The traveling palace was built against the mountain, magnificent and grand.

Xiu Yue walked properly behind Wei Qiang, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

Dou Ren carried the fish, nodding to himself in approval.

This cook was far more sensible than the maid beside Miss Luo—clearly she hadn’t had time to learn bad habits yet.

Thinking of the torment he’d endured these past few days when accompanying His Highness to Miss Luo’s place, Dou Ren developed some thoughts of cultivating a good relationship with Xiu Yue.

With this cook’s skills, even becoming an imperial chef in the palace wouldn’t be excessive. If he established a good relationship, he might get to eat dishes she made.

The master sat while he stood; the master ate while he watched. Before, he hadn’t thought much of it, but now he found it too difficult.

Just as he was pondering this, his foot caught on a stone, and the fish in his hand flew out.

Xiu Yue happened to be walking to one side and quickly caught the fish with sharp reflexes.

The fish, thinking it had escaped to freedom, violently flapped its tail several times, splashing water droplets all over her.

“My sincere apologies,” Dou Ren said apologetically.

Everything else was minor, but if this fish had fallen to the ground, he would have caused trouble.

This was for His Highness and Lady Yu to eat, which was why he was personally carrying it.

Wei Qiang heard the commotion and turned back. Seeing the fish struggling in Xiu Yue’s hands, he asked in a low voice: “What happened?”

“Reporting to Your Highness, just now this fish slipped from this servant’s hands. Fortunately, the cook caught it…”

Only then did Wei Qiang examine Xiu Yue carefully.

The woman had a scar on her face that concealed her original appearance, looking to be in her early forties.

Miss Luo’s cook was quite ugly indeed.

This was the first time Wei Qiang had really noticed Xiu Yue.

Although the chef from Youjian Tavern was already quite famous, in these people’s eyes, what was famous was Miss Luo’s cook, not the cook herself.

Who would care what a cook looked like?

Perhaps only when this cook who could make supreme delicacies was no longer Miss Luo’s cook would she have value worth regarding.

Because then, one could claim the cook for their own use.

“I recall Miss Luo calling you Xiu Gu,” Wei Qiang said after his examination.

Xiu Yue returned the lively, struggling fish to Dou Ren and respectfully responded, “Yes.”

“I heard you were brought back by Miss Luo from the south?” Wei Qiang asked casually as he walked forward.

“Yes.”

Wei Qiang shook his head slightly and asked no more.

Among Miss Luo’s attendants, there was rarely one so sparing with words—it made conversation impossible.

Xiu Yue, however, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She wasn’t clever enough to handle these situations, so she would speak less to avoid saying too much and making mistakes.

Yet once upon a time, she had been the most talkative and cheerful of the four.

A flash of sadness crossed Xiu Yue’s eyes. Thinking that she was about to see Zhaohua, her heartstrings tightened again.

Soon the group passed through vermillion palace walls and stopped at a palace courtyard.

“Xiu Gu, please come with me.”

Xiu Yue curtsied slightly to Wei Qiang and followed Dou Ren.

Wei Qiang quickly ascended the stone steps and grasped Zhaohua’s hand: “Why are you outside?”

“I came out for some fresh air,” Zhaohua smiled gently. “This concubine noticed the person following Eunuch Dou somewhat resembled Miss Luo’s cook.”

Wei Qiang laughed: “It is indeed that cook.”

Zhaohua’s eyes widened slightly, showing surprise: “How did Your Highness bring Miss Luo’s cook here?”

“I originally asked her to make a portion of sour soup fish brain noodles. Miss Luo said she was willing to lend her cook to teach your palace maid this dish. I thought it was excellent, so I brought her.”

“I see. Your Highness has gone to such trouble,” Zhaohua showed a touched expression, though her hands hidden in her sleeves clenched tightly.

Had Miss Luo’s proactive offer to send Xiu Yue over been mere coincidence, or deliberate cooperation?

Wei Qiang took Zhaohua’s hand and descended the stone steps, strolling slowly through the courtyard.

