The borscht was a vibrant red, as if tomatoes had melted into it.
Though its temperature wasn't apparent, one sip revealed a warm, tangy sweetness with a rich aroma. It was hearty yet not greasy, smooth and refreshing.
The cabbage inside was fragrant with a subtle sweetness, complementing the rich flavor of the sausage. Everything was cooked to perfect tenderness.
It wasn't just suitable for adults; even toothless elderly and children could easily chew and digest it.
Princess Yun Wu took four or five sips in succession, picking out the soft, succulent cabbage to eat.
As she sipped the soup slowly, she told her attendant, "Go buy several more portions."
She looked up at Chu Chu sitting in the stroller, her rosy little face scrunched up in delight, eyes narrowed to slits. Yun Wu thought if she found it so delicious, her own children at home would surely love it too.
Princess Yun Wu took another sip of the hot soup, breaking the palace etiquette of 'not eating more than three bites' from the same dish that the imperial nannies had taught her.
"Brother Liu, try this meat zongzi," Xiao Yunzhou offered.
Yun Wu gracefully wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and nodded, using the opportunity to move her chopsticks to the glistening glutinous rice dumpling. "Alright."
Used to palace cuisine, she didn't find zongzi particularly novel and was even a bit wary of its richness.
But after taking a small bite, Yun Wu was pleasantly surprised.
The salted egg yolk inside burst with flavor, layering with the fresh aroma of the bamboo leaves, the savory sweetness of the meat, and the delicate sauce-infused glutinous rice.
Yun Wu's eyes lit up. This intricate and rich taste was excellent; the children would probably love it too.
"Brother Liu, the cuisine in your Jing Country is truly refined and innovative," Yun Wu now fully believed what the Ji sisters had told her.
She was even looking forward to trying the milk tea. Her appetite was thoroughly piqued.
Yun Wu gave her guard a look, signaling him to buy some other foods elsewhere to take back to the Princess's Palace. Then she turned to Xiao Yunzhou and asked, "I wonder if Brother Liu knows why Jing Country suddenly decided to host this cultural gathering here?"
Xiao Yunzhou narrowed his eyes.
[Oh my, as expected of the Princess of Chu State who occupies five elite character slots!]
Xiao Chuchu's expression of enjoyment while drinking soup paused for a moment.
[Her political instincts are so sharp, she's sensed my imperial father's hidden agenda!]
Xiao Yunzhou choked on Xiao Chuchu's inner monologue.
Hidden agenda... well, that was indeed the case.
Xiao Yunzhou lowered his eyes, picked up his teacup, and took a light sip to conceal the complexity in his gaze.
"Does Brother Liu know something?" Princess Yun Wu noticed his change in mood and pressed further, "I suspect Jing Country's cultural gathering at the border must have some ulterior motive."
[Hehe, that's right, my old man wants to poach talent from your Chu State~]
Xiao Chuchu wanted to laugh but held it in.
[My old man's scheme has been caught red-handed.]
Xiao Yunzhou's mouth twitched.
His daughter, reincarnated from a celestial maiden, was perfect in every way except for these inner monologues, which sometimes made his scalp tingle with embarrassment.
[It's okay, Father. As long as you're not embarrassed, it's others who should feel embarrassed!]
Xiao Chuchu chuckled inwardly.
Xiao Yunzhou's eyes lit up. This celestial wisdom made sense. Such thick skin—no, such open-mindedness!
He immediately cleared his throat and, unabashedly, looked at the perceptive Princess Yun Wu, "Our Jing Country established ties with Wu Yun Country last year, and now we wish to build good relations with other neighboring countries as well."
"When neighboring countries are at odds, it's the common people who suffer."
Xiao Yunzhou narrowed his eyes, his expression sincere.
Why host a Jing Country-style cultural gathering at the border?
Of course, it was to showcase the merits of Jing Country to the Chu people!
"Isn't a cultural gathering that benefits both Jing and Chu citizens a good thing?"
Princess Yun Wu frowned slightly, feeling something was amiss.
But thinking of Xiao Yunzhou's character—how he respected his wife and daughter, and as a merchant had even introduced the baby stroller—she realized he didn't seem like a typical unscrupulous businessman.
Yun Wu nodded, "Brother Liu, merchants typically prioritize profit, yet you consider the welfare of the people. I'll use tea instead of wine to toast you."
As she was about to raise her teacup, a commotion erupted outside.
"Your Majes— ahem, Liu Runnian, where are you!?"
"Is your sister with you?" An urgent voice called out.
"A hunter has been mauled by a tiger! His right arm is torn, he's fallen, and there's a tree branch stuck in his right abdomen!"
Upon hearing this, the diners in the zongzi shop all looked aghast.
How unfortunate.
Could the hunter even survive?
Princess Yun Wu couldn't help but turn to her attendant, "Go and see. If needed, call for our traveling physician to assist."
Hearing this, Xiao Yunzhou was quite surprised, "Brother Yun, you are truly kind-hearted. Even though you're from Chu, you're willing to help a hunter from Jing territory?"
Yun Wu furrowed her brow, "To be honest with you, Brother Liu, I was also educated by renowned teachers in my youth and understand the teachings of the sages."
"If I hadn't encountered such a situation, it would be one thing, but now that it's happening before my eyes, if I were to ignore it, I fear I wouldn't be able to sleep at night."
From a young age, she had overheard the imperial tutor teaching the crown prince about kingship.
The foundation of the state lies in its people.
[The Princess has good character too.]
Xiao Chuchu mused.
[I seriously doubt that if a Chu person collapsed in front of my old man, he would help.]
Xiao Yunzhou: "..."
He wasn't like that, he wouldn't... his little princess was making wild accusations.
