand and said, "The wound on your shoulder hasn't healed yet. From now on, let your attendants carry all these things. You are so old, but you don't know how to take care of your body."
Lu Jinshu smiled and turned sideways, pointing at Jiufu and the other two attendants behind him, "They are all carrying food boxes in their hands. I am not so stupid as to tire myself out."
The servants opened the lids of the food boxes in their hands one by one and placed the delicious food inside on the dining table.
Lu Jinshu personally opened the Huanghuali food box. On the top layer was a plate of sweet potato with sugar, and on the bottom layer was a bowl of meatballs stewed with white radish.
Lu Jinshu smiled and said, "Only these two dishes were made by me, I thought since I had already made them, it wouldn't take much effort to carry them all the way here."
Ling Shumo's gaze fell on his right shoulder.
Lu Jinshu picked up a meatball with his left hand and placed it on Shangguan Xu's lips. "I can cook the meal just with my left hand."
Shangguan Xu's eyes suddenly lit up. The meatballs were delicate and tender, and the rich juice burst in his mouth. He swallowed the meatballs into his stomach in a few gulps, and couldn't wait to use chopsticks to pick up another beef meatball and put it into his mouth.
Shangguan Xu ate several of them in a row before he could finally find the time to praise Lu Jinshu, "Jin'an, your cooking skills are really getting better and better. Compared to this bowl of stewed radish and meatballs you made yourself, the meal you asked your servant to prepare a few days ago was really not good enough."
Shangguan Xu ate up most of the bowl of stewed meatballs with radish by himself. Now, there were only a few beef balls and half a piece of radish left in the bowl.
He suddenly felt embarrassed and whispered to Lu Jinshu, "It's all my fault for being so greedy. Once I start eating, I can't stop. But, in the final analysis, it's because your cooking skills are so good. I hope your injury heals quickly. I want to eat your cooking every day."
Lu Jinshu immediately agreed.
He had meals delivered to Changqiu Palace every day, with the intention of pleasing Shangguan Xu.
Speaking of which, cooking for Shangguan Xu is also his job.
Lu Jinshu used his serving chopsticks to place the remaining beef balls and half a slice of radish into Ling Shumo's bowl. "This is a dish I just learned to make. Your Highness, how about trying it? If you like it, I'll make it for you whenever you come to Chenyou Palace."
Ling Shumo picked up a meatball and put it in her mouth. The meatball had been left in the air for so long that it was slightly cold now, but this small flaw did not affect its deliciousness. "It's delicious. I like it very much."
Ling Shumo only said seven words, but they were more effective than Shangguan Xu's seventy words.
The smile on Lu Jinshu's face became more sincere. He was about to pick up another dish for Ling Shumo, but Ling Shumo stopped him with her chopsticks. "You've forgotten that you have an injury on your shoulder again. If the wound tears, you will have to bear the pain alone."
Lu Jinshu originally wanted to say, "With your Highness's words, I have nothing to worry about," but he was concerned about Shangguan Xu sitting next to him and was afraid that saying such ambiguous words would annoy Shangguan Xu. So, he just smiled at Ling Shumo and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I will take good care of myself and rest."
The meal ended in a cheerful atmosphere. Shangguan Xu had no intention of driving Lu Jinshu away.
Shangguan Xu put his left arm around Lu Jinshu's waist and his right hand on Ling Shumo's shoulder, chattering incessantly about the gossip he had heard these days.
He was so excited when he spoke that he didn't notice that behind him, Lu Jinshu and Ling Shumo were holding hands.
…
The next evening.
Linglong Palace.
Bishui was wearing a navy blue dress with a lilac white jade belt around her waist. Her hair was tied up with a bamboo hairpin, and the faint fragrance of grass and trees wafted from her hair.
Xie Changfeng's style was completely different from Bishui's. He wore a dark purple brocade robe with gold edges. Just standing there, he exuded an extremely luxurious aura.
Both of these figures' outfits were designed by Pei Jiusheng himself. Pei Guanqing, Pei Jiusheng's mother, had hired renowned masters to teach him since childhood. Pei Jiusheng's aesthetic taste was as refined as his stunning appearance. He used the play of light and dark in his clothing to effectively conceal the physical flaws of Bishui and Xie Changfeng, while also amplifying their distinct characteristics.
Now, two handsome men with skinny jeans stood in front of him. This was obviously what Pei Jiusheng wanted to see, but he felt an indescribable discomfort in his heart.
No matter how generous and kind a husband is, he cannot remain calm and push his beloved wife into the arms of another man.
Feng Ye could see what his master was thinking. He gestured for Bishui and Xie Changfeng to go to the side room and wait, then he comforted Pei Jiusheng, "'A gentleman is judged by his deeds, not his heart. If you judge by his heart, there are no gentlemen in the world.' It's good that the master can take the initiative to accept servants for Her Highness. If you are also willing in your heart and let Bishui and Xie Changfeng serve Her Highness, then there is a real problem."
Pei Jiusheng sighed softly, "My health is poor and I can't bear children for Your Highness. I always want to do better in other areas."
At this moment, an announcement came from outside saying, "Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess has arrived."
Pei Jiusheng quickly stood up and walked quickly to the door to greet him.
Today he wanted to ask two young masters to serve Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess, so he didn't pay much attention to his own appearance.
Ling Shumo didn't notice Pei Jiusheng's perfunctory makeup at all. Compared with her usual bold and bright appearance, Pei Jiusheng without lipstick added a bit of fresh and unworldly beauty.
Pei Jiusheng gestured to Fengye to call out the two people who had just entered the room. He smiled at Ling Shumo and said, "The young masters of Chengguang Pavilion have been in the Eastern Palace for quite some time, but Your Highness has never met any of them. I have summoned them all today and selected Bishui and Xie Changfeng, two good-looking men. I wonder which young master Your Highness would like to serve you tonight?"
Ling Shumo glanced casually at Bishui and the other person, showing absolutely no interest. She pulled Pei Jiusheng into her arms and said, "Compared to my princess, the others are just mediocre women. You don't need to arrange for anyone else to serve me in the future."
Pei Jiusheng's cheeks flushed with a faint rosy glow. In his heart, he only wanted to drive Bishui and Xie Changfeng away immediately, but his words were completely opposite. "Your servant is not feeling well today, and I am afraid that I am not serving Your Highness well enough."
Afraid Ling Shumo would still refuse, he pointed at Bishui and added another bargaining chip, "Bishui was specially assigned to Your Highness by your father. When Yingxi sent her here, she specifically told me that her body is very fertile. Your Highness is already nineteen years old after the New Year. Other women of that age would have children all around them, but Your Highness still has no daughter. As your Crown Princess, I am truly worried."
Ling Shumo didn't take it seriously. "I sleep in the same bed with you every night. I'm sure you'll get good news soon. It's really outrageous to have three or five concubines before your legitimate daughter is born."
Shi Qi made a gesture of invitation to Bishui and Xie Changfeng, meaning that the two of them should stay wherever they wanted and not interfere with the good deeds of Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess and Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess.
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