Chapter Thirteen: Reluctant to Return
“I don’t want to go back yet!” Li Zhi said in an adorably naive tone.
He had managed to sneak out with much difficulty; how could he return so easily? He vowed not to give up until he found a satisfactory sword.
Hua Bigfoot took a deep breath, forcing herself to be patient. “All right, all right… Since His Highness, Prince Jin, likes staying at the Duke’s residence, I will play the good host. But… it’s best you don’t go wandering outside. We wouldn’t want any accidents.”
Li Zhi’s stabbing incident had happened just a couple of days ago. Hua Bigfoot had already learned of it through Cheng Yaojin. For this reason, she had even sought out Luo Tong to secretly protect Li Zhi.
“Keep a close eye on him. Don’t let him roam about!” Hua Bigfoot stepped outside and instructed several guards.
“Yes, madam!”
She then headed for the military camp herself.
...
As a Duke of the Tang Dynasty and a trusted confidant of Emperor Taizong, Cheng Yaojin commanded a portion of the army. Every few days, he would conduct military drills outside the city. Today happened to be such a day.
“One, two… kill!”
“Kill! Kill!”
...
Cheng Yaojin stood imposingly on the command platform, wielding his Eight Trigrams Flower-Axe, directing the soldiers in their exercises. Luo Tong, newly arrived at the camp, stood beside him. Both were focused and serious.
Just then, a soldier approached with a report. “General… your wife has arrived…”
“What!” Cheng Yaojin looked up.
Sure enough, Hua Bigfoot strode boldly into the camp.
“What is she doing here? Stop her!” Cheng Yaojin was famously afraid of his wife; all the soldiers knew it, though it was only a rumor as none had witnessed him cower before her.
Now Hua Bigfoot had come to the camp.
A full-blown cat-and-mouse chase was about to unfold.
Cheng Yaojin had to intervene!
He truly didn’t dare to resist her.
“General, it’s too late…”
“Ah…!” Cheng Yaojin’s face changed dramatically, anxiety rising in his chest.
“Heh… Uncle Cheng really is henpecked, isn’t he?” Luo Tong couldn’t help but chuckle.
“What do you know, you little brat?”
He composed himself and hurried toward her.
---
Luo Tong was eager to witness Cheng Yaojin being bullied by Hua Bigfoot, so he followed along.
“Fat Cheng, hurry and come home with me!”
“Bigfoot… this is the military camp. I’m drilling the soldiers. Don’t cause trouble!” Cheng Yaojin warned her sternly.
If she pushed him too far in front of the whole army, even he would lose his temper!
Luo Tong waited with interest to watch the spectacle, teasing Cheng Yaojin, “Uncle Cheng, don’t let her beat you!”
“You brat…”
“Fat Cheng, I haven’t time for nonsense. Come home now. His Highness, Prince Jin, is here—and he came alone!” Hua Bigfoot got straight to the point.
“What? Prince Jin?” Cheng Yaojin felt his mind buzz, Li Zhi’s annoying face flashing before him.
Last time at Ganlu Hall, he’d nearly been set up. Fortunately, Emperor Taizong had not blamed him, so he escaped disaster.
Now Li Zhi dared to come to the Duke’s residence again—what trick was he planning?
Clenching his fist, Cheng Yaojin said, “That little… little prince. Small in stature, big in ambition—not to be underestimated. He’s probably here to make trouble for me!”
“Bigfoot, let’s go!”
“All right!”
Cheng Yaojin, Hua Bigfoot, and Luo Tong rode back to the Duke’s residence.
In the hall, Li Zhi was nowhere to be seen. The guards at the gate had vanished as well.
“Bigfoot… where is the prince?”
“I don’t know. He was just here. Could something have happened?” Hua Bigfoot was always vigilant, afraid Li Zhi might meet with an accident. But after thinking it over, she shook her head. “No, no… With over a hundred guards at the Duke’s residence, who would dare cause trouble?”
“Stop guessing. Let’s look for him. Maybe he’s just playing and hiding somewhere!” Cheng Yaojin knew Li Zhi too well—always up to some mischief.
The three searched every corner of the hall.
Even under the tea table, they looked.
But Li Zhi was nowhere to be found.
“This is bad… If the prince goes missing here, and the emperor blames me, how will I explain?” Cheng Yaojin sat on the floor in despair, as lifeless as stagnant water.
Hua Bigfoot was stunned. “Impossible. I clearly had people watching him. How could he disappear?”
Sniff, sniff…
At that moment, Luo Tong inhaled deeply, intoxicated. “What a delicious smell! Uncle Cheng, is your kitchen making lunch? How about I stay for lunch today?”
“How can you think of eating right now!”
“Quick, send people to find that rascal. Nothing must happen to him!” Cheng Yaojin scrambled to his feet, growing more anxious.
Just as he was about to call for help, Hua Bigfoot grabbed him. “Fat Cheng, don’t you find today’s food especially fragrant? The aroma’s drifting from so far away—how is that possible?”
Luo Tong and Hua Bigfoot were both intrigued by the kitchen’s food.
Cheng Yaojin was on the verge of madness. “What’s wrong with you two?”
---
“Now is not the time for food!”
“Fat Cheng, what I mean is—the kitchen is unusual. Could Prince Jin be there?” Hua Bigfoot suggested.
“Is that possible?”
“We’ll know if we check!” The three rushed to the kitchen.
The closer they got, the richer the aroma grew.
Accompanied by the sound of metal striking: “Shasha-shasha…”
What was happening in the kitchen?
Luo Tong opened the last door to find several of Cheng Yaojin’s sons bustling about, carrying dishes out into the courtyard.
The fragrance wafted swiftly on the breeze.
“What are you rascals doing?” Cheng Yaojin, irritated, rushed over, ready to scold them.
Cheng Chumo replied, “Father, His Highness Prince Jin is truly remarkable—he taught us how to stir-fry! Wait till you taste it; I dare say it’s even better than the palace food!”
“Yes, yes, the prince is a genius!”
“I admire him immensely!”
...
Seeing their worshipful expressions, Cheng Yaojin grew even more annoyed. “Look at you, starstruck by a three-year-old child!”
Cheng Chubi came out of the kitchen, carrying Li Zhi.
“Uncle Cheng, do you look down on me?” Li Zhi asked.
“Prince… Prince Jin, how could I dare!” Cheng Yaojin immediately changed his demeanor, smiling and bowing. “Your Highness, why didn’t you announce yourself?”
“No need for ceremony!”
Li Zhi wriggled out of Cheng Chubi’s arms, took a pair of chopsticks from the table, and picked up a piece of stir-fried meat, offering it to Cheng Yaojin. “Uncle Cheng, try my cooking?”
“Don’t worry, I didn’t poison it!”
Seeing Cheng Yaojin hesitate, Li Zhi joked.
It smelled delicious.
Surely it tasted just as good.
Yet Cheng Yaojin suspected Li Zhi was plotting against him and dared not taste it. In the end, Hua Bigfoot boldly ‘tested for poison’ herself and ate the piece of stir-fried meat.
“Hm?”
Her eyes widened, sparkling.
Cheng Yaojin grew worried. “Bigfoot, how do you feel?”
“Aunt Bigfoot…” Luo Tong’s mouth was nearly watering.
Li Zhi wore an expression of confidence.
With his personal guidance, the stir-fried dish, though lacking in ingredients and not quite perfect in heat, was far superior to the bland boiled meat with salt.
Hua Bigfoot savored it with delight. “Delicious, truly delicious!”