Five Years After My Death, the Mad Emperor Still Summons My Spirit

She almost immediately thought of the sneeze she’d had that morning.

Li Yun was among the early arrivals. It wasn’t the usual time for the midday meal yet, so when he came in, only Ming Lingyi and her two maids were inside Ming’s Restaurant.

Li Yun didn’t make a grand spectacle of his outing today like he had yesterday.

He had left in a carriage, and upon his arrival, Ming Lingyi was the only one who had seen him.

So, when Li Yun entered with only Liu Ye by his side, Xiao Chun proactively went up to greet them.

"Welcome, sirs. What would you like to eat? Our main recommendation today is the braised meat!" Thinking of the last time Ming Lingyi made it, Xiao Chun couldn’t help but drool.

She had never imagined that pork offal could be so delicious!

Those filthy things she had once looked down on were, unexpectedly, so tasty that she found herself reminiscing about the flavor every day.

It was just that last time, she had forgotten to tell the farmer who sold them pork to also save the offal for them. When the farmer made his delivery, he assumed that young ladies from the city wouldn’t like it, so he didn’t bring any.

But after she mentioned it once, her miss specially paid extra silver, and ever since, a delivery came every other day.

This customer looked very unfamiliar, so Xiao Chun couldn’t help but give him her most enthusiastic recommendation.

Seeing this, the corner of Ming Lingyi’s eye twitched.

’I’m running a business. If I throw Li Yun out now, that would really cause a scene.’

Besides, aside from the slightly uncomfortable fact that he was her "ex," there wasn’t really any particular problem with Li Yun.

After all, the man was quite generous with his money.

But there was one thing that made Ming Lingyi want to laugh. If she remembered correctly, Li Yun never ate internal organs.

Things like pork offal? He wouldn’t touch them for anything.

Xiao Chun had only said "braised meat" without specifying what it was made of. ’Li Yun probably has no idea.’

After all, the people of Shangjing City didn’t even eat pork, so where would you find a place selling braised pork offal?

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Xiao Chun came to the back kitchen.

"Miss, one order of the braised meat, and one Southern Fragrant Pepper Bone," Xiao Chun said.

Southern Fragrant Pepper Bone was the elegant name Ming Lingyi had given to her lemongrass pork ribs. Lemongrass wasn’t grown in Shangjing City; she had discovered it by chance at a spice shop in the West Market.

The nobles of Shangjing City liked to use lemongrass in fragrant sachets, but very few people used it in cooking.

Ming Lingyi had seen people use lemongrass as a culinary spice before. It could be steeped in water to make a drink or used in dishes, and its flavor was very distinctive.

Lemongrass itself has a light, citrusy fragrance. When paired with meat, it does an excellent job of suppressing any gamey smell and makes what might be a greasy cut of meat taste fresh and aromatic.

The lemongrass pork ribs were a newly developed dish. ’Li Yun is certainly in for a treat,’ Ming Lingyi thought.

The braised meat had been placed in a large clay pot the night before and had simmered all night, so it was thoroughly infused with flavor.

Furthermore, this wasn’t the first time she had braised meat in it. After two or three batches, the braising liquid could almost be called a "master stock."

A customer last time even said that the flavor of her braised meat just kept getting more and more fragrant.

Ming Lingyi cut the fatty intestines into small sections and sliced the rest of the organs into strips or pieces. She then rang a small bell, signaling to Xiao Chun that the dish was ready to be served.

When Xiao Chun came in, she happened to have another order.

"Miss, Mr. Du is here! He wants an order of the braised meat, too."

Ming Lingyi had just finished plating the remaining portion, so she had Xiao Chun take both dishes out together.

Du Xuan happened to be sitting across from Li Yun.

He was a warm-hearted and naturally sociable person. Having transitioned from a scholar to a merchant over the years, he had met countless people. Du Xuan could tell with a single glance that the man in the dark, patterned black clothes across from him was a wealthy young master.

"My good man, you’re not from around Huaided Fang, are you?" Du Xuan asked.

Li Yun was a little surprised to be addressed so familiarly.

"Hm."

"Did you hear about Boss Ming’s skills and come to Ming’s Restaurant specially?"

"You could say that."

Du Xuan’s face immediately broke into an "I knew it" smile.

Liu Ye, who had been ordered by his master to sit beside him, still felt like he was sitting on a row of needles. Now, seeing this fat man from who-knows-where give a "so you have good taste after all" look, he couldn’t help but feel a little indignant.

’His Grace knows Her Ladyship’s skills better than anyone. Now, these outsiders are just getting to enjoy it for cheap.’

Du Xuan seemed to have piqued Li Yun’s interest in conversation. "From the sound of it, my friend, you dine here often?"

Du Xuan waved his hand and chuckled. "I wouldn’t say ’often.’ I’m only here at Boss Ming’s place about eight or nine days out of every ten!"

It was said as if it were nothing, but the boast was obvious. It would have been strange if Li Yun hadn’t picked up on it.

Du Xuan was actually just trying to prove how good the food at Ming Lingyi’s restaurant was, which was why he ate here almost every day.

Unfortunately, that was not how his words landed in Li Yun’s ears.

The hands resting on his knees under the table clenched into fists without him realizing it.

If he could, he really wanted to beat this damned fatty across from him into a bloody pulp.

A smile played on Li Yun’s lips, but it was a cold one, and the temperature around him seemed to drop several degrees.

But Du Xuan, being a thick-skinned fellow, didn’t notice at all that the man opposite him was practically radiating cold. He continued his enthusiastic recommendation, "I guarantee it, my friend. Once you’ve eaten at Ming’s Restaurant, you’ll know just how skilled Boss Ming is. You’ll definitely be back for more!"

’She’s one of our own here in Huaided Fang. Of course we share in her glory, right?’

Li Yun: "..."

He felt he was about to lose control of his hands, which were itching to hit someone.

He knew better than anyone how skilled Yuan Niang was.

In the past, Yuan Niang had also enjoyed cooking, but he was always worried she would tire herself out and didn’t want her to personally make soups and stews.

It wasn’t as if the household had no cooks. His wife only needed to be happy every day; she didn’t need to worry about such trivial matters.

Who would have thought that one day, an outsider would have an easier time tasting his wife’s cooking than he, her "rightful husband," did?

Li Yun’s heart soured with frustration.

Sitting beside him, Liu Ye was no longer angry. Listening to Du Xuan, he could only marvel that someone so intent on getting himself killed could exist in this world. A cold sweat beaded on his brow, and he feared the man across from them might suddenly lose his head.

Fortunately, Xiao Chun soon arrived with the plates.

"Here is our restaurant’s braised specialty. Please, give it a try, sir." After saying this to Li Yun, Xiao Chun turned her head to Du Xuan, the two obviously very familiar with each other. "Mr. Du, I added a little extra of your favorite to your portion."

Du Xuan: "Many thanks, Miss Xiao Chun."

He loved to eat pork large intestine, something many people would turn their noses up at, but Du Xuan considered it a delicacy fit for the gods!

Even the finest mutton couldn’t compare to this pork intestine.

As long as the strong smell was removed and it was cooked well, pork intestine was, in his eyes, the absolute finest of dishes.

The moment Li Yun saw what Xiao Chun brought to the table, his expression soured.