Chapter 618: Concern
Editor: Atlas Studios
As one of the two head servant girls by the Princess Consort’s side, Rain had always been popular in the mansion. In addition, she had a good personality and valued friendship. If anyone in the mansion encountered any difficulties, she would help them as long as she could. Therefore, she was the most popular, even more so than Spring, who had always been valued by Mu Yangling.
Although Xiao Ting had not interacted with Rain for long, he still treated her like an elder sister. He immediately pulled her to the side and told her everything. “I followed Brother Fei Bai’s instructions to send the food box over and didn’t mess up the job. Why did I get scolded by him?”
Rain smiled and tapped his forehead. “What a fool. Who asked you to tell Young Master Zijin everything, including things you shouldn’t have said?”
Rain said with a smile, “Our master ordered food for Young Master Zijin for his health. It’s fine as long as Young Master Zijin knows his intentions. You shouldn’t have told Young Master Zijin about the monthly allowance. You’re lucky Young Master Zijin is broad-minded. If it were anyone else, they would think that Master asked you to take credit in front of him.” Rain said in a low voice, “You’re still young and still have a lot to learn from Brother Fei Bai. Take your time to learn.”
Xiao Ting lowered his head in deep thought. When Rain returned, she told Mu Yangling about this matter and said, “Your Highness knows that His Highness has always been magnanimous. I wonder how much monthly allowance he has left.”
Qi Haoran probably didn’t even know how much monthly allowance he had left and had to ask Fei Bai. However, Mu Yangling was more concerned about something else. “Is the food in the army that bad?”
The servant girls in the room shook their heads, for they had never eaten it before.
Mu Yangling lowered her head and thought for a moment before saying, “Yes, this isn’t the 5th Division. It’s normal for the cooks’ skills to be a little lacking. Spring, inform the kitchen to prepare an extra portion for the Lord in their daily purchase. We’ll send it to him after preparing it here.”
At home, there were cooks and countless servants. She was just fretting that the servants were too free and didn’t have any work to do. Since that was the case, she might as well send food to Qi Haoran.
“Then Young Master Zijin…”
“Go and get a menu from Xiao Ting for me to take a look at.”
Fan Zijin’s menu was personally set by Qi Haoran. Not only were there a few of Fan Zijin’s favorite dishes, but it also had a well-balanced nutritional profile. Most importantly, there were a few stomach-nourishing dishes.
Mu Yangling handed the list to the cook and asked, “Can you make it?”
As she was from the capital, the chef was more familiar with the cuisine there than the restaurants in Qiannan. Hearing this, she patted her chest and said, “Your Highness, don’t worry. I’m familiar with these dishes and can make them even with my eyes closed.”
Mu Yangling said, “Then prepare another portion according to this list. When it’s done, send it to Young Master Zijin. You can stop ordering food from the restaurant.”
In any case, since the two of them were in the military camp, sending to two people wasn’t any more effort than sending to one.
Xiao Ting rolled his eyes and asked shamelessly, “Your Highness, the deposit placed at the restaurant…”
Mu Yangling said, “Forget it. We’re the ones who broke the agreement after all.”
Xiao Ting was a little disappointed.
Mu Yangling did not tell Qi Haoran about this in advance, wanting to give him a surprise. Hence, after sending Qi Hao off the next day, she rolled up her sleeves and planned to cook personally.
Qi Haoran liked to eat meat, and so did Mu Yangling. However, she also liked to eat vegetables, so there was no lack of vegetables for every meal. As for Qi Haoran, as long as it was possible, his chopsticks would never fail to take a detour around the plate of vegetables. Even at such a young age, Little Bear had already inherited this bad habit of his father’s.
Therefore, for the sake of his health, Mu Yangling forced vegetables into his bowl at every meal. With a warning gaze, she forced him to eat the vegetables and stopped him from throwing the vegetables away. “Your son is watching. Look at how he’s only eyeing the meat at such a young age. If he learns from you, won’t he not eat any vegetables at all? Imperial Physician Wang said that vegetables provide essential nutrients for the human body. Quickly eat up.”
