CH 13

C13 – Where’s the Delicious Food?

The delivery of a meal had arrived, relieving Tang Yue from any concern over his appearance. He was confident that the Marquis’s Mansion would offer a wide selection of delicious food and wine, which he eagerly awaited to satisfy his hunger, after enduring a long journey to get there.

“Yue’er, hurry up and join me. I have been eagerly anticipating your arrival,” greeted the cheerful Yueyang Marquis from his seat at the head of the room. He observed his son, who looked impeccably groomed and full of vitality, and praised him for his recent victories against some of the most renowned scholars in Ye City.

It was only after this that Tang Yue realized the meaning of the unfamiliar words he had heard outside the city gate. Graciously, he responded, “Father’s compliments are too generous.”

To himself, he thought, “Are you not simply praising yourself? How can you boast with such an unremarkable appearance? Your words will only invite ridicule.”

“Come, come sit beside Grandma,” urged the kind-hearted old madam, who doted on her only grandson. The joy in her smile was evident, indicating her genuine delight.

Tang Yue had no desire to delve into what these people might want from him. For now, he was content to relish the food and the attire provided by the Marquis’s Mansion, though he remained aware of the disadvantageous position of his own family in comparison.

Seated beneath the old madam, Tang Yue faced seven beautiful sisters, ranging in age from three to fifteen. All of them displayed impeccable manners and education, sitting upright and attentive.

It was peculiar that not one of the seven daughters of Yueyang Marquis bore any resemblance to him. Rather, they had all inherited their mother’s attractive features. It was uncertain how many merits they had amassed in their past lives.

In this era, there were few men and women who held suspicions of one another. Women faced no restrictions when venturing outdoors and could freely pursue any man of interest. Widows remarrying was a common occurrence, hence there was no need for a divider during meals.

Tang Ya cast a disdainful look towards Tang Yue, who in turn offered a smile. It was natural for a young girl to possess a bit of stubbornness. In fact, it would be odd if she didn’t react to the sudden appearance of her brother.

Tang Ya huffed and turned her head away from Tang Yue.

Tang Yue also bestowed gentle smiles upon his other sisters. The sight of their adorable blushing faces caused his heart to feel as though it might melt.

As an only child, Tang Yue had no siblings. Upon realizing his sexual orientation, he knew that he would not be able to have children in his lifetime. When he was young, having children was of little concern to him. However, as he grew older, his fondness for children increased.

In this lifetime, he had been blessed with seven lovely sisters for no apparent reason. Tang Yue resolved to protect each and every one of them, a form of recompense to both the original owner and their family.

After only a few minutes, Tang Yue’s knees began to ache. Being a modern person, he was not accustomed to kneeling for extended periods of time, but he managed to keep a smile on his face while subtly adjusting his legs.

“Let’s eat. Yue’er must be hungry,” said the Marquis’s Wife, looking affectionately at Tang Yue and instructing the servants to bring out the dishes.

With every new dish that was presented, Tang Yue’s expression became more rigid. Where were the exquisite seafood and traditional delicacies that they had discussed? He couldn’t see any sign of them on the table.

The small brick table in front of him was overflowing with food, but it was all meat dishes, with just a bowl of yellowish rice and vegetable soup to accompany it.

He wished he could ask for something else, like a plate of sliced white meat with some sauce instead. The sight of all that roasted meat was too much for him.

Observing Tang Yue’s hesitation, Yueyang Marquis mistakenly believed that his guest was savoring the dishes and urged him to eat more.

Tang Yue was momentarily speechless and thought to himself, “If this much food is not enough for him, he might as well be compared to a pig.”

With his rice bowl in hand, he took a bite and noticed the rice was slightly firm, yet had a delightful aroma. The soup had a subtle flavor, so no salt was necessary. Tang Yue savored the chicken and pork dishes, but was unsure of the other dishes’ ingredients. To his surprise, the taste was satisfactory and not as awful as he had anticipated.

The trio seated at the head table observed Tang Yue’s eating mannerisms. Despite some uncouth actions, he displayed a level of grace with neither haste nor lethargy. He appeared anything but a naive rustic.

The elderly matriarch breathed a silent sigh of relief. While a grandchild’s inheritance was significant, a timid and forlorn heir would be of no use.

The Yueyang Marquis faintly recalled a woman he once cherished. Her pure and simple eyes and the serene days they shared were still vivid in his memory.

The Marquis’s wife, on the other hand, was in a sour mood. She had initially viewed Tang Yue as an easily intimidated and incompetent ruffian. Now, it seemed he was not one to be underestimated.