After the Yellow River Meet at the Riverside Pavilion, Jiang Wang used the Sword Discourse Platform less frequently.

This was because the practical combat training it offered had become less significant. Not that there were no worthy opponents in the Inner Palace realm within the Illusory Realm.

Rather, many people concealed their true strength within the Illusory Realm, including Jiang Wang himself. Even the top ten contenders, as a whole, couldn’t match the level of the main competition at the Yellow River Meet.

Only a handful of individuals, such as Sword Cultivator Ning, were still worth sparring with.

There was a time when he suffered greatly on the Sword Discourse Platform, taking numerous beatings. Now, drawing his sword and looking around, he could honestly say that within the same realm, there was no one left to challenge him!

For Jiang Wang’s journey within the Illusory Realm, this was indeed a monumental event.

With less time spent on the Sword Discourse Platform, he naturally dedicated more effort to other areas.

Dao arts, sword techniques, the cultivation of the Heavenly Isolated Island, and the exploration of the Fourth Inner Palace…

While the Blessed Land challenges were guaranteed to pit him against formidable opponents, the next round of challenges wouldn’t be until the fifteenth of August.

He was still on his way back to Qi on the fifteenth of July and didn’t participate in that Blessed Land challenge.

His ranking had now dropped to forty-sixth for Green Luo Mountain. As for the three hundred and sixty points of cultivation achievement per month, the wealthy Lord Jiang was no longer particularly concerned.

Another night passed in cultivation.

After completing his morning practice, the sky was already bright.

The steward, Xie Ping, gently knocked on the door from outside, reminding him that it was time to depart for the Hall of Enduring Joy.

Jiang Wang silently smoothed the Dao Yuan circulating within the Heavenly Palace, withdrew the divine soul serpent lurking within the Fourth Inner Palace, then rose and pushed open the door.

Chosen as a reserve by Chong Xuan Sheng, Xie Ping was more than capable of managing a viscount’s mansion. Especially since Lord Jiang was a solitary figure with no complicated relationships to handle.

When Jiang Wang stepped out, the palanquin was already prepared.

The Crown Prince had extended a formal invitation, sending a post. Jiang Wang naturally couldn’t simply stroll over to the residence grandly. As a third-rank official now, he had to observe certain courtesies.

Of course, speaking of courtesy, he shouldn’t go empty-handed when visiting the Crown Prince’s residence this time. He should have prepared a gift. When going to the Hall of Enduring Joy, ordinary items wouldn’t suffice; it would require spending some Dao Yuan stones…

At this juncture, naturally, a great man should not be bothered by trifles.

Considering the Crown Prince’s benevolence and magnanimity, he surely wouldn’t mind these worldly formalities!

The palanquin stopped in front of the Hall of Enduring Joy. Xie Ping, holding Jiang Wang’s name card, went to knock on the door.

Yes, now that he had his own residence, social interactions were unavoidable, so Jiang Wang also had his own name card.

A thin card, with four small columns of text starting from the left: Viscount of Qing Yang Town of Great Qi, Third-Rank Golden Gourd Warrior, Fourth-Rank Green Badge Constable, and the Foremost Inner Palace Under Heaven.

Finally, two large characters centered, reading “Jiang Wang”.

This name card, when presented anywhere, would command a certain degree of respect.

Since the Crown Prince had personally invited him, the people of the Hall of Enduring Joy naturally wouldn’t be negligent. They hurried a few steps forward to greet him by the palanquin.

Jiang Wang disembarked the palanquin with considerable air, walking in empty-handed.

Eunuch Wu Fu, the chief steward of the Hall of Enduring Joy who handled all comings and goings, warmly greeted Jiang Wang and then led him all the way into the Hall of Enduring Joy, unable to resist looking back twice.

He only saw the smiling Xie Ping and the two temporarily hired palanquin bearers.

Only then did he confirm that Viscount Qing Yang had indeed come empty-handed.

This was far too stingy!

When he had delivered the invitation to Viscount Qing Yang’s mansion, he had even conveniently presented a jade brush holder!

But on his face, he said nothing, leading Jiang Wang directly to the dining hall.

What was the meaning of meeting in the dining hall? Could it be that the Crown Prince wanted to preach to me the principle of “governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish”?

I don’t care how you govern the nation.

Whether you can govern it or not is still a matter of debate.

Jiang Wang was feeling somewhat perplexed when Jiang Wuhua happened to turn out from the inner room, wiping his hands with a white handkerchief as he walked out, smiling at Jiang Wang: “I knew Viscount Qing Yang should have arrived by now.”

