Seeing the Young General arrive, everyone in the kitchen stopped what they were doing.

The two army cooks clasped their fists in salute.

Xiao Hong’s gaze swept over the stove before finally landing on Hua Manman.

Hua Manman beamed brightly. "Good morning, Young General! You don’t look so well. Didn’t you sleep well last night?"

Xiao Hong suspected the woman was deliberately poking at a sore spot.

He said expressionlessly, "That’s none of your concern."

Hua Manman wasn’t annoyed in the slightest, her smile remaining fixed in place.

"Would you like to try our freshly made potstickers? They smell amazing!"

She picked up two potstickers with her chopsticks, placed them in a bowl, and offered it to Xiao Hong.

Xiao Hong asked coldly, "Did you make these?"

"Of course not!" Hua Manman said. "What were you thinking? How could a pampered young lady like me possibly cook for other men? These were made by these two fine gentlemen from the kitchen staff."

Xiao Hong: "..."

’It’s not like I had any desire to eat something she’d personally made.’

But hearing her say it with that tone still left him feeling irritated.

Xiao Hong glanced at the other three men present and warned in a low voice,

"Don’t forget your stations."

With that, he flicked his sleeves and left, leaving everyone with only the sight of his cold, retreating back.

Ah Qi saw Hua Manman still standing there, holding the bowl and chopsticks.

Her kind gesture had been completely ignored by the Young General. ’She must be upset, right?’

Just as Ah Qi was racking his brain for a way to comfort her, he saw her pick up a potsticker, pop it into her mouth, and begin to eat with great relish.

As she ate, she didn’t forget to comment to the two army cooks.

"It’s a little too salty. Use less next time."

Ah Qi: "..."

’Never mind,’ he thought. ’I was overthinking things.’

After breakfast, Hua Manman had nothing to do and decided to go for a stroll. Naturally, Si Yun and Ah Qi would follow her.

Ah Qi was still pondering how he could help Hua Manman escape.

Just then, someone suddenly called Ah Qi’s name.

Ah Qi stopped and looked toward the voice, seeing that it was Aming who had called him.

The two were about the same age, but Aming had a lively, outgoing personality, while Ah Qi, by comparison, was far too quiet and withdrawn.

Aming said with a grin, "The Young General wants me to go down the mountain to ask about a few things. Want to come with me?"

Ah Qi hesitated.

’If I go down the mountain with Aming, what about Hua Manman?’

’She’s a weak woman, too frail to even truss a chicken. If someone bullies her, there’ll be no one to help her.’

Seeing his indecision, Aming didn’t press him, only saying,

"Think it over. Just give me an answer before tonight."

"Okay."

Their conversation finished, the two went their separate ways.

Ah Qi turned to look for Hua Manman, only to see her and Si Yun crouching in the bushes behind a building, doing who-knows-what.

He walked over curiously and found they were picking some kind of fruit.

It was a fruit he had never seen before, only about the size of a fingernail and green in color.

Hua Manman and Si Yun didn’t eat the fruit they picked, instead gathering them all in the hems of their robes.

Ah Qi asked, "What kind of fruit is this?"

Hua Manman explained.

"This is called Xiangma Fruit. You can use it in cooking. It makes dishes taste amazing."

Ah Qi had a moment of realization. He had never seen this fruit in Xiliang, nor had he ever heard of Xiangma Fruit. It must be something unique to Great Zhou.

He asked, "Is this enough? Should we pick more?"

Hua Manman replied, "We didn’t bring any tools. If we pick too many, we won’t be able to carry them back."

Ah Qi said, "No problem, I can go back and get some."

Hua Manman thought for a moment. "I’ll have to trouble you, then."

Only after Ah Qi had walked some distance away did Si Yun ask in a low voice,

"Princess Consort, can you really eat this Xiangma Fruit? I’ve never had anything like it before."

Hua Manman twirled the small green fruit in her hand, a knowing smile on her face.

"Of course you can eat it."

Soon, Ah Qi ran back, a large basket in his hands.

Working together, the three of them picked the entire patch of Xiangma Fruit clean.

Ah Qi hoisted the heavy basket onto his shoulder and said to Hua Manman and Si Yun,

"Let’s go back."

Hua Manman nodded. "Okay!"

When they returned to their quarters, Hua Manman personally poured a cup of cool tea, pressed it into Ah Qi’s hands, and said with a brilliant smile,

"Thank you for your hard work. Here, have some tea to quench your thirst."

Ah Qi held the teacup with both hands, staring blankly at her smile.

Amused, Hua Manman looked at him. "Why are you staring at me? Drink your tea."

As if his gaze had been scalded, Ah Qi hastily looked away and buried his head in the teacup to drink.

He drained the cup of cool tea in no time.

Hua Manman asked, "Want more?"

Ah Qi wiped his mouth with his sleeve and said in a small voice, "Thank you, I’m fine."

At noon, Hua Manman cooked a dish using the Xiangma Fruit.

She pushed a bowl and chopsticks into Ah Qi’s hands, enthusiastically inviting him to try it.

Full of anticipation, Ah Qi took a bite of the dish.

He didn’t know if it was just his imagination, but he felt that this dish, cooked by Hua Manman herself, was exceptionally delicious.

When Hua Manman asked if it was good, he nodded without hesitation.

"It’s delicious."

Feeling that this wasn’t enough to express how good the dish was, he added,

"It’s the best thing I’ve ever eaten."

Hua Manman burst out laughing, amused by him.

She covered her delicate laugh, her eyes curving into crescents. "You’re too kind with your words."

Her laughter made Ah Qi very embarrassed.

He mumbled quietly, "I’m... I’m telling the truth."

Afterward, Hua Manman and Si Yun also tried the new dish.

Si Yun praised it sincerely, "It really is delicious!"

She had never realized cooking with Xiangma Fruit could be so tasty. It was a real eye-opener.

The two army cooks watched from the side, their mouths watering.

After being warned by the Young General, they didn’t dare get too close to Hua Manman.

But now, they couldn’t help themselves.

They were genuinely curious about the taste of the dish. What was that green fruit in it? Why had they never seen it before?

Hua Manman noticed their gazes kept darting over and took the initiative to ask,

"Would you two gentlemen like to come have a taste?"

The two army cooks looked at each other, and in the end, decided to try a bite.

’Just one bite. One bite is all it’ll be.’

When they picked up their chopsticks and tasted the Xiangma Fruit, it was a little spicy but surprisingly fragrant. It was unexpectedly delicious!

So they couldn’t resist another bite, and then another...

One bite after another.

By the time they came to their senses, they had nearly finished the entire dish.

The two of them immediately turned bright red.

They hurriedly dropped their chopsticks and put on an air of disdain.

"The taste was just so-so."

After saying that, they fled as if for their lives.

Afraid that Hua Manman would be hurt, Ah Qi quickly tried to reassure her, "Don’t listen to their nonsense. The dish is delicious."

Si Yun also muttered under her breath,

"If it wasn’t good, would they have eaten so much?"

Hua Manman chuckled. "Mhm, don’t mind them. Let’s just enjoy our food."