When Xia Zeshi came looking, he happened to meet the Xu brothers coming out of the kitchen. Xu Hengyi had a particularly miserable expression, as if he had been severely beaten in the kitchen.
"What's this?"
Xia Zeshi was extremely curious. The Xu brothers were actually in the kitchen. What had happened?
Xu Hengyan was fine. Although he had also been choked, he remained composed. Seeing Xia Zeshi approach, he bowed respectfully, "Fifth Highness."
Xu Hengyi ran into the courtyard, took a deep breath, and felt a little better. He pointed into the kitchen, "Young Master Xie is cooking. I suspect he's poisoning us."
Only after saying this did he step forward to pay his respects.
He had grown up with the Fifth Highness. If his second brother hadn't been there, whether he would bow or not would depend on his mood, and the Fifth Highness didn't mind.
"Young Master Xie?"
"The rumored Poison Doctor."
"Oh? The Poison Doctor is cooking?"
Xia Zeshi's curiosity was piqued, and he ran towards the kitchen without hesitation. However, he didn't dare to go inside. He peeked in from the kitchen doorway and saw two cooks standing to the side. The one working at the stove was indeed a young man, who must be the Poison Doctor.
Guang Bai brought over three stools and, without a word, placed two of them further away.
He knew the young master's habits best.
Xia Zeshi walked back slowly, "So the Poison Doctor is so young, and he's really cooking. It's just a bit pungent."
Xu Hengyi asked, "Why has Your Highness come?"
Xia Zeshi replied, "To see the Old Madam. As expected of the renowned Poison Doctor, he is indeed extraordinary. The Old Madam looks much better. I heard you were with the young master, so I came looking for you. I didn't expect you all to be in the kitchen."
"Young Master Xie was in a rare mood today, so my second brother and I came to take a look."
"Young Master Xie's medical skills are as renowned as his reputation. You can tell from the Old Madam's current condition, but I wonder about his cooking skills?"
"It's said he even outshines our own cooks."
Xia Zeshi's eyes lit up with interest, "Then I'm in for a treat?"
That was hard to say. Given Xie Jiang's temperament, did he ever show favor to anyone?
Xia Zeshi and Xu Hengyi chatted idly about recent interesting events in the capital, and time passed quickly.
Xie Jiang was the first to emerge from the kitchen. He bypassed Xu Hengyi and Xia Zeshi, looking directly at Xu Hengyan, who was sitting rigidly.
"We're eating here?"
"Let's go to the flower hall," Xu Hengyan said, standing up. The kitchen was in a separate small courtyard, but it wasn't spacious.
Xu Hengyi stood up and introduced, "This is the Fifth Prince."
Only then did Xia Zeshi get a clear look at Xie Jiang's face and his eyes widened to their maximum. This, this was the Poison Doctor? The one cooking in the kitchen just now?
How could someone who looked like this be in the kitchen?! Did this shabby kitchen deserve him! Wasn't he afraid of its fortune collapsing from too much good luck!
Xie Jiang nodded calmly, indicating he understood. What prince or not, he was just someone coming for a meal.
However, this child was so fair and tender, especially his face, which looked like it could be squeezed for water.
So, Xie Jiang reached out directly.
Xu Hengyi and his second brother were stunned.
They watched with wide eyes as Xia Zeshi's face was pinched into various shapes.
Xia Zeshi was also bewildered by the pinching.
Xie Jiang nodded, indicating the texture was quite good. He didn't mind him coming for a meal.
"..." Xia Zeshi turned to look at Xu Hengyi, then at Xie Jiang, who had already walked away.
She pinched him, she actually pinched his face! And then she left! How could she...
Did this person not understand what a prince meant? Didn't he see that even Xu Hengyan, who didn't particularly favor him, waited respectfully for him to go first?
Xu Hengyi swallowed hard, "Uh..." Why was he looking at him? He hadn't expected it either.
Looking at Xie Jiang, who had disappeared from sight, Xu Hengyi still tried to comfort him, "Young Master Xie, his ways are rather unrestrained... He's like this even in front of my granduncle. If he wants to pay attention, he will; if not, he'll just turn and leave..."
Xia Zeshi understood and wasn't angry.
Could his face be bigger than the Duke of Wei?
But why did she pinch his face?
Xia Zeshi's face felt a little hot, unsure if it was from the pinching or...
Young Master Xie actually looked like this?