“…Ah, do you have any good ideas?” An Jing continued, picking up where Fu Qiyuan left off.
“I…I do have an idea…” Jiang Shan continued, following An Jing’s lead.
The two exchanged a glance without prior arrangement, and then separated in perfect unison.
"I have a plan, but I need a lot of help, and most importantly, I need the imperial decree!"
Jiang Shan's words immediately captured the attention of Fu Qiyuan and An Jing, and their expressions turned serious.
"Given Fatty Rong's current physique, how much weight loss would be considered a successful weight loss? Losing ten pounds is still weight loss, losing twenty pounds is still weight loss, did the imperial decree say that? No! If I help Fatty Rong lose ten or twenty pounds, what will the consequences be? The Grand Princess might reward me with a hundred or eighty taels of silver, and everyone will be happy!"
"What if the Grand Princess wants me to continue helping Fatty Rong lose weight? What will happen if I don't meet their expectations? Will the Grand Princess drag me out and behead me again if she gets upset?"
"Is helping Fatty Rong lose weight such an easy task? Even a fool would know it's not. When he wants to eat, who can shut him up? When he doesn't want to move, who dares to drag him even one more step? So it's not that others don't want to help him lose weight, it's that they dare not help him lose weight!"
"Fatty Rong is always shouting about fighting and killing, but I don't dare to help him! It's not impossible for me to help him lose weight, but the first condition is that he has to listen to me! I need to have the absolute authority to decide what he eats and drinks, what time he goes to bed, and how much exercise he does each day. Only if he can unconditionally follow my plan can I agree to help him lose weight!"
Hearing Jiang Shan repeatedly call Rong "fatty," An Jing's forehead throbbed.
However, it must be said that this plan is highly feasible and worth a try!
“So, here’s the question!” Jiang Shan raised an eyebrow, tapped his index finger lightly on the table, and his flawless face shone with a dazzling brilliance.
Fu Qiyuan stared at her intently, his heart pounding faster in an instant.
"Can he accept my conditions? Even if he accepts them under pressure, what if he goes back on his word later? How can a peasant girl from a humble family fight against royalty? What difference is there between him crushing me and crushing an ant?"
“He wouldn’t dare! Even if he were of noble birth, I wouldn’t let him harm you in the slightest!” Fu Qiyuan said lightly.
Jiang Shan glanced at him. "That was just a hypothetical situation!"
"To prevent Fatty Rong from going back on his word, and to ensure my safety, I need the Imperial Sword! As for how to obtain this Imperial Sword, we can talk to Fatty Rong about it!"
The three of them discussed it and initially decided on this plan.
Rong Yue thoroughly enjoyed the plate of prawns, and was still quite unsatisfied.
The shrimp meat is really good; it's sweet and chewy, and it's absolutely delicious dipped in that sauce!
There were only a few large shrimp on such a big plate. No matter how carefully he savored them, he would eventually finish them.
There was also a plate of smashed cucumbers on the table, and a glass of sweet and sour water that tasted delicious. He didn't like vegetables, so he finished the glass of water.
Even after drinking the water, I still felt empty in my stomach, so I reluctantly took a bite of cucumber.
Mmm, it's sour, crunchy, and has a strangely pleasant aroma.
Take a bite, then another bite, and then another bite.
When Jiang Shan and the others pushed the door open again, the cucumber salad had already been eaten.
Several waiters carried in trays and placed the dishes on the table one by one. Each dish was served in four portions, with one portion placed in each of the four directions.
Upon seeing this, Rong Yue smiled with delight.
"And what are these? Tell me quickly!"
The three sat down, and Jiang Shan pointed to the plates in front of them and said, “Your Highness, we are treating you to Western food tonight. This is steak, this is borscht, this is yam pancakes, this is salad, and this is fruit tea. You have already had a plate of sashimi, so your Western meal does not include yam pancakes.”
Rong Yue was stunned, and asked incredulously, "None of those were for me to eat? This is all I have?"
Shouldn't it be a Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet + eighteen regional dishes from both North and South China + a welcoming feast + warm hospitality?
Jiang Shan raised an index finger and waved it, saying seriously, "Young Master Rong, you should know that we are risking our lives to entertain you! If it were anyone else, wouldn't they have been crying and screaming for their lives by now? Don't you think these dishes taste better than cabbage?"
Rong Yue rolled her eyes sluggishly and questioned, "So little? This young master won't be full!"
"You'll be full! Let's make a bet: if you eat all this, I guarantee you won't feel hungry all night, and you'll even lose at least a pound by tomorrow morning!"
Rong Yue's eyes suddenly lit up. "I'll lose a pound tomorrow morning? Is that true?"
"It couldn't be more true! As long as you do as I say and grant me one small request."
Rong Yue swallowed hard, her eyes glued to the charred steak. "Go ahead, go ahead, I'll do whatever you say!"
Jiang Shan tilted his head, gesturing for Fu Qiyuan to go up.
Fu Qiyuan tapped the doorbell lightly, forcibly averting Rong Yue's gaze, and said, "Your Highness, you should know that this matter is extremely difficult. Every bite of food you eat here is like a death knell hanging over Shan'er's head. If Shan'er can make you lose a pound tomorrow after eating this meal, will you be able to return to Jiangling smoothly?"
Rong Yue instantly lost interest in the steak on his plate. His face darkened with displeasure, and he said, "What do you mean? Are you trying to kick me out?"
"How dare I!" Fu Qiyuan laughed.
Jiang Shan laughed, his laughter radiating gunpowder: "What, does Prince Rong intend to eat here until the end of time? Until the Emperor beheads me? Your successful weight loss is none of my business, but if you fail, you'll take my head. What kind of logic is that? Why don't you do a good deed and behead me right now?"
Rong Yue's expression darkened further, but the coldness in his eyes vanished. "I didn't mean that... I don't want to leave, I don't want to go back so soon! Let me stay a few more days, as long as I don't get any fatter, no one will do anything to you!"
Fortunately, it's enough to know when to advance and when to retreat.
Jiang Shan tilted his head towards Fu Qiyuan again.
An Jing was furious when she saw Jiang Shan's action; she really wanted to smash the plate!
Who are we showing this unspoken understanding to?
Fu Qiyuan cleared his throat again and began to discuss things with Rong Shizi.
"It's not impossible for the young master to stay a few more days. We'd also like to do our best as hosts and show him the local customs and culture of Yuzhou. How about this, if the young master wants to stay, we need to agree on a few things. Here with Shan'er, you have to listen to Shan'er!"
Upon hearing that there was hope of staying, Rong Yue happily replied, "Go on, go on, I'm listening!"
Jiang Shan, however, kept everyone in suspense, saying, "Let's eat first, and we'll talk slowly after we finish eating."
(Author's note: The next chapter will start with a sweet romance to make you feel all warm and fuzzy. If you like sweet moments, leave a comment and let me know.)
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