The Scholar's Darling Bride [Food]

Exclusively published on Jinjiang Literature City. Thank you for your support. (I hope my lovely readers will give Zhizhi five little hearts, please! Sending love.)

Currently serializing "The Emperor's Record of Cherishing His Wife (Reborn)". Click through on my profile.

Blurb

Her father died, her mother disappeared, and her uncle and aunt sold her off. A life that had gone smoothly was suddenly plunged into hell mode.

After she fell into the water, the little white rabbit who pretended to be fierce was taken home as a bride by the big bad wolf, who seemed gentle on the surface. A flower bloomed in hell.

~★~☆~★~☆~★~☆~★~☆~★~☆~

The young scholar Wen from Linxi Village is getting married, and his bride is an ugly orphan with neither father nor mother! Who knows how many girls in the village have torn their handkerchiefs to shreds over it?

If her parents hadn't died young and left her with a little burden to care for, the threshold of the Wen family's home would have been worn down by suitors. How did this outsider from another county get picked instead? One more mouth to feed, and this scholar from the Wen family will be dragged down sooner or later!

But things don't seem to be going the way they expected...

The delicious smells from the Wen family's kitchen reach all the way to the village entrance;

The little burden in the Wen family has her hair done in pretty buns, is plump and adorable, and gets to eat pastries the villagers have never seen every few days. The village children are green with envy;

Seeing all this, the villagers change sides.

Kindly auntie: The Wen scholar is so fair and delicate. He clearly won't know how to treat a woman right. Daughter, what do you think of my son?

Envious child: I wonder if it's too late to ask Tuanzi to switch sisters-in-law with me.

Wen the scholar himself: Everyone is coveting my wife. I really don't mind at all. (Turns around and moves to town.jpg)

Qing'er, who has a favorite-child script: Brother, what are you talking about? Sister-in-law belongs to Tuanzi, and the romance is Tuanzi's too!

~﹡~﹡~﹡~﹡~﹡~﹡~﹡~﹡~﹡~﹡~

This is a sweet little story about a fake little white rabbit bringing home and doting on a real little white rabbit. A little scheming at the start ended up costing him his whole heart.

Mujin's perspective: The feeding plan is underway!

Wen Honglan's perspective: Another day of getting jealous over my darling.

Mung bean cake, pea flour cake, lotus pastries, lotus root and osmanthus cake

Scallion pancakes, braised pork, Yangchun noodles, roujiamo

Steamed fish, kiln-roasted chicken, fried lotus root, soy-braised duck

You ask which one I'll make? Of course I'll make them all!

A beautiful, kindhearted fairy x A young scholar who has no interest in building a career, only in sweet romance

﹡~﹡~﹡~[.Treats to enjoy with the story.]~﹡~﹡~

Plum blossom cake: The little white rabbit is carried off right from the start, so the pacing may seem fast. It'll be explained later.

Purple rice cake: Zhizhi is a silly pigeon. If I've made you unhappy, dear readers, this silly coo would like to apologize in advance. Please go easy on me. I'm not too bright to begin with, and getting scolded will make me even more of a dummy.

Hibiscus cake: A sweet little story about food and the everyday life of a family. If it makes you smile, then this coo has succeeded. (Happy pigeon.jpg)

The bonus-scene divider

[1] A few stories about the teacher and that legendary person who must not be named

Many years later, several great officials, whose students filled the world, gathered together. Their disciples seized the chance to ask a question.

Disciples: Sir, you rose from a mere student to where you are today. Was it to achieve what you wished for in your heart?

He nodded.

Disciples: I understand. You must have wanted to serve the people and work together to bring about a golden age.

He nodded again.

An insider objected: Don't listen to your teacher's nonsense. He may put on a good act now, but he wasn't like that back then.

Officials: Master, could you please spare us a little dignity? (Furious hints)

Students: (Eagerly watching.jpg)

Teacher Qi: They worked so hard to become officials because that person's grades were so good they were afraid of falling behind.

Disciple: I know this one. That person is Lord Wen Honglan, who passed the imperial exams with top honors at every level and became prime minister, right?

