Chapter 3 — Female Cultivator and Marquis of the Palace

The blue vein on the manager's forehead appeared and twitched continuously. At that moment, a woman with gray hair, a stern expression, carrying a dress walked into the yard. That's the old lady's close friend. In her hand, she still held a bowl of cold, chilled cake and threw it with a "pop" into the kitchen.

“Who brought this?”

I quietly turned away. Doesn't concern me. Van Nuong stubbornly explained:

“It's hot, cold cake can cool you down.”

"The old lady is old and her spleen is weak. What is your intention in bringing this thing?"

A great crime fell like heaven, Van Nuong's face immediately turned pale. Outside the door, one after another, people came to question their crimes, all of them maids and maids of the hospitals. Everyone in the kitchen bowed their heads, no one dared to breathe loudly. Van Nuong's forehead was covered with cold sweat. Her eyes turned around and she suddenly raised her hand to point at me.

"It's A Lien! Last night I told her to write down the likes and taboos of each house into a book, but she used an excuse to refuse, so today the mistake happened."

The manager was anxious to find someone to take responsibility. Seeing her blaming her, he immediately questioned me:

"Yesterday I told you to help Van Nuong more. Why do you obey on the surface but do the opposite behind your back?"

The corners of my lips curled up into a sarcastic smile, and I said leisurely:

“There were four hours to prepare lunch, but Van Nuong forced everyone to spend three hours making one dish of inlaid silver sprouts, leaving less than one hour to make nearly fifty remaining dishes.”

"With such a wild arrangement, even if I were willing to help, what would happen? Even the fairies can't save me."

As soon as Van Nuong took office, she lit a fire, causing everyone in the kitchen unspeakable suffering. An elderly woman testified:

"This morning Miss A Lien just arrived and gave advice. But Van Nuong said she already had plans and didn't take it to heart at all."

A young maid held out her finger that was pierced with blood by an embroidery needle, chokingly said:

“The servants tried their best. That inlaid silver sprout was too elaborate, there was really no time.”

"That's right. On weekdays, Miss A Lien helps us take care of it. Today she's too busy..."

The resentment that had accumulated all morning immediately exploded. People in the kitchen scrambled to tell their sufferings. Everyone in the yard had all kinds of faces, and their eyes looking at Van Nuong also became complicated.

“Or for an A Lien.”

She smiled coldly.

"Did you join forces with the whole kitchen to get rid of me? You dare to say that you have no selfish feelings, haven't you made the slightest mistake in this matter?"

"If you really don't feel ashamed, then follow me to judge her in front of her!"

“Okay.”

I didn't change my face and calmly agreed. I also want to ask ma'am. Why?

05

I rarely see her angry. She is always kind-hearted and looks like a statue of Quan Am. But now Guan Yin is angry, even more terrifying than La Sat. Van Nuong immediately knelt down first. The usual arrogant and dignified look has disappeared. She grabbed the lady's skirt, her face full of self-pity.

"Madam, this slave only focuses on studying cooking, does not understand the crooked things in the palace. Please be the master for me."

The person sitting above said nothing. After a while, the lady raised her teacup and took a sip.

“Push words Responsibility goes without saying. I already know the beginning and end of the matter.”

First, she looked towards Van Nuong.

“Today you are eager to make a contribution, but that inlaid silver sprout dish is indeed somewhat delicate, rarely seen on weekdays.”

After speaking, she looked towards me again.

“I know you're in trouble, but the kitchen has always been under your control. As soon as Van Nuong arrived, you immediately let go and ignored it. It was truly like using public affairs to take private revenge."

That is to say, each person was beaten fifty times. We calmly analyze:

“Madam, Van Nuong and I have different ideas. She also manages it, I also manage it, the kitchen only becomes more chaotic."

She smiled slightly:

“What you said is not wrong. The daily food and drinks in the temporary palace are still managed by you."

Van Nuong immediately spoke up:

“Madam!”

“Next month, the palace will hold a summer party to entertain high-ranking officials in the capital. This is the most important thing.”

“You can rest assured and prepare for the banquet. Once finished, please slowly take over the kitchen.”

In that moment, all the questions in our hearts were answered. In the eyes of those sitting on high, there is no right or wrong or fairness. Only benefits. I felt like I was falling into an ice cellar, but I still couldn't help but ask:

“Madam, in previous years, large and small banquets in the Marquis Palace were all taken care of by me. Why wasn't this summer party given to me?"

“A Lien, I know your cooking skills are exquisite, but at a summer party, ordinary dishes are not enough to surprise everyone.”

“The reputation of the Marquis's banquet at the top has spread. We cannot let that reputation decline.”

After speaking, she advised Van Nuong:

“The mosaic silver sprouts dish is not bad, can be added to the menu. Until then, prepare a few more similar dishes, remember to leave enough time.”

The two people get along well. I stand to the side, like an outsider. In your opinion, Van Nuong can take care of the grand banquet, but I cannot. But she forgot, the Marquis's banquet reputation was built by me alone! Every time there is an important banquet, we ask the guests' tastes in advance and mix different dishes according to each table. This was originally the job of the person next to the lady. But she only said one sentence, "You can figure it out yourself", and everything immediately fell on my head. I took the guest list and went from house to house asking for maids and wives. Worn shoes, swollen feet.