Ch 80: The Regent’s Farmer Husband

“Your Highness, Prime Minister Shen has brought the civil and military officials to welcome you at the city gate,” Chen Feng’s voice came from outside the carriage.

“I know,” Jiang Yan replied calmly.

All the officials welcoming him?

Jiang Ji turned to look at Jiang Yan. Quite an impressive display. Whether it was fear of the Regent’s authority or genuine respect, either way it showed Jiang Yan’s status in their minds.

He opened the livestream to take a look. The viewers were excited too, and there were a lot of them. Over fifty million people were watching.

【We’re here, we’re here! We can see the capital now】

【The host said before he wanted to come to the capital. Didn’t expect it to happen so fast】

【That city wall just now was so tall】

【Who could have imagined Jiang Yan is the Regent. The host really got the protagonist’s script】

【I just remembered, Jiang Ji once said he wanted to see the Regent. Turns out the Regent has been right beside him the whole time lol】

【Jiang Yan in his Regent clothes looks so handsome】

【Clothes really make the man. Jiang Yan feels totally different in this outfit】

【Jiang Ji changed clothes too. I wonder what Jiang Ji looks like wearing a long robe】

【Lmao other streamers are always on camera, but Jiang Ji’s stream we’ve barely even seen his face】

【We saw him twice in the mirror this morning when he was combing his hair. Haha the little dark-skinned guy might be even darker now】

Jiang Ji: “…You guys really are loyal viewers.”

The carriage moved forward a short distance and stopped.

Jiang Yan grabbed his hand. “Do you want to come out with me?”

“I have to go out too?” Jiang Ji asked in surprise. “Aren’t we getting back into the carriage afterward?”

“Yes. Just show yourself briefly and then we’ll come back.”

Jiang Ji shook his head. “Then I won’t go. There are too many officials. I don’t want to be stared at by everyone. You go. I’ll just sit in the carriage.”

“Alright. Wait for me,” Jiang Yan said, patting his hand.

“Mm.”

Wearing a black python-embroidered robe, Jiang Yan lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out.

Jiang Ji immediately lifted the window curtain and secretly watched.

He whispered, “Alright chat, livestreaming the officials welcoming the Regent.”

Outside there were many people. The ones in the middle wore official robes, arranged by rank. The purple-robed officials stood at the very front, followed by red, blue, and green, forming a long line.

Soldiers stood on both sides maintaining order. Many commoners waiting to enter the city had paused when they learned it was the Regent’s convoy and were watching from the outside.

“Wow, so many people,” Jiang Ji said while explaining to the viewers. “Lu Jiu told me purple robes mean rank three or above. Red robes are ranks four and five. Green are ranks six and seven. Blue are below rank seven.”

He called Lu Jiu over and asked quietly, “Which one is Prime Minister Shen?”

Lu Jiu whispered, “The chubby old man in purple standing in the middle of the first row.”

“Oh. He looks pretty kind,” Jiang Ji said. He scanned the front row again. “Which one is Minister Lu? And General Han?”

Lu Jiu looked carefully. “Minister Lu is the third from the left in the first row. General Han is in the row behind them wearing red, the tallest and most muscular one.”

Jiang Ji took a closer look. Minister Lu had a refined appearance. Jiang Yan looked sixty to seventy percent like him. Clearly a scholar type, smiling calmly. As for General Han, the tallest one in the row behind was unmistakable. Tall and powerfully built, clearly a military officer. Seeing his nephew return, he was openly smiling.

When the officials saw Regent Lu Huaizhou step out of the carriage, they followed Prime Minister Shen’s lead and bowed respectfully.

The watching commoners all knelt. The soldiers knelt on one knee.

“Welcome back to court, Regent.”

The shout was loud and thunderous, echoing through the air.

Jiang Ji couldn’t help clicking his tongue. Translated on Hololo novels. Seeing a scene like this with his own eyes for the first time was honestly impressive.

He swept the camera around for the viewers before focusing again on Jiang Yan.

Wearing his black python robe, Jiang Yan felt completely different once he stepped out of the carriage. The authority of the Regent seemed to radiate from him.

He walked to Prime Minister Shen, raised his hand to help the elderly minister straighten up, and said,

“You have all worked hard, ministers. There is no need for excessive ceremony. Today I escort Prince Qi back to the capital and must report to His Majesty. We will speak further in court tomorrow. Please return to your duties.”

