[I happen to be in a bad mood. You've come at a convenient time!]
"Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty," Ling Shan said. A chill ran through her, and she didn't dare to raise her eyes as she bowed even more respectfully. "Nanny Yang ordered your servant to bring you the meal."
The smile on Jun Wuyuan's face faded a bit. Without looking at her, he walked past and motioned for the meal to be served.
Liang Jiusi was a bit disappointed not to see someone. But he soon understood. While attending to the emperor as he washed his hands, he couldn't help but take a curious peek at Ling Shan, who was doing her job obediently.
She was able to catch Sister Qiyuan's special attention. He couldn't help but think that it was his sharp eyes that had discovered her first today.
In that case, didn't he and Sister Qiyuan share a spiritual connection?
Before long, two meat dishes, three vegetable dishes, and a soup were served on the round table. They were all home - cooked dishes, not the precious delicacies usually served in the palace.
Stir - fried three shredded vegetables, green bamboo shoots, stir - fried cucumber in vinegar, spicy fish slices, lamb with scallions and peppers, and three - ingredient chicken soup.
After Liang Jiusi and his apprentice, Xia Bazi, had tasted the food for poison, he raised his hand to serve the dishes. But he noticed that His Majesty suddenly glanced at Ling Shan, who was standing quietly with her head down.
He immediately understood and silently withdrew his hand, winking at Ling Shan, who was pretending to be a wooden statue.
Ling Shan: "..."
Here we go again!
If it weren't for her status and the timing, she really would have wanted to beat him up after ambushing him.
You can't just keep plucking wool from the same sheep!
Ling Shan had been on tenterhooks when bringing the meal, afraid that the slightest mistake would cost her her head.
Thankfully, Ling Shan had no intention of "poisoning" anyone. She had passed Jun Wuyuan's test, but she had fallen into danger again.
"Miss Ling Shan, please serve the dishes for His Majesty," Liang Jiusi said in a tone of condescending charity, as if it were a great blessing to serve the emperor.
Ling Shan really wanted to roll her eyes and ask him, "Do you want this blessing?"
[I'd like to see if the one who's clever enough to catch Nanny's eye has the ability to serve me well at the table (a cold laugh)]
Ling Shan bowed respectfully. "It's truly a blessing for your humble servant to serve the dishes for Your Majesty."
Jun Wuyuan took a faint look at Ling Shan. Her tone and posture showed no sign of self - satisfaction or pride. She was still as respectful as ever.
[Putting on an act. Serving me dishes isn't something you can do just by being well - behaved and respectful. If Nanny is willing to let her out, the vegetable garden must be safe. If she loses her life, it's her own fault.]
Ling Shan had just washed her hands. Her hand holding the chopsticks suddenly froze.
Damn tyrant!
The air was filled with the aroma of the food, but Ling Shan felt as if she were in an ice cellar, not knowing what to do.
Time seemed to pass slowly. Her mind was in a state of tension.
Her intuition and the ability to read minds told her that there were pitfalls in these dishes. Stepping into one would just suit the tyrant's purpose, and he would take the opportunity to get rid of her, this "thorn in his eye"!
[Nanny's cooking skills are getting better. This chicken soup smells as fragrant as I remember!]
Ling Shan's ears perked up. After a slight pause, she neatly served a bowl of chicken soup without a single drop of oil.
Jun Wuyuan raised his eyebrows. He gracefully picked up the bowl and took a sip. He casually glanced at Ling Shan, whose snow - white and delicate neck was exposed as she lowered her head.
[She's not just a stupid and beautiful vase. What a pity.]
Ling Shan: "..."
Here he comes. He's really showing his fangs.
"Three shredded vegetables," Jun Wuyuan said concisely.
[She definitely won't know that I don't like green peppers. Once she picks them up, I'll chop off her head and use it as fertilizer for the flowers!]
