“See… see the General?”

Chunxiang was stuttering, and the bowl of braised pork in her hands had suddenly become a hot potato.

The flag officer thought she was just too happy and expressionlessly said, “Let’s go.”

“Wait… wait a moment…”

Chunxiang truly felt like a mute eating bitter gall.

As soon as she spoke, the flag officer shot her a sharp glance.

He already had a fierce look, standing there like a towering iron statue.

As Chunxiang looked at the sword hanging at his waist, her heart pounded like a drum, and the words she wanted to say got swallowed back down.

If she admitted to taking credit for something she didn’t do, she might lose her head.

If she followed him to meet the General honestly, perhaps she could pass it off unnoticed.

Chunxiang forced a smile onto her face: “Sir, let me put this bowl of braised pork down first.”

The flag officer replied coldly, “Be quicker.”

Chunxiang entered the room with the bowl of braised pork, and the enticing aroma immediately attracted the attention of several women.

The few she was closest to quickly surrounded her: “Sister Chunxiang, where did you get this braised pork?”

“It must be from some general who has fallen for our Chunxiang!”

Hearing these flattery, Chunxiang’s initial unease was gradually replaced by vanity, but she still feared that her secret would be exposed.

Even in front of the braised pork that had made her salivate earlier, she felt no appetite now.

She shared the braised pork with the women who had gathered, pretending to be magnanimous: “I brought this back for you.”

The women were overjoyed and showered her with compliments.

Chunxiang felt lightheaded yet guilty as she hurriedly touched up her lipstick and headed outside: “Alright, I have something to do, so I’ll step out first.”

The women, devouring the braised pork, noticed the flag officer waiting outside, and they exchanged knowing glances with Chunxiang, winking at her in a rather suggestive manner.

Chunxiang didn’t explain anything but shyly smiled back.

Once outside, she changed to a flattering demeanor: “Thank you for waiting, sirs.”

The flag officer still wore a stern face, and he raised a hand, signaling the soldiers who had followed him to go back, while Chunxiang had to jog to keep up with their pace.

Okra, who had gone out to fetch water, watched Chunxiang and the flag officer’s figures thoughtfully.

Jiang Yanyi had also been there when she received a reward last night, so she remembered the flag officer’s fierce demeanor clearly.

On her way to the General’s camp, Chunxiang had hoped to use her beauty to extract useful information from the flag officer.

However, no matter how she tried to ingratiate herself, the flag officer responded with rigid formality, even becoming too lazy to pay her any attention, exuding disdain from head to toe.

Since entering the brothel, Chunxiang had forgotten what it meant to feel shame, but this was the first time she felt a bit embarrassed due to such cold treatment.

After walking quietly for a while, the demeanor of the soldiers patrolling the surrounding tents suddenly changed.

When passing by the previous camp, some soldiers would curiously glance at her, and Chunxiang occasionally recognized a few familiar faces.

But the soldiers in this camp walked with their heads held high and didn’t look sideways at all; Chunxiang even felt as if she could walk past them completely naked, and they wouldn’t spare her a glance.

Listening to the synchronized footsteps and the clanging of armor, Chunxiang’s heart raced, cold sweat beading on her forehead, and she didn’t even dare to look around anymore.

Upon arriving at the General’s camp, she saw dozens of sword-bearing guards arranged in an “八” (eight) shape, standing before the tent.

A glance revealed they were all over eight feet tall, imposing and solemn in appearance.

Chunxiang shuddered violently, her legs felt weak, and she grew increasingly fearful, regretting her impulsive decision to take credit for something she didn’t do for just a bowl of braised pork.

The flag officer had explained their purpose to the guards at the entrance.

After the guards went in to report, it wasn’t long before soldiers came to inform Chunxiang to enter.

Chunxiang’s legs trembled uncontrollably.

She had heard of the fearsome reputation of the King of Liaonian and was terrified that one small misstep could cost her life.

Forcing her trembling legs into the big tent, she knelt on the ground, her forehead touching the fur rug, not daring to look up: “Lowly one pays respects to the General.”

Feng Shuo glanced at the woman who had come forward and exchanged a look with his bodyguard, Xing Yao.

Xing Yao quickly whispered an explanation: “The messenger went to the Firehead Camp and found out that the chef Li at the stove wasn’t feeling well today, and the lion’s head dish was made by this woman.”

Chunxiang remained on her knees for a long time without hearing the person above say to get up.