He then turned to Prime Minister Shen.

“Prime Minister Shen, come with me to see His Majesty. There are matters we must discuss.”

Prime Minister Shen bowed. “Yes.”

After they finished speaking, Minister Lu and General Han stepped forward.

“Father. Second Uncle,” Lu Huaizhou greeted them respectfully.

General Han patted his shoulder and laughed. “Good that you’re back.”

Minister Lu studied him carefully for a moment. “Your memory really has returned?”

“Yes.”

“That’s good.”

Lu Huaizhou continued, “Father, Second Uncle, Jiang Ji came back with me.”

“Jiang Ji?” General Han’s eyes widened slightly. “The young man who saved you?”

“Yes.”

“Where is he?” Minister Lu asked happily. He leaned forward to look toward the carriage behind them and saw a faint figure inside. “Is he in the carriage? Take me to meet him. I must thank him in person.”

Lu Huaizhou stopped him. “Father, he isn’t prepared yet. Today he’ll return to the residence with me. You can meet him another day.”

“Oh, I see. That’s fine. When he’s ready, let me know. Your mother and I will come to the residence. We must properly thank him.”

“And me too,” General Han added. “We’re going as well.”

“Alright.”

While they were speaking, some officials nearby glanced toward the carriage Jiang Yan had just stepped out of and noticed a young man peeking out from inside.

He was riding in the same carriage as the Regent?

Who was that?

They all stared with curiosity.

After speaking briefly with his father and uncle, Jiang Yan returned to the carriage. Chen Feng led the way, and once the group passed through the city gate, the other officials returned to their own carriages and left.

Jiang Ji had heard what Jiang Yan said earlier.

“Aren’t you going home first? It’s already noon.”

“I have to enter the palace first and report the situation to His Majesty,” Jiang Yan said, holding his hand. “You go back to the residence with Lu Jiu and the others. Stay in my courtyard. I may not return until evening. Rest this afternoon and wait for me.”

Jiang Ji already knew Jiang Yan would have many matters to deal with after returning, so he said thoughtfully,

“Alright. Go handle your work.”

Jiang Yan leaned over and kissed his lips.

“Sorry. I’ll probably be busy for the next few days. But I’ll definitely find time to take you around the capital.”

“You don’t need to apologize. You’ve been gone for months, so of course there’s a lot waiting for you. Just go handle your work. I can take care of myself. There’s no need to rush. We have plenty of time ahead of us.”

“Mm, plenty of time ahead of us.” Jiang Yan liked that phrase very much. He tightened his grip on Jiang Ji’s hand.

After passing through the city gate, the noise around them grew louder. Jiang Ji lifted the curtain and looked outside. Many people were watching from both sides of the street, and many were talking among themselves.

“I heard the Regent has returned.”

“Wasn’t he said to have gone missing?”

“Your news is outdated. The Regent went south. I heard Prince Qi secretly raised troops and colluded with a neighboring country to rebel. The Regent went to deal with it.”

“Prince Qi planned to rebel? No wonder the Regent went personally.”

“Is the carriage behind carrying Prince Qi?”

“It’s good the Regent is back. The city has been in panic these past days. Everyone was afraid something terrible might happen.”

“Yeah. A bunch of people were arrested recently. I heard they were spies from enemy states. It was terrifying.”

“Now that the Regent is back and the spies have been caught, things are finally peaceful again.”

Listening to the common people’s discussions, Jiang Ji smiled faintly, feeling oddly proud.

“Hey, look. There’s someone else inside the Regent’s carriage.”

“Who is it? A lady?”

“Ah, the carriage passed already. Couldn’t see.”

“Not a lady. It looked like a man.”

“Huh, I thought it was a lady.”

Jiang Ji realized the gossip had turned toward him and quickly lowered the curtain.

Lu Huaizhou held his hand. “Why did you stop looking?”

“It’s nothing.” Jiang Ji rubbed his nose, then looked at him. “By the way, now that we’re in the capital, I should start calling you Lu Huaizhou. Or do you prefer me to call you regent?”

Lu Huaizhou curled his lips slightly. “Up to you. Call me whatever you like.”

A certain word flashed through Jiang Ji’s mind and he stared at him with a silly grin.

“What are you laughing at?” Lu Huaizhou looked at him suspiciously, having no idea what strange thought had popped into his head again.

