The prince is more stable

Chapter 757 A secret promise
Su Shi’s sudden remark shocked Zhao Xiaoqian, but he quickly calmed down, thinking that Su Shi had become senile.

An old man of his age can hardly understand the love and affection of young people. Although Su Shi's love poems are heartbreaking, such as "Ten years have passed, and we are separated by life and death. I do not think of you, but I cannot forget you," those were poems in remembrance of his deceased wife.

What does he know about the fresh and vibrant love of a young person?

“Mr. Zizhan, you’re too old to worry about young people’s affairs. The girl is only fifteen or sixteen. Don’t talk nonsense and ruin her reputation. Will you take responsibility if she can’t get married?” Zhao Xiaoqian said.

Su Shi snorted: "I'm talking nonsense? In the days before you returned to the capital, this young girl was always hanging around me, taking me out to drink, getting me all drunk, and then seemingly casually asking about you."

"They'll ask you what you like and dislike, when you're returning to the capital, how you composed that half-finished poem, how impressive you were when you led troops against the Liao, how many wives and concubines you have, and whether they get along well..."

Su Shi chuckled coldly a few times: "This little girl's thoughts are clearly laid out before me. She thinks she's gotten me drunk and doesn't remember anything. If I can't even see through her, I've truly wasted my life."

Zhao Xiaoqian was speechless for a moment.

This joke is a bit too much. Li Qingzhao's destined husband is Zhao Mingcheng. She hasn't even met Zhao Mingcheng yet, but her heart is already set on him.

For a fleeting moment, Zhao Xiaoqian's vanity was greatly satisfied that the most talented woman in China had secretly fallen for him.

"My charm is so irresistible..." Zhao Xiaoqian murmured to himself, touching his cheek with emotion.

Su Shi was furious: "You've really gone too far! Have some shame! The young lady is simple-minded and truly talented and beautiful. In particular, she doesn't mind that you have a lot of wives and concubines at home. Such a girl is rare. If you are also interested, I will reluctantly act as a matchmaker, which can be considered as accumulating some good karma for myself."

Zhao Xiaoqian immediately shook his head: "No, I don't mean that for now."

Now it was Su Shi's turn to be puzzled. He asked in confusion, "Why? The man is in love with the woman, and she is willing to be your concubine. Do you think she is not good enough for you?"

Zhao Xiaoqian gave a wry smile.

The most talented woman in China is more than a match for me; in terms of talent alone, I am not worthy of her.

The problem is that Bianjing is about to undergo a major change, and Zhao Xiaoqian himself will inevitably be caught in the storm. For the safety of his family, wife and children, he has already sent them to Japan, leaving only the father and son to fight side by side in Bianjing.

At this time of year, if one were to get involved in any unexpected romantic relationships, it might implicate Li Qingzhao and her father, Li Gefei.

Zhao Xiaoqian's current mindset is to avoid getting involved in the consequences and focus entirely on dealing with the upcoming storms.

Seeing Zhao Xiaoqian's hesitant expression, Su Shi, being an experienced old man, naturally sensed that he had a reason for his predicament. So he smiled and said, "Alright, let's not talk about this for now. It was just me being nosy. You young people should handle your own affairs."

With a leisurely gesture, Su Shi pointed to the marinated bear paw and said, "Pay close attention and don't ruin the flavor. If you do, I will never forgive you, even if I die."

Zhao Xiaoqian regained his composure and focused intently on processing the bear paw.

The two tacitly agreed never to mention Li Qingzhao again.

An hour later, Li Qingzhao came skipping back, her little face full of excitement and praise. She praised the Prince's Mansion for being very large, dozens of times larger than her own home, and for its beautiful scenery, with flowers, grass, ponds, and waterside pavilions.

The only regret was that while strolling through the Prince's Mansion, she encountered a fat man. His eyes were strange; he wore a seemingly honest smile, but he kept leering at her...

Then Li Qingzhao looked at him expectantly and begged Zhao Xiaoqian to order the fat man to be arrested and his buttocks to be severely beaten.

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyelids twitched, and he decisively ignored her unreasonable request, which could be considered as leaving her a way out.

If she still has designs on marrying him, she'd better not offend this fat man too much, or her love life will be fraught with difficulties.

Su Shi, who was standing next to her, probably understood who the fat man was. He stroked his beard, glanced at her speechlessly, and then shook his head and sighed heavily.

The three of them sat in the courtyard, waiting tediously for a long time before the bear paw was finally put into the pot.

It was another long and arduous wait. The bear paw simmered in the casserole for at least an hour. During this time, Zhao Xiaoqian and Su Shi were tense, adding water and turning off the heat to ensure that the soup was thick and delicious while keeping the heat just right.

An hour later, Zhao Xiaoqian lifted the lid of the casserole, and the bear paw was finally finished.

A rich aroma of meat wafted over, and even Li Qingzhao, who wasn't particularly interested in food, couldn't help but take a deep breath.

"It smells so good!" Li Qingzhao stared at the tender bear paw stewed in the casserole, swallowed hard, and murmured, "Now I know why you are so fascinated by food. It is indeed worth it. If I could have a bite, I would probably never forget it for the rest of my life."

"What are you waiting for? Let's start eating." Zhao Xiaoqian handed out bowls and chopsticks to Su Shi and Li Qingzhao. The three of them sat around the casserole on the small stove. Zhao Xiaoqian took the first bite and, without any hesitation, picked up the tenderest and most delicious meat from the bear's paw, blew on it to cool it down, and put it in his mouth.

Su Shi immediately became anxious, deeply regretting that he had been too polite. While waiting for the right moment to strike, he also picked up his chopsticks and swiftly grabbed a large piece of meat.

