Dining hall.

Everyone sat in their seats and glanced at what was in front of them curiously.

In the center was the hotpot with the raw meat, seafood and vegetables placed around it.

They could feel the warmth from the charcoal which was burning in the hotpot and boiling the chicken broth that was at the top of it.

Lin Xuan Qi was glad to see it again and was eager to start.

But before that, he had something to announce.

He glanced over at Yue Jie and Yue Xin and said, "I have some good news for you, hence the celebration with the hotpot."

"Good news?" Yue Jie and Yue Xin asked with anticipation.

Lin Xuan Qi nodded his head and replied, "It’s about the case for your father.

"The Governor had investigated it and overturned the previous ruling.

"Your father is a free man now."

"Really...." Yue Jie glanced blankly out into the distance and mumbled to herself.

She couldn’t believe that it would be possible.

It was unheard of in the Da Qian Dynasty for a sentenced person to be set free.

Yue Xin who was sitting beside her didn’t think as much and she was close to tears.

She turned to the side, glanced at Yue Jie and held onto Yue Jie’s hands tightly.

Finally, after so long, they were able to see their father normally again.

Lee He Song chuckled and said, "That calls for a celebration indeed."

He poured a cup of wine for himself and the sisters.

They took a sip of the wine while he downed the wine in a mouthful.

After he wiped the wine from the side of his lips, he glanced at them and said, "I shall inform your father to come for a visit tomorrow."

Lin Xuan Qi nodded his head and added, "He is welcome to stay if he wants."

Yue Jie and Yue Xin nodded vigorously at what he said and they had more of the wine.

"I will get the servant girls to prepare one of the guest rooms for him to stay temporarily, while I get the permanent room for Master Liu done." Xue Cong said and Lin Xuan Qi gave her a smile for not being unwelcoming to his other father-in-law.

"I will help with it, sister Xue Cong." Yue Xin volunteered to help with the preparation of their father’s room and Xue Cong agreed to it.

Yue Jie also nodded her head to it.

Who else would know better than Liu Ju Zheng’s daughters?

"Now that the good news is announced, it’s time for a good meal of hotpot..." Lin Xuan Qi said and everyone looked at him, waiting for him to start.

They didn’t know how the raw meat and food would make for a great meal.

Lin Xuan Qi picked up some beef with a pair of chopsticks that was placed near the hotpot.

He brought the beef into the boiling soup and dipped it inside.

Zhi Yong pointed at it and asked, "Master Lin, cook meat?"

"Yes, that’s the fun in having hotpot." He replied and took out the beef after a few moments.

The beef was steaming hot with steam rising out from it.

Lin Xuan Qi blew at the beef and dipped it into his seasoning plate he had in front of him.

And he put the beef into his mouth after he covered it with the soy sauce and sesame oil.

When he munched on the meat, it was as delicious as he remembered it to be.

The juiciness and tenderness of the beef being cooked in the hot soup kept everything inside it and, coupled with the seasoning, made it even more savory.

Lin Xuan Qi only had one qualm about it and it was the lack of chili.

There was no chili in the Da Qian Dynasty and it was the best he could muster with what was available.

"Me try prawn." Zhi Yong couldn’t wait and joined in after seeing his reaction.

He picked up a prawn with his chopstick and dipped the prawn into the boiling soup.

And after the prawn curled up and turned red and white, he put it into his mouth and chewed on it.

The prawn tasted sweet and chewy with its freshness.

He didn’t wait and picked up another prawn.

The others saw what happened and they joined in by picking up the food they wanted.

It was something new for them and the effort was worth it.

The food tasted great with their taste alone from the hotpot.

And the warmth from the hotpot made them feel comfortable in the autumn chills.

"Have some of these." Xue Cong and Yue Jie helped Lin Xuan Qi with the cooking of the food after they knew what to do.

He could eat non-stop without lifting a finger with them serving him and he was more than happy to oblige them.

After working so hard for the day, it was a well-deserved little reward for him.

Lin Xuan Qi glanced at them with a sheepish smile and they knew what he was up to next.

They frowned and blushed when he wrapped his arms around their waists but they were happy to let him.

As the dinner went on, everyone chatted and had their food.

By the end of it, they were astonished to find out that the soup of the hotpot had gotten much more savory and tastier after all the cooking.

It enhanced the taste of the meat and seafood even more.

"Maybe you should start an inn that sells hotpot, Master Lin." Lee He Song said jokingly when he downed the last cup of wine he had.

Lin Xuan Qi shook his head and replied, "There’s no barrier of entry and the competition would be tough.

"And besides that, I’m too busy right now with what I have on hand."

Xue Cong and Yue Jie glanced at their flat bellies and gave out a silent sigh.

They wished that they could help him to have kids soon.

It would be a dream come true for him and his kids would be the best candidates to help him.

Lin Xuan Qi saw their reaction and held them closer.