"If you like the food at the Drunken Spring House, Sixth Miss Jiang, I can have Chef Zhang cook for you free of charge whenever you visit. Why go to all this trouble to ask for his bond of servitude?"
Duke Zhen smiled kindly.
"You're joking, Your Grace. If I went to the Drunken Spring House every day to eat and drink for free, never mind the other customers objecting-even the people working there would probably gossip about me behind my back.
I want to take him with me. Then I can eat however I please, and naturally, no one will have anything to gossip about."
Jiang Yourning dutifully laid out the pros and cons, then looked at Duke Zhen again. "Or are you saying a favor from Duke Zhen isn't worth a single cook?"
An old fox with a kindly face, writing nothing but empty checks.
Duke Zhen inwardly cursed the little fox, but his smile remained unchanged as he cheerfully addressed Jiang Yourning:
"What are you saying, little girl? A favor from me is worth far more than a cook. Are you sure you want to trade it for Chef Zhang?"
"You may not know this, Your Grace, but my daughter has few other interests. She simply loves eating.
Give us Chef Zhang's bond of servitude, and we'll wipe the slate clean over today's incident. What do you think?"
As long as her own daughters weren't at stake, Lin Xiangyin's mind worked perfectly well.
Remembering how her two daughters had whispered yesterday about the tavern they were renovating still needing a head chef, her eyes lit up at her daughter's suggestion.
How many cooks in the entire capital could compare to Chef Zhang?
Besides, using the Duke's Estate's cook to make money for her own family would feel absolutely glorious!
"Very well. I'll give Madam Jiang Chef Zhang's bond of servitude as an apology for today."
After weighing the pros and cons, Duke Zhen nodded.
But then he changed tack and continued, "There is one thing I must make clear beforehand. Chef Zhang of the Drunken Spring House has an eccentric temperament. Even if you take his bond of servitude, you can't blame me if he refuses to leave with you."
Duke Zhen was quite certain Chef Zhang wouldn't leave.
As long as he stayed at the Drunken Spring House, Chef Zhang enjoyed great renown and the respect of high officials and nobles.
If he went to the Jiang Family to work as their cook, he would never have another chance to rise above the crowd.
Otherwise, why had all the people who tried to poach Chef Zhang over the years gone away disappointed, one after another?
"Of course. If Chef Zhang doesn't want to leave, we'll return his bond of servitude to him. After that, he'll be free to stay or go."
Jiang Yourning pressed her lips together in a demure smile.
He's already agreed to come with me. All that's missing is that bond of servitude.
Once my tavern opens and grows big and strong, I hope you'll still be happy.
"Go fetch Chef Zhang's bond of servitude."
With everything settled, Duke Zhen had no intention of dragging things out any further.
After the mother and her two daughters left the Duke's Estate in high spirits, the duchess learned that all three had departed in triumph, taking Chef Zhang's bond of servitude with them. In her fury, she snipped yet another tree bare.
Meanwhile, the little maid who had originally come to tell the duchess that her daughter was acting up again was completely forgotten.
Elsewhere.
At the National Preceptor's Residence.
Qian Miao told Qing Qianxue everything about Jiang Yourning's life, from childhood to the present, leaving out no detail.
Finally, he added one more thing.
"Master, someone just reported that Sixth Miss Jiang visited the Duke's Estate with her elder sister and mother.
The duchess was punished with a month's confinement, and Sixth Miss Jiang took the Drunken Spring House's cook with her as compensation for the humiliation she suffered at the Duke's Estate today."
"Humiliation?"
Qing Qianxue looked steadily at Qian Miao.
Qian Miao obediently recounted the whole affair in painstaking detail.
"She's clever."
A trace of warmth crept into Qing Qianxue's cool voice.
Qian Miao's eyes widened at the fleeting curve of his master's lips.
A smile!
His master hadn't smiled in years, yet today, he had actually smiled!
"Master, should we continue keeping watch on Sixth Miss Jiang?"
"Yes. There's no need to report trivial everyday matters. Remember to inform me of anything significant."
"Understood. I'll make the arrangements right away!"
Qian Miao suppressed his excitement.
After leaving the study, he couldn't contain himself and excitedly ran to the ancestral shrine to light a stick of incense for his master's late mother.
"Your Highness, bless us! Our young master has finally found a girl he's interested in!"
"Rest assured, Your Highness. Qian Miao will protect this marriage destiny for him and make sure he gets his wish."
After offering the incense, Qian Miao left the courtyard and quietly looked up at the sky.
Your Highness, forgive me for not daring to tell you that Miss Jiang isn't exactly a suitable match.
But at least she's a woman, and she's healthy, too. We ought to be content with that, shouldn't we?
Overnight, all of Qing Qianxue's covert forces learned that their master had taken a fancy to the Jiang Family's sixth daughter.
Jiang Yourning, sleeping soundly in bed, had no idea that she had inexplicably become a top-priority protection target of the Shadow Tower.
Time flew by.
The empress's birthday finally arrived.
"Mother, isn't it enough for my sister to go? Can't I really stay home?"
Drowsy and surrounded by a throng of maids doing her hair and makeup, Jiang Yourning couldn't resist pleading for sympathy.
Aaah! Asleep at one, up at three-even the King of Hell praises my sturdy physique. I can already see an old granny waving me over.
If I ever stay up late behind my maid's back again, I'm a dog!
Jiang Wanrong sat beside her mother, sipping tea. Hearing her younger sister's inward complaints, she couldn't help laughing.
"Ningning, did you stay up late again last night?"
"Of course not!"
As her mother's suspicious gaze turned toward her, Jiang Yourning instantly snapped awake.
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