Chapter 1560: Chapter 36: Autumn’s Perfection

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the window lattice, casting itself onto the spotless floor.

From the kitchen, the aroma of dishes drifted, mingling with the moist scent of freshly turned earth.

Ji Mingyue, wearing a newly bought plain cloth apron, held a spatula, carefully placing the final dish of lotus leaf chicken onto a porcelain plate.

The Immortal Crane squatted at the door, tilting its head to watch the steam rising from the pot, occasionally letting out a soft chirp.

Jiang Ning sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, shelling the pods Ji Mingyue had just bought back.

After a long while.

"Dinner’s ready!" Ji Mingyue stood by the table, hands on her hips, looking pleased with herself.

Jiang Ning glanced at the six dishes and one soup on the table, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

The preparation of these dishes differed quite substantially from Great Xia’s cuisine, primarily focused on frying and sautéing.

"Did you learn to cook while in the Imperial Palace?"

Looking at the appealingly colored, aromatic set of dishes, Jiang Ning asked.

"No!" Ji Mingyue shook her head with hands on her hips, continuing, "In the Imperial Palace, as the Seventeenth Princess, I never even wet my fingers with spring water! You’re just lucky! This is my first time cooking, even my Father never had this privilege."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning’s eyes widened further in surprise.

"How come your cooking skills are so outstanding!" he exclaimed, looking at the six dishes and one soup before him.

"It’s a secret!" Ji Mingyue replied with a mysterious smile.

Then she picked up the wine jar she had just placed aside.

Clang——

It landed on the wooden table with a collision sound.

This wine jar was just bought from the market, hung on the crane’s neck.

"Moving into a new home calls for a good celebration with wine!" Ji Mingyue proclaimed.

As she spoke, she removed the red stopper from the jar, and the fragrance of wine filled the air.

Gurgle gurgle gurgle——

Clear wine swiftly filled two large bowls.

"Try this, it’s a specialty of Guangning City, century-old green dew brew!"

Jiang Ning sat down, tasting a sip of wine before nodding in satisfaction, "Not bad!"

Ji Mingyue’s face lit up with a smile.

She also sat down, clinking her bowl with Jiang Ning’s.

The two took a sip.

"Try this, too!" Ji Mingyue ladled a spoonful of fish brain soup into another clean bowl.

The soup was milky white with a luscious aroma.

Jiang Ning drank, feeling warmth spread from his throat to his stomach, blooming on his taste buds. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

He looked up at Ji Mingyue, astonishment glimmering in his eyes.

Just a sip, and he could sense how outstanding Ji Mingyue’s cooking skills were, no less than those of his sister-in-law Liuu Wanwan.

"How is it, tasty?" Ji Mingyue asked with squinted eyes.

"Very tasty, excellent!" Jiang Ning nodded, expressing approval.

"Then have some more!" Ji Mingyue ladled another hearty spoon of fish soup into Jiang Ning’s bowl.

Jiang Ning savored the fish soup and sampled the other six steaming dishes.

Steam rose, sunlight was gentle outside the window, appearing unusually peaceful, as if separated by two worlds from yesterday’s biting wind and snow.

...

After being full of wine and food.

At this moment, Ji Mingyue’s face was already flushed with redness.

The wine jar now was only half full.

"I’m so happy!" Ji Mingyue muttered, watching Jiang Ning gnaw on a chicken wing.

Outside the house behind them, the Immortal Crane, having just finished the two Dan pills Ji Mingyue fed it, was now nibbling on half a lotus leaf chicken.

The warm breeze from outside the window blew in, carrying a faint scent of wine.

Ji Mingyue looked out the window.

Amongst the chaotic greenery, there was both the desolation of winter and the unique Lu Yi close to the south.

"By the time spring arrives next year, the flowers outside will be beautiful, climbing window lattices, peach blossoms will be in full bloom," Ji Mingyue fantasized with a look of longing, stars shimmering in her eyes.

Jiang Ning chuckled, "No need to wait until spring."

"That’s right!" Ji Mingyue perked up, "You said that earlier, do you have some special method?"

Jiang Ning nodded.

Then stood up, pulling her sleeve, "Come with me."

Upon hearing this, Ji Mingyue stood up, following Jiang Ning’s steps.

The two crossed the threshold and arrived at the front courtyard.

They slowly walked to the patch of soil where seeds had just been sown.

The sunlight slanted down, with traces of watering still visible on the soil surface.

Ji Mingyue watched him with curiosity, her eyes carrying a hint of intoxication, gleaming with anticipation.

"Watch closely!"

Jiang Ning pointed his fingers ahead with a gentle motion.

A barely perceptible gold Divine Power spilled from his fingertips, wafting like thin mist, quietly permeating the soil.

Suddenly——

A faint rustling sound came from beneath the soil.

The once smooth soil surface began to swell with little bumps, countless tender green buds breaking forth, growing rapidly at a visible pace.

Leaves unfolded, stems stretched taller, soon budding flowers.

In no time, the seeds scattered earlier grew.

The dormant branches also sprouted and turned green again.

Ji Mingyue widened her eyes, a good portion of her wine-induced daze vanished, "This... this is..."

Before she could finish speaking, the buds bloomed in succession.

Calendulas unfurled their bright yellow petals, gleaming with gold under the sunlight.

Morning glories entwined around nearby dead branches, blooming bell-shaped lilac flowers, climbing along walls, windows.

Unidentified wild grass blossomed with tiny white flowers like scattered snow across the ground.

In just a few breaths, the once barren soil was now vibrant and lively.

The previously dead branches now thrived with Lu Yi, the entire front courtyard was alive with the vigor of springtime, teeming with life.

"Here are the flowers you wanted!" Jiang Ning turned to Ji Mingyue, watching her amazed and joyous expression, subtly smiling.

Ji Mingyue squatted down, gently touching a fully bloomed calendula, its petals soft and tangible, still carrying the moisture reminiscent of morning dew.