On the way back, as they passed through the bustling streets, Hua Miaomiao peered through the gaps in the car curtains.
The lively shouts of street vendors, the bright signs, and the crowd’s chatter made the city appear peaceful and prosperous.
Yet her thoughts drifted back to the palace, with its endless schemes, power struggles, and intrigue. It was almost absurd to think about. Luckily, the man beside her had already removed himself from that vortex.
She knew that if the throne ever changed hands and the new emperor tried to move against Xiao Jinyan, she would be ready—with her own secret space—to see him through anything.
Lost in her musings, Hua Miaomiao didn’t notice Xiao Jinyan quietly running through his own strategies in his mind.
Once back at the residence, Hua Miaomiao eagerly volunteered, “Prince, it’s already late; we should have had lunch long ago. Today, I’ll personally cook for you and chase away any bad luck!”
Though she wasn’t skilled in pastries or elaborate desserts, basic home-cooked dishes were well within her abilities. As a child of Sichuan-Chongqing, she had taken the time to seriously learn these skills.
Seeing the excitement in her eyes, Xiao Jinyan couldn’t refuse and agreed with a smile.
Delighted, Hua Miaomiao followed Spring Flower and Autumn Moon into the kitchen. Though the two maids found their lady’s behavior peculiar, they dared not question her. Since her near-drowning incident, she had changed in inexplicable ways—picking up skills seemingly overnight.
Now she could cook! It astonished them.
Their mistress had never entered the kitchen before. Could she be doing this just to please the prince?
As Hua Miaomiao dived into the kitchen, Spring Flower and Autumn Moon exchanged glances, silently communicating their mutual astonishment.
The head chef and the cook stood by like soldiers at attention, ready to intervene if needed.
Though the princess’s appearance was less than charming, her demeanor over the past few days had convinced the staff she was easy to work with. And now, learning that she could cook had truly shocked everyone.
In the capital, ladies of prominent families were trained in music, calligraphy, literature, and needlework, not in culinary arts. Hua Miaomiao was a singular exception.
Spring Flower and Autumn Moon, however, were anxious. They couldn’t imagine what their mistress might concoct.
But their worry quickly vanished as they saw her move with confidence. Hua Miaomiao rolled up her sleeves, selected the freshest ingredients, and set to work. Her efficiency and focus were startling.
Anyone accustomed to pampered young ladies would have been flabbergasted to see her like this.
She ignored the onlookers, concentrating only on the fish in the basin, the meat on the cutting board, and the fresh vegetables laid out nearby.
The chefs had initially planned to step in, but watching her, they hesitated. She picked up a knife, swiftly rendered the fish unconscious, then gutted and cleaned it with unerring precision. Her expression remained calm, showing no change at all.
Though her face was not pleasing to look at, her intense focus drew attention away from that entirely.
Spring Flower and Autumn Moon were dumbfounded.
This was the first time they had seen their mistress display such skill. Her movements rivaled even the head chef.
After finishing the fish, Hua Miaomiao cleaned it thoroughly and turned to the pork on the cutting board, slicing it efficiently.
Today, she planned to prepare a Sichuan-style boiled fish, braised pork, two vegetable dishes, and a bowl of borscht.
Despite the kitchen being lined with observers, not a sound was heard. The silence was almost eerie, and soon news of the unusual scene spread throughout the residence.
Outsiders even gathered outside the kitchen, but Hua Miaomiao paid no mind. She was immersed in the joy of cooking.
Being a true child of Sichuan-Chongqing, she loved spicy food, so she added a generous amount of chili. In her heart, she silently thanked the world that the ingredients she needed were all readily available.
The staff watched, astonished by her knife skills. The head chef’s eyes practically gleamed. To see the princess cook like this was beyond belief.
Just as everyone marveled at her technique, Hua Miaomiao spoke up, “Master Chef, could you come over for a moment? I need some oil and salt, and someone to tend the fire.”
The head chef immediately replied, “Princess, this jar contains salt, and this one has oil.” He then pointed to a kitchen boy, “Xiao Song, come here and stoke the fire for the princess.”
Hua Miaomiao checked the jar and, as expected, it contained lard—no matter, she could still work with it.
Once all ingredients were prepared, she grabbed her spatula and waited for the wok to heat. Xiao Song promptly stoked the fire and prepared the pan. Hua Miaomiao’s eyes were fixed on the lard. When it was hot, she tossed in the chili.
Immediately, a tantalizing aroma filled the kitchen: pungent, spicy, and intoxicating. With her swift movements, dish after dish came to life.
Everyone watched as the vegetables were cooked, and the fish prepared. Though her techniques differed from theirs, the food smelled heavenly.
Even the head chef and the cook had to swallow their excitement; in all their years, they had never seen dishes prepared quite like this.
Spring Flower and Autumn Moon had long forgotten their previous doubts, completely absorbed by the fragrances wafting through the kitchen.
While preparing the boiled fish, the head chef couldn’t help but come closer, observing Hua Miaomiao’s technique.
She ignored him, focusing only on her work. “Xiao Song, turn the fire up high,” she instructed.
Xiao Song, now utterly impressed by the princess’s skill, stoked the flames with renewed vigor. He had once assumed her cooking would be mere pretense, but he was now fully convinced.
The head chef watched silently as Hua Miaomiao prepared the final dish: the braised pork. After confirming that sugar was available, he handed her the rock sugar with a respectful nod.