Finally, He Lean was miserably dragged to the back kitchen of the Wang Mansion.
Marquis of Yue leaned lazily against the kitchen door and said, "My mother likes to eat vegetarian dishes, but since returning to Beijing, her appetite has not been good. She often eats one bite and then doesnt want to eat anymore. If you can open her appetite, I will let you go."
"You really wont deceive me?" He Lan looked at him with half-belief and half-doubt.
"He smiled sincerely: I guarantee it with my personal integrity."
He Lian was skeptical about whether he had a personality, but due to the guilt of killing them in his previous life, she still started making vegetarian dishes. As she stirred the flour, she said, "Get some ice."
In a flash, the king of Yue had already ordered his servants to run errands with utmost respect.
She rolled out the dough thinner than paper, steamed it over water, and then peeled and chopped cucumbers, apples and other refreshing vegetables and fruits. She took the ice handed over by the maid to cool down the dough, and then picked up the rehydrated kelp and cut it into shreds with mushrooms and seasoned with vinegar and other seasonings. After that, she cut a part of the cooled dough into long strips and another part into noodle-sized pieces.
The rectangular wonton wrappers wrapped around the cucumber and apple strips, about six per plate, were decorated with carrot flowers carved along the edge of the plate. The remaining cold noodles were poured into a small bowl mixed with seaweed and mushrooms, after which they were arranged in an exquisite manner. Then, he said to King Dao of Yue: "Let your mother try some."
The King of Yueguo looked at the crystal-like complexion reflected in the vegetable and fruit colors, and his index finger moved greatly, asking: "Whats its name?"
"Vegetable and fruit peel rolls."
Marquis Yue frowned and said, "Isnt there a more pleasant name?"
"He Lean said: You can also call it rolled fruit and vegetable."
Marquis of Jingyu despised her, picked up a piece and stuffed it into his mouth, nodding while chewing: "Hmm, not bad, from now on it will be called Bao Yu Shui Jing."
He Lianan looked at him with a youre happy thats all that matters expression of speechlessness.
The maid took out the vegetarian dish, and Prince Yue smiled and said, "You know that even if you escape, I can easily catch you again?"
What a naked threat! He Lianan learned from her masters appearance and said a soft Buddhist mantra, sincerely saying: "Master, the little monk will wait for you to come back honestly, please go quickly and return quickly."
She waited until sunset and nightfall, but there was still no sign of the King of Yue.
There was a maid who saw her drowsy, asking her to go to the side room to rest, but she just shook her head and declined. She curled up in a corner of the kitchen that wouldnt disturb others coming and going, sat on a small stool against the wall, hugging her knees while sleeping.
King of Yue returned hastily, only to see her pitifully curled up in a corner like an abandoned wild dog. His brow furrowed as he approached to wake her, and saw that half her face was buried between her arm and knee, fast asleep, with tear stains dried and wet under her eyes.
"...but suddenly something came up and I had to go out, and accidentally forgot about her, it cant be that shes been wronged to this extent, right?"
The King of Yue raised his hand to knock on her shiny head, but seeing the light reflected from the palace lanterns outside the door, he changed his mind and stroked it instead, calling out: "An Le, wake up, Ive prepared a room for you, go inside and sleep."
He Lian woke up dazedly, with tears still hanging on her eyelashes. She stared at him in his red clothes, which shone like fire under the night sky. It took her half a moment to realize where she was and who the person in front of her was. Thinking that she had been waiting from day till night, she exclaimed: "Are you doing this on purpose?! Youre making it so hard for me, a little nun! Doesnt your conscience hurt?!!"
