Inside the kitchen, only Zhaohua and Xiu Yue remained.
Zhaohua looked at Xiu Yue, and Xiu Yue looked at Zhaohua.
The two were separated by mere inches, yet also divided by an eternity due to twelve years that had created completely different experiences.
Their former intimacy and endless conversations had now become speechless mutual gazing.
It was Zhaohua who first broke the silence.
“Xiu Yue—” she called out softly.
The hand with which Xiu Yue gripped the cleaver trembled. She averted her gaze and rapidly sliced the fish.
“Xiu Yue, it’s me, Zhaohua,” Zhaohua said gently.
Xiu Yue placed the cicada-wing-thin fish slices into the deep plate beside her, her voice completely flat: “Milady has mistaken me for someone else. Xiu Yue died long ago, and Zhaohua… also died long ago.”
What remained alive now were an ugly old woman and Lady Yu.
Zhaohua’s expression trembled, her eyes moistening as she murmured: “Yes, Xiu Yue and Zhaohua died long ago.”
The moment the County Princess died, they ceased to be Zhaohua and Xiu Yue—they were merely pitiable creatures clinging desperately to life.
“Then why are you standing here?” Xiu Yue stroked the cold blade, her fingertips taking on a faint fishy smell.
Her tone was even colder than her expression.
In that instant, Zhaohua felt sharp pain strike her, so painful she couldn’t breathe.
From the moment she suspected Xiu Yue was still alive, she had imagined countless times what Xiu Yue might say upon seeing her.
But no matter what was said, she would never again call her “Sister Zhaohua.”
Yet even having prepared herself for this, hearing Xiu Yue speak these words still caused bone-deep agony.
“I—” Zhaohua opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.
Should she explain that she was safeguarding the County Princess’s bracelet, guarding an ethereal hope?
In Xiu Yue’s view, this would probably seem like an excuse for clinging shamefully to life.
On how many nights lying beside that man had she occasionally entertained the thought: Could it be that her fear of death had caused delusions, that there had never been any instructions from the County Princess, that this was merely an ordinary pair of bracelets from the County Princess’s ten-li dowry procession?
This bracelet had accompanied her for many years, and she had discovered nothing special about it.
How could she have the face to explain to Xiu Yue?
“I was unwilling to die, so I followed the Crown Prince,” Zhaohua bit her tongue tip and said word by word.
Xiu Yue’s eyelids trembled slightly, concealing a flash of brightness.
The County Princess had said that Zhaohua was sensitive and proud—if she hadn’t changed, she would speak perversely.
The County Princess had entrusted her to make the judgment, but she was still too foolish.
Xiu Yue raised her eyelids and stared intently at Zhaohua.
Zhaohua suddenly felt an impulse to flee in panic.
But she couldn’t bear to.
The opportunity to meet Xiu Yue had been obtained through her painstaking efforts—how could she bear to just leave like this?
Zhaohua pressed her lips tightly together, looking at Xiu Yue with eyes carrying a hint of distress.
Xiu Yue gazed at those familiar yet strange eyes, her heart suddenly aching, though her expression remained cold and hard: “Then what are you seeing me for? Does Milady intend to bring me into the palace to cook food to your taste?”
Zhaohua clenched her fists tightly and laughed self-deprecatingly: “I would like to do that. Unfortunately, you’re Miss Luo’s cook, and the Crown Prince’s lady attendant doesn’t have such great influence.”
“Then surely it’s not to reminisce about old times?” Xiu Yue’s mouth also curved in mockery. “Your status and mine are now worlds apart. I feel there’s no old affection to reminisce about.”
At this point she paused, looking at the other party with indifference: “Or is it that Milady wants to hand me over to the Crown Prince to claim credit?”
“I would never!” Zhaohua blurted out.
Xiu Yue’s tone was flat: “Milady should keep your voice down.”
Zhaohua forcefully pinched her palm, restraining her uncontrollable emotions, and said softly: “Xiu Yue, you and I grew up together after all, sisters for a time. No matter what, I have no intention of harming you.”
