Chapter 0078: Observant Sheng Yiren, Melancholy Su Qinghe
Su Qinghe’s entire body stiffened, his heart pounding so fiercely it seemed ready to leap from his chest.
Why would the Second Prince appear here?
Had he planted spies within the residence, or had he sent someone to tail Su Qinghe from the back gate of the Su Family mansion?
Or perhaps… that official Yiren mentioned was actually the Second Prince’s man? Was that why Yiren’s invitation and the one from Cheng Huan Palace were delivered to the Su Family simultaneously, even specifying his mandatory attendance?
Sheng Yiren strode over and, hearing Xie Chengze’s words, couldn’t help casting a surprised glance at Su Qinghe kneeling on the ground trembling uncontrollably.
What was going on here?
She’d been busy recently and hadn’t invited Su Qinghe for a meeting, nor did she know what had happened at the Su Family. Seeing this situation now, could it be that something had occurred between Su Qinghe and the Second Prince?
It even seemed like Su Qinghe had been deliberately avoiding the Second Prince, only to finally get caught by him…
Her mind racing, Sheng Yiren immediately stepped forward to pour tea for Xie Chengze, smiling as she asked, “It’s just the right time for a meal, Second Prince.” Have you dined yet? Would you like this commoner to arrange a meal for you?”
Xie Chengze waved a hand lazily. “No need. This prince ate before coming.”
Sheng Yiren’s gaze subtly swept across Xie Chengze’s face. Noting his pleased expression without any signs of anger, she quickly walked to the red sandalwood food box, took out several plates of pastries and arranged them on the central tea table leaning towards Xie Chengze’s direction.
These pastries were exquisitely crafted in miniature forms, several pieces per plate displayed on white jade dishes like newly blooming flowers – a breathtaking sight.
Xie Chengze’s attention was indeed captured, his face revealing astonishment. “Such delicate pastries! This prince has never seen their like before.”
Even the imperial kitchen lacked such exquisite desserts, Xie Chengze mused inwardly. Truly, masters walk among commoners – who would have thought this humble Wangyue Lou would harbor such hidden talents.
Yet somehow, despite their exquisite appearance, these pastries gave him an indescribably strange feeling, though he couldn’t pinpoint what exactly seemed off.
Sheng Yiren explained with a smile, “These were made by Second Young Master Su himself. You can’t buy them anywhere else. Would Your Highness like to try some?”
Xie Chengze looked at Su Qinghe in surprise. “Young Master Su possesses such skills?”
Su Qinghe slightly clenched his fist, his expression troubled.
Sheng Yiren, being a woman who’d grown up with him, had long grown accustomed to his cooking, simply admiring his culinary prowess. But most men in Jingcheng, whether scholars or martial artists, typically stayed far away from kitchens.
Especially in prestigious families like the Su Family, wasting time on culinary matters was considered shameful – something that would invite ridicule if spoken of publicly.
Thus, Su Qinghe was only permitted to make these pastries when meeting with Sheng Yiren. This exception existed solely because Sheng Yiren was the legitimate daughter of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. With the Minister of Rites nearing retirement, the Sheng family was destined for promotion, and Su Qinghe’s father hoped he would maintain good relations with Sheng Yiren.
Now, with the Second Prince already looking down on him, if he were to discover that a Su Family member engaged in such “unorthodox” pursuits, he’d likely face even more contempt and humiliation…
Su Qinghe’s heart ached with bitterness, yet he couldn’t blame anyone. It was his own natural ineptitude – unable to comprehend sacred texts or memorize court laws and regulations. The only skill he could proudly display happened to be the one everyone looked down upon most.
Su Qinghe had prepared himself for humiliation, yet after waiting for a long while, he still hadn’t heard Xie Chengze’s voice.
He couldn’t help but sneak a glance upward, only to find Xie Chengze’s gaze fixed intently on the pastries, concentrating as if searching for something.
Sheng Yiren also grew somewhat uneasy and softly asked, “Your Highness, is there something wrong?”
Could he possibly think she had poisoned them?
While both were feeling anxious, suddenly, Xie Chengze slammed the table, startling them both.
Xie Chengze had an epiphany – he finally realized what was strange.
The pastries on the plate looked exactly! the! same!
It wasn’t just that they had the same design, but even the petals and leaves shaped from the pastry powder were nearly identical in form, curvature, and size – as if cast from the same mold!
Even imperial chefs, no matter how skilled, would create subtle variations. Moreover, most chefs would shape the same type of pastry into different petal forms to make the arrangement more visually appealing and lifelike.
But Su Qinghe’s pastries were perfect replicas. In fact, their excessive similarity made them appear both real and fake when arranged on the plate, making the peculiarity hard to notice at first.
Could it be… that Su Qinghe had obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Xie Chengze couldn’t help but glance at Su Qinghe, unexpectedly meeting his upward gaze, and thus smiled.
The peerless beauty’s radiant smile was like spring blossoms competing in vain to match its charm, causing Su Qinghe’s eyes to momentarily glaze over before he hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to gaze directly at that devastatingly beautiful face.
He had to admit, the Second Prince was indeed breathtakingly beautiful – so exquisite that it was hard to tell if he was male or female. As the noble Second Prince of the Jian’an Dynasty, compared to his own plain, mediocre appearance and lack of talent, Brother Shen would inevitably choose the Second Prince.
Seeing the kneeling Su Qinghe beginning to radiate melancholy and bitterness again, Xie Chengze truly couldn’t understand why Su Qinghe always looked so deeply resentful whenever he saw him.
Although the original work didn’t describe him in detail, he seemed quite normal there?
Could it really be because he despised him as the Second Prince?
Turning to the restless Sheng Yiren beside him, Xie Chengze signaled with his eyes: Miss, why don’t you help him up? He looks like he’s about to shatter.
Understanding his meaning, Sheng Yiren stepped forward and helped Su Qinghe up.
Su Qinghe looked somewhat panicked, glancing at Sheng Yiren as if seeking help, then fearfully at Xie Chengze.
“Sit.” Xie Chengze patted the small stool beside him, trying his best to show goodwill.
Su Qinghe hesitated, about to say this was improper, when Sheng Yiren grabbed him and forcibly seated him on the wooden chair. “If His Highness tells you to sit, then sit.”
Her childhood friend was too concerned with reading others’ moods and prone to preconceptions, which was why he couldn’t see that the Second Prince wasn’t angry but was actually considering his feelings instead.
Su Qinghe sat rigidly on the wooden chair, not daring to make the slightest movement, his hands properly placed on his knees, not even allowing his gaze to wander.
Seeing him seated, Xie Chengze finally reached out and picked up a pastry from the white jade plate. The pastry was somewhat fragile, shedding a few crumbs on the table, so he quickly withdrew his arm and stuffed the pastry into his mouth.
Instantly, fragrance filled his mouth.
Xie Chengze’s eyes widened in amazement: This is so, so, so delicious!
Not only were these more delicious than the ones Shen Yuan had bought in Yi Province, they even surpassed those he had tasted in the imperial kitchens. One could even say the difference in flavor was as vast as the distance between clouds and mud—they simply weren’t on the same level!
He couldn’t help but glance at Sheng Yiren, his tone inexplicably peculiar. “Every time you two meet, he brings you these?”
Sheng Yiren: ?
Sheng Yiren answered honestly, “That’s indeed the case…” But how would the Second Prince know?