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Xiao Linshuang snickered, patted Zhao Hongyan’s shoulder like brothers, and said, "You’ve got good taste!

But you see, the stuff from Fuman Building isn’t the tastiest either, compared to my big sister’s cooking there’s still.

.. cough, cough, why does my throat suddenly feel so uncomfortable, cough, water, need water. "

Frantically scrambling for the teacup on the table, Xiao Linshuang was about to cry from her own stupidity; she had agreed not to mention her big sister, so why did she let it slip? Oh no, how clumsy of her!

Zhao Hongyan thought she was really choking on her own saliva and helped her with the water, while Eunuch Chang watched, agape. The Sixth Prince, pampered by Consort Tian in the imperial palace, had never poured water for anyone, not even for his own mother!

"How about now, how about now? Feeling better?"

Zhao Hongyan patted Xiao Linshuang’s back with great consideration.

His tenderness almost made her feel too ashamed to keep pretending, but before her guilt could grow, the little prince continued the earlier topic: "You just mentioned your big sister? So her cooking is even better than the chef from Fuman Building? I’ve heard that the new boss of Fuman Building is a very good cook, and also, there’s a sister. "

As Zhao Hongyan spoke, he observed Xiao Linshuang’s expression attentively from the corner of his eye, trying to detect whether she was lying.

Fortunately, Xiao Linshuang had calmed down while drinking water and boldly met Zhao Hongyan’s gaze. With a mysterious smile, she gestured for him to come closer and whispered, "Have you ever heard the saying, ’A golden den and a silver den are not as good as one’s own dog den?’"

Eunuch Chang was taken aback and couldn’t help but burst out laughing, and even Lao Fan under the bed was chuckling with his beard curling up.

How could Zhao Hongyan, who had been in the deep palace for so long, have heard such common folk sayings?

Zhao Hongyan blinked his eyes in confusion, shook his head, but asked curiously, "Does that saying mean that one’s own den, oh no, ’den’ here means home, right? So it’s saying that one’s own home, no matter how poor or broken, is good, right?"

Xiao Linshuang’s eyes lit up: "Smart! When I said my sister’s cooking was delicious, that’s exactly what I meant. No matter how delicious other’s cooking is, it’s not as good as the cornmeal wowotou my sister makes for me. You understand what this means, right?"

Zhao Hongyan nodded: "You mean the food made by a family member doesn’t taste the same as that made by others, because it contains love and affection."

Xiao Linshuang nodded, looking at Zhao Hongyan with a newfound appreciation, as if she saw a teachable young pupil in him.

But as always, Zhao Hongyan never disappointed her. All of a sudden, he asked curiously, "What are cornmeal wowotou? Are they tasty? Do they have them here? Can you make one for me? I’m getting hungry again."

Xiao Linshuang: ...

After explaining at length what cornmeal wowotou was, Xiao Linshuang was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open, and with much persuasion, she ushered him and Eunuch Chang out.

Slumping over the table from exhaustion, Xiao Linshuang called out weakly, "Master, they’re gone now, you can come out."

Long moments passed with no movement at all.

Xiao Linshuang called out again, still no response.

Now, the young girl was alert, troubled by the thought that something might’ve gone awry under the bed.

Rushing over in a few quick steps, just as her hand was about to lift the bedsheets, she heard Lao Fan suddenly growl in a low voice, "Don’t move!"

Xiao Linshuang immediately froze, thinking Lao Fan would come out any second, but he still didn’t budge. Impatient, and sensing that this neither resembled someone asleep nor sick, she wondered if he had taken a liking to the scenery under the bed?

Carefully lifting a corner of the bedsheets, Xiao Linshuang crouched down, peeking through the small gap, just to see...

"Yikes! A rat!"

Lao Fan was about to capture a shiny-furred big rat with his clothing’s pocket, but Xiao Linshuang’s shout scared it away, infuriating him!

Climbing out from under the bed, without even bothering to dust off the cobwebs and dirt, Lao Fan started tapping Xiao Linshuang’s forehead incessantly while ranting, "You silly girl, you silly girl!

I was so close to catching that big rat, and you scared it off!

Ugh, my poor pig hocks, I even sacrificed my favorite pig hocks as bait just to catch it when it was feasting.

Ah, just one step away, so close, yet so far, so close, yet so far! "

Xiao Linshuang, feeling dizzy from the knocking, grabbed Lao Fan’s hand and pleaded, "Master, save your crying for later, first tell me what you want with this rat? Please don’t tell me it’s for eating rat meat! Ew, that’s so disgusting! Ouch, why are you hitting me again?"

"Hitting you is too kind; feeding you to the rats will soothe my anger!"

Still seething, Lao Fan knocked on Xiao Linshuang’s forehead a few more times before sitting on a stool, huffing and puffing, "It’s all because of Chang Laoguai!

Giving me trouble is one thing, but he even has his eye on you!

Hah, does he want to settle scores? Fine, just bring it on, I guarantee you a unique taste sensation!

Yes, that’s it, I’ll go catch a few fat, juicy rats and send them his way, haha, that will show that old coot! "

With that, Lao Fan actually stripped off his outer garment to make a pouch and, grabbing a leftover roasted chicken from the table, dove back under the bed.

"Master," sighed Xiao Linshuang, facepalming, unable to bear looking at him any longer.