Chapter 302 Uninvited Gues (1/2)

t

Qiu Yu, possessing a pleasant disposition, nodded at Baisu. While greeting her, he was not bothered by the cold expression on her face at all.

He showed the parcel in his hand to Lin Mengya as if he was showing her some treasure.

“When I found out that you have just entered the palace, I knew you would not be used to the food and would not sleep well. This may not be delicacies, at least, you’d have something special to eat.”

Perhaps it was because Qiu Yu had a pleasant face in addition to how he always wore a friendly smile when he saw everyone that Lin Mengya always felt that this young physician was very approachable.

Waves of tempting aroma emitted from the table top.

Lin Mengya looked on as he took out a parcel from his bundle, and when she opened it carefully, there was a whole roasted duck, still steaming hot with oil.

“This is the imperial chef’s special dish, and he only made it for me after I pleaded with him for three days. How lucky and blessed you are to be able to enjoy this food.”

Apart from the roasted duck, there were braised duck webs and wings. When all the food was laid out on the table, it covered almost half of the table.

“Are you trying to prepare a get-together party for me?”

Lin Mengya burst out laughing while Qiu Yu merely looked stunned. While he obviously did not know the meaning of a get-together party, he was able to guess Lin Mengya’s intention because he was smart.

Qiu Yu smiled and finally took out a small wine bottle and a wine cup from his clothes, like he was performing some magic. He began pouring and drinking the wine. His action truly reflected his carefree personality.

“According to our usual practice, it is the first day of the New Year today. However, people like us do not have the luxury to celebrate it the usual way, so we can only seek joy amidst adversity.”

Qiu Yu was obviously mocking at himself, and Lin Mengya could empathize with him.

Indeed, they used to take leave for a few days during the New Year period no matter how busy they were.

Without further ado, Lin Mengya dragged Baisu along and sat down by the table, reached out to take hold of a piece of spicy duck wing, and began savoring every bit of it.

“Before I entered the palace, I even saw entire streets lined with red lanterns. I heard that there was going to be performances of dragon dance and lion dance through the night until daybreak.”

Lin Mengya sounded regretful as she spoke. She had agreed with her four maidservants earlier that they would let their hair down to have some fun during this period of time.

Now she could only stay in the palace quietly.

Even the coals in the stove seemed to have been suppressed by the air surrounding it as they burnt silently.

“What’s the use of being in a rich and powerful family? It is in fact worse than being in a regular family,” said Qiu Yu.

Qiu Yu’s words revealed his longing for a regular life.

Lin Mengya observed that the things Qiu Yu wore or used were not any regular quality, even though he was only a first-grade imperial physician. Nevertheless, the surname ‘Qiu’ was not among the noble and wealthy families in the capital city. Lin Mengya supposed he ought to be a rich man’s son from other states.

“The regular folks may not be living as comfortably as you think. Although there are many restrictions in large families, there was no worrying about food and shelter. You sound like a person moaning and groaning without any illness when you made the statement that you envied the lives of the regular and poor people. To obtain food from digging into the ground requires one to plant during spring and harvest during autumn. In times of famine and war, the people living in poverty would not even have clothes to wear or food to eat. In order to survive, they even sold their children. If even surviving is a luxury for them, could they even talk about living in bliss?”

Qiu Yu suddenly stopped eating the duck drumstick he was holding.

He cast an admiring look on the beautiful lady in splendid clothes.

Qiu Yu had the impression that this lady, who came from a rich and powerful family, who married into a prominent family, was a woman with just a little more experience and wisdom than regular women.

However, from how Lin Mengya had saved the soldiers in the army camp, to the painting she had left behind in the North Tower, Qiu Yu could see that Lin Mengya was not just a piece of flawless jade.

She was a real treasure. Lin Mengya was neither aloof nor arrogant. She was like the lotus that emerged from mirky waters but remained pure and undefiled. The words she had said did not sound like they were from the mouth of a lady who had grown up in a protective environment.

“Back home, my father and elder brothers always praised General Lin as a hero hard to come by. I didn’t think much of what they said, thinking that General Lin was merely a rough man. Today, my eyes are opened to how he was able to raise a daughter with an exceptional mind. This is enough for me to see that General Lin is definitely a wise and great hero. I’ve been such an ignorant fool, my apologies.”

After Qiu Yu finished speaking, he cupped his hands and bowed deeply to Lin Mengya.

Lin Mengya was surprised at his forthrightness, and her impression on this Physician Qiu was further improved.

At the same, her curiosity towards him was further aroused.