Chapter 60: A Spicy Feast to Win Over Her Husband
In the Regent's Palace's small kitchen, a fierce "war" is currently unfolding.
"Add two more spoonfuls of that chili powder! It's not red enough!"
"Where are the Sichuan peppercorns? Pour the whole jar in! I want to numb his tongue until it's tied in knots!"
"Minced garlic! Minced ginger! Chopped green onions! You can't leave any of them out!"
Wearing an apron and wielding a spatula, Jiang Mianmian commanded the chefs to frantically add ingredients to the pot, just like a general surveying his domain.
The pungent smell filled the room, making the chefs' eyes water and causing them to sneeze incessantly.
"Your Highness... Achoo! Your Highness... Isn't this too spicy? His Highness... Achoo! He can't eat this spicy food!" The chef said, wiping away tears as he advised.
"Can't you eat it?"
Jiang Mianmian sneered and threw a bright red dried chili pepper into the oil pan with a loud sizzle.
"We're going to make sure he can't eat it! We're going to make him cry from the spiciness!"
[Hmph, serves you right for using the silent treatment! Serves you right for being arrogant! Serves you right for stealing my braised pork!]
Today's "extremely spicy deluxe meal" is your last meal... oh wait, I mean, your apology meal! If you still have a long face after eating this, I'll respect you as a true man!
Although she spoke harshly, Jiang Mianmian's actions betrayed her words.
She selects only the best ingredients: the tenderest pork tenderloin for boiled sliced pork, the fattest grass carp for boiled fish, and boneless chicken thigh meat for spicy diced chicken.
Every dish, though spicy, is absolutely delicious.
The kind of aroma that makes your mouth water just by smelling it, and makes you want to take a bite even if it's too spicy.
...
In the evening, Shen Jin left the court and returned to his residence.
He had a bad day. In the morning court, because he was in a bad mood, he rejected the memorials of three ministers, causing a deathly silence in the court. Back at his residence, seeing the deserted main courtyard, the pent-up frustration in his heart only intensified.
"Where is the princess?" he asked coldly.
"Your Highness, the Princess is...waiting for you in the dining room," the butler replied with a strange expression. "She said...she has prepared a surprise for you."
Surprise? Shen Jin raised an eyebrow. This woman finally realized her mistake? Finally willing to coax him?
His previously heavy steps suddenly became lighter. He straightened his robes and strode towards the dining room.
However, as soon as I stepped into the dining room, an extremely strong and spicy smell hit me right in the face, assaulting my senses.
"Cough cough..."
Caught off guard, Shen Jin coughed twice from the choking sensation.
The once elegant dining table was now filled with plates of all sizes. Looking around, the scene was a vibrant red, as if it were on fire.
Boiled fish in bubbling red oil, spicy chicken piled high with chili peppers, bright red Mapo tofu, and sizzling beef on a hot plate...
Each dish is covered with a thick, daunting layer of red chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns.
Across from this sea of red, Jiang Mianmian sat upright, smiling as she looked at him.
"The prince is back?"
She stood up and pulled out a chair eagerly, "Please sit down! This is a 'love dinner' that I've been busy all afternoon making for you!"
Shen Jin looked at the table full of "lethal doses" of chili peppers, and his eye twitched violently.
Love?
This is clearly murder!
"Your Highness, what is this..." Shen Jin pointed to the pot of boiled fish, "...trying to kill me with the spiciness so you can inherit my fortune?"
"How could that be!"
Jiang Mianmian looked completely innocent. "As the saying goes, 'A beating is a sign of affection, scolding is a sign of love, and when love is deep, you kick someone'... Oh no, it's 'Spicy is a sign of love!' This chili represents my fiery passion for Your Highness! Your Highness, look at this color, how festive! How vibrant!"
Hehe, scared now? Gone?
[You stole my meat last night! Today I'll show you what it means to be "a withered chrysanthemum, a ground covered in wounds"!]
Hearing her gloating, Shen Jin, who had originally intended to turn around and leave, stopped abruptly when he saw the speck of flour on the tip of her nose.
I've been busy all afternoon.
Made by hand.
Although it was meant to prank him, the thought behind it...
"good."
Shen Jin took a deep breath and sat down with a look of grim determination. "Since it is the Princess's 'enthusiasm,' then I... will gladly accept it."
He picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of spicy chicken that looked like it had slightly less chili.
