All three men looked toward the entrance.
Seeing Yan Xiaosi standing there holding something, joy appeared on all their faces.
Wu Bin said, “Xiaosi, how have you been staying with His Highness the War King?”
Zhao Xi asked, “Are you eating well and sleeping well?”
Wang Cheng said, “His Highness the War King’s orders… no matter how reluctant we brothers are to part with you, there’s nothing we can do about it.”
Wu Bin added, “These past two days we’ve been busy with drills and haven’t seen you. We’ve all been thinking about you and worrying.”
However, seeing Yan Xiaosi’s radiant complexion, Wu Bin knew his concerns and worries were unnecessary.
His Highness the War King truly treated Xiaosi very specially.
Yan Xiaosi walked into the military tent carrying the pan-fried potatoes.
“I’ve been doing very well. At His Highness the War King’s place, I eat well and sleep soundly.”
She had even slept in the War King’s bed with the War King himself.
The military tent where Wu Bin and the other two lived wasn’t far from the commander’s tent. Earlier, when that soldier went to report, Long Yu’s heart had stirred with excitement as he came out to welcome the little rascal. Just as he stepped out of his tent, he saw his little rascal’s profile, smiling as he walked into Wu Bin and the others’ tent. How outrageous!
Returning without coming to see him directly, instead visiting the three commanders first. Could it be that he, the mighty War King of Great Chu, ranked lower than those three commanders?
The more His Highness the War King thought about it, the angrier he became, and the angrier he got, the hungrier he felt.
To save room for the pan-fried little potatoes, while all the soldiers in the camp had eaten dinner, he still hadn’t eaten.
Yan Xiaosi was completely unaware that His Highness the War King was annoyed with her. Seeing Wu Bin and the other two eating dinner, she took out three packages of pan-fried little potatoes from her saddlebag and handed them over.
“I went home today. These are pan-fried little potatoes my mother made. They’re perfect as a side dish for you three brothers. One package each.”
Wu Bin and the other two were overjoyed.
Wu Bin said, “Xiaosi, your mother’s pan-fried little potatoes are really delicious.”
Zhao Xi said, “I’m so envious of Xiaosi, being able to go home often.”
Wang Cheng asked, “Xiaosi, can we visit your home in the future?”
“My mother doesn’t just make pan-fried little potatoes, she makes many delicious things. In a while, my mother will come to our military camp as a cook. After this battle is over, I’ll invite you three brothers to be guests at my home.”
The news that Ms. Zhong would come to the camp as a cook excited and filled Wu Bin and the other two with anticipation.
Currently, Old Jin and three other veteran soldiers did the cooking. The culinary skills of these four old men were mediocre. Except for His Highness the War King’s meals, which were decent, the food for the soldiers and minor officers like themselves lacked any real flavor.
Yan Xiaosi, thinking she still had two more packages of pan-fried little potatoes to deliver, only stayed briefly in Wu Bin and the others’ tent before leaving.
Seeing the tent flap being lifted by a slender hand, His Highness the War King flashed back into his own tent and stood at the entrance, stealing glances.
Thinking that the little rascal had just visited Wu Bin and the others, now he should come back to see him.
His Highness the War King’s face was full of expectation, his heartbeat involuntarily quickening.
Yan Xiaosi emerged from Wu Bin and the others’ tent and saw Long Yi standing dazedly not far away. She casually greeted him: “Guard Long Yi, what are you standing there for? Have you eaten dinner?”
Long Yi glanced at the tent behind him, then winked at Yan Xiaosi, signaling her to hurry back. The master was angry.
Due to the evening light and dim illumination, and with about two meters distance between them, Yan Xiaosi didn’t see his winking gesture. Carrying her saddlebag, she headed straight for Murong Qinjian’s tent.
Her thinking was that once she entered His Highness the War King’s tent, there would surely be many matters to attend to, and she might not be able to come out again. So she should first deliver Murong Qinjian’s portion of pan-fried little potatoes, then return to let His Highness the War King arrange and instruct her as he pleased.
Long Yu crouched behind the tent flap, waiting expectantly for a long time. When no one came, he watched helplessly as the person entered that little scoundrel Murong’s tent, making him so angry he wanted to go on a rampage.
After visiting Wu Bin and the others, she went to see that little scoundrel Murong. That little rascal had ranked him last.
Long Yi, standing outside the main tent, could feel the fury radiating from his master.
Steeling himself, he asked, “Master, do you need this subordinate to call Young Master Yan back?”
“No need.”
Long Yu turned around, walked to the table, poured himself a cup of tea, and drained it in one gulp.
A full cup of tea couldn’t extinguish the fire of anger in his heart.
Meanwhile, Murong Qinjian looked somewhat panicked seeing Yan Xiaosi.
“Little Yan, why are you here?”
So late at night, with two men alone in a room. If Long Yu misunderstood and thought he was seducing the little catamite, what would he do?
Yan Xiaosi noticed his panic and stood at the entrance, taking out a package of pan-fried little potatoes from her saddlebag.
“I went home today. These are pan-fried little potatoes my mother made. She made quite a lot, so I brought a portion back for Big Brother Mu… for Master Murong.”
Remembering how Long Yu had gotten angry over the words “Big Brother Murong,” she instinctively changed her form of address.
A fragrant aroma of potatoes wafted out. Murong Qinjian’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he walked over to glance at the paper package in her hands, but didn’t dare reach out immediately.
“Little Yan, did you bring some for Long Yu?”
Yan Xiaosi patted her bulging saddlebag.
“I did. His portion is the largest.”
Only then did Murong Qinjian reach out to accept it.
“Thank you. You should hurry back. Long Yu might be waiting for you with an empty stomach.”
Only then did Yan Xiaosi remember something Long Yu had said that morning: “This king will keep his stomach empty waiting for your return.”
The corner of her mouth twitched slightly, and she turned and hurried away.
“Your Highness, this commoner has returned.”
She lifted the tent flap and walked into the military tent, sensitively detecting that the atmosphere inside was somewhat off.
His Highness the War King was sitting at the dining table, having finished one cup of tea and poured another, glancing at her once with an expressionless face.
Drinking water to stave off hunger… was he also waiting for her pan-fried little potatoes?
Seeing his dejected and pitiful appearance, Yan Xiaosi felt a tiny bit guilty and walked over carrying the bulging package of pan-fried little potatoes.
“Your Highness, this commoner brought back pan-fried little potatoes for you. This batch is fried better than the last time. Please try them.”
Long Yu was full of anger and full of water, looking without much interest at the pan-fried little potatoes she offered.
“Why did you return so late?”
Yan Xiaosi didn’t think much about it and replied casually, “I stayed at home a bit longer, and on the way back, Little Red Cherry walked slowly.”
“Hmph.”
Long Yu snorted coldly.
Clearly she had gone to see those men and wasted time there, yet still wanted to deceive him.
“Little liar.”
“How am I a little liar?”
Yan Xiaosi felt baffled and directly placed the package of pan-fried little potatoes on the table.
“Here’s the pan-fried little potatoes. This commoner brought them back for you. Whether you eat them or not is up to you.”
She had a temper too, after all.
After delivering this harsh line, she turned and walked to her small couch, didn’t even take off her shoes, and flopped down sideways.
Long Yu hadn’t expected this boy’s temper to be even bigger than his own. Gritting his teeth, he got up, walked to the couch, and pulled her upright.
“This king waited for you with an empty stomach, yet you went to see other men first—and now it’s this king who’s in the wrong?”