Xiu Yue seemed somewhat impatient, saying coldly: “Then I thank Milady for your mercy in not killing me.”
Something was suddenly pressed into her palm.
Xiu Yue lowered her eyes to look at the bracelet in her hand, somewhat dazed.
Zhaohua forced a smile: “Since you’re unwilling to have further dealings with me, I won’t force you. Take this bracelet as a keepsake—”
Xiu Yue pushed the bracelet back.
Zhaohua was stunned, then smiled bitterly in explanation: “The bracelet was left by the County Princess, not something I obtained in the palace. Just accept it. Even if you’re unwilling to keep any keepsake between us, consider it safeguarding the County Princess’s bracelet.”
Having experienced the Crown Princess seizing the bracelet had made her more profoundly aware of the danger at every step within the palace.
She had thought that relying on the Crown Prince she could safeguard what the County Princess had left behind—she had been too naive.
In this world, there was no one more suitable to entrust with the bracelet than Xiu Yue.
Xiu Yue was utterly loyal to the County Princess, and now she had become Miss Luo’s cook. With Miss Luo’s status, she was fully capable of protecting her.
Taking ten thousand steps back, even if Xiu Yue lost Miss Luo’s protection in the future, with her status as a renowned chef in the capital, no one would make things too difficult for her.
Who would make life hard for a cook who could make mouthwatering delicacies? At most they would snatch her back to their estate to be their cook.
Entrusting the bracelet to Xiu Yue gave her peace of mind.
“I cannot accept it.”
“Xiu Yue—” Zhaohua bit her lip, her eyes carrying a plea.
Did Xiu Yue detest her this much?
Seeing Zhaohua like this, Xiu Yue’s heart ached, and she asked in a barely audible voice: “Were you unwilling to die because of this bracelet?”
Zhaohua retreated several steps, looking at Xiu Yue with an incredulous expression.
Xiu Yue seemed to have long anticipated she would react this way and was actually much calmer, picking up a green onion and slowly peeling it.
“What did you just say?” Zhaohua asked in a trembling voice.
The County Princess had told only her about the bracelet—how could Xiu Yue know?
Perhaps she had misunderstood, and what Xiu Yue meant wasn’t what she was thinking.
“Xiu Yue, what did you say?”
Xiu Yue looked at her, warmth entering her eyes as she said softly: “Wasn’t it because you promised the County Princess to safeguard this bracelet that you struggled to stay alive?”
Zhaohua’s pupils contracted sharply, her hand pressed tightly over her mouth.
Xiu Yue lowered her eyes and continued preparing the ingredients.
She had come to cook—just chatting wouldn’t fulfill her obligations.
Zhaohua, meanwhile, fell into a long silence.
So long that the kitchen began to fill with fragrant sourness before she found her voice again.
“Xiu Yue—”
Xiu Yue gently stirred the boiling sour soup with a wooden ladle, as if she hadn’t heard the call.
Zhaohua stepped forward, her gaze falling on the bubbling broth, and asked softly: “How did you know?”
Xiu Yue gripped the wooden ladle tightly and said word by word: “The County Princess told me.”
Zhaohua suddenly grasped Xiu Yue’s wrist, that hand wearing the gold bracelet inlaid with seven treasures trembling continuously.
“Calm yourself,” Xiu Yue reminded in a low voice.
Zhaohua bit her lip hard, unable to control the trembling throughout her body.
A tear fell into the boiling pot.
“Did… the County Princess appear to you in a dream?”
Xiu Yue gently freed herself from Zhaohua’s hand and continued stirring the soup pot with the wooden ladle.
That tear had long since merged with the broth, leaving no trace.
“No,” Xiu Yue’s voice was barely audible. “The County Princess is Miss Luo.”
The County Princess had said that if Zhaohua voluntarily gave her the bracelet, then she could tell Zhaohua this secret depending on the circumstances.