My Three Kingdoms is not right

The sound of horses' hooves came to an abrupt halt at the entrance of Wannian Garden.

Cao Cao dismounted with his usual swift and decisive movements, but when his boots stepped onto the bluestone steps in front of the Wannian Garden gate, he hesitated for a moment, which was unusual for him.

The gatekeeper recognized Cao Cao, a frequent visitor, and after bowing, was about to go in to announce his arrival. Cao Cao didn't wait for her and walked in himself, familiar with the way.

Turning into the corridor, we saw Liu Xun coming out to greet us, carrying two kitchen knives.

Cao Cao subconsciously took half a step back.

Liu Xun hadn't had time to change his clothes. He was wearing a narrow-sleeved short shirt, an apron around his waist, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing a section of his muscular, fair arms.

Cao Cao was momentarily stunned when he saw that Cao Cao's appearance was completely different from his usual that of a young cook.

"Chopping filling." Liu Xun, thinking she was startled, chuckled and brandished the knife in his hand. "Mengde, your timing is perfect. Did you smell something delicious?"

Cao Cao composed himself and said, "I've come about the matter of military farming."

"I heard that the reclamation of the Zhileyuan Park is going well."

"It's really good. The seedlings have all grown, and we should have a good harvest." Liu Xun nodded with a smile. "The Imperial Guards' food and pay are secured. We have to thank Mengde for those three hundred acres of land back then."

Cao Cao forced a smile, but for a moment he didn't know how to speak.

The Imperial Guards' provisions and pay are secured... This is clearly holding a grudge.

Liu Xun chuckled inwardly as he watched her awkward manner.

Regret it now?

Cao Cao took a deep breath and finally spoke: "Your Highness, let's not beat around the bush. I've come today to ask about the methods of military farming."

"This matter concerns our army's provisions and the imperial court's expenses. Please tell me the method to succeed. If you have any demands or conditions, please feel free to make them."

She's quite a genuine girl.

Liu Xun never intended to hide it.

Historically, Cao Cao's land reclamation program was certainly successful, though there may have been some setbacks along the way.

Moreover, if Cao Cao's army goes hungry, neither he nor Liu Xie can escape unscathed. Growing more grain will at least reduce the number of people who starve.

Therefore, he had no intention of using this to control Cao Cao.

However, it's quite interesting that they actually came to me today to make demands...

But thinking about it carefully, what can we possibly ask for?

Can we still suggest "don't be a powerful minister," "don't usurp the emperor's power," or "don't call yourself a duke or a king"?

If even the slightest hint of these things were revealed, the trust that the two had painstakingly built up would crumble.

His relationship with Cao Cao was very delicate.

They were both partners and potential rivals. He needed Cao Cao's help to realize his ideal of restoring the Han Dynasty, but he could not be completely suppressed by Cao Cao and needed to check her ambitions.

This delicate balance is one that needs to be carefully maintained.

He thought for a moment, then suddenly laughed and said, "There really is a condition."

Cao Cao leaned forward, gritting his teeth, and said, "Your Highness, please speak."

"Come help me make dumplings!"

"What?"

Cao Cao thought he had misheard.

"Help me make dumplings," Liu Xun said earnestly. "Look, the filling is almost chopped, and the dough is ready. If Mengde would be willing to help—"

He pointed towards the kitchen: "The first plate fresh out of the pot is all for Mengde."

……

In the bright and tidy kitchen behind Wannian Garden, all the cooks had been sent away by Liu Xun.

The huge kitchen was left with only two people. Cao Cao stood in front of the cutting board, looking at the dough and minced meat in front of him, feeling at a loss as to where to start.

These hands have wielded swords, reviewed documents, and signed countless military and political orders...

But I've never cooked before.

"Come on, watch carefully." Liu Xun stood beside her, skillfully picking up a rolled-out sheet of dough. "Fold it in half and pinch the pleats little by little—"

His fingers were nimble, and in the blink of an eye, a dumpling shaped like a gold ingot appeared in his palm.

With a level 6 cooking skill, making dumplings is as natural as drinking water.

Cao Cao's eyes widened in surprise.

"Want to try it?" Liu Xun handed over a piece of dough.

Cao Cao took the dough and, imitating Liu Xun, scooped a spoonful of meat filling into the center.

I scooped up too much.

She pursed her lips and pushed some of the minced meat back.

They started pleating again.

When her fingers first touched the soft dough, she felt as if she were touching something completely unfamiliar.

There's a way to hold a sword hilt, and a way to hold a calligraphy brush, but this soft dough is hard to handle.

I had only pinched it three times when the filling squeezed out from the side.

"...A lowly woman!"

She cursed under her breath and frantically tried to fix it, but ended up tearing the skin on the other side as well.

Liu Xun stood to the side, suppressing a laugh.

He had never seen Cao Cao like this before.

The valiant woman who was so insightful in the court and so decisive on the battlefield, now faced with a piece of dough and a spoonful of minced meat, looked more like an innocent young girl in her disheveled state.

Her delicate brows were furrowed, fine beads of sweat appeared on her smooth forehead, and filling stuck to her white fingers. She wanted to shake it off but didn't know where to do it.

"Don't rush." ​​Liu Xun walked over and naturally stood behind her, reaching out to take her hand. "Make sure your pressure is even. Look, start from here—"

Cao Cao froze.

The boy's warm palm covered the back of her hand, and his clear voice rang in her ear. She could clearly feel his warmth.

Her ears began to burn from feeling the man's breath.

My heart was itching, and I couldn't help but rub my legs together.

"Ahem." Cao Cao cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound normal. "Your Highness, I..."

Liu Xun originally didn't really have any other thoughts.

But at this moment, sensing Cao Cao's tension and stiffness, she couldn't help but have the idea of ​​teasing him.

But on the surface, he pretended not to notice her discomfort at all and continued to hold her hand attentively, giving her guidance.

"Don't move, don't move, it's almost done here."

At first, he was filled with a sense of vengeful pleasure.

The faint fragrance lingered around my nose, and the soft, smooth texture touched my fingertips, causing my heart to flutter.

Of course, you absolutely must not show it at all!

If this cunning woman sees through my "malicious intentions," she'll surely kill me.

Finally, the edges of the dough were pinched together to form pleats. "...Okay, it's done!"

A strangely shaped dumpling appeared on the cutting board.

It's barely recognizable as a gold ingot shape, but it's crooked and adorably ugly.

Cao Cao looked at the dumpling and felt a little embarrassed.

But Liu Xun smiled and said, "Not bad, much better than the first one. Come on, let's continue."

He released Cao Cao's hand and handed her another piece of dough.

Cao Cao lowered his head, the flour in his palm was dry and warm.

"Don't stop." Liu Xun's voice pulled her back to reality. He had already returned to his spot and resumed skillfully making dumplings.

Cao Cao was initially a little uncomfortable, but seeing Liu Xun's focused expression and smooth movements, he gradually relaxed as well.

"Dumplings," Liu Xun said casually as he made them, "look simple, but there are actually a lot of tricks to it. The ratio of flour to water, the preparation of the filling, and the cooking time—if you're even slightly off, they won't taste right."

"Like a military colony."