lovenovelstory Chapter 394 Parking and Enjoying Love in the Maple Forest at Dusk
Chapter 394 Parking and Enjoying Love in the Maple Forest at Dusk
Jiang Zhaoyue stood at the very back, her hands clasped in front of her, her mouth slightly open.
She remembered that when they were in the North, Xu Longxiang had also taken her to roast meat, but the meat was roasted until it was burnt and hard, and when she took a bite, her mouth was full of charcoal ash.
The smell of the meat His Majesty roasted made her stomach rumble!
Qin Mu flipped the grilled fish over and sprinkled some cumin on it.
As the cumin seeds landed on the golden fish skin, they were stimulated by the hot oil, releasing a strong and domineering aroma, like an invisible hand reaching straight into the three women's nostrils, making their stomachs churn!
Zhao Qingxue's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.
As the Empress of Liyang, what delicacies hadn't she tasted? Imperial chefs, renowned chefs, and banquets presented as tribute from foreign lands—every meal was meticulously prepared.
But she had never smelled such a fragrance before!
It's that kind of wildness that comes from the very core of your being, making you want to salivate!
Yunluan swallowed, the sound of her Adam's apple bobbing clearly audible in the quiet mountains.
Her face flushed slightly, and she quickly turned her head away, pretending to look at the distant mountains and forests.
Jiang Zhaoyue gripped the hem of her clothes with her fingers, pursed her lips, and secretly swallowed.
Qin Mu took the grilled fish off the fire and placed it on a clean lotus leaf.
He turned the roast chicken and rabbit over again, sprinkled them with cumin and chili powder, and the aroma became even stronger!
Zhao Qingxue swallowed again, this time more noticeably than before.
She lowered her eyes, concealing the fleeting embarrassment that crossed her mind.
Qin Mu looked at the three women, who were trying hard to hold back but couldn't help it, and a smile slowly appeared on his lips.
He took the roasted chicken off the fire, tore off a chicken leg, and handed it to Zhao Qingxue.
Zhao Qingxue took the chicken leg, her fingers touched the scalding hot skin, she flinched slightly but did not let go.
The chicken leg was golden and glistening with oil, and the aroma of cumin and chili wafted over her. She pursed her lips but didn't eat it.
She looked up at Qin Mu, then at Yun Luan and Jiang Zhaoyue.
Qin Mu tore off another chicken leg and handed it to Yun Luan, then tore off two chicken wings and handed them to Jiang Zhaoyue.
He tore off a piece of chicken breast and held it in his hand.
"Let's eat first," he said softly, with a hint of a smile.
Zhao Qingxue then lowered her head, brought the chicken leg to her lips, and took a small bite.
The chicken skin is crispy and the meat is tender and juicy. The aroma of cumin, the spiciness of chili, and the freshness of chicken explode on the tip of the tongue, like a firework blooming in her mouth!
She couldn't resist taking another bite, even bigger than before!
Yunluan took a bite of the chicken leg, chewing much faster than usual.
A glint flashed in her eyes, as if she had discovered some incredible secret!
Jiang Zhaoyue held the chicken wing, taking small bites, but the speed gradually increased, from "small bites" to "big bites," from "refined" to "satisfied"!
The three women fell silent.
Only the crackling of burning charcoal and the soft sounds of the three chewing and swallowing filled the mountains and fields.
Qin Mu took a bite of chicken breast, chewed it, and nodded.
"Hmm, not bad. It seems your skills haven't deteriorated."
After finishing the chicken leg, Zhao Qingxue gently wiped the corner of her mouth with her sleeve.
A thin layer of oil glistened on her cherry lips, shimmering in the morning light, making her stunningly beautiful face even more alluring.
She looked up at Qin Mu, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"Xu Longxiang, Yue Shen, and Han Zhong certainly didn't expect that while they were in a tense standoff, each displaying their unique abilities, we would be here eating barbecue."
The voice carried a hint of schadenfreude, like a cat that had stolen some dried fish, licking its paws and squinting its eyes.
Qin Mu smiled, picked up the grilled fish from the lotus leaf, and flipped it over.
"Not only do they have barbecue, but they also have alcohol."
He took out a celadon wine pot from the bundle beside him. The pot had a round body and its mouth was sealed with red silk.
He pulled back the red silk, and the aroma of wine overflowed from the spout, rich and lingering, mixed with the scent of roasted meat, drifting in the morning breeze.
Zhao Qingxue's eyes brightened slightly.
She had just felt that having barbecue but no alcohol felt like something was missing.
Surprisingly, he even brought alcohol!
Yunluan stepped forward and took the wine pot.
She took out four white jade wine cups and filled them one by one.
The amber-colored liquor swirled gently in the glass, reflecting the moonlight overhead.
She held the wine glass with both hands and offered it to Qin Mu first.
Qin Mu took it, sipped it, and nodded.
Yunluan then picked up the second cup and offered it to Zhao Qingxue.
Zhao Qingxue took it, took a small sip, and felt the warm wine slide down her throat.
Yunluan then picked up the third cup and handed it to Jiang Zhaoyue.
Jiang Zhaoyue took it with both hands, lowered her head and took a bite, her face blushing slightly.
Yunluan poured herself a final glass, stepped back, and stood beside Qin Mu.
Four people sat around a campfire, eating roasted meat and drinking fine wine.
Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the treetops, casting dappled shadows on them.
The stream flowed gently past their feet, as if playing a melody that no one could hear.
They drank, ate, and laughed, completely oblivious to the bloody battle brewing dozens of miles away!
Halfway through her meal, Jiang Zhaoyue put down the chicken wing in her hand, looked up, and stared at Qin Mu.
Her lips were still greasy, but her eyes held a hint of worry.
"Your Majesty, shouldn't we pay attention to the battle over there?"
Qin Mu picked up his wine glass, gently swirled it a couple of times, and watched the ripples spread out in the glass.
He smiled and said.
"Don't worry. That old fox Han Zhong won't let the battle end so quickly. If you're going to put on an act, you have to make it convincing. If the battle ends too early, wouldn't that be telling the world it's all a charade?"
He drank the wine in his glass in one gulp and put the glass down.
"Let's not rush things. Let's observe and see how things develop before making our move."
Jiang Zhaoyue nodded, and the worry in her heart dissipated.
She lowered her head and continued to eat the chicken wing.
Zhao Qingxue put down her wine glass and gently wiped the corner of her mouth with her sleeve.
She glanced at the luxurious carriage parked by the stream, then at Qin Mu.
The carriage was large, with a vermilion body, carved windows, and copper bells hanging from the four corners of the roof.
The two horses pulling the cart were exceptional steeds, their coats glossy, and they were standing quietly by the stream drinking water.
The carriage was something Qin Mu had suddenly bought yesterday; she found it strange at the time, but now it seems—
She looked away, lowered her eyes, and said nothing.
Yunluan glanced at the carriage, then quickly looked away.
She tapped her fingers lightly on the hilt of the sword, her ear tips turning slightly red.
After finishing the chicken wing, Jiang Zhaoyue picked up a chicken leg.
She knew nothing and thought nothing; she just felt that the barbecue was exceptionally delicious and the wine was exceptionally good.
If only it could be like this every day.
The roast chicken was finished, the roast rabbit was finished, and only the skeleton of the roast fish remained.
Qin Mu finished the last drop of wine in his glass, put it down, stood up, and stretched.
His moon-white robe slipped from his shoulders, and he raised his hand to gather it up before turning to face the three women.
"Alright, now that we've eaten and drunk our fill, it's time to get down to business."
The three women simultaneously raised their heads and looked at Qin Mu.
They all looked on with a hint of doubt, wondering what he meant by "serious business".
Yunluan put away the wine cup, stood up, and placed her hand on the hilt of her sword.
"Your Majesty, what important matter is it?"
Qin Mu smiled, a smile that carried an indescribable, ambiguous meaning.
His gaze swept from Zhao Qingxue's face to Yun Luan's face, then to Jiang Zhaoyue's face, and finally landed on the luxurious carriage.
What do you think?
The three women were stunned at the same time!
Zhao Qingxue's face flushed red!
The red blush started from the cheekbone, like paint scattered by the wind, and quickly spread to the entire cheek, then to the earlobes, to the neck, and all the way into the depths of the collar!
She stared wide-eyed at Qin Mu, her lips slightly parted, as if she wanted to say something, but she couldn't utter a single word!
Only one thought occupied her mind—Here? Here?!
Qin Mu raised his hand and pointed to the carriage.
"Let's try out the horse-drawn carriage today."
Zhao Qingxue followed his finger and looked at the vermilion, carved carriage with copper bells hanging from it.
Her face turned even redder, so red it looked like it was about to bleed!
She suddenly understood why Qin Mu had come in a carriage instead of on horseback.
She initially thought he was just looking for a comfortable ride and didn't want to ride a horse.
So that's what it was all about!
Her hands slowly clenched on the scabbard of Frostmoon Sword, her face burning red!
Yunluan's face also turned red.
She lowered her head, looking at her toes, her fingers loosening and tightening on the hilt of the sword.
Jiang Zhaoyue's face was as red as if it had been smeared with rouge. She buried her face in her arms, huddled on the stone, and dared not look up or at anyone. Even her ears were red!
Seeing Yunluan and Jiang Zhaoyue's expressions, Zhao Qingxue's last remaining thread of hope snapped.
If none of them resist, what's the point of her resisting alone?
She took a deep breath, stood up, straightened her clothes, and walked towards the carriage.
Her steps were steady, her back straight, but the red tips of her ears betrayed her.
She walked to the carriage, stopped, and did not turn around.
Yunluan followed behind her with her head down.
Jiang Zhaoyue climbed up from the rock and followed.
Qin Mu walked at the very back, his smile deepening.
The carriage door was pushed open, revealing a thick brocade cushion inside, as soft as a cloud.
The copper bell swayed gently on the roof of the carriage, making a soft, crisp sound.
Zhao Qingxue took a deep breath, bent down, and crawled inside.
Yunluan followed behind her.
Jiang Zhaoyue was the last one.
Qin Mu stood beside the carriage, looking at the open door and the three flushed faces inside.
He smiled, bent down, and crawled inside.
The car door slowly closed behind him, and the copper bell jingled again, as if singing a song no one understood.
The wind blew across the charcoal fire by the stream, scattering the last embers.
Grayish-white smoke rose up, swirled twice in the moonlight, and dissipated into the air.
The stream was still flowing, the mountain wind was still blowing, no one spoke, only the copper bell occasionally rang.
Ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong...