All About Feelings, No Schemes

After listening, Li Miaohan's heart filled with joy, and she appeared less nervous than before.

Fang Zheng pressed his advantage: "Princess, I heard you haven't been eating much lately, so I specially went to the imperial kitchen to make some pastries for you."

"Try them and see how they taste!"

As he spoke, he opened the food box layer by layer, first revealing cold dishes, then the bread, and finally opening to a layer of burnt bread.

But he only showed half before quickly closing the lid and putting it away.

Li Miaohan looked at the food box with curious eyes and asked: "What's that?"

Fang Zheng appeared somewhat flustered: "No... nothing. Please eat."

He pushed the golden small bread toward Li Miaohan.

"Princess, please try it. I guarantee you've never had it before!"

With his distraction, most of Li Miaohan's anger had dissipated.

Plus, she hadn't eaten all day, and her appetite had somewhat opened up.

Looking at the bread curiously, she asked: "What is this? Is it from the imperial kitchen? I've never seen it before. It smells good."

"Ahem! Ahem! It was made in the imperial kitchen," Fang Zheng said.

"It's called... Longing!"

Li Miaohan glanced at Fang Zheng secretly, a smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.

Longing? Does it mean longing to see each other?

She then picked up a piece of bread and took a small bite, chewing it slowly.

Having been hungry all day, the bread's sweetness now bloomed in her mouth.

Thinking that girls love sweet things, Fang Zheng had added extra honey.

"How is it? Does it taste good?" he asked.

"It's delicious! At first, I thought it was a golden steamed bun..." Li Miaohan said, squinting with happiness as she ate.

Fang Zheng smiled: "It is a bit like a steamed bun, but steamed buns are steamed, while this is baked. It also has honey, milk...."

Suddenly, Li Miaohan slowly put down the bread, curiously staring at Fang Zheng: "How do you know so much about it?"

"I... I... watched the imperial cooks make it," Fang Zheng stammered.

Li Miaohan gazed into Fang Zheng's eyes, then suddenly reached toward his head.

Fang Zheng didn't avoid or dodge, sitting still in his seat.

When her hand withdrew, her fingertip had a smudge of white.

"What's this...?" she asked.

"Oh, that should be flour," Fang Zheng replied.

Li Miaohan stared at the bit of flour on her fingertip, seeming to realize something as her eyes gradually reddened: "Longing... you made it yourself?"

"No!" Fang Zheng denied.

"You're lying!" Li Miaohan stood up and pointed at Fang Zheng's official robe: "Here! Here! How could there be flour all over..."

Then she reached for the food box.

Fang Zheng tried to grab it, but he was "too slow"!

The next moment, the food box was in Li Miaohan's hands.

She opened the bottom layer directly, revealing several blackened bread rolls....

Seeing this, tears of emotion dripped from her eyes, and Li Miaohan murmured: "How could you cook yourself? People will talk behind your back."

Fang Zheng was astonished.

What the hell, is it that serious?! Why is she crying?!

The saying "a gentleman stays away from the kitchen" originally referred to the mental state of not bearing to kill living things.

But over time, with the continued strengthening of class divisions, the original meaning of this saying had clearly undergone a massive change.

Gentlemen truly stayed away from kitchens, naturally distancing themselves from tasks done by lower-class people.

If one did such things, they would likely be pointed at and criticized.

Fang Zheng had known this all along, but he hadn't expected Li Miaohan to react so strongly.

To cry over such a small matter... she was truly innocent... he felt a sense of guilt for deceiving such a pure girl, his playboy attribute +1.

Fang Zheng's face showed a hint of helplessness.

To think the cooking was discovered. What can I do with you~

"Ahem, Your Highness, don't cry. For you, what's such a small matter? Eat more!" he said.

Li Miaohan nodded, wiped her tears, and continued eating in small bites.

As she ate, Fang Zheng said: "Actually, I've been very busy lately. The textile factory will be established soon."

"When winter comes, the textile factory will bear the responsibility for the warmth of all the capital's commoners."

"By then, I'll have time to come to the palace every day to accompany Your Highness... though perhaps by that time, Your Highness might not have time to see me."

"Many matters regarding the female workers will need Your Highness's arrangement and coordination. Then I'll send you reports on the textile factory's situation."

Li Miaohan took a small bite of bread and said softly: "Actually, you can come anytime. I'll speak to Imperial Father about it."