Ling Shan obediently lifted her sleeve to pick up the dish. Unexpectedly, she heard this thought. Her eyebrows twitched.
Without changing her expression, she deftly skipped the green shreds and placed the red and yellow vegetable shreds on the emperor's yellow - glazed dragon - patterned porcelain plate.
In her heart, she cursed, "No wonder this tyrant was able to rise from a cold - palace prince to the throne of the Great Yan Empire. He's so cruel and heartless!"
Wasn't it said that an emperor's word was law? But he was going back on his word and using her head as a plaything. She wanted to bite him!
[Huh? How does she know?]
Jun Wuyuan's confident expression cracked a bit. He gracefully picked up the shreds and put them into his mouth.
Even though his handsome face was cold and hateful, his noble and extraordinary aura was still pleasing to the eye.
Ling Shan slightly lowered her eyes. Her gaze fell on the vivid dragon's eyes on his broad chest. She was highly on edge.
Suddenly, a probing and cold gaze landed on her. Where no one could see, Ling Shan's fingers tightened.
[Was it a coincidence? Or is there a traitor in the Taiji Palace? Has the Queen Mother learned of my preferences?]
Jun Wuyuan thought coldly as his fingers unconsciously rubbed the jade ring.
Seeing this action, Liang Jiusi pitifully glanced at Ling Shan, who had a graceful figure and a respectful posture.
Alas, what a pity.
When His Majesty rubbed the jade ring, it meant that someone was about to lose their head.
"Fish slices," Jun Wuyuan said.
[I'd like to see if the Queen Mother's people also know my hidden preference for eating fish eyes.]
Ling Shan's heart was pounding. Logically, she should take this opportunity to show her loyalty.
However, no matter what she did, in Jun Wuyuan's eyes, she was a spy of the Queen Mother.
There was not a single ripple on Ling Shan's face. She still respectfully picked up a piece of fish and then, even more submissively, placed a crystal - clear fish eye on Jun Wuyuan's plate.
"Your name is Ling Shan, right? A name as beautiful as jade, with a good reputation. You're very clever. How did you think of serving the fish eye?"
Jun Wuyuan twirled the jade ring as his tone seemed to carry praise.
[I originally planned to spare her life for a few more days because she was so discerning and sensible. But the Queen Mother's reach is too long! It's just her bad luck!]
Ling Shan's heart skipped a beat. She quickly knelt down and kowtowed. "Your humble servant is not worthy. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your praise."
After bowing, she said in a gentle and respectful tone, "Your Majesty, in my hometown, there's a saying that you are nourished by what you eat. Your servant thought that Your Majesty has so much to attend to every day and must be very tired. Fish eyes are good for the eyes. Your servant hopes that Your Majesty will take good care of your dragon body."
[Why does she say the same thing as Mother used to say to coax me to eat when I was a child?]
Jun Wuyuan's fingers rubbing the jade ring stopped. A warm light flashed in his cold peach - blossom eyes. For a moment, his gaze, which was usually cold and harsh, landed on Ling Shan, who sounded so sincere. But it disappeared in an instant.
His cold gaze fell on the porcelain plate, and his whole body emitted a dangerous cold light.
[Forget it. For Mother's sake, I won't take her head today.]
Ling Shan quietly let out a breath. The tense and uneasy string in her heart suddenly relaxed. Hearing Jun Wuyuan calmly eating, she realized that her back was already soaked in cold sweat.
But on her lowered face, there was a look of relief. She didn't have to serve the dishes anymore. After the meal, she could leave. She had finally managed to keep her life today.
As she was in a daze, a tall figure stood up. Ling Shan's heart tightened. She quickly lowered her head to see the emperor off respectfully.
Jun Wuyuan took two steps and suddenly stopped within Ling Shan's peripheral vision.
[She's quite an interesting one. It'll be more fun to take her with me.]
Ling Shan's eyelids twitched, and her fingers tightened.
"Ling Shan, follow me."