Fu Yuanzheng’s lips curled into a fleeting smile at the sight.
It vanished in an instant.
As soon as he became aware of it, his expression returned to its usual icy coldness.
Yao Chengcheng looked utterly miserable. “Could Your Highness fine me the two taels of silver I mentioned yesterday…?” Twenty taels would truly be the death of her!
Fuman sighed helplessly. “Chef Yao, His Highness is only teasing you.”
Yao Chengcheng: “?”
Summoning her courage, she glanced at Fu Yuanzheng’s expression and indeed saw no trace of anger. In fact, he had taken several more sips.
Her mind raced as she wiped the sweat from her brow. “Your Highness… Your Highness truly enjoys joking with this servant…”
Fu Yuanzheng set down the crystal cup. “Sixty taels—surely it’s not that serious.”
“It is, it really is!”
Fu Yuanzheng studied her face. Several times now, he had tried to detect some flaw in her expression, but nothing stood out. Recalling the report from Anying, Fu Yuanzheng suddenly said:
“What if this prince offers you three hundred taels of silver and arranges a good marriage for you? How does that sound?”
Yao Chengcheng: “??”
Three hundred taels of silver—Yao Chengcheng’s first instinct was that it was a fantastic deal. But the next sentence made her eyes widen in shock.
Arrange a good marriage for her? Why would he do that?
Wasn’t that pushing her straight into hell?
This wasn’t a pie falling from the sky—it was knives raining down, aimed right at her life.
Yao Chengcheng was on the verge of tears. “Your Highness, please just deduct my monthly wages instead…”
Fu Yuanzheng was taken aback. “You’re unwilling?”
“Of course I am! What’s so good about marriage? If I stay as a chef in the prince’s residence, I’ll have freedom and earn money! Even if Your Highness dismisses me in the future, I can still make my own way. Relying on a man through marriage sounds utterly unappealing.”
Everyone in the hall stared in astonishment. Fu Yuanzheng’s gaze turned peculiar. “Didn’t you want to marry into a wealthy family?”
“Ah?” Yao Chengcheng instantly understood.
The prince must be referring to the original owner.
Yao Chengcheng: “I… people’s thoughts can change, after all!”
Fu Yuanzheng’s expression grew even stranger as he stared at Yao Chengcheng for a long moment.
In the end, he didn’t press the matter. Instead, he rubbed his temples again. “As you wish. You may leave.”
Yao Chengcheng noticed he did this quite often—it seemed as though he was suffering from a headache.
Lost in thought, she left with Auntie Mu.
After Yao Chengcheng had gone, Fuman stepped forward. “Your Highness, did Anying also fail to uncover anything?”
Fu Yuanzheng hummed in agreement. “Anying only reported that the second daughter of the Yao family was greedy for advantages and aspired to marry into a wealthy family. I find it strange as well. She entered the palace as a candidate for the imperial harem. If she had no ulterior motives, how could a person change so drastically in such a short time?”
Fuman: “Perhaps… the Yao family treated her poorly? This servant also heard she is a concubine-born daughter.”
Fu Yuanzheng recalled the marriage arrangement the Yao family had made for her.
“Perhaps. But there’s one more thing—”
Fu Yuanzheng was well aware of his own physical condition. Since his teenage years, imperial physicians had diagnosed him with Severe Food Aversion Syndrome.
Eating was merely a means of survival for him.
Only his closest confidants knew this.
The reason Fu Yuanzheng remained suspicious of Yao Chengcheng was, in fact, due to another matter—the food she prepared didn’t trigger the slightest aversion in him.
That was the true root of his curiosity.
Fuman knew his inner turmoil and softly comforted him, “Your Highness, actually, this old servant thinks that everything can be viewed from a positive perspective… Perhaps this is Heaven looking out for you…”
Fu Yuanzheng curled the corner of his lips into a sarcastic smile. “Heaven has never favored me.”
After saying this, he closed his eyes, signaling for Fuman to withdraw.
…
When Yao Chengcheng left the Qinzhu Garden, she was still a bit flustered. “Auntie Mu, the Prince wouldn’t really marry me off, would he…?”
Although Auntie Mu wasn’t entirely clear about the Prince’s intentions behind his words today, she knew it was impossible.
“Don’t worry, the Prince is actually quite lenient toward the servants in the mansion. As long as you don’t make mistakes, he won’t punish you harshly, much less force you to do anything you don’t want to do. But really, next time, ask me before using anything. If it were any other prince, who knows how you’d be punished for using tribute tea today.”
Yao Chengcheng grimaced. “I’ll remember…”
Then she thought of something else. “Auntie, I know you’re kind. I’d like to discuss something with you. I really enjoy studying culinary arts, so I might sometimes use a bit more ingredients. If I do, can I repay the mansion when my salary is issued…?”
Auntie Mu widened her eyes. “Oh, my dear girl, such a small thing, why bother repaying? As long as you can ensure the Prince eats and drinks well, not to mention these inexpensive things, even if you wanted other rewards, it’d just be a word from him.”
Yao Chengcheng: “Really…?”
Auntie Mu nodded. She had been by the Prince’s side for many years, and this was the first time she had seen…
She gave Yao Chengcheng a meaningful look. “Just remember, as long as you stay loyal and work hard in the mansion, you won’t lack good things.”
“Yes! I’ll remember!”
Today, the pearl milk tea and rice cakes also sold well in the System, earning a total of 30 silver coins.
Back in the main kitchen, everyone couldn’t help but gather around. “Chef Yao, will you make the milk tea again tomorrow? It’s so delicious!”
Yao Chengcheng forced a bitter smile. “Probably not. I used the wrong tribute tea today and almost got punished.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Chef Kong couldn’t help but snicker. But the sound was soft, and Yao Chengcheng didn’t hear it.
“Ah, did the Prince punish you?”
Chef Kong’s ears perked up—
Yao Chengcheng: “I’m not sure. He said he’d deduct three months’ salary, but Eunuch Fu said the Prince was joking. Then the Prince said something strange about giving me two hundred taels or something. I didn’t understand.”
“???”
“Wow, Chef Yao, that sounds like the Prince joking with you! So envious!”
“Exactly! Using tribute tea and not getting punished—the Prince must be very satisfied with your skills!”
Chef Kong: “…”
So frustrating.
…
In the afternoon, Yao Chengcheng came up with another new idea, cooking only noodles for the Prince.
She even said something about just three strands being enough.
This drew curious glances from everyone in the main kitchen.
Yao Chengcheng smiled as she stretched the dough.
One of the “Eight Wonders of Shaanxi” is noodles as wide as belts.
Of course, this refers to zhajiangmian.
The wide, long noodles resemble belts, and three strands are usually more than enough. The noodles themselves don’t require complicated preparation, but the dipping sauce is the soul—the zhajiang.
With a sour and spicy flavor, made with tomatoes, it’s fresh and savory. Although this humble folk snack is simple, it’s undeniably delicious.
Not long after Yao Chengcheng sent it over, news came from the Qinzhu Garden—
The Prince finished it all again.
Shocked face!
Impressive, impressive!
“Chef Yao, oh Culinary Goddess, please accept my bow!”