The abstinent and powerful minister is cold and aloof during the day, but he adores her in his dream

Chapter 148 Something Might Have Happened

Zhiwan had no idea that her words would lead her cousin to investigate her father.

She was asking Granny Fang to teach her how to make chicken porridge.

Granny Fang smiled and said, "The wontons that you made, Miss, are very good. Why did you suddenly think of making chicken porridge? If you would like some, just have the servants make it."

Zhiwan shook her head. "It's not that I want to eat it, it's that I want to make it for my cousin."

Granny Fang asked in surprise, "So, Miss Fang did this for the young master?"

Zhiwan was afraid that she would misunderstand, so she quickly explained, "My cousin has helped me a lot. I don't know what I can do to help him. Now that he is injured, I want to cook something for him myself."

"You're so kind, Miss." Granny Fang didn't think much of it. "Making chicken porridge isn't difficult. Since you want to learn, I'll go to the kitchen and get some ingredients. I'll make it in the small kitchen in the courtyard in a little while."

“Okay.” Zhiwan nodded.

Not long after, Granny Fang returned with the ingredients, but her expression turned rather unpleasant.

"What's wrong, Granny Fang?" Zhiwan asked with concern.

"This old servant just went to the kitchen and ran into Miss Jinglan," said Granny Fang, frowning.

Zhiwan asked with some surprise, "What is she doing in the kitchen?"

"They're cooking, saying it's for the young master," Granny Fang scoffed, a hint of disdain in her voice.

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan didn't know what to say, but she hesitated. Since Lu Jinglan had also cooked for her cousin, should she cook porridge for him as well?

My cousin can't eat that much by himself.

"I wonder what happened to Madam in the capital?" Granny Fang suddenly asked worriedly.

Zhiwan's heart tightened, and she quickly asked, "Why do you say that, Granny Fang?"

Granny Fang didn't hide anything from her and told her the truth: "That Lu Jinglan has a wicked mind and always wants to get close to the young master. Last time we came to Yangzhou, she wanted to come with us, but the madam stopped her. I didn't expect her to still be so persistent and come to Yangzhou again."

This old servant cannot understand why Madam did not stop it this time. She didn't even send a message to inform us. Unless something happened to Madam in the capital, causing her to be unable to attend to one thing.

"I'm feeling a little uneasy," said Granny Fang, her face filled with worry as she finished speaking.

Hearing her say that made Zhiwan feel uneasy.

Although her aunt hadn't explicitly told her, she knew her aunt didn't like Lu Jinglan and also knew that Lu Jinglan's feelings for her cousin were impure, so she would absolutely not let Lu Jinglan come to her cousin's side.

Just as Granny Fang said, unless Auntie encounters some trouble that leaves her no time to care about Lu Jinglan.

But what could be so important that would make Aunt let Lu Jinglan come to Yangzhou to find her cousin without any regard for her?

The more she thought about it, the more worried she became. She had already made up her mind, "We'll go back to the capital tomorrow. I'll go tell my cousin in a bit."

She had originally planned to return to Beijing after Liang Qixian was brought to justice, but now that her aunt might be in trouble, she felt it was best to go back as soon as possible.

Granny Fang was also worried about Madam Wei and wished she could return to her side as soon as possible to share her burdens. So she nodded and said, "Alright. This old servant will teach Miss Wei how to cook chicken porridge first. When you take it to the young master later, please mention it to him."

Zhiwan had originally considered giving up on making chicken porridge, but considering that she would be returning to the capital tomorrow, she thought about it and nodded, "Alright."

The two went into the small kitchen.

Zhiwan only knows how to make wontons; she learned it from her mother when she was a child at home.

Back then, her father loved eating the wontons her mother made, and her mother would make them every few days.

She learned it naturally after being exposed to it for a long time. But all she could do was make wontons; she couldn't cook any other dishes.

Granny Fang took a ceramic pot, filled it with some water, and placed it on the small stove.

While waiting for the water to boil, she taught Zhiwan how to wash rice.