“Nothing. I’ll tell you later.” Jiang Ji waved his hand, trying to suppress his laughter.

Knowing Jiang Ji’s usual style, Lu Huaizhou suspected it probably wasn’t anything good. Translated on Hololo novels. Wisely, he decided not to ask.

After entering the city, the carriage continued for about three quarters of an hour before stopping.

Outside, Chen Feng reported, “Your Highness, we have arrived at the Regent’s residence.”

Lu Huaizhou turned and held Jiang Ji’s hand. “We’re home.”

Lu Huaizhou stepped out of the carriage first. Jiang Ji followed, and when he stepped down he immediately saw the grand residence in front of him. Above the gate hung the powerful characters “Regent’s Residence.”

Holding Lu Huaizhou’s arm, Jiang Ji stepped down from the carriage. At the gate, the residence’s steward Zhong Shu stood waiting with all the servants of the household.

“Your Highness has returned. This is wonderful.”

“Your Highness.”

Everyone had worried for months and were finally seeing him return safely. They were visibly emotional, and several older servants even had tears in their eyes.

Lu Huaizhou nodded to them. “You’ve all worked hard.”

“We haven’t suffered. It is Your Highness who endured hardship outside,” Zhong Shu said.

“I’m fine.” Lu Huaizhou took Jiang Ji’s arm and introduced him. “This is Uncle Zhong, the steward of the residence.”

He then introduced Jiang Ji to the others. “This is Jiang Ji. He was the one who saved me. I have been living at his home until now. I still need to enter the palace. Uncle Zhong, take Jiang Ji to stay in my courtyard. From now on, Jiang Ji is the second master of the residence. Treat him the same way you treat me. Understood?”

“Yes, Your Highness,” everyone bowed immediately, then looked up at Jiang Ji.

So this was the benefactor who saved the Regent. Their eyes were filled with gratitude, along with a little confusion.

The second master?

Jiang Ji faced their gazes. “…Hello everyone. Please take care of me from now on.”

Uncle Zhong quickly smiled. “Young Master Jiang Ji, welcome.”

Lu Huaizhou called Lu Jiu over. “Take Jiang Ji around the residence and familiarize him with the place.”

“Yes.” Lu Jiu nodded.

After giving his instructions, Lu Huaizhou turned to Jiang Ji again. “I’ll go to the palace first. Wait for me to come back.”

“Alright. Go take care of your work. Don’t worry about me.”

Lu Huaizhou left for the palace with Chen Feng, Lu Wu, and the convoy escorting Prince Qi. Uncle Zhong ordered the servants to carry their luggage inside, and Jiang Ji entered the residence with Lu Jiu and Uncle Zhong to look around.

As they walked, Lu Jiu explained, “Our residence covers over one hundred sixty mu of land. There are twenty-three courtyards, four to five hundred rooms of various sizes, two training grounds, and a garden.”

“Wow, it’s huge,” Jiang Ji exclaimed. Along the way he saw rockeries, stone carvings, pavilions, and towers. Every corner looked like its own landscape. “It’s really beautiful.”

“Of course. The late emperor personally designated this residence for the Prince. It’s also close to the palace,” Lu Jiu said proudly. He glanced at Jiang Ji and added, “But most of the courtyards are empty. As you know, the Prince isn’t married yet and doesn’t have a family, so there aren’t many people living here. Altogether there are only about a hundred people, and most of them are guards.”

Jiang Ji nodded. “Maintaining and cleaning so many courtyards must be exhausting.”

Uncle Zhong smiled. “It’s manageable. The empty courtyards are only cleaned every few days, just to keep them tidy.”

“This is the regent’s courtyard,” Lu Jiu said, leading Jiang Ji into one of the courtyards.

Jiang Ji looked around, confused. “Huh? Why isn’t he living in the main courtyard?”

Lu Jiu explained, “That one has two floors. The regent said it felt too spacious there. He prefers this one because it’s more comfortable. The main courtyard is used for receiving guests.”

“…Oh,” Jiang Ji said.

“Young Master Jiang Ji, would you like to live there? Should we mention it to the Prince?” Lu Jiu suggested.

“No need. I was just asking. I think this place is nice too,” Jiang Ji said as he walked inside.

Lu Jiu led him straight to the main room of the courtyard and opened the door.

“This is the regent’s bedroom. The regent sleeps in the room on the left. The east wing is his study.”

“Alright.” Jiang Ji went inside to look at the bedroom. It was moderately sized, and the furnishings were very simple. There was only a folding screen, not even a single vase in sight, though the furniture was all fine zitan wood.

“Hey, Lu Jiu, your regent’s room is pretty simple too. It actually looks similar to the room at my place.”

Lu Jiu set Jiang Ji’s bundle on the table in the room and smiled. “Yes. The regent doesn’t care much about those things. Aside from the main hall used for receiving guests, which has some decorations, the other courtyards are very plain. Most of us in this residence are rough men. If we accidentally knocked over a vase or something, it would shatter. All the fragile and valuable items are kept in storage.”

Jiang Ji couldn’t help laughing. After looking around the bedroom, he went out and sat in the main hall.

Lu Jiu poured him a cup of tea. The tea was warm, just right to drink.

“By the way, Xiao Liu, come here.”

A clever-looking young servant of about sixteen or seventeen came in from outside and said respectfully, “Young Master Jiang Ji, Brother Jiu.”

Lu Jiu introduced him. “This is Xiao Liu. He takes care of the regent’s daily needs.”

Then he turned to Xiao Liu. “Xiao Liu, Young Master Jiang Ji will be living together with the regent from now on. Make sure you serve him well.”

“Yes.”

Jiang Ji smiled and cupped his hands to Xiao Liu. “Xiao Liu, please take care of me.”

Xiao Liu bowed. “Young Master is too polite. If you need anything, just tell me.”

After they finished talking, Uncle Zhong quickly said, “Young Master Jiang, you must be tired after traveling. Shall I have someone bring hot water so you can wash up? Dinner will be ready shortly.”

“Alright. I was just thinking about washing up properly,” Jiang Ji said. Then he turned to Lu Jiu. “You should go wash up too. I’ll take a nap this afternoon, and after I wake up I’ll look around the other courtyards.”

“Okay.”

Uncle Zhong and Lu Jiu left together. Once outside the courtyard, Uncle Zhong pulled Lu Jiu aside.

“I noticed you placed Young Master Jiang’s bundle directly in the prince’s bedroom. Why is that?”

Lu Jiu replied, “Uncle Zhong, when they were at Young Master Jiang’s house, the two of them slept in the same room.”

“What? I heard the Jiang family was very poor. Did they just not have many beds?”

“No. The Jiang family later moved into a three-courtyard house with ten mu of land. There were plenty of rooms. But Young Master Jiang and the regent still stayed in the same room.”

Uncle Zhong became even more confused. “What does that mean?”

Lu Jiu reminded him, “Uncle Zhong, the regent said Young Master Jiang is the second master of the residence.”

“I thought that was just because he saved the regent…” Uncle Zhong looked at Lu Jiu’s meaningful expression. A shocking thought suddenly crossed his mind. He raised both thumbs and bent them toward each other. “You mean… this?”

Lu Jiu nodded. “Mm. Just keep it to yourself.”

Uncle Zhong stood there stunned. He had never imagined such a thing.

“So… the regent… does this mean…” Uncle Zhong muttered. “Could it be that the regent hasn’t married all these years because of this?”

“No idea.” Lu Jiu shrugged and patted Uncle Zhong’s shoulder. “Come on. Young Master Jiang is still waiting.”

Uncle Zhong sighed, his back seeming to bend a little more. “What are we going to do about this…”

“Don’t worry about the regent’s matters. He has his own plans.”

“Ah…”

Jiang Ji took a comfortable bath, changed into fresh clothes, ate the meal Xiao Liu brought him, and walked around the courtyard to digest his food before going to take a nap.

Xiao Liu watched him walk straight into the regent’s bedroom and reminded him, “Young Master Jiang, this is the regent’s bedroom. I can take you to another room to sleep.”

Jiang Ji waved his hand. “No need. I’ll sleep here.”

Xiao Liu hesitated, then gently reminded him, “Young Master Jiang, the regent has never been used to sleeping with others since he was young.”

Jiang Ji smiled. “It’s fine. I’ve been sleeping with your regent for half a year already. He won’t get angry. If I don’t sleep here, that’s when he’ll get angry.”

“?!” Xiao Liu was shocked. “You’ve been sleeping with the regent for half a year?”

“Mm. Go do your work. We’ll talk after I wake up.” Jiang Ji was genuinely tired.

“Yes.” Xiao Liu left in a daze.

