Book 9 Chapter 6 – Beauty As Fair As Jade

Sweet aroma from the pastry kitchen permeated the whole place.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked at the new strange-looking cake they pan-fried with butter, both were radiant with delight. But when the former scooped up some, the cake, which aroma was so tempting, torn apart immediately. The two boys wanted to cry, but they had no tears.

They have worked hard all afternoon, but until the sun set over the western hills, they still did not have any cakes.

The most annoying thing was that Liang Qian, Big Sister Fu and Lan Gu repeatedly sent their people to urge them, adding urgency to this matter.

The good ol’ cake seemed to give them more headaches than Wanwan.

Kou Zhong said, “We might as well make these cake ingredients as stuffing, wrap it in dough mixed with bean flour. After flattening it, we’ll use peeled sesame seed to pick it up and evenly deep fry its egg in the wok; I guarantee it will be sweet smelling, crispy and tasty.”

Xu Ziling crossly said, “What’s the difference from ‘molded flaky pastry’ then? We’d better use the steamer basket; after heating the spices, it will also emit sweet aroma without compromising its natural flavor.”

This moment Lan Gu entered the kitchen. Feigning surprise look, she said, “What’s that in the ladle? Are you going to make deep-fried cake, or thin porridge?”

Kou Zhong struggled hard to restrain the fire in his belly; he glowered at Lan Gu, making the latter immediately felt chill all over her body, so that she was trembling uncontrollably. Like a defeated hen she went out obediently.

Regaining his composure, Kou Zhong said, “Perhaps we should separately try pan fry, deep fry, roast, and steam, four different methods, making four different cakes. As long as there is one that that poniang [woman (derog.), b1tch; see Book 1] think it’s tasty, won’t we be able to redeem our face? Once I think about Lan Gu, that b1tch, I feel like we should not lose this battle.”

Xu Ziling agreed, “Let me make some deep-fried pancake with fresh savory taro flavor. You think about the other three flavors.”

This moment Xiao Juan came; the two boys hurriedly pleaded with her to get more ingredients.

By the time the two boys sat down, both mentally and physically exhausted, four different new cakes emerged.

Xiao Juan clapped and cheers. Picking the tray up, she said, “I’ll take this to Fu Dajie. Mmm! Smells really good! Just by looking at them I know they sweet, crispy and tasty.”

The two boys sprang up at once. One on her left, the other on her right, they walked out with her.

Stunned, Xiao Juan halted her steps, “What are you doing?”

Kou Zhong laughed and said, “Such a precious thing, how can we not escort it personally? If someone should add any strange material to it along the way, won’t we be finished?”

Xiao Juan laughed tenderly and said, “It is well covered; how could anybody play a trick? Who would have such guts? But if you want to roam around, just come with nujia [I, your servant] then.”

A shadow flashed, Liang Qian barred their way, and said crossly, “I have not tasted it, where are you taking it?”

Sticking out her silky breasts, Xiao Juan said, “This is Fu Dajie’s order; as soon as it is done, I must bring it to Changzhu while it is still warm. It’s none of your business.”

Obviously Liang Qian was rather afraid of Big Sister Fu; as soon he heard that, he was stunned and could only stare blankly.

Lan Gu’s voice was heard from the side, “You two forgot the rules? Who gave you permission to roam around randomly?”

Xu Ziling replied indifferently, “We are people who abide by the rules, right now we have Xiao Juan Jie leading the way, how can it be regarded as roaming around randomly?”

The three people boldly marched forward, leaving the angry-until-their-faces-were-devoid-of-any-color Liang Qian and Lan Gu standing behind.

Ranch Master Shang Xiuxun’s residence was called the Flying Horse Courtyard, located in the middle of the Inner Castle. It consisted of more than thirty buildings, surrounded by wind-and-fire wall all around, constructed of brick and wood.

The two boys followed Xiao Juan into the courtyard via the back door, passing through a nine-bend corridor attached to the buildings. As they walked along, their eyes feasted on garden sceneries, one seemed to be more beautiful from another. Far and near the buildings were of different heights, strewn at random among the wooded area, a picture of elegance and rustic blended in harmony.

The most unique aspect was that due to the manor’s elevation, occasionally they were able to catch a glimpse of the beautiful pasture below the Flying Horse City extending endlessly into the distance. Under the dim light of the crescent moon, it looked even more serene and peaceful.

Along the way, they encountered numerous maids, servants and mansion guards; all were staring at them politely, but with Xiao Juan, a maid close to their Ranch Master, leading the way, plus the two boys were wearing pastry chef attire, everybody knew that they were the newcomers and thus nobody was giving them any trouble.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were not people who had not seen the world, but seeing the hall and the other main buildings construction, their style and raised beam type and the roof beam structure, with their fitting delicately carved eaves beam components and the gorgeously ever-changing trim of the corridors, which strengthened the sense of depth, the landscape garden lining it, has sparked the penetrating, serene feeling hidden deep within their hearts.

The three of them walked through gates and passed doors, sometimes one or two atriums and winding corridors, until finally Xiao Juan took them into a reception hall. Putting the cakes down on a round table, she said, “You sit here for a moment, I going to notify Fu Dajie.”

After Xiao Juan left, Xu Ziling sat down quietly, while Kou Zhong looked around everywhere. He looked at the western garden scenery outside the window on the other side of the room; he also looked at the structure of the buildings, as well as leaning out of the window to look at the adjacent room, which happened to be a study room.

