Chapter 324

Night had fallen, and the city’s usual bustle had faded. A bright yellow carriage rolled out from within the city walls. Upon reaching the gate, the driver tossed a medallion to the guards. Seeing it, the guards immediately bowed in respect, returned the token, and commanded their peers to clear the path. The carriage quickly departed the city, heading straight toward a nearby estate. Inside sat a man with a face of great authority, accompanied by a valiant young man and a young boy leaning against him. The driver was exceptionally careful; despite the speed, the carriage moved without the slightest sway.

The Li family was gathered around a bonfire, their faces flushed from the heat. A lamb was roasting on a rack above the flames, and as the fat dripped into the fire, it hissed and crackled. While the family kept their eyes on the roasting lamb, they did not neglect the skewers in their hands. Unlike the others, Wang Xiujin was roasting dried tofu rolls stuffed with vegetables and meat on his skewers. The rest of the family didn't think much of such an unconventional treat, but they said nothing; Wang Xiujin had the chef prepare plenty so everyone could have a taste.

Old Master Li was at an age where he could no longer manage hard foods, but he didn't let that dampen the spirits of his children and grandchildren. He sat at the head of the group, beaming as he watched, occasionally sipping some soft, tender meat broth. He was particularly fond of a medicinal wine the doctor had brewed with yak bones at Wang Xiujin’s request, though he wasn't allowed more than a few sips tonight. Having already broken his usual routine by eating meat and drinking a small pot of wine when they arrived at the farm at noon, the old man seemed to be in exceptionally high spirits.

Wang Xiujin used a small brush to coat his skewers with seasoning to ensure the flavor was just right. While doing so, he couldn't help but glance at the skewer in his son’s hand. Seeing the boy’s stoic, serious little face, Wang Xiujin felt a twinge of worry. Had his son been spending too much time with Li Linshan, to the point of mimicking his expressions? This was not good; it had to be corrected.

The eldest Master Li sat with his two younger brothers, roasting sausages while discussing military affairs. His brothers listened intently, especially the second brother, who was soon to depart for the border. The second brother felt a deep sense of guilt for not being able to serve his father, but the eldest brother merely patted his shoulder. He wanted to say that loyalty and filial piety are difficult to balance, but the words felt hollow, so he remained silent. The third brother was more detached; if he could, he would have preferred to go, but he was destined to remain in the capital. Even if the Li family had descendants, someone had to stay behind. Though he lacked his eldest brother’s martial prowess and his second brother’s experience in the harsh, frozen north, he still harbored his own quiet aspirations.

The wives of the eldest and second brothers sat together. Mistress Mi spoke of several young men and women she had been vetting through intermediaries, noting that there were a few promising candidates and asking if the children should take a look from afar, or if Wang Xiujin should have someone investigate first. The second brother’s wife wanted to settle the children’s marriages before they left the capital; she couldn't bear the thought of their father not being present for their weddings. She suggested that the children take a distant look, and if they found someone they liked, they would have them investigated; provided there were no major flaws, the matches would be finalized.

Li Linshan, having nothing to say to his brothers, kept Wang Xiujin and his son company, occasionally eating the vegetable-stuffed skewers Wang Xiujin had prepared and feeding the perfectly roasted meat to Wang Xiujin in return. As for their son, Li Linshan ignored him entirely. The young lady of the Li family sat with her brothers, dressed in men’s clothing; at a glance, one might mistake her for a handsome young man. She would secretly slip pieces of roasted meat to her grandfather, though she dared not give him too much. The old man, acting like a mischievous child, played along with his granddaughter, unaware that their little charade was obvious to everyone present, though no one chose to point it out.

The family was in the midst of their lively gathering when the estate steward hurried in, whispering a few words into Wang Xiujin’s ear. Wang Xiujin’s eyes widened; why had the Fourth Prince left the palace in the middle of the night to come here? Unable to guess the reason, Wang Xiujin had no choice but to rise to welcome the prince.

The steward knew the Fourth Prince well, as the prince often sent people to the estate to procure beef and mutton. Hearing the knocking and the servant’s report that the Fourth Prince had arrived, the steward immediately went to the gate. He saw that the person the Fourth Prince brought with him carried an air of nobility and, though he didn't recognize them, he knew they were no mere foot soldiers. Naturally, the steward did not dare to guess that it was the Emperor himself; who would imagine the Emperor would leave the palace at such an hour?

On the way, the steward told his master that the Fourth Prince had brought someone of great status, likely a prince. Wang Xiujin found this unlikely; the Fourth Prince was not particularly close with any of the older princes, and he certainly wouldn't be bringing them to find him in the middle of the night. He had a faint, unsettling suspicion, but couldn't be sure until he saw the man himself. When they entered the main hall and saw who was sitting at the head of the table, Wang Xiujin was stunned. How had the Emperor left the palace? Despite his confusion, he acted quickly, moving to perform a grand kowtow, only to be stopped by the Fourth Prince, who whispered, "Keep it simple. Just call him 'Master'."

