Chef God of the Wuxia and Fantasy World

"This wine isn't for sale." Ling Chi drank another cup and hung the wine gourd on his waist, saying, "I only drink it for my closest relatives. If you have a pretty sister who marries me, I might let you have a couple of cups since you're my brother-in-law. Otherwise, you can go cool off somewhere else."

Qin Chuan: "..."

Upon hearing these words, Li Shimin glanced at Empress Zhangsun, never dreaming that he would actually benefit from the favor of his wife whom he had never even touched.

Thinking that one day in the future he would sit on the throne of the supreme ruler of the world and have the hope of immortality, Li Shimin's fighting spirit burned fiercely. He couldn't wait to return to Chang'an and incite his father to rebel.

……

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Ling Chi turned to Qin Chuan and said, "Brother Qin, you've already offered your congratulations. Is there anything else? If not..."

"Something's up!" Qin Chuan gritted his teeth in anger, but had to put on a charming demeanor. "Brother Ling, I passed by Cihang Jingzhai a few days ago. The abbot, Fan Qinghui, learned that I was going to Peach Blossom Island and specifically asked me to pass on a message to you."

"Oh?" Ling Chi's spirits lifted, and he said, "I didn't expect Sister Qinghui to have Brother Qin deliver a message to me. May I ask what message Sister Qinghui asked you to convey?"

Qing... Sister Qinghui!?

Qin Chuan's heart was like a clear blue sky with white clouds, suddenly filled with a storm...

What exactly happened between Master and Brother Ling?

He suddenly felt a little confused.

"Brother Qin?"

Qin Chuan snapped out of his daze and, seeing the surprise and uncertainty in Ling Chi's eyes, quickly said, "Master Fan Zhai said: He hopes that the people of Peach Blossom Island will take good care of Cihang Jingzhai when they travel the world."

"..." Ling Chi looked at him: "Just this one sentence?"

"Hmm." Qin Chuan nodded: "Just this one sentence."

“…” Ling Chi sighed: “Actually, I would rather hear that she has arranged a time to come to Peach Blossom Island to have dinner with me. I made that promise to her when I left Cihang Jingzhai back then.”

Qin Chuan: "..."

Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, unsure of what to say.

Fan Qinghui knew that she was the head of Cihang Jingzhai, and he had heard that she was already in her fifties or sixties. Even if she was very beautiful when she was young, she was probably past her prime at this age. But Ling Chi called her Sister Qinghui, which seemed to indicate that he had some feelings for her...

He thought he was good at having fun, but he didn't expect Ling Chi to be even better at it.

wrong!

Li Shimin suddenly realized that although Ling Chi appeared to be only eighteen or nineteen years old, since he possessed the Longevity Wine, his true age must be quite advanced. Judging from his address of "Sister Qinghui," he was probably not older than Fan Qinghui, but not much younger either. Moreover, Peach Blossom Island had appeared thirteen years ago. If Ling Chi had looked like this back then, he would have been at least thirty years old. If he were an old man in his forties or fifties, recognizing his wife as his sworn sister, perhaps Li Shimin would have benefited as well.

Recognizing a man in his forties or fifties as your brother is definitely a good deal.

Empress Zhangsun also fell silent for a moment, seemingly having the same thought as Li Er.

How old is Brother Ling?

"I understand." Ling Chi nodded. "If the people of Peach Blossom Island travel the world in the future, they will definitely take care of the disciples of Cihang Jingzhai. Please trouble Brother Qin to convey this message back to Sister Qinghui."

Qin Chuan breathed a sigh of relief, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I will certainly not fail in my mission entrusted to me by Brother Ling."

"Hmm." Ling Chi untied the wine gourd and poured him a cup of wine.

"Brother Ling..."

"Consider it payment!" Ling Chi said.

"This...is too precious." Qin Chuan was somewhat excited.

Ling Chi waved his hand: "A month's lifespan is nothing. Even if Brother Qin takes the fastest horse, it will take at least ten days to bring the message back. In a way, I'm being stingy."

"No, no, it's not like that," Qin Chuan quickly said. "I originally had business to attend to in Chang'an, and this trip was just a side trip."

"That's good." Ling Chi nodded and said, "Brother Qin, after you've drunk this cup of wine, could you please leave for a moment? I have some things to discuss with Wu Gou and Shi Min."

"Of course." Qin Chuan picked up his glass and drank it all in one gulp. Not only did it taste ten times better than his own, but he also felt that his body had become more energetic.

Is this what lifespan is?

Qin Chuan got up and left.

