Chapter 27: The Art of Face-Changing

In Zhong Yangming's impression, Liu Yan was the most capable general under his wife's command.

She was deeply trusted by Her Majesty and was a strong woman who commanded the Imperial Guard.

She valued loyalty and righteousness, and was upright and incorruptible.

Yet even such a woman had fallen for Xiao Tian's good looks.

Zhong Yangming admitted that Xiao Tian was indeed handsome and extraordinary, but when did his own daughter, and even Liu Yan, become people who judged by appearances?

"Liu Yan, you... how could you..." Zhong Yangming looked at Liu Yan, unable to speak for a long while.

"Minister Zhong, please don't misunderstand. I just feel that judging the Prince solely based on his behavior is too unfair to him." Liu Yan knew Zhong Yangming had misunderstood, so she just shook her head to explain.

She had promised Xiao Tian she wouldn't expose his secrets.

But she also didn't want Zhong Yangming to casually criticize Xiao Tian like this.

Seeing Liu Yan's serious expression, Zhong Yangming didn't speak. He understood her personality well enough.

He knew that when she looked like this, she was truly angry.

"Hmph, Father is being too unreasonable." Zhong Ling also snorted coldly, feeling indignant on Xiao Tian's behalf.

Zhong Yangming's eyes widened as he watched Zhong Ling glare at him angrily. Somewhat flustered, he quickly waved his hands: "Ling'er, Father didn't mean..."

Zhong Ling continued angrily: "The Prince even advised me to stay home for dinner and spend more time talking with Father."

"But you, without even understanding what happened, just randomly criticized the Prince."

"Tonight's dinner, Father, you can eat it by yourself."

With that, Zhong Ling took Liu Yan's arm: "Sister Liu, let's go to the palace."

"Minister Zhong, rest assured, I'll personally escort the Young General back later." Liu Yan also glanced at Zhong Yangming before leading Zhong Ling toward the palace.

Zhong Yangming was on the verge of tears. Watching his daughter's departing figure, he tremblingly pointed at Xiao Tian: "Prince, you... you..."

"Don't blame me. You clearly brought this on yourself—what does it have to do with me?" Xiao Tian spread his hands with a bewildered expression. "I even advised that little brat to go home and have dinner with you. You didn't cherish the opportunity, so who's to blame?"

After saying this, Xiao Tian also shrugged and left Zhong Yangming with his back.

At the same time, his words drifted to Zhong Yangming's ears.

"What a sin!"

Slumped on the steps, Zhong Yangming stared blankly at the sky.

Heavens, what was happening to this world?

Recently, he had already been troubled by the influx of refugees from the south.

And now his daughter wasn't listening either. What was he supposed to do?

Zhong Yangming sat on the ground covering his head, rubbing it desperately, his graying temples particularly conspicuous.

"Sigh..." With a long sigh, the somewhat dispirited Zhong Yangming braced his knees to stand up. When he raised his head, he froze.

Before him, Xiao Tian had somehow returned to stand in front of him.

Not only Xiao Tian, but his daughter Zhong Ling and Commander Liu Yan had also come before him.

"I heard Minister Zhong's cooking skills are quite excellent?" Xiao Tian looked at Zhong Yangming. "I wonder if I might have the honor of tasting them?"

Seeing his daughter glaring fiercely at him from behind Xiao Tian, Zhong Yangming could only force a smile and say through gritted teeth: "Please, come inside!"

As night deepened, in the courtyard pavilion of the Zhong residence.

Xiao Tian and Zhong Ling had already taken their seats.

Liu Yan had just returned to her own residence to change into clean robes.

Zhong Yangming, now changed into casual home clothes, personally carried the last dish to the pavilion.

The dishes were arranged like a bouquet of flowers.

The amazing aroma made even Xiao Tian swallow involuntarily.

"Prince, this is it. Back when Father was a poor scholar, he relied on this skill to win Mother's heart." Zhong Ling pointed at the final signature dish.

Xiao Tian very carefully tapped Zhong Ling's head: "Show some respect. How can you talk about your father like that?"

"Ow..." Zhong Ling covered her head.

At this moment, Zhong Yangming, now seated, looked much more relaxed.

