Peerless Heiress - Chapter 48
"Strange, it was right here, it was here last time I came, where did it go now?" The brat looked bewildered and angry.
Searching for a famous chef while circling a giant tree? Turns out, this chef isn't a mermaid, but a tiny insect?
I stared at the goosebumps that suddenly appeared on my hands, gritted my teeth, and slowly asked, "Um, when was the last time you came here?"
"Last time? Oh, let me count, one, two, three..." Jin Ling, reminded by me, started counting on her fingers and began to recall seriously, "Ah, Master, I remember now, the last time I came was eight years ago."
I'm going crazy. Eight years ago? He's just a teenager now, maybe seventeen or eighteen at most. Eight years ago, wasn't he just a kid in his early teens? Did he really think that this little bug he considered a master chef would still be waiting for him in the same place after eight years?
How could I forget? This guy is one of the four most eccentric people in Huaicheng! Besides his obsession with making women's clothing, I doubt he can even make a basic living. His taste is also morbid. How could I believe him and even go out with him to find good food? I must have lost my mind, I'm so confused.
Before my fiery gaze could even scorch his skin, the guy cried out with delight, "Ah—, I found it, Master! Look, it's right here!"
As soon as I finished speaking, a soft, muffled sound came from inside the tree. The trunk facing me fell silently, revealing a large, dark hole.
I choked on my words, unable to speak. "Cough cough cough, what, what is this?"
A secret passage? I was amused.
I take back my previous assessment; it seems this little apprentice isn't quite that obsessed yet.
Jin Ling eagerly approached, her eyes crinkling into crescents, "Master, this secret passage leads directly to the palace! After you exit, turn a small corner, and you'll reach the imperial kitchen. The food there is incredibly delicious; it's been years since I've had any!"
Royal Palace, Imperial Kitchen, Gourmet Food﹏
I was so happy I didn't know what to do, I just kept nodding. This little apprentice of mine is getting more and more pleasing to the eye! Look at him, how adorable that still somewhat childish face is, and how bright those little eyes, which curve so much when they see me, are!
The secret passage was very dark, and a wind seemed to be blowing from somewhere within it.
Half an hour later, two heads emerged from behind a rockery.
Chapter 107: The Imperial Kitchen
Imperial kitchen.
"Little Guizi, is the beauty bird's nest for Princess Seven ready?" a shrill voice called out. "Miss Yuzhu'er is here to pick it up."
"Alright, alright, sir, I've been stewing it there since early this morning, and it should be ready by now." The words had barely left his lips when another exclamation rang out, "Hey, where's the pot I put here? Who took my pot? Which blind little servant is it? Come out here!"
Someone angrily cursed, "Little Gui, have you lost your mind? It's so early in the morning, everyone's busy. All the lists of things the masters of the palaces have sent over, who has time to care about your pot? Could it be that you didn't stew it at all, and you're doing it on purpose because you're afraid of being punished by the eunuch?"
"Who cares about this little servant? Everyone should just mind their own business," another person said angrily.
Xiao Guizi frantically searched everywhere. This Seventh Princess was extremely fond of beauty. She had been furious when she heard that a Princess Dawei, supposedly the most beautiful woman in the land, had arrived in Huaicheng. She was constantly throwing tantrums, but because Dawei was the future Crown Princess and protected by her own country's marshals and soldiers, she dared not offend her. Otherwise, she would have already gone to cause trouble. Speaking of that Marshal Dawei, he was incredibly handsome and imposing. His demeanor and aura were truly no less than those of the young Minister Mo. On the day he entered the palace for the banquet, all the ladies of the palace, whether concubines or princesses, were incredibly busy running around. Especially the Seventh Princess, who was a perfect match for Marshal Cheng in age. If the Emperor were to arrange a marriage alliance and betroth the princess to Marshal Cheng, wouldn't it be a simple matter of a word?
