Chapter 137 Bait

Chapter 137: The Bait

Nanny Su picked up a beef tongue pastry and took a bite, surprised by the taste.

It was actually quite good.

Of course, everything used in the Prime Minister's residence was top-notch; Nanny Su was merely astonished that the Earl of Yongqing's household also had such a skilled pastry chef. The beef tongue pastry itself didn't amaze her.

"Sixth Miss Qiu, you may go now," Nanny Su said dismissively after tasting the beef tongue pastry, wiping the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief.

Qiu Heng asked with a smile, "Won't you try the osmanthus cake, Nanny Su? Our family's osmanthus cake is second to none."

Second to none?

Nanny Su, who took pride in the Prime Minister's residence, couldn't stand hearing that.

A little girl from a down-and-out household—she must have never had anything good to call it second to none.

To be able to judge properly, Nanny Su picked up the osmanthus cake and took a bite, her lips turning down. "Sixth Miss Qiu, you should try the osmanthus cake from the Prime Minister's residence sometime."

Just an ordinary osmanthus cake—truly a frog in a well.

Not wanting to hear Qiu Heng claim the savory dumplings were second to none again, Nanny Su took the initiative to pick one up and taste it.

At that taste, she went still.

"Nanny Su?" Qiu Heng observed Nanny Su's reaction, feeling reassured, she called out calmly.

Nanny Su ignored Qiu Heng, picked up another savory dumpling, ate it, and closed her eyes to savor it.

This savory dumpling tastes a lot like what the Third Young Master likes!

Yes, that's the flavor!

Nanny Su opened her eyes and stared intently at Qiu Heng. "Sixth Miss Qiu, did your household's cook make this savory dumpling?"

"Fang Zhou made it."

"Fang Zhou?" Nanny Su paused, then realized.

That wretched maid who hit me!

Nanny Su could hardly believe it. "Does your maid really have such skill, Sixth Miss Qiu?"

"Everyone has their own strengths. My maid is single-minded; she cares most about me and her cooking." At that, Qiu Heng sighed. "She's just too innocent. That day, seeing you being disrespectful to me, she couldn't help but defend her mistress."

Nanny Su's mouth twitched hard.

What had I done to be called disrespectful? I just said to wait a moment before entering, so as not to disturb my mistress's incense offering.

My mistress is the Prime Minister's Madam—was that request too much? It led to a beating; even a mad dog defending its master isn't that fierce!

"She knows she was impulsive and put extra care into making these pastries, afraid you'd hold it against me and make things difficult."

"Sixth Miss Qiu, you're joking. As a servant, how would I dare make things difficult for you?"

"Even a doorman to a prime minister holds a seventh-rank position. Nanny Su, as a trusted aide to the Prime Minister's Madam, must be even higher than that."

"Oh my, Sixth Miss Qiu, I wouldn't dare claim such a thing." Nanny Su's lips curled up, and the resistance she'd felt upon learning the savory dumplings were made by the maid who hit her unconsciously faded.

Now, the important thing was whether these savory dumplings could whet the Third Young Master's appetite.

Thinking of the credit for getting the Third Young Master to eat heartily, Nanny Su couldn't contain her excitement. As soon as Qiu Heng left, she packed the savory dumplings into a box and went to see Madam Yang.

"Did Sixth Miss Qiu put medicine on you?" Madam Yang glanced at the scabbed scratch marks on Nanny Su's face, finding them hard to look at.

"Yes, Sixth Miss Qiu just left." Nanny Su set the food box on the table and took out the plate of savory dumplings. "Please, have a taste."

Madam Yang glanced at the plate. "Isn't it still too early for a meal?"

"They weren't made in our kitchen; Sixth Miss Qiu brought them as an apology." Nanny Su naturally dared not hide this from Madam Yang.

Madam Yang furrowed her brow. "You dare eat something brought in from outside?"

Nanny Su had always been reliable; had the beating addled her brain?

"Sixth Miss Qiu brought several kinds of pastries, but these savory dumplings... they taste different to me." Nanny Su hesitated. "Do you remember that year when we went south, and I happened to buy some savory dumplings?"

Madam Yang thought for a moment and nodded. "I remember. It was rare for Third Brother to have an appetite for them. Unfortunately, the savory dumplings we had later never tasted the same..."

"I think these savory dumplings have that same flavor, so I took the liberty of bringing them for you to try."

Concerned about her son's appetite, Madam Yang set aside her disdain, took the chopsticks Nanny Su handed her, picked up a savory dumpling, and put it in her mouth.

After a moment, Madam Yang nodded slightly. "They do taste similar."

Nanny Su couldn't help but smile. "Then the Third Young Master—"

"Third Brother is frail; it's not good to casually eat things from outside." Madam Yang pondered briefly. "When Sixth Miss Qiu comes tomorrow, bring her to see me."

"Yes."

On the carriage back to the Earl of Yongqing's residence, Qiu Heng reminded Fang Zhou, "You might soon be going to the Prime Minister's residence."

Fang Zhou immediately understood. "Because of the savory dumplings?"

"Yes."

"Miss, will I then stay in the Prime Minister's residence as a cook?" Fang Zhou asked with some unease but no hesitation.

She wasn't afraid of the Prime Minister's residence being a den of danger; she just dreaded being separated from her mistress.

"What are you saying? If we truly stay in the Prime Minister's residence, it will be together. I won't let you go alone. Fang Zhou, your job is to make good pastries; leave the rest to me."

Fang Zhou unconsciously relaxed. "I'll do my best."

As long as she was with her mistress, she wasn't afraid of anywhere.

The next morning, Qiu Heng went to the Prime Minister's residence early.

Nanny Su was quite surprised. "Sixth Miss Qiu, you're so early today?"

"I have other matters today, so I came first to put medicine on you."

Qiu Heng had come early because it was the fifteenth day of the month. Though she hadn't eliminated the traitor, she had saved the Crown Prince, and she expected to face some hardship.

She just didn't know when it would strike.

After Qiu Heng finished applying the medicine, Nanny Su said, "Our Madam wishes to see you, Sixth Miss Qiu."

Qiu Heng asked, curious, "What does Madam Yang want to see me about?"

"You'll find out when you get there, Sixth Miss Qiu."

Madam Yang's courtyard was to the east. Qiu Heng followed Nanny Su there, quietly taking in her surroundings.

"Madam, Sixth Miss Qiu is here."

Madam Yang had just wrapped up some odds and ends and, upon hearing this, had Qiu Heng brought in.

"Madam Yang." Qiu Heng curtsied.

Madam Yang glanced at Qiu Heng and said coolly, "Sixth Miss Qiu, coming here every day must be exhausting."

"It's the least I could do."

Madam Yang smiled. "I really enjoyed those savory dumplings you brought yesterday. I hear they were made by your maid."

"Yes."

"I wonder if I could ask your maid to come to the mansion and make some fresh ones? Savory dumplings are best fresh out of the pan." Madam Yang spoke politely, but her tone left no room for refusal.

In her view, since Qiu Heng had brought the dumplings to curry favor with Nanny Su, it was an honor for her, as the lady of the house, to try them. How could she possibly refuse?

"My maid acted impulsively first, so making some pastries as an apology is only right. However—"

"However what?" Madam Yang asked.

Qiu Heng looked apologetic. "It's just that I have things to do today, so I can only bring her tomorrow."

"Then tomorrow it is."

After Qiu Heng left, Madam Yang raised an eyebrow. "It's really inconvenient when a maid already has a mistress."

She would wait until tomorrow to see if the maid's savory dumplings could please her son's palate. If he liked them, she would have to think carefully about what to do next.