The study room was furnished with mahogany furniture; there were Four Treasures of the Study on the table [i.e. brush, ink stick, paper and ink-stone]. Leaning against the wall was a shelf full of antique knickknacks. Under the illumination of a palace-style lantern, he could see a roll of rhyming couplet hanging on one side of the wall, on it were written ‘There is delight in the Five Confucian relationships [ruler-subject,

father-son, brother-brother, husband-wife, friend-friend]; apart from the Six Classics [Book of Songs, Book of History, Book of Rites, Book of Music, Book of Changes, and Spring and Autumn Annals], there is no other literary works’. But he did not see anybody.

Walking back to Xu Ziling, Kou Zhong sat down by his side and said, “Looks like not only this Changzhu is a poetic individual, she has some scholarly knowledge as well. But there is also a tiny bit of ‘lone flower admiring itself’ feeling on her. I just hope she does not look like Zhai Jiao!”

Displeased, Xu Ziling said, “Being born ugly is not a sin. Zhai Jiao’s fate is pitiful, it would be best if you don’t joke about her.”

Kou Zhong nodded to acknowledge the admonishment, “Yes!” he said, “I was wrong!”

Xu Ziling was emotionally moved. “This is perhaps one of your strengths,” he said, “You are willing to admit mistake, and can learn something from it. Just like recently you love to talk about compassion, duty, propriety and integrity, just because I often accused you of being too exploitative; is that right?”

Embarrassed, Kou Zhong said, “You, this kid, are making fun of me.”

Xu Ziling looked out the window, at the garden reflecting the moon and the lantern light; smiling, he said, “You are right. This Shang Xiuxun is definitely not an ordinary person. Just look at the layout of the rockery and amazing stones, and the ingenious arrangement of the wintersweet [chimonanthus praecox], the Japanese banana [musa basjoo], the wisteria, the osmanthus flowers; none did not appear as stereoscopic image standing right in front of the window, making people ponder endlessly. From this you could tell that she is brilliant.”

Kou Zhong laughed and said, “And don’t forget that she really knows how to eat.”

And then he turned around and leaned over and said in a low voice, “If she is as beautiful as Shan Wanjing, would Xu Ye give her your consideration? Based on your moral standing, outward appearance and martial art skill, you should be a good catch. Hey!”

Smiling wryly, Xu Ziling said, “It would be best if I married both Shan Wanjing and Shang Xiuxun; that way, by the time you are striking the world, when you need weapons you’ll get weapons, and when you need warhorses you’ll get warhorses!”

Having his fox’s tail revealed, Kou Zhong’s big eyes lit up as he said, “Good idea! Aiyo!”

Xu Ziling withdrew the fist he struck Kou Zhong’s thigh with and said, “You should know what’s called vortex power by now, ha! How can I be as unethical as you are?”

Suddenly they heard barely audible sound of footsteps.

The two boys looked at each other, and both could see the surprised look on each other’s face.

Turned out the sound of footsteps came from the Riders Building connected to this reception hall, which was less than a zhang away from the door. That is to say that the newcomer was within two zhang from them before they started to detect her presence.

Definitely it was not the sound of Xiao Juan’s familiar footsteps. This adorable girl has come and gone their pastry kitchen no less than twenty times today; they could even replay it in their mind.

This person’s qinggong was superior, definitely not below Fu Junyu’s.

At this thought, the two boys’ scalp went numb as they watch the door, thinking that it would be really terrible if Fu Junyu really showed up.

Then the two boys’ eyes lit up.

A young woman, with multifarious bearings, whose jet-black and beautiful hair cascaded down like two streams of waterfall on her fragrant shoulders, which looked like they were carved by a knife, whose beauty was extraordinary, which probably was comparable to Wanwan’s, who was dressed in tight warrior outfit, stepped into the room. She did not seem surprised at the two boys’ presence.

Her simple and elegant outfit highlighted her outstanding face and her shiny sun-bronzed skin and tender and lovely flesh, which exuded a burning hot youthfulness and enviable health.

Her pair of beautiful eyes was unfathomably deep, her thick eyelashes were adding more mystery to her phoenix eyes, which were rippling like the most fragrant and richest wine brewed by the immortals.

While Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were looking at her, dumbstruck, she gracefully walked over to the best seat across from the two boys and sat down. Stretching out her slender lily-white hand under her gauze dress, she opened the lid of the tray, took a quick look of what’s inside, wrinkled her pretty, straight, and small nose, and said, “The aroma is ordinary, but the outward appearance is very unique, because I have never seen an ugly delicatessen like this.”

Greatly surprised, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked at each other, and then they scrambled to stand up and salute her. “Changzhu!” they exclaimed, “Please forgive our disrespect!”

Without even looking at them, Shang Xiuxun put the lid on the side, and grabbed one of the cakes, put it in front of her fragrant plump and glossy lips, and then with her neat and snow white small teeth, which color complement her skin color well, she gingerly took a bit on the corner, and carefully sampled the cake.

The two boys nervously looked at her cheeks, which movements were barely perceptible. However, even after the movements ceased completely, this peerless beauty outside of Wanwan still did not speak, and still did not react to either their stare or their salute.

Since she did not speak, the two boys did not dare to ask.