Liu Dequan gulped hard, but acknowledged Zhao Yuanjing’s instructions respectfully.
Good heavens. What unforgivable deeds had Lady Lin of Decorous Service done to offend His Highness like this?
He cautiously asked another question. “Your Highness, how long does this have to go on for?”
Zhao Yuanjing glared at him again, didn’t say anything, and just walked off.
“I will see to it right now.” Liu Dequan got another servant to follow behind the crown prince. He wiped his sweaty brow, straightened his back, and hurried to the small kitchen.
It was very busy right now.
The weather was getting warmer and warmer, so besides the three main meals of the day, they also had to provide the royals with fruit, snacks, and dessert. There was no rest from morning till night, so it was really tiring.
Yun Dai first went back to her own room to redo her makeup to conceal her features, then came back to the kitchen as if nothing had happened at all.
Everyone was terribly surprised.
They all thought that she was definitely going to be punished.
Mo Chun called her over to one side and asked her what had happened in detail.
Yun Dai couldn’t say much, so she just told her some of it.
“His Highness isn’t angry?” asked Mo Chun.
Yun Dai purposely made herself look like she was terrified, then sighed. “Of course he was angry. He was so angry. He just kept lashing out at me with angry words for a long time, then he finally told me to get lost and just go obediently cook in the kitchen. I’m not allowed to go anywhere else.”
Mo Chun was stunned to hear these words.
She had served the crown prince for a number of years now. She’d never realized that the crown prince knew how to lash out.
The crown prince had never showed anyone his emotions at all, and almost nobody had ever seen him lose his temper.
How angry must he have been in order to actually lash out?
And even more important, even though the crown prince was so angry that he’d started lashing out, he still didn’t do anything else to this girl and just let her come back in one piece. All he did was to leave her with a few verbal warnings.
For a servant, this was as insignificant as a little itch on the skin.
Mo Chun sighed and said, “Looks like His Highness really likes you…”
Yun Dai was alarmed. “What?”
“…your cooking.” Mo Chun raised an eyebrow. “What were you thinking about?”
“Auntie Chun, don’t take a breath at such junctures in your sentences, I might die from fright,” grumbled Yun Dai.
Mo Chun laughed. “You naughty little girl, you’ve learned how to be cheeky around me, huh? You’re really a pretty good cook, but it’s too bad that you’re not very pretty and you already have a child. I don’t think it’s possible for the crown prince to take a fancy to you.”
Yun Dai said, “Of course. The three ladies in the East Palace are all as pretty as flowers and jade.”
She could tell that although Mo Chun was a little aloof at times and afraid of trouble, she was a kindhearted lady inside.
So she felt more relaxed when talking to Mo Chun.
Mo Chun said, “Since His Highness didn’t say anything else, then that’s the end of this matter. I’m so glad. I was so worried that I didn’t sleep properly all night. You’d better remember this well. Just stick to the menu that I’ve set in advance. Don’t use those filthy things that pollute the eyes of the royals again.”
Yun Dai smiled and replied, “I’ll remember that. I won’t cook that sort of thing anymore.”
“All right now, everything’s fine, so go back to cooking.” Mo Chun smiled and said, “You are really very capable in this area, so you should put it to good use, like the little snacks you made this morning. Even Consort Chen left you a few compliments.”
The two ladies laughed and chatted as they returned to the kitchen.
Yun Dou was carrying a basin out when she spotted Yun Dai. She sniggered and said, “Oh, my, my, isn’t this the person who loves pig intestines? Come over here, I’ve got an entire basin of chicken organs here. Are you going to use them to whip up a dish?”
“Sister Yun Dou, don’t be like this…” whispered Mi Dou.
“Don’t be like what?” Yun Dou declared loudly. “This woman actually let the royals eat this sort of thing. She’ll get all of us into trouble sooner or later. Didn’t all of you hear about it? Consort Chen was particularly angry about it. If not for His Highness, she would have sentenced this woman to a beating. I’ll see if she dares to cook pig intestines ever again. If she dares to make another dish with those things again, I’ll eat this entire basin of chicken entrails raw.”