Following her memory, she found the manor’s kitchen.
The cooks and kitchen helpers had already put out the fires and gone to rest, while the kitchen maids were busily preparing ingredients for the next meal.
When Xiang Zhile, dressed simply but in fine fabric and wearing her hair in a married woman’s bun, suddenly appeared, even though they had never seen the new Wangfei before, they all guessed she was the new Wangfei.
After all, the Regent Manor was not a place where just anyone could wander in.
“Greetings, Wangfei.” They bowed to Xiang Zhile in unison, respectful yet nervous.
Secretly, they stole glances at Xiang Zhile, their hearts uneasy.
Rumors said the Wangfei was in love with Qing Wang but had been forcibly married by the Regent Prince.
Her sudden arrival now—could it be she intended to take her frustrations out on them?
Xiang Zhile paid no mind to the servants’ petty concerns and walked directly to the kitchen maid, looking at the freshly picked vegetables.
Beside the vegetables lay a small basket of caogus.
She glanced at the freshly slaughtered whole chicken on the cutting board, not yet put away, and the half slab of neatly arranged tofu beside it.
Immediately, she picked up a kitchen knife and skillfully separated the meat from the bones of the whole chicken.
As she chopped the bones, grease splattered all over her clothes, but she paid it no mind.
After instructing the kitchen maid to wash the cutting board, she used another board to cut the tofu into fine pieces.
Her movements were skilled and swift, leaving even the kitchen maid feeling inadequate.
“Light the stove,” she ordered, placing a sandpot with water over a small burner and adding chicken bones and ginger slices.
Turning around, she took the caogus and sliced them into thin strips.
Once the water in the sandpot boiled, she used a strainer to skim off the foam, added the caogus and tofu, covered the pot, and let it simmer slowly.
Next, she heated oil in a wok and quickly stir-fried diced chicken and a vegetable dish.
Worried that Yan Junnuo might not be full, she specially asked the kitchen maid for a fresh pork rib.
She finely chopped the rib, first frying it briefly in hot oil, then simmering it in water with seasonings.
Soon, the aroma filled the entire room.
Someone’s stomach betrayed them with an audible “gurgle.”
Outside the kitchen, Yan Junnuo stood unnoticed, watching the small figure bustling inside the spacious kitchen.
His eyes darkened.
Was Yan Beimo really that good?
Good enough for her to endure her disgust for him and cook for him, just to escape the Regent Manor?
Chu Shan, standing behind him, cautiously reminded, “Wangye, be careful. This could be a trap.”
After all, this woman had attempted to assassinate Wangye before marrying him.
He truly feared she might poison the food while preparing Wangye’s meal.
Yan Junnuo expressionlessly instructed Chu Shan, “Tighten security in the manor. Don’t let Wangfei sneak away. I won’t be dining in the manor for the next few days. If Wangfei asks, tell her I’m busy.”
After saying this, he paused briefly.
Then he laughed at his own naivety.
Why would she ever ask why he wasn’t dining?
She probably wished he were never in the manor, so she could escape more easily.
With this thought, he added, “If Wangfei does sneak away, bring her back to me. I will personally break her leg.”
As long as she stayed by his side, even if she were maimed, he could still protect her.
…
When Xiang Zhile happily had the servants bring the prepared dishes back to the dining hall, she was somewhat surprised.
Waiting for her was not Yan Junnuo, but Chu Shan.
Though Chu Shan harbored some resentment towards Xiang Zhile in his heart, he still followed Yan Junnuo’s instructions and treated her with utmost respect on the surface. “Wangfei, Wangye has been busy these past few days. You need not wait for him to dine.”
Contrary to Chu Shan’s expectation that she would breathe a sigh of relief, Xiang Zhile instead furrowed her delicate brows tightly.
“Wangye suffers from stomach ailments. Will he eat on time?”
Chu Shan was taken aback. “…He should… yes.” Probably.
It had become the norm for his master to refuse meals at regular hours.
In fact, every time he reminded his master to eat, his master looked as if he wanted to draw his sword and slit his throat.
He had a difficult job too, didn’t he?
After all, his duty was to protect his master. If his master were assassinated or something, and he sacrificed himself to save him, he would charge forward without a second thought.
But if he were accidentally killed by his master just for urging him to eat, then his death would be utterly pathetic.
As a sensible guard, he certainly couldn’t take such risks lightly.
Xiang Zhile nodded.
“I see.”
He definitely wasn’t eating on time.
Then she asked another question, “Where is Wangye now? Has he left the estate?”
“…” Chu Shan looked at Xiang Zhile with hesitation, finally forcing out the words, “I don’t know.”