Instead, she could hear them whispering something.

She was too far away to hear clearly what Xing Yao was saying and feared they had already uncovered her ruse.

Chunxiang turned pale with fear, and even while kneeling, her legs continued to tremble.

Just as she was about to confess and plead for mercy, a low, magnetic voice came from above: “No need for formalities.”

The tone held a chill akin to ice and snow, yet somehow made the heart flutter.

Chunxiang was momentarily dazed by that voice, and without realizing it, she raised her head to glance at the person seated in the main chair.

In that instant, she even forgot to breathe; she had never seen such a handsome young man in her life.

With sword-like eyebrows and phoenix-like eyes that shone like stars, he wore a jade crown atop his head and donned a dark robe embroidered with deep red and golden threads, holding a wolf hairbrush and writing something fluidly on paper, exuding an air of nobility and pride.

Chunxiang was momentarily entranced.

Feng Shuo sensed the gaze and immediately felt the atmosphere around him grow cold.

Xing Yao knew exactly what his master despised, and he immediately shouted, “Impudent!”

Chunxiang was startled by the shout, recalling how, during her time in the brothel, the madam forbade them from looking directly at distinguished guests, saying it would appear disrespectful.

She quickly lowered her head and pleaded, “General, spare my life! Spare my life! It’s just that the lowly one doesn’t understand the rules!”

Feng Shuo had been ridiculed by court officials for his looks, so he was quite averse to others staring at his face.

He had originally intended to ask her a few questions about cooking, but now he simply put down his brush and instructed Xing Yao, “Take her down and have her write the recipe.”

Xing Yao complied promptly and soon led Chunxiang out.

Chunxiang followed Xing Yao into a side tent, her anxiety rising as she looked at the writing tools set before her, cold sweat pouring down her back.

“The prince is very satisfied with today’s lion’s head dish. Write down the method and all the ingredients and seasonings in detail,” Xing Yao said, handing Chunxiang an ink-dipped brush.

Chunxiang trembled as she took the brush.

Her hands shook so much that she accidentally splattered ink on the pristine rice paper.

Seeing that she hadn’t written anything after a long time, Xing Yao furrowed his brows and asked, “Can you not write?”

Hearing this, Chunxiang felt as if she had grasped a lifeline and eagerly nodded, “The lowly one cannot read or write…”

Xing Yao went outside and called in a scribe, instructing, “Write down whatever this woman says.”

The scribe nodded.

Xing Yao looked at Chunxiang. “You read it out loud.”

Chunxiang had no idea how to make lion’s head, but earlier that morning, when she met Liu Cheng in the Poplar Forest, he had mentioned it.

Since she had never eaten it before, she had pressed him for details, and he had roughly explained how it was made.

She licked her lips, trying to recall Liu Cheng’s words, listing the ingredients one by one.

Of course, Chunxiang didn’t remember the exact measurements; she merely modified the recipe based on Liu Cheng’s vague descriptions and her understanding, intending to bluff her way through.

Xing Yao felt that the recipe seemed a bit off but couldn’t pinpoint why.

He urged the scribe to write it down quickly.

Before long, the scribe finished writing the recipe on the paper.

Xing Yao took a glance at the recipe and felt even more that something was wrong. He asked, “Is that all?”

Chunxiang racked her brain but couldn’t think of anything else and replied anxiously, “That’s all.”

Xing Yao left a brief instruction: “Wait here.”

He then took the so-called “recipe” to find Feng Shuo.

Xing Yao entered the main tent with a subtle expression, presenting the recipe: “Master, the recipe has been written.”

“Just set it aside,” Feng Shuo replied without even looking at it, planning to give it to the doctor for review. “Reward that chef with fifty taels of silver.”

Xing Yao was unsure of Feng Shuo’s intentions regarding the recipe, hesitating as he said, “Shouldn’t you take a look first? I feel this recipe seems a bit off.”

“Off?” Feng Shuo’s eyes lit up slightly.

Xing Yao added, “I can’t quite articulate it…”

Feng Shuo studied the recipe on the table, deep in thought, before finally saying, “I understand now; you may leave.”

Xing Yao asked, “So, will the reward still be given?”

“Yes.”

Jiang Yanyi was completely unaware of Chunxiang taking credit for her achievement and receiving fifty taels of silver as a reward.

After helping Head Zhao pick out good duck eggs to make century eggs, it was time for dinner.