I couldn’t help but frown, becoming even more puzzled: “If you’re not afraid of ghosts, what are you afraid of?”
Shui’er pouted and pitifully answered: “People!”
“People? What’s there to be afraid of?”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at her, then suddenly realized and guessed: “You’re not afraid the Crown Prince will come and blame you, are you?”
The little maid bit her lip again, staying silent, which was as good as an admission.
I couldn’t help but shake my head: “Don’t worry!”
Everything we’ve done is for the Crown Prince. He’ll be happy when he sees this. How could he possibly blame you?”
The little maid tilted her head and continued to ask: “But why are we doing this for him when it’s not a festival or his birthday?”
“Silly!”
As soon as Shui’er finished speaking, Zui’er unexpectedly tapped her forehead and winked knowingly: “Do you need to ask? The Madam must be doing this to win the Crown Prince’s favor!”
“Stop talking nonsense!” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and retort: “I’m not trying to win his favor! I’m doing this for my own freedom, okay…”
Zui’er was stunned, then immediately widened her eyes and asked blankly, “What is that for?”
Knowing that if I didn’t explain clearly now, these three girls might imagine all sorts of things, I helplessly shrugged and explained, “It’s for your master’s date with Miss Qinghan!”
The three girls simultaneously exclaimed in disbelief, “Madam, have you gone mad?”
The corners of my mouth twitched slightly, and I glared fiercely at the three of them: “How are you talking? I think you three are the ones who’ve gone crazy, actually daring to speak to me like this. Do you want to die?”
The three girls instinctively stepped back, pursing their lips innocently. Finally, Shui’er, straightforward as always, asked, “But Madam, why are you doing this?
Don’t you mind at all that the master is with another woman?”
I responded nonchalantly, “Why would I care? That guy can marry whoever he wants – it’s his own business. What I care about is whether he will fulfill his promise and whether I can go back…”
Shui’er widened her eyes in disbelief, “But he’s your husband! Now another woman is trying to compete for him, and you’re even helping them get together. Isn’t this strange?”
I raised my lips triumphantly and answered confidently, “This just shows how broad-minded I am!”
Shui’er bluntly concluded, “I think you’re just stupid or crazy!”
I couldn’t help but pretend to hit her, “You little brat, are you looking to die?”
Shui’er looked disappointed, “I’m just concerned about you. Ask Zui’er and Zi’er if your behavior isn’t weird.”
The two other girls nodded in agreement, their eyes showing concern…
I pulled at the corner of my mouth, “Alright, I’m doing this just to quickly find a princess consort for you. What’s so strange about that? Don’t think I’m desperate for the position of side consort. Even if you make me the main wife, I might not even want it! So, you three, stop worrying about me!”
“Why?”
Shui’er asked incomprehensibly, “What’s wrong with being a side consort?”
You might become empress later, or at least a noble consort.
“Empress, I’ll be governing the country!”
I scoffed, “What’s good about being empress? Having to watch your husband embrace other women every day, feeling unhappy but having to pretend to be broad-minded, constantly scheming – I’d be crazy or have brain problems to want such suffering!”
Shui’er blinked her butterfly-like long eyelashes, looking conflicted, “But if you don’t want to pretend to be broad-minded, why are you going to such lengths to match the prince with another woman?”
I smiled and answered, “Because only by helping them can I leave smoothly!”
“Leave?”
The three girls immediately rushed forward, grabbing my arm nervously, “Madam, where are you going?”
“Naturally, to where I should go!”
I slightly pulled at the corner of my mouth to prevent them from asking endlessly, then continued, “Alright, since Shui’er doesn’t want to stay, let Zi’er stay to take care of things. Time is running short, let’s go to the kitchen to prepare food!”
Just after walking two steps, I suddenly remembered something and turned back to instruct, “There’s a rose bouquet I carefully packaged in the room. Later, remember to hold it in your hands. When you see Miss Qinghan, give it to her. If she asks, say it was instructed by the prince!”
Zi’er’s gaze unconsciously looked into the room…
Due to time constraints, I simply said, “Don’t ask so much, just do as I say!”
Zi’er was the most sensible among the three girls. Hearing me say this, she nodded and stopped asking questions.
It was dinnertime, and the kitchen was bustling. My sudden appearance caused all the kitchen maids to panic, asking if there was a problem with the dishes.
When I reassured them that I wanted to make pastries for Qi Chenxuan, they calmed down and returned to their work.
I couldn’t cook at all, let alone make pastries. My task was just to tell Zui’er the main shape, ingredients, and color of what I wanted; the production process was left to her.
Though ancient pastries had fewer varieties and were less flavorful than modern ones, the skillful hands of ancient maids surpassed modern methods.
I told Zui’er what I wanted, and she used simple flour, red beans, green beans, and various flower petals to create a heart-shaped pastry the size of a modern cake, with five flavors and six colors, which left me amazed.
Zui’er placed the pastry into the steamer and steamed it for nearly half an hour, filling the air with an enticing aroma. She carried the freshly steamed cake to me and asked, “Madam, is this the one you mentioned?”
I looked at the cake with satisfaction, nodding repeatedly, “Yes, yes, this is it! Miss Qinghan should be arriving soon. Quick, take this to the Crown Prince and his companions!”
The two maids stared at me blankly, asking foolishly, “Why do we have to go? What are you going to do, Madam?”
I couldn’t help but give them a stern look, “If you don’t go, am I supposed to deliver it myself? What would people think? How would the servants view me?”
Seeing them still standing there, I rolled my eyes and urged impatiently, “Hurry and deliver the cake while it’s still hot!”
Zui’er looked at the item in her hand and hesitantly asked, “But what should we call this cake?”
“Let’s call it the True Heart Cake.”
Zui’er couldn’t help but exclaim excitedly, “What a lovely name! I’m sure the Crown Prince and Miss Qinghan will love it!”
I rolled my eyes again and urged her patiently, “If you want to know if they like it, then hurry and deliver it!”
Zui’er nodded and hurriedly left the kitchen with the cake…
Shui’er couldn’t help but open her eyes wide, looking at the beautiful scene before her, excitedly exclaiming: “Madam, how did you manage to do this?”
“Shh—”
I quickly covered her lips, giving her a sideways glance, and softly reminded: “Have you forgotten that we’re currently spying?”
Are you trying to make sure everyone discovers us with your loud voice?”
Shui’er then realized her mistake, pursed her lips, and nervously tugged at my clothes, her eyes filled with apology: “Sorry, I was just too excited for a moment!”
I dismissively curled my lips: “What’s there to be excited about? If this were in modern times, with fireworks and colorful lights, that would be beautiful! If we added some music, it would be even more perfect!”
Shui’er couldn’t help but frown and ask: “Madam, what are you talking about? What do you mean by ‘modern’? What are fireworks and colorful lights? Why have I never heard of these things you’re talking about?”