With no one else in the private room, Ling Chi tossed out a few jade stones to set up a soundproof barrier. He didn't want anyone to hear what he was about to say.

"Brother Ling, what are you doing?" Both Empress Dowager Changsun and Emperor Taizong of Tang were puzzled when Ling Chi suddenly threw several pieces of jade into the room.

“This is a soundproof array,” Ling Chi said. “Now, people outside can’t hear us talking, so we can say whatever we want.”

"A soundproof array!?" Li Shimin was shocked again: "I didn't expect Brother Ling to be proficient in array formations. He is indeed a god among men."

"Stop flattering me!" Ling Chi's tone suddenly turned cold, startling Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun.

"Brother Ling..."

"I'm asking you!" Ling Chi stared coldly at Li Shimin: "You've been married for three years, why is Wu Gou still a virgin!?"

"Ah!?" Empress Zhangsun exclaimed in surprise, her face immediately turning bright red with embarrassment, and she covered her face with her sleeve.

Li Shimin was taken aback for a moment and said, "How did Brother Ling know..."

"Heh!" Ling Chi sneered, "While I wouldn't claim to be omniscient, I'm certainly well-informed. I can tell at a glance whether a woman is a virgin or not. It's just that there were outsiders present, and I didn't say it out of consideration for you. Now that Qin Chuan has left and the conversation has been cut off, I want to ask you, Li Er! What have you done to Wu Gou these past three years!?"

“Brother Ling, it has nothing to do with my husband, it is…”

"Did I tell you to speak?!" Ling Chi glared at her, and Changsun Wugou immediately shut up, but her eyes showed a hint of grievance.

Ling Chi turned his head away from her, his eyes fixed on Li Shimin: "If you don't give me an explanation today, believe me, I'll make Wu Gou remarry? Even if you become emperor in the future, you won't get to drink half a cup of wine."

"Brother Ling!" Empress Zhangsun couldn't stand it anymore: "A good woman doesn't marry twice, and I won't remarry."

"You worthless piece of trash, don't you know I'm doing this for your own good!" Ling Chi was a little angry: "You've been married for three years, and he hasn't even touched you. This not only shows disrespect for you, but also for me! I have a short temper, and if anyone dares to mess with me, I'll beat them up!"

Empress Zhangsun: "..."

She didn't know what to say. In fact, she was also very confused. Back then, she was indeed young, and it was understandable that Li Er didn't touch her. But three years had passed, and she was already sixteen years old, yet Li Shimin still didn't touch her. Even she couldn't help but feel some resentment.

In ancient times, if a husband didn't touch his wife, it was equivalent to being banished to the cold palace, and her later life would be very miserable. This was because she not only had to face loneliness, but also the oppression from other concubines. Some servants might even dare to defecate and urinate on her head. Just thinking about that kind of life is terrifying.

Now that Ling Chi has asked the question for her, she also wants to hear Li Shimin's reasons.

If... my husband really doesn't like me, then I...

"Alas!" Faced with Ling Chi's probing question, Li Shimin sighed and said, "Brother Ling, do you know what news I received when Wu Gou arrived in Chang'an?"

"What does the news you received have to do with you not touching Wugou?" Ling Chi frowned.

"..." Li Shimin didn't speak, but silently took out a slip of paper from his pocket and handed it to him.

Ling Chi knew the reason was on this piece of paper, so he took it, unfolded it, and glanced at it.

Upon seeing this, they were immediately stunned.

This intelligence report was sent to Li Shimin by a spy three years ago after Ling Chi and Changsun Wugou parted ways outside Chang'an. It detailed the events that happened to Ling Chi and Changsun Wugou along the way, Changsun Wugou's sobs when they parted, and an analysis of the feelings between the two.

After reading it, Ling Chi even began to doubt whether there was really something going on between her and Changsun Wugou.

This subjective analysis is terrifying; it's a shame this spy isn't a paparazzi.

Ling Chi chuckled and looked up at Li Shimin: "You believe this?"

Li Shimin shook his head: "I was skeptical at first, but after seeing Brother Ling today, I no longer believe it."

"You're quite clever." A flame appeared in Ling Chi's palm, burning the note to ashes. "Don't let Wu Gou see what's inside. Treat Wu Gou well from now on."

Seeing the flames that suddenly appeared in Ling Chi's palm, Li Shimin was once again shocked and respectfully said, "If I have done anything wrong to Wu Gou, Brother Ling, please take my head."