He hadn't reached his current position by being stupid.

From his observations just now, Zhong Yangming discovered that his daughter didn't show much romantic affection, but rather a kind of admiration, even tinged with a bit of... fear?

This last point was what Zhong Yangming couldn't figure out. What could his daughter possibly fear from this Prince?

Zhong Yangming was quite confident in his daughter's cultivation talent and strength.

In his view, beating Xiao Tian until he cried for his parents wouldn't be a problem.

"Prince, this cup of wine is for you." After sitting down, Zhong Yangming took a deep breath and raised his cup to Xiao Tian. "Earlier, out of excessive concern for my daughter, I spoke rudely to you. I apologize."

With that, Zhong Yangming drained his cup in one gulp.

But immediately after, Zhong Yangming poured another cup and raised it again: "Liu Yan was right. I shouldn't have judged you without understanding you first."

He drained it again in one gulp.

After that.

Zhong Yangming poured another cup and raised it: "Ling'er is mischievous. These past days, she has troubled the Prince."

After three cups, Zhong Yangming's face was flushed.

After accepting his three cups, Xiao Tian also smiled and raised his cup: "Cooking is hard work. Let's eat!"

After draining his cup, Xiao Tian picked up his chopsticks and got straight to it.

When it comes to eating, one must be focused and enthusiastic!

"Mm, the taste is truly amazing." After one bite, Xiao Tian's eyes lit up as he gave Zhong Yangming a thumbs up.

Without wolfing it down, Xiao Tian savored the wine and dishes, squinting his eyes in contentment, carefully enjoying the delicacies on his tongue.

What is life?

This, damn it, is life!

What are good times?

This, damn it, is what good times are!

Seeing Xiao Tian like this, Zhong Yangming also chuckled softly. He suddenly felt that his daughter and Liu Yan were right.

You can't judge people by appearances.

Xiao Tian was greedy for pleasure and enjoyed himself.

But thinking carefully, he hadn't done anything evil, had he?

And from this meal, he could see that Xiao Tian had an extremely respectful and serious attitude toward enjoyment.

It seemed he had a special obsession with this leisurely lifestyle, with this life of eating, drinking, and having fun?

How strange.

However, the atmosphere at the dinner table grew increasingly pleasant.

Once certain prejudices disappeared, getting along became very harmonious.

After three rounds of drinks, Xiao Tian kept staring at Zhong Yangming, as if pondering something.

"Prince, if you have something to say, please speak freely." Zhong Yangming, his face flushed, felt somewhat uncomfortable being stared at so intently by Xiao Tian.

"Well, Minister Zhong, I have a somewhat presumptuous request." Xiao Tian rubbed his belly and laughed cheerfully.

Seeing Xiao Tian like this, Zhong Yangming felt something ominous: "Please speak, Prince."

Xiao Tian's expression was full of anticipation: "Can I come to your house often to eat, to eat food you personally cook? I can't help it, your cooking skills are too amazing."

Although the imperial chefs in the palace weren't bad, compared to Zhong Yangming, they were far inferior.

"..." The corner of Zhong Yangming's mouth twitched slightly. He really wanted to ask this Prince what nonsense he was spouting.

Just when he'd gained a slightly better impression, was he eager to ruin it?

Making him, the dignified Minister of Revenue, serve as his cook for his gluttony?

Absolutely impossible!

Minister Zhong's face turned stern, and he was just about to speak.

Slap!

Xiao Tian slapped the table, and when he lifted his hand, there was a storage ring.

"I'll personally contribute one million spirit stones to the Ministry of Revenue for disaster relief for the southern refugees!"

Zhong Yangming spoke righteously with a solemn expression as he stared at Xiao Tian: "Prince, what would you like to eat tomorrow? I happen to have the day off, so I'll personally select the ingredients to ensure you eat happily and satisfactorily."

"Ling'er, do Father a favor and buy a set of chef's robes. Your father needs to wear them."

"When preparing meals for the Prince, one cannot be careless. There must be proper protocol."

Liu Yan beside them was speechless, and Zhong Ling blinked her eyes.

They had never realized before that Zhong Yangming possessed such an art of face-changing.