110 Chef Meng in Action (2/2)

Her excessiveness did not intimidate her similarly excessive guests. All were present before 5pm.

Chef Meng sent the dishes onto the table, and the three men extended their heads to take a closer look. 'Hmm… color seems decent,' they all thought.

Zhan Beiye took a whiff. ”Hmm… passable.”

Zong Yue feared poison the least. Picking the richest colored dish, he took in a mouthful of it. His eyes lit up almost immediately.

Chef Meng folded her arms and pointed her nose at the sky, while thinking to herself, 'Don't be surprised that I'm such a good chef, especially when it comes to medicinal cuisine. Mom was sick for a long time after all.'

She squatted on her chair, happy that the trio was finally at ease. She started introducing the dishes of all shades of green. ”Pork Bone Foxglove Stew, Perfect Nourishing Brisket, Scarlet Bean grained rice, Shattered Bone Hawthorn Porridge…”

Meng Fuyao glowed, happily thinking that she hadn't heard of medicinal cuisine in the Five Region Continent. Other than Zong Yue, the other two might not necessarily know that these dishes nourish the body, blood, and energy…

However, there was something she did not notice.

Zhan Beiye moved speedily, his pupils flickering as he gorged himself with the Perfect Nourishing Brisket.

With a shallow smile, Zong Yue unhurriedly started on the scarlet bean grained rice.

Zhangsun Wuji drank the soup gracefully, his chinaware making not the least bit of sound. Occasionally he scooped a spoonful of soup or porridge for Lord Yuan Bao. ”Eat more. We don't know when she will ever do this for us again.”

Without blushing, Meng Fuyao responded shamelessly, ”I'm a general and not a chef. My talents are limitless, and they must not be wasted in the kitchen…” She grabbed her chopsticks and sat down properly before putting a piece of bone into Zhangsun Wuji's bowl. Resting her chin in her hands, she smiled. ”Just drinking the soup will not do. It's not going to fill your tummy. You need meat. Eat up.”

'Ah, I just want to see you choking on the bones…'

”Thank you,” Zhangsun Wuji lowered his head and glanced at the bone.

He pressed his chopsticks down without much effort, silently breaking the huge bone into pieces before removing them and extracting the meat.

Irritated that her plan had failed, Meng Fuyao turned to serve a piece of old ox tendon to Zhan Beiye. ”This is good for you, War God. Chewy and tasty!”

Zhan Beiye lifted his chopsticks and caught the tendon in midair. ”Oh yeah? I think so too, but good food must be shared. Half belongs to you since you have worked hard.”

He snapped the tendon into two before urging, ”Please, you first.”

A short while later, with her cheek filled, Meng Fuyao took a piece of Angelica sinensis for Zong Yue. ”Come, come, ignore the meat. As a physician, you should avoid meat and consume more tonic.”

Zong Yue accepted her kindness and quickly returned the favor. ”Ignore the meat and ignore the tonic. This works best for you, to eliminate the toxic by sweating it out.”

It was a huge block of raw ginger…

It was deep into the night, and the moon shone high and bright. Light flowed above Clear Wave Pavilion, its reflection in the lake illuminating every ripple. The flowerbed by the lake consisted of winter daphnes, camellias, magnolias, cherry-apples, and Chinese peonies. Shades of pink, purple and red accompanied waves of mixed fragrances, but they paled in comparison to the dishes and wine on the dining table.

Meng Fuyao was engrossed in a mountain-like bowl, as she tried hard to reach the rice beneath the pile of dishes. The trio had very cooperatively pranked her by continuously adding dishes into her bowl. Zhan Beiye was the initiator, and her bowl was very quickly filled to the brim. She was the one who had invited them over, but she was also the one eating the most.

Finally, she laid on her chair, almost paralyzed from the bulging tummy. Zhangsun Wuji offered a cup of tea, which she accepted. Seeing Zhan Beiye sitting by her side, she asked for paper and brush in excitement before clearing the table. With Lord Yuan Bao as her model, she started drawing. Not very pleased with the outcome Yuan Bao requested a redrawing, only to be picked up by Zhan Beiye, who then used his claws as signature print. A servant girl rolled the paintings up and lit the golden lamps.

Along with the breeze, the lights flickered, highlighting the silvery, sequin-like water beneath. Under the light Zhangsun Wuji and Zong Yue started a game of chess, their slender fingers leisurely fiddling with the pieces. As their purple and white robes fluttered in the occasional wind, the lake on the opposite side was being covered in a layer of purplish pink flower petals.

Meng Fuyao smiled, her eyes were bright yet hazy from the glistening lakewater. Petals drifted in the night, enhancing her delicate features. The paintings that were spread open were accompanied by low laughs and mumblings and the twittering of birds. All these transformed into the background of a smiling face, whose lips curled up slightly, bringing a dimple into view.

Meng Fuyao felt it was the calmest and most comfortable moment ever.

…

Meng Fuyao had been visiting Chrysanthemum Path regularly.

It wasn't because she had eyes on anyone, but simply because she felt that it was a pity that the cultured and knowledgeable Feng Mo had ended up in such a place instead of becoming a scholar or the like.

Meng Fuyao had money and had easily forced the old duck into freeing Feng Mo. However, the latter had no intention of leaving, and Meng Fuyao's kindness was tossed into the trash bin just like that. Meng Fuyao wasn't one to meddle in others' affairs, but she did know some things from her previous life and could not bear to see such talent fall into this state. Naturally, she was surprised to know that there were actually willing individuals out here.