Uncle Jiang turned around and left, and after a while, he brought back a man dressed in a chef’s uniform.

"This is the Jiang Family’s head chef, these dishes are all carefully crafted by him. Old Zhou, explain them to Miss An." Jiang Huai instructed.

Old Zhou immediately stepped forward and respectfully bowed to everyone.

"Miss An, tonight we have prepared a total of sixteen dishes for the Jiang Family banquet. The first one, ’The Phoenix at Shallow Beach’. This dish uses baby chicks that have been raised for three months, exposing them to strong light while they are alive, then gutting them and seasoning with scallions, ginger, garlic, and various medicinal herbs. Exposed to the sun for a day and night, then the insides are removed and smoked underground."

An Yiqing raised her brow, following Old Zhou’s finger to look at the dish ’The Phoenix at Shallow Beach’, and smiled silently.

"The second dish, ’Parting Swallows’. The main ingredient is quail. Bind a male and female quail in two sealed glass vessels, then slowly fill the vessels with water until full. Then, retrieve the suffocated quails, and once again steam and roast them over high heat until the moisture inside is completely gone. Next, flavor them with fifty-six types of seasoning, steam them for three hours."

An Yiqing looked at the dish ’Parting Swallows’. The two quails roasted black with a touch of red were shocking, with a long bamboo skewer piercing through their chests. Each quail is set on one side of the skewer, gazing at each other from afar.

With a subtle smile on her lips, An Yiqing calmly looked at the third dish.

Steamed Phoenix Claws, Dragon’s Eyes Looking Homeward, Fallen Leaves Returning to Roots...

Each dish name carried profound meaning, causing astonishment.

Heh, An Yiqing chuckled inwardly, ’The Phoenix at Shallow Beach’ is a warning she might be trapped on Flower Island. ’Parting Swallows’ warns she and Gu Yelin might scatter like swallows. Steamed Phoenix Claws, as the An Family’s granddaughter, rivals royalty, using the phoenix as a metaphor. Isn’t the Steamed Phoenix Claws about steaming her? Dragon’s Eyes Looking Homeward suggests she might die on Flower Island, staring at her hometown Xuandu City unfulfilled. As for Fallen Leaves Returning to Roots, heh, it’s self-explanatory.

Old Zhou announced the names of all sixteen dishes and quietly retreated.

The dining room fell into a strange silence, Jiang Huai looked deeply at An Yiqing and let out a chuckle.

"Heh, Miss An, are you satisfied with the Jiang Family’s dinner?"

An Yiqing raised her eyes, a meaningful smile on her delicate, jade-like face. She placed her hands over her stomach, sitting straight and elegantly in the chair, looking indifferently at Jiang Huai.

"Elder Jiang has put thought into this, I am very satisfied with these dishes." After speaking, she turned to Xiao Hei, "Xiao Hei, weren’t you hungry? Let’s eat."

Xiao Hei nodded, picked up his chopsticks, and began eating heartily.

"Miss An, who is this young boy?" Jiang Huai glanced at Xiao Hei, a glint in his eyes.

"My brother." An Yiqing responded blandly, while picking up her bowl and chopsticks, eating unreservedly.

Jiang Huai gave Xiao Hei a deep look, recalling the An Family only had three children in the third generation, An Yiqing being the youngest. This child was too young to be her biological brother. Probably a sworn brother?

Jiang Huai squinted at Xiao Hei, just then, as Xiao Hei was busy eating, he suddenly looked up. For the first time, his round amber eyes showed a hint of killing intent.

The killing intent of Thousand Year Xuanwu is actually bearable for ordinary people. Though Xiao Hei had no spiritual power left, his aura remained.

Jiang Huai was startled by the sight, cold sweat breaking out on his back. Seeing Xiao Hei lower his head again, he slightly squinted his eyes, a dangerous look in his gaze.

Was it an illusion? This child seemed somewhat odd.

In the eerie atmosphere, An Yiqing ate cheerfully. Despite the annoying names, the flavors were indeed delightful. She ate happily, Xiao Hei ate happily too, unlike the Jiang Family members, who found the taste dull.

"Miss An," Jiang Huai watched An Yiqing, who focused on eating without a word, furrowing his brows.

An Yiqing lowered her gaze, a smile in her eyes, had they finally reached their limit?

"What advice does Elder Jiang have?" She put down her chopsticks, elegantly wiped her mouth, then patted Xiao Hei’s head, signaling him to eat his fill.

Jiang Huai’s face turned grim; in all these years, no one dared to eat indifferently while he spoke. It was an insult, a disrespect to his status.