"Husband!" Although Empress Zhangsun knew that the contents of the note were not good, since the two men had spoken openly and let it go, she would not cause trouble. This had always been her principle in life. However, Li Shimin's words were too harsh, and she did not want her husband to bear such a heavy burden.

"It's alright." Li Shimin looked at her with unprecedented tenderness and said, "My wife, I had some misunderstandings about you before, but now all the misunderstandings have been cleared up. I will do my best to make up for the past three years of neglect I have caused you, and I will treat you well for the rest of my life. If I break this vow, may I, Li Shimin, die a horrible death!"

Empress Zhangsun was moved, her eyes welling up with tears: "Husband, why bother..."

“A real man keeps his word.” Ling Chi laughed. “Luckily, the misunderstanding was cleared up today, otherwise Wu Gou would have suffered for many more years. It’s only right that this kid gives you some compensation.”

"Thank you, Brother Ling." Empress Zhangsun knew that if it weren't for Ling Chi, she would still be treated coldly by Li Shimin. But now everything was fine, all the misunderstandings that caused this were cleared up, and she could finally be a good wife and even a good mother.

"Who told you to be my adopted sister!" Ling Chi sighed. "Besides, this whole thing started because of me. It's my fault that you've been neglected by your husband's family for three years."

"It has nothing to do with Brother Ling!" Li Shimin quickly said, "It was my overthinking that led me to misunderstand Wu Gou and Ling... um!"

Li Shimin hurriedly shut his mouth, but it was too late; Empress Zhangsun had already heard and understood.

Although she didn't know the details yet, from these few words, she had already guessed why Li Shimin hadn't touched her for three years. It turned out that Li Er had always thought that she and Ling Chi had a problem.

"..." Empress Zhangsun was silent for a moment, then said sadly, "Husband, in your eyes, am I really that unworthy?"

"No, no, I just thought that Madam liked Brother Ling and was afraid of taking away someone else's love, so I... I never had any intention of looking down on Madam, I swear!" Li Shimin quickly explained.

Hearing this explanation, Empress Changsun felt much better, but when she thought about how she had cried when she and Ling Chi parted three years ago, it was also true, and she couldn't help but feel ashamed.

Ultimately, it's my own fault for developing feelings I shouldn't have, and I can't blame my husband.

"Alright." Ling Chi quickly smoothed things over, "It was just a misunderstanding. Everything is in the past now, and we should look forward. Wu Gou, if you can't forgive your brother-in-law, then you can't forgive me. After all, this matter started because of me, and I am the one who bears the greatest responsibility."

“How could I blame Brother Ling?” Changsun Wugou shook her head and said, “Actually, I feel ashamed. I was really sad when I parted from Brother Ling three years ago. It is understandable that my husband would misunderstand. I don’t blame him.”

“There’s nothing I can do about it.” Ling Chi sighed, tossed his hair back, and looked like a lonely bird in the snow. “Who can blame me for being so skilled in martial arts, a great cook, so knowledgeable, and so handsome and dashing! No woman in this world can resist my charm. It’s no wonder you’ve fallen for me.”

Empress Zhangsun: "..."

Li Shimin: "..."

Chapter Twenty-Four: Kidnapping a Grandmaster

While Ling Chi was entertaining guests upstairs, Huang Rong and Shuang'er were in the kitchen talking about Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun.

"Brother Ling is really something. I just wanted to see what Emperor Taizong of Tang looked like, but he won't let me meet them." There was nothing much going on in the kitchen at the moment, so Huang Rong and Shuang'er sat on stools, drinking tea and complaining.

Shuang'er smiled slightly: "There's nothing we can do about it. Rong'er, you're just too beautiful right now. A few days ago, quite a few guests were captivated by you. I'm afraid you'll affect Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun's relationship."

The current Huang Rong is as beautiful as a fairy. Although she is in the kitchen all day long, she always has a fairy-like aura and there is no risk of her becoming a haggard housewife. If other women knew this, they would definitely be envious and jealous to the point of madness.

"What can I do? It's all because the women in this world are too beautiful. If I don't eat my fill, how can I keep Brother Ling's heart?" Huang Rong pouted.

Shuang'er smiled without saying a word.

"..." Huang Rong said, "Sister Shuang'er is an exception, but only you don't need to eat beauty-enhancing foods. No one else can."

Shuang'er smiled and said, "Looks are only attractive for a short time. After a while, people will get used to them. Sister Rong'er, you still need to put more effort into it."

"I've already tried my best," Huang Rong said. "It's me who watches over the kitchen for Brother Ling every day."

“Yes!” Shuang’er laughed, “That’s why brother can’t live without you.”