Chapter 69 She is my Crown Princess, not a cook.
As soon as Dou Wenyi stepped into the room, she saw that tall figure leaning gracefully against the railing, gazing at the calm lake in the distance.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and stepped forward to curtsy, "Your Highness, Young Master Zhang, I have been disrespectful to our distinguished guests, please forgive me!"
When Zhang Chengxian saw that it was her who came to keep him company, he felt a surge of joy in his heart and muttered, "We didn't wait long."
“It’s alright.” Pei Siyan turned his head, staring at her earlobe, a slight smile playing on his lips.
He didn't miss the hint of impatience that flashed in the woman's eyes; she didn't want him to come, but he insisted on coming anyway.
Zhang Chengxian had already guessed the Dou family's arrangements. "Is your third sister coming too?"
Dou Mingxiu was trembling with fear just now, and left in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. He thought the Dou family would dare not arrange a host and would neglect Pei Siyan!
"Third sister should be on her way too." Dou Wenyi frowned slightly, standing uneasy.
Dou Mingyan's Lanyue Pavilion is much closer to here than Shouhe Hall, so why is she so reluctant to show herself?
Could it be that she's going to cater to his tastes again and redo her makeup and dress up according to Pei Siyan's preferences?
Pei Siyan, dressed in a dark purple brocade robe with subtle patterns, exuded an air of aloofness and nobility, his face expressionless. "Is the water deep?"
Dou Wenyi paused for a moment before realizing that he was asking her, "Deep."
“Back then, Zhang Cheng’an fell into this lake. Thanks to Yi’er, otherwise that kid would have drowned long ago!” Zhang Chengxian took the initiative to speak, full of emotion.
"Cuizhi, go see where Third Sister is?" Dou Wenyi was getting impatient waiting, so she offered to make tea for the two of them.
Cuizhi obediently turned and left.
Seeing that another cup of tea's time had passed, Dou Wenyi suggested, "The auspicious time has arrived, why don't we sit down and have our meal first?"
Zhang Chengxian picked up a plate of snacks from the table and swaggered over to Dou Wenyi. "Yi'er, didn't you say you couldn't stand being hungry? Have something to eat first?"
"No need, I'll eat more later." Dou Wenyi was extremely embarrassed, staring at the plate of carved candied fruit, but ultimately didn't reach out to take it.
What surprised her was when Zhang Chengxian discovered her old problem.
Pei Siyan gave Zhang Chengxian a cold glance, his voice deep and heavy, "When are you leaving?"
“...in a few more days.” Zhang Chengxian received his dark and deep gaze and felt inexplicably confused.
He and Pei Siyan grew up together. Pei Siyan was unpredictable and could be quite shrewd. While he didn't know him perfectly, he could at least guess what Pei Siyan was thinking.
But today, this guy is so difficult to please. I don't think he did anything to offend him.
Why did his gaze become sharp and piercing when he looked at me?
It was as if he couldn't wait to leave Tianning City.
Just then, light footsteps came from outside the door, and Dou Mingyan and Dou Mingxiu walked in one after the other.
Dou Mingyan indeed changed into an extremely simple and elegant ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and even the gorgeous hairpins and jewels on her hair were reduced by more than half.
Dou Wenyi found it amusing; wasn't she tired of pretending?
Dou Mingyan naturally saw Dou Wenyi as well. She lowered her eyelids to hide the coldness in her eyes and greeted them warmly, "Your Highness, Young Master Zhang, I am late, please forgive me! It is just a simple meal, I hope Your Highness and Young Master Zhang will not find it offensive. Let's begin."
Dou Mingxiu bowed and apologized.
"No need for formalities!" Pei Siyan sat down at the head of the table, his tone indifferent.
At this moment, the maids and servants filed in, bringing out plate after plate of exquisite dishes.
Seeing that Dou Mingxiu was about to sit down next to Pei Siyan, Dou Mingyan tugged at Dou Mingxiu's sleeve, "Brother."
They have absolutely no sense of propriety!
Dou Mingxiu understood and stepped aside to give up his seat.
