Looking at the girl holding a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) and looking at him, her clothes were unremarkable, even plain. Her hair was styled in a simple bun, held in place by a single wooden hairpin. Her earlobes were bare, and apart from the hairpin, there was no other adornment on her body.

Although the girl’s clothes were neat and clean, compared to the women he usually encountered, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call her “unkempt.” Yet, this seemingly “unkempt” woman was the one he had the most contact with besides his mother.

Initially, it was because of her cunning and quick wit at Zhao’s Restaurant, her calm and composed demeanor when facing that vicious and shameless couple, like a reed, soft yet possessing an indescribable resilience.

Then came the foods that suited his taste, not the elaborately refined kind, but the delicious flavors imbued with the warmth of everyday life.

Born into a noble family, he possessed such an appetite. Lin Fei had no intention of changing it; it was his nature. Why force it, why feign such high-class manners?

The girl held a common local dish in Chang’an, a roujiamo (meat sandwich). Judging from the word “mo” on the oiled paper wrapping, it was from the most famous shop.

At that moment, the roujiamo in her hand seemed to have been untouched; the thoroughly stewed meat was sandwiched in a crisp bun, the inside of which was soaked in brownish gravy, a rich aroma emanating from the oiled paper wrapping.

The officials behind them, quick to read the room, took two steps back while speaking, but not too far, lest they give the two a reason to gossip.

Lin Fei glanced at the roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) in the girl’s hand and said, “I’ll have Zhao You come over in a bit.”

Wen Mingtang said, “Oh,” and came back to her senses. She remembered Lin Fei’s warning a few days ago not to wander around, and felt a little guilty. It wasn’t that she didn’t remember Lin Fei’s warning, but perhaps it’s human nature to dislike being “restrained.” Even though Wen Mingtang was someone who could sit still, she was a little restless. Coincidentally, this opportunity to see Zhao Sishan, whom she hadn’t seen for almost a year, came up, so after a little consideration, she still went out. Originally, she thought that since she had come out early and was at the palace gate, she could go back with Liang Hongjin. However, she didn’t expect to run into Lin Fei here.

Now, in Lin Fei’s eyes, she had probably become the kind of person who ignored warnings and ran around recklessly without any sense of propriety.

Wen Mingtang thought for a moment, about to explain, when Lin Fei’s voice rang out again: “Avoiding it is like being confined, and you can’t avoid it forever. Next time something happens, you can tell Zhao You and have him come with you.”

He hadn’t intended to just leave this matter unresolved, waiting for that Liyang Jùnzhǔ to make another move. Dealing with things as they come was a last resort, and taking the initiative to solve the problem was the best approach.

However, he had been dealing with too many things lately—cases, palace matters, and his own affairs—and with everything piling up, he was finding it difficult to be in two places at once.

Lin Shaoqing’s “consideration”… Wen Mingtang felt even more guilty. Just as she was about to say something, Lin Fei spoke again. He seemed unusually talkative today. Lin Fei coughed lightly and said, “Master Wen, haven’t you had breakfast yet?”

As he spoke, his gaze swept over the roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) in her hand again, full of implications.

Wen Mingtang: “…” Compared to his directness in the Dali Temple’s public kitchen, Lin Shaoqing was much more tactful here.

Wen Mingtang twitched her lips, understanding his meaning. She held up the roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) and offered it to him, saying, “I bought quite a few. Would Lin Shaoqing like some?”

Lin Fei nodded, hesitated for a moment, then held up two fingers and said, “Then give me two!”

This was practically the same as ordering food in the public kitchen.

Wen Mingtang took two roujiamo from the oil paper package and handed them to Lin Fei. Lin Fei took them and turned to leave with the group of green-robed officials.

After he left, Wen Mingtang picked up the roujiamo she hadn’t yet eaten. She took a bite and noticed the gazes of the people in front of her turning back to look at her. She was immediately startled.

When did eating a roujiamo cause such a commotion?   

Just then, several people in line ahead of her asked her enthusiastically, “Who was that gentleman just now…?”

Wen Mingtang chewed slowly, savoring the meat and bread mixed with gravy in her mouth, and replied, “From our yamen.”

This vague answer clearly didn’t satisfy the questioners, who continued to bombard her with questions.

“Which yamen are you from? “

“That gentleman called you Master Wen. What do you do, young lady?”

“Who did you come to see? We have someone in our family who works as a steward in the palace, but we don’t know what your family does?”

…

The barrage of questions quickly brought Wen Mingtang back to her senses. As soon as she transmigrated, this body was already in the Yeting Palace. The life of high-ranking nobles only existed in her memories; she had never experienced it firsthand. She was, however, familiar with the lives of palace servants and commoners.

People like them, being insignificant, naturally needed to “have more friends, have more options,” especially friends like those who could get acquainted with high-ranking officials and speak with them—they might be able to help someday!

But unfortunately… Wen Mingtang swallowed the roujiamo in her mouth and rubbed her nose: she was probably going to disappoint them! She wasn’t a friend worth making.

“I work as a cook in the Dali Temple,” Wen Mingtang said with a smile. Seeing the slight change in the expressions of some people ahead, she figured many still remembered the Dali Temple and its cooks. She paused, then continued, “Just now, our Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, having not yet eaten breakfast, came to ask me for two roujiamo.”

Everyone had overheard her conversation with Lin Fei; it seemed they exchanged a few polite words before Lin Fei asked for two roujiamo and left.

The person who had inquired at the front was immediately disappointed upon hearing this. Upon reflection, it wasn’t unusual for a high-ranking official to ask the cook for food; it didn’t seem like a matter of personal connection. Furthermore, someone seemed to remember Lin Fei’s infamous reputation and whispered a few words. The person who had inquired at the front exchanged a few polite words and then turned back to wait.

Wen Mingtang didn’t seem to care about the different reactions from the crowd and continued to take a bite of her roujiamo (Chinese meat sandwich): “No wonder it’s a food with long queues every day; the meat gravy is really fragrant. I wonder how it’s cooked…”

Just as she was focused on eating her sandwich, a sudden chill ran down her spine. Before her mind could process it, her body reacted. Wen Mingtang abruptly turned around and saw that not far behind her, the curtain of a brocade-adorned carriage had been lowered, and the carriage, which had been facing the palace gate, had suddenly turned around.

Watching the carriage suddenly turn and leave, Wen Mingtang’s expression hardened. The reason was simple: the coachman sitting at the front, whip in hand, was the same coachman who had recently caused the carriage to suddenly “go out of control” and crash into her, forcing her to jump towards the Liyang Junwang’s residence.

 So… it was obvious who was in the carriage.

Wen Mingtang watched the carriage’s departing figure until it was completely out of sight before slowly lifting her roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) and taking another bite. The roujiamo, which had been slightly warm, had gone cold in the time it had been delayed.

Cold food didn’t taste good; indeed, not everything could wait, and avoidance was utterly useless.

(End of Chapter)

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