The cruel little princess

The afterglow of New Year's Eve gradually faded, and the night slowly fell like a veil, but the palace was still brightly lit and bustling with activity.

Tomorrow is the first day of the Lunar New Year. The maids and servants in the mansion are hurrying through the corridors and courtyards, holding bright red silks and exquisite paper-cuts in their hands, all of which are good things for the New Year decorations.

The kitchen was steaming hot, with smoke curling around it, and the aroma of stewing, steaming and stir-frying wafted out, lingering throughout the palace.

Shen Youyou had just come out of Wang Gang's residence, and the worries from the day were still lingering between her brows.

Seeing that Wang Gang had finished his meal with a rosy complexion and full of energy, and no longer complaining about feeling unwell, she breathed a sigh of relief, raised her hand to rub her sore brows, and was thinking about going back to her room to rest.

These days, because of Wang Gang's sudden illness, she has been looking for medical treatment and taking care of him personally, and she is really exhausted.

"Sister You!" Wang Gang's voice suddenly rang out from behind, a bit anxious. Shen Youyou turned around and saw Wang Gang carelessly pulling up his sleeves and casually wiping the corners of his mouth. The originally clean cuffs were instantly stained with oil.

He didn't care at all and grinned, "Sister You, I'm almost well again. Tomorrow, on New Year's Day, I'll be the chef and we'll have a reunion dinner, okay?"

Shen Youyou looked Wang Gang up and down, her eyes full of suspicion: "Are you sure you are okay now?

Can you swing the spatula?

Don’t let yourself get so exhausted that you have to trouble everyone to take care of you.”

Having said that, after Wang Gang mentioned it, she suddenly felt a sour taste in her mouth, saliva was secreted unconsciously, and her appetite was instantly aroused.

Thinking of the delicious and spicy dishes we eat every day, my tongue seems to have tasted the tempting flavor.

"Just wait and see!" Wang Gang puffed out his chest, raised his hands and clapped his hands, his face full of pride, "Although my brother-in-law's cooking skills are not bad, compared with mine, he is still a little bit behind.

It’s the New Year, it’s such a good opportunity, I have to show my best first!

Let my brother-in-law see that I, Wang Gang, am also a capable person, not inferior to him at all! "

As he spoke, his eyes rolled around and he glanced around. After confirming that there were no outsiders, he leaned close to Shen Youyou and lowered his voice, "Besides, didn't my brother-in-law say last time that you were pregnant? The nutritious meals you eat on weekdays are bland and tasteless. I occasionally cook a delicious meal, which is a good way to reward you."

Shen Youyou's eyes lit up, and a series of delicious dishes with beautiful colors, fragrance and taste instantly emerged in her mind. She didn't hesitate and blurted out a series of dish names: "Don't be so long-winded! Tomorrow I want to eat sweet and sour spare ribs, the steamed pork with rice flour must be soft and glutinous, the boiled fish must be fresh, fragrant and spicy, and the spicy three fresh dishes must also be included, the Maoxuewang must be steaming hot, the spicy fried chicken is the spicier the better, and there are also sweet and sour pork tenderloin and mapo tofu..."

They were all very strong in flavor, and Wang Gang was stunned.

"Sister You, what kind of flavors are these? They're either sweet or spicy, and there's no particular preference!"

Wang Gang was stunned for a moment, scratched his head, and looked helpless, "The way you eat, I can't guess whether you are pregnant with your nephew or niece.

"Besides, you're pregnant, so you can't be so willful. I'll have to prepare some fresh, non-spicy seasonal vegetables for you. Don't refuse! Being picky about food is not good."

At this moment, His Royal Highness Prince Jin, who was hiding in the dark, had a full view of the entire scene.

Looking at his sweet wife who looked pale but full of greed, he smiled silently, his smile full of pampering.

If Wang Gang's cooking skills are really as good as he said, that would be great. He immediately had an idea in his mind: let Wang Gang stay in the mansion to be the chef and arrange the position of head chef for him first!

In the future, I will find ways to take care of the little princess's body, cater to her taste, and ensure that she eats comfortably and stays healthy.

Thinking of this, His Royal Highness Prince Jin raised his feet and slowly walked towards the two of them, ready to finalize this good thing.

As night fell and the lights came on, candlelight flickered in the palace, and light and shadows swayed on the carved window lattices.

His Highness Prince Jin was dressed in a brocade robe with dark patterns, his figure standing tall and straight. His usually stern face now had a rare gentleness. He leaned forward slightly and whispered to Wang Gang, who had just finished dinner, "Junior brother, you can't show up in public for the time being. If you feel better...

How about training the cook in the mansion first?"

