The Prince of Yu ate this meal with extreme satisfaction. The cold cucumber salad was crisp and refreshing, a perfect appetizer. The braised beef was fragrant and not at all dry. The dry-seared spicy shredded lamb was savory and chewy. To finish with a bowl of sweet and refreshing tomato and egg drop soup was simply divine.
Prince Yu finished several dishes and wished he could swallow the plates too.
After the meal, Prince Yu asked Bai Sheng what reward she wanted.
Bai Sheng smiled faintly, indifferent to fame and fortune. "It is a great honor for this commoner to personally prepare a meal for Your Highness, Prince Yu. I seek no reward, only to thank Prince Yu for helping me out of trouble before."
A good half of these words were sincere, and the other half were for seeking patronage.
"Hmm," Prince Yu wiped his mouth with a clean white handkerchief. "You are indeed grateful. Then, would you be willing to become a cook in my princely manor?"
A cook?
Excuse me, I have no interest. The small world of the kitchen cannot contain me.
"I thank Your Highness, Prince Yu, for your kind offer. However, this commoner is already married, and I have a husband and younger siblings to care for at home, so I cannot leave."
"You are married?" Prince Yu seemed somewhat surprised.
Wen Zhi Mo and A Qiu, who were by his side, also couldn't hide their astonishment. Miss Bai looks so young...
"Yes, this commoner was married not long ago," Bai Sheng said with a smile, feeling a secret sense of pride. Her husband was more heroic and handsome than all the men present, and she had truly found a treasure.
A moment later, Prince Yu curved his lips. "Your husband's taste is quite unusual. With your astonishing beauty, he was actually able to go through with it. Wouldn't he be scared awake in the middle of the night?"
A Qiu couldn't help but twitch his mouth: "..." Here he goes again, my master, aren't you going to have a toothache if you're not venomous? Miss Bai at least worked hard to make you a good meal.
Wen Zhi Mo: "..." Although Miss Bai has dark spots on her face, she's not so ugly as to that extent, is she? At least she looks spirited.
Damn it, you pretentious, stinky king. You just finished eating my cooking and now you're spewing nonsense. I've only temporarily sealed my looks. When I become beautiful in the future, don't you drool over me!
Bai Sheng fiercely imagined pinning Prince Yu against a wall in her heart, the kind where he couldn't be pried off.
You're poking my pressure points, aren't you? Let's see how fiercely I poke back! Even if I'm seeking patronage, Bai Sheng will do it with dignity!
Bai Sheng laughed heartily. "Prince Yu, you do tell jokes. However, my husband does indeed have extraordinary taste. He never judges people by their appearance, and he is tall and handsome, exceptionally elegant, and unmatched by anyone."
Hearing Bai Sheng's words, Wen Zhi Mo couldn't help but look at her.
He was rather curious about the exceptionally elegant husband Bai Sheng spoke of. If he were truly as beautiful as she said, how could he be willing to be with Miss Bai?
Most men in the world cannot escape this common affliction. While there might be a very small minority who do not care about a woman's looks, they are indeed rare.
Therefore, Wen Zhi Mo deduced that Bai Sheng's exceptionally elegant husband was likely an ordinary man, who was endlessly praised by Miss Bai simply because love is blind.
"Oh?" Prince Yu raised an eyebrow. "Is he as handsome as this Prince?"
Yes, a thousand times more handsome than you, you pretentious, stinky king!
However, Bai Sheng naturally couldn't say these words in such a tone. She smiled and said, "Your Highness, Prince Yu, is of noble status. My husband naturally cannot compare. He can only slightly surpass Your Highness in superficial aspects like appearance, figure, and demeanor."
"You mean to say your husband is even more handsome than this Prince?" Prince Yu did not believe it. He was one of the most handsome men in the capital.
Bai Sheng immediately bowed and said, "Forgive this commoner for speaking frankly, but it is indeed so."
A Qiu shivered in fear and immediately said with a laugh, "Master, when Miss Bai says this, it must be love is blind."