"No need to sneak around."

I just like sneaking around. That's what makes it exciting!

Fang Zheng thought to himself.

After chatting idly for a while longer, seeing that the food had been mostly eaten, Fang Zheng began packing up the food box.

"Your Highness, remember to eat regularly! If there's nothing else, I'll be going now. Rest early."

With that, he picked up the food box and slowly walked toward the door.

"Wait!" Li Miaohan immediately called out to him.

Fang Zheng turned around, asking with a puzzled expression: "What is it, Princess? Is there something else?"

"Ah... I...." Li Miaohan suddenly looked embarrassed, wanting to say something but not knowing what to say.

Fang Zheng hadn't been like this before. Today he seemed excessively well-behaved.

He delivered food and was ready to leave. It felt like something was missing.

But when Fang Zheng asked, she didn't know what to say.

Seeing her silence, Fang Zheng smiled slightly and walked toward the door.

Li Miaohan felt a slight disappointment in her heart and stood up: "I'll... see you out..."

Fang Zheng smiled and nodded, and the two walked to the door together.

Just as he was about to open the door, Fang Zheng suddenly turned around and stared at Li Miaohan: "Princess, do you have something to tell me?"

"I....." Li Miaohan blushed and unconsciously turned her head away.

The next second, she felt herself enveloped in a pair of arms.

Fang Zheng held her and whispered in her ear: "I can leave later too. Princess, are you cold? Do you want to sit on the bed for a while?"

"Mm..." Li Miaohan responded mechanically, her ears practically steaming.

Fang Zheng had wanted to carry her in his arms like a princess, but he feared he couldn't lift her and might drop her on the floor.

He could only embrace her and slowly walk to the bedside, where they sat down together.

Sitting side by side, Li Miaohan's heart pounded wildly, and she didn't know where to direct her gaze.

"You.... mmph!...."

Before she could finish, Fang Zheng's big mouth met hers!

After all that buildup, enough with the buildup! Just kiss and be done with it!

After what seemed like an eternity, the two slowly separated.

A thin strand of liquid... snapped with a small sound....

Li Miaohan's eyes were dazed as she gazed at Fang Zheng, breathing softly.

Fang Zheng laid her down on the bed and tucked her in.

"Now I'm really leaving?" he asked.

"Mm..." Li Miaohan was deeply embarrassed, only now coming to her senses. She pulled the covers up to her nose.

Only a pair of watery eyes remained, staring at Fang Zheng.

Fang Zheng smiled slightly, tucked her in properly, picked up the food box, and left.

This time, with confidence and decisiveness!

Stepping out the door, the first person he encountered was the palace maid from before.

The palace maid looked at Fang Zheng suggestively and whispered: "Lord Fang, you... the Princess..."

"In the future, call me Lord Consort Fang!" he said.

"Lord Consort Fang, walk slowly..."

"Good! Well-behaved!" A bank note landed in the palace maid's hand...

After leaving Mingluan Hall, Fang Zheng looked up at the starry sky, feeling refreshed!

I should have come earlier! I really should have!

But it was getting late now, and he didn't know when he'd get home.

Forget it! I'll spend the night at the Eastern Palace!

No sooner said than done. Under the escort of the imperial guards, Fang Zheng moved to the Eastern Palace.

Inside the Eastern Palace.

Fortunately, Li Yuanzhao hadn't gone to sleep yet. When he saw Fang Zheng, his face lit up with surprise: "Old Fang! Why are you here?!"

"Ah.. I was researching some new dishes in the imperial kitchen! Only finished at this hour, and it's too late to go home. Your Highness, do you have a place for me to sleep?" Fang Zheng asked.

Li Yuanzhao responded immediately: "Of course! We can sleep in the same bed, can't we? It's big enough for three people!"

"Hey, is that the new dish you're carrying?" he asked.

"Ah, yes, yes, yes!" Fang Zheng opened the bottom layer of the food box and took out the burnt bread, handing it over.

Li Yuanzhao accepted it without hesitation and took a large bite.

He exclaimed in delight: "Hey! This tastes good, and it's quite soft. Old Fang, you can even cook? It just seems a bit burnt."

"It's not burnt. That's the flavor. I've already eaten some. These few were specially baked for Your Highness!"

"Old Fang, you're so good to me..."

"Of course! If I'm not good to you, who will be!"