Shocking! The entire court was drooling with envy because of me.

The group ate until they were completely stuffed, and then they put out the fire under the copper pot.

Xin Heng patted his round belly, a satisfied look on his face: "I haven't eaten this much in ages! This hot pot is absolutely delicious and amazing!"

"I need to take this soup with me later, so I can make noodles tomorrow."

"Oh, you're right!" Madam Yan's eyes lit up instantly. "Let's keep the soup too, we can make noodles with it tomorrow."

"Burp~"

Yan Wenli let out a burp, glanced at Xin Heng, and said, "I wonder who said they weren't going to eat this..."

"Anyway, it wasn't me."

Xin Heng spoke with a straight face, looking at the hot pot soup in front of him, he felt more and more happy.

The next noodle dish would definitely be good; add some other vegetables, and it'll be another delicious meal.

This soup would definitely taste good with steamed buns.

I reckon we could make dumplings that way too.

......

After chatting for a while, Xin Heng eventually took the remaining hot pot soup back to his residence.

"My lord, you're finally back! Madam is waiting for you to have dinner."

As soon as they entered the mansion, the steward came to greet them.

Xin Heng felt a little guilty; he had forgotten to tell his family.

It's all Yan Wenli's fault; we're always arguing with each other.

"Go tell the lady that I discussed state affairs with Lord Yan too late, and Lord Yan invited me to stay for dinner, but I have already eaten. Tell her to eat quickly."

"Yes, sir."

The butler looked obsequious, but couldn't help frowning.

Why do adults smell oily, spicy, and have such a strong odor?

Looks like they ate well.

"Oh, by the way, could you please put this food box in the kitchen for me? No one is allowed to touch it without my permission." Xin Heng handed over the food box.

The butler quickly took it: "Yes, sir."

As he turned to leave, Xin Heng's voice rang out again: "Wait!"

"What is it, sir?"

"Give it to me, I'll take it myself." Xin Heng snatched the food box back.

He was always worried about letting others take his food; if something went wrong, his hot pot noodles would be gone tomorrow.

The butler was stunned.

No, it's just a food box. Why are adults treating it like a precious treasure?

And the adults are going to take it to the kitchen themselves?

"Sir, are you going to the kitchen yourself?" the butler asked uncertainly.

Xin Heng had already gotten used to Yan Wenli's house, and was now more accepting of the kitchen. He calmly nodded: "Yes, I'll go by myself."

"Are you sure? Or should I let the younger one..."

"No need." Xin Heng refused directly, and walked towards the kitchen with the food box in his hand.

The butler was dumbfounded. Had his master been possessed by an evil spirit?

So he quickly sent someone to inform Madam Xin of this matter.

Madam Xin was feeding the fish at the moment when she heard the news and was completely stunned.

"What did you say? He came back mysteriously with a food container and even went to the kitchen himself?"

"The steward said that the master looks at that food box like it's a treasure, and he even moved into the side room next to the kitchen," the maid said with a worried expression.

The side room next to the kitchen was the servants' room.

"Is he possessed? He used to avoid even going near the kitchen, let alone going to it. What's wrong with him today? Or is there something terrible in that food box...?"

Madam Xin frowned and threw all the fish food in her hand into the pond.

"Let's go take a look."

She wanted to see what treasures were inside that food box.

She rushed to the kitchen, and when she passed the side room, she deliberately walked quietly so that Xin Heng wouldn't notice her.

The servants in the kitchen were all startled when they saw Madam Xin's unfriendly expression.

"Where's the food box he brought back?"

"This servant does not know..."

"I don't know?"

"The master chased the servants away, and it seems he hid the food box..."

Upon hearing this, Madam Xin became even more suspicious.

What exactly is in the food box?

"Find it for me!" Madam Xin commanded.

All the servants trembled: "We dare not..."

"Go ahead and look for them. I'll take responsibility if anything happens!"

The servants searched frantically, trembling.

After searching for a while, they finally dug the food box out of the rice jar.

"Open!"

The servants opened it with trembling hands.

A layer of solidified red oil floated on top, and underneath it seemed to be a layer of broth jelly. You could clearly see that the red oil contained chili flakes, peppercorns, and a lot of spice residue.

"Isn't this just leftover soup? What's so special about it?" Madam Xin really couldn't understand it.

What's so special about leftovers? That's outrageous.

The solidified hot pot broth no longer had such a strong aroma, which made Madam Xin feel strange.

Since there was nothing of value in the food box, only some leftover soup.

Then there is only one explanation for Xin Heng's unusual behavior.

That means—possessed by an evil spirit!

"Madam, what should we do?"

Madam Xin frowned: "Let's put it back first."

"Go outside and invite Zhang Tianshi back. Tell him that someone in our family is possessed by an evil spirit."

It was just some leftovers; it should have been thrown away directly.

However, considering how much Xin Heng cherishes this leftover soup, it's best to leave it for now. Otherwise, if it upsets Xin Heng, everything will be ruined.

The only course of action now is to invite Master Zhang into the mansion as a warning!

......

It was a dark and windy night, and Xin Heng was fast asleep, smacking his lips in his sleep.

He dreamed that he was eating hot pot noodles, and it smelled amazing.

"...Delicious, good, spicy..."

Just as he was dreaming about a crucial moment, he suddenly felt something wet on his face and head.

It looks like it's raining.

It's raining. What will happen to his hot pot? Will the fire in the stove go out?

No, no, we have to think of a solution quickly.

Xin Heng was frantic, repeatedly shouting in his dream, "Hurry!"

"Protect hot pot! Protect hot pot!!"

"Hot pot! My hot pot!!!"

"hot pot--"

Xin Heng woke himself up with a loud shout.

I opened my eyes in a daze and was met with a face full of wrinkles.

"ah--"

Xin Heng was startled. He looked around and, good heavens, his bed was covered with yellow talismans.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Madam Xin's voice rang out.

Zhang Tianshi said with a profound and unfathomable expression, "It's alright, this is just the evil spirits on Lord Xin manifesting themselves."

"Let me continue the exorcism!"

Evil spirits? What evil spirits?

Xin Heng felt his head buzzing, and before he could react, a bowl of red stuff was splashed in his face.

It's sticky and hot.

It smells a bit bad...