“You do. You are a coward who fears death.”
Guo Xue looked up at Qiu An.
“What? This prince is dashing and elegant—how do I look like a coward?”
Qiu An stared at Guo Xue in shock.
“Because you’re a scoundrel. And scoundrels are cowards who fear death.”
Guo Xue replied with a smile full of mischief.
Qiu An looked at her, half laughing and half crying.
“Who said scoundrels are cowards? And besides, I only act shameless with you. If I weren’t like that, would you be sitting here with me now?”
“Hmph.”
Guo Xue thought about it and had to admit he had a point, but still gave a cold snort.
“My lady, since you’ve investigated me so thoroughly, did you plan to marry me even before you entered the estate?”
Seeing Guo Xue annoyed made Qiu An want to tease her more.
“I did not! I just…”
Guo Xue suddenly realized what she was about to say. They’d only just met the day before—she couldn’t be that honest with him yet, so she stopped herself mid-sentence.
“Just what?”
Qiu An smiled, eyes fixed on her.
“I just had to check your reputation before entering the estate. If you were a bad man, I wouldn’t have come in at all.”
Guo Xue quickly made up a lie.
“Heh.”
Seeing she didn’t want to say more, Qiu An didn’t push it. Instead, he asked another question.
“My lady, why did you come to the estate as a maid?”
The question made Guo Xue fall silent, unsure how to answer.
Seeing her quiet, Qiu An considered letting it go, but decided to try one more time.
“My lady, is your family in the capital? If so, I’d like to go visit your parents with you tomorrow and discuss our marriage.”
When he mentioned her parents, Guo Xue suddenly saw the memory of Guo Haotian and his wife being executed. Her eyes instantly turned red, filled with killing intent, and she whispered softly, “Father, Mother… your daughter has failed you…”
Though she spoke quietly, Qiu An was already a peak Martial King. He heard every word clearly.
Seeing her red eyes and the killing intent in them, and hearing her words, Qiu An guessed that her parents had either been imprisoned or killed.
Seeing Guo Xue so upset made Qiu An feel bad. Spotting the table in the courtyard already full of ingredients and a copper hotpot, he quickly stood up to change the subject.
“My lady, dinner is ready. You’re hungry, right? Let’s eat first.”
“Mm.”
Qiu An’s words pulled Guo Xue back from her memories. Realizing she’d lost her composure, she quickly stood up and nodded, heading toward the stone table in the courtyard.
As she turned, she discreetly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Though she tried to hide it, Qiu An noticed—and he had already made up his mind about something.
He followed her to the stone table.
But when Guo Xue got there, she froze. The ingredients on the table were all raw.
“Young lord, this is the special dinner you mentioned?”
She pointed at the raw ingredients in surprise.
“Hehe. Just wait and see.”
“Sit down first. I’ll teach you how to eat it in a moment.”
“Alright.”
Guo Xue nodded and sat down on the stone stool.
Qiu An sat beside her and waved to the nearby maids.
“You may all leave. I’ll take care of it myself.”
“Yes, young lord.”
The maids bowed and withdrew.
After they left, Qiu An first prepared a dipping sauce for Guo Xue. Then he picked up a piece of beef tripe and placed it into the boiling soup of the hotpot.
After about fifteen seconds, he took it out, dipped it in the sauce, and placed it into Guo Xue’s bowl with a smile.
“My lady, try it.”
Guo Xue stared at the piece of beef tripe in her bowl.
“This is cooked already?”
She had watched him—it had only stayed in the soup for a few seconds. How could it be done?
“Hehe. Of course it’s cooked. Would I give it to you if it wasn’t?”
Guo Xue shook her head, not daring to eat it.
Qiu An just laughed, picked up the beef tripe from her bowl, and popped it into his mouth.
Crunch crunch.
“Mmm, delicious.”
He chewed as he praised it.
Gurgle.
Gurgle gurgle.
Guo Xue couldn’t help but swallow as she watched him eat so happily. Her stomach also began to protest.
Seeing her embarrassment, Qiu An smiled and placed another piece of beef tripe in the pot.
After a few seconds, he dipped it in sauce and placed it back in her bowl.
“My lady, give it a try. If you don’t like it, I’ll have the kitchen make you something else.”
With Qiu An’s insistence—and her growing hunger—Guo Xue finally picked up the beef tripe, closed her eyes, and put it in her mouth.
Crunch crunch.
She started chewing cautiously but quickly opened her eyes and began eating faster.
Seeing that, Qiu An smiled and added a bunch more tripe into the pot, then poured it all into her bowl after dipping it in sauce.
This time, she didn’t need any prompting. Guo Xue eagerly began eating.
Qiu An cooked, Guo Xue ate.
Half an hour later.
Guo Xue looked at her bowl with a conflicted expression. The food was delicious—she wanted to eat more—but her stomach was already full and slightly bloated.
Seeing her look, Qiu An chuckled.
“My lady, if you’re full, don’t force yourself. We can eat it again later.”
“In the estate, if you ever want hotpot, just ask the kitchen to make it.”
“Okay.”
Guo Xue nodded, but still looked regretfully at the food in her bowl.
“It’d be a shame to waste it. Maybe I can finish what’s left.”
She picked up her chopsticks again, but before she could reach for the bowl, Qiu An snatched it away.
“My lady, don’t worry about waste—I’ll eat it.”
He then started eating the leftovers from her bowl.
Seeing him eat from the same bowl she had used made Guo Xue blush.
“I’m full. I’ll go back to my room.”
Without waiting for him to reply, she got up and walked away quickly.
Qiu An watched her leave while still eating with a satisfied look.
“Someone come.”
He put down the bowl and called out loudly.
A maid quickly approached and bowed.
“What are your orders, young lord?”
“Prepare a bath for the young lady, and bring her the clothes I had you prepare this afternoon.”
“Also, tell Qiu Jian to come to my study later.”
“Yes, young lord.”
The maid bowed again and left.
Though Guo Xue hadn’t been officially named the heir’s wife, after just one afternoon, everyone in the Clear Wind Courtyard already knew she was the future lady of the house.
After the maid left, Qiu An headed for his study.
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