Oh my, his daughter, reincarnated from a celestial maiden, had quite a few misunderstandings about her royal father.
As he was thinking this, Princess Yun Wu's eyes suddenly widened in surprise.
"Brother Liu, your surname is Liu. Could you be the Liu Runnian they're looking for? Are they searching for your sister?"
Xiao Yunzhou almost nodded, but seeing Liu Runnian sitting diagonally across from him, he managed to restrain himself and didn't claim the identity.
In the blink of an eye, the urgent calls from the entrance grew closer.
"Liu Runnian! Doctor Meng says he needs your sister's help to treat the wound and stitch it up immediately!"
"If we're late, the man will die!"
The shouting voice was still at least a dozen steps away from the zongzi shop.
But when Yun Wu looked at Xiao Yunzhou, thinking he was Liu Runnian, she noticed that the young, beautiful woman sitting next to the baby and feeding hot soup to the adorable infant girl had suddenly stood up.
"I'll go take a look."
"You take care of Chu Chu."
Liu Chaniang spoke directly to Xiao Yunzhou, not asking for permission but stating it matter-of-factly, with an air of authority that surpassed even the Empress Dowager!
The ministers from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue were dumbfounded.
But after she spoke, not only did Xiao Yunzhou not get angry, he smiled amiably, "Go ahead, go ahead. I'll take care of things here."
"Oh, my precious Chu Chu, your mother has gone out to work. Daddy will feed you, okay?"
The group of ministers on their secret inspection tour twitched their mouths in disbelief.
Liu Runnian lowered his head even more, trying to suppress a smile he couldn't quite hide.
Xiao Yunzhou's self-satisfied pride showed no signs of the discomfort or embarrassment typically associated with being a house-husband. In fact, he seemed eager for Liu Chaniang to leave and get to work.
Princess Yunwu of Chu State's eyes widened in shock.
"Is that Brother Liu's wife they're calling for outside?" she asked.
Xiao Yunzhou nodded, "Mm-hmm. If you're curious, Sister Yun, you can take a quick look from afar. Don't get too close, though. We don't want to risk bringing in any harmful elements that could affect the patient's wounds."
Yun Wu stood up and quickly walked out the door. She saw with her own eyes the bloodied hunter being carried to the site.
After watching the doctor bustle about, she witnessed Liu Chaniang's fluid, expert technique in suturing external wounds!
The hunter's tattered arm and stomach were completely stitched up!
Even the mole on his arm was perfectly sewn back into place!
Yun Wu's eyes widened in astonishment.
She was certain that such medical skill didn't exist in Chu State.
Not among the men, and certainly not among the women!
What kind of miraculous technique was this?
Yun Wu turned her gaze to Liu Chaniang, who was receiving praise from the gathered onlookers, her eyes glimmering with curiosity.
'That Lady Liu from Jing Country, skilled in the art of suturing, was appointed by the Emperor as a seventh-rank female official to teach more women the medical art of suturing, to save the common people and soldiers.'
'If a woman's husband or in-laws don't support her, Lady Liu would personally talk to her family...'
Liu... Could this be Lady Liu, Liu Runnian's sister?
Yun Wu's gaze trembled as she recalled the words of the Ji sisters. She turned to look at Liu Chaniang again, and then at Xiao Yunzhou, who had come out of the zongzi shop cradling an adorable baby girl.
If this was Lady Liu, wouldn't her husband be none other than the Emperor of Jing Country!?
Yun Wu's eyes filled with complex emotions as she watched this emperor, who was playfully doting on his daughter without a hint of shame – in fact, he seemed proud of it...
An emperor who supported his consort in pursuing a career...
He had even hidden his identity as emperor by using his consort's surname?
Yun Wu's mouth fell open in shock.
Her father, the king, and her younger brother, the crown prince, could never do something like this.
Why was it that the Emperor of Jing Country...
"Chu Chu, isn't your mother amazing?" Xiao Yunzhou cooed to his daughter.
Yun Wu finally couldn't hold back anymore and spoke up, "Brother... ahem, Brother Liu, I imagine you must have considerable wealth and power in your household in Jing Country."
"I see you doting on your young daughter now, but surely in the future, you'll still favor your sons and grandsons to inherit your position as head of the household, even if your daughter is talented, courageous, and clever. Isn't that right?"
Xiao Yunzhou was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled lightly, "If my little girl wants to inherit my position as head of the household, I'll absolutely give it to her. I wouldn't even spare a glance for my sons or grandsons."
Yun Wu's pupils dilated in shock.
Xiao Yunzhou found her reaction amusing, as if she'd never seen anything like it before.
His own Chu Chu was the reincarnation of an immortal, after all!
If an immortal were to become the ruler of Jing Country, that would be truly extraordinary.
Three Chu States combined wouldn't be enough to match Jing Country then!
[Ah, but I don't want to do it. I've seen how Dad handles state affairs, working 996 every day, even worse than a corporate slave.] Xiao Chu Chu refused. [It's too exhausting. This job is better suited for my brother.]
Xiao Yunzhou smiled wryly. His daughter might be an immortal, but she was certainly a lazy one.
Oh well, he'd have to let Chengqian take over then.
"Ah, if only my Chu Chu had any interest in managing our family affairs," Xiao Yunzhou sighed, shaking his head at Yun Wu.
Yun Wu took a deep breath.
[Whoa, the Chu State Princess's favorability has skyrocketed to 31%!] Chu Chu exclaimed.
[The system says that Dad just hit on the Chu State Princess's greatest desire, which is also her secret—]
[She wants to become the Empress of Chu State and replace her younger brother, the crown prince!]
Xiao Yunzhou's eyes widened in surprise.