Dou Mingyan sat down to Pei Siyan's left as she wished, while Dou Mingxiu sat down next to her.
At the same time, Zhang Chengxian naturally sat down to Pei Siyan's right.
In the end, only one seat remained opposite Pei Siyan, and the atmosphere was rather strange. Dou Wenyi didn't want to sit down, so she said, "You guys eat first, I'll go see what other dishes we have."
"This table is already full, isn't that enough?" Pei Siyan's voice was slightly cold, but it brooked no argument.
Dou Wenyi looked embarrassed and had no choice but to obediently sit opposite him.
Because of what happened at the hunting grounds last time, Dou Mingxiu was somewhat lacking in confidence in front of Pei Siyan. However, as the only male host, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and take the initiative to pick up the wine cup to help pour the wine.
Just as he poured a glass of wine, Pei Siyan said indifferently, "I won't drink today."
Dou Mingxiu stood there awkwardly for a moment before finally sitting down.
Dou Mingyan gracefully picked up the silver chopsticks, her eagerness suggesting she was helping Pei Siyan test for poison. He had been ambushed at the Li Palace last time, so being cautious was only natural.
Dou Wenyi had no interest in the undercurrents among the group.
Seeing the table full of fragrant dishes, she instantly felt hungry, picked up her chopsticks, and started eating.
Zhang Chengxian raised an eyebrow, casually picked up a piece of eel, and swallowed it slowly. "Yi'er, this eel stir-fried with horseshoe crab tastes delicious. It's good. You should try it too."
As he spoke, he picked up a piece of food and placed it in her bowl.
His actions were so overbearing that Dou Wenyi couldn't refuse him, so she could only thank him softly.
Her face was beautiful and radiant, and she smiled sweetly at Zhang Chengxian. The scene of their intimate interaction naturally fell into Pei Siyan's eyes.
Zhang Chengxian looked up abruptly, glancing suspiciously at the people sitting there.
Just now, it seems someone broke the rules and kicked him from under the table!
Dou Mingyan peeled a white shrimp, tasted it lightly, and then peeled another one for Pei Siyan and placed it on a plate.
She looked at the young man whose heart and eyes were only for Dou Wenyi, and chuckled, "Fourth Sister and Young Master Zhang are a perfect match, a match made in heaven."
Pei Siyan and Zhang Chengxian's expressions both darkened.
Zhang Chengxian couldn't help but want to curse. The saying goes, "See through things but don't say them out loud." A young woman's reputation is precious. Does Dou Mingyan, this older sister, not understand any social etiquette at all?
But she was, after all, the future Crown Princess, and he could not be allowed to act recklessly.
"Don't talk while eating!" Pei Siyan's eyes were indifferent, his emotions hard to discern.
Dou Wenyi couldn't stand Dou Mingyan's affected manner and lost her appetite. "Your Highness, Young Master Zhang, I have finished eating. Please continue your meal."
Pei Siyan had a meaningful smile on his lips. "It's the same old dishes every day. I'm getting tired of it. I'd like to eat mustard green pancakes. Do you have any?"
Dou Wenyi was astonished.
When she was at Yuqing Temple, she often made mustard green pancakes to satisfy her cravings because there were so few good things to eat in the temple.
Is he, a prince, who has eaten too many delicacies, trying to find ways to torment people?
Silence spread through the room.
"Your Majesty, I will have someone prepare it immediately," Dou Mingxiu replied, realizing what was happening.
Dou Mingyan looked at the shrimp she had peeled and the dishes she had tasted on the plate. Pei Siyan hadn't tasted a single bite. His fingernails were tightly gripping his palms under his sleeves. He spoke softly, "Your Highness, I can cook. I'll go and cook for you right away."
A strange look flashed across Dou Wenyi's eyes.
There are no mustard greens at all this season, so where are they going to get mustard green pancakes for Pei Siyan?
Pei Siyan raised his phoenix eyes slightly, a smile playing on his lips, his handsome face concealing a sharp edge. "Mingyan, you are my Crown Princess, not a cook. What kind of pancakes are you making? Miss Dou's cooking skills are not too bad, please do it for her!"
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