Outside the kitchen.
The Yun couple were whispering among themselves.
“Master, what do you think our daughter is doing?” Madam Yun asked softly.
Master Yun stroked his chin. “Well… I truly don’t understand either.”
Madam Yun suddenly thought of something, and her eyes reddened.
“Ah, our daughter has suffered so much. She went from being a noble young lady of the Marquis Manor to the daughter of a merchant. She must feel terribly wronged. Even if the food doesn’t suit her taste, she shouldn’t have to cook herself. What are we going to do?”
Inside the kitchen, after a flurry of activity, Yun Zhiyue finally finished.
Looking up and seeing the Yun couple standing outside, she quickly waved.
“Father, Mother, come in quickly and try the spicy-sour cold chicken feet I made!”
Master Yun and Madam Yun stared at the basin of chicken feet, then exchanged a silent glance.
Had their daughter lost her senses? How could anyone eat the feet of poultry?
Not wanting to disappoint her, Madam Yun secretly pinched the soft flesh at Master Yun’s waist and gave him a meaningful look.
Master Yun kept a calm face and casually patted away the hand at his waist.
“My dear daughter has put so much thought into this. Then Father shall give it a try.”
Reluctantly, he picked up a chicken foot and placed it into his mouth.
After chewing slightly, his eyes instantly lit up.
The flavor was sour, spicy, tender, smooth, springy, and delightfully chewy.
The texture was wonderfully novel and unexpectedly delicious.
He finished it in just a few bites, still unsatisfied, and immediately picked up another piece.
“Delicious! Delicious! I never imagined poultry feet could taste this good. Yue’er’s cooking skills are truly impressive.”
Madam Yun looked at him suspiciously.
“Master, is it really that good?”
Could he just be saying that to make their daughter happy?
“Does Madam not believe me? Then taste it yourself.”
Master Yun directly held a chicken foot up to Madam Yun’s mouth.
Madam Yun blushed slightly and glared at him shyly before taking a delicate bite.
Seeing his wife glare at him carried a different kind of charm altogether, causing Master Yun’s lips to curl upward.
Yun Zhiyue: …Another day of watching public displays of affection.
After finishing, Madam Yun’s eyes brightened.
“This truly is delicious. The texture is so unique. Yue’er is truly clever to create such a delicacy.”
[Congratulations, Host. Points +2]
The carriage slowly arrived outside the palace gates.
A pair of fair, slender hands lifted the curtain as Lüliu helped Yun Zhiyue down from the carriage.
Armed guards stood solemnly on both sides of the palace entrance.
“Halt. Routine inspection.”
Yun Zhiyue took out the palace token. After one glance, the guard immediately let her pass.
Carrying a basket behind her, Lüliu looked around curiously.
“Miss, the palace is so huge. I wonder if living here is comfortable.”
Yun Zhiyue looked up at the towering, magnificent palace gates.
Though splendid and majestic, they also imprisoned freedom.
“Once one enters the palace gates, the sea runs deep. Hard to say.”
Mingzhao Palace.
A woman dressed in fitted martial attire practiced with a whip, her movements sharp and heroic, radiating fierce energy.
Cuizhu spotted the visitors first.
“Your Highness, Miss Yun has arrived.”
Xiao Zhaoning swiftly withdrew her whip and casually tossed it to her personal maid before walking toward Yun Zhiyue with smiling eyes.
“You’re here.”
Just as Yun Zhiyue was about to bow in greeting—
“Greetings, Third—”
Xiao Zhaoning immediately interrupted her.
“Enough, enough. No need for formalities. Quickly bring out the instant noodles.”
It was now midsummer in the fifth month, and the weather was unbearably hot.
Following Xiao Zhaoning indoors, Yun Zhiyue removed the items from her basket.
“Your Highness, earlier I saw you practicing with the whip. Your movements were fluid and impressive. With the blazing sun overhead, you must be feeling quite overheated.”
“Coincidentally, I recently created a new drink that relieves greasiness and cools the body. Your Highness might like to try this cup of lemonade.”
Just as Xiao Zhaoning raised the lemonade to her lips, Cuizhu hurriedly stopped her.
“Princess, this servant hasn’t yet—”
Xiao Zhaoning waved her hand.
“No need. I trust Zhiyue. You may all withdraw.”
“Yes.”
Cuizhu’s expression remained solemn as she quietly glanced at Yun Zhiyue before retreating.
Xiao Zhaoning took a sip, surprise appearing on her face.
