The Marquis's line has ended? The pregnant maid is pregnant again!

The meat swallows from the small kitchen, although delicious, didn't have the same texture as these.

Shen Qinghe smiled, confident in her creation, and explained carefully, "This meat swallow is made in the Lingnan region. It's usually made by mincing pork into a paste, but I made some modifications based on your health condition. I added a lot of sea bass meat, two egg whites, and some ice cubes to the pork and mixed it. This makes the meat swallow firmer and more chewy than the usual method."

"good."

Lu Jihan didn't hold back his praise, looking up at her and asking, "What are those crisp, small-particle things?"

That hit the nail on the head. Shen Qinghe smiled and said, "Young Master, it's fresh water chestnuts, chopped into small pieces. This retains their texture and gives them a crisp, slightly sweet flavor that helps cut through the richness."

Lu Jihan was a military general, and in the military camp he always ate meat and drank wine heartily, unlike the young masters from wealthy families who ate like this.

They were particular about rules and regulations, such as not speaking while eating or sleeping, but Lu Jihan didn't care.

He always eats heartily, especially since he had been hungry for quite a while. One meat dumpling really whetted his appetite, and he ate the noodles with gusto, which made him look bold and imposing.

Shen Qinghe looked at him with a smile, feeling proud of the food she had made.

In her past life, she cooked food in the same way she does now, but Lu Huai'an used to eat and drink a lot of meat and wine, and he hadn't exercised for a long time, so his stomach and intestines were very weak, and he was a picky eater.

At that time, Lu Huai'an was dissatisfied with and disgusted with Shen Qinghe. Even if Shen Qinghe prepared the food and served it to him, he would only eat a couple of bites and then throw it aside.

Over time, Shen Qinghe lost her enthusiasm for cooking for him.

Watching Lu Jihan eat, Shen Qinghe finally understood why older people preferred chubby boys who could eat and drink a lot.

She likes it too!

After Lu Jihan finished eating, he picked up a handkerchief and wiped his mouth, his eyes filled with satisfied contentment. When he looked at her, his gaze softened considerably.

"These noodles are chewy and smooth; they taste a bit different from regular noodles?"

"Just like the Marquis of Zhenguo's family, so clever." Shen Qinghe explained:

"The noodles were made fresh by me. I added something different when I was kneading the dough. This is my exclusive secret recipe, and you mustn't tell the young master."

As she spoke, Shen Qinghe stuck out her tongue at him.

Seeing that playful look, Lu Jihan's heart skipped a beat, and his hand on his lap trembled.

He quickly lowered his head, clenched his fist, and as the unfamiliar flutter gradually subsided, Lu Jihan spoke again:

"How dare you! You're still hiding things from me?"

These words sound fierce, but the man's tone was gentle from the inside out, showing no sign of anger at all.

Shen Qinghe blinked innocently at Lu Jihan: "If you like it, Master, I can make you different dishes every day. How is that hiding anything?"

As she spoke, Shen Qinghe shamelessly used a small wooden fork to pick up a piece of honeydew melon and offered it to Lu Jihan's lips: "It's too late now, and it's not advisable to eat anything too cold. But it's dry and hot at night, so instead of using directly chilled fruit, I soaked the honeydew melon in cold water to cool it down before cutting it into small pieces. It should be just right. Would you like to try it, Your Highness?"

Those big, watery eyes looked at him expectantly, as if they could speak, gently gazing into his heart.

Lu Jihan was surprised that she was willing to go to so much trouble and be so meticulous, so he tacitly approved of her overstepping her bounds.

After all, none of his many wives and concubines dared to act so intimately, nor did any of them dare to speak to him like that.

Lu Jihan snatched the small wooden fork from her hand and stuffed the small piece of melon into his mouth. He wasn't at the point where he needed to be coaxed and fed even a single piece of melon.

What kind of system?

As soon as I put the melon in my mouth, it was just as the little girl had said—not too cold, but refreshing enough to cool me down.

Seeing that Lu Jihan's expression had softened, Shen Qinghe guessed that he was in a good mood, and seizing the opportunity, she immediately knelt down:

"This servant... has something I wish to ask of the young marquis for a favor."

Lu Jihan was about to help her up when he suddenly remembered what Shen Qinghe had said at the training ground today, and the reward she wanted. He was startled, and his hand, which was reaching to help her up, froze in mid-air for a moment before he quickly withdrew it.

Lu Jihan glanced out the window casually; indeed, it was late at night, and it was time to rest.

Why does she insist on having a child?

Her arrival was a mistake he made while drunk, and now that he's sober, how could he easily repeat it a second time?

But since he was in bed at the time, he agreed.

Lu Jihan pinched the bridge of his nose, his tone becoming more serious: "You are not allowed to use this to curry favor."

"Well, another rule. Why are there rules everywhere?" Shen Qinghe thought to herself, raising her eyes to look at him with tender affection.

"Your Highness has misunderstood. I... wanted to ask the young marquis for someone to come over. Qing'er, the kitchen maid, and I have always been on good terms. I wanted her to come and serve me, so we could keep each other company."

Upon hearing Shen Qinghe's words, Lu Jihan breathed a sigh of relief and waved his hand, "Granted."

"Okay, thank you, sir."

Shen Qinghe stood up with a beaming smile and looked at him: "It's getting late, sir..."

Lu Jihan frowned again, feeling a terrible headache. Staring at Shen Qinghe's full, bright red lips, he couldn't think of a good excuse to refuse her from sharing a room.

The next moment, Shen Qinghe's words left him stunned:

"It's getting late, sir. Shouldn't you go back to your room and rest?"

Lu Jihan looked at her with some surprise. She told him to go back to his room and rest, not to stay.

Shen Qinghe blinked her big eyes, looking innocent and naive: "Did I say something wrong? Isn't Master going back to his room to rest?"

Lu Jihan narrowed his eyes slightly, his sharp gaze falling on her, as if trying to see through her slender figure.

This little girl, all she wanted this morning was his affection, why has she suddenly changed her mind now?

Could it be because of what he just said?

Compared to his other concubines, Shen Qinghe was unusually obedient and showed no sign of disobeying him.

At this moment, her watery deer eyes looked over, her gaze earnest and pure, like a clear spring, so clear that it made one unable to doubt her.

Shen Qinghe met his gaze without flinching, and even leaned closer, tilting her head curiously at him:

"Or perhaps, young master, you wish to stay?"

"Nonsense!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Jihan's expression turned unnaturally serious, like a tiger whose tail had been touched, and he immediately sat up straight:

"I'm leaving now, you should get some rest!"

After saying that, Lu Jihan got up and left.

Shen Qinghe didn't hesitate for a moment, and curtsied: "Respectfully seeing off the young marquis~"

Hearing the girl's relaxed voice behind him, and that she didn't try to stop him at all, Lu Jihan stopped in his tracks not far from the bedroom.

Lu Jihan finally realized what was happening. How could he have felt like he had been tricked by that little girl without even realizing it?

He's the boss!