Xiaosuisui slept for a long time before waking up.
By then, the sky had already darkened, and the dishes on the table were already the third round cooked by the kitchen.
"Mmm... it smells so good!"
The little girl hadnât completely opened her eyes yet but had already caught the aroma of the food.
Both Zhu Xiuxiu and Huo XingâEr, who were keeping watch over her, couldnât help but laugh.
"Thatâs for sure, this little glutton of ours, her eyes havenât even opened yet, and she already smells the foodâs aroma."
Zhu Xiuxiu reached out and pinched her little nose, chuckling softly as she spoke.
Huo XingâEr brought her a coat to put on, carried water for her to wash her hands and face, and then sent her to the table to eat.
"Ah! It smells so good! Iâve had Braised Lionâs Head in the palace, but itâs not as fragrant as this!"
Xiaosuisui commented on the aroma of the food as she ate.
After hearing this, Zhu Xiuxiu asked, "What about the other dishes? Do you think they have any unique features?"
She picked a portion of each dish for Xiaosuisui to try.
Xiaosuisui nodded, saying they were all delicious.
Zhu Xiuxiu silently took note.
The shopkeeper was called to Zhu Xiuxiuâs room.
The old shopkeeper fearfully asked, "Madam, youâve summoned this old man, is there any part of the inn where weâve been lacking in care? Please let me know, and I will rectify it immediately!"
Zhu Xiuxiu was quite helpless; she wasnât dissatisfied with anything.
She was exceedingly satisfied.
"No, itâs not that. I just wanted to ask if the person who cooked for our little ancestor today was the same one each time?"
The old shopkeeper was stunned upon hearing this, not immediately understanding Zhu Xiuxiuâs meaning.
"What I mean is, were the dishes sent to our room for the last time today all made by the same person?"
"Oh! Naturally, yes, this Lu Laoshao, heâs a drifter. Last winter, he fainted at the innâs entrance after going hungry for several days. Our subordinate, feeling a twinge of sympathy, brought him in and fed him some rice soup to wake him up. Coincidentally, our chef was throwing a fit and refused to work, so he volunteered, saying he could cook a bit, so I kept him on."
The old shopkeeper, afraid that Lu Laoshao might have issues, explained his background in detail.
"Madam, is there something wrong with the food?"
After finishing his explanation, he asked once more.
Zhu Xiuxiu shook her head and said, "No, itâs just that our little ancestor finds the dishes he makes to be more fragrant than those made by the palace chefs. So, have that Lu... Lu..."
"Lu Dashao!"
The shopkeeper quickly interjected.
"Yes! Thatâs right, have Lu Dashao prepare to return to the capital with us tomorrow!"
The shopkeeper was completely stunned. The innâs business had been thriving over the past year, not without reason.
"This... Madam... this... why is that?"
"Havenât I made it clear enough?
Our little ancestor likes the food he makes. I plan to take him back to the capital, where heâll be responsible for our little ancestorâs meals."
The old shopkeeper: "..."
Early the next day, in the northbound convoy, two carriages originally left vacant because Zhu Xiuxiu and Huo XingâEr liked to nestle in Xiaosuisuiâs carriage were now occupied. One of them was taken by Lu Dashao, who, in the capacity of a chef, was accompanying them back to the capital.
The group set off, and just as they passed through the north gate of Huo City, a rider on a swift horse approached from north to south. The person on horseback held a small flag, shouting, "Urgent message from eight hundred miles... urgent message from eight hundred miles..."
Upon hearing this shout, everyoneâs expressions immediately changed.
The National Master even stepped forward, intercepting the swift horse!