After rinsing the rice, seeing that the water hadn't boiled yet, she instructed Zhiwan to chop the chicken into small pieces and also prepared some ginger and scallions.

Zhiwan studied very diligently.

Under Granny Fang's guidance, she quickly cooked a pot of chicken porridge and stir-fried a plate of pine needles.

Ouyang Zhenzhu smelled the delicious aroma from inside the house and ran out, asking, "What are you making that's so delicious?"

Zhi Wan was tasting the food in a small bowl when she heard this, and said with a smile, "I'm learning how to cook chicken porridge from Granny Fang."

"It smells so good! I want to eat it!" Ouyang Zhenzhu said immediately.

Zhiwan took a bowl, filled it with her water, and then scooped some pine nuts into a plate and handed it to her.

Ouyang Zhenzhu glanced at the porridge in the bowl and the little bit of food on the plate, and said with dissatisfaction, "Is this all you're giving me? Don't you have plenty more over there?"

"The rest is for my cousin," Zhiwan explained.

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Zhenzhu joked, "She's not even married yet, and she's already so virtuous. Lord Lu is truly blessed."

Zhiwan's face darkened, and she said angrily, "What nonsense are you talking about? My cousin has helped me so much, and now his hand is injured. I made him some food, and you say such things. Don't eat it, give it back to me!" As she spoke, she actually reached out to snatch it.

Ouyang Zhenzhu quickly protected her food and took a few steps back. "I was just joking, you don't have to be so angry, do you?" After saying that, she picked up the food and ran away.

Zhiwan was furious, but there was nothing she could do about it.

Granny Fang smiled and comforted her, "Miss Ouyang has always spoken without restraint, saying whatever comes to mind. Please don't take it to heart, Miss."

Zhiwan's expression softened slightly, but she was still somewhat annoyed. "I have always respected my cousin and treated him like an older brother, but Pearl always teases me. I don't mind myself, but I'm afraid it will affect my cousin's reputation. It would be bad if my future sister-in-law misunderstood."

“Miss Ouyang’s concerns are not without merit. This old servant will definitely have a good talk with Miss Ouyang next time,” Fang Mama agreed. “By the way, it’s getting late now. Miss Ouyang, please take this meal to the young master quickly.”

Zhiwan hesitated, thinking of what Pearl had just teased her. "But Aunt Jinglan also made food for my cousin. Will he be able to finish it? Maybe we should keep it for ourselves."

Granny Fang immediately saw through her concerns and smiled, "The young master certainly won't eat anything cooked by Miss Jinglan. If you want to avoid suspicion, then this old servant will deliver it to the young master. You can explain to him about returning to the capital tomorrow later."

After thinking for a moment, Zhiwan agreed and packed the vegetables and porridge into a food box.

When Granny Fang arrived at the neighboring courtyard carrying a food box, she saw Lu Jinglan being blocked outside the door.

“…Chen Jiu, this is the food I made for the young master. I won’t go in. You take it in for him.” Lu Jinglan felt a little embarrassed seeing Chen Jiu blocking the door like a gatekeeper, but she still patiently said.

Chen Jiu remained unmoved. "The young master is injured and has no appetite. Miss Jinglan, you should take him back and eat him yourself."

Having been repeatedly humiliated, Lu Jinglan's heart pounded, and she suppressed her anger, saying, "Take it in first. Maybe Jinzhi will be hungry later and have an appetite. Wouldn't it be perfect to have food ready then?"

"No need for Miss Jinglan to trouble yourself. The young master is injured and has no appetite. He can't eat those greasy and spicy dishes. This old servant has cooked some chicken porridge for the young master, which is more suitable for him," said Granny Fang.

Lu Jinglan turned around and saw her. Her expression changed, and she glanced at the food box in her hand with some suspicion. "Jinzhi is injured?"

Fang Mama ignored her, walked past her, stuffed the food box into Chen Jiu's hands, and whispered, "This porridge was made by Miss Fang herself for the young master. In order to learn how to cook this porridge, Miss Fang even accidentally burned her hand."

(End of this chapter)