Chapter 259 - Mutual Dislike (2/2)

It was as if the admiration and worship in her eyes were only a misperception. Yu Xiaocao regarded him with dislike again, “Inexperienced and ignorant! Let me tell you, a badger’s meat is very nourishing. If you eat it frequently, you can strengthen your body!”

Zhu Junyang seemed to really enjoy crossing verbal swords with Yu Xiaocao, “A stinky badger can make you this happy ah! Don’t you guys have a lot of game in the West Mountains ah? On another day, this prince will let you experience my astounding hunting efficiency. At that time, make sure you tell me what you want to eat, this prince will get it for you!”

Yu Xiaocao’s eyes immediately brightened, “Is that true? You’re not pulling my leg, right? Whatever I want to eat, you’ll get ah?”

Zhu Junyang glanced at the devious smile at the corner of Yu Xiaocao’s lips and he had a bad premonition. However, as a manly man, he couldn't go back on his words. He could only brace himself and say, “As long as the West Mountains have it, this prince will definitely be able to hunt it down!”

“I want to eat tiger meat, the paw of the black bear, leopard’s tail, shark meat...I have never eaten any of these, so I really want to try some ah!” Yu Xiaocao put on a fake-innocent expression on her face. How come it seemed like she was really asking for a spanking?

The muscles on Zhu Junyang’s face fiercely twitched as he let out a strained smile, “I think you’ve bitten more off than you can chew, eh? You dare to instigate me, this prince, to go hunt ferocious beasts eh? What are your intentions? Furthermore, do you guys truly have sharks that live up in the West Mountains? Let alone shark, getting you some fish up there isn’t bad either!”

Yu Xiaocao made a funny face at him. She was only idly saying stuff. How could she possibly make him take such a dangerous risk?

“Yu Xiaocao, do the West Mountains really have tigers and leopards?” Men seemed to love to take risks. Zhu Junyang had missed the annual autumn imperial hunt, and he heard of one of the generals under his command taking his thunder. He felt quite uncomfortable. It was said that that fellow had been quite lucky and had come across an injured tiger. A blind cat had hit a dead mouse, yet it allowed him to win! If the West Mountains had tigers, he wanted to hunt one down and let all of those generals underneath him recognize him for his prowess!

Yu Xiaocao thought for a bit and shook her head, “I am also not sure. I heard the older generation say that they had once heard the roar of a tiger. Most of the fierce beasts live deep within the mountains and the vast majority of people don’t dare to go in there, so it’s natural that no one has seen any! However, I do know that bears live in there. My father had met one before…” He had almost lost his life from that bear!

Yu Xiaocao gripped her fists tightly when she remembered that scene again. Her father had been lying on the bed and the doctor had given him a death sentence. Everyone around them had a look of despair on their faces. She gripped her hands so tightly that the turtle shell ornamental thumb ring cut painfully into her palm.

Yu Xiaocao looked down at the object in her hand and said, “Here’s your ornamental thumb ring!” She displayed it in front of Zhu Junyang.

Zhu Junyang looked at the imprint on Yu Xiaocao’s palm and also recalled Yu Hai’s previous misfortune. At that time, Yu Xiaocao was only eight years old and must have felt very helpless and worried. He wanted to say something to comfort her yet he didn’t know what was right to say. He thought for a bit and then said, “The thumb ring is dirty now, so take it as a reward! Don’t you want to eat bear paws ah? Another day, this prince will get some for you. Do you know how to prepare it?”

“Don’t know how...however, the head chef at Zhenxiu Restaurant probably knows how! When the moment comes, let’s go eat at the restaurant and have Older Brother Yang Feng make it for us. We can also order some of their specialities and happily eat a delicious meal together!!” Ever since her godmother had finished her one-month confinement, Yu Xiaocao spent less time in town nowadays. Her godmother said that she was going to return back to the capital soon in order to prepare for Little Linlin’s hundred day ceremony.

His washing ceremony and full moon ceremony were all done in Tanggu Town. If she didn’t do his hundred days ceremony in the capital, then her godmother’s good friends, her godfather’s close friends, as well as the declining Xia Family that wanted to fawn on General Fang...would have all come over to give them their congratulations already!

Zhu Junyang’s eyes smiled as they roamed around that adorable little face. She described everything happily, as if the bear paws were already within her grasp and all she needed to decide was on how to eat them! Mhm! When he had the chance, he probably could go into the mountains to take a look. Perhaps he might really get an unexpected haul there!

Yu Xiaocao finally finished her thoughts on how to eat the bear paws. She waved the badger in her hands. The bright light from the sun made her smile seem exceptionally brilliant as she said, “Without bear paws around, let’s eat this guy first! Do you want to eat stewed badger meat or braised?”

“What’s your favorite way of preparing it?” Zhu Junyang rarely considered other people’s likes and dislikes. If he was in his usual frame of mood, he would have said ‘braised’ without a thought for other people’s feelings.

“Stewing is nutritious, whereas braising has a deeper flavor! Both have their advantages!”

“This prince wants to try both!”

“Then I’ll stew half and braise the other half…”

……

Under the sunlight, there were two figures slowly disappearing in the distance. One was tall, the other short; one was sturdy, the other delicate…

[1] Used to be Head Steward Fu, but the author changed his surname to Liu.

[2] Lu Xun (鲁迅) - one of the earliest and best-known modern Chinese writers.