Chapter 35 [35] Should I go over there, or should you come over here? ...
【35】/First release
A small forsythia flower seemed to bloom in the empty courtyard.
The cold wind also brought a faint dialogue -
"The princess is finally here!"
"Hey, is Eunuch Chang going out? Is His Highness inside?"
"Here I am!"
After a short sound of footsteps, Chang Chun's voice, unable to conceal his joy, came from outside the door: "Your Highness, the princess is here."
Sima Jing glanced down at his robes, walked to the couch and sat down before responding, "Come in."
The door quickly opened, and Yun Ran walked in carrying a lacquered food box: "Your Highness, I'm back."
Sima Jing glanced at her sideways and nodded softly.
Yun Ran was used to his quiet nature and walked to the table. "You haven't had dinner yet, have you? I saw a roast chicken on the way back. It was so juicy and fragrant, it made my mouth water, so I brought some for you."
As she spoke, she took out the food one by one. "There's also sesame paste and fermented rice balls. I'm thinking that just eating roast chicken would make me feel sick, so I'd like to drink something sweet to warm my stomach and feel good..."
The roast chicken is wrapped in three layers inside and out. The outer two layers are kraft paper, and the innermost layer is lotus leaf, which absorbs the floating oil just right and neutralizes the greasy taste.
Yun Ran opened the layers one by one, and two roast chickens with crispy red and golden skin soon came into view.
Because the food box has a heat-insulating function, it is still emitting heat, and the aroma of meat is spreading throughout the house.
On the way back, Yun Ran was so greedy that when he smelled the fragrance, he took a deep breath, his face full of intoxication.
When she opened her eyes again, she saw the person sitting opposite her staring at her without saying a word. She couldn't help but wonder, "Your Highness, is there something on my face?"
Sima Jing: "No."
Yun Ran: "Then why are you staring at me?"
Even such a delicious roast chicken can't attract him? How strange.
Sima Jing still looked at the person in front of him.
Probably for the banquet, she dressed up specially today, with her hair combed into a bun, a brand new jacket and skirt, and her face powdered and rouge applied.
In the dim and soft candlelight, the face with a light and evenly powdered complexion appeared even more delicate, with dark eyebrows and red lips, as if she had walked out of a painting, so exquisite that one could not take their eyes off her.
He gathered his long fingers on the edge of the table and said, "You look very nice in your outfit today."
Yun Ran thought she was hallucinating, but when she confirmed that it was really Sima Jing who was speaking, her eyes widened immediately: "Your Highness, are you praising me?"
Sima Jing: “…”
He turned his head and looked at the roast chicken on the table.
As if he had discovered something rare, Yun Ran exclaimed in surprise, "Are you really praising me?"
She then looked down at her outfit and chuckled, "I think it looks good too. This dress, shawl, hair accessories, and makeup were all chosen by me! When I went to the Lu family that day, my mother and the others saw me and praised me for a long time."
Upon hearing this, Sima Jing looked at her again.
It's no surprise that she is praised for her looks.
"But don't look at me now. Let's eat the roast chicken first. It won't taste good if it gets cold."
Compared to being vain, Yun Ran wants to eat meat more.
Pushing the larger of the two roast chickens in front of Sima Jing, she took the smaller one and placed it in front of her, then walked over to the basin to wash her hands. "I originally wanted to buy a chicken, but the chickens you have in Chang'an are too small, not even as big as the free-range chickens I raise at the Taoist temple. But Qingling also said that the chickens used for roast chicken should not be too big, otherwise the meat will get stuck in your teeth and the seasoning will not be flavorful enough."
After washing her hands, she sat back at the table and started eating the roast chicken. "Your Highness, please don't think I'm rude. It's really more convenient to eat with your hands. Here, there are chopsticks. You can use them to eat."
Without waiting for Sima Jing's response, she swiftly unloaded a fragrant and crispy chicken leg and took a big bite.
When the juice from the chicken leg burst between her teeth, she felt her eyebrows rise up because of the delicious taste.
Not caring about the grease still on his mouth, he said to Sima Jing with shining eyes, "It's delicious! It's especially delicious! Your Highness, please try it!"
Being looked at by such a pair of bright eyes full of joy, no one could say no.
Sima Jing took out a dagger and slowly cut the roast chicken.
Seeing that he was very skilled in cutting meat, Yun Ran also remembered that the eating habits of the Rongdi people were different from those of this dynasty. There was not much rice or noodles, vegetables, fruits, fish or shrimps there. They mostly ate meat and drank milk, which was very monotonous... Otherwise, those Rongdi people would harass the border every now and then, stealing land and food. In terms of food alone, the Jin Dynasty was far ahead of them.
Yun Ran hadn't seen Sima Jing for a few days, and he had a lot to say to him.
But she held it in for now. After Sima Jing took his first bite of the roast chicken, she couldn't wait to ask, "How is it? Is it delicious?"
Sima Jing ate the seemingly ordinary but delicious roast chicken and nodded, "Not bad."
Yun Ran breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes narrowed. "Right? I couldn't move when I smelled this aroma in the car. And when I saw the appearance, I was sure it tasted right!"
As she spoke, she urged, "Your Highness, please try this sesame paste and fermented rice balls. This kind of sweet soup usually tastes good."
Sima Jing saw her eyes sparkling, and she kept urging him to eat, so he looked at her and said, "You eat too."
"Okay, I'll eat it right away. Don't worry about me, I have a big appetite and I can definitely eat it all!"
