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Chapter 133 - The Sweetest of Wine  

The scent hit her before the knock did—rich, savory, layered with spices not native to the palace kitchens. When Zhao Xinying opened the terrace doors, she didn't find a servant or an apologetic eunuch bearing trays.

 

She found Yan Luo.

 

He stood under the lantern light with a lacquered black box tucked beneath one arm and a wine gourd slung across the other, his deep red robes whispering against the stone. He looked as composed as ever—until she noticed the faint edge in his smile.

 

"You brought food?" she asked, arching a brow. "You didn't need to."

 

"I don't trust the Crown Prince's kitchens," he said flatly. "Not after tonight."

 

He swept past her without waiting for permission and laid out the box on the small dining table beneath the magnolia tree. One smooth flick of his wrist, and the lid revealed four steaming dishes: duck glazed in plum wine, stir-fried mushrooms and bamboo, crispy tofu with garlic sauce, and a lotus-seed dessert with tiny gold flakes.

 

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