Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

The night in the capital city is as bright as day.

The signboard of Zuixianju swayed in the night breeze, making a slight creaking sound.

A horse-drawn carriage came to a steady stop at the entrance.

The shopkeeper, with his sharp eyes, immediately recognized that the two stone-scaled horses pulling the cart were no ordinary breed, and hurriedly came out to greet them.

The carriage curtain was lifted.

The first to get off was a short, green-haired man, carrying a riding whip, who placed a footstool next to the carriage with a fawning expression.

Immediately afterwards, a hand with distinct knuckles reached out and gripped the frame of the bicycle.

Gu Xiang, dressed in casual clothes, stepped onto a stool to land.

He had just steadied himself when he turned around and reached his hand into the car instead of going inside.

"Slower."

A fair hand rested on his palm.

Su Qing, dressed in fiery red, leaped down from the carriage.

As soon as the two landed, the invisible force of attraction became apparent.

Gu Xiang moved a step to the left, clearing the way for the doorway.

Su Qing's body involuntarily swayed to the left, making it appear to others as if she were deliberately leaning into Gu Xiang's arms.

The shopkeeper stared in disbelief.

This is none other than the current Prime Minister, Lord Gu.

Although I have never seen the woman in red beside me before, her intimate posture suggests that she must be the woman who made Prime Minister Gu furious.

"Lord Gu, please come in, your usual seat?"

The shopkeeper was bent over, his face crinkling with laughter.

Gu Xiang nodded.

"The usual spot."

He added another sentence.

"Make room in the kitchen."

The shopkeeper was taken aback.

"The kitchen? Sir, what are you going to do..."

Gu Xiang rolled up his sleeves, revealing half of his forearm.

"Cook."

The shopkeeper was so frightened he almost knelt down.

The dignified Prime Minister of the Great Zhou Dynasty, second only to the emperor, actually had to cook himself?

If word got out, those old men in the Censorate would probably wear down the threshold of Zuixianju.

"My lord, this is unacceptable! What would you like to eat? Just tell me, and I'll have the chef prepare it. How could I trouble you to do it yourself?"

Gu Xiang waved his hand and walked straight inside.

"It doesn't taste right when someone else makes it."

Su Qing followed beside him, a smile playing on her lips, saying nothing, but her fox-like eyes curved into crescents.

The two entered the kitchen one after the other.

The green-haired earth spirit wanted to follow, but Su Qing glared at it as it turned around.

"You stay at the door and don't let anyone in."

Tu Ling shrank his neck, squatted at the door with a bitter face, and drooled as he looked at the chicken, duck and fish on the cutting board inside.

The kitchen was steaming hot.

Gu Xiang skillfully selected a plump, tender Sanhuang chicken, washed it, and plucked its feathers.

His movements were fluid and graceful, not at all like those of a scholar wielding a pen.

Because of the ten-meter restriction, Su Qing could only sit on a small stool next to the stove.

She rested her chin on her hand, watching Gu Xiang busy himself.

"Prime Minister Gu, your method of killing a chicken is even more efficient than killing a person."

Without turning his head, Gu Xiang took a knife and made several cuts on the chicken to help it absorb the flavor.

"Killing people is for the sake of the world, killing chickens is for your sake."

"If this chicken knew it would die by the prime minister's sword, it would be its own good fortune."

Su Qing chuckled.

"loquacious."

Gu Xiang spread the seasoning evenly, and then stuffed the chicken cavity with shiitake mushrooms, scallions, and ginger.

"Last time at Luofengpo, we put too much salt in, and you said it was too salty."

"This time I specifically asked the imperial chef, and I've noted down the cooking time and ingredients."

He put the chicken in the pot, put the lid on, and started a fire.

The firelight shone on his face, flickering between light and shadow.

Looking at his focused profile, Su Qing felt a gentle touch on the softest part of her heart.

That idiot.

They actually took that joke seriously.

Just then, the curtain to the kitchen was lifted.

A fragrant breeze wafted over.

"I knew it, this place has the strongest sense of everyday life in the whole capital."

The newcomer was dressed in palace attire, with a touch of heroic spirit in her eyes and brows; she was none other than the Fifth Princess, Li Qingge.

But at this moment, her tone of voice carried a hint of vicissitude and mockery.

That's Bi Yao.

Su Qing didn't get up, she just lazily raised her eyelids.

"What, tired of the imperial cuisine in the palace, coming here to freeload?"

Li Qingge didn't stand on ceremony and went straight to the other side of the stove, finding an empty spot to lean against.

