As Cui’er’s words fell, the small kitchen fell utterly silent.
Chun Tao turned pale, nervously glancing at Lin Qianqian.
The side consort had spoken now, clearly aiming at her—intent on exerting pressure, perhaps trying to co-opt her, or… to force her into a mistake.
Lin Qianqian’s heart sank. She knew that if this bowl of soup were sent out, it would mark her with Side Consort Liu’s influence. From that moment on, surviving independently in the back of the mansion would be nearly impossible. Yet if she outright refused, given the consort’s status and temperament, crushing a mere maid would be easier than crushing an ant.
She raced through options in her mind. She could not confront head-on, nor could she yield blindly.
Raising her head, she carefully displayed the right mix of fear and hesitation, her voice soft and timid:“Elder Sister Cui’er, it is my greatest fortune that the side consort favors even my humble skill. However…”
She paused, letting her gaze sweep over the faint, curious glances around the kitchen, raising her voice slightly to ensure certain words carried:“However, the prince’s meals—from ingredient selection to cooking—follow strict regulations. Fubo and Madam Zhao have repeatedly stressed that all items in the small kitchen must be dedicated to the prince first, with no mistakes allowed. I am but a humble servant; I dare not arbitrarily use the prince’s provisions to prepare soup for Your Ladyship. Should this anger the prince, or if Fubo or Madam Zhao were to learn, even a hundred heads would not suffice to pay the price.”
Her words, though phrased as a polite refusal, were perfectly reasoned. By invoking Fubo and Madam Zhao—the true powers in the mansion—she made it clear that the prince’s priorities came first, and that she was under oversight, not someone to be trifled with.
Cui’er’s expression darkened.
She had not expected this seemingly meek girl to dare wield the prince and the steward as leverage.
“You—!” Cui’er’s eyebrows shot up, about to explode in anger.
But Lin Qianqian didn’t give her the chance. Pivoting smoothly, her tone became extremely sincere:“However, Your Ladyship’s health is delicate, and if you wish to stimulate the appetite, I do have a compromise, should I be so bold to suggest it?”
Cui’er snorted coldly. “Speak!”
“Although I cannot use the prince’s provisions,” Lin Qianqian explained, “today’s ingredients delivered from the main kitchen include several fresh seasonal vegetables—light and appetizing. I humbly offer to prepare for Your Ladyship a special ‘Hawthorn and Job’s Tears Porridge.’ It is tangy and sweet, eases the stomach, and will benefit Your Ladyship’s health. This porridge is entirely different from the medicinal broths used for the prince. I wonder if Your Ladyship would kindly accept it?”
Every word was carefully calculated. She refused to make a soup using the prince’s ingredients (avoiding the risk of overstepping or probing the prince’s preferences) while simultaneously offering an alternative from ordinary ingredients, preserving the consort’s face and demonstrating obedience. By emphasizing that the medicinal broths were for the prince, she drew a clear line between his needs and the consort’s, without confrontation.
Cui’er stared at Lin Qianqian, her gaze flickering. She had come to intimidate the girl or force her allegiance, but this slippery little maid had slipped through her fingers. Pushing too hard could reach Fubo, making the consort herself look bad. Lin Qianqian’s “Hawthorn and Job’s Tears Porridge” sounded thoughtful enough—enough to report back.
“Hmph. Not bad. You’ve got some sense!” Cui’er grudgingly admitted, unwilling to escalate further. “Do as you say! Deliver it to Lanyue Pavilion before evening meal. If Your Ladyship is displeased, your skin will pay!”
“Yes, I shall do my best,” Lin Qianqian replied obediently.
Cui’er glared sharply one last time before striding away.
Once she left, Chun Tao clutched her chest in relief. “You scared me half to death! Qianqian, you were incredible! I thought Cui’er would explode on the spot!”
Lin Qianqian did not relax. She knew this was only a temporary reprieve. Since Side Consort Liu had noticed her, she would not let the matter drop. Today she had navigated the danger deftly, but what of tomorrow, or the day after?
She acted at once, fetching fresh hawthorn, job’s tears, and a little rock sugar from the main kitchen, using her small-kitchen authority. She carefully pitted the hawthorn and combined it with the washed job’s tears in a small pot, simmering over gentle heat until the grains softened and the hawthorn dissolved, the broth thickening, before adding sugar to taste. At no point did she use any of the prince’s designated ingredients or utensils.
The finished porridge glowed bright red, the sweet-and-sour aroma stimulating the appetite.
Before the evening meal, she personally delivered the Hawthorn and Job’s Tears Porridge to the entrance of Lanyue Pavilion, handing it to the attendant maid without entering or saying a word.
Shortly after, Leng Feng came to fetch the prince’s dinner. As always, his expression was cold, but his eyes briefly flicked toward Lin Qianqian when he collected the meal box—without comment.
Lin Qianqian’s heart raced, unsure whether her actions would be seen as currying favor or balancing interests.
Yet, the night passed without incident.
The next morning, upon arriving at the small kitchen, Lin Qianqian sensed a subtle shift in atmosphere.
Master Zhang had returned.
His expression remained stern, but noticeably restrained. Seeing Lin Qianqian, he merely nodded expressionlessly, then went to inspect the ingredients, no longer glaring as before.
Even more surprisingly, Fubo appeared, announcing in a calm yet authoritative voice:“The prince has instructed that all affairs of the small kitchen remain under Master Zhang’s general oversight. Lin Qianqian is responsible solely for the prince’s soups and medicinal dishes. She may obtain any ingredients she requires with her token, without going through Master Zhang.”
This order subtly balanced authority. It confirmed Zhang’s status as head chef, soothing his pride, while granting Lin Qianqian clear responsibility and autonomy over her duties, freeing her from Zhang’s interference.
It was, without doubt, the best possible arrangement.
Lin Qianqian understood immediately: last night’s events had reached the prince, and he… approved of her handling. He was both supporting her and warning others not to overstep.
“Yes, I will obey,” Lin Qianqian said, bowing alongside Master Zhang.
Zhang’s expression flickered briefly, but he said nothing.
Fubo nodded in satisfaction and added deliberately:“Miss Lin, your great work is to attend carefully to the prince’s appetite.”
“Yes, I understand,” Lin Qianqian responded respectfully.
The storm seemed to have temporarily subsided. Yet, Lin Qianqian noticed that as Master Zhang turned to check the stove, a fleeting, subtle glint of cold calculation passed across his lowered eyes.