"Who was it just now that said they wouldn't spare this King's consort?"
As the words fell, the Cold King, clad in an ice-blue, form-fitting long robe, exuded a chilling aura as he strode with steady steps into the kitchen.
With the Cold King's declaration, the others finally realized that Leng Ruo Li had been betrothed to His Highness the Cold King by the Emperor, making her the rightful future consort.
Leng Ruo Li, watching Jun Mo Han enter, was slightly taken aback. Why was this fellow at the Cold General's mansion again? Could he be here for revenge? After all, she had sprayed him with food earlier that morning.
Upon recognizing the Cold King, everyone immediately knelt to pay their respects.
"Your humble subjects (servants) pay respects to His Highness the Cold King, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!"
"Rise, all of you!"
Jun Mo Han said softly to them, glancing at Leng Ruo Li. The corner of his lips twitched almost imperceptibly. Although unnoticed by the crowd, it did not escape Leng Ruo Li's eyes.
This fellow was definitely here for revenge!
But she wasn't afraid, because her father had also entered behind the Cold King.
Following that, Jun Mo Han fixed a chilling gaze on Granny Wu, who had fallen to the ground.
"Granny Wu, did I not hear you outside saying you wouldn't spare this King's consort?"
Granny Wu raised her eyes to meet the icy gaze in Jun Mo Han's phoenix eyes, immediately feeling a sense of fear. She said guiltily, "Your Highness the Cold King, Miss Leng is going too far. This old servant was sent by the Empress to look after the Second Miss Leng at the Cold General's mansion. She actually forced this old servant to pay a thousand taels of silver for meals each month to get food from the mansion."
Jun Mo Han didn't address her words directly but instead questioned Granny Wu.
"All these fresh vegetables and meat in the kitchen, weren't they all thrown away by your order, Granny Wu?"
"Granny Wu, do you know that when the border soldiers enter winter, they can't even see a single leaf of greens? Yet you waste them like this. In our Tian Wu Kingdom, the Emperor has always advocated for thrift and frugality. If he were to find out about this, it wouldn't be a matter of paying a thousand taels of silver, but a direct order for execution. Even the Empress couldn't save your life."
Upon hearing this, those in the kitchen who had helped Granny Wu earlier trembled uncontrollably, their legs turning to jelly. Granny Wu was also greatly frightened by the Cold King's words. Having lived in the palace for many years, she was well aware of such matters.
The reason she had been so excessive today was simply to show off her power. She had never expected to be caught by the Cold King, and now it was too late for regrets.
Meanwhile, Leng Jin Yu, standing beside them, saw the messy scene in the kitchen and felt a surge of anger. What angered him more, however, was Granny Wu's earlier sneak attack on Leng Ruo Li, which still left him trembling.
He suddenly spoke up, "Granny Wu, our Cold General's mansion is poor and cannot serve you esteemed ancestors. You should return to the palace."
Granny Wu was stunned by his words. These father and daughter had too much nerve, daring to openly drive away the Empress's people.
Then, Leng Jin Yu added, "And that Leng Ruo Shuang, take her with you as well. Being pregnant before marriage, our Cold General's mansion cannot afford such shame."
Leng Jin Yu recalled the mockery when Steward Qi reported Leng Ruo Shuang's situation to him.
Subsequently, Jun Mo Han walked over to Granny Wu and squatted down. He extended two slender fingers and pressed on several acupoints on her body. Granny Wu cried out in pain as her martial arts were immediately crippled.
Afterward, Leng Jin Yu smiled at Leng Ruo Li and said, "Li'er, your father just returned and hasn't eaten yet. I can't stomach the food prepared by the main kitchen tonight. Come, go back to your Ming Yue Courtyard and show me your culinary skills."
As he finished speaking, Leng Jin Yu took Leng Ruo Li's hand and walked out of the kitchen, leaving Jun Mo Han behind.
Ever since his Li'er was betrothed to Jun Mo Han by the Emperor, Leng Jin Yu had found Jun Mo Han displeasing.
He had only recently returned from the border and hadn't had a chance to properly compensate his Li'er before this brat came along and whisked her away. How could he stand for that?
Hearing this, Leng Ruo Li raised an eyebrow. She had thought her father was simply craving her cooking again, only to realize he was jealous of Jun Mo Han and deliberately ignoring him.
She winked at Xing'er and Ling'er behind her, signaling them to get some ingredients from the kitchen and bring them back to the courtyard. The two young maids understood her meaning instantly.
Unexpectedly, Jun Mo Han shamelessly added, "Father-in-law, I haven't had dinner yet either. Shall we go together?"
Leng Jin Yu brushed him off, "Our Cold General's mansion is poor, and our food and drink cannot compare to your royal nobility. We truly cannot afford to host His Highness the Cold King for a meal."
"Esteemed father-in-law, I will not be picky."
Jun Mo Han, with his thick skin, trotted along behind the father and daughter to Ming Yue Courtyard.
---
In Ming Yue Courtyard, Leng Ruo Li asked Leng Jin Yu to accompany Jun Mo Han to rest in the pavilion of the small courtyard for a while.
Leng Ruo Li turned and walked into her small kitchen. However, she felt a bit vexed and had no mood to cook. Standing in the kitchen in a daze for two seconds, she suddenly thought of something.
Leng Ruo Li casually took out many packs of instant noodles from her system space. Before the two young maids returned, she quickly opened the packaging and discarded the bags into the system space's trash can, lest her maids see such things and start asking her questions.
By the time Xing'er and Ling'er returned to the courtyard carrying a pile of ingredients, Leng Ruo Li had already boiled water and was adding the instant noodles to the pot, waiting for them to cook before adding the seasonings.
Then, she took out the soy sauce beef she had stored in the refrigerator from her previous life from her system space, cut a lot of beef and put it into the pot of instant noodles she was cooking, and washed a fresh head of cabbage to put into the instant noodles. Instantly, her small kitchen was filled with a mouth-watering aroma.
"Miss, these instant noodles you're cooking smell so good! Ever since I tasted them last time, I've been thinking about eating them again every day. I didn't expect my dream to come true tonight."
Xing'er said, swallowing a mouthful of saliva as she looked at the large pot of instant noodles on the stove.
"Sister Xing'er, I've also been thinking about eating these instant noodles every day. It's because our Miss cooks them so well."
After saying that, Ling'er also swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
Leng Ruo Li couldn't help but smile seeing their eager expressions.
"Look at how much you two are craving them. Anyone who didn't know would think this Miss has been starving you all this time."
"Hahaha—"
Saying that, the three of them burst into laughter.
Suddenly, Leng Ruo Li felt someone behind her. Turning around, she saw Leng Jin Yu and Jun Mo Han had also rushed into her small kitchen, both staring intently at the noodles in her pot.
"Li'er, when do you plan to serve the noodles?" Leng Jin Yu asked impatiently.
"Father, the noodles are ready to eat now. I'll serve you a bowl first."
"Consort, there's mine too."
Everyone: "..."
Was this still the aloof and proud Cold King?
...
Later, the large pot of instant noodles that Leng Ruo Li cooked was completely devoured by the few of them before it could even be served out of the kitchen.
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