The thin skin, reminiscent of clouds, could easily be separated with a slight bite. Although jokingly compared to eating just the skin, actually consuming it was different. The tender and juicy pork wrapped in the cloud-like skin was delightful, with the thin skin and tender filling creating a satisfying chew. Each mouthful, accompanied by the incredibly delicious broth, was a burst of flavor. Combined with various toppings like seaweed, dried shrimp, egg skin, and pickled vegetables, the rich textures created an astonishing dining experience.

Liu Yuan swallowed the zhòushā xiǎo húntúns and said vaguely: “If the skin tastes this good, I could skip the meat altogether!”

“Eating the skin dry without a little bit of pork meat would not taste right! Wei Fu on the side ate a zhòushā xiǎo húntún and said with emotion, “The wonderful thing about Master Wen’s bowl of zhòushā xiǎo húntúns is that everything is just right.”

Wen Mingtang couldn’t help but smile as she looked at the overcrowded canteen counter in front of her.

Only when there were no cases, this group of servants, sìchéng, and xiǎolì could sit here and eat the morning meal slowly.

When it was almost six o’clock and the morning meal was over, Wen Mingtang handed the food box to Zhao You who came to pick up the food box and said: “Just heat it until boiling, the broth is at the bottom.”

Zhao You nodded in response. “Okay”, handed a dime of silver to Wen Mingtang, turned around, and ran away.

After looking at the dime of silver in her palm for a moment, she put the silver into her purse. After returning the kitchen to Master Sun, Wen Mingtang put the prepared lotus root powder in the basket and left Dali Temple.

The lotus roots that Liang Hongjin brought last time were turned into lotus root powder. When you want to eat it, just pour hot water, stir, and it’s ready to eat.

For people like Liang Hongjin who were too lazy to cook, they liked this convenient way of eating.

As usual, they met outside the Tongming Gate at their old place. Wen Mingtang waited for a while at the Tongming Gate. Before Liang Hongjin arrived, another uninvited guest arrived.

The carriage came to a stop next to her. Wen Mingtang took two steps back and missed the face that peeked out from behind the curtain.

Wen Xiutang stared at her intricate and elaborate hair bun on top of her head.

Wen Mingtang looked at the hair bun adorned with several peonies and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: “Only Wen Xiutang’s face could carry off this profusion of peonies!”

A hint of annoyance flashed across the face more colorful than peonies, as she glanced at Wen Mingtang and instinctively touched her cheek.

For so many years, Prince Yu seldom laid a heavy hand on her face, but since encountering Wen Mingtang, she had been slapped several times.

Facing Prince Yu, Wen Xiutang dared not say much. But she was also afraid that if the prince didn’t control his strength, it might leave scars on her face, which would be terrible!

She wouldn’t blame Prince Yu, nor did she dare to. Instead, all her pent-up resentment was directed at Wen Mingtang, who stood before her in a drab gray short robe.

“Why didn’t you come when I asked you to?” Wen Xiutang glanced at her and said, “Do you like working around the stove so much?”

Hearing this, Wen Mingtang nodded and said, “Yes! I like it very much!” 

Just as Wen Xiutang was about to continue lecturing, she suddenly hesitated, glaring at her with a mix of annoyance and anger. After a moment’s pause, she opened her mouth, intending to find a reason to invite her out. However, the girl opposite her, carrying a basket, touched her nose and spoke up, “Why does my tángjiě insist on inviting me out?”

Wen Xiutang rolled her eyelids inwardly and said: “Of course, we are sisters, you and I are deeply affectionate…”

Before he could finish her words, she was interrupted by a burst of laughter.

Wen Xiutang looked at Wen Mingtang who suddenly laughed out loud, frowned, and instinctively opened her mouth to scold her. But Wen Mingtang, who was smiling lightly across from her, had already spoken first.

“Tángjiě, I have been acting with you for so long. I originally thought that when my tángjiě realized her conscience, she would stop on her own initiative, but unexpectedly, she actually got worse and asked me to go out?” Wen Mingtang said casually.

The face of the beautiful peony opposite suddenly turned pale, and she shook her head subconsciously: “What are you talking about?”