Wang Xiujin felt a bitter pang in his heart, but he had no choice but to follow the prince’s lead, respectfully addressing the Emperor as "Master." He wanted to ask the purpose of the visit, but before he could speak, the Emperor began, "The... the night is truly beautiful. I heard that our royal merchant had a whole roasted lamb here, so I had the Fourth bring... me over to take a look and join in the fun." The Emperor let out a hearty laugh.

Wang Xiujin’s mouth twitched. That was a rather strained excuse—"a beautiful night," indeed. He grumbled internally but kept a straight face, respectfully inviting the Emperor, the Fourth Prince, and the young Imperial Grandson toward the backyard, while signaling to the steward. The steward hadn't heard the word "Emperor" clearly, but seeing his master’s demeanor and the way the Fourth Prince treated the guest with such deference, he couldn't help but let his imagination run wild. He realized the guest was no ordinary prince—he might even be...

The steward took a cautious look at the regal figure and shivered, then hurried to the backyard to warn his master. He had to be careful; he could not afford to offend such a noble person, or he would certainly pay the price.

Wang Xiujin led the Emperor, the Fourth Prince, and the grandson toward the back. The grandson walked steadily, looking around with curiosity; it was his first time here, and everything seemed novel. Upon entering the backyard, a distinct, savory aroma filled the air. The Emperor laughed aloud, remarking that the trip was well worth it. The Fourth Prince hurriedly mentioned that the royal merchant’s chef used a special sauce that was truly excellent—once brushed onto the meat, it was a delight. The little grandson tugged at his grandfather’s sleeve, saying he wanted to eat the fragrant meat.

The Emperor was greatly pleased and laughed, "Grandson, you must eat plenty. The meat here is incredibly fragrant, and with the sauce he makes, if we don't eat our fill, we wouldn't be doing justice to the trouble of sneaking out here."

Wang Xiujin felt a cold sweat. He didn't know how to describe the complex emotions in his heart. Was this really the Emperor? Why did he sound like a bandit?

In the backyard, those who received the steward’s message acted accordingly. The eldest daughter of the Li family left to avoid being seen by male guests. As she left, she cast a longing glance at the unfinished chicken legs, deeply displeased by the arrival of the Emperor and the Fourth Prince, but she dared not voice her frustration, only signaling her brothers to remember to bring her some food. Ya-Chang left with her, though he held a skewer in his hand. If one looked closely, it wasn't meat he had roasted, but the vegetable rolls Wang Xiujin had prepared.

When the Emperor arrived at the bonfire with his son and grandson, General Li moved to salute, but the Emperor grabbed him. "Old General, we are not in the city. Keep it simple, keep it simple."

"Grandfather, Master said he came to taste the roasted meat," Wang Xiujin said, helping the old man sit down and winking at the others. Everyone bowed respectfully to the Emperor, offering a simple, "Greetings, Master." General Li yielded his seat to the Emperor, sitting to his left, while the Fourth Prince sat with his son to the Emperor’s right. Without any hesitation, the prince picked up a skewer and began roasting it over the fire. As for the attendants, none stepped forward to taste the food for poison; the Emperor trusted the Li family, and they saw no need for such unnecessary precautions.

The fact that the Emperor had left the palace privately with only his attendants to visit the estate deeply touched General Li; it showed the Emperor’s profound trust in the Li family. However, this thought vanished as quickly as it had appeared. He was no naive child; while he felt touched, he knew better than to dwell on it.

The Emperor accepted a skewer from the Fourth Prince and looked at the lamb, which had yet to be carved. "It seems I haven't come too late; the lamb isn't finished roasting yet."

"Master has arrived at the perfect time. The lamb is just about ready to be divided," Wang Xiujin said, calling the chef to carve the lamb in the yard. The knife hitting the roasted meat made a crisp sound. The chef’s skill was remarkable, and within moments, the meat was portioned out. If not for the noble guests, the family would never have had the chef carve it; they would have simply torn into it themselves.

Wang Xiujin presented the first plate of carved meat to the Emperor. While the family usually ate with their hands, that wouldn't do for the Emperor, so a servant quickly brought chopsticks. The Emperor took a bite, chewed, and nodded. "Excellent. Delicious. No wonder the Fourth said your sauce was good; I don't taste the gamey flavor of the lamb at all."

"The Fourth Prince is too kind," Wang Xiujin replied, looking toward the Fourth Prince. The prince was busy devouring his food and didn't notice the gaze. However, one had to admit that the Fourth Prince was an excellent father—at least to his eldest son. He ate while feeding his son, carefully dabbing the oil from the boy’s mouth with a handkerchief, clearly devoted.

The Imperial Grandson noticed Wang Xiujin’s gaze, looked up, and swallowed his meat. "Where is my little brother?"

"It is too late, he has gone to sleep."