When it comes to eating, Yun Ran never acts coyly or politely.
When I was a child, I was afraid of being hungry and had been greedy for a long time. Now that I have such good conditions, of course I want to eat as much as I can!
Besides, she was really hungry at this moment.
In a short while, she finished two chicken legs and half a bowl of sesame paste and fermented rice balls.
After filling her stomach a little, she was not in a hurry to eat, but instead chatted with Sima Jing about the elegant banquet during the day.
"Your Highness, you have no idea how lively the Lu family's banquet was. When I arrived, the entrance to their house was full of carriages. Furthermore, all of their servants were well-trained and very skilled in serving guests. As soon as I got off the carriage and entered the first door, the Lu family's eldest master and several of his men came to greet me."
"I didn't know what to say to them. I said no need to greet them, and then I was led to the backyard. It was very lively there. When I entered, a room full of women came to greet me with a flurry of greetings. The scene really scared me. Fortunately, my sister-in-law was there, so I felt relieved. After all, when it comes to etiquette, my sister-in-law is one of the best among the noble ladies in Chang'an..."
Gradually, the night outside the window grew darker, but the flat-top white gauze lamps in the four corners of the house were still bright.
What was brighter than the light was the gleaming light between Yun Ran's eyebrows and eyes.
"...Before I left, I invited Yingying and Jiuniang to visit the palace when they had time. They agreed, but I'm not sure if it was just a courtesy or the real deal... Well, never mind. Anyway, I'll send them a formal invitation when the time comes, and then I'll know if they're interested in being my friends."
After she finished talking about the new friends she met at the banquet, she picked up the remaining half bowl of sesame paste and drank it, and immediately talked about the food and drinks on the table.
Although these were all trivial matters, Sima Jing did not find them annoying.
On the contrary, while listening to her eloquent chatter, he unknowingly finished a whole roast chicken, and even drank two bowls of sweet soup that he would never touch on normal days.
After Yun Ran finished talking about the banquet at the Lu Mansion, he also noticed that the food on Sima Jing's table was empty. He couldn't help but feel happy: "It seems that the food from these two families is very suitable for Your Highness's appetite. Next time I go out, I will bring you more."
Sima Jing nodded: "Okay."
Noticing that Sima Jing seemed particularly easygoing tonight, Yun Ran hesitated for a moment and tentatively said, "Actually, this roast chicken tastes better when it's freshly roasted. It's still a little lacking in flavor if I bring it back. If Your Highness has time, you can go out and eat freshly roasted chicken. It's sure to be even more delicious..."
As she spoke, her voice gradually became softer.
Sima Jing didn't say yes or no, he just raised his eyelids, glanced at her, and handed her a new handkerchief.
Yun Ran looked at the handkerchief, thinking it was a sign for her to shut up.
He could not help but take the handkerchief awkwardly and did not mention "going out" anymore.
Although she really hoped Sima Jing could go out more often, see the bustling East Market and West Market, taste the various delicacies on the streets, and visit the major scenic spots and historical sites in Chang'an, such as the snowy Ba Liu, the sunset at Mount Li, the morning bells at Yanta, and the flowing water at Qujiang River...
Fourth brother said these places were very interesting and she was longing for them before she even arrived in Chang'an.
Who would have thought that once she returned to Chang'an, marriages would come one after another. She had no time to enjoy herself before she was hurriedly married, and she still hasn't had the chance to go.
"You're not going to eat the rest?"
The man's question brought Yun Ran back to her senses. She came to her senses and saw that Sima Jing was asking about the food in front of her.
"Eat, eat right now."
Yun Ran lowered his eyes and picked up the bowl and chopsticks: "I won't waste anything."
Sima Jing said nothing, watching her eat up the remaining food in no time.
When the maids went in and cleared the table, Chang Chun, who was standing outside the door, looked at the clean dishes and couldn't help but give a thumbs up and said to Qing Ling, "This is your princess's."
Qingling smiled proudly.
I was also surprised. I didn't expect that the high and mighty King Jing would actually eat these roadside snacks and eat them so cleanly.
It is said that if you hold a man's stomach, you hold his heart. My wife knows your highness's appetite so well, so wouldn't it be just a matter of time for her to hold your highness's heart?
As a sharp north wind blew, snow began to fall outside again.
Yun Ran was originally sitting on the couch, rinsing his mouth with fragrant tea. When he heard the rustling sound of snow brushing against the window, he put down his teacup and walked to the window to take a look. "My mother is so accurate! She said it might snow tonight, and it really did."
The wind and snow blew into the house. She shivered and quickly closed the window: "It looks like the snow is going to get heavier. I have to go back."
Sima Jing, who was sitting beside the couch, paused slightly with his hand holding the teacup when he heard this.
After a moment, he raised his eyes and looked at Yun Ran.
Feeling this direct gaze, Yun Ran suddenly thought of something.
Every time she came to Shenliu Hall for dinner, she would hug him before leaving.
But he said last time that the first request had been fulfilled, so there was no need to hold him anymore.
As for his second request...
He was looking at her like this now, was he waiting for her to kiss him?
Thinking of the light peck in the bedroom of Zhanlu Hall last time, Yun Ran's heart suddenly became anxious.
Sima Jing looked at her as if she was under a spell, standing still beside the white gauze lamp, her thin lips pursed.
After two breaths of silence, he put the white porcelain teacup aside and said, "Should I go over there, or should you come over?"
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The author has something to say: There will be another chapter at 10 o'clock.
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