"The imperial cuisine is delicious, but it lacks the warmth of human connection."

She glanced at Gu Xiang, who was tending the fire, and then at Su Qing, who was sitting to the side.

"Tsk tsk."

"Intertwined branches, a knot of hearts."

"The way you two are now truly embodies the saying, 'Jiao is inseparable from Meng, and Meng is inseparable from Jiao.'"

When Gu Xiang saw that it was her, he did not bow, but simply took a palm-leaf fan and gently fanned the fire in the stove.

"If the princess is hungry, she can wait in front."

"The kitchen is full of smoke and fumes; don't let it harm your precious daughter."

Li Qingge waved her hand.

"This body belongs to Li Qingge; I'm just staying here temporarily."

"Besides, back then, my father burned a hole in his dragon robe just to cook a meal for my mother. What's a little bit of smoke?"

The atmosphere became slightly somber when the monks and the royal preceptor were mentioned.

Su Qing wiped the smile off her face.

"How is your mother...?"

Li Qingge sighed.

"It's both good and bad."

"After guarding for three hundred years, we finally got him back, but he's lying in a ghostly place like Ghost Cry Valley."

"She has locked herself in the Star-Picking Tower for the past few days and won't see anyone."

"I reckon she's embroidering your wedding dresses."

Su Qing was taken aback.

"A wedding dress?"

Li Qingge nodded, a sly glint in her eyes.

"My mother said that since Gu Xiang has melted the Phoenix Nirvana Seed, it is to make up for their regrets back then."

"She has to handle this marriage herself."

"and……"

She paused, her gaze shifting back and forth between Gu Xiang and Su Qing.

"Given your current situation, if you two don't get married soon, you probably won't even be able to sleep peacefully, right?"

Su Qing blushed and spat.

"What does a little brat like you know?"

Gu Xiang remained calm, continuing to fan the fire with his hand.

"The Imperial Advisor has gone to great lengths."

"Once this chicken is stewed, we'll go to the Star-Picking Tower to pay our respects."

The aroma from the pot gradually wafted out.

It was the aroma of meat mixed with the umami of shiitake mushrooms, rich and enticing.

The earth spirit squatting at the door had drool all over the ground, wetting the threshold.

Gu Xiang lifted the pot lid.

Amidst the steaming heat, a golden-brown roast chicken lies on a plate.

He poked it with his chopsticks; the meat was tender and the bones were soft.

"alright."

Gu Xiang picked up the plate and looked at Su Qing.

"Want to try some?"

Su Qing stood up, and without using chopsticks, directly reached out and tore off a chicken leg.

Gu Xiang didn't stop him, but simply handed him a clean handkerchief.

Su Qing took a bite.

The skin is smooth and the meat is tender, with a perfect balance of saltiness.

This was many times better than the one at Luofengpo.

She chewed a few times, swallowed, and then gave Gu Xiang a thumbs up.

"If Prime Minister Gu loses his official position, we can set up a stall in front of Zuixianju."

"I've already thought of a name, it'll be called 'Prime Minister's Chicken'."

Gu Xiang smiled and helped her wipe the grease from the corner of her mouth.

"it is good."

"You can sell anything you like."

Li Qingge watched from the side, feeling a pang of sympathy.

"Alright, alright."

"I haven't even eaten yet, and you two have already fed me until I'm full."

She reached out to tear off a piece of chicken as well.

But Su Qing slapped him away.

"This was made for me by Gu Xiang."

"If you want to eat it, ask your dad to make it for you."

Li Qingge was speechless with anger.

"mean!"

"My dad's a living dead now, what should I do?"

Su Qing shielded the remaining chicken behind her back, like a little animal protecting its food.

"I don't care."

"Anyway, it's mine."

Gu Xiang watched the two bickering, her eyes full of amusement.

This is what life is like.

There are fireworks, old friends, and her.

He turned to look out the window.

The night was deep in the capital, and the sound of the night watchman's gong could be heard in the distance.

Everything seemed so peaceful.

But beneath this tranquility, undercurrents are surging.

But he wasn't afraid.

Because his heart is right beside him.

Within ten meters, that's his domain.

【Huanxi Sha - Night Banquet at Zuixianju】

A BMW-adorned carriage stopped at the Jade Pavilion, where women in red robes and green sleeves lingered.

The gentleman washed his hands and prepared a delicious meal.

Smoke rises from the stove, casting two shadows together; wine warms the autumn curtain before the wine cup.

The greatest joy in life is gentleness.