Jiang Ji slept for an hour. When he woke up he felt much more refreshed, and much of the fatigue from days of travel had disappeared.

In the afternoon he followed Lu Jiu around the entire residence. Just walking through it took more than half an hour.

Seeing that it was getting late, Jiang Ji returned to the room and exchanged for a large bundle of dried chili peppers. He also took out some green peppers and potatoes.

“Take me to the kitchen,” he said. “I’ll cook a few dishes and wait for the regent to come back.”

Lu Jiu’s eyes lit up immediately. “Let’s go.”

Jiang Ji began bustling around in the kitchen.

Near evening, a handsome young man in white robes suddenly entered the residence.

The gatekeeper saw him and said happily, “Second Young Master.”

Lu Huaichuan looked delighted. “Has my elder brother returned?”

“The regent went to the palace and hasn’t come back yet,” the gatekeeper replied.

“Still not back?” Lu Huaichuan frowned, then asked, “By the way, I heard from my father that the Jiang family’s benefactor who saved my brother has arrived. Is that true?”

“It’s true. His name is Young Master Jiang Ji.”

“Where is he? I want to meet him,” Lu Huaichuan said eagerly.

“He’s staying in the regent’s courtyard. Second Young Master can go there to find him.”

“Alright.”

Lu Huaichuan excitedly went to his brother’s courtyard but didn’t see the benefactor. He grabbed Xiao Liu and asked.

“Young Master Jiang Ji is in the kitchen.”

“The kitchen?” Lu Huaichuan was puzzled. “What is he doing there?”

“He said he’s cooking and waiting for the regent to come back so they can eat together.”

“Oh? Cooking? Then I definitely have to go see.”

Lu Huaichuan immediately headed to the kitchen. Translated on Hololo novels. As soon as he reached the doorway, he smelled a strong fragrance he had never encountered before. There was also a sharp, nose-tingling scent that made him want to sneeze, yet it smelled incredibly good.

He sniffed, trying to hold back the urge to sneeze, and asked Lu Jiu,

“What’s that smell? What are they making in there?”

“Second Young Master, what brings you here?” Lu Jiu was sitting at the kitchen entrance. When he saw Lu Huaichuan arrive, he stood up and said, “Young Master Jiang Ji is inside making twice-cooked pork.”

“Twice-cooked pork?” Lu Huaichuan walked into the kitchen. Inside, the chef and the kitchen maids were all gathered around the stove watching. In front of the stove stood a young man a little older than him, with darker skin, holding a spatula and stir-frying.

So this was the benefactor?

He looked into the wok again. Thin slices of pork, half fat and half lean, were being tossed continuously among pieces of green vegetables. The pork slices were slightly golden from frying, releasing a bit of oil. After being coated with soy sauce, they gleamed with a rich color and gave off an irresistible fragrance. Just looking at them made his mouth water.

Lu Huaichuan couldn’t help swallowing.

After stir-frying for a moment, Jiang Ji lifted the dish out of the wok and plated two large portions.

“Benefactor, what is that green thing?” Lu Huaichuan asked.

Hearing the voice, Jiang Ji turned around. Seeing a young man dressed in fine clothes who resembled Lu Huaizhou somewhat, he asked, “You’re Lu Huaichuan?”

“Yes, yes, I’m Lu Huaichuan.” When he heard the benefactor knew his name, he became excited. “Benefactor, did my brother mention me to you?”

Jiang Ji nodded toward Lu Jiu with his chin. “He told me. My name is Jiang Ji. You can just call me by my name.”

Lu Huaichuan glanced at Lu Jiu. “Oh.”

Soon his attention returned to the food. “That, um… no, Brother Jiang Ji, what is that green thing?”

“That’s chili pepper.” Jiang Ji had heard from Lu Jiu that Lu Huaichuan was a foodie. Smiling, he said, “Try it. I suggest you eat the meat first.”

“Alright.”

Lu Huaichuan had been waiting for that invitation. Someone beside him handed him chopsticks. He took them and immediately picked up a piece of chili pepper he had never tried before and put it in his mouth, completely ignoring Jiang Ji’s suggestion.

After chewing twice, his eyebrows instantly furrowed. “Hiss—this, this…”

“Chili pepper. It’s spicy,” Jiang Ji reminded him.

Lu Jiu had already poured him a cup of water. Lu Huaichuan grabbed it and gulped it down. “Hiss! This flavor, this spiciness, why is it so strong!”