“This is delicious. Cool and refreshing, sweet and sour. It truly relieves the heat.”
She gulped down the entire cup in one go.
Looking at the lemon slices at the bottom, she asked curiously,
“What is a lemon? How can its juice taste this good?”
“A lemon is a very sour fruit. When mixed with sugar or honey, it becomes pleasantly sweet and tangy.”
After speaking, Yun Zhiyue brought out another dish from the food box.
“Your Highness, this dish is spicy-sour cold phoenix claws. My parents have already tasted it. The texture is tangy, spicy, tender, and chewy.”
Since “chicken feet” sounded inelegant, and considering the princess’s status, Yun Zhiyue tactfully renamed them “phoenix claws.”
Looking at the plate of poultry feet on the table, Xiao Zhaoning wore a conflicted expression.
“What phoenix claws? Aren’t these just chicken feet? Do you think I can’t recognize them? You made your parents eat this, and now you want me to eat it too?”
“Do you know ordinary families generally don’t eat such things?”
Yun Zhiyue paused slightly.
Why was everyone so resistant to chicken feet?
“Your Highness, I swear with my life that these are edible. My parents both said they were delicious.”
Mainly because in ancient times nobody ate chicken feet at all—they were extremely cheap. If she opened a restaurant, the low cost would mean huge profits.
“Really?”
Half doubtful, Xiao Zhaoning picked up a piece and placed it into her mouth.
The texture was cool, tangy, spicy, smooth, and satisfyingly chewy.
The young woman nodded repeatedly in praise.
“Wow, you really didn’t lie to me. This is genuinely delicious.”
[Points +1]
Yun Zhiyue then presented another dish.
“Your Highness, instant noodles aren’t only for soaking in hot water—they can also be stir-fried. This is fried noodles with egg.”
After tasting a bite, Xiao Zhaoning nodded approvingly.
“Excellent, excellent. Today’s dishes greatly please me. Cuizhu, reward her.”
Outside the door, the personal maid Cuizhu stepped in, removed a pouch from her waist, and placed it before Yun Zhiyue.
Yun Zhiyue merely glanced at it before pushing it back.
“Your Highness, my ambitions do not lie there. Actually, today I wished to discuss a partnership with you.”
Xiao Zhaoning became interested at once and signaled with her eyes.
Cuizhu promptly withdrew the pouch.
“Oh? What kind of partnership?”
Yun Zhiyue asked, “What does Your Highness think of these foods?”
Unable to resist, Xiao Zhaoning picked up another chicken foot.
“They’re quite delicious.”
Yun Zhiyue continued, “Then does Your Highness think opening a restaurant with these foods would be profitable?”
Without hesitation, Xiao Zhaoning answered,
“Of course. They taste amazing.”
Then she suddenly realized.
“Oh—you want to partner with me to open a restaurant?”
Yun Zhiyue smiled faintly.
“Your Highness is indeed clever.”
Suddenly, Xiao Zhaoning propped up her chin and raised an eyebrow.
“I am a dignified princess. I lack neither food, clothing, nor silver. What makes you think I would cooperate with you?”
Instead of answering directly, Yun Zhiyue asked,
“How does Your Highness spend your days in the palace?”
Xiao Zhaoning replied proudly,
“Quite well, naturally. In the mornings I study etiquette, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. In the afternoons I practice with the whip.”
Yun Zhiyue asked again,
“Then does Your Highness know why I want to open a restaurant?”
Without waiting for a response, she slowly turned her gaze toward the doorway and continued:
“As far as I know, most dishes currently on the market focus on light and fresh flavors. Although chili peppers exist for seasoning, very few people use them extensively.”
“So I want to create a completely new path—a world where all kinds of flavors can spread.”
“I believe food should be diverse, not monotonous.”
“I want everyone in the world to taste different kinds of cuisine.”
“I want to open restaurants throughout the entire country.”
“But my own strength is limited, so I wish to cooperate with Your Highness.”
“If one day these restaurants become famous and everyone discusses these delicacies, they will remember that Your Highness was one of the owners.”
“I know society believes women should remain confined to the inner household, dutifully supporting husbands and raising children.”
“But I don’t want that.”
“I believe life should have meaning.”
“I want to build a career of my own.”
After silently listening to everything, Xiao Zhaoning suddenly slapped the table excitedly.
“Well said! I completely agree with you!”
“Let’s open a restaurant immediately and make sure the world tastes these delicacies!”
The sudden impact startled Yun Zhiyue so badly she nearly jumped.