Even with her supervision, Qi Haoran was so reluctant. Without her watching, it was even more impossible to make him eat vegetables. Hence, Mu Yangling thought for a while and finally placed the vegetables in the middle of the two meat dishes after preparing the dishes. The dishes were all prepared according to Qi Haoran’s appetite. When she handed the food box to Xiao Ting, she said, “You have to watch to make sure His Highness eats them all. Tell His Highness not to waste the food. If there’s any left, I won’t send him food in the future.”
Xiao Ting hurriedly nodded in agreement and eagerly went to deliver the food box to Qi Haoran. When he arrived at the military camp, it was just in time for lunch. Qi Haoran was eating a steamed bun. When he saw Xiao Ting carrying two food boxes over, he frowned slightly. “Why did you bring a food box here?”
Xiao Ting said with a smile, “Master, Her Highness specially made this for you.”
Qi Haoran’s eyes lit up. He felt that Ah Ling had become more and more considerate recently.
Xiao Ting put Fan Zijin’s food box aside and opened Qi Haoran’s first. There were only two layers inside. The top layer was filled with warm rice, and the bottom layer contained the dishes. Qi Haoran stuck his head out to take a look. It was his favorite braised pork. From the color, he knew that it was made by Ah Ling. This was because the color was not red enough, nor was it bright enough, and even the meat was not fat enough. Still, Qi Haoran liked it.
Xiao Ting said with a smile, “Her Highness also said that if you like it, she will cook and send it to you every day.”
Qi Haoran was elated. “Really?”
“Of course it’s true. I wouldn’t dare to lie to you, so you have to finish all the food. Otherwise, if I bring back the leftovers, she might think that you don’t like it. Then, I’m afraid she won’t cook anymore.”
Qi Haoran immediately said disdainfully, “This amount is barely enough for me to fill my stomach.”
Qi Haoran picked up a piece of braised pork and asked, “There’s only one dish?” Although he liked to eat braised pork, it was a little monotonous to only have one dish for a meal.
Xiao Ting immediately said, “There are three of them. The other dishes are underneath.”
Qi Haoran pursed his lips. “It’s the Princess Consort’s first time putting food in a food box, so she might not know how to do so. Why didn’t any of you remind her? The dishes should be placed in separate layers. If there isn’t a bigger food box in the residence, go buy one.”
Xiao Ting chuckled and stood at the side to watch. Qi Haoran had only picked up two pieces of braised pork with his chopsticks when he pulled out a large mouthful of vegetables from underneath.
Qi Haoran blinked and reached down with his chopsticks. There was stir-fried turtledove under the vegetables. Qi Haoran looked at the vegetables and instantly understood Mu Yangling’s intentions. He turned around and said to Xiao Ting, “Go back and tell the Princess Consort that I’ve eaten all the vegetables she made.”
Xiao Ting stared blankly at the vegetables in the food box.
Qi Haoran pursed his lips and really finished it up obediently. Of course, he knew that he had to eat vegetables in addition to the meat, but he was happy to see Mu Yangling shower him with concern or glare at him angrily.
Only then did Xiao Ting heave a sigh of relief. Qi Haoran stared at the other food box and said, “What time is it? Aren’t you going to send it to Young Master Zijin?”
Xiao Ting patted his forehead lightly and hurriedly brought the food box to Fan Zijin.
Unlike Qi Haoran’s food box, Fan Zijin’s dishes were not mixed together. His food box was big, with two horizontal rows and three vertical rows. Xiao Ting gently opened the food box and took out the rice first. Then, he took out a few dishes and finally a bowl of soup.
Four dishes and a soup filled the table. The quantity was not big, but it was more exquisite than what the restaurant made.
Chapter end
