Rongjing nodded and instructed, "Xian Ge, go see if the hibiscus fish is ready."
"Yes, Young Master, it's ready!" Xian Ge's voice was cheerful, clearly having overheard the earlier conversation and feeling a newfound respect for his master. It was evident that he'd found satisfaction in seeing Yun Qianyue rendered speechless earlier.
"Then quickly bring it up!" Rongjing instructed.
"Understood!" Xian Ge immediately went downstairs.
Yun Qianyue rolled up her sleeves, ready to dig into the meal. Today, she was going to treat this man like the hibiscus fish he was serving — a dish meant to be devoured. She wasn't going to let his black-hearted antics slide!
In no time, Xian Ge returned with a tray. He moved gracefully, not at all like a skilled guard but more like Rongjing's personal waiter. The way he served the dishes was almost professional.
Yun Qianyue fixed her gaze on the tray, which held six plates, all vegetarian dishes — not a single trace of the hibiscus fish, not even a fish bone. She looked at Rongjing, "Where's the fish?"
Rongjing looked over at Xian Ge.
"Young Master, the fish is still in the pot! I brought up the vegetarian dishes first," Xian Ge replied.
Yun Qianyue said no more, standing up and moving to the table, taking a seat directly across from Rongjing with an air of stubborn anger.
Rongjing didn't pay her any mind, continuing to sit elegantly, sipping his tea at a leisurely pace.
Xian Ge went back downstairs and shortly returned, this time with two bowls of porridge. He gently placed one bowl in front of Rongjing and another in front of Yun Qianyue.
Yun Qianyue glanced at the porridge, saying nothing.
Xian Ge left again, this time returning with a small plate containing a single, very small fish. It was so tiny that it was less than a third the size of the fish Yun Qianyue and Ye Qingran had grilled earlier.
Her expression instantly turned dark as she glared at Rongjing. "This is the hibiscus fish?"
Rongjing looked at Xian Ge.
Xian Ge nodded. "Yes, Miss Yun, this is the hibiscus fish."
"Rongjing! You did this on purpose, didn't you? You're messing with me!" Yun Qianyue was thoroughly annoyed. She shot up from her seat, pointing a finger at Rongjing. First, he sent Ye Qingran away, then tomorrow he'd be "keeping her company" — which clearly meant supervising her. Not allowing her to nap was bad enough. But to offer her a measly little fish? Did he not realize she was a carnivore? Eating this was absurd!
"Xian Ge, what's going on?" Rongjing's face remained unchanged, though his tone took on a slight edge.
Xian Ge quickly bowed, setting the small plate with the fish before Rongjing and explaining hurriedly, "Young Master, this is your hibiscus fish, not Miss Yun's. Hers is still in the pot. I haven't brought it up yet."
"Hmm, then hurry and bring it up! Look at how anxious she's getting," Rongjing nodded and gestured to Xian Ge, then gently addressed Yun Qianyue, who was brimming with irritation. "I know you enjoy fish. How could I let you go hungry? Please sit down. Xian Ge will bring it right up."
Yun Qianyue was convinced this had to be intentional — absolutely intentional! Today, she'd somehow ended up on the wrong side of his little guard, and now she was reaping the consequences. Frustrated beyond measure, she slapped her hand on the table with a resolute, "I'm not eating!"
"That's fine. It's not ideal to eat too much at night anyway; it might keep you up. I'll keep the hibiscus fish for you, and you can eat it tomorrow," Rongjing nodded, his tone serious.
Yun Qianyue almost choked. Just as she was about to storm off, she thought better of it, sat back down, and retorted, "Who said I'm not eating? I was joking! Not only am I eating, but I'm also going to eat a lot. Whether I sleep or not is my business, not yours."
"Very well. Eat as much as you like. If you can't sleep, I'll stay up with you," Rongjing sighed, seemingly helpless.
Yun Qianyue rolled her eyes so hard they could've disappeared into her head, her face dark as coal. She decided silence was best. She felt that her martial arts skills were the only thing keeping her alive and not from perishing of sheer anger. This man was simply infuriating!
"Miss Yun, here's your hibiscus fish!" Xian Ge entered with a large tray and placed a sizable fish, over three pounds, in front of Yun Qianyue. He kept a respectful distance from her, his tone careful, "If this isn't enough, there are several more fish in the pot. Feel free to eat as much as you want, and if it's not enough, I can ask the chef to prepare more."
Yun Qianyue snorted, grabbed her chopsticks, and stabbed the fish with a vengeance. She thought that, with her fury, this fish might not go down the right way. Now, she could sympathize with how Ye Qingran must have felt when he ate his own warhorse. He must have felt as though he was chewing nails, while his heart ached.
"This hibiscus fish may seem simple, but it actually requires ten separate steps to prepare," Rongjing said calmly, watching her stab the fish. "I instructed them to begin the process early this morning. It's taken all day to prepare and has just come out of the pot. Are you sure you want to turn it into fish paste?"
"All day?" Yun Qianyue froze mid-stab.
"Yes. First, the fish was fed with a fresh juice made from hibiscus petals for half a day so the essence would permeate its flesh. Then, it was soaked in a special broth of medicinal herbs for two hours, steamed with half-stalk lotus and magnolia branches for another two hours, and then, just before being cooked, it was still alive. Every inch of its flesh is infused with flavor." Rongjing's tone was gentle, explaining as if sharing a cherished secret.
Yun Qianyue's eyes widened as she looked down at the fish, finally noticing the rich aroma wafting through the room. She licked her lips, unable to believe that the fish could have survived all that preparation. She asked suspiciously, "Is it really that complicated?"
"It is. Even more so than I described," Rongjing confirmed.
Yun Qianyue took a piece of the now slightly shredded fish and tasted it, her mouth immediately filling with flavor. Ye Qingran's lotus-leaf grilled fish earlier that day was delicious, but it didn't reach this level of complexity. Every inch of this fish was packed with exquisite taste — it was a masterpiece. Her pent-up anger and frustration instantly dissipated. With a beaming smile, she admitted, "It really is good. I believe you."
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The Dandy's Duchess
ChickLit"The Dandy's Duchess" tells the story of the youngest and most talented general of the National Security Bureau, who sacrifices his life for his country and finds his soul transported to another world, where he is reborn as Yun Qianyue, the only leg...
