Chapter 270: Chapter 252: Does He Need to Drink Deer Blood?
Yu Wenye didn’t look at her, only spoke to the coachman outside, "Let’s go."
Immediately, the carriage started to sway and move forward.
Sitting beside him, Shang Ruyi was even more puzzled. Seeing him close his eyes, it was clear he wasn’t planning to pay attention to her. She felt a bit wronged, not knowing what had upset him. If they were indeed going out for fun today, they should be cheerful and affectionate. What did this cold attitude towards her mean?
So, she also closed her eyes in a bit of a huff, ignoring him.
After a while, Yu Wenye slowly opened one eye, glancing at her briefly, a smile playing on his lips.
There weren’t many people on the streets today, so the carriage moved smoothly. Soon, the noise outside the carriage grew louder. From the sides of the road came the sounds of pedestrians walking and greeting each other, and the loud cries of vendors, making the place lively.
Listening to those sounds, Shang Ruyi, who had been quiet for several days, started to feel animated inside.
After all, she was young. Even though her nature was steady, she couldn’t dislike lively scenes, especially with the person she liked beside her. Soon, she couldn’t help but open her eyes and lift the curtain to look outside. Although Yu Wenye had talked about various rebel armies at home these past few days, making her worried, the Eastern Capital was still the Emperor’s domain, the safest and most prosperous place in the world.
At this moment, even knowing that the sight in front of her was just a temporary illusion, it still brought joy.
Sometimes, enjoying a moment of peace is indeed a moment of peace.
Enjoying a moment of sweetness, this moment is sweet.
Looking outside, she gradually found the surrounding scenery becoming familiar. Ahead, a magnificent and bustling three-story building stood, and she immediately came to her senses.
Tinghe Building!
Right, when they were still stationed at Luokou Ferry, Yu Wenye had said that once they returned, he would treat her well and proposed taking her to Tinghe Building for a delicious meal; and when they returned to the Eastern Capital, even when surrounded by Wang Shaoji’s men, he still rode to Tinghe Building to check the newly listed menu.
Turns out, he always remembered this, which was why he wanted her to dress up nicely today.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi felt a rush of joy and immediately turned her head towards the person beside her, but saw Yu Wenye still with his eyes closed, seemingly unaffected by the noisy atmosphere.
Shang Ruyi said softly, "Second brother..."
"..."
Yu Wenye didn’t respond immediately but slowly opened his eyes, glanced at her, then at the bustling street outside the curtain, before saying, "What do you want?"
Shang Ruyi laughed, "We’re almost there."
Yu Wenye asked, "Almost where?"
At this moment, Shang Ruyi understood why he was upset; he had always remembered this matter, but she had completely forgotten. It seemed she discarded his feelings, no wonder he ignored her the whole way. Thinking of this, she smiled and lightly leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
Yu Wenye still didn’t move.
But the corners of his mouth involuntarily lifted slightly, then he said, "Have you never taken my words to heart?"
Shang Ruyi immediately said, "I won’t next time."
"..."
If she explained or debated, he might still be angry, but her quick admittance made him flustered instead. Yu Wenye glared at her a bit annoyed but couldn’t help but smile.
Just then, the carriage stopped, and the coachman outside said, "Second young master, Young Madam, we’ve arrived at Tinghe Building."
The two of them immediately got out of the carriage.
During the day, Tinghe Building wasn’t as lively as in the evening, but several tables on the first floor were occupied. A few waiters bustled about, and there was someone loudly promoting at the door. Seeing the carriage stop, recognizing important guests, he quickly greeted them with a smile, "Master, Madam, please come inside."
Then he turned around, shouting inside at the top of his lungs, "Honored guests!"
They walked inside, Shang Ruyi looked around, suddenly feeling somewhat disoriented, but she tried hard to calm herself down, following Yu Wenye to the second floor, where a waiter led them into a private room by the window.
Upon entering the private room, Shang Ruyi’s heart sank again.
This was the very room where Chu Yang had intercepted her halfway and brought her to Tinghe Building, the room where they met.
But now, it was arranged like usual, no longer adorned with the dignified and noble fragrance that lingered when he was there. Yu Wenye sat down, seeing her standing aside in a daze, he said, "What’s wrong?"
"... Hmm?"
Shang Ruyi suddenly snapped out of it, hurriedly shook her head, and sat opposite him.
Yu Wenye seemed to notice her distraction but said nothing. The waiter brought hot tea and some snacks to accompany the tea, then attentively asked, "What would you like to eat?"
Yu Wenye said, "Medicinal soup with wine, small sweet buns, braised phoenix tongue, and cherry pork."
