Yan Chi had just returned to the General's Mansion when Qin Yuchuan summoned him for questioning.
"Where did you go?"
Qin Yuchuan's tone was casual, but Yan Chi felt a chill in the air.
"I went to Guanyuan Temple."
Qin Yuchuan tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, "Why did you go to Guanyuan Temple?"
"...Namu asked me to accompany him." Yan Chi said with his head lowered.
Qin Yuchuan's voice was cold, "Do you remember whose guard you are?"
"I live as the General's man, and I'll die as the General's ghost."
"Heh, I think you seem to be the military advisor's guard."
Qin Yuchuan knew that Yan Chi had always been close to Namu in the military camp, but that was because they all lived together, so it wasn't an issue.
But now they had returned to Shengjing, and his guard had followed the military advisor, which was unacceptable.
Upon hearing Qin Yuchuan's words, Yan Chi knelt down with a thud, "I admit my mistake, please punish me, General."
"What did you and the military advisor do at Guanyuan Temple?" Qin Yuchuan repeated the question.
Yan Chi said, "I went with the military advisor to see Master Guang'an. The military advisor intended to destroy your small box, General."
"What did Master Guang'an say?" Qin Yuchuan had heard of the capable Master Guang'an of Guanyuan Temple.
Yan Chi replied, "The Master said that all existence in this world is reasonable, and we shouldn't disturb ourselves unnecessarily. The Master also told the military advisor not to meddle in other people's affairs."
Master Guang'an, quite an interesting character.
"I hope you remember your identity. Dismissed!"
Yan Chi retreated trembling, as the General was usually easygoing, but when angered, he was truly formidable.
Today, he hadn't been punished, which was a show of the General's kindness. In the future, he should maintain his distance from Namu.
After all, this was Shengjing, and one's words and actions required discretion. He had overstepped his bounds.
...
In the kitchen of the General's Mansion, Qin Yuchuan was learning to make guihua cakes with two kitchen ladies.
The kitchen ladies were shocked that Qin Yuchuan had entered the kitchen, as in those times, gentlemen were supposed to stay away from the kitchen. Men wouldn't even enter the kitchen, let alone wash their hands and cook.
Despite their repeated requests, Qin Yuchuan insisted on learning, and they couldn't disobey the master's orders, so they had to teach him seriously.
Qin Yuchuan didn't care much about the notion of gentlemen staying away from the kitchen, as in the military camps, it was the cooks who prepared the food. Did that make them ladies?
Moreover, in recent days, his meals had been personally prepared by the young lady, and now that she was busy with her studies, he wanted to make some snacks for her. What was wrong with that?
He had sent her a message earlier, but hadn't received a reply yet. She must have been studying diligently and didn't have time to check her phone. If she saw it, she would reply.
He was learning to make the snacks now, so they would be ready by lunchtime, and he could send them over to her.
When Bai Wei went to the kitchen to get the cooked porridge for Xuanyuan Xi, she saw a crowd of people gathered outside.
She joined them and asked, "What are you all watching?"
"The General came to the kitchen early this morning to learn how to make guihua cakes, and everyone is watching!"
Bai Wei squeezed her way in and saw Qin Yuchuan, focused and fully engaged.
After getting Xuanyuan Xi's porridge into a food box, Bai Wei returned to Xuanyuan Xi's courtyard.
"Princess, this is porridge for nourishing your stomach. Please drink more," said Bai Wei.
Xuanyuan Xi took the bowl, "You look so happy, girl. What happened?"
"Nothing, I just saw the General."
Xuanyuan Xi said, "He has been in the mansion for most of the time these days, except for the morning court sessions. What's so special about seeing him?"
"But I saw him in the kitchen," Bai Wei explained.
"The kitchen? What was he doing in the kitchen?" Xuanyuan Xi became a little interested.
Bai Wei said seriously, "I saw the General learning to make pastries in the kitchen, and he was specifically learning to make your favorite guihua cakes. I'm sure the General knows you have to take medicine every day, so he wanted to make something sweet to counter the bitterness of the medicine."
"Really?" Xuanyuan Xi didn't quite believe that Qin Yuchuan would learn to make pastries for her, but after hearing Bai Wei's explanation, she had a little faith.
Bai Wei assured her, "Definitely! The General had never entered the kitchen before, but today, he was learning with great concentration. Princess, you just wait here. The General will personally deliver the cakes to you once they're ready."
With Bai Wei's reassurance, Xuanyuan Xi became a little excited about Qin Yuchuan's homemade guihua cakes.
However, after waiting all morning, Xuanyuan Xi didn't see any sign of the guihua cakes.
Were they that difficult to make? She had made green bean cakes before, and it only took an hour or so. But it had been a whole morning, and there was still no movement!
Bai Wei helped explain for Qin Yuchuan, "Princess, it's the General's first time making them, so it's natural that they may not turn out well. He might think the taste isn't quite right, so he needs to try again. Let's wait a little longer."
Meanwhile, Qin Yuchuan had already arranged the guihua cakes he had made into the shape of a flower and brought them to his study.
The young lady didn't have much concept of the time in their world and could only roughly estimate the hour.
Later, she told him they could check the time on their phones, and they both looked at that time.
It was now 11:50 AM, and she would be out of class in ten minutes. Once she was out, he would send the guihua cakes to her, so she could have them while they were still hot.
Qin Yuchuan timed it perfectly and sent the guihua cakes to Feng Qingyi just as she got out of class. Feng Qingyi felt her phone vibrate as soon as she finished class.
[Qingyi: I'm out of class. What did you send me this time? Not another valuable item, I hope!]
[Yuchuan: No, today I'm sending you guihua cakes that I made myself.]
[Qingyi: I love guihua cakes the most, but it's been so long since I've had them.]
[Yuchuan: Try them first and let me know if the taste is acceptable. I can make them for you again if you like them.]
Today, since the other girls in the dorm had club activities, Feng Qingyi went to the dining hall alone.
Thinking about the guihua cakes Qin Yuchuan had made, she didn't want to receive them and carry a plate around the dining hall, so she packed a meal to take back to the dorm.
Back in her dorm room, Feng Qingyi received the guihua cakes that Qin Yuchuan had made. On an exquisite plate, the cakes were arranged in the shape of a flower.
Feng Qingyi took a bite of one of the cakes, and it was absolutely delicious! The sweetness was just right, not too dry, and even better than her grandmother's.
Feng Qingyi couldn't believe that a great General would be so skilled at making pastries. Was this the talent of a remarkable person, being exceptional at whatever they did?
[Qingyi: You're too amazing! The guihua cakes taste fantastic!]
[Feng Qingyi: The flower you arranged looks beautiful too!]
Feng Qingyi took out her phone and took a rare photo, posting it on her social media circle.
[Qin Yuchuan: I'm glad you like it. If you have time tomorrow, I can make some more for you.]
[Feng Qingyi: Won't that be too much trouble for you?]
Qin Yuchuan felt a sense of déjà vu from her words.
[Qin Yuchuan: It's no trouble at all. I have nothing to do all day, making pastries is just a way to pass the time.]
If she enjoys them, then all his efforts have meaning.