Li Qingzhao chuckled and joined in, grabbing the meat to eat.

The little girl may not care whether the food tastes good or not, but she likes the atmosphere and the simple, lively, and relaxed feeling in front of her.

"Delicious! Delicious!" Li Qingzhao ate the meat, her eyes slightly narrowed, enjoying the wonderful sensation of her tongue exploding with delight, like first love draped in a white veil, running on the beach...

Su Shi glanced at her, then continued grabbing the meat without saying a word.

The young girl was too inexperienced. She was fighting with two old foxes for meat, yet she still had time to speak and praise them. She clearly lacked experience in the ways of the world.

First come, first served. Faced with such a precious and rare delicacy, whoever grabs the most gets the most. It took Zhao Xiaoqian three or four hours to prepare and cook this bear paw, from morning till dusk. In the end, it only took a few moments to eat the bear paw, which was completely devoured.

Even the broth was swiftly sucked into the pot by the quick-thinking Su Shi, who then licked the bottom of the pot clean with relish.

After finishing their meal, none of the three spoke. They simply sat quietly in the courtyard, each savoring the delicious taste of the meal. Indeed, as Li Qingzhao had said, the flavor was truly unforgettable.

"It's so delicious, I wish I could order the formation of an imperial hunting team just to hunt black bears for me..." Zhao Xiaoqian exclaimed.

For some reason, Su Shi looked somber and sighed, "Such delicacies, I'm afraid I'll never taste them again in my life. When I die, I'll be lying in my coffin with my eyes open..."

Zhao Xiaoqian was startled and hurriedly said, "There's no need to be so exaggerated. I'll put in a little effort and try to get you a few bear paws. I guarantee Mr. Zizhan will be able to die with a smile on his face, without any regrets..."

Su Shi nodded earnestly: "In that case, I thank you, Zi'an. It would be best if you could get me a live one, so I can lie in the coffin and hold it during my burial."

"Definitely, definitely. How about I just get you a bear? Mr. Zizhan can be buried with the whole bear in his arms..."

"This... it's too big, I'm afraid I can't handle it..."

"Pfft—! Hahahaha!" Li Qingzhao burst out laughing, bending over backwards.

"You, you... what you're saying is so funny! Hahahaha!" Li Qingzhao laughed loudly while wiping away her tears.

Su Shi glanced at her speechlessly and sighed, "She doesn't understand."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded seriously: "Yes, she doesn't understand."

The world of foodies is completely incomprehensible to those who aren't foodies, just as three-dimensional humans don't understand the two-dimensional world.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, it was already dusk. Su Shi and Li Qingzhao did not linger and took their leave.

Zhao Xiaoqian saw them off at the gate of the Prince's Mansion. As Su Shi was leaving, he suddenly turned around and said, "Zi'an, I will be leaving Bianjing next month to take up an official post in another region."

Zhao Xiaoqian was startled: "Where has Mr. Zizhan been sent to?"

Su Shi smiled and said, "I am the acting governor of Jiangnan East Circuit. Haha, I have been promoted. It is all thanks to Zian's recommendation. Moreover, I have made a contribution when I was sent as an envoy to Liao. That is why I was promoted to this position."

Zhao Xiaoqian immediately beamed with joy: "Congratulations, Mr. Zizhan, after a life full of hardships, your official career has finally become smooth."

Su Shi smiled contentedly, "Serving in this region and bringing benefits to the people—my lifelong belief has been fulfilled. Moreover, Jiangnan East Circuit is a prosperous land of the Song Dynasty, with countless beautiful sights in Suzhou and Hangzhou, and I am even more looking forward to its delicious food, haha..."

Zhao Xiaoqian's smile became somewhat stiff.

You were just saying Li Qingzhao was too young, but you're about the same age.

You'll find out about Hangzhou's reputation as a culinary wasteland once you take office; you'll eat your fill without saying a word.

How about West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce...?

"Go ahead, Mr. Zhu Zizhan, have a good meal and drinks." Zhao Xiaoqian smiled maliciously.

Su Shi laughed and nodded, then left happily, his mind probably still filled with wonderful anticipation for the delicacies of Jiangnan.

It's okay, harsh reality won't let any confident person off the hook, and the old man is no exception.

Li Qingzhao lagged behind, and when she saw Su Shi striding away, she winked at him.

“Your smile just now was very unkind. I think you were trying to trick Mr. Zizhan…” Li Qingzhao said.

Zhao Xiaoqian put on a stern face: "Nonsense! Mr. Zizhan is my close friend despite our age difference. How could I possibly betray him? Can't you see how radiant my face is with collagen and blessings?"

"I didn't see that coming at all!" Li Qingzhao wasn't too concerned about that. She changed the subject and said, "Brother Zian, now that you're back in the capital, may I come visit you in my spare time?"

Zhao Xiaoqian resolutely replied, "I neither drink nor gamble."

Li Qingzhao gave him a charmingly playful glare and said, "I'm not a drunkard or a gambler..."

"You are."

"Oh dear! You're going too far!" Li Qingzhao stamped her foot in a slightly coquettish manner, then said, "I won't drink with you, nor will I gamble; we're just having fun together. What are you afraid of?"

Zhao Xiaoqian hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright, when you have time I'll accompany you to stroll around Bianjing Zhouqiao, as well as the Imperial Street and Daxiangguo Temple, and eat some street food. It'll be a completely green tour."

Li Qingzhao said happily, "It's settled then! You are a prince of the Song Dynasty, and you can't go back on your word!"

After saying this, Li Qingzhao skipped and hopped away, her joyful figure reflecting her bright and happy mood.

Zhao Xiaoqian stared intently at her retreating figure, sighed inwardly, and turned back to the palace.

(End of this chapter)