Teacher: That's right. They were all coveting the other person's...

Students: ! (Is this something I'm allowed to hear?)

Teacher: ...wife...

Trembling disciple: ! (Did I just hear something I shouldn't have? Will I survive the day?)

Teacher, dragging out every word: ...food.

Disciples: Master, could you please say it all in one breath? Why are you making us hold our breath like this? (I'm already wondering what kind of coffin I should have myself buried in.)

[2] On the love-hate relationship between Wen Honglan and the washboard

"Hey, hey, did you hear? Prime Minister Wen got turned away from his own home by the servants!"

"Keep your voice down! If Lord Wen hears you, you'll be crying at court tomorrow. Everyone knows Lord Wen holds grudges, and what's worse, you never know when he's plotting against you. Before you know it, he's got you wrapped around his finger, and he's treating it like after-dinner entertainment. You must have a death wish!"

The person being scolded wasn't offended. He ducked his head, looked around, and hurried off.

Meanwhile, Lord Wen, the subject of their conversation, had finally made it through his own front gate and was now...

"My lady, I was wrong. You can hit me or scold me as much as you like. Please calm down, and take care not to hurt yourself."

"Lord Wen, you're so sharp-tongued at court, striking all sides. How did I never realize that the seemingly timid Lord Wen who took ages to choose his words when speaking to me had secretly threatened so many people?"

"That's because those people were coveting my lady's beauty. Besides, if I hadn't acted a little weak, how could I have gotten you to marry me right away back then?"

"My lady clearly prefers this type!" Lord Wen really is a professional at changing the subject.

Mujin couldn't argue with that, and didn't mind. She smiled at her husband and pointed at the floor.

"Lord Wen, which would you prefer, this gold washboard or the silver one?"

Outside the door, the little dumpling was listening with perked-up ears. Another day of Mom and Dad being lovey-dovey!

Also known as "One Hundred Ways for a Husband to Pretend to Be Weak" and "How I Went and Got Tricked by My Husband"

﹡~[.The Emperor's Record of Cherishing His Wife (Reborn).]~

Jiang Suimian had been in love with Xiao Qi for her entire youth, and eventually got her wish and became his imperial princess consort.

When Jiang Suimian first married Xiao Qi, she thought they would live together in perfect harmony, deeply in love.

But after several years of marriage, what she received was a cup of poisoned wine personally presented by Xiao Qi.

The poison entered her throat, yet somehow Jiang Suimian returned to her younger self, to a time before she had married Xiao Qi.

The young girl hadn't even come to her senses when Xiao Qi and the woman he loved barged into her room. She picked something up and hurled it at them.

She thought that all those years, she'd simply thrown her sincere love to the dogs.

**

Emperor Yongyuan picked up a cat with a sweet pear-like fragrance, delicate and gentle, who nearly bumped into his imperial carriage the moment she saw him.

He reached out and stopped her.

When they met again, she gently rubbed the place where he'd held her back and murmured, "Your Majesty hurt me."

Emperor Yongyuan looked at the reddened mark on her forehead and frowned slightly.

She was afraid of pain.

But later, to save him, the person most afraid of pain willingly drew two qian of blood from her heart.

It turned out that a precious flower could be easily damaged, and needed careful tending.

From then on, the emperor held her in his arms and never again let wind or rain touch her.

The eldest prince, Xiao Qi, was handsome and noble, and quite likely to become the future heir to the throne. He was the ideal husband hidden in the hearts of countless young women. Yet the position of eldest prince's consort had been promised early on to Jiang Suimian, the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue.

Everyone in the capital knew that the Jiang family's young lady was in love with the eldest prince. Though stunningly beautiful, she was liked by no one, and even her betrothal was said to have been forced through by her father's and brother's influence.

In truth, it had not won her even a trace of the eldest prince's affection.

Until one day, they saw with their own eyes the proud and dignified eldest prince knock on her door at night. As torrential rain fell, the young man was red-eyed, begging for a chance to see her:

"Suishui, I love you."

Time flies. Once you miss your chance, it's hard to turn back.

Theme: Keep a light in your heart, and even hardship can become fertile soil.