Resplendent – Chapter 500

Chapter 500 – Unable to Resist the Temptation

“When I used to follow my father and brothers at the frontier, we often made spicy dishes to keep warm. Eating them was so satisfying. Unfortunately, in the Marquis’s residence, hardly anyone can handle real spice. Getting a proper spicy meal is nearly impossible!”

The Marchioness scooped up wontons in chili oil with her spoon and popped it into her mouth. The thin, silky wrapper, tender and flavorful filling, and slightly spicy, fragrant sauce made it impossible for her to stop eating.

“What is this?” The Marchioness asked, looking at a small plate on the table holding three pieces of food slightly smaller than a fist, drenched in red chili oil and looking delicious.

“This is spicy rabbit head. Today my brothers caught three wild rabbits. We made the meat into spicy diced rabbit, and I didn’t want to waste the heads, so I had them made into spicy rabbit heads. Madam, would you like to try one?” Gu Ye’s inner thoughts were: Please, please don’t! There aren’t even enough for me to finish myself!

Unfortunately, heaven did not hear her plea. The Marchioness’s eyes sparkled. “Rabbit head? I’ve never tried this before! Today’s the perfect opportunity…” 

She had tried every kind of food while following her father and brothers on the battlefield, but she had never eaten a rabbit head before!

Eating a rabbit head required some skill. 

Gu Ye demonstrated first. She picked up a rabbit head, gently sucking the numbing, spicy, flavorful juices, then gripped the four rabbit teeth, pried open the upper and lower jaw, rolled with her tongue, and ate the tender cheek meat, savoring it fully.

Next came the rabbit’s face—smooth, delicate, and incredibly tasty. Finally, the most precious part: the brain. 

She carefully bit open the back of the skull, drew out the intact rabbit brain, and sucked it into her mouth. It melted instantly, leaving an endless aftertaste.

The process of eating a rabbit head looked savage, and only the person eating it could truly savor the taste. Had it been another lady, she would surely have turned pale and resisted strongly. But the Marchioness eagerly picked up one, imitating Gu Ye, and ate with great enjoyment.

Although she didn’t gnaw the meat as cleanly as Gu Ye, and the rabbit head bone wasn’t as intact, the Marchioness, having tasted its flavors, naturally claimed the remaining rabbit head as her own. 

In Gu Ye’s heart, a little voice wailed in circles: Her rabbit head—my favorite rabbit head…

In the outer courtyard, the meal proceeded happily despite one spicy rabbit head being missing from the table. Even eight-year-old Han Mufei ate quite a bit of the spicy dishes. The tender, flavorful fish fillets in hot chili oil were particularly loved by everyone.

Hearing that these dishes were all recipes discovered by the Young Miss Chu of the Chu family, the Marquis of Dongping was full of admiration. 

Today, he stuffed cold water into his mouth while greedily devouring the spicy dishes. His lips were swollen from the heat, yet he couldn’t stop. At last, he understood his wife’s love of spicy food.

After the meal, Gu Ye accompanied the Marchioness to drink a cup of digestive tea. Seeing that she lived so comfortably in the estate, she naturally did not dare to mention buying it. This small estate was exquisitely built and cozy, showing that the Marchioness intended to stay here long-term.

In the afternoon, the rain stopped, and Gu Ye and her brothers bid farewell. That shameless tagalong followed step by step as usual, but Gu Ye still gave him a cold, unwelcoming look!

After seeing off the young masters and young lady from the Defender Duke’s residence and sending her youngest son to the study to practice calligraphy, the Marquis finally had some private time with his wife. He wrapped his arms around her slender, strong waist, letting her sit on his lap, watching lazily as she fed the koi in the pond.

The Marchioness looked up and saw her husband’s swollen and red lips from the spicy food. Suppressing a laugh, she said, “Well, the sun has truly risen in the west today. Have you actually tried spicy dishes?”

“Weren’t those dishes all signature dishes from Qingfeng Pavilion? It’s rare to have them at home. Besides, seeing everyone so happy fighting over the food naturally stirred my heart!”

The Marquis and his wife shared deep affection. Even though she had requested to ‘rest’ at the estate to enjoy peace and quiet, even though her mother-in-law constantly spoke ill of her, nothing could dim their love. The Marquis especially admired his wife’s straightforward, lively spirit!

The two concubines in the household were arranged by the dowager marchioness, and he might not see them even once or twice a month. On his days off, he always dropped by the estate instead, usually resting in the study in the front courtyard. Even when the dowager marchioness angrily struck him with her cane, he still did as he pleased.

“This little girl is quite interesting; I really like her. What do you think, should we get Bo’er to take her as a wife?” The Marchioness had instantly taken a liking to the young girl, seeing a resemblance to herself at that age. If only she could become her daughter-in-law!

The Marquis smiled and touched her cheek. “Having you as a leisurely Marchioness here at the residence is already more than enough. Mother is getting older each day; life and death are inevitable. If you had Bo’er marry a wife just like you, wouldn’t the household turn upside down?”

The Marchioness nuzzled shyly into her husband’s embrace. “Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire. The small world within this residence cannot contain a young girl with such lofty ambitions.”

“Oh? How so?” The Marquis, who usually paid little attention to such matters, noticed the hidden meaning in her words and couldn’t help but ask.

The Marchioness cast him a sidelong glance and smiled. “Don’t you know how the Duke found this girl?”

“The Duke and his entire household have been searching for their lost daughter for the past three years. Finding her is only natural, isn’t it? Is there some story behind it?” The Marquis pinched her cheek lightly.

The Marchioness pouted and playfully bit the back of his hand, leaving two shallow rows of teeth marks. “The Duke and his household searched the entire Northlands for three whole years without any success. And yet, in the capital, they encountered the little girl. Do you know why?”

“Why? Wasn’t the Duchess supposed to have entrusted their daughter to a trusted person in Yan City? How did the little girl end up in the capital? Could it be that the trusted person received news and brought her here to reunite with her family?” Seeing his wife so animated, the Marquis deliberately played along.

“You got it all wrong!” The Marchioness rolled her eyes at him, trying to keep a secret, but couldn’t help blurting it out. “The little girl apprenticed under a very capable pharmacist and came to the capital to participate in the Great Pharmacists Convention. I asked around, and she’s quite talented and has already reached the sixth-level as a pharmacist. I’ve heard she plans to go even further!”

“How old is she? And she’s already Level Six?” The Marquis sat up straight, his expression serious. “If she goes further, that would make her a senior pharmacist! Too bad our second son is several years younger, otherwise…”

“You!” The Marchioness scolded him in amusement, “You’re thinking way too far ahead. Once she becomes a senior pharmacist, suitors will be breaking down the doors to marry her. Do you really think it’ll be our second son’s turn?” She rarely got to see her usually straightforward husband show such a calculating side.