It was a fragrance that he had never smelled before. He couldn't tell what it was, but it was very alluring.

Lai Yue hadn't eaten at night. Originally, he could still endure it and was prepared to wait for his masters to rest before making some dry rations to deal with it. However, at this time, when he smelled this seductive fragrance, almost in the next second, his stomach started growling.

The small kitchen was upwind, and the night wind was quite strong. It constantly carried the smell over, making it impossible to hide from it.

Smelling the mouthwatering fragrance of food on an empty stomach was the cruelest punishment.

Lai Yue saw that there was a constant stream of people walking around the small kitchen window. His eyes were fixed in that direction. He wished his eyes could stretch out and go in to see what Third Young Mistress and the servants were cooking.

He Changdi was reading in the study. Because it was early summer, the night was a bit hot, so the study's windows were half open.

He was originally immersed in his book, but he didn't know when a very special fragrance had drifted in from outside the window. That fragrance was very alluring, and even He Sanlang, who had claimed to have tasted most of the delicacies of the Great Wu Dynasty, had never smelled it before.

The fragrance wasn't very strong when it reached the study, but it was this kind of faint fragrance that made it easier for people to get aroused.

He Changdi took a deep breath and turned to look at the two boxes of food on the table. He wondered if he should eat some more, but when he thought of the food in the boxes, he lost his appetite.

Forget it, I'll just endure it!

He Sanlang returned his attention to his book and forced himself to focus.

On the other side, Chu Lian led the maids towards the reception pavilion with the boxes of food. They happened to pass by the study, and Lai Yue stared unblinkingly at the boxes in Xiyan's hands, almost swallowing his saliva.

Xiyan was angry when she thought about how she had come to ask Lai Yue about something. She immediately rolled her eyes at Lai Yue and arrogantly brushed past him.

When Third Young Mistress walked past with the maids, she could clearly smell the fragrance of food. The more she thought about it, the hungrier she became.

But it wasn't good to ask Third Young Mistress for food at this time. He was still guarding the door to the Third Young Master's study!

Chu Lian had the maids place the dishes on the reception pavilion table.

There was a large plate of Red Braised Pork, which was cut into small cubes and exuded a strong aroma. There was also a bowl of Kung Pao Chicken, a bowl of sweet and sour pickles, and a bowl of simple egg soup.

Xiyan poured a bowl of rice for Chu Lian.

As soon as the dishes were laid out in the parlor, the entire parlor was filled with a rich aroma.

Gui Momo and a few senior maids also had not eaten. Chu Lian sat at the head of the table and glanced at the maids staring at the table and couldn't help but swallow their saliva. She smiled, "You are all hungry. Sit down and eat together."

As soon as she said this, Senior Servant Gui stopped her and said, "Third Young Mistress, we're now in Count Jing 'an's estate. You're a newlywed, so how can you be disrespectful? How can the master eat with the servants? If word of this got out, what would others say?"

Chu Lian was helpless and understood that what Gui Momo said was right. Gui Momo was also coveting the food but still did not move.

"Alright, I'll eat first. I've made a lot of each dish. After I finish eating, you can stay in the reception hall and eat."

Senior Servant Gui nodded and did not stop her this time.

Actually, she also coveted the food that she had never seen before. When they were in the small kitchen, the red braised pork was ready. Third Young Mistress let each of them have a taste and found that it was truly delicious. It wasn't any worse than the roasted venison!

In fact, it was even more delicious.

She originally thought that the dishes made from this shiny white pork would be greasy and difficult to eat. She didn't expect it to be so delicious. After eating one piece of meat, she wanted to eat a second piece and couldn't stop herself.

Senior Servant Gui was an old servant in the Duke of Ying's estate and had served Chu Lian's birth mother in the past. She was experienced and had a lot of self-control. However, after eating this red braised pork, she couldn't resist the urge to eat it.

Chu Lian held a bowl of rice in her hands and ate the dishes in front of her. Although these dishes didn't taste as good as those made in the modern era because they lacked a lot of seasonings, being able to eat food like this in the Great Wu Dynasty was enough to make her happy.

This was the first time she was able to eat to her heart's content after coming here.

However, Chu Lian was already used to eating this kind of food, so she didn't find it strange. Just like usual, one bowl of rice was enough for her to be eighty percent full.

While Chu Lian was eating, Senior Servant Gui hesitated for a moment before suggesting, "Third Young Mistress, why don't we call Third Young Master over to eat together?"

Chu Lian raised her head in confusion and widened her bright eyes as if she really didn't understand what Senior Servant Gui meant. She asked curiously, "Isn't he eating in the study?

There are two boxes of food!

A person's appetite is limited, so it's best not to let him eat too much.

Also, it's not good to eat too much at night. "

She said this as if she was thinking for He Sanlang's sake.

Chu Lian pouted and thought to herself, 'Even if you don't let me eat, I don't care. You shouldn't eat what I make either.'

She scooped a small bowl of milky white egg soup and happily drank it. Chu Lian was full.

There were still a lot of three dishes and one soup left. Because she originally wanted to bring a few maids to eat, she specially made more. Chu Lian couldn't eat much by herself. Her appetite was that of a cat's, so she didn't eat much of the sour and sweet shredded pickles.

Chu Lian was afraid that if she was there, Senior Servant Gui and the maids would feel uncomfortable, so she went into the bedroom to lie down.

When the geese saw that Chu Lian wasn't there, they were much more at ease. They looked at each other and laughed a few times. Then they each took a bowl of rice and sat down to eat. Senior Servant Gui naturally sat down as well.

Fuyan and Jing Yan had just taken the first bite when their eyes lit up. Then, the frequency at which they moved their chopsticks to each bowl was much faster.

Jing Yan stuffed her mouth full of rice and didn't have the reserved manner of a servant from a rich family at all. "Sister Xiyan, did you make this meat?

How can it be so fragrant and delicious!

I've never eaten such delicious meat before! "

The corners of Xiyan's mouth raised. "Actually, I didn't make it. Third Young Mistress taught me!"

Senior Servant Gui nodded. "All of you serve Third Young Mistress well. Maybe one day, Third Young Mistress will be happy and teach you a few secret recipes. In the future, you won't even have to worry about the livelihood of the younger generation."

Fuyan's eyes flashed in the dark.

Even though the dishes were plentiful, Gui Momo and the four maids still ate them up to the sky.

The five of them clutched their stomachs and shouted that they were full, but no one said they regretted it.

Ming Yan stood up from the table and exaggeratedly stuck out her stomach, causing Fuyan and Xiyan to tease her.

"Look at what you're eating. Be careful that you don't get too full!" Senior Servant Gui deliberately put on a stern face to scare Ming Yan.

Ming Yan was unconvinced, "Servant, it's too delicious. I was greedy and couldn't help it."

Senior Servant Gui looked at the dishes and saw that there were only a few pieces of red braised pork and some soup left. She said to Xiyan, "Xiyan, send the leftovers to the small kitchen. We can use it to make rice tomorrow."

The dishes made from Third Young Mistress' secret recipe were too delicious. It made Senior Servant Gui feel that it was a pity to waste even a little bit of the soup.