Chapter 59 They Are All Mine

Fresh slices of ginger were tucked underneath, while chopped garlic, spiritual herbs, and bright red chilies were scattered generously over the top. Finally, she heated another ladle of fragrant oil and slowly poured it over everything.

Sizzle! The hot oil hissed the moment it touched the seasonings, releasing another wave of rich aroma into the air.

"Mmm..."

Xue Yao closed her eyes and took another deep breath. "Now that’s what I’m talking about."

Satisfied, she placed the heavy lid over the steamer and wiped her hands on her apron before pulling over a small stool.

Several quiet minutes passed. Thin streams of steam slowly escaped from beneath the lid, carrying the rich fragrance farther and farther across the courtyard. The aroma drifted past the flower beds, through the spiritual trees, and over the courtyard walls until even the servants hiding outside couldn’t help sniffing the air.

One maid quietly swallowed. "...It smells so good."

Another stared toward the courtyard with tears in her eyes. "...But those are the Alpha’s Dragon Golden Fish."

"...She caught six of them."

"...Six..."

None of them dared step inside. They could only stand outside the gates, torn between wanting a taste and fearing what would happen once the Alpha arrived.

Inside the courtyard, Xue Yao lifted the lid. A thick cloud of fragrant steam rose into the air, wrapping around her face before slowly drifting away.

The fish had turned a beautiful golden white, soaking in a rich broth that shimmered beneath the sunlight. Bright red chilies floated across the surface like scattered jewels, while the aroma of garlic, ginger, and spiritual herbs blended together so perfectly that even Xue Yao couldn’t stop smiling.

"Beautiful." She quickly heated one final pot of oil until it began to smoke before carefully pouring it over the chopped spring onions and fresh chilies.

Sizzle! The explosive burst of fragrance instantly swept across the courtyard.

Xue Yao clapped her hands happily. "Done!"

She proudly admired the six steaming fish arranged neatly before her.

With everything finally ready, Xue Yao picked up her chopsticks and eagerly looked at the tender white fish in front of her.

"Let’s see if Dragon Golden Fish really taste better than ordinary fish." She leaned forward, and the tips of her chopsticks had only just touched the tender fish when...

Boom!

A deafening explosion echoed through the courtyard as the gates were blasted wide open. A powerful gust of wind swept through the garden, sending flower petals spinning into the air. The spiritual trees bent beneath the pressure, the lotus leaves swayed wildly, and even the surface of the pond rippled as though something heavy had landed nearby.

Xue Yao paused with her chopsticks still hovering above the plate.

"...Hm?" She slowly turned around.

Lie Lang strode into the courtyard with a face darker than storm clouds. Han Luo followed a few steps behind him, and for once the easy smile that was always on his face had completely disappeared.

Little Ancestor squeezed between the two of them, standing on his tiptoes and stretching his neck as he tried to see what had caused such a commotion.

The maidservants immediately dropped to their knees. "Greetings, Alpha!"

Not a single one of them dared lift their heads. The courtyard fell silent.

Only Xue Yao remained standing beside the steaming dishes, still holding her chopsticks. She looked at the three of them, then looked down at the plates on the table before glancing back at Lie Lang.

"You’re here already?" She said with a not so happy tone. Remembering what they did to her only made her mood sour.

No one answered.

Lie Lang’s golden eyes slowly moved across the table. His eyes lingered on the six Dragon Golden Fish perfectly cooked, and completely beyond saving.

The muscles along his jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

His gaze shifted toward the pond.

The crystal-clear water ripple with fewer fish now, almost as if they had all hidden for their dear lives. The school of Dragon Golden Fish that had lived there for centuries was nowhere to be seen.

"...Bai." His voice was frighteningly calm. "What... are you doing?"

Xue Yao looked down at the dishes as though the answer couldn’t have been more obvious. "Cooking."

’What sort of dumb question is that? Did he hit his head? The last time I checked I was the one who had a soul search and suffered a splitting headache.’ She thought inwardly.

Lie Lang closed his eyes for a brief moment, inhaling deeply. When he opened them again, he looked at the fish once more.

"You caught them?" He asked as if he couldn’t believe his eyes.

"Of course." Xue Yao puffed out her chest proudly. "They were surprisingly difficult to catch."

She pointed toward the pond with her chopsticks.

"They kept swimming around trying to escape. I even had to use my drumstick." Thinking back to the exhausting chase, she rubbed her shoulder with an aggrieved look. "My arm is still sore."

Several maidservants almost burst into tears.

Han Luo quietly covered his forehead, closing his eyes in disbelief. The stupid human was openly admitting her crime.

The little prince, however, wasn’t listening to any of that. His eyes were fixed on the fish, and they sparkled brighter with every breath he took. "It smells amazing..."

"I know." Xue Yao nodded proudly. "I already shared everything."

She pointed at the plates. "They are all mine, if you want some go catch some yourself." She folded her arms and nodded in satisfaction.

Han Luo’s lips twitched. "You have them to yourself before anyone even asked?"

"Naturally." Xue Yao looked at him as though he had asked the strangest question in the world. "I was the one who caught them. I cleaned them, seasoned them, and cooked them. If anyone deserves to eat them, it’s me."

Not a single person in the courtyard knew how to respond. The maidservants lowered their heads even farther, silently praying they wouldn’t be caught in whatever happened next.

Han Luo slowly turned toward Lie Lang.

The Alpha still hadn’t moved. That silence... It was far more frightening than if he had shouted.

Completely unaware of the danger, Xue Yao lowered her chopsticks again, picked up a tender piece of fish, and blew on it gently.

"It really took a lot of effort to catch these." Then she placed it into her mouth.

The entire courtyard froze as if time had stopped.