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"Let me carry it."

Pingting turned sideways so Zuiju would take it with her hands but then shook her head. She carried the pot down the steps and walked towards the corner where Hongqian had swept the snow away the day before. Although there wasn't much snow, a night had passed with a thin layer of frost.

Pingting placed the pot down, picked up a broom and swept the floor before grabbing a shovel.

Zuiju didn't say a word. She actually felt a little afraid. She stood helpless at one side, saying, "Be careful not to strain your back."

Pingting didn't hurry. She used the shovel to dig little by little. The uppermost layers of soil were the hardest but after that, it was gradually softer and much easier to dig through.

Several moments later, a small hole began to form. Fine beads of sweat formed on Pingting's forehead. Her cheeks were several shades redder than before.

She still did not hurry. Pingting placed the shovel down, quietly resting for a while to allow her breath to calm. She then picked up the pot beside her and placed it neatly into the hole. She adjusted left and right until she was satisfied., Pingting did not think it was dirty as she reburied the pot using her own two hands.

After this final use of effort, Pingting breathed out deeply and raised head, smiling at Zuiju who was still standing one side. "All that's left is the cooking fire on top."

Her black eyes brightened, a smile in her eyes lifting like a wave with a gentle splash.

Zuiju did not quite understand why her heart seemed to stop for a while. A sour taste stayed in her nose as if preparing to cry. She hurriedly wiped her eyes and pasted on a cheerful face, "Sure, I'll bring the firewood."

She got the firewood from the kitchen. The task was exchanged with Hongqian, who then brought them to the new burial site. She lit the pile. Not long later, the dry firewood began to crackle. Its fiery red glow flickered in the snow. It coloured the three people's cheeks, nice and warm.

Pingting sweated a lot, but she seemed to be a lot better. She gazed at the flames, suddenly saying, "Never just stand around a fireplace. Ask the kitchen for some meat and salt. Let's eat some roasted meat."

Although Hongqian was worried about the surrounding troops, she understood the concept that pleasure can also exist in pain. She replied, "I'll get it."

She soon returned, crunching the snow with her footsteps while carrying a heavy basket in her hands.

"Pork loin, chicken wings, cleaned duck legs and two fishes with removed intestines and head. I don't know what Miss would like to roast, so I just got the kitchen matrons to prepare these." Hongqian settled the basket down, spreaded out a blue blanket in the snow and took out the items one by one. "I've also got the salt and allspice. The matrons said that eating roast alone was too dry and will bring some premade soup shortly."

Pingting clapped her hands, "Well done Hongqian, very thoughtful. If I were a general, I'd appoint you as at least a back up advisor no matter what."

She sat on the stone bench with an additional thick shawl on her shoulders. Zuiju was afraid that she was cold and had gone back to the room to retrieve it.

Hongqian saw Pingting's smile. Her heart was much more relaxed. She laughed, "That's not it. The matrons said not to hold the meat while roasting but use something to skewer them instead, so I have a few thin iron bars here."

She lowered her head and took out a few thin iron bars from the basket. It had been properly washed while the accompanying guaze was new.

With all preparations complete, the three people sat around the fire ready to enjoy this winter barbeque.

They picked up a thin bar and threaded slices of meat or fish onto it before placing on top of the fire. The red flame softly roasted. The results were both fresh and interesting. The more they did it, the more fun and interesting it seemed.

"My father has a hunter's stove. When I used to accompany him to hunt, I played with it a few times." Hongqian appeared to have a lot of experience as she rotated the bar in her hand. She sighed, "After getting into the Zhen-Bei Ducal Residence, such times were no more."

"How'd you enter the Ducal Residence? The Duke bought you?"

Hongqian hurriedly shook her head. "The Zhen-Bei Ducal Residence has no need to buy people. People would do anything to be admitted. There's enough food and drinks to go around here, less beating and the Master is our Duke. When my father does hunt something, I'd be half full, but when he doesn't, I'd be without a meal. It's a harsh life, but thankfully I was lucky enough to squeeze in here. Occasionally I'd take a few things to my father."

This was the first time Zuiju had ever heard such a thing from Hongqian. She didn't hesitate to ask, "Don't you miss your father after coming to such a remote place?"

"How could I know? My father was sadly not blessed. He died just three years after my entry in the Ducal Residence. The Duke noted family relationships when he left the capital. He knew I had nowhere to go, so he took me along."

Zuiju then understood why the number of young maids in the residence was very little, yet there were a great number of the older matrons. All of them were old and had no place to return to.

She was roasting duck leg. The meat was thick, so she had to wait patiently until it was fully cooked. Her gaze rested on Pingting, and she gasped, "This fiery red is harsh to the eyes. Roasted food will raise your temperature. This isn't good to your body at all."

The fish in Pingting's hands happened to be cooked. Despite her first time making it personally and her thoughts in the distance, it was still roasted to a golden crisp. Hearing Zuiju's words, she carefully slid the fish off the bar and put it on the plate. She handed it to them, "Since it's like that, I won't have any then. You two may have it."

Hongqian stared enviously at the fish. She cheered loudly and handed her own wire to Zuiju, "Hold this for me."

She then took the dish filled with tasty roasted fish.

Zuiju saw that she was thinking the best for her unborn child and smiled admiringly at her. She offered a few words of comfort, "Even though you say you won't have any, there are still other delicious food. I've asked the matrons to prepare steamed pork trotters with acutiloba and red dates."

Just as she said this, a matron had already entered the courtyard with a food package. She saw everypne was happily playing about and smiled, "Be careful of your hands. Being poked by the wire of the gauze mat and tip of the bars is very sore. I tried it in the kitchen several times before this."

She opened the food package on the blue cloth and served a bowl to each of the three people. Pingting was indeed served with steamed pork trotters with acutiloba and red dates.

Pingting held onto the spoon. She watched the two people roast their food while steadily eating the contents in her bowl. She smiled.

The activity continued for nearly and hour. Both the food had been depleted, and the firewood was in its final flickers. The three stood up and threw water to extinguish the file.

"Should we remove the pot?" Hongqian asked.

"No need. It's better for it to soak up the taste of mud, so wait until the Duke returns before collecting."

Like that, the first half of the day passed. The following half was much slower. Zuiju and Hongqian gossiped in a room, while Pingting went to take a nap. She slept for almost three hours. By the time she had woken, it was already dark.

She hazily got up and pushed the window open. The evening wind was not strong, but the cloud layer was much too thick. She couldn't see the moon at all.

"Zuiju? Zuiju?" She anxiously called.

Zuiju walked inside, asking, "You're awake?"

"What time is it? Has the moon passed a half? Is it already the sixth?"

Zuiju paused for a moment. She slowly walked over and sat on the bed. "Miss Bai, the sky has not been dark for long. It is still the fifth," she replied.

Hearing her words, the anxiety from seeing the sky's colour lifted. She faintly replied, "Oh," before her body relaxed, and she fell back onto the bed.

Zuiju then asked, "The kitchen brought dinner over but I rarely see you sleeping so soundly so I told Hongqian not to bother you. It's currently simmering on the stovetop in the side room. Now that you're awake, you might as well have some."

Pingting seemed to be thinking about something. At first, she shook her head at Zuiju's words, but then thought about it and nodded instead. "Bring it over, I'll have some."

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