Page 794

"Xiao Jiu."

Shen Chuwei immediately straightened her body upon hearing the voice and blurted out: "Present..."

This was a reflex from her school days, brought on by the anxiety of roll call.

Her current level of nervousness and guilt was comparable to snacking during class~

Feeling embarrassed, she wanted to hide her feet, but when she looked at the National Master, she forced a smile: "National Master, I am here."

Jun Moqing stared at her for a while: "Let’s have lunch together."

Shen Chuwei responded with a smile: "I shall comply with your gracious offer."

Jun Moqing paid no attention to her words and retracted his gaze to look at Ye Suhuan, "Come over to your teacher."

Ye Suhuan bowed his head and nodded, "Yes, Master."

Shen Chuwei watched as the National Master and Ye Suhuan entered the Main Hall, and only then did she secretly let out a sigh of relief. The National Master’s presence was formidable, indeed; even the usually fierce and arrogant Ye Suhuan became meek as a mouse before a cat.

Planning to have lunch together, Shen Chuwei decided to cook two dishes to make up for her rashness over the past few days.

She was feeling a bit peckish herself.

"Go to the Imperial Kitchen and get some ingredients. I’ll write you a list," Shen Chuwei said as she walked into the Side Hall. Taking out paper and pen, she quickly scribbled down the names of a few ingredients.

Meanwhile, in the Main Hall

Jun Moqing sat on the divan, leisurely sipping tea from his cup: "Do you realize your mistake?"

Ye Suhuan knelt on the ground with a thud and explained, "Master, I know my mistake."

Jun Moqing inquired: "Where did you go wrong?"

"I, I..." Ye Suhuan faltered for a long time, unable to articulate a clear reason. He didn’t know which incident his teacher was referring to.

Jun Moqing’s cold gaze settled on Ye Suhuan: "It seems you have been hiding many things from your master."

Bowing his head respectfully, Ye Suhuan replied, "Master, I have erred, I should not have secretly learned hypnosis."

Jun Moqing flicked his sleeve, and two gusts of wind struck like hands. With two "smack smack" sounds, the mask on Ye Suhuan’s cheeks fell, leaving two slap marks on his fair skin.

Jun Moqing said coldly, "You are not very big, but your heart certainly is wild."

Ye Suhuan swallowed the taste of blood and sweetness back down and kowtowed, "Master, I am willing to accept punishment."

He had no idea how his master found out about his unauthorized practice of hypnosis, and he didn’t dare to ask.

Jun Moqing stated, "Punishment is certainly in order."

Ye Suhuan didn’t dare to utter a word, knowing that his master was angry at that moment. Secretly learning hypnosis, the two slaps were nothing.

Jun Moqing set down the tea cup and rose to his feet. He walked calmly up to Ye Suhuan, his voice icy: "Chuwei has lost her memory, does it have anything to do with you?"

Ye Suhuan responded, "Master, it was not my doing."

Jun Moqing scrutinized Ye Suhuan for a moment, judging that he wouldn’t dare lie. Therefore, Chuwei’s memory loss must be due to some other reason.

"Go receive your punishment."

"Your disciple will take his leave." Ye Suhuan picked up the mask from the ground and left.

Xue Huai had been waiting outside. Seeing Ye Suhuan emerge with two slap marks on his cheeks, he didn’t ask and simply took him to be punished.

Ye Suhuan asked, "Xue Huai, when did the Master return?"

"He returned to the capital yesterday and went straight to the palace to see Princess Jiuyou," answered Xue Huai.

"He returned yesterday." Ye Suhuan had been to Wuyou Palace that morning; it must have been after he left that his master returned.

*

After busying herself for a while, Shen Chuwei made two dishes and a soup, all to her own taste. Unsure of what the National Master preferred, what if he didn’t like them?

She decided not to overthink it — if he didn’t like it, she would ask for his preferences and improve next time.

Shen Chuwei asked a palace maid to bring the dishes to the table, and she personally went to invite the National Master to the meal. When asking favors, it’s like this, graciously taking the initiative.

When Shen Chuwei arrived at the Main Hall, she found that Ye Suhuan had already left and only the National Master was sitting there, holding a book in his hands.

As she entered, she cautiously inquired, "National Master, lunch is ready. Shall we eat now?"

Jun Moqing lifted his gaze towards Chuwei, "Let’s go."

Shen Chuwei’s eyebrows and eyes curved, her signature smile.

Jun Moqing set down the book and stood up, joining Chuwei to go to the Side Hall.

As they entered the dining area, the palace maid had already set the meal on the table.

Shen Chuwei waited for the National Master to sit down before she slowly took her seat, looking at the dishes in front of her, she explained, "I don’t know what the National Master likes to eat. Please try it, and if you dislike anything, I’ll make something different next time."

Jun Moqing glanced over the meal, noting several dishes that were not available in the capital. He looked up at Chuwei, "Did you make this?"

Shen Chuwei nodded with a smile, "Yes, certainly not a match for the Imperial Chefs. Please make do with what I have prepared."

Jun Moqing recalled Chuwei as a child. To get an extra candied haw or pastry, she would cling to his arm, coquettish while bargaining.

"Satisfy me now, and when I grow up, I will make you lots and lots of delicious food."