Traveling through ancient times: daily life on the run

Chapter 315 Hongmen Banquet

Fang asked Xiaotao to take the children back to the backyard, and then began to talk about how Bai Lingyi discovered Ma San and how he captured Ma San.

When she talked about the time when Ma San was tried by Mr. Zhang, the governor of Qianzhou, Ma San refused to admit that he had ever worked as a groom in the Bai family of Muzhou. He only said that his original name was Wu Wanqian and he had never left Qianzhou.

This was what Luo Yu could think of. Apart from Fang and Bai Lingyi, there were no other witnesses at the scene of the tragedy. As long as Ma San refused to confess, the government would not be able to convict him.

Ma San was certain that the second branch of the Bai family would never recognize him as the groom of the first branch, not to mention that she was still using the name Bai Fengchu. If she was really tried by the government, it would be really troublesome.

Fang paused and continued, "My son Bai Lingyi knew that the government couldn't convict him, but he couldn't let Ma San off. That's why he mentioned the name of His Royal Highness Prince Ning to Master Zhang..."

After saying that, Fang looked at His Royal Highness Prince Ning, Zhu Jinyou, a little bewildered. Although she and Yier had lived in Prince Ning's mansion in Jiangzhou for some time, her impression of Prince Ning was indescribable and made it difficult for her to get close to him.

Perhaps this is the innate noble temperament of the royal family, even a little cold.

When Zhu Jinyou saw Fang looking at him, he didn't know how to respond, so he nodded and let her speak frankly.

Qin Bingrui laughed out loud.

"Bai Lingyi is a good kid. He has really grown up and knows how to use strategies."

Luo Yu asked, "Since Lord Zhang had Ma San imprisoned, how did he escape? Is this prefecture's prison system so bad?"

Eunuch Yao said coldly: "There are people robbing the Dali Temple, let alone a small prefecture."

Qin Bingrui chuckled: "That's true. Even assassins dare to enter the palace to assassinate. There are still many who are not afraid of death."

Luo Yu asked curiously, "But Ma San is just a small groom. How big of a background can he have?"

Of course, Zhu Jinyou now chooses to stand on Luo Yu's side and has to perform well in front of his future mother-in-law.

"Miss Luo Yu is right. It seems that there is something wrong with this prefect Zhang."

After saying that, he looked at Luo Yu with a smile, and then looked at Fang.

Fang's body trembled suddenly, and her inexplicable smile was really chilling.

Luo Yu secretly muttered to Zhu Jinyou: "Stop staring at me and laughing. You're scaring my mother."

Zhu Jinyou: Is there anything wrong with laughing?

Zhu Jinyou asked Song Si to call the prefect Zhang, and have a good talk about this matter.

Fang had never thought that His Royal Highness Prince Ning would be so concerned about helping them solve the Ma San issue. She was very grateful and quickly asked Xiaotao to bring out the various pastries they had carefully made over the past few days. There was a kind of nougat that Luo Yu had taught them before.

These special nougats have a strong milky and fruity aroma, a light sweetness, and are crispy when you bite them. After they enter your mouth, they roll between your teeth and become softer the more you chew them. The refreshing taste melts little by little on the tip of your tongue, leaving a lingering fragrance in your mouth.

"Godmother, what you make is much more delicious than what Sister Luo Yu makes, and there are so many flavors. Oh my god, we should find someone to make more so we can open a candy store."

Zhu Jinyou tasted a piece and found it tasted good and not too sweet, which was suitable for his current taste.

Then he asked Luo Yu: "Can you make this kind of cake?"

Luo Yu smiled and said, "During this trip, which meal wasn't cooked by me? Although my cooking skills aren't particularly good, the cooking methods are all mine."

Eunuch Yao nodded in agreement, a rare gesture: "Although Miss Bai's cooking skills are not very good, her creative cuisine is indeed good, especially the way she eats barbecued meat is really good!"

Luo Yu was not happy at all when he praised others.

"Thank you, Master Yao, for your kind words. I've only cooked a few times before, and all these recipes are from a cookbook I read and memorized, so my cooking skills aren't very good. How about I just provide you with the recipe ideas and you send someone to cook for me?"

Zhu Jinyou was not happy. He had really gotten used to the various stews she made these days, which were much more delicious than the delicacies from land and sea made by the official chefs in the mansion.

"I don't want to eat the food prepared by Master Yao. I only want to eat the food prepared by Miss Luo Yu herself."

Luo Yu raised his lips slightly and said, "I don't want to be a maid and wait on you all for meals. If I weren't picky myself, I wouldn't cook for you myself."

"Just arrange for the others to do the odd jobs, and you'll just be in charge of the cooking. From now on, if you're hot, I'll fan you, and if you're cold, I'll warm your hands. Anyway, I'll be by your side as long as you're in charge of the kitchen."

"Stop, stop..."

