Chapter 917: The Young Empress (54)

Jing Cheng's martial skills were truly exceptional. After seeing Tang Guo fall from such a height without suffering even the slightest injury, he knew that her martial arts were astonishingly profound. There was no way that had been mere luck.

Even he couldn't guarantee that he could fall from such a height and emerge completely unscathed.

Such a powerful Empress didn't actually need him to protect her so carefully.

And yet, if he wasn't holding her hand, he simply couldn't feel at ease.

Because he cared about her, he wanted to protect her and keep her from suffering even the slightest harm. He had no right to interfere with the things she wanted to do. She was the Empress of Western Saint Kingdom, and there were countless matters she had to consider.

So all he could do was accompany her, stand by her side, never betray her, and appear whenever she needed him.

Jing Cheng quickly caught some prey—a wild boar.

A man as elegant and refined as the moon and breeze now had a large slab of boar meat slung over his shoulder, while his other hand firmly held his beloved Empress's hand as he led her back to the stone slab.

Looking at the boar meat before him, Jing Cheng found himself at a loss.

He had never learned to cook.

“Help me cut the meat. I'll handle the rest.”

Jing Cheng looked at Tang Guo in surprise.

“Your Majesty knows how to roast meat?”

“I do,” Tang Guo answered with a smile.

Without hesitation, Jing Cheng divided the meat into appropriately sized pieces according to her instructions.

After lighting a fire, he decided to catch some fish.

Finding a long branch, he sharpened the tip with his sword and stood by the riverbank, eyes sharp and focused. With a single thrust, he speared a lively fish. Every strike was accurate.

By the time a string of fish hung from his makeshift spear and he returned, Tang Guo's roasted boar meat had already turned golden brown, its aroma filling the air.

Staring at the meat roasting over the fire, he couldn't hide his surprise.

The Empress could actually cook.

From the color and fragrance alone, he knew it had to be delicious.

Perhaps…

He was the only person who had ever seen this side of her.

“Can you clean the fish?” Tang Guo asked.

“Yes.”

Jing Cheng immediately got to work, using the treasured sword Tang Guo had given him.

He didn't think it was disgracing the sword.

To serve the Empress was the sword's greatest blessing.

The system clicked its tongue.

This mentality… now that's true enlightenment.

By the time Jing Cheng cleaned the fish, Tang Guo had already finished roasting the wild boar.

She handed him a piece.

“Try it. How is it?”

The system sighed inwardly.

Sometimes I'm still jealous of humans. For example, moments like this, when they get to eat all kinds of delicious food.

Jing Cheng took a bite.

The rich aroma immediately filled his mouth.

The boar meat was perfect in color, fragrance, and taste.

As he chewed, he paused in surprise.

There had clearly been no seasonings around, so how could it taste so wonderful?

He could distinctly make out the flavors of numerous spices.

Of course, he only paused for a moment before simply immersing himself in the deliciousness without investigating further.

Tang Guo noticed his confusion but offered no explanation.

She had said it before.

Among all the men in the harem, Jing Cheng was the cleverest.

After the roasted boar, Tang Guo grilled the fish.

Only then did Jing Cheng notice several tiny bottles beside her.

He immediately guessed that they contained seasonings.

He hadn't seen them before, yet they had suddenly appeared now.

But he didn't care in the slightest.

His eyes remained fixed on the fish.

If the boar meat had been so delicious, then the fish would surely be equally amazing.

After eating their fill, Tang Guo lazily reclined against Jing Cheng.

“Ah Cheng.”

The sudden change in how she addressed him made Jing Cheng freeze.

Then Tang Guo continued,

“From now on, may I call you Ah Cheng?”
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