The charming widow of the Marquis's mansion: The stable boy carries the flag and raises the dra

Wang Long removed the crumbs and immediately withdrew his hand.

"alright."

Murong Qing reached out and touched her face, making sure there were no remaining crumbs, and silently breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, it was Wang Long who was facing him; if it had been anyone else, he would have been lectured without any chance.

"Thank you."

Her voice was soft and gentle, with a hint of embarrassment.

Wang Long shook his head, growing increasingly fond of the little girl.

Cute, polite, and endearing.

"Your Highness is too kind."

Murong Qing stood up and patted the grass clippings and dirt off her skirt.

That priceless pale pink palace dress was now wrinkled and stained with oil and dirt.

If the headmistress saw this, she would probably be so angry she'd vomit blood.

Murong Qing didn't care at all. She turned around, looked at Wang Long, and suddenly bent down and bowed deeply.

"Thank you, you're such a kind person."

Wang Long quickly waved his hand, looking somewhat nervous.

If the princess were to bow to a stable boy, wouldn't she be executed by the emperor if anyone else saw it?

"Your Highness is too kind to this old servant. It's just a beggar's chicken, nothing special."

"It's not about beggar's chicken."

Murong Qing straightened up, looked into his eyes, and said earnestly.

"Thank you for listening to what this princess has to say, and... and for comforting this princess."

Her voice was soft, yet it carried a sincerity.

"I've told many people, and they all say that my father and mother are doing this for my own good, but no one has ever cared about my thoughts..."

Wang Long was stunned for a moment, and suddenly felt sorry for the little girl in front of him.

If you want to wear a crown, you must bear its weight.

As a princess, Murong Qing was showered with love and affection, but she also bore immense pressure.

Wang Long had a very good first impression of her. If he had the ability, he really wanted to help Murong Qing break free from the constraints of her identity and be happy and carefree as herself.

All he can do now is try to comfort Murong Qing.

"I'm just glad Your Highness doesn't mind this old servant being so talkative."

Murong Qing shook her head, a smile on her face.

"I'm very happy chatting with you!"

There were no restrictions on their social status; they were simply venting about their troubles.

Although it was only the second time she had met Wang Long, Murong Qing already considered him one of her few friends.

Murong Qing was surrounded by many people, but they were all there because of her status.

Friends are too much of a luxury for her.

"By the way, what's your name? And which household do you work for?"

Murong Qing blinked, looked at Wang Long, and asked earnestly.

"This old servant, Wang Long, is a stable boy in the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion."

"The Marquis of Zhenbei's residence? Stable slaves?"

Murong Qing tilted her head and looked him up and down, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"How come you, a stable boy, are participating in this competition, and you can even make such delicious beggar's chicken?"

Wang Long smiled sheepishly.

"Although I've raised horses for decades, I often think about food when I have nothing to do, and I know quite a few dishes."

He knew exactly what Murong Qing liked to hear.

Murong Qing's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

"Uncle, what other delicious dishes can you cook?"

Wang Long thought for a moment, then started counting on his fingers.

"Beggar's chicken, roast lamb leg, braised pork belly, sweet and sour fish, braised pork knuckle, braised sea cucumber with scallions, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall..."

He talked at length, and Murong Qing's eyes grew brighter and brighter as she listened, her mouth practically watering.

"So many?!"

Murong Qing had eaten many delicacies, but she had never heard of many of the dishes Wang Long reported.

She was thrilled.

No wonder people say there are so many delicious local foods; the rumors are really true!

Murong Qing's dream is to travel all over the Great Qian Kingdom and taste all the delicacies in the world.

Looking at it now, this dream seems very difficult to achieve.

"This old servant would not dare to deceive Your Highness."

Wang Longhui has done far too much; he hasn't even listed them all yet.

Murong Qing swallowed hard, her eyes filled with anticipation.

"Then... may I, this princess, come to see you again in the future?"

Wang Long smiled indulgently at Murong Qing's adorable appearance.

"As long as Your Highness comes to see this old servant, whatever you want to eat, this old servant will make it for you."

Murong Qing's eyes curved into crescent moons; she hadn't been this happy in a long time.

"You said it, you can't go back on your word!"

As she spoke, she held up her little finger to Wang Long, her face full of anticipation.

Wang Long instantly understood and extended his little finger, hooking it tightly with Murong Qing's little finger.

"A word spoken by this old servant is as good as his bond."

"Pinky promise, for a hundred years, never to be broken!"

Murong Qing pulled hard twice, her eyes sparkling, and read it out word by word.

After reading it aloud, she solemnly raised her thumb and pressed it firmly onto Wang Long's thumb, stamping it as if it were her seal.

He then happily took a warm and smooth jade pendant from his waist and solemnly handed it to Wang Long.

"This is my personal jade token. Take it. If anyone makes things difficult for you in the future, just take this out."

Wang Long was stunned for a moment, then quickly waved his hand.

"Your Highness, this is far too precious; this old servant dares not accept it..."

"Take it."

Without a word, Murong Qing shoved the jade pendant into his hand and looked at him intently.

"If you treat me with sincerity, I will treat you with sincerity in return."

Holding the jade pendant that still retained its warmth, Wang Long felt a sudden surge of inexplicable warmth in his heart.

Having transmigrated to this world for so many years, he has seen too many condescending gazes and heard too many cold rebukes.

No one had ever looked at him so equally, treated him as a real person.

Wang Long's throat tightened slightly, and he suddenly realized that the little girl in front of him was really different.

"This old servant... thanks Your Highness."

His voice was a little hoarse. He lowered his head and carefully put the jade pendant into his bosom.

Murong Qing nodded in satisfaction, then suddenly tiptoed closer, lowered her voice, and chuckled:

"Next time I come, you're not allowed to slack off; you'd better cook a lot of delicious food!"

Wang Long looked up at her smiling eyes and felt a warmth in his heart.

A bold idea suddenly popped into his mind.

In the future, Murong Qing will be able to become the Empress of the Great Qian Kingdom.

Perhaps the Great Qian Dynasty will become better~

"Your Highness, rest assured, this old servant will do everything in my power to ensure you have a delicious meal!"

Murong Qing smiled and took a step back, then turned and ran to the wall. With a light touch of her toes, she leaped into the air like a graceful swallow, easily vaulting over the ten-foot-high palace wall.

Her last voice came from the top of the wall, clear and melodious, with a touch of playfulness.

"Wang Long, I'll remember you! I'll come find you again another day!"

The sound gradually faded into the distance, disappearing on the other side of the palace wall.

Wang Long licked his chapped lips, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his cloudy old eyes.

"next time……"

He muttered to himself, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"What should we do next time?"

"Buddha Jumps Over the Wall? Or roasted whole lamb?"

"Fine, I'll do them all."

"If we make her happy with her meal, maybe..."

Wang Long didn't think further, just smiled and bent down to pick up the chicken bones on the ground.

He wrapped the bones in lotus leaves, buried them in a corner, and covered the oil stains on the ground with soil. After confirming that no trace could be seen, he clapped his hands and stood up.

He looked up at the direction Murong Qing had climbed over the wall and couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.

Just then, a eunuch's shrill voice came from afar.

"Halftime is over, the competition continues—"

Wang Long dusted himself off and strode toward the square.

He was looking forward to his next meeting with Murong Qing.

Murong Qing ran quickly towards her palace, glancing back one last time at the direction where Wang Long was, with great reluctance.