The thought that Chu Yanxi was doing similar things to her filled her with a sense of cyclical rebirth, making her feel dazed. In the end, all she could say was, "Tongzi, I really want to see her."
Tongzi Xixi, who had been infected by the host, wiped her eyes and said, "I want to too."
...
Of course, no one knew what had happened in the kitchen. They were just surprised by this unfamiliar way of eating. Xu Ruyan was the first to ask what was on their minds: "How did His Majesty invent this way of eating?"
Everyone looked at Chen Xiao, who was filled with fear. 'Invention'? No way, she couldn't bear that word.
Yuan Yin, who was sitting next to Chen Xiao, glared at Xu Ruyan when she heard his question before answering for Chen Xiao, "What invention? It's a way of eating that Auntie found in a book. Of course Xiao Xiao knows it!"
Chen Xiao smiled and nodded, feeling protected by Yuan Yin, "Indeed, this is what my mother taught me."
After the two said this, Xu Ruyan, who had been glared at, dared not say anything more, and the others, upon hearing the name of the retired emperor, stopped asking any further questions.
Xu Qian sat on the other side of Chen Xiao, looking at the hot pot without saying a word.
Of the nine people present, the two furthest seats were on either side of the long table, where Xu Ruyu and Xu Ruyan sat respectively, while opposite Chen Xiao were Qi Ruyan and her family of four.
Chen Xiao, Yuan Yin, and Qi Yanyun skillfully demonstrated to everyone how to prepare the ingredients and dipping sauces.
Chen Xiao took the lead in putting the beef she had been longing for into the red broth in front of her, then added some corn to the clear broth, and finally quickly prepared her hometown's secret dipping sauce.
This dipping sauce is very versatile; it tastes great with anything. Chen Xiao originally wanted to make one for Yuan Yin as well, but then realized that Yuan Yin couldn't handle spicy food, so he made a milder version for her instead.
Seeing that Yuan Yin also put her favorite food into the clear soup, Chen Xiao took two cups of milk tea from behind him and handed one to Yuan Yin. The two slowly drank the milk tea while waiting and teaching the others how to make dipping sauces.
When Chen Xiao wanted to teach Xu Qian how to make the dipping sauce, he saw that Xu Qian had already skillfully put the tripe into the red soup. Chen Xiao wanted to mention that the tripe should not be cooked for too long, but Xu Qian did not let go. He seemed to be someone who often ate hot pot and knew exactly how long to cook the tripe.
After a short while, he quickly picked up the tripe and started preparing the dipping sauce. Chen Xiao didn't even have time to interrupt before she saw Xu Qian prepare an exact copy of hers. She couldn't help but wonder: Why was Xu Qian so skilled? So she asked Xi Xi, "Have you ever eaten hot pot before?"
Xi Xi was sipping her milk tea, her mouth watering as she looked at the hot pot on the screen. Just looking at it without being able to eat it was already difficult enough, and then she heard her host ask such a question. So she haughtily snorted, "Who do you think you are! I've been to thousands of interfaces, okay? What kind of food haven't I eaten!"
It turns out to be a foodie system.
"So you taught Xu Qian how to eat hot pot?" Chen Xiao continued to ask.
Hearing Chen Xiao's words, Xi Xi thought that her host was questioning her professional competence, so she quickly put down her milk tea and denied it, saying, "How could that be? Why would I teach him these things? I haven't even told him about hot pot or milk tea. Hey, for you guys, my only task is to convey ideas, okay?"
How did Xu Qian become so skilled?
Chen Xiao stared at Xu Qian, and an idea slowly formed in his mind.
Faced with Chen Xiao's curiosity, Xu Qian pretended not to notice and ignored Chen Xiao for the first time, only lowering his head to drink his milk tea.
Xi Xi saw everything clearly and realized that her host was just curious about why Xu Qian was so skilled. As someone with a god-like perspective, she chose to keep quiet and only commented on Xu Qian's current situation, "Tsk tsk tsk, I don't know why, but seeing Xu Qian obediently drinking his milk tea, I actually find it a little funny."
Chen Xiao thought so too, the serious and dignified Prime Minister drinking milk tea...
Just as the two women were secretly chuckling to themselves, a clear and gentle voice interrupted them, "Your Majesty, may I have a word of your wisdom?"
It was Xu Ruyu, who was sitting upright in a chair, smiling gently as he looked at Chen Xiao.
Chen Xiao was going to continue teaching, but since Xu Qian no longer needed to be taught, the next one just happened to be Xu Ruyu. Besides, if a handsome man asked for her hand, there was no reason not to agree.
So she patiently began to explain to Xu Ruyu, separated from Xu Qian.
Xu Qian was caught between the two, watching them talk and answer each other, and felt that the scene was very familiar.
After thinking for a moment, it seemed as if it was not long ago in Zhaoyang Palace that he and His Majesty were chatting across Xu Ruyu.
It's true what they say, fortunes change.
Seeing Xu Ruyu's efforts to 'seduce' Chen Xiao, Xu Qian grew increasingly displeased with him and began to monitor his words and actions, failing to notice his other son on the other side...
Just as Xu Ruyu uttered these words, Xu Ruyan imitated his brother, winking at Yuanyin and saying, "Princess, could you teach me a thing or two?"
Yuan Yin was already used to Xu Ruyan's 'childish' behavior. She just smiled and scoffed, then started preparing a dipping sauce for Xu Ruyan. She didn't ask about Xu Ruyan's dietary restrictions and simply made a spicy dish without coriander or celery, then handed it to Xu Ruyan.
The dipping dish was rather small, and when Xu Ruyan took it, she accidentally touched Yuan Yin's hand. Her face immediately turned red, and she quickly took the dipping dish back and put it down. Then she whispered an apology to Yuan Yin, "Sorry."
Since they realized their feelings for each other, they had always kept their affections within the bounds of propriety. Although Yuan Yin didn't think much of this accidental physical contact, she knew that Xu Ruyan was rather 'conservative' and would definitely feel embarrassed since he had never touched her before.
But Yuan Yin had a mischievous thought, so she leaned slightly closer to Xu Ruyan and whispered back, "It's nothing."
Too close!
Xu Ruyan's face turned bright red, and she unconsciously rubbed the fingers that had just been touched, looking like she had been flirted with by Yuan Yin.
Chen Xiao happened to glance over here and saw this scene. He and Xi Xi exclaimed, "I still remember how 'rebellious' Xu Ruyan was during the talent show. She's completely different now, being so thoroughly controlled by Yuan Yin!"
Xi Xi was already incredibly tempted by the hot pot, and now seeing this scene, which looked like something out of a TV drama, was just too perfect to eat with! She quickly told Chen Xiao, "I can't take it anymore, I want to come out!!! Hurry up and go outside so I can come out, and then I'll follow you to the courtyard to eat hot pot!!!"
What do you mean by "coming out" or "coming out"? If you didn't know better, you'd think Xixi was about to poop...
Hearing Xi Xi's impatient words, Chen Xiao was a little annoyed. "Can you please not say such disgusting things while eating..." Although he complained like this, Chen Xiao still stood up and walked out of the hall in a doting manner.
Just as everyone was wondering what Chen Xiao was going to do, a short while later, Chen Xiao came in with a slender young man.
The crowd fell silent, filled with doubt, and erupted in uproar.
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