Chapter 6 Intentional or Accidental?
After Ning Wentao finished his introduction, he stepped aside, waiting for the three to taste the fish.
Leosley picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth. The fish was tender and delicious, but it was unlike any other ingredient he had ever eaten. This fish had a faint fishy smell, but no saltiness from the sea; instead, it tasted somewhat like fruit.
After taking a bite, a look of surprise appeared in Leosley's eyes: "I didn't expect you could actually use sea spirit beasts to cook a dish, and it tastes so delicious. Was it intentional or accidental?"
In his previous life, Leosley would never have imagined this.
In the Douluo Continent, he had only eaten land spirit beasts, never sea spirit beasts.
Let alone being able to make such a delicacy.
"Indeed, Heaven Dou City is more than a thousand miles away from Han Hai City. The transportation and preservation alone would be a considerable cost. The price of this dish must be quite high, right? Even if it uses precious ingredients to cover it up, you can still see its value."
Xue Qinghe disagreed with Leosley.
As the Crown Prince and Ning Fengzhi's disciple, he had an excellent understanding of the prices of these foods.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Xue Qinghe steered the conversation towards the main topic.
There was no other way; Leosley and Siegwen were too dazzling in Tiandou City, and it wouldn't be right not to recruit them!
Emperor Xue Ye, as the Emperor of Tiandou, couldn't personally intervene—it would be too beneath his dignity—so naturally, Xue Qinghe had to take the lead.
However, this might be considered entrusting the task to the wrong person.
If Emperor Xue Ye knew that his son had been killed more than a decade ago, he would probably cry himself to sleep.
Granting titles was originally a means for the empire to win over geniuses and strong individuals; this was a more approachable method and easier to gain their favor.
Duke Leosley himself had little to do with nobility. When Xue Ye heard that Siegwen always addressed him as "Duke," and after witnessing Siegwen and Leosley's abilities, he conceived the idea of bestowing a dukedom upon them.
However,
the rules of the Heaven Dou Empire stipulated that one's power was commensurate with their actions; each title represented real power, and granting a dukedom would be excessive.
Take Xue Xing, for example. Although he didn't do much official work, acting like a leisurely prince, his power was substantial.
Keep in mind that Ning Fengzhi, the sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, held the positions of Grand Tutor and Crown Prince's tutor in the Heaven Dou Empire, yet he was only a marquis.
What would Ning Fengzhi think if Leosley were given a dukedom?
Even among kings, there was no precedent for granting dukedoms to non-royal princes.
This was why Xue Ye was in a dilemma.
He didn't know what to give, and not giving him a dukedom was also problematic.
But he couldn't just let such a talented person slip through his fingers!
Leosley and Siegwen weren't fools; they immediately understood Xue Qinghe's meaning.
Leosley smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but the head nurse and I currently have no intention of accepting the title."
Besides, what use is a title in Douluo Continent?
Stronger people don't care how high your status is; everyone has two shoulders and one head, no one is more noble than anyone else.
Moreover, whether it's Fontaine, where Leosley once lived, or any country in Teyvat, nobles have been hanging from the lampposts for years, their original titles have become honorary citizenship titles.
Upon hearing this, Xue Qinghe's face showed a hint of disappointment. Although he had expected it, he didn't expect these two to be unwilling to accept the title. But then, a smile flashed across Xue Qinghe's face, and he said, "Since you two are unwilling to accept the title, then I won't force you, but I have a gift I'd like to give you!"
Hearing this, Leosley opened his slightly narrowed eyes, his gaze fixed on the exquisite box beside Xue Qinghe's hand, and asked, "What is this?"
Xue Qinghe took out two patterned rings from the box and said, "These two storage soul tools contain some money. I deeply admire Miss Sigwen's selfless medical treatment, but the Duke and Miss Sigwen live in this expensive Tiandou City, and must be quite strapped for cash. Please accept these two storage soul tools." He then handed over the
two storage soul tools, one black and one white.
Xue Qinghe knew where Leosley lived; compared to the real "Duke," it was practically a slum.
Besides the two rooms, the rest of their living quarters had been converted into a medical room.
Leosley didn't even glance at the storage soul tools, knowing they were soul tools and useless to them without soul power.
Besides, were they short of money?
With his and Sigwen's current wealth, buying a house in Tiandou City wouldn't be difficult.
However, they needed someone knowledgeable to recognize their value.
He and Siegwen possessed fixed assets, not worthless circulating currency.
Most of it consisted of herbs Siegwen had gathered.
Therefore, Xue Qinghe's words left Leosley speechless.
What else could he do but refuse?
"Then thank you in advance, Your Highness." Leosley accepted the black and white storage soul tool.
Xue Qinghe nodded slightly, "You're welcome. It's an honor to meet two such chivalrous individuals. I will trouble you two to take good care of me in the days to come."
Seeing Xue Qinghe's generosity, Siegwen directly put the ring on her finger.
But after moving it around a bit, Siegwen sighed regretfully and put the ring down.
"Head Nurse, what's wrong? Is it inappropriate?" Leosley asked.
"No, it's just that wearing a ring feels bad for my finger, and it's not very convenient for treatment." Siegwen shook her hands, then took a white cloth bag from her pocket and put the ring inside.
Then she put the cloth bag back into her pocket, followed by another flurry of activity.
Xue Qinghe glanced at Leosley, a confident smile playing on her lips, and asked, "Miss Sigwen, don't you like carrying these little things in your hands?"
"I like carrying things on my person because I'm always worried about them falling to the ground," Sigwen replied honestly.
Mainly, Sigwen cherished her hands. Although she missed the small, round hands of Melusin, having human hands added a unique dimension to her life and made work easier.
Therefore, she didn't want them to suffer even the slightest injury.
Leosley nodded and looked at Xue Qinghe.
Xue Qinghe understood Leosley's meaning and explained, "If Miss Sigwen doesn't like them, please don't force yourself. Consider these two soul tools a small gift from me to you both."
"Eh? Ah? It's alright! No need to be so polite! This is fine~"
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(End of Chapter)