Prince Jin paused, then looked up at the exquisite dishes placed beside him. A subtle expectation flashed in his eyes. "Teach them a few more of the dishes that Youyou ordered just now, so that Youyou can use more of them..."

It was unusual to hear such a negotiating tone coming from the mouth of this prince who usually had the final say.

When Wang Gang heard this, he immediately put down his bowl and chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and widened his eyes. He looked so eager to express his opinion, like a young boy who was afraid of being questioned about his loyalty.

"Hey, brother-in-law, what are you talking about?! For my sister You, this is all a small matter! Anyway, I have nothing to do, so I can let my sister You try to see if my cooking skills have deteriorated..."

As he spoke, his hands kept moving, and he swept away the remaining food on the table like a whirlwind.

Yes, recalling the day I went to Puning Temple, I was so confused that I barely touched my chopsticks. Then I encountered the unfortunate incident of being "beaten with a stick";

When he was carried back to the palace, he fell into a dangerous state of "high fever that would not subside" and was completely drowsy;

Later, he even faked his death and escaped. After this series of misfortunes, he had no appetite to eat, let alone meat.

After all, eating and drinking to excess doesn't fit his image as a seriously ill patient who is dying. He is really starving right now.

This is the time for family gatherings and grand banquets. Originally, the emperor was supposed to hold a banquet in the palace today to entertain royal relatives, nobles and ministers.

It was just a few days ago that Princess Fukang and Princess Mingzhu had just arrived, and the palace had already held a banquet to entertain them. Who would have thought that Princess Fukang would cause another uproar, which made the emperor upset and distracted. He lost the mood to hold a banquet and canceled the palace banquet.

Although the banquet was cancelled, the royal family's dignity could not be lost. The emperor had already ordered the clever and well-behaved eunuch Xiao Xizi to give imperial meals to each mansion according to the standard, in order to demonstrate the emperor's great grace.

The specifications of this imperial meal were also very particular. The princes and nobles were all in high positions and had great power, so they all had 36 dishes, not one missing, to show their nobility.

The general who defended the country was now a great military hero and had reached the highest rank. He presented thirty dishes with exquisite presentation and top-quality ingredients.

The other first-rank officials also had 24 dishes, which were more than generous;

Going down in order, the fourth-rank officials only had six dishes;

Officials of the fifth rank and below did not have this imperial honor.

Because of this, Shen Youyou and His Royal Highness Prince Jin were able to avoid the tedious palace banquet and watch Wang Gang wolf down his food leisurely in the mansion.

Wang Gang had finished his meal now. He had talked about and analyzed everything that needed to be discussed during the meal, and there was nothing else important to talk about.

Shen Youyou and His Royal Highness Prince Jin stood up and walked slowly along the winding corridor towards the main hall in the front yard, preparing to stay up all night to celebrate the New Year.

The cold wind blew by, and Shen Youyou wrapped her cloak tightly around her. As she walked, her thoughts drifted away. She couldn't help but recall the warm scene of celebrating the New Year with her father Shen Duanfang in the mansion last year.

At that time, the whole family sat around the fire, laughing and talking, feeling warm and cozy. But now, things have changed and time seems to be as ruthless as the four seasons. In the blink of an eye, it is the end of the year again.

Shen Youyou's eyes were slightly moist, and her heart was filled with melancholy. She secretly wondered what her father and elder brother were doing at the moment. Were they also like her, guarding the long night, full of thoughts and concerns?

His Royal Highness Prince Jin had been keeping an eye on the person beside him. Seeing that she was in low spirits and her eyes were filled with loneliness, he felt very distressed and immediately took the initiative to suggest: "Youyou, how about I take you back to the backyard to rest first?

You're pregnant, and seeing how listless you look right now, I'm really worried."

Hearing this, Shen Youyou forced a smile and said softly, "I'm fine, I just miss Daddy and Big Brother a little bit."

She raised her head slightly and looked at Prince Jin, her eyes revealing a hint of attachment and determination, "And this year is the first year I spend with you in the palace.

At the beginning of the new year, the time together is precious, so I will stay a little longer. If I get tired, you can take me back..."

Such caring words warmed Prince Jin's heart, but also made him more worried.

"Well, if you're tired, you must tell me!"

His Royal Highness Prince Jin gently held Shen Youyou's soft little hand, repeatedly admonishing her, then turned and instructed An Er who was standing in the dark beside him: "Go, ask Wang Gang to come over."

An Er obeyed the order and disappeared into the night in a flash. A moment later, Wang Gang came running over, smiling broadly, and asked loudly, "Brother-in-law, are you looking for me?!"

Prince Jin nodded slightly, took a step forward, stretched out his hand and pulled Wang Gang to a secluded corner. He lowered his voice and asked mysteriously, "When you were with your master...did he teach you anything else?!"