It's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Immediately afterwards, the domineering spicy flavor exploded in my mouth.
"cough……"
His composed face flushed instantly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
hot!
That's fucking spicy!
But within this spiciness lies an irresistible savory aroma that makes you want to take another bite.
"How is it? Is it delicious?" Jiang Mianmian leaned closer, looking expectant.
"...It's acceptable."
Suppressing the urge to breathe fire, Shen Jin picked up the tea beside him and took a big gulp.
"Then eat more!"
Jiang Mianmian immediately placed a large chopstick of boiled fish on his plate, saying, "This fish slice is so tender! And this tofu is absolutely amazing with rice!"
Looking at the mountain of red food piled up in his bowl, Shen Jin could only grit his teeth and continue eating.
One bite, two bites.
Sweat streamed down his temples, and his originally pale lips were now bright red from the spiciness, making him look as if he had just been pulled out of the water.
But he didn't stop eating.
Because he heard the voice in Jiang Mianmian's heart:
Oh dear, he really ate it? Can he handle so much chili?
Am I being a bit too harsh? His stomach isn't good to begin with...
【Chen Jin, are you stupid?! If it's spicy, don't eat it! Just spit it out!】
Jiang Mianmian, who originally wanted to play a prank, saw Shen Jin's eyes red from the spiciness, yet he was still swallowing bite by bite, and her defenses instantly crumbled.
I feel sorry for her.
Stop eating!
Jiang Mianmian snatched his chopsticks away. "Are you a pig? How can you eat something so spicy? Are you out of your mind?"
Shen Jin's hands were suddenly empty, and he looked up at her.
His eyes were wet, his lips were swollen, and he looked with a kind of brokenness and grievance that you would never normally see...
"Wasn't it you... who made me eat it?"
His voice was hoarse, with a slight nasal tone, "It was made by the Princess herself... I dare not refuse to eat it."
Jiang Mianmian's heart was breaking.
[Waaaaah, I'm guilty! I abused children! I bullied honest people!]
[Why is this jerk so obedient? He eats whatever I tell him to eat? He's never been this well-behaved before!]
"I was wrong! I was really wrong!"
Jiang Mianmian hurriedly poured him a glass of chilled plum juice and held it to his lips, "Drink it quickly! It'll cool you down! I'm never letting you eat this again!"
Shen Jin took a sip of plum juice from her hand. The cool liquid went down his throat and finally suppressed the burning sensation.
Looking at Jiang Mianmian's guilty and almost tearful face, a glint of triumph flashed in his eyes.
The self-inflicted injury ploy worked.
"Is Your Highness no longer angry?" Shen Jin asked weakly.
"Don't be angry! Whoever gets angry is a little dog!" Jiang Mianmian wiped his sweat. "As long as you're okay, you can be as arrogant as you want!"
"What...about last night?"
"Turn the page! Turn the page completely!" Jiang Mianmian raised her hand and swore, "If anyone ever mentions that damn whistle again, I'll fight them!"
Shen Jin was finally satisfied.
He reached out and pulled the woman, whose face was full of heartache, into his arms, letting her sit on his lap.
"Now that the Princess has calmed down, isn't it... my turn?"
"Huh?" Jiang Mianmian was taken aback. "What else do you want to do?"
"This king is overwhelmed by the spiciness."
Shen Jin pointed to his lips, "It hurts a lot. I need... Your Highness to blow on them."
Jiang Mianmian blushed as she looked at those bright red, moist lips.
【Huh? Do you think you're a three-year-old?】
However... they do look quite kissable...
"Then... give it a puff?"
Jiang Mianmian leaned over and carefully blew a breath on his lips.
"not enough."
With a deep, husky voice, he held the back of her head and took the initiative, kissing her deeply.
"This is how... to stop the pain."
This was a kiss filled with the flavors of chili peppers, plum juice, and deep affection.
Hot, exciting, and addictive.
Jiang Mianmian was so dizzy from the kisses that only one thought occupied her mind:
[Damn it, this all-spicy feast has ended up getting me into trouble.]
[But...this tastes pretty good?]
The moonlight outside the window was gentle, and the red candles inside the room flickered.
This cold war, which started out of jealousy, finally dissipated completely after a hot pot meal and an even hotter kiss.
As for whether Shen Jin will suffer from eating too many chili peppers the next day... well, that's another story.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com