LOT -Chapter 288 Not Using the Main Gate, Insisting on the Dog Hole

In the end, the emperor still couldn’t get involved and was assigned to pick vegetables.

Bai Xiao was in charge of cooking; after all, his performance depended on fate—maybe this time he’d do particularly well.

The Second and Third Princes went to wash the vegetables, and Lin Mo went to gather firewood. Everyone had something to do.

The vegetables brought from the imperial kitchen were set aside. After all, there was a stone table in this palace, and it was quite large.

While everyone was busy on one side, over there, Xin Wang—having secretly stolen two ducks under the orders of his elder brother—was frantically searching for someone.

“Brother! Where are you?!” He had just been here, so how had his elder brother disappeared all of a sudden? Was his lightness skill really that good?

Xin Wang was on the verge of panic, having to avoid palace maids and eunuchs while searching for someone.

After half an hour of searching without success, nearly getting caught in the process, Xin Wang could only return home holding the two ducks. It wasn’t his fault—after all, his elder brother had disappeared in an instant.

Who would dare loiter in the palace for so long, especially as a duck thief? If caught, it would be mortifying.

While picking vegetables, the emperor felt like he’d forgotten something, but he couldn’t quite recall what.

He probably hadn’t forgotten anything. His memory was actually pretty good. Forget it—he’d just continue picking vegetables. Once he had something delicious to eat, he wouldn’t think about all that messy stuff.

(Xin Wang: …So apparently, I’m the “messy stuff.”)

Today, Xiao Bai performed admirably. Whether frying, boiling, stewing, or steaming, everything turned out wonderfully. Lin Mo stood beside him, endlessly showering him with praise.

“Xiao Bai, Xiao Bai, your skills are getting better and better. I feel like you’ve already surpassed my father!”

“Xiao Bai, men who cook are the most handsome. In my heart, you’re the handsomest!”

“Men who labor are the most useful. You are the most useful man, and I give you a thumbs up!”

Listening to all these compliments, the three royal men were completely dumbfounded.

Compliments like this cost nothing, right? It’s just cooking—was it really necessary to praise him so extravagantly? And Xiao Bai… could you control your smile? Your grin is almost reaching the sky!

On the surface, Xiao Bai appeared modest, but inside he was practically exploding with joy.

[Praise me more, praise me more! I’ve been diligently practicing my culinary skills lately. Although I’m still at the mercy of fate, the heavens are treating me well right now.]

Lin Mo: [Indeed, indeed! You are so charming. Truly worthy of being my Xiao Bai!]

Bai Xiao: [Of course!]

The three princes standing nearby: …I feel completely out of place with you two.

The Third Prince glanced at Bai Xiao, feeling extremely frustrated.

He had never been praised like this by a princess consort before. The princess consort, Ding Ge, would only call him cute once.

Other times, she would always complain that he was clingy and overly dependent.

He wasn’t being clingy—he was clingy because he liked her. How he longed to be praised like this by the princess consort.

When the meal was served, it truly was impressive. Bai Xiao was sweating profusely, yet his smile never faded.

“Come, come, dinner is ready! Hurry and try my skills!”

Master Xiao Bai wiped his face with a handkerchief, looking extremely suave.

Today’s performance was indeed the most satisfying he had had—perfect in color, aroma, and taste. The aroma could probably be smelled outside the palace.

The emperor took the first bite, and his eyes lit up—delicious!

Seeing the emperor start eating, everyone else quickly followed, especially the Second and Third Princes.

They had been hungry all along, having eaten only a white jade bun and a coarse-grain steamed bun after working hard and waiting so long. Their stomachs were practically empty.

Lin Mo ate with pure enjoyment, and seeing the Second and Third Princes wolfing down food, she calmly said, “Don’t eat so fast—it’s bad for your stomach.”

[Sigh, the Second and Third Princes are acting like they haven’t eaten for 800 years.]

Bai Xiao: [Maybe it’s because they were really hungry.]

This meal was thoroughly satisfying. After eating, everyone sat on the ground, completely disregarding appearances. Plenty of food remained on the table. Lin Mo initially wanted to pack it to take home, but the emperor stopped her.

“Minister Xiao Lin, how can you take the leftovers home? With all the jostling along the way, the food wouldn’t be edible.”

Lin Mo looked at all the remaining food, thought about how they had entered, and realized they really couldn’t carry so much. Mixing everything together would ruin the flavors, so it wasn’t feasible.

Seeing Lin Mo hesitate, the emperor offered a suggestion: “Leave it here. Reward the palace maids and eunuchs. That way it won’t go to waste.”

Lin Mo agreed—it made sense. As long as the food wasn’t wasted, it was fine. So much good food would be a pity to throw away.

“Alright then, please reward these dishes to the palace maids and eunuchs. It’s getting late, we should head back. We’ll come play again next time.”

The emperor and the Second and Third Princes smiled and nodded. Just when they thought Lin Mo and Bai Xiao would leave through the palace’s main gate, the two lifted their skirts, dropped down, and crawled out through the dog hole.

The expressions of the three men froze: …You came in this way?

Why use this hole when there’s a perfectly good main gate?

After exiting, Lin Mo even poked her head back in. “Your Majesty, don’t block this dog hole yet. You can station a few guards here—what if an assassin comes in? Next time, I want to use this hole again. The palace gate is just too far; this is much more convenient.”

Emperor Xuande’s mouth twitched—he didn’t know how to respond. You’re really saving a few steps? This gate isn’t for humans—it’s for dogs!

He waved helplessly, indicating he understood. This little rascal never revealed what was going on in her head.

It had been a wonderful day. On the way back, Bai Xiao even helped some people tell fortunes and earned a little extra money.

“Hahaha, life is just too wonderful!”

Bai Xiao: “Exactly! Let’s go buy some pastries. When we go out, we always need to bring back something to eat.”

The two happily went off to buy pastries. Meanwhile, the three men in the palace stared at the remaining dishes in deep thought.

The Third Prince kindly suggested, “Why don’t I take these leftovers home? They really taste good. I don’t mind if they’re leftovers.”

The Second Prince rolled his eyes—what a naive idea.