"You know what? I liked you the first time I saw you."
***
When Si Shuo looked over, he thought she was a beauty, but an ordinary, dull and ordinary kind of beauty.
It’s true that Helan Minzhi is beautiful, the kind of beauty that is a work of art, but he didn’t feel moved.
Si Shuo greeted them indifferently, and the few of them had a meal together in a usual family atmosphere.
This process is more like parents taking their children on a blind date, and the atmosphere suddenly becomes a little weird.
"What does the Regent like to do?" The Queen Mother had to find a topic to talk about. She had to create some atmosphere for the two children.
"Playing chess and horse racing." Si Shuo answered simply. From time to time, his eyes glanced at Shi Qingmiao, the girl in purple clothes who was eating walnuts.
"What a coincidence," the Queen Mother raised her voice, "Minzhi likes it too."
"Really?" Si Shuo stuffed a peanut into his mouth, a little surprised.
"Of course. Minzhi is very proficient in both chess and horse racing."
The Queen Mother looked at Helan Minzhi, expecting her to say something to express her opinion.
But Helan Minzhi just nodded slightly, without even a smile.
She can play chess, but not very well. She learned horse riding briefly before Si Shuo came, and now she can only ride steadily without falling.
Apart from nodding to avoid offending the Queen Mother, she could not go against her inner wishes and answer more.
Moreover, her current situation made her feel very embarrassed and uncomfortable. Even though she was afraid of being questioned by the Queen Mother after the banquet, she still expressed this.
"Where does the princess usually go for horse racing?" Si Shuo asked casually. He was just surprised that the seemingly gentle Helan Minzhi could race horses.
"Horse farm." Helan Minzhi didn't even raise her head, her eyes staring blankly at the front. She really couldn't try to please Si Shuo too much as the Queen Mother asked.
It was very restrained of her to not leave in anger in the uncomfortable environment and atmosphere.
As a result, the atmosphere suddenly became cold. Helan Minzhi lowered his head to eat. The Queen Mother was a little angry, but she couldn't lose her temper on the spot.
"The peanut crisps in front of you, Sir, were made by Minzhi herself. Do you like them?"
It was Helan Ruizhe who came to the rescue and eased the somewhat awkward atmosphere.
Jin Suting also chimed in: "Princess Minzhi can cook many dishes, and peanut crisps are her specialty."
During this period, Jin Suting taught Helan Minzhi how to cook many dishes. She was quite talented and learned quickly.
Helan Ruizhe found out that Si Shuo liked to eat peanut crisps and preferred girls who could cook, so he specially asked Helan Minzhi to learn this dish.
"Not bad." Si Shuo savored the taste he had just tasted. It was much worse than what his mother made, but for Helan Minzhi to be able to make it to this level at his age, it was not bad.
He likes girls who can cook simply because he can't cook. He thinks girls who can cook are clever and dexterous, and it would be even better if they can make his heart beat faster.
Afterwards, they chatted about various topics concerning the two young people, and the banquet was drawing to a close. Si Shuo had already leaned back in his chair, feeling full and satisfied.
"Si Shuo, when do you plan to bring Minzhi back to Simu Kingdom?" The Queen Mother asked this question before she finished. Helan Minzhi was so embarrassed that she wanted to find a hole to hide in. Although she didn't care about this matter, she was thin-skinned and it did make her uncomfortable to ask such a question in public.
"No rush!" Si Shuo stretched lazily without any manner. The purpose of his trip was definitely not to pick someone up and leave. "I plan to stay in the palace for a few days. The architecture of your Fuding Kingdom is really lifelike. I can't appreciate it all in just one or two days."
"You want to live in the palace?" The Queen Mother was somewhat displeased with his unreasonable request. Although she couldn't drive him out in one day and was prepared to let the Regent of Simu Kingdom stay for a few days, she had already asked someone to arrange a house outside the palace. Si Shuo asked to live in the palace. Was he going to disrupt her plan?
"Oh, no, that's not possible?" Si Shuo said with an expression that was clearly feigning innocence. "The palace is so big, there's no room for me?"
The Queen Mother really couldn't stand this unruly young man who didn't play by the rules, and she didn't know how the King of Simu could resist deposing him from the position of regent.
"Okay, I'll find someone to arrange it for you." The Queen Mother smiled falsely, "Just live in Changding Palace, it's quiet there."
Changding Palace is the most remote and deserted palace in the imperial palace. The concubines who fell out of favor during the reign of the previous emperor lived there. Before it became a cold palace, the feng shui there was still good, and the palace could be said to be warm in winter and cool in summer.
Unfortunately, there was a favored concubine living there at that time, who died in Changding Palace during childbirth.
Later, some people said that the place was haunted. The late emperor thought it was unlucky, so he left Changding Palace idle, and it then developed into a cold palace.
Until Helan Qin ascended the throne, the Queen Mother had no concubines, but she ordered the maids and eunuchs to sweep and keep all the palaces clean.
So, apart from being haunted and deserted, the current Changding Palace is pretty good.
The Queen Mother thought that since Si Shuo was living in the palace, she would have to send two maids over, so she said, "I will arrange two maids for you later. Such a large palace must be cleaned by no one."
Si Shuo waved his hand and said no, "Two are too many, one is enough."
The Queen Mother thought he was being polite and said, "One is not enough. We need at least two. Look..."
"No need," Si Shuo pointed at the person behind the Queen Mother, "She is enough."
Shi Qingmiao, who was secretly eating pork, felt a chill on her back. She felt someone pointing at her. She looked over and saw that it was that pesky Regent!
"You want her?" The Queen Mother looked at Shi Qingmiao, whose mouth still had a hint of oiliness, and narrowed her eyes slightly. This must be something complicated.
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