20: The aroma of delicious food fills the courtyard, and the mischievous children are busy satisfying their cravings.

Just as the front courtyard was filled with clinking glasses and a cacophony of voices.

Two small, round figures were tiptoeing toward the back courtyard kitchen, taking advantage of the servants' preoccupation with the banquet.

They were the four-year-old brothers, Qi Xuanqing and Qi Xuanlin.

Born at the same time, these twins looked almost identical.

Both were fair and chubby, with arms and legs like lotus roots, looking like two rolling little meatballs when they ran.

The only way to tell them apart was a small mole on the left corner of the older brother Qi Xuanqing's mouth.

At this moment, Qi Xuanqing twitched his little nose as the rich aroma of meat and the sweet scent of fried pastries filled the air.

Like invisible little hooks, the scents constantly teased the gluttonous cravings in his stomach.

He swallowed hard and tugged on his younger brother's sleeve, his chubby face full of longing and grievance as he whispered:

"Sixth Brother, smell that! It's so fragrant!

Mother is really something, she never lets us eat our fill normally.

The pills Father gives us might keep us from getting hungry, but they don't have any flavor at all.

How can they compare to these real chicken, duck, fish, and meat, or the crispy pastries and snacks!"

As he spoke, he patted his round little belly as if he had been terribly mistreated.

In truth, it wasn't that Su Wantang mistreated her sons.

It was just that these two little rascals had appetites far beyond the norm since birth, and at their young age, they were already a size larger than children their own age.

Su Wantang feared they wouldn't know restraint and would ruin their stomachs, and even more, she worried that greasy, heavy, or indigestible foods would harm their Foundation.

Some time ago, because she was pregnant with their younger brother Xuan Tong and needed rest, much of the household management had been handed over to Ye Yao.

Concubine Ye was much stricter at managing the household than their own mother; her rules were meticulous, and she kept an even closer eye on their diet.

Even their second brother Xuan Peak, who occasionally snuck them snacks, was being watched so closely he didn't dare move.

This was pure torture for the two little foodies.

Qi Xuanlin appeared a bit more steady than his older brother.

He glanced at his Fifth Brother's impatient look and shook his head with an air of mock maturity, like an adult:

"Xuan Qing, don't be reckless.

These dishes are supposed to be served in a specific order.

If we steal food haphazardly and the presentation is ruined or the portion is small,

The head nanny will see it at a glance, and then everyone will know a 'little thief' entered the kitchen!"

Although he said this, his large, dark eyes couldn't help but dart toward the kitchen.

"Then... then what do we do!"

Qi Xuanqing stamped his little feet in frustration. "Are we just going to stand here and watch?"

Seeing him like this, a trace of smugness appeared on Qi Xuanlin's face, and he lowered his voice with a hint of showing off:

"With how impatient you are, how can you call yourself my Fifth Brother?

I memorized that 'Secret Knack' Second Brother secretly taught me the other day in one go!"

Qi Xuanlin cleared his throat and recited in a low voice while swaying his head:

"The Kitchen God doesn't care, the cook is busy snacking. Hide the chicken leg inside, let the meatballs lie at the bottom.

The braised pork sauce is thick, scoop a spoonful of gravy first. Crispy pastries crumble easily, only taste the very edges.

Move like the wind, and leave no traces behind. Wipe your mouth when finished, and even the gods won't know the truth!"

This was some Doggerel Rhyme composed by a lazy cook that Qi Xuanfeng had heard somewhere and passed on to Qi Xuanlin.

Qi Xuanlin's memory was indeed excellent, as he recited it word for word.

Qi Xuanqing's eyes lit up as he looked at his brother with admiration.

"Sixth Brother, you're amazing! Let's go quickly!"

Steam billowed in the kitchen, and the rich aroma was enough to make anyone's mouth water.

Qi Xuanqing clung to the doorframe, staring longingly at the figures moving to and fro inside, as well as the various delicacies on the chopping boards and in the steamers; he was almost drooling.

"Sixth Brother, look at that plate of soy-sauce duck, it's so glossy!"

He tugged at Qi Xuanlin's sleeve, his voice filled with uncontrollable desire.

Xuan Lin was slightly more composed than his brother; he carefully observed the movements inside and whispered:

"Wait a bit longer, there are too many people now.

When they start carrying the dishes out, we'll slip in."

The two little rascals waited patiently for a while, and sure enough, they saw several servant women carrying large trays full of dishes toward the front courtyard, leaving the kitchen empty for a moment.

Now or never!

Like two nimble little fat cats, they darted inside.

"Look, that bowl of meatballs!"

Qi Xuanqing was sharp-eyed and pointed to a bowl of freshly made, steaming meatballs nearby.

Xuan Lin nodded, his little hand quickly scooping up two meatballs from the edge of the bowl.

The whole process took only the blink of an eye.

He stuffed one meatball into his eager brother's mouth, then carefully blew on the other before taking a small bite.

The meat juices burst in his mouth, the flavor so savory that he squinted his eyes.

Qi Xuanqing wasn't so particular; he took the meatball and stuffed it whole into his mouth, huffing from the heat but looking completely satisfied as he praised indistinctly, "So... so good!"

With their first success, they grew bolder.

Xuan Lin then set his sights on a plate of sliced braised beef; he took two slices this time, not forgetting to nudge the remaining beef slightly so the gap wasn't as obvious.

Next were the freshly fried, golden spring rolls, from which Xuan Lin broke off half a piece; then the glistening, red braised pork, from which he carefully pinched a small piece of marbled meat... Every time he succeeded, he didn't forget to bring a portion for his brother.

Qi Xuanqing was utterly impressed by his brother's skill, focusing solely on devouring the spoils until his mouth was covered in grease.

The two specifically targeted dishes that were already plated and ready to be served but were temporarily set aside.

Moreover, they only took a tiny bit each time from the edges of the plates, using clever techniques. Combined with the busyness of the banquet, no one actually noticed these two "little mice" who had snuck into the kitchen.

Perhaps it was the connection between mother and sons, but Su Wantang, who was holding her youngest son and exchanging pleasantries with the female guests, suddenly felt a strange sense of unease.

Her gaze swept across the lively courtyard, where she saw Qi Xuanjin playing cat's cradle on a stone bench with Qi Ling'er, the well-behaved and quiet daughter born to Ye Yao.

Qi Xuanfeng was leading Liu Yueer's son, Qi Xuanming, and Zhou Qianer's even younger son, Qi Xuantian; the three boys were gathered around a small anthill, watching intently.

After looking around several times, the only ones missing were her most lively and gluttonous twins—Xuan Qing and Xuan Lin.

"Where have those two Little Monkeys gone to be mischievous now?

In such a lively setting, with no sign of them for so long, could they be causing trouble again?"

Su Wantang thought to herself, her brow furrowing slightly as a trace of worry surfaced.

She knew her sons' temperaments well; if they were quiet for too long, they were surely brewing some "big event."

She instinctively cast a pleading look toward Qi Yuan, who was conversing with several local gentry.

Although Qi Yuan was busy with the guests, how sharp was his Qi Refining Sixth Layer Spiritual Sense? He had long since captured every movement within the manor, naturally including the entire process of those two little rascals sneaking into the kitchen.

His expression remained unchanged as he continued to chat and laugh with the guests, but he gave a slight nod toward Su Wantang, his gaze calm.

Receiving her husband's signal, Su Wantang's tense nerves immediately relaxed.

Since the Master knew and hadn't stopped them, then surely nothing major would go wrong.

She secretly breathed a sigh of relief and put on a proper smile again, though she couldn't help but laughingly scold them in her heart:

"Those two gluttonous little rascals!"