Roasted Chicken
Gu Jinning deliberately pushed it into her arms. As soon as the penis moved, Xiao Liao screamed and hid behind Xiao Liao, waving her hands repeatedly, "Take it away, take it away, take that dirty thing away."
"Do you want it or not, Your Highness Prince Qin? Here you go."
Gu Jinning immediately handed the chicken to Xiao Liao, who raised his sleeve to block it and gestured to the guard to accept it. Wu Liu quickly took the chicken and carried it away.
Gu Jinning clapped her hands and said, "Alright, my precious fighting rooster has been buried with your dog. I won't hold it against your dog for injuring me. Let's call it even. Princess, are you satisfied?"
Xiao Ling snorted coldly, turned his face away, and left.
Gu Jinning cupped her hands around her lips and exclaimed, "Princess, fighting roosters don't taste good as dishes; they should be stewed into soup."
Xiao Liao's face showed a hint of disdain, but he spoke politely, "Princess, Anning has always been arrogant, even in front of the Emperor. She has suffered a bit today. Please forgive her for any offense she may have caused."
Gu Jinning waved her hand dismissively, saying, "What's past is past. I'm not petty. It's a pity the princess graced us with her presence, but she left before even having a proper meal. She mustn't hold it against us."
Gu Xueshu arrived late after receiving the news, exhausted and sweating profusely. Seeing everyone in a harmonious mood and Gu Jinning safe and sound, he finally breathed a long sigh of relief.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince."
After bowing to Xiao Yi, he noticed that Xiao Yi was nowhere to be seen. He roughly guessed the outcome, then pulled Gu Jin Ning aside and whispered a criticism, "How come you've caused trouble so quickly? Can't you rein in your true nature?"
Gu Jinning pouted, offering a guilty explanation, "Things came up in a rush, and I couldn't control them. Fortunately, His Highness Prince Jin, my cousin the Crown Prince, and His Highness Prince Qin arrived in time, and things were resolved satisfactorily. I'll be more careful next time."
Gu Jinning deliberately steered the conversation toward others.
Xiao Yi replied, "There can't be a next time. My maternal grandfather is getting old and can't handle your constant surprises."
Gu Jinning naturally agreed, indicating that she could change it.
Xiao Yi ordered, "You caused quite a scene today, and considering the friction with Sun and Hua a few days ago, you must sincerely apologize to them. I will punish you by making you reflect on your mistakes by drinking alcohol in front of everyone at today's banquet. How about that?"
Gu Jinning nodded vigorously and readily agreed. She immediately led everyone to the banquet hall. Xiao Heng'an, Xiao Yi, and Xiao Liao walked in the front row.
Xiao Yi said to Xiao Liao, "I had heard about the incident of my elder sister letting her dog injure people, which caused quite a stir in the community. The dog's death today has resolved the unnecessary trouble. I would also appreciate it if you could persuade my elder sister to stay healthy because of this incident."
It was common knowledge that Xiao Liao openly and secretly vied for Xiao Yi's position as crown prince, regarding him as a mortal enemy. However, Xiao Liao was extremely adept at maintaining appearances and would never publicly confront Xiao Yi.
In addition, Xiao Lian was indeed radical in the matter of the snowball, and Xiao Lian humbly accepted the advice, saying that he would definitely go back and persuade Xiao Lian to calm down and let go of his obsession.
At the banquet, Gu Jinning was able to let go of the past and truly made a bold statement while drinking, apologizing to Xiao Liao, Sun Xianzhu, and Hua Lingteng one by one, indicating that the matter was over.
Everyone tacitly agreed not to mention what had just happened and focused on their own affairs.
Even so, rumors of Princess Anning and Princess Jinning fighting spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the streets and alleys.
Since Xiao Yi had already reprimanded both parties, Gu Weiju did not punish Gu Jinning too much, merely ordering her to stay in her room. Xiao Juebai's side only gave two puppies to Xiao Yi, stating that the dogs were the ones to be punished, and did not harshly reprimand Gu Jinning.
Quan Zichu cleverly switched Xiaobai with another dog, and successfully used it to fight cocks at the cockfighting arena, while also helping Gu Jinning place bets.
The whole thing was both funny and absurd, yet so insignificant, like a gust of wind that swept by and left nothing behind.