Wen Mingtang chuckled softly, “Am I talking nonsense?” The girl raised her eyebrows after uttering these three words and pointed out a person, “Prince Yu.”

As soon as the word “Prince Yu” came out, Wen Xiutang’s face was startled. When she met Wen Mingtang’s half-smiling eyes, she instinctively leaned back and said, “I don’t know. What are you talking about? “

After all this time, you are still so stubborn! Wen Mingtang sighed and murmured: “I finally understand how Liu Yuan and the others felt when they met the murderer who refused to let go even after all the evidence was presented in front of them.”

With that said, before Wen Xiutang could come up with any lame or ridiculous excuses, Wen Mingtang spoke up, “Tángjiě, let’s not beat around the bush! I know all about what you’ve been doing. If you want to hear it, I can break it down and tell you everything.”

“The first time we met at the Sūshān Store, it was deliberate on your part, wasn’t it? I thought, with tangjiě dressed so extravagantly, it was clear she was haughty and proud. Even if not the best, she would only go to the top-notch stores in Chang’an City. Would tangjiě really lower herself to eat at a roadside Sūshān Store, alongside us cooks and servants?”

So, in fact, Wen Mingtang never believed her from the very beginning when they met? Wen Xiutang’s face was extremely ugly.

“Later, I went to the Jiaofang specifically to find you, just to see what your plans were. If you couldn’t bear the hardship and insisted on entering the conservatory, then so be it, after all, everyone has their own aspirations.” Wen Mingtang said, “I’m not your mother, so there’s no need to force you to choose which way to go. But that day after I came out of the Jiaofang, I was chased by a murderer. “

If it weren’t for her preparations in the palace over the years, she might have been in trouble by then.

Wen Xiutang moved her lips and murmured an explanation: “Didn’t I say it before? It has nothing to do with me.”

It was really boring to tell lies at this time! Wen Mingtang shook his head and said: “Tangjiě after the two murderers were eliminated that day, I went back to Jiaofang and waited at the door. I saw with my own eyes that the maid next to you sent King Yu out. “

Wen Xiutang still wanted to speak, but Wen Mingtang was too lazy to talk to her anymore and said straightly: “The two cooks from the public kitchen of Dali Temple went to the internal affairs office to inform people, and I already knew what they told Prince Yu. As soon as the plan failed, you showed up immediately, and I knew something was wrong with you.”

Wen Xiutang looked at Wen Mingtang who was speaking, and her face was extremely ugly.

Wen Mingtang moved the basket of lotus root powder in her hand to another arm, and continued: “Also, you said… we have a deep love for each other as sisters?”

Wen Mingtang stretched out her hand to tuck the broken hair hanging in front of his forehead behind her ears, and whispered: ” Do you want me to remind you everything about how my tangjiě who bullied me, cheated me and stole my beautiful clothes and hairpins when I was a child? “

This tangjiě had never looked like a sister since she was a child.

“In the past, when you relied on my father’s power, you would secretly snatch things from me, bully me. When my father fell, I haven’t forgotten for a moment that you pushed and kicked me,” Wen Mingtang said, looking at Wen Xiutang’s unpleasant expression. “Since you once benefited from my father’s power, you should understand that what benefits one, benefits all, and what harms one, harms all.”

“Wishing for glory and riches in good times, and wanting to escape at the first sign of trouble. Even if my father allowed it, the laws of the country would not permit it!” Under the sunlight, the girl’s smile was indifferent and distant. “Originally, a bridge is just a bridge, and a road is just a road. But after all these years, tangjiě is still selfish. Do you still want to use my life to please your benefactor? Let me tell you…”

“Go on dreaming your dreams!” The girl grinned, revealing a mouthful of sharp white teeth to the frightened Wen Xiutang leaning against the carriage wall. “Tangjiě, this is my life we’re talking about! I won’t help you exchange those few slaps you received. You can deal with it yourself! With your thick skin, you should be able to handle it!”

(End of this chapter)

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Sorry for the delay. I have been ill, and then I found that my diabetics has become quite high. Right now I am on strict diet and taking insulin. So, I couldn’t post for long.