Chapter 590: Chapter 589: You Should Be Grateful
Huangfu Jingchen, with a keen eye, took the lunchbox, opened it, and served the dishes that Xia Wenjin had personally prepared.
Although the dishes had gotten a bit cold, Xia Wenjin had considered this, and they were all good dishes for pairing with liquor even when cold. Without wine cups, three bowls were just right for drinking.
Gu Hongxin raised his bowl first and said, "Thanks to Young Master Xuan, our brothers were spared from jail time. This bowl of wine is to celebrate our exoneration!"
Xia Wenjin said displeasedly, "Uncle Gu, it was I who sought evidence and found ways for the truth of the case to come to light. How has this matter been related to Huangfu Yuxuan?"
Huangfu Jingchen was slightly startled, Huangfu Yuxuan? Previously, Xia Sichen said that Wenjin’s father had promised her as a bride to the Imperial Grandson, Huangfu Yuxuan?
Hua Yuanming chuckled, "Wenjin, your efforts are known to your uncles and your father, but you are one of us, and family doesn’t express gratitude. Isn’t Young Master Xuan considered an outsider? Naturally, thanks are due!"
Xia Wenjin said seriously, "It’s not about gratitude. From the evidence I found, the mastermind behind this matter is very likely Huangfu Yuxuan. Yet you think he is the one helping you. Don’t you find it ridiculous?"
Xia Wanqing’s face darkened, "Wenjin, even if you don’t want to marry Young Master Xuan, you should remember benevolence received. A small favor should be returned a hundredfold; yet you not only lack gratitude, but also harbor doubts. What reasoning is this?"
"Father, it’s not that I don’t know gratitude; if you want to be thankful, you should find the real benefactor!" Xia Wenjin was speechless. Why did they trust Huangfu Yuxuan so much? What sort of bewitching concoction had Huangfu Yuxuan fed them?
Xia Wanqing frowned and said, "How have we not found the real benefactor? Tell me, among the people we know, who else besides Young Master Xuan can easily see the Emperor?"
Xia Wenjin thought for a moment, and it seemed there was no one.
She had worked hard enough, her commercial empire was being established, her firm already had scale, and her industry was continuously expanding. However, this was all civilian power; no one she knew could easily see the Emperor.
Seeing Xia Wenjin remain silent, Xia Wanqing said, "Isn’t it obvious? Out of those we know, only Yuxuan can see the Emperor, and that Holy Decree must have been sought by him. Isn’t this a great favor?"
Huangfu Jingchen: "..."
Could he admit that he was the one who sought that Holy Decree?
Apparently not!
He is now just Huang Zheng, unrelated to the Imperial Family.
Clearly, now is not the appropriate time to reveal his identity.
He remembered Huangfu Yuxuan’s invitation, why did Huangfu Yuxuan suddenly invite him to a banquet? Could Huangfu Yuxuan know that he knows Wenjin?
Seeing Xia Wanqing dissatisfied, Xia Wenjin didn’t want to argue and upset him more, so she mumbled quietly, "Anyway, it won’t be him!"
Xia Wanqing was somewhat helpless; why did Wenjin dislike Young Master Xuan so much? This marriage was proving to be full of twists.
Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but glance at Huangfu Jingchen; could it be because of this young man?
"Father, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, eat first. I’ll pick you up tomorrow!" Xia Wenjin pulled up the lunchbox and tugged Huangfu Jingchen, "Let’s go back first!"
Xia Wanqing’s gaze fell on Xia Wenjin’s hand, his brows furrowed in a knot.
This gesture was very intimate; he knew his daughter well. If she disliked someone, she wouldn’t even want to breathe the same air nearby, let alone be close.
Yet in front of his younger brothers, he couldn’t say much, but once they returned home tomorrow, he would have a good talk with Wenjin.
Not long after Xia Wenjin and Huangfu Jingchen left, someone else came.
This time it was Cui Huai and Hong Jie, both bringing two large lunchboxes packed with liquor and dishes from Minghe Pavilion. This cell wasn’t a death row cell, it was much cleaner and more spacious.
The prison guard was very perceptive, recognizing them as people from Prince Liang Mansion, Second Young Master’s men, and brought a table.
The dishes filled the table.
Cui Huai said, "My young master was worried that the three of you weren’t eating well here, so he specially asked the chef at Minghe Pavilion to prepare a table of specialty dishes to pair with wine for you! The wine is a well-aged brew too. My young master said, though it’s a grievance for the three of you here, once you get out, he’ll certainly host a feast to clear the air!"
Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin were very moved.
Young Master Xuan still remembers them!
Hong Jie glanced at the dishes placed on the ground, showing some disdain, but quickly masked it, laughingly saying, "After the young master’s orders, we delivered it promptly, and the dishes are still hot, the wine warmed, perfect for enjoying. Please enjoy, sirs." As he spoke, he pretended to inadvertently kick over two of the dishes placed on the ground.
He hurriedly said, "Sorry, sorry, it’s my fault for not watching my steps and knocking over the dishes!"
Hua Yuanming said, "There’s already so much on the table, missing a couple doesn’t matter, it’s enough to eat!"
Gu Hongxin also said, "It’s alright, it’s alright, those dishes are almost eaten!"
With two kicked over, two were left.
Xia Wanqing merely glanced and then squat down to place the two non-kicked dishes onto the table.
Xia Wenjin used ordinary plates, which seemed plain compared to Minghe Pavilion’s specially crafted delicate ones.
Gu Hongxin whispered, "Big brother, these dishes are cold, why did you bring them up?"
Xia Wanqing took a bite with chopsticks and a slight smile appeared at the corner of his lips, "It’s been more than a decade, and this is the first time tasting Wenjin’s personally cooked dishes! None can be wasted!"
Hua Yuanming laughed, "Big brother, although Wenjin sent the dishes, she certainly didn’t cook them. It must have been prepared by the servants and sent. Don’t we all know Jin’er? When did she ever cook in the village?"
Xia Wanqing’s chewing paused slightly.
Yes, when did Wenjin ever cook in the village?
But he knew these were Wenjin’s cooking.
Because Aunt He is in charge of the kitchen, and the flavor isn’t like her cooking. These dishes and plates were commonly used at home, so they weren’t ordered from a restaurant outside.
Jin’er had only been in Jianghu for a bit more than a year and already could cook so well!
She originally didn’t know medicine, but she gained medical skills!
She originally had mediocre martial arts, with the brothers in the village deliberately taking it easy on her, making her think she was good at martial arts. But seeing her again now, her skills have greatly improved!
What on earth had she experienced in Jianghu to change so much?
Before, he had doubted if that was Wenjin.
But now he was certain. That was indeed his Jin’er.
All the changes were due to her transformation after escaping to Jianghu.
Jianghu is a place that hones people well; although Jin’er said with a smile she was lucky, how many hardships had she endured to become so adept?
The table was full of tempting dishes, yet Xia Wanqing found them somewhat tasteless.