Ji Lin's sensitive heart was once again dealt a heavy blow.
She meticulously dressed up and prepared in order to attract the world's attention and make Xiao Heng'an look at her with new eyes, but in the end, she only became a dispensable existence, like flowers and plants.
She witnessed the whole thing, but couldn't get a word in edgewise; nobody noticed her.
She witnessed for the first time that the struggles within the imperial family could be as childish as children playing house, noisy and chaotic, yet also so terrifying that a chicken or a dog could be enough to provoke a life-or-death conflict.
She realized once again the importance of power. A single word from the Crown Prince could easily resolve a conflict. Xiao Heng'an's status was enough to command the Crown Prince's respect and the fear of princes and nobles.
Only Princess Jin Ning was an exception.
Ji Lin envied Gu Jin Ning, she had envied her since she was a child, so when she was six years old she pestered her father to change her name to Ji Lin. Even if it was just a slight similarity in pronunciation, it was enough for her to dare to dream of becoming like her.
Now, Ji Lin thought she had to work hard to win over Xiao Heng'an, replace Gu Jinning, and become the mistress of the Jin Prince's mansion. Only in this way could she squeeze into a social class she could never reach and earn the respect of the world.
Inside Wangning Pavilion, Gu Jinning, who was busy making kiln-roasted chicken, suddenly sneezed.
Qinglian raised her hand to block the smoke billowing from the kiln and advised, "Miss, the smoke is too pungent, let's get out of here."
Gu Jinning waved her hand, picked at clods of earth to fill the kiln and seal it, and said, "Kiln chicken tastes best when you make it yourself. Besides, do you even know how to do it?"
The recipe for roasting chickens in an earthen kiln was a secret she learned while traveling the world. Thinking about how she had lost a fighting rooster and hadn't even tasted the broth, her mouth watered, so she retaliated by buying over a dozen delicious, plump chickens to eat her fill in one go.
In another part of the courtyard, Yu Liu called out, "Princess, this earthen kiln is ready."
"They're here!"
Gu Jinning sealed the last clod of earth on top, clapped her hands, and came to Yu Liu's place.
The earthen kilns here were built early. After the earthen blocks were piled up so tightly that they were airtight, the kiln was heated until it was red-hot. Then it was knocked down, and the chickens inside were simmered in the hot earth for a full half hour. When the chickens were taken out from under the earth, they were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, making them the most delicious and fragrant.
Gu Jinning used a stick to pull the chicken out of the soil, knocked the dirt off the chicken, and placed it on a plate on the long table behind her.
Yu Liu's mouth watered, and she asked, "Princess, how should we divide these chickens?"
Gu Jinning tossed the wooden stick over, swatted away Yu Liu's restless little paws, and said, "What's the rush? Yours are behind us. As for these few..."
Gu Jinning pointed to the chickens and said, "One for Grandfather, one for Aunt and Xuewen, and one for my eldest brother since he's not home. We'll send two to my maternal grandfather's house."
Yu Liu stared longingly, then couldn't help licking her lips, "Where are the other two?"
Gu Jinning thought for a moment and said, "Give one to Brother Hua."
Yu Liu immediately raised her hand, "I'll go deliver it to the tea plantation."
He said this without waiting to take out the box and put the chicken in.
Gu Jinning gave her one more, saying, "Take the last one to the Prince Jin's residence on your way."
Yu Liu carried the square box and walked away briskly. The Gu residence was close to the Prince of Jin's residence but far from the tea garden, so Yu Liu delivered it to the Prince of Jin's residence first.
Xiao Heng'an happened to be at the mansion. After the steward Xu Jin announced his arrival, he led Yu Liu into the study.
After bowing, Yu Liu explained her purpose and presented a kiln-roasted chicken.
Xiao Heng'an, concerned about Gu Jinning's arm injury, invited Yu Liu to sit down for a cup of tea and rest. Yu Liu declined, saying she had to deliver chickens to the tea garden and couldn't stay long.
Upon hearing that the donations were to be sent to the tea plantation, Xiao Heng'an's initial joy was overshadowed by a touch of bitterness.
"Your Highness is so thoughtful; she roasted quite a lot of chickens?"
Yu Liu truthfully reported: "The princess bought a full fifteen, roasted six of them, and sent them elsewhere first. The rest are still being roasted."
