Chapter 142: Improving the Meal

Chapter 142: Improving the Meal

"At worst, I might lose my feudal estate, but I can still live a happy life. Do you believe me?"

Of course, I believe you.

She’s right. Even as a princess, Yan Yu can’t outdo her.

Yang Cainu finally realized the stupid mistake she had made. She had been pushing her own daughter towards a dead end.

Panic set in, and she slid off the chair, not knowing if her legs had gone weak from fear or if she had simply kneeled down.

"Grand Princess, it's my fault."

"I am to blame for everything, Your Highness."

Bei Jingchu avoided her attempt to grab her sleeve.

Just like mother, just like daughter—both loved grabbing at sleeves.

But her sister could tug at her sleeve, not Yang Cainu.

"Your Highness, Yan Yu is still young. She was manipulated by me into harboring hostility towards you."

"I promise I won’t do it again. I will make sure she respects her elder sister and won’t oppose you anymore."

"You can do whatever you want to me, but please don’t blame Yan Yu for what she did before."

Is this really how a four-year-old acts?

It was terrifying to think that mother and daughter couldn’t outmaneuver her.

Having frightened Yang Cainu into submission, Bei Jingchu wasted no time and left.

She was hungry; she hadn’t had dinner yet.

As she was leaving, she bumped into Bei YanYu.

The moment her younger sister saw her, it was as if a mouse had seen a cat.

Considering that apart from Yang Cainu’s manipulation, she had indeed been too harsh on her recently, Bei Jingchu felt a rare twinge of sisterly kindness. Clearing her throat, she affected a softer tone, "Little Yu, come here, come to your elder sister~"

Bei YanYu was startled, and then burst into tears, "Elder sister, don’t scare me! I’m scared! Waaaaaaah."

Bei Jingchu: "..."

God knows what she was imagining, but Bei YanYu’s expression grew more and more frightened, until she finally turned and ran for her life, screaming, "Help! Elder sister is possessed by a demon!"

Bei Jingchu: "..."

She clenched her teeth, regretting her moment of gentleness.

Her sudden softness scared Bei YanYu, who became unusually well-behaved for the next two days.

Bei YanYu was so well-behaved that Bei Jingchu didn’t even need to go looking for her at the princess’s palace. After school, Bei YanYu would eagerly follow her to Xuanshi Hall.

She was so attentive, always offering tea and water, trying hard to please—though she did manage to break two of Bei Jingchu’s cups.

The emperor found the way Bei YanYu scurried around like a little puppy adorably cute.

And Bei Jingchu, even though she had maids, enjoyed ordering her sister around.

She was quite happy watching her little sister scurrying around on her short legs.

The emperor took Bei Jingchu, who was being leisurely attended to, and Bei YanYu, who had been massaging her elder sister's legs since childhood, to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.

Upon arriving at Renshou Hall, the Empress Dowager had Aunt Hui peel a green tangerine and picked a slice with a silver fork to taste it.

She nodded, "This tangerine is exceptionally sweet; Heng'er, try it too."

The emperor tasted a piece, his expression unchanged, and agreed, "It's indeed especially sweet, Jingchu, you should try it too."

The emperor passed the fruit dish to Bei Jingchu.

Bei Jingchu found it odd but picked a slice with her fork and put it in her mouth.

"..."

She controlled her expression and even forced a smile.

"It's truly sweet; Yan Yu, you should try it too."

Bei YanYu, not suspecting anything, directly picked a large piece and stuffed it into her mouth.

The next second: "Yue~~"

"So sour!"

Bei YanYu made a painful face from the sourness.

The other three spat out the sour tangerine they had been holding in their mouths, perfectly in sync.

After spitting it out, Bei YanYu looked at the three "bad guys" with a pitiful expression of accusation.

Bei Jingchu let out an unsympathetic laugh.

The Empress Dowager invited them to stay for dinner in Renshou Hall. Bei Jingchu fell into silence as she looked at the dishes she had been eating for three years.

There were many varieties prepared by the imperial chefs in the palace, but the problem was, she had been eating them for three years and was now starting to get bored with them.

All the dishes on the table were stewed, boiled, or fried and roasted. Bei Jingchu had an idea.

"Father, have you ever tried stir-frying the dishes?"

Everyone at the table was busy eating except for Bei YanYu, who looked puzzled.

"Stir-fry... what is that?"

"Yeah, I thought so, it seems the method of stir-frying hasn't been invented yet."

"I’m going to show them what real cooking is all about!"

The next day, Bei Jingchu went to instruct the imperial chef.

"It's this wok; after you put in the oil and the ingredients, don't just let it sit there."

"Take an iron spoon and stir it with a spatula."

"You're putting too few vegetables. You can add more to the stir-fry."

The imperial chef finally couldn't help but object, "Your Highness, if we put too many vegetables, the ones on top won't cook properly."

She didn't dare to question the princess's desire for new dishes.

At worst, it might not taste great, and the princess could stop after one bite.

But if they weren't cooked properly and the princess got a stomach ache, he would be punished.

Bei Jingchu explained patiently, "Stir-frying helps distribute the heat evenly so everything cooks properly."

"If you use the ladle more, it will cook properly. Trust me."

The imperial chef stammered, on the verge of tears, "Your Highness, I trust you, but I can't risk my job over this."

"Oh, that’s a bit much, isn’t it?"

It did seem unfair to push him so hard, but she really wasn't here to deceive anyone.

Stir-fried dishes were truly delicious.

"Well... if you won't stir-fry, then I'll have to do it myself."

The imperial chef immediately knelt down, "That's even more out of the question, Your Highness!"

"If you hurt yourself, I would be truly finished."

Bei Jingchu crossed her arms, "So, if you won't do it, and you won't let me do it... are you trying to guilt me into doing something I don’t want to do?"

The imperial chef looked confused, "What do you mean by 'guilt-tripping'?"

Bei Jingchu gave Haoyue a knowing look. The young girl had finally developed some understanding with her.

Haoyue scolded, "When the princess tells you to do something, you do it. Don’t take advantage of the princess’s kindness and forget your place!"

"Even if the princess doesn’t get sick, I can still have you punished for disobedience."

The imperial chef had no choice but to follow orders and do as Bei Jingchu instructed.

The pungent smell of oil smoke rose from the wok. Not only the chef, but even Changyan was skeptical and leaned in to whisper to Bei Jingchu.

"Your Highness, will this really be edible?"

Bei Jingchu: "..."

She felt a bit hurt.

"Why doesn't anyone trust me? Do I really seem that unreliable?"

Hearing this, Haoyue knew this was her moment to show her loyalty.

Though she was a bit nervous too, she couldn't show it.

Haoyue encouraged Bei Jingchu, "I trust you, Your Highness. Whatever you create will surely be a masterpiece!"

"The princess is never wrong!"

Bei Jingchu: "..."

"Oh boy, this is even more exaggerated!"

"That’s not trust, that’s blind loyalty."