“That’s why I told you to eat the meat first,” Jiang Ji laughed. “And this chili is only mildly spicy. Your brother’s already used to it.”

Lu Huaichuan took a few breaths. Hearing that his brother was used to it, he picked up a slice of pork and put it in his mouth.

The next moment his eyes lit up. After a few bites, he raised his thumb and declared, “The pork slices are rich but not greasy, with a bit of charred aroma. The saltiness is just right, and the chili adds another layer of flavor. Savory and delicious!”

Jiang Ji raised his brows. As expected of someone who loved food. Smiling, he said, “Thank you for the compliment.”

“I didn’t expect you to know how to cook, Brother Jiang Ji.” Lu Huaichuan picked up another slice of pork.

“Mm. I opened a restaurant.”

Lu Huaichuan’s eyes brightened. “Then there must be lots of good food.”

“Yes, plenty. Stay for dinner tonight,” Jiang Ji said.

“Alright.” With good food involved, Lu Huaichuan had no intention of leaving.

Jiang Ji glanced at him and asked, “Did you come alone?”

“Yes.”

Jiang Ji looked puzzled. “Minister Lu and Madam Lu didn’t come to see your brother? You haven’t seen him for over half a year.”

Lu Huaichuan looked puzzled too. “I heard from Father that he wanted to come see you, but big brother said you weren’t ready yet and asked us to wait until you were prepared before coming.”

Jiang Ji: “…”

He laughed helplessly. “Ask Minister Lu and Madam Lu to come over. I’m making a whole table of dishes anyway. You haven’t seen your brother for so long, you must miss him.”

“You’re ready now?” Lu Huaichuan asked.

“Uh, yes. Tell them to come.”

Jiang Ji knew that when Jiang Yan said “ready,” he meant being ready to meet his parents as a partner. But meeting them as a friend was fine too. Besides, his parents surely wanted to meet him as well.

And he could build some goodwill first.

“Alright.” Lu Huaichuan immediately turned to Lu Jiu. “Quick, quick! Send someone to tell my father and mother that the benefactor is ready. Tell them to bring gifts and come quickly.”

“No need to bring gifts,” Jiang Ji said.

“They must. When meeting the benefactor, we have to bring gifts,” Lu Huaichuan insisted.

Jiang Ji sighed. “Didn’t they already send gifts before?”

“That little bit hardly counts. You saved my brother’s life. Even if we emptied the Lu family treasury and gave it all to you, it would still be fine.”

Jiang Ji: “…That won’t be necessary.”

Lu Jiu laughed and went out to deliver the message.

The Lu residence wasn’t far away. Minister Lu had already returned home from court. When the couple heard the message from the Regent’s residence servant, they immediately had the steward load the gifts they had prepared earlier onto the carriage. They happily changed clothes and set out.

When they arrived at the Regent’s residence, they didn’t see Jiang Ji. The steward told them he was in the kitchen cooking.

“How can we let our benefactor cook?” Madam Lu said with dissatisfaction.

Steward Zhong replied, “Young Master Jiang insisted on cooking. He said he cooks often at home and even runs a restaurant.”

“Is that so?” Madam Lu became pleased again. “Then it seems the Jiang family’s circumstances have improved a lot.”

The couple, curious, went to the kitchen together. Before even seeing Jiang Ji, they were already drawn in by the aroma of the food.

Madam Lu stepped into the kitchen and saw the young man stir-frying at the stove. He wore a pale moon-white robe, the sleeves tied up with cord. His skin was a little dark, but his features were delicate, especially his eyes, dark and bright. He was a handsome young man.

Steward Zhong announced, “Young Master Jiang, Minister Lu and Madam Lu have arrived.”

Jiang Ji looked up. He hadn’t expected them to come directly to the kitchen. He handed the spatula to the chef beside him. “Continue frying.”

The chef took it and kept cooking. Jiang Ji walked over to greet them. Before he could speak, Madam Lu spoke first.

“You must be Jiang Ji,” Madam Lu said with a broad smile. “When Lu Wu returned earlier, he told us everything. Thank you for saving Huaizhou and for taking such careful care of him. We also received word that you helped him recover his memory. We are truly grateful.”

As she spoke, Madam Lu and Minister Lu both cupped their hands and bowed to Jiang Ji.
“Thank you for saving Huaizhou.”

