Ever since Xie Lanyi had told Dayun the truth, her gaze toward people had changed.
Several times, Tang Qingluo noticed Dayun staring at the children of the first, third, and fourth branches with a sharp, venomous look.
Tang Qingluo instructed Jiang shi and Ruan shi to be vigilant around the children of the concubine-born branches, and to keep a close watch on Little Tenth and Little Eleventh—after all, the two youngest girls were the most vulnerable.
Jiang shi and Ruan shi agreed; Dayun’s gaze was unsettling, so they kept the two little girls close at all times. Even at night, when they rested, they took turns keeping watch to prevent accidents.
“Madam, tonight we’ll have to trouble you with preparing the food for us.”
Ever since Tang Qingluo had revealed her cooking skills, the next evening when Brother Li and his team of constables were on duty, Xiao Hu came to fetch her to help in the kitchen.
Tang Qingluo was more than happy to assist. Cooking had many advantages: she could eat her fill while sneaking some of the food into her storage bag. She practically hoped someone would ask her for help.
Although she thought this, her words were polite:“Little brother, no need to be so formal. I would help even if you didn’t ask—it’s no trouble at all.”
She smiled brightly and bowed slightly.“The other day, thanks to your care, my family managed to get through. I’ve been thinking about how to repay you. Since you happen to enjoy my cooking, I’ll prepare a few extra dishes tonight to make sure all of you are satisfied.”
“Well, that’s great. Then we’ll trouble you, Madam,” Xiao Hu said, grinning from ear to ear.
As before, Tang Qingluo changed into the constable uniform, lowered her head, and followed Xiao Hu into the kitchen.
Unlike the suspicious Brother Li, Xiao Hu didn’t check in on her once she started cooking. This emboldened Tang Qingluo—she decided to go all out.
She brought out all her skills and carefully prepared ten dishes, a thick soup, and a broth:
Fried peanuts
Salted edamame
Garlic pork slices
Five-spice crispy pork
Fish head with double peppers
Spicy boiled pork slices
Steamed chicken with mushrooms
Fish-flavored eggplant
Vinegar-braised cabbage
Chive and egg pancakes
Tofu thick soup
Yam and pork rib soup
Additionally, she prepared various staples: brown sugar steamed buns, scallion pancakes, pumpkin cakes, egg pancakes, hand-pulled flatbreads, and a large pot of scallion oil noodles.
While cooking, Tang Qingluo took every opportunity to store portions of the staples into her storage slot. She also replaced a previously stored pot of flower tea with a bucket of plain water for practicality.
Once everything was ready, she called out:“Little brother, the food is ready!”
Hearing this, Xiao Hu, who had been drooling at the smell outside, jumped up and ran into the kitchen.
Seeing the table piled high with dishes, his eyes nearly popped out.
“Little brother, could you carry these scallion oil noodles and the pork rib broth into the cell?”
Tang Qingluo hadn’t made extra for herself—she had only tasted a few bites of each dish.
Seeing her preparation, Xiao Hu nodded approvingly. “Of course, Madam.”
He easily lifted the two buckets—one of noodles, one of broth—and quickly returned with Tang Qingluo to the prison.
Back in the cell, Tang Qingluo called to Wang shi and the others to grab bowls.
Seeing the scallion noodles and pork rib broth, their faces lit up.
They quickly served the noodles and broth. When half a bucket remained, Tang Qingluo had the guards carry the remaining portions into Xie Lanyi’s cell next door.
As soon as the food arrived, the frail old man Xie was faster than anyone else, grabbing a bucket.
But his greedy attempt to hoard it alone was thwarted—Duke Xie Bozhi and Uncle Xie Shuzhi quickly reclaimed it.
“You unfilial brats! Ungrateful, unfilial brats! I should have strangled you when you were born!” the old man raged.
Xie Lanyi and the others paid him no mind. At the moment, full bellies were far more important than a few curses.
By the time the old man rushed for another bowl, less than half a bowl of noodles remained. He eyed Xie Lanyi’s bowl, intending to snatch it.
Xie Lanyi shot him a sharp glance. “Try it, Old Man.”
The old man had always considered Xie Lanyi a wolfish child. Even now, with both legs crippled, he still feared him a little.
Before, he could threaten and suppress Xie Lanyi.
But now, he couldn’t.
“You ungrateful little brats!” He dared not act, and could only vent his frustration with words.
However, while the old man was so bold with Xie Lanyi, he treated Dayun entirely differently.
He would rather starve himself than let Dayun go without food.
“Mother Yun, Mother Yun, there’s scallion noodles and pork rib broth. Come eat quickly!”
But Dayun, lost in her hatred, ignored the old man entirely.
“Mother Yun, eat something. Don’t let yourself starve. You must know, if anything happens to you, I won’t care about the children of Zhong, Yi, or Shun.”
The old man coaxed and threatened in turn, finally making Dayun move.
“Here, Mother Yun, I’ll feed you.”
Through the cell bars, he couldn’t hand over the bowl, so he used his chopsticks to bring a bite of noodles to her mouth.
Dayun, afraid she might collapse and be completely abandoned, opened her mouth and ate the bite—but in her heart, she only grew to hate the old man even more.
If Xie Lanyi and the others knew at this moment that Dayun hated the old man, they would probably clap their hands in delight and think: Serves him right!