So, the maids in the Seventh Princess's palace had already been running around a lot for this matter. They were sending gifts, making invitations, and gathering information... Now, they were constantly urging the imperial kitchen to prepare beauty soup and using floral dews for her skincare. If anyone were to be so foolish as to interfere with the princess's beauty plans, they would likely suffer immediately. Even the head eunuch of the imperial kitchen, Eunuch Cui, had entrusted this difficult task of serving the Seventh Princess to Xiao Gui Zi because he was reliable and never made mistakes. How could this have happened? He remembered clearly that the first thing he did every morning was to start preparing the Seventh Princess's beauty soup.
Xiao Guizi wandered around the imperial kitchen like a headless fly, eventually getting in everyone's way and causing a chorus of complaints.
Eunuch Cui also noticed something was wrong and rushed over to ask what was going on.
With a mournful face, Xiao Guizi recounted what had happened.
Eunuch Cui's face darkened. "Are you sure you're not mistaken?"
"How could I possibly be mistaken, sir? You know me, I never make mistakes. How could I possibly make a mistake on such a big matter, especially concerning the Seventh Princess..."
"Little Guizi!" Eunuch Cui roared.
Xiao Gui Zi realized he had spoken out of turn and turned pale with fright. He covered his mouth and looked at Eunuch Cui in shock. Eunuch Cui's face darkened for a moment, but when he saw Xiao Gui Zi's expression, his heart softened. He scolded, "Xiao Gui Zi, you're an old man now, you've been in the palace for seven or eight years, how could you make such a mistake? If there's a next time, I won't be able to protect you."
Xiao Guizi readily agreed.
"Everyone stop what you're doing and help look for the soup Xiao Guizi made," Eunuch Cui called out. "If something goes wrong, it won't be just one person's fault. Hurry up, everyone, make it quick."
The eunuchs responded and went off in twos and threes to search.
Suddenly, a eunuch exclaimed, "Oh dear, Your Excellency, come and see! This is bird's nest soup, but why is there only a tiny bit left?"
Another exclamation rang out, "Oh my, isn't this the shark fin soup I made for Consort Rong this morning? Good heavens, it's all gone! What are we going to do?"
Everyone gathered around, staring in disbelief at a corner of the imperial kitchen, where a large pile of bowls and jars, their contents spilling soup and lying upside down, lay scattered. Inside were the dishes that everyone had prepared that morning for the various palace mistresses, but now, they were all gone.
﹏﹏
A chorus of screams erupted, and the imperial kitchen descended into chaos.
Chapter 108: Bitter Medicine
Two disheveled individuals quietly escaped into the artificial hill amidst the commotion of the crowd. Looking at each other's vegetable juice and cobwebs, they couldn't help but chuckle.
That damn Jin Ling has almost forgotten the way around the Imperial Kitchen. To avoid everyone, we had to wander around in corners, and then we were late again. Our life of sneaking food is truly thrilling! We almost got caught several times. If it weren't for the fact that nothing like this had ever happened in the Imperial Kitchen before, and that we two novices who don't know martial arts would definitely have been caught.
"Master, Master, how many dishes did you eat?" Jin Ling's eyes shone like stars as he laughed until he was breathless.
I slumped softly onto the artificial rock, clutching my stomach and laughing, "Eleven! Jin Ling, what about you?"
Jin Ling proudly stretched out his hand, "More than you, Master, I ate seventeen." Before he could finish speaking, he let out a burp.
Oh my god, this little guy! I thought I had eaten enough, I was so full that it was hard to bend over, but he managed to eat even more than me. I'm impressed!
Just as they were about to say something, the sound of clashing weapons rang out from outside the artificial hill. A group of perfectly synchronized footsteps approached rapidly, and a strong, masculine voice calmly commanded, "Everyone, spread out! Search carefully! Don't let any thieves escape!"
"Yes, Commander!" came the loud, clear voices, followed by the sounds of wind, clothes, and the search spreading out. In an instant, the sounds came from all directions.
Jin Ling and I both changed our expressions.
They exchanged a glance and nodded in unison.