Fortunately, Su Liuyue was always meticulous in her work. She didn’t let the sudden wave of sadness distract her from the task at hand. After estimating that enough time had passed, she returned to the kitchen.
Xue Lingwan was already impatient from staring so long. “I thought Cousin was going to run away.”
Su Liuyue raised her brows slightly. “The words ‘run away’ don’t exist in my dictionary. Er’an, bring me a spoon.”
Er’an obeyed, handing her a clean spoon. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Su Liuyue gently placed the spoon upside down on one of the bowls.
Xue Lingwan’s eyes widened in shock.
Impossible! Impossible! The spoon was resting steadily on the surface of the hot milk! When had this bowl of milk solidified into one piece?!
Ersi and Er’an rubbed their eyes in disbelief. “Our eyes aren’t playing tricks…”
“You… what trick did you use?!” Xue Lingwan stared at Su Liuyue in astonishment.
Su Liuyue silently looked up at the sky. How could she explain such a complex physical reaction to someone from ancient times? Instead, she simply pushed the bowl of ginger milk pudding toward her cousin and said calmly: “Didn’t you and your maid watch me the entire time I made this dessert? What trick could I possibly have used? If I had, would four eyes between you have failed to notice?”
Xue Lingwan choked on her words, still glaring at her angrily and unwillingly.
Su Liuyue’s lips curved. “If Cousin truly doesn’t trust me, why not taste it yourself? This dessert is called *ginger milk pudding*. I found it in an old recipe book. The ingredients are only ginger, fresh milk, and sugar. Surely, Cousin doesn’t think I’d poison you and Sister‑in‑law?”
Xue Lingwan’s expression soured. She wasn’t mindlessly hostile—this woman was arrogant and domineering, yes, but poisoning someone was beyond her. She wouldn’t dare.
At last, Xue Lingwan bit her lip, snatched up the bowl, and scooped a spoonful into her mouth. Immediately, she froze in surprise.
This was a texture she had never tasted before. Soft and silky, like tender tofu cooked to perfection, yet far smoother and denser. The rich sweetness of milk blended with the sharp warmth of ginger makes it irresistibly delicious. One spoonful led to another.
Most importantly, after swallowing, a gentle warmth spread from her throat down to her stomach, then throughout her body, leaving her cozy and comfortable. This really was nothing more than ginger, fresh milk, and sugar!
The maids all watched nervously. Seeing her cousin silent for so long, Su Liuyue smiled. “Well? How does it taste?”
Xue Lingwan suddenly lifted her gaze, her eyes full of struggle and unwillingness. In the next moment, however, she set down the bowl, stepped back, and with a *thud* knelt on the ground, giving Su Liuyue a proper kowtow.
The maids were all stunned. Only Su Liuyue remained calm, her expression unchanged.
After standing up, Xue Lingwan bit her lip tightly and said: “This time it was my misunderstanding. But don’t think that just because you made a bowl of this so‑called ginger milk pudding for my sister‑in‑law, it cancels out everything you’ve done before!”
With that, she spun around to leave. After only a few steps, she turned back with a huff: “Xuezhu! Bring that bowl of ginger milk pudding! Fresh milk is expensive—we can’t waste it!”
Ersi and Er’an: “…”
Only after Xue Lingwan had hurried away did the two maids dare to whisper to each other.
Er’an: “I think Second Young Lady actually liked our mistress’s ginger milk pudding…”
Ersi: “I think so too. It really did look delicious. I wish I could taste it myself…”
Watching the two girls muttering, Su Liuyue smiled faintly and said in mock annoyance: “Enough. Quickly take the other bowl of ginger milk pudding to Cousin‑in‑law.”
When Su Liuyue entered Xue Wenbai’s room, only Xue Wenbai and Madam Yun were present.
Xue Wenbai sat at the bedside, his face full of worry as he held the hand of a pale young woman reclining against soft pillows. “Ke’er, is there anything you want to eat? Whatever it is, I’ll find it for you!”
This cousin‑in‑law was surnamed Wang, given name Yike—a gentle, soft‑spoken woman.
Madam Wang shook her head slightly, her voice weak. “I don’t want to eat anything…”
“But you can’t eat nothing at all!” Xue Wenbai’s eyes were red with anxiety.
At that moment, Su Liuyue entered with a smile. “Uncle, Cousin, Cousin‑in‑law. I’ve made a dessert using ginger and fresh milk. Ginger dispels dampness and cold, strengthens the spleen and appetite, and relieves morning sickness. As for the nutritional value of milk, that goes without saying. Cousin‑in‑law, would you like to try the dessert I made?”
Madam Yun hadn’t expected Su Liuyue to actually produce something. She looked at her in surprise.
Ersi quickly added: “Just now, Second Young Lady Xue tasted our mistress’s dessert and said it was delicious!”
That brat actually said it was good?! Madam Yun knew well how much her daughter disliked her niece, so she was even more astonished.
Xue Wenbai, however, didn’t think so deeply. Hearing this, he was overjoyed. “Cousin, how thoughtful of you! Quickly bring it over—my wife loves sweets the most!”
Su Liuyue had Er’an deliver the bowl of ginger milk pudding. Xue Wenbai immediately took it himself and held it carefully before Madam Wang.
Madam Wang, still nauseous, frowned instinctively at the thought of food. Yet as the bowl neared, the faint spicy aroma reached her nose, easing her queasiness. Seeing the tofu‑like, pale yellow dessert inside, she was momentarily stunned. When Xue Wenbai lifted a spoon to her lips, she opened her mouth almost involuntarily. Since eating a little minced‑meat porridge that morning, she hadn’t touched anything else. Now, seeing her finally willing to eat, everyone around was both shocked and delighted.
After swallowing the ginger milk pudding, Madam Wang couldn’t help but look up at Su Liuyue in surprise. “What is this? I’ve never eaten it before… it’s so delicious. And after eating it, my stomach feels so comfortable…”
Xue Wenbai was nearly moved to tears with joy.
Su Liuyue smiled gently. “This is called *ginger milk pudding*. I learned it from an old recipe book I happened upon. If Cousin‑in‑law likes it, I’ll teach your maids how to make it. Then you can have it whenever you wish.”
Madam Yun was all smiles, her heart full of relief. “Liuyue, you’re so thoughtful. Since Yike is willing to eat, half my worries are gone. You’ve truly helped us greatly today!”
Turning, she saw Xue Wenbai wholly absorbed in feeding his wife spoonful after spoonful, careful and tender.
Madam Yun stood and said: “Let’s not get in their way. It’s nearly time for supper. Liuyue, stay and eat with us. Your uncle was just shouting about tearing down the Su family’s walls.”
Seeing Madam Yun’s exasperated expression, Su Liuyue laughed softly.
“Of course. In fact, I have something I’d like to ask Uncle and Aunt to help me with.”
She followed Madam Yun back to the main hall. When the family gathered for supper, she explained what she wanted their help with.
Xue Chengyi listened, his brows furrowed, and objected: “Liuyue, everything you ask us to help with seems tied to *Manyifang*. I know you want to build it up, but even if it succeeds, it will take time! And even then, the Su family scoundrels won’t give up trying to ruin your marriage prospects! It would be better for me to take your elder and third cousins straight to the Su household and demand justice for you! If I can’t protect my only niece, I have no face to remain in office!”