Lu Huaichuan also bowed along with his parents.

Jiang Ji quickly stepped aside to avoid the gesture and helped Madam Lu up by the arm. “Uncle, Aunt, please don’t. You’re embarrassing me.”

“How is that embarrassing you? This is what we should do,” Madam Lu said. “There’s a lot of smoke from the cooking here. Why don’t we go to the front hall and have some tea?”

Jiang Ji hesitated. Drinking tea wasn’t an option right now. He still planned to win them over with his cooking. A little embarrassed, he said, “Aunt, I’m in the middle of cooking. If you don’t mind, how about you try my cooking tonight?”

Lu Huaichuan quickly said, “Mother, Brother Jiang Ji’s cooking is really delicious. Just let him cook.”

Madam Lu slapped her younger son lightly on the arm. “How can we let our benefactor cook for us? What have you been studying all these years? Where are your manners?”

Lu Huaichuan muttered, “But it really is delicious. And Brother Jiang Ji said himself that he wanted to cook.”

“Yes, I cook at home too. It’s not a problem. Jiang—uh, Brother Huaizhou likes it too.”

To avoid seeming disrespectful to his future father- and mother-in-law, Jiang Ji felt it would be better not to call him directly by name. Calling him “regent” felt distant, so he said “Brother Huaizhou.” It sounded close and friendly.

“I see. Well then…” Madam Lu glanced at Minister Lu.

Minister Lu was about to speak when Lu Huaichuan suddenly stuffed a piece of twice-cooked pork into his father’s mouth.

Jiang Ji: “…” What kind of move was that? Lu Huaichuan was really going all out just for food.

Minister Lu glared at his son but couldn’t exactly spit the food out, so he had no choice but to chew.

After just a couple bites, his eyes brightened slightly.

Lu Huaichuan leaned toward his father. “Isn’t it delicious?”

Minister Lu nodded. “Mm. Not bad.”

Lu Huaichuan then picked up another piece and fed it to his mother. Madam Lu looked a little surprised after tasting it. She turned to Jiang Ji.

“Your cooking is this good?”

Lu Huaichuan said proudly, “Not just this dish. Lu Jiu said everything Brother Jiang Ji cooks is delicious.”

Seeing this, Jiang Ji smiled and said, “Uncle, Aunt, there’s a lot of smoke here. Why don’t you go sit in the main hall for a moment? I’ll finish cooking soon. When Brother Huaizhou comes back, we can start eating.”

“It’s fine, go ahead and cook. I’d like to watch,” Madam Lu said. She was somewhat interested in cooking herself. Pointing at the green ingredient, she asked, “Is that the thing Lu Wu mentioned? What was it called again?”

Lu Huaichuan reminded her, “Chili pepper.”

“Right, right. Chili pepper.” Madam Lu came from a military family and wasn’t very particular about etiquette. She told her son, “Bring me a pair of chopsticks. I want to try it.”

A servant immediately handed over chopsticks. Madam Lu took a pair, and Minister Lu took another. Both of them picked up pieces of green pepper and put them into their mouths.

Minister Lu: “…Hiss—”

Madam Lu: “!”

Madam Lu then picked up another dish of diced chicken with chili and kept eating. The more she ate, the brighter her eyes became.

“This thing called chili pepper has quite a flavor.”

Lu Huaichuan stared at his mother in surprise. “Mother, don’t you think it’s spicy?”

“Spicy?” Madam Lu nodded. “Right, that’s what it’s called, a spicy flavor, isn’t it? It’s alright. Not too spicy.”

Minister Lu: “…”

Lu Huaichuan: “…”

Jiang Ji was also surprised. “Aunt, it seems you’re very good at eating spicy food.”

“Really? Then it seems I’m fated with these chili peppers. Quite a lucky mouth I have. This chicken is delicious,” Madam Lu said with a smile. “When you have time, could you teach me how to cook it?”

Jiang Ji nodded with a smile. “Of course. There are many other dishes too, all very delicious. I can teach you.”

“Alright, it’s settled then.”

When Lu Huaizhou walked in, he saw his father, mother, and younger brother all gathered around the stove watching Jiang Ji cook. They were chatting and laughing, the atmosphere extremely lively.

Lu Huaizhou looked at Jiang Ji’s smiling face and the corners of his lips lifted slightly.

It seemed Jiang Ji had already conquered their stomachs first.

🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾

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