Chapter 266: Chapter 266: That Was Prepared for My Cousin

Zhi Wan didn’t know about the little episode in the front hall. She felt that serving the Princess only wontons was a bit meager, so she sent someone to Zhimei Restaurant to pick up a salted goose and various pastries.

By the time she finished cooking the wontons, the salted goose and pastries had also been brought back.

After getting everything ready, she and her servants brought the food to the front hall.

"Why did you prepare so much?" Princess Chang Le asked, a little surprised as she looked at the table full of food.

"This salted goose, these sandin bao, and the other pastries are all Yangzhou specialties. They were made by the chefs at my shop. I thought Your Highness might not have tried them before, so I wanted to let you have a taste," Zhi Wan explained with a smile.

"How thoughtful of you." Princess Chang Le was very pleased.

Zhi Wan hadn’t forgotten that Princess Chang Le had made a special trip to the Ministry of Justice to bring her a meal the night before last.

She had been thinking about it ever since. Even if the Princess hadn’t come today, she would have found an opportunity to treat her to a meal.

"It was all prepared on short notice, so it was quite rushed. I didn’t prepare anything else. I’m not even sure if these will suit Your Highness’s palate," Zhi Wan said.

"Whether it suits my palate or not, I’ll know once I try it," Princess Chang Le said, unconcerned.

Hearing this, Zhi Wan quickly handed her a pair of chopsticks.

Princess Chang Le took them and was about to pick up some food when Yuanbao, standing behind her, took out a silver needle and stopped her. "Your Highness, please wait. This servant will test it first..."

"Shut up and leave!" Princess Chang Le cut him off, her voice low and stern.

"But..." Yuanbao was in a difficult position.

’The Princess is of royal blood; how could she just eat anything outside? Even in her own residence, all her food has to be tested for poison first.’

"One more word of nonsense and you won’t be accompanying me next time," Princess Chang Le said, her face clouded with displeasure.

Hearing this, Yuanbao didn’t dare mention it again.

Zhi Wan paused, then tried to persuade her, "Your Highness, I don’t think Eunuch Yuanbao’s concerns are wrong. Perhaps it would be better to first..."

"As if I don’t know what kind of person you are," Princess Chang Le interrupted.

’Of course I wouldn’t poison the food, but I’m worried about the ’what ifs.’ After all, the Princess’s status is extraordinary. If something happened to her here, I could never bear the responsibility. Thinking about it now, I can’t help but feel a little regretful. The salted goose and pastries were all from the shop. What if...’

With that thought, she picked up another pair of chopsticks and said, "Your Highness, all this food was brought from outside. I’ll eat first. If there are no problems, then you can begin."

"Wanwan, let me," Ouyang Zhenzhu said, quickly snatching a piece of salted goose.

Zhi Wan gave her a helpless look.

The two of them tasted each of the dishes one after another. Only after confirming there were no problems did they let Princess Chang Le begin eating.

"What a hassle," Princess Chang Le said, but inwardly she felt a little bad.

Because of her status, those close to her always felt immense pressure.

This was also why she never made friends easily.

Zhi Wan and Ouyang Zhenzhu were finally willing to get close to her, yet her status made them both so wary.

’How I wish I were just an ordinary person, free to do whatever I want without any reservations.’

Seeing her slight despondence, Zhi Wan diligently placed a lot of food into her bowl.

"Your Highness, try this..."

"Try this one too..."

Ouyang Zhenzhu was just starting to feel left out when, a moment later, Zhi Wan placed some food in her bowl. "Zhenzhu, you eat too."

Ouyang Zhenzhu beamed. "You’re the best, Wanwan."

"Miss, the Princely Heir is here."

Just then, Nanny Fang appeared at the door with Lu Zhan.

Zhi Wan froze. As she turned her head, her eyes met her cousin’s smileless gaze.

She paused. ’How long has my cousin been here? Why does he look so unhappy?’

"Mr. Lu, what brings you to the Zhi Mansion?" Princess Chang Le put down her chopsticks, surprised. "Unfortunately, you’re too late. Zhi Wan so thoughtfully prepared all this food for us, but she didn’t make a portion for you."

Her words were dripping with smugness.

Mindful that only women were in the hall, Lu Zhan did not enter.

He stood by the door, ignoring Princess Chang Le’s words, and said flatly, "This humble subject is injured and cannot bow to Your Highness. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."

Although he said this, he didn’t wait for Princess Chang Le to reply. Instead, he spoke directly to Zhi Wan. "Since they are guests, you should entertain them well, Cousin. I’ll be returning to my room." With that, he had Nanny Fang lead the way and left the front hall.

Zhi Wan: "..."

"Mr. Lu is as detestable as ever!" Princess Chang Le scoffed.

Even someone as dense as Ouyang Zhenzhu understood the implication behind Lu Zhan’s words.

’He was implying that she and the Princess were guests—outsiders—while Mr. Lu was acting like the master of the house. Why was that self-important attitude of his so infuriating? He acted as if he were already married to Wanwan.’

However—

"Your Highness, didn’t you used to have a crush on Mr. Lu?" Ouyang Zhenzhu suddenly turned her head and looked at Princess Chang Le curiously.

Princess Chang Le scoffed. "How could I have such poor taste?"

Ouyang Zhenzhu said sheepishly, "The line of young ladies who want to marry Mr. Lu stretches all the way to the city gates. Your Highness is clearly just bitter over unrequited love!"

"Ouyang Zhenzhu!" Princess Chang Le narrowed her eyes. "Speak any more nonsense, and I’ll have your tongue cut out!"

Zhi Wan quickly nudged Ouyang Zhenzhu. "Don’t talk such nonsense. The Princess has Shen Longjin now, and he’s the one she likes. If Shen Longjin hears you spouting such rubbish, he’ll definitely get jealous."

At these words, Princess Chang Le pointed a trembling finger at her. "Zhi Wan, even you dare to tease me?"

Zhi Wan put on an innocent expression. "I’m not! Your Highness really does have Mr. Shen by your side now."

Princess Chang Le: "..."

She gritted her teeth and said, "For the sake of these truly delicious wontons, I will spare you both today. If there is a next time, I will definitely have your tongues torn out." With that, she flicked her sleeves and left.

Seeing this, Ouyang Zhenzhu hurried after her. "Your Highness, wait for me!"

Zhi Wan saw the two of them out.

She only returned to the mansion after they had boarded their carriage and departed.

Instead of going straight back to her courtyard, she went to the kitchen, cooked a bowl of wontons, and carried it there.

When she entered the room, she saw her cousin sitting in a chair, looking down at a painting she had left on the table.

"Cousin, is your injury any better?" Zhi Wan asked with concern as she walked over with the wontons.

Lu Zhan paused. The gloom in his eyes immediately brightened somewhat as he looked at the wontons before him. "You made these yourself?"

"Mhm," Zhi Wan said, sitting down beside him. "I got up this morning and made them specially for you. I was originally going to take them to the Duke Dingguo Mansion, but just as I reached the gate, the Princess and Zhenzhu arrived together."

"They wanted to eat the wontons I made, so I had to stay and cook for them first." After speaking, she picked up a spoon, scooped up a wonton, blew on it near her lips, and then brought it to Lu Zhan’s mouth, saying softly, "You should try one too, Cousin. I just went to the kitchen and cooked them for you."

Lu Zhan’s gaze lingered for a moment on her rosy lips. Then, with a low "mhm," he lowered his head and ate the wonton.

"Is it good?" Zhi Wan asked, looking at him expectantly.

Lu Zhan’s dark eyes gazed deeply at her. "Delicious!"