His manner was very cordial and natural.

He casually handed the handkerchief to the young eunuch who was following him closely, and gestured with his hand: “Please take a seat. The porridge is almost ready.”

You specifically called me to the Hall of Enduring Joy to drink porridge?

Jiang Wang, bewildered, sat down at the dining table, saying politely, “Your Highness is too kind.”

Jiang Wuhua sat down cross-legged at the dining table opposite him and said very casually, “Ordinary people don’t have much appetite when they wake up in the morning. Drinking porridge is just right, it’s good for the stomach and comfortable.”

Jiang Wang didn’t know what he meant by this. He too had risen from an ordinary youth to become extraordinary, so he was not unfamiliar with the lives of common people. He simply said, “That is indeed true. I used to often drink porridge in the morning as well.”

Wu Fu, the chief eunuch of the Hall of Enduring Joy, said very thoughtfully, “This was personally cooked by His Highness the Crown Prince for you.”

“Oh?” Jiang Wang smiled confidently: “Then I must have a good taste.”

Compared to his younger siblings, Jiang Wuhua’s appearance was not outstanding, but he was simple and benevolent, without any aggressiveness, thus making him less distant and easy to approach.

He smiled at this moment: “Does Viscount Qing Yang also enjoy cooking?”

Jiang Wang said humbly, “It’s not that I particularly like it, but I know a little.”

Jiang Wuhua smiled more naturally: “May I ask what you are good at?”

Jiang Wang said confidently and calmly: “Steaming, boiling, and roasting, I know a little of each.”

Jiang Wuhua had the intention of having Jiang Wang demonstrate his skills now, but considering that this was the first time he had invited him, asking someone to cook would be somewhat disrespectful. He could only temporarily suppress this idea.

He said with a clear voice: “Food is the foremost necessity for the people. Viscount Qing Yang, with your extraordinary talent and unparalleled abilities, can still find pleasure in cooking, reaching up to the heavens and embracing the mundane world. You are truly a kindred spirit with me!”

“Uh.” Jiang Wang immediately changed the subject: “I wonder what kind of porridge Your Highness has cooked?”

Jiang Wuhua’s smile remained unchanged, he simply glanced to the side.

Just then, two young eunuchs emerged, each holding a wooden food tray. On the trays were a green jade bowl, a pair of ivory chopsticks, and a white jade spoon.

A fragrant aroma wafted.

Jiang Wuhua first asked, “Has it been sent to the Crown Princess?”

“It has been sent already,” the young eunuch replied.

Only then did Jiang Wuhua turn his head and smile at Jiang Wang: “This ‘Flowing Snow Shattered Night Star-Dotted Porridge’ is a top-grade porridge, very nourishing. Viscount Qing Yang, you must have a couple more bowls.”

Having often “helped” An An taste things, Jiang Wang had some experience with tasting delicacies.

Especially with a name that sounded so elegant, it whetted his appetite.

When the young eunuch knelt down and placed the food tray on the table, he looked closely and felt a sense of being deceived.

Wasn’t this just century egg and lean meat porridge?!

White porridge as flowing snow, century egg as shattered night, minced meat as dotted stars? Heh heh…

Was this the “Crown Prince enjoys cooking”?

I could do this too!

Jiang Wuhua seemed to have heard his thoughts and smiled: “Why don’t you try a mouthful!”

Jiang Wang naturally wouldn’t voice his thoughts, saying politely: “It looks very delicious!”

Jiang Wuhua’s smile stiffened slightly. He knew very well what the porridge looked like. Jiang Wang’s polite remark, no matter how he heard it, sounded like sarcasm…

Meanwhile, Jiang Wang had already picked up the white jade spoon, as if afraid of choking to death, gently scooped up a tiny bit, and hesitantly brought it to his mouth.

Jiang Wuhua had excellent self-control, only his lips twitched. He smiled and asked, “How is it?”

Jiang Wang couldn’t respond immediately at all.

The moment that bit of porridge entered his mouth, it seemed to transform into an icy thread, falling from his throat all the way down to his stomach. It was cool and refreshing all the way, invigorating the heart and mind.

Upon reaching the destination, it ignited into a fiery thread, rising from the stomach. The warm sensation rolled all the way to the throat, even rushing straight to the crown of his head!

In an instant.

In his mind, snow fell all over the sky, the night was shattered with brilliance, and the stars dotted like a dream.

So this was the origin of the name “Flowing Snow Shattered Night Star-Dotted Porridge”!

(There is a vote for the Best Author of the Year 2020 on Qidian.

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First place is probably impossible for us, but let’s still cast a vote casually.

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