Prince Yu ignored A Qiu, suddenly slid open his paper fan, and fanned himself vigorously. "Hmph, your husband must be a glutton. Otherwise, apart from cooking skills, what else about you could he possibly like?"
I really want to use a needle to sew this stinky, pretentious king's mouth shut tightly!
Bai Sheng said through clenched teeth with a sinister smile, "I'm sorry to surprise Your Highness, Prince Yu. My husband appreciates me and dotes on me from every angle, without any dead spots."
Prince Yu's vigorous fanning suddenly stopped. "Heh, the world is vast, truly full of wonders!"
"Thank you for your generous praise, Prince Yu," Bai Sheng said, looking up at Prince Yu and smiling charmingly with confidence. The clear, watery light in her eyes shimmered into two vivid colors, making the red headscarf on her head appear even more vibrant.
Prince Yu looked at those eyes and was momentarily dazed.
Bai Sheng decided not to give this pretentious king any more opportunities to denigrate her. She immediately steered the conversation to business. "Your Highness, Prince Yu, although I cannot work as a cook in your esteemed residence, it is not impossible for Your Highness to eat meals like today's in the future."
"Oh? How can I eat them?" Prince Yu suddenly sat up straighter, his eyes shining brightly.
Heh, you're the glutton, Bai Sheng thought coldly. Stinky, pretentious king, for being so foul-mouthed, don't blame me for making a fortune off you.
"I can write down the recipes and specific ingredients and methods. The cooks in the princely manor can then follow them. Moreover, there is a very unique and precious seasoning in today's dry-seared spicy shredded lamb, called chili. Only my family has it. Without this seasoning, the dish would lose its flavor instantly." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"Excellent! Let's do that!" Prince Yu was quite excited. He only listened to the first half. "A Qiu! Hurry and get the paper and ink!"
"However—this commoner has a small request," Bai Sheng suddenly said.
"Speak! What request?"
Bai Sheng glanced at Wen Zhi Mo and said seriously, "These recipes of this commoner are ancestral treasures, invaluable. If I give them to Prince Yu for free, I fear my ancestors would blame me. Therefore, I trouble Prince Yu to help with a small matter as an equivalent exchange, so that this commoner can be at peace.
This commoner is in business with young master Wen. Young master Wen has opened a jewelry store named 'Yuan Bao'. The store has a batch of exquisite high-quality goods. Unfortunately, although there are many noble families in Tasang County, they are still not as influential as the capital, and the sales of jewelry have not opened up.
Your Highness, Prince Yu, being royalty, must know many influential nobles. This commoner hopes that if there is an opportunity, Prince Yu can help promote it in the capital. What do you think, Your Highness?"
"Oh, such a small matter, I promise you," Prince Yu said, raising his hand.
Wen Zhi Mo was overjoyed and looked at Bai Sheng gratefully. He immediately knelt before Prince Yu and said, "Reporting to Your Highness, Prince Yu, my shop has indeed just received a batch of exquisite high-quality goods. If Your Highness needs anything, you can send someone to reserve your favorite styles in advance."
A Qiu thought for a moment and reminded him, "Master, Consort Mei's birthday is two months away. Didn't you just a few days ago worry about what birthday gift to give?"
"That's right, I almost forgot," Prince Yu said, startled. He turned to Wen Zhi Mo and said, "In that case, Wen... Zhi Mo, when you have time, bring some of those exquisite high-quality goods over, and I'll choose."
"Yes, thank you, Your Highness, Prince Yu, for your great support," Wen Zhi Mo said respectfully.
Prince Yu looked at Bai Sheng. "Is this satisfactory?"
Bai Sheng said, "There is one more thing, Prince Yu. I will give you the recipes for free, but that special seasoning is extremely rare and precious. If you need it, it will cost thirty taels of silver per jar, and it will only be available after half a month. Do you need it?"
"Thirty taels is thirty taels, what's the big deal!" Prince Yu raised his nostrils, acting as if he didn't care about the price at all.
"Then it's settled. I'll deliver the goods in half a month!" Bai Sheng secretly smiled. As expected, a fool with money is a good leg to hold onto, like a simple son of a landlord.