Abandoning Wife and Selling Daughter? Turning Around to Marry a Powerful Minister and Wiping Out Your Entire Clan! - Chapter 37

The next day, Tian Dong came to ask about the date. Zhang Xiaolan didn’t make things difficult for him and set it for seven days later.

With a definite answer, Tian Dong left, while Zhang Xiaolan was still busy dealing with the curious onlookers in the kitchen.

The Great Zhou Dynasty was relatively tolerant toward women. Divorce and remarriage were common, and as long as a woman had no moral blemishes, remarrying was easy.

As for whether family status mattered, that was a matter of perspective.

If one could stand on their own, their opinion was what counted. If they lacked strength, then their opinion didn’t matter at all.

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

Early in the morning, Zhang Xiaolan went to the market to buy meat and vegetables.

She also called over the Han brothers to help clean the courtyard, have a meal, and experience the imposing presence of high-ranking officials.

Last time, Han Boguang had been scolded by her. This time, he seemed different.

He wasn’t distant, but he appeared more composed.

Zhang Xiaolan didn’t bother with it. He would face such things in the future, and toughening up now wouldn’t hurt.

Besides, she had only told him the truth.

Sometimes, people weren’t inherently malicious—it was just that you happened to be in their way.

Tang Lifeng arrived early that day, around mid-morning (approximately 10 AM).

Zhang Xiaolan had already prepared the ingredients. Seeing him arrive, she took the wheelchair from Tian Dong.

She pushed Tang Lifeng next to the stove, put an apron on him, and handed him a piece of firewood.

“Here, if you want good food, add some firewood.”

With that, she turned to prepare the pot and heat the oil.

A pot of chicken soup was set to simmer on low heat.

Fresh fish was cooked with scallions and ginger, flipped carefully, and slowly infused with water. Soon, the rich aroma of fish soup filled the air.

While waiting for the food to cook, Zhang Xiaolan kneaded dough, planning to make soup pancakes with chicken broth and beef.

However, the beef was stewing in a hidden spot—she planned to use it to startle this troublemaker later.

Tang Lifeng sat by the stove, adjusting the firewood as instructed.

Since only soups were simmering, he had some free time. Looking up, he saw Zhang Xiaolan wearing a short apron, her sleeves tied back, kneading dough by the basin.

As she moved, her robe shifted slightly, and a few loose strands of hair swayed with her actions.

She wore no hairpins or ornaments, only a cloth strip gathering her hair.

Tang Lifeng felt a moment of daze, as if he were seeing his mother cooking for him when he was a child.

Back then, his father held a minor official post, and they only rented a small house. But his parents were deeply in love, so he never felt lonely.

Later, his father was promoted, and he grew up. That simple life suddenly faded away, replaced by constant arguments between his parents. The warmth of the past vanished.

Last year, his father was diagnosed with a serious illness, and the imperial physician recommended rest. His father then wrote to his mother, and they returned together to their hometown in Yizhou.

Surprisingly, after returning home, their relationship improved again.

Unfortunately, he suffered the most. Every letter from them never went beyond three sentences before mentioning his unmarried status.

In the past, he found it annoying. But what if it were her?

By now, Zhang Xiaolan had finished kneading the dough and was rolling it out. But the heat of Tang Lifeng’s gaze was too intense. She turned to find him staring at her, lost in thought.

Was he even… smiling?

Sensing trouble, Zhang Xiaolan put down the rolling pin and ran to check the fire—sure enough, it had dwindled.

“Seriously? You can’t even add firewood properly?” She quickly tossed in two more logs. “Forget it. Just stay outside and don’t ruin my food.”

She handed Tang Lifeng back to Tian Dong, and the Han brothers stepped in to help in the kitchen.

Sure enough, they were much more efficient.

As noon approached, the smell of food was unbearable for a hungry Tang Lifeng.

Tian Dong was about to check on the food when Zhang Xiaolan and the Han brothers brought out the dishes: a bowl of chicken soup, a bowl of fish soup, and another covered bowl.

The Han brothers set down the soup bowls while Tian Dong helped bring out the soup pancakes.

The six of them sat around the table. Zhang Xiaolan grinned as she lifted the cover of the mysterious bowl.

“It’s beef!”

Tang Lifeng’s eyes flickered with emotion. Catching a glimpse of Zhang Xiaolan’s smiling face, he felt an overwhelming sense of attraction.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t resist—rather, her manner and temperament suited him perfectly.

Lowering his gaze to hide his emotions, Tang Lifeng tasted his soup pancake. The noodles were chewy and smooth, the broth rich and flavorful.

The Han brothers, still young, couldn’t stop eating.

Tian Dong wasn’t much older, and the three of them fought over the food.

Zhang Xiaolan watched them with a warm smile.

Xiang Ning liked these dishes too, so she had specially learned to make them.

She still remembered Xiang Ning’s delighted expression the first time she ate this dish—eyes squinted in joy, like a little cat that had just stolen a fish, making people want to pat her head and spoil her.

At this moment, had Xiang Ning eaten well?

Noticing the shift in her mood, Tang Lifeng felt puzzled.

Wanting to distract her, he put down his bowl and mentioned the waiter from before.

Zhang Xiaolan turned to wipe her eyes. When she looked back, there was no trace of sadness—except for her slightly red eyes.

“That waiter is still being held?”

“No, after Tian Dong subdued him that day, he was handed over to Fenghua House’s manager.”

Without a word, Tang Lifeng stole a piece of beef while the others were fighting over food.

Tender and flavorful—exceptional quality.

“Thank you, sir. It was probably a misunderstanding. I’ll explain when I return.”

Zhang Xiaolan spoke slowly, and Tang Lifeng followed her gaze to her hand.

There were water marks on the table.

“Ignore it—just luring the snake out of its hole,” she had written.

Reading her message, Tang Lifeng frowned. “Do you need my help?”

“Thank you for your kindness, sir. I am deeply grateful,” Zhang Xiaolan said politely, while writing, No need for a sledgehammer to kill a chicken.

Understanding her intent, Tang Lifeng nodded and said no more.

After the meal, he stayed at Zhang Xiaolan’s house until dusk before having Tian Dong push him home.

On the way, Tang Lifeng suddenly asked, “Tian Dong, what do you think of Zhang Xiaolan as the lady of my household?”

Tian Dong was so startled he almost lost control of the wheelchair.

Heart still racing, he thought carefully. “Zhang Xiaolan is skilled in cooking and likely has good morals. The issue is her status and her missing daughter.”

“Also…”

“Also what?”

“The other day, we saw her scolding Han Dalang. She seems very wary of men. The Han brothers are like children to her, but with other men, she keeps her distance.”

“I see. Look into her past.”

“Yes, sir.”

To win her over, he had to understand her past first.

As they approached the mansion, they saw the old steward pacing anxiously at the gate.

Seeing Tang Lifeng return, he looked relieved, as if seeing a savior.

“Master, His Majesty urgently summons you! The palace attendant has been waiting for a long time.”

Tang Lifeng glanced at his injured leg. “Even with my leg like this, I have to go?”

The steward sighed helplessly. “The attendant brought a sedan chair. His Majesty personally ordered that you must enter the palace tonight… to sleep beside him.”

He sneaked a glance at Tang Lifeng after saying this.

Tang Lifeng said nothing. He simply changed his clothes and followed the attendant to the palace.

“I heard you dined and dashed at Fenghua House?”

Tang Lifeng hadn’t expected this to be the emperor’s first question. He was momentarily stunned.