Shang Ruyi looked at him in surprise.
Although Yu Wenye previously mentioned she didn’t like lamb, he only knew her dislikes, Shang Ruyi had never told him what she liked, yet the dishes he ordered were almost all her favorites.
How did he know?
Thinking further, she started to understand.
Even if she never told Yu Wenye what she liked, when these dishes were made at home, she naturally ate more of them. Since Yu Wenye was observant enough to see she didn’t like lamb without asking, he could surely tell what her preferred tastes were.
So, he is actually silently paying attention to her too.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi’s heart warmed instantly, she immediately discarded the slight daze from earlier, and Yu Wenye had already looked up at her and said, "Take another look, anything else you’d like to eat?"
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and said, "Braised lamb."
"Alright."
The shop assistant responded cheerfully and ran to the kitchen to report the dishes.
Yu Wenye looked at her somewhat surprised, "Don’t you dislike lamb? Why still order it?"
Shang Ruyi said, "But you like it."
"... How do you know?"
"Earlier at Xianglai Inn, you ordered a whole table of lamb dishes; if you didn’t like them, why order so much?"
"..."
Yu Wenye thought for a moment and then laughed, "Our family never indulged us in eating and drinking, but everyone has their preferences. Only when going out do I indulge myself once, to avoid getting accused of being picky at home."
Shang Ruyi laughed, "I was also accused of being picky."
"Oh?"
"At home before, my aunt always said that about me. I found it strange that she never seemed picky and ate everything. But now I think, as an adult, she naturally doesn’t buy what she doesn’t like, so she’s not picky."
Yu Wenye laughed again and asked, "Then, what else do you like to eat?"
Shang Ruyi glanced at him, lowered her head, and softly said, "Everything you just ordered, I like them all."
Yu Wenye looked at her, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepened a little more.
The two didn’t talk further, just sipped tea and ate snacks. Though quiet, it wasn’t awkwardly silent; instead, there was an invisible and untouchable yet palpable sweet aroma lingering between them.
After a while, the shop assistant brought two dishes: braised lamb and herbal chicken soup, and they immediately served two bowls of soup to warm themselves up.
After just a few sips of soup, the Little Sweet and Crisp was brought out.
This dish has different preparations in different places. At Tinghe Building, it’s made with shredded chicken and venison, stir-fried with green vegetables. Its vibrant colors and rich aroma are quite refreshing in a dull winter, so many people order it as a supplement.
Only this dish delivered was rather red.
Seeing this differently colored dish, Yu Wenye asked the shop assistant, "Why is this dish so red?"
The shop assistant laughed, "Esteemed guest, you might not know, but it’s been cold recently. The kitchen adds some deer blood when stir-frying this dish to warm up and nourish the body."
"I see..."
Yu Wenye heard this, said nothing, merely waved him away.
Shang Ruyi didn’t understand why he was so interested in this dish. After the shop assistant left, she asked him, "What’s wrong?"
Yu Wenye shook his head, "It’s nothing."
As he spoke, he picked up his chopsticks and served her some food, "Eat quickly. This isn’t tasty when it cools down. They’ve added deer blood, it’ll taste fishy if it cools."
Shang Ruyi ate several mouthfuls, the flavor was indeed rich, and she couldn’t taste any fishiness.
But after eating for a while, she noticed Yu Wenye only drank soup and ate a couple pieces of braised lamb, without touching this dish, and said, "Why aren’t you eating? Venison is nourishing; you should eat some to recover from such heavy injuries."
With that, she picked up a piece with chopsticks for him.
Yu Wenye looked at the red dish in front of him but didn’t eat immediately; he pursed his lips, looked up at Shang Ruyi with a half-smile, "You want me to eat this?"
"...?"
Shang Ruyi looked at him puzzled — What does that mean?
Isn’t the dish here to be eaten?
Yu Wenye still looked at her, unable to hide the smile at the corner of his mouth, and asked again, "Do you really want me to eat it?"
Shang Ruyi grew more puzzled, and it’s clear now from his eyes and tone that there’s a hint of "ill-intention." Unknowingly compelled, she recalled some remedies she’d once overheard.
Deer blood, it makes a man —
Her face instantly flushed red, especially realizing today was the last day of the month-long period, afraid to look at him.
Even if they said nothing, for these few nights, sleeping apart, she could still feel the heat radiating from Yu Wenye making the whole room warm, an apparent catharsis in his morning sword practice; and she, even in dreams, felt an unsettling yearning, though not of fear, but rather an... unspoken ... desire.
Now, this dish cooked with deer blood suddenly lays out the hidden expectations of these days open to both.
Deer blood... does he need to drink deer blood?