Chapter 26 - 14: The Blind-Eyed but Clear-Hearted Young Marquis
Xiao Anning took Tianmiao from shop to shop, jewelry stores, clothing stores, as long as Tianmiao said they were good, Xiao Anning bought them all and had them sent back to Dingguo Mansion.
Approaching noon, Xiao Anning took Tianmiao to a restaurant.
"This restaurant was opened by my grandfather. When he was young, he had a great love for gourmet food and gathered chefs from all over the country. Yes, not just ingredients, but top chefs from various places to cook for him." Mentioning her food-loving grandfather, Xiao Anning couldn’t help but smile, "Later, as he got older, many delicacies became hard for him to digest, so my grandmother decided to open this restaurant to give those chefs a place to show off their culinary skills, while also strictly controlling the frequency of grandfather’s gourmet indulgences."
As Xiao Anning explained, Tianmiao looked up at the restaurant’s signboard.
Taotie Building.
This restaurant has five floors. Before even entering, the mouth-watering aroma wafted out to greet them at the door.
Since Xiao Anning personally came, they were naturally escorted to the fifth floor, usually reserved for a private room which was exclusively for King Ying.
"One order of each signature dish," Xiao Anning instructed the respectful shopkeeper.
"Yes." The shopkeeper hurriedly went off to instruct someone to serve tea and sent someone to the kitchen to rush the orders. The little marquis’s visit was taken more seriously than even King Ying himself. If the little marquis was happy, then King Ying would be happy. But if the little marquis wasn’t content, it would be disastrous. As for King Ying’s mood, any discomfort from the food couldn’t be blamed on them, as it was Princess’s order not to let King Ying eat anything greasy or spicy.
Once all the dishes were served, the shopkeeper stood aside and personally announced the dishes, giving Tianmiao a detailed introduction of each dish’s name, origin, and distinctive qualities.
After announcing the dishes, the shopkeeper withdrew, leaving two waiters posted at the door to ensure any needs from within the private room could be promptly addressed.
Tianmiao picked up the chopsticks and began tasting the food. After trying each dish, he decided on which dishes he wanted to take away.
"This Eight-Treasure Duck, this Steamed Chicken in Lotus Leaf, and the Sweet and Sour Fish Fillets..." Tianmiao listed a string of dish names, and amidst Xiao Anning’s confusion, he said this sentence, "Make a note to prepare twenty servings of each for me before I leave."
Xiao Anning was taken aback, twenty servings each? To take away? But how could these dishes be taken away? It might affect the taste when reheated. However, Xiao Anning suddenly remembered the magical ability to view things in the Anything-Has Shop and felt his worry was likely unnecessary.
"Alright, I will instruct them later." Xiao Anning didn’t ask further and agreed right away.
"Then take me to see those snack shops." After the main meal, Tianmiao was thinking about what snacks to bring back for afternoon tea.
Xiao Anning laughed, "I know exactly where. My grandfather used to search every corner of the Capital City for delicious food and took me to all those places."
Just as Xiao Anning and Tianmiao walked out of the Taotie Building, they encountered someone.
It was Ji Liruo, who had just alighted from a carriage.
Standing at the restaurant’s entrance with people coming and going, Ji Liruo immediately spotted Xiao Anning ahead, alongside the stunning woman beside him.
"Little Marquis." Ji Liruo instinctively called out upon seeing the two about to leave.
Xiao Anning stopped, turning his gaze towards Ji Liruo.
"Miss Ji." Xiao Anning’s tone carried a hint of an imperceptible complexity.