Arc 2: Part 31
Tong Su was busy preparing for the feast. This wasn't physically tiring but required a lot of thinking.
Preparing a feast tests a person's ability to manage and plan. Luckily, in her previous life as Xi Tong Su, she was the daughter of a wealthy family and had carefully learned all of these aspects.
Now, she found the job quite smooth.
As the party time approached, young maidens from various families arrived in succession. They were beautifully dressed, emitting an air of grace and elegance. They greeted her, and the small venue quickly turned lively.
There were many faces Tong Su didn't recognize, but fortunately, her maid whispered careful reminders in her ear. She didn’t appear anxious at all, and no one realized her unfamiliarity as she graciously received the guests.
Xiao Qingwan sat in a corner with a gloomy face, her eyes constantly wandering towards the entrance.
Just before the feast began, she finally spotted the figure of Prince He Lian sneaking in. Her eyes lit up, and she called her trusted maid to her side.
This maid, named Zhu Se, was specifically chosen by her after her rebirth. She was the only one in the entire Xiao residence who knew about her identity swap with Xiao Bai Zhu.
"Tell Tong Su that Miss Wen's favorite soup is clam soup. Make sure she doesn't forget to serve that dish!"
Zhu Se nodded, and when no one was paying attention, she quietly approached Tong Su and relayed the instruction.
Tong Su smiled and said, "Of course, I won't forget. Please go back and tell my sister that I'll remember."
Xiao Qingwan's circle of friends included only wealthy heiresses. They all had quite discerning tastes, and naturally, they were picky. However, when Tong Su signaled for the dishes to be served, and they saw the beautifully arranged and finely prepared cuisine brought to them one after another, they couldn't help but raise their eyebrows in astonishment.
Each plate was meticulously presented, the dishes were exquisite, and the flavors were incredibly delicious. They were so good that no one could find any fault with them.
"Qingwan, I've heard about your culinary excellence. Now that I see it, you truly are skillful."
"Oh, you're too kind. I still have a long way to go."
After chit-chat and laughter, Tong Su invited everyone to start eating. Right at that moment, a hearty laugh echoed from the doorway.
"May the young ladies forgive my intrusion. I happened to pass by and caught a whiff of the tantalizing aroma of the dishes. My stomach is grumbling, and I've shamelessly come seeking a meal. I hope you won't shoo me away."
Looking up at the sound, they saw a handsome young man with flirtatious eyes. Several young girls blushed at his charming smile, all of them looking expectantly at Tong Su.
Rising to her feet, Tong Su laughed and said, "Our kingdom doesn't have strict separation between genders. If the prince wishes to join us, he is, of course, welcome. Servant, invite the prince to take a seat."
"Prince, is it the Prince of Zhenbei?"
"Is that Prince He Lian? No wonder he seems unfamiliar..."
The ladies whispered among themselves, occasionally shooting coy smiles in his direction.
Prince He Lian was also free of restraint, you could see he was all smiles as he greeted the ladies. He complimented one for her pretty dress and another for her exquisite jewelry, with his sweet talk and handsome face he made everyone happy and smiling.
At this moment, a new dish was served — clam soup.
"Hmm, what is this delicious thing that smells so fishy?"
Tong Su smiled, "This is clam soup. Seafood transportation is inconvenient, so it is often roasted and sun-dried for transportation. As the prince has been living in the northwest for a long time, you might not have tasted this food made from dried seafood. Why not give it a try?"
At her suggestion, Prince He Lian nodded, scooping up a spoonful and putting it in his mouth, his eyes brightened, "This tastes really good! I..."
Before he could finish his sentence, his face suddenly changed. Clutching his mouth, he fell backward onto the floor and fainted!
The crowd immediately erupted in confusion, everyone backed away in fear. The bowl of soup was knocked over in the chaos, the room filled with panic as Prince He Lian's personal guard rushed in, his face pale!
And just at that moment, a malicious scream came from behind the crowd.
"It's Xiao Qingwan! The prince got poisoned after drinking the soup she prepared!"
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