Ling Shishi held back a strong feeling of nausea and even managed to display a look of honor: "Madam, the soup is really delicious, neither cold nor hot, neither salty nor bland."
"It seems you like it," Qiann Yan concluded, calling to another maid, "Bring a bowl. Shi'er is usually obedient and well-behaved. Having her take care of the Great King's daily needs allows me to campaign with peace of mind. Since she loves this pot of soup so much, reward her with a bowl."
[Host, why not reward her with all of it?]
"Save some for Hee Qingshan."
"This is called balancing things evenly."
System 666 wanted to speak up to remind her that using this saying here was incorrect, but fearing backlash, it remained silent.
Ling Shishi instinctively wanted to protest, but Qiann Yan cut her off: "Don't be shy. It's rare to see you like something. You usually don't want this or that; you're too honest, girl. Just a bowl of soup, will you still refuse?"
Xun Zihuai looked at the pot of soup with a slightly strange expression, then glanced at Qiann Yan, whose face was as indifferent as ever, with little expression.
With a cold face, saying the most considerate words, yet each sentence is like a knife stabbing?
"Shi'er thanks Madam for the reward."
Ling Shishi's eyes were red, filled with tears. Anyone who didn't know would think she was moved, but who could guess that she was sickened to tears?
"Drink up. If you don't drink it, I really won't be at ease. I've heard that you often give away your things to others, not keeping any for yourself? If you don't finish it, you'll probably give it to someone else later, right?" Qiann Yan's lips curled into a slight smile, but her face remained as usual, indifferent. No one doubted it because years of warfare wouldn't allow the original character to reveal the weakness of an ordinary woman.
Ling Shishi often gave away things to others, not out of foolishness, but to win people's hearts with small trinkets.
She held the bowl, looking at Qiann Yan with tears in her eyes: "Madam's grace today, Shi'er will never forget in her lifetime."
Ling Shishi tilted her head back and drank the soup in large gulps.
She suppressed the strong feeling of nausea, placed the bowl on the tray, and then wiped the corners of her mouth: "Thank you for Madam's reward. Shi'er will take her leave now."
Staying any longer, she might vomit in public, making it hard to explain. She also had no interest in watching Qiann Yan drink more. In her mind, after her trying so hard, Qiann Yan would surely drink it, right?
Qiann Yan glanced at the bowl of soup, her brow furrowed in thought: "Come with me to see the Great King. I don't know if he has tasted this soup."
Xun Zihuai suspected there was something bad in the soup, with an itch in his heart.
If there weren't people around, he would really want to go over and ask what exactly was in that soup. The expression on the maid's face earlier looked unpleasant. Being a Divine Doctor, he could naturally tell if someone was feeling discomfort or happiness.
Xun Zihuai quickly followed Qiann Yan, appearing eager to watch the drama unfold.
Whenever Qiann Yan turned to look at him, he would purse his lips, putting on a very obedient appearance. When Qiann Yan turned her gaze away, he would put away his smile, looking aloof, changing expressions faster than turning a page in a book.
"Why is Yan'er here?"
Hee Qingshan was indeed busy, busy tallying up the spoils of war, checking the inventory ledger. He had no martial arts skills, unable to enter the battlefield. In strategy and using people, winning people's hearts, he was indeed quite capable, especially in being adaptable and calculating; there were truly few who could match him.
"Today's soup is not bad." Qiann Yan had the soup brought before Hee Qingshan, "I heard the Great King has not yet dined."
Hee Qingshan felt a relief inside. Previously, he felt Qiann Yan was a bit cold towards him and thought she might be unsatisfied with something. It seemed she was still the same; it was just the constant warring that had changed her personality somewhat.
Her whole heart was still his; otherwise, why would she willingly battle on the frontier?
"Hurry and drink, I'll watch you," Qiann Yan urged, a flicker of expectation flashing through her beautiful eyes.