Chapter 436: Chapter 365: Husband

"Brother, I’m here to see you! I made a few new dishes. Hurry and come try them..."

Qin Siyao called out happily from the rear courtyard of Second Prince Qin Jingyuan’s residence.

"Greetings, Frost King. Greetings, Your Highness."

Seeing the Frost King and his wife arrive, the Second Prince’s fiancée, Ji Yue, quickly set down her gardening shears and came forward to welcome them.

"Greetings, Sister-in-law." Xiao Mo greeted her with a bow.

"Sister-in-law, please don’t call me Princess. You and my brother are getting married next year, so you can just call me Siyao," Qin Siyao said warmly, taking Ji Yue by her fair wrist.

Although she had only met the Princess of Jin once, Qin Siyao felt an instant connection with Ji Yue and liked her a great deal.

"Alright, Siyao." Ji Yue’s eyes crinkled in a smile as she readily agreed.

"By the way, Sister-in-law, where’s my brother? Where did he go?" Qin Siyao asked curiously.

"My husband had to step out for something, but he should be back shortly. If you’re not in a hurry, Siyao, you can have a cup of tea first," Ji Yue replied.

"Of course I’m not in a hurry. We’ll wait for my brother to come back." Qin Siyao set down the gift she had brought.

"In that case, Frost King, Siyao, please have a seat."

Ji Yue guided them to their seats, then personally lit a stove to boil water and prepare tea.

’She really is the Eldest Princess of Jin, through and through,’ Xiao Mo thought, observing her every move.

Each movement she made while preparing the tea was a delight to watch, a picture of grace and elegance.

Qin Siyao and Ji Yue chatted about the customs of the Qin Kingdom and shared stories from the Second Prince’s childhood.

Ji Yue listened intently, nodding and responding from time to time.

Whenever she heard an amusing part, Ji Yue would cover her mouth in a light laugh and ask, "And then?"

Xiao Mo sat to the side, drinking his tea and not interrupting their conversation.

’But this Princess of Jin doesn’t seem to be against the marriage at all,’ Xiao Mo noticed.

’After all, the Jin Kingdom is a major power, no weaker than the Qin Kingdom.’

’And as its Eldest Princess, she must be incredibly pampered.’

’I assumed she’d have at least some reservations about a political marriage between our two kingdoms.’

’But she seems to have accepted the marriage completely, even trying to learn more about her future husband. Her eyes are full of pure sincerity.’

’Setting all else aside, if the Eldest Princess isn’t just putting on an act, then the Second Prince has truly found a good match.’

About the time it takes to burn an incense stick, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard. Second Prince Qin Jingyuan walked in, carrying a wine jar.

Seeing his sister and brother-in-law, Qin Jingyuan froze for a moment before hastily dispelling the smell of wine clinging to him.

"Brother, where have you been? Why do you reek of wine?"

Qin Siyao frowned, looking at her brother’s tipsy state.

"Hahaha, where else? I was at a poetry banquet. Their hospitality was hard to refuse, so I had a bit too much to drink," Qin Jingyuan said with a laugh. "Siyao, what brings you two here?"

"The new year is almost here, isn’t it? I brought you some specialties from the Northern Wilderness. Oh, and I made some food myself! Come on, try it."

Her eyes lit up as she said that last part.

"Alright, I’ll give it a try."

Qin Jingyuan nodded and sat on the stone stool.

Just then, Ji Yue returned from inside with a fresh outer robe. She helped Qin Jingyuan remove his wine-scented cloak and then placed a cup of sobering tea, which she had already prepared, in front of him.

"Husband, have some tea. It will warm your stomach," Ji Yue said respectfully.

Qin Jingyuan glanced at Ji Yue and took the sobering tea with a smile. "Thank you, my lady."

Xiao Mo watched their every move. ’They’re perfectly respectful to one another, like honored guests,’ he thought, ’but for some reason, it feels a little strange.’

’And the Princess of Jin was so well-prepared, with sobering tea at the ready... Does this mean the Second Prince has been drinking out a lot lately?’

’I thought he wasn’t much of a drinker.’

"Honestly, Brother, you should drink less. I’ve never seen you like this before," Qin Siyao complained.

"Alright, alright, I’ll be more careful next time." Qin Jingyuan nodded quickly, changing the subject. "Come on, let me try the food you made."

"Then hurry up and try it." Hearing her brother mention her cooking, Qin Siyao happily opened the food container and handed him a pair of chopsticks.

Xiao Mo couldn’t help but shudder at the sight of the minced pork with eggplant and braised pork trotters Qin Siyao had made. A familiar dread washed over him.

But Qin Jingyuan showed no fear, taking several bites and even savoring them thoughtfully.

"Hmm, your cooking has improved, Siyao. But with the minced pork and eggplant, it would be better with a little less pork. And if you use less oil, you can really bring out the fresh flavor of the eggplant."

"The braised pork trotters are a little sweet; you could use less sugar and add a pinch of salt."

The Second Prince critiqued.

"Okay, okay." Qin Siyao quickly made a mental note. "Alright, Brother. I’ll make it better tomorrow and bring it for you again."

"Good." Qin Jingyuan nodded with a smile.

Seeing how composed the Second Prince was, Xiao Mo froze. ’Don’t tell me Siyao’s cooking has actually become edible recently?’ he wondered.

"Oh, my lady," he said, turning to his fiancée. "I remember someone gifted us several Cyan Glazed Carp a few days ago. I had the servants put them in the lotus pond. I hear Siyao has been busy decorating the Frost King’s Mansion. Why don’t you take her to see them? If she likes them, she can take a few home."

"Of course, Husband." Ji Yue dipped into a curtsy.

"Let’s go, let’s go! Sorry to trouble you, Sister-in-law," Qin Siyao said happily.

"It’s no trouble at all." Ji Yue shook her head with a smile. "This way, Siyao."

In no time, Qin Siyao and Ji Yue had left the courtyard, leaving Xiao Mo and the Second Prince alone.

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