Zhao Yuan had never been in a kitchen before and was immediately overwhelmed by the smell.
Why did this place have so many strange odors?
Huh?
What’s that?
A chicken?
There’s actually a live chicken in the kitchen?
What is that chicken doing? And what’s that pile of colorful stuff on the ground?
Zhao Yuan’s eyes quickly swept across the kitchen.
Then she spotted a chicken in the corner, its legs tied together.
She also saw something filthy she had never seen before—and caught a whiff of a foul smell!
Ugh!
The moment the smell hit her, Zhao Yuan realized what it was—
Chicken droppings!
So disgusting!
She instinctively took two steps back.
The cook: …
Is this Ninth Miss sick in the head?
She came into the kitchen for no reason. I greeted her politely, and not only did she ignore me, she even covered her nose and backed away in disgust?
Damn it! This is a kitchen, not a latrine!
The more the cook thought about it, the angrier she became. The smile on her face stiffened.
Not even truly favored, yet she dares to show off in the main kitchen?
A flash of coldness passed through the cook’s eyes.
“Ninth Miss!”
She raised her voice and called Zhao Yuan again.
Only then did Zhao Yuan snap back to her senses. She looked at the cook.
“Aunt Zhou, I want to make a bowl of steamed egg custard!”
Yes—egg custard!
This was the dish Zhao Yuan had spent two days thinking up.
The girl wasn’t stupid. She knew she could ask the cook for help.
But then she thought of her grandmother—
A woman who had managed the Duke’s household for decades, and in her youth had even gone to war with her grandfather.
If she weren’t a woman, she might have already been granted a title.
Her grandmother was formidable. Even in old age, she was certainly not someone easy to fool.
Zhao Yuan knew she had no blood relation with the Madam. The bit of favor she had gained over the years was only because her older cousins had all married off.
With no suitable granddaughters around to attend her, Zhao Yuan, a concubine-born granddaughter, had her chance.
Her “favor” wasn’t pure. She didn’t have the capital to act recklessly.
Serving her grandmother was more like a servant serving a master—she didn’t dare deceive her.
If she claimed to have made the dish herself, but her grandmother discovered that she merely stood by while the cook did all the work, the Madam would surely be displeased.
Then not only would she fail to curry favor, she might offend her instead.
Before, when there were no “competitors,” she could rely on her sweet words and attentiveness.
But now there was Wang Si—
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Yuan cursed again in her heart: Wang Seven is so annoying!
She’s just a cousin, merely a guest in the residence. She should behave herself—why does she have to show off?
Even personally cooking for Grandfather and Grandmother?
Doesn’t the whole household already have dozens of grandchildren and daughters-in-law? Why does she have to stand out?
“Ninth Miss, what did you say? You want to make egg custard?”
While Zhao Yuan was silently cursing Wang Si, the cook looked shocked and confirmed again,
“Or did you mean you want to eat egg custard?”
Already in a bad mood, and repulsed by the kitchen, Zhao Yuan grew even more irritated at the cook’s apparent misunderstanding.
“Are you deaf? I said I want to make egg custard!”
Zhao Yuan snapped impatiently.
The cook: …
Her chubby fists almost clenched.
But mindful of status, she didn’t dare act out.
Suppressing her anger, she nodded quickly. “Of course! Ninth Miss, the steamer and eggs are right here. Please, go ahead!”
Zhao Yuan paused. “You’re letting me do it myself?”
The cook nearly blurted out: Didn’t you say so?
Seeing the cook’s aggrieved look, Zhao Yuan realized she hadn’t explained clearly.
“I mean—I don’t know how to make it. You… you tell me how!”
The cook had no idea what had gotten into this young lady, suddenly insisting on making egg custard.
She only knew one thing—this was not how one asked for help.
Lowering her gaze, she hid the malice flashing in her eyes and replied respectfully,
“Yes, Ninth Miss. I’ll teach you now—”
Oh, she would “teach” her well.
Haitang Courtyard.
Wang Si stood in the small kitchen, looking at a bucket of fresh milk just delivered from the estate outside the city.
A thought crossed her mind: Today, I’ll make milk egg custard and send some to Grandfather and Grandmother.
…
“Ninth Miss, perhaps I should do it instead?”
Although the cook wanted to “teach Zhao Yuan a lesson,” she still had some sense.
She was just a servant. No matter how unfavored, Zhao Yuan was still a young lady.
If anything went wrong, she would be the one punished.
Besides, making egg custard wasn’t difficult or dangerous.
But what if something happened?
There was fire and boiling water in the kitchen.
A single spark or drop of hot water could injure a delicate young lady.
If anything happened, she would be held responsible.
“No need! I said I’ll do it myself!”
Zhao Yuan insisted firmly—she had to do it personally.
However, to be safe, she didn’t reveal that this dish was meant for her grandmother.
What if she failed?
She feared failing to please and instead offending.
Better to learn quietly first. Once she mastered it, she would present it.
The cook took a deep breath and forced a smile.
“Very well. You do it yourself.”
“…Just tell me what to do!”
Zhao Yuan’s tone remained arrogant.
“Ninth Miss, first take an egg, beat it, then add water…”
The cook was unhappy, so she didn’t teach very carefully.
Moreover, certain cooking techniques were “trade secrets.”
Why should she share her skills with a young lady who offered neither respect nor reward?
She deliberately didn’t mention using warm water.
Nor did she mention covering the bowl before steaming.
Otherwise, the custard would come out uneven on the surface, full of bubbles inside, and lacking smooth texture.
Warm water and covering the bowl—those were her “secrets.”
“I see, it’s not that hard!”
After hearing the instructions, Zhao Yuan nodded confidently.
It seemed simple—she could do it!
She didn’t even ask how much water to add.
After a round of clumsy effort—and even scalding the back of her hand slightly—she finally made a bowl of watery egg custard.
“This…”
It didn’t look like what she usually ate.
Zhao Yuan was stunned, then discouraged.
She didn’t seem to have a talent for cooking.
Was she going to lose to Wang Si?
“Why should I? I even burned my hand making this for Grandmother!”
Zhao Yuan felt deeply wronged.
Looking at the redness on her fair hand, she felt both pain and resentment.
Suddenly, an idea struck her—
“Wait… Grandmother rewarded Wang Si not because her food tasted good!”