Luo Yu was almost too embarrassed to continue listening. He secretly glanced at Fang, and Fang's face was even more horrified.

Fang didn't dare to ask more questions. She wondered why His Royal Highness Prince Ning suddenly became a different person. Could it be that Luo Yu gave him some medicine that made him completely lose himself?

Qin Bingrui couldn't help but complain: "Mr. Zhu, why are you so disgusting now? Do you think you can tie my sister down just because she's so outstanding? I'm telling you, it's not that easy. If you want to marry my sister, you have to support our entire family. Also, my sister is different from other women. She can't be locked up in a large house. You have to set her free. No, you can only wait until she's free to come see you, right, godmother?"

Fang was stunned. How could she say such a thing? She sat calmly, not expressing any opinion.

Silence is assent.

Eunuch Yao sneered, "Are you marrying a wife or marrying an ancestor? When a woman marries, she follows her husband's lead, let alone marrying into Prince Ning's mansion. This is what many women dream of. Do you really think your sister is a treasure, cherished by everyone?"

Qin Bingrui laughed and said, "Then why did Eunuch Yao bring my sister back to the imperial city? To prove that my sister is a treasure!"

Luo Yu lowered his head and smiled: "I'm not a treasure, and I don't have any plans to get married right now."

Eunuch Yao snorted coldly: "It's better not to get married. Who knows what kind of wealth and glory will befall you in the future."

Luo Yu raised her head and refuted him, "I can create wealth and glory myself. The promises made by others are too heavy, and I'm afraid of the price I'll have to pay. I don't dare to accept something so illusory that I can't hold on to it."

"Supreme power is something a girl can easily obtain?"

"Why do I need these? It's not like I'll be immortal and invulnerable. I'll still get sick and die anyway."

Zhu Jinyou almost spit out the tea he had taken.

Eunuch Yao's face turned blue with rage. In the past, he would have dragged this woman out and given her dozens of lashes. She dared to say this now, surely relying on the favor of His Royal Highness Prince Ning. What an ignorant woman.

They chatted for a while, and then Song Si led the prefect, Mr. Zhang, into the reception room.

Lord Zhang took a look and was surprised to find that besides His Royal Highness Prince Ning, there was also Yao Zhangshi, a popular figure around the Emperor. He never thought that the small Bai family actually had such a strong backer.

He was so frightened that he was trembling. It was not him who released the guy named Ma San, but it was indeed his fault as the prefect for not keeping a close eye on him.

Mr. Zhang remained calm and faced the difficulties in life with a cheerful smile.

After he paid his respects to the two important figures, Zhu Jinyou asked him to take a seat.

After sitting down, Lord Zhang pretended to be curious and said, "I heard that the Baipu tribe was pacified by you gentlemen and has since completely submitted to the court. I am truly impressed by you."

Xiaotao served the tea and then left.

Qin Bingrui remembered one thing. It seemed that they had not had lunch yet after they came back.

Everyone just kept drinking tea and no one talked much.

Fang smiled slightly and said that lunch was ready and invited everyone to enter the restaurant.

The only people living in the house were Xiaotao and the three maids that Zhu Jinyou had left behind. Later, Fang found an old woman who could cook, and she made pretty good home-cooked meals.

Seeing the different expressions on everyone's faces, Mr. Zhang couldn't help but feel even more panicked.

He was called in to discuss business, so why was he suddenly invited to dinner? Could it be that after letting Ma San go, they were meticulously preparing a Hongmen Banquet?

When they reached the restaurant, Qin Bingrui couldn't help but sigh: "Home-cooked food is still the best. I'm starving."

Lord Zhang had just finished lunch, but how could he refuse the opportunity to dine with His Royal Highness Prince Ning and Chief Envoy Yao?

Fang said that she had already had her meal, and then she sat aside and just drank tea.

It was the first time that Lord Zhang saw two women dining with the two Lords. He was wondering in his heart, who are these two girls?

Fortunately, there was a pair of serving chopsticks next to each dish. Zhu Jinyou personally picked up a piece of steamed pork with rice flour and put it into Luo Yu's bowl.

Lord Zhang opened his eyes even wider. Wow, to be able to let His Royal Highness Prince Ning pick up the food himself, could this girl be the future Princess Ning?

Qin Bingrui chuckled: "Mr. Zhu, you don't want my sister to test the poison on you, do you?"

Mr. Zhang was so frightened that the chopsticks in his hand almost fell, but fortunately he held them tightly with his other hand.

When the young eunuch beside Eunuch Yao heard this, he quickly took out a poison detection needle to test the food on Eunuch Yao's plate.

Qin Bingrui rolled his eyes and said, "Silver needles can only detect toxic substances containing sulfides, such as arsenic. If there are other poisons, it will be useless."

After that, be the first to taste it.

Although it is said that one should not talk while eating or sleeping, Qin Bingrui couldn't care less.