Xiao Heng'an nodded, flicked his sleeve and stood up. He first examined the still steaming roasted chicken before saying, "Look at the quality of this free-range chicken, it must have taken a lot of effort, it's just a bit small."
He glanced at the square box in Yu Liu's hand, paused for a moment, and said, "In that case, you can also give this roast chicken to Young Master Hua, so he can enjoy it to his heart's content."
Yu Liu asked, "Don't you want it?"
Xiao Heng'an said, "I have nothing to do today, so I'll go and help your princess bake some, so I won't eat for free."
Yu Liu didn't quite understand and didn't know what to say, so she gathered the chickens and hurried to the tea garden.
Song Hui, who was outside, had already smelled the aroma of chicken. He watched Fang He leave with reluctance, and when he came to his senses, he saw that Xiao Heng'an had already come out of the house.
"Your Highness, are we really going to help the Princess roast chicken?"
Xiao Heng'an retorted, "You don't want to eat?"
"Yes, I do."
Just thinking about it made Song Hui's mouth water, so he hurriedly told Song Ming to prepare a carriage and rushed to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.
Inside Wangning Pavilion, Gu Jinning was building the third earthen kiln when a servant came to report, "His Highness Prince Jin has arrived."
Gu Jinning exclaimed "Huh?" wondering why he had come by himself. She turned around and saw Xiao Heng'an enter the pavilion.
"Are you here to steal my food?" Gu Jinning greeted him half-jokingly.
The clouds were plentiful today, blocking out much of the sun. However, the fire in the earthen kiln was blazing hot, and Gu Jinning had been working in the kiln for several hours, her face already flushed red and her forehead covered in sweat.
She wiped the sweat from her brow, revealing a muddy mark on her forehead. Her face, already covered in mud, now resembled a little cat smeared with mud, not a spot clean.
Song Ming and Song Hui found it comical and tried to suppress their laughter from behind.
Xiao Heng'an waved his hand, telling them to wait outside the pavilion. He then rolled up his sleeves and volunteered, asking, "Do you need any help?"
Gu Jinning thought to herself, "Why not take advantage of something that's free?" and readily agreed, "Great! We're just in need of a skilled mud maker."
Gu Jinning pointed to the half-built earthen kiln with one hand and pulled him over with the other, complaining, "No matter how I build this, it always collapses."
Xiao Heng'an said, "Go and rest for a while, I'll give it a try."
Gu Jinning and he had known each other since childhood, so she handed it over to him without ceremony and went to rest in the rattan chair under the corridor, with an ice bucket next to her.
Qinglian brought water and helped her wash her face and hands. Lühe took some fruits that had been chilled in ice for a long time, cut them into pieces, and brought them over.
Gu Jinning took a bite of the chilled melon and felt refreshed all over.
"Xiao Wangshu, what happened to the roast chicken I sent you? Did you give it to Ji Lin?" she asked Xiao Heng'an from afar.
Xiao Heng'an replied, "I've delivered the flowers to Young Master Hua."
Gu Jinning was so surprised that she stood up from the rocking chair and leaned closer to Xiao Heng'an to ask, "What's going on with you? You're not eating what's offered for free, but instead coming here to do the hard work. Don't you know I also gave Brother Hua one?"
Xiao Heng'an was focused on stacking stones, saying, "Giving gifts in pairs is more appropriate. Besides, there are two greedy cats outside, and one chicken isn't enough to share."
The excuse was too perfunctory, so Gu Jinning didn't bother to call it out and threw away the melon rind to help pick out the clods of earth.
Xiao Heng'an, as expected of a veteran who has experienced countless battles, found piling up earth to be a piece of cake, and soon he successfully capped the top.
Gu Jinning told him how to stuff the chicken inside and how to start the fire. She talked so enthusiastically that she even told him the whole story of how she learned to make kiln-roasted chicken.
This was the first time she had told Xiao Heng'an about her interesting experiences in the martial arts world. Her story was so vivid that it made it seem as if he were actually in the martial arts world himself.
When Xiao Heng'an read her letters before, he had imagined the tone of her voice when she wrote them, but it was never as vivid and lively as it is now.
Xiao Heng'an felt a little guilty, reflecting on whether his persistence had really bound her.
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