The moment he stepped through the door, the rich aroma of food washed over him, making Ning Xuan feel lightheaded with delight. His eyes lit up as he stared at the table laden with dishes—lavish enough to be called extravagant, and certainly the most extravagant meal he had seen so far. Although living and dining alongside Feng Xuanyi already afforded him the best treatment, it had never been to this extent. Unable to help himself, he craned his neck and took a closer look at the man standing beside Feng Xuanyi—the same person who had knocked him into the lake before he had even gotten a good look at his face.
The man had sword-like brows and bright eyes. His handsome features were sharply defined, though not quite as angular as Feng Xuanyi’s. It was probably because he was still young. There was a three-part resemblance between the brothers, and though his complexion was darker from wind and sun exposure, it could not hide the traces of youth that still lingered on his face.
His mind worked quickly. Someone who resembled Feng Xuanyi, was younger, and bore the weathered look of someone who had spent time outdoors… The answer came immediately. It could only be the Eighth Prince, Prince Yu, Feng Xuanzhen, the young general who had recently returned from the frontier after suppressing a rebellion. Realizing this, Ning Xuan inwardly lamented his rotten luck. Of all people to collide with, it had to be someone like this. Worse, he had been sent flying with a single impact. Sure enough, different people are born with different fates. The difference in physical strength is just too great.
“Well, this is unusual. Aren’t you hungry?” Feng Xuanyi asked. Seeing Ning Xuan sitting quietly in his seat without touching his chopsticks—rather than throwing himself at the food the moment he saw it as he normally did—felt strangely unsettling.
Ning Xuan rolled his eyes internally. That’s your brother sitting right there. No matter how awkward things are, I can’t embarrass you. If I charged at the food the second I sat down and started grabbing everything in sight, I’d ruin everyone’s appetite! I’m starving myself half to death to preserve your dignity, and instead of appreciating it, you’re teasing me?
Feeling wronged, Ning Xuan thought of his pitiful empty stomach, picked up his chopsticks, and launched an attack on the dishes that looked especially tempting. Forget etiquette. Forget nonsense about masters and servants not dining at the same table. Feeding his stomach came first.
Feng Xuanyi showed no surprise whatsoever. In fact, this seemed far more natural to him. From time to time, he even placed food into Ning Xuan’s bowl while casually teasing, “No one’s fighting you for it. Why are you eating like you’re rushing off to be reincarnated?”
Ning Xuan merely responded with a glare, silently informing him that he was busy eating and had no time to waste on such nonsense.
The sight nearly made Feng Xuanzhen drop his chopsticks.
His fifth brother had always been famously romantic, surrounded by an endless stream of handsome men and beautiful women. He could have anyone he wanted. In fact, it would have been stranger if there were no beauties by his side. Yet in all these years, Feng Xuanzhen had never seen him spoil someone like this. It could even be called blatant indulgence. Judging by appearances, Ning Xuan was not anyone important—at most a servant. That made it even more baffling. If Feng Xuanyi doted on him this much, why had he not given him a proper status? Besides, his fifth sister-in-law was not some unreasonable, jealous shrew. She did not seem to care in the slightest. For any nobleman, having a wife like that was practically ideal.
“What? Do you want me to serve you food too?” Feng Xuanyi asked with amusement when he noticed Feng Xuanzhen staring at him rather than eating. His gaze seemed glued to the hand that kept placing food into Ning Xuan’s bowl.
“No!” Feng Xuanzhen waved both hands quickly. He wanted no part in such special treatment.
“Then eat your fermented rice dumplings. They’re all yours. Nobody’s taking them from you.” Feng Xuanyi continued serving Ning Xuan as though no one else existed.
Feng Xuanzhen obediently dragged the plate of fermented rice dumplings in front of himself and inwardly groaned. Did I come at the wrong time? Why do I feel so neglected? Sure enough, when a beauty is in your arms, your brothers become unnecessary. If I’d known you were hiding someone like this, I wouldn’t have come even if you beat me to death. And it’s broad daylight! Who knew you’d be this enthusiastic in the middle of the day and think I was interrupting something?
Muttering to himself, Feng Xuanzhen ate his rice dumplings. They tasted every bit as wonderful as he remembered—perhaps even better. After months spent enduring the harsh winds of the frontier, everything in the capital felt wonderful. At that moment, even a plain steamed bun would have tasted like a delicacy from heaven.
“You’re all eating rather early today. Looks like I still arrived too late.”
Suddenly, a deep, resonant voice shattered the peaceful silence of the meal.
All three men looked up at once.
For a brief moment, surprise flashed across Feng Xuanyi’s and Feng Xuanzhen’s faces. They immediately rose to their feet. Feng Xuanyi switched expressions with astonishing speed, instantly becoming warm and welcoming. He strode forward with a bright smile.
“Elder Brother, what brings you here? Why didn’t you send word ahead? You arrived so quietly that I ended up neglecting you.” He turned and scolded Yi Quan and Yi Guang, who stood outside the doorway. “You two have no sense of propriety. Prince Yi has come all this way and you didn’t even announce him?”
“We’re brothers. Do you really think I’d fuss over such formalities?” the First Prince, Prince Yi, Feng Xuanzhe, laughed heartily. He slung an arm around Feng Xuanyi’s shoulders and patted him twice on the back. “I was the one who told them not to announce me. I thought I’d surprise you. Who would have guessed you’d start eating so quickly? I even calculated the timing and planned a sneak attack. I figured I could skip having my own cooks prepare anything and simply come over here for a ready-made meal. Yet I was still too late.” He glanced toward Feng Xuanzhen. “Blame Old Eight. He kept talking about fermented rice dumplings during morning court and made me crave them. Since I knew your kitchen would be making them today anyway, I thought I’d come over and mooch a meal.”
“If I’d known Elder Brother liked them too, I would’ve had the cooks make more,” Feng Xuanyi said apologetically, as though the feast before them was somehow inadequate. Turning to Yi Shu, he ordered, “Pass the word along. Prince Yi has arrived. Tell them to bring out their best skills and prepare more dishes. And make another batch of fermented rice dumplings as well.”
Receiving the order, Yi Shu immediately rushed off despite the snowy ground. With three princes waiting to eat, he practically wished he could roll there instead of running. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared.
Unlike everyone else, Ning Xuan had missed the brief flurry of movement when the two princes stood up to greet their guest. Instead, curiosity got the better of him. He could not imagine who would dare interrupt a meal shared by such important people. So he looked up.
Unfortunately, at that exact moment, he was drinking a bowl of soup he had been eyeing for quite some time.
The soup entered his mouth successfully enough.
Unfortunately, it chose the wrong passage.
Instead of going down his throat into his stomach, it went straight into his windpipe.
Before he even got a clear look at the newcomer, Ning Xuan choked violently.
He coughed so hard it was as if the heavens and earth themselves were shaking.
As a result, by the time Feng Xuanzhe reached the table—before he could even see what dishes had enticed Feng Xuanzhen enough to reject an imperial banquet and specifically request permission to come here for fermented rice dumplings—the first thing he heard was a thunderous fit of coughing erupting from a corner of the table he had not even noticed before.
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