A sharp-tongued, doting general X a naturally sweet and clueless little chef
Su Xiaozhi became somewhat famous in the capital for her excellent cooking.
But after General Pei Yun tasted her food, he said, "It's impossibly awful."
After that, no restaurant would hire her.
He was the first person to tell her cooking was bad since she began learning the craft. And not just bad, impossibly awful.
One rainy day, Su Xiaozhi stood outside the general's residence, soaked through, carrying her family's heirloom spatula and holding a battered oil-paper umbrella.
Her apricot eyes brimmed with hurt as she gazed through the gates at a handsome young man with deep, unreadable eyes.
"I'll cook it again. If you still think it's awful, I'll accept that I have no way to make a living in the capital."
After a long pause, the slender, crane-like man stepped forward and tilted his umbrella over her battered one, shielding her from the rain and wind.
His voice was calm yet clear as he replied, "All right."
From then on, everyone at court knew that the flower beds at the general's residence had become a vegetable garden.
The stern-faced general who sat in the Golden Throne Hall would come home and pick vegetables and shell beans.
One day, Su Xiaozhi was trapped by a downpour outside the palace gates. She looked around, preparing to brave the rain, when a figure approached through the storm.
Pei Yun crossed the slanting rain with an umbrella and tilted it toward her.
"You came!" Su Xiaozhi exclaimed, her eyes shining.
Pei Yun smiled softly and said in a gentle voice, "I'm here to take you home."
Later, on another rainy day just like this one,
Pei Yun personally led his iron cavalry to crush the six divisions of the enemy army, his sword drenched in blood.
"You came..." Su Xiaozhi said, smiling through her tears as she stood covered in blood on the execution platform.
Using his own body as an umbrella, Pei Yun shielded Su Xiaozhi from the storm and wiped away her tears. Word by word, he said, "I'm here to take you home."
Reading guide:
1. A sweet, doting romance, possibly a little funny, with a happy ending.
2. Set in an imaginary historical era. Please don't treat it as historical fact.
Theme: There is warmth everywhere in this world