As evening approached, sunset clouds filled the sky’s edge, draping the courtyard’s flowers and trees in layers of red gauze in varying shades.

Wei Qiang enjoyed the peaceful evening atmosphere and smiled: “What trouble? I also enjoy eating sour soup fish brain noodles.”

Zhaohua thought for a moment and said: “Then let Qing’er follow the cook to learn. Qing’er is meticulous and has always attended to this concubine thoughtfully.”

Wei Qiang said indifferently: “These matters are for you to decide.”

Zhaohua turned her head and called out: “Qing’er.”

Qing’er, who had been following behind her, stepped forward: “Please give your instructions, Lady.”

“Go learn properly from Miss Luo’s cook.”

“This servant obeys.”

After Wei Qiang accompanied Zhaohua for a while, he said: “I’ll go bathe and change first.”

Having sweated during the day’s hunt, naturally he needed to wash thoroughly upon returning.

“Allow this concubine to attend Your Highness’s bath.”

“No need. Just wait for me to dine together,” Wei Qiang politely declined Zhaohua’s suggestion and strode toward the bathing chamber.

Zhaohua calmly watched that figure disappear from view, and only then did her anxious heart relax.

After waiting so long, she had finally obtained an opportunity to meet Xiu Yue alone.

Zhaohua walked unhurriedly toward the kitchen.

Though the traveling palace couldn’t compare to the imperial palace, what should be there couldn’t be lacking—for instance, the Eastern Palace’s dedicated kitchen.

“Lady,” Dou Ren, standing outside the kitchen, greeted Zhaohua respectfully.

Zhaohua nodded slightly and asked: “Is Qing’er learning to cook from Miss Luo’s cook?”

“Precisely so.”

Zhaohua stepped inside.

“Lady, you—” Seeing this, Dou Ren couldn’t help calling out.

Zhaohua said indifferently: “I’m curious. I’ll go take a look.”

“The kitchen has heavy cooking smoke. Lady, you’d best not enter,” Dou Ren advised.

Zhaohua glanced at him, her brow furrowing slightly: “I’m merely curious to take a look. Must I have Eunuch Dou’s permission?”

Dou Ren hastily said: “Lady, you do this servant too much honor. This servant will lead you inside.”

A mere lady attendant normally wouldn’t count for much, but who told Lady Yu to be the person His Highness held dear to his heart?

Dou Ren obediently accompanied Zhaohua into the kitchen.

The kitchen was quite spacious, with several rooms.

Not seeing Xiu Yue at a glance, Dou Ren asked a busy imperial chef: “Where is the cook we invited?”

The imperial chef was clearly somewhat displeased, suppressing his irritation as he replied: “That cook said she was following her master’s orders to teach one dish, which could only be passed to one person, and went to the innermost room with the palace maid who came to learn cooking.”

Dou Ren looked toward Zhaohua.

Zhaohua said indifferently: “If that’s the case, then Eunuch Dou, please wait here. I’ll go take a quick look and come out.”

What more could Dou Ren say? He could only wait obediently.

Suddenly a sound came from inside, immediately followed by a palace maid’s voice begging forgiveness.

“Lady, forgive this servant. It’s all because this servant is clumsy—”

Before he could finish listening, Dou Ren rushed inside and was startled by the scene before his eyes.

He saw Qing’er kneeling on the ground, a cleaver fallen beside her hand, her fingers dripping blood.

“What, what happened?” Dou Ren couldn’t help asking.

Qing’er’s face was full of shame: “This servant was clumsy and accidentally cut her hand…”

Having cut her hand, naturally she couldn’t continue learning.

Zhaohua sighed: “Never mind. I’ll learn this dish from the cook myself.”

Dou Ren instinctively tried to stop her: “Lady, with your noble status, how can you learn such things—”

Zhaohua glanced at him and smiled: “If I learn it, I can personally make it for His Highness to eat.”

She seemed to suddenly react, her tone becoming even gentler: “I should have been the one to learn, to live up to His Highness’s thoughtful intentions. Eunuch Dou, please take Qing’er outside.”