Chapter 18: Petty People Are Just Pretentious

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Chang Yuniang swiftly withdrew from Zhao Shenxing’s embrace, hastily wiping away her tears. Only after the Dowager Consort took her seat did she compose herself, lowering her brow and nodding in a respectful bow. “I did not expect the honor of the Dowager Consort and the Consort’s presence. I fear I have failed to welcome you properly.”

“Stop pretending here—what failure to welcome? I think you simply didn’t want us here at all!” Xiao Yunjie’s glare seemed to burn with fiery intensity. “Luckily, we arrived just in time; otherwise, who knows what lies you’d have spun about me in front of the Prince!”

Tears still shimmering in her eyes, Chang Yuniang widened them, feigning innocence as she looked at Xiao Yunjie. “I was only speaking honestly; how could I dare to slander my elder sister?”

Her tear-streaked face, delicate as a pear blossom touched by sorrow, evoked a pang of sympathy in many.

“Honest?” Xiao Yunjie’s eyes narrowed as she gestured toward the dishes on the table. “There’s fish maw and chicken soup—do you call that food for servants?”

“The chicken soup is real, but the pungent fish maw is clearly meant for the servants,” Chang Yuniang protested, aggrieved.

“What a joke! The lower a person sinks, the more pretentious she becomes!” Xiao Yunjie burst into laughter, unable to contain herself.

She actually called herself lowly in front of so many. Tears spilled uncontrollably down Chang Yuniang’s cheeks.

This pitiful sight broke Zhao Shenxing’s heart.

“Enough!” he snapped irritably. “If you keep this up, don’t blame me for throwing you out!”

Xiao Yunjie finally stifled her laughter. “Mother, this deep-sea fish maw from the East Sea was specially prepared by the kitchen for her. I heard it’s good for the fetus, and even I didn’t begrudge eating it every day. Yet this ungrateful girl calls it servant’s food.”

Then she turned to Chang Yuniang. “May I ask, which servant’s quarters are so lucky as to have fish maw every day?”

This… the fish maw was the famed delicacy!

Chang Yuniang stared at the stew pot in disbelief, then whispered a sly excuse, “I never said the fish maw was for servants. I said the cook’s skills were poor and only fit to prepare food for servants. I am pregnant and sensitive to such a strong fishy smell.”

“Bring the soup here for me to see,” the Dowager Consort ordered.

Yun Xiu immediately brought the bowl before her.

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“Hmm, the fishy smell is indeed a bit strong,” the Dowager Consort frowned.

Xiao Yunjie stirred the soup, then frowned deeply. “Damn it, the kitchen staff forgot to add ginger to remove the fishiness!”

“Send for everyone responsible for the soups in the kitchen, now!” she commanded sharply.

Just as the maid was about to obey, the Dowager Consort stopped her. “Though the soup is a bit fishy, it’s still drinkable. Everyone makes mistakes; I think we should let this go.”

After the recent chaos, the Dowager Consort had no desire for further trouble.

“Dowager, Kitchen Mistress Zhao requests an audience,” the maid Cherry announced.

The Dowager Consort was troubled when the maid brought in the cook.

“Since she’s here, let her come in,” the Dowager Consort said coldly.

Kitchen Mistress Zhao knelt immediately before everyone with a thud. “Please forgive me, Dowager Consort. It was not that I forgot to remove the fishiness; the new fish maw’s odor is so strong that even soaking it in rice jars cannot eliminate the smell.”

The Dowager Consort’s expression turned cold. “Why didn’t my portion have any fishy smell? Clearly, you did not put in the effort!”

“You may not know, Dowager; there are only a few pieces of aged fish maw left in the household. Knowing your condition, I have been saving them for you,” Kitchen Mistress Zhao said, bowing her head. “The aged fish maw has little odor, but the new one is younger and stronger in smell. After cooking for the Princess and other ladies, no complaints were made. Therefore, when the Consort instructed me to prepare fish maw for Lady Chang, I used the new fish maw as usual.”

Xiao Yunjie blew air playfully, pretending to be casual. “So that’s it. Since there are still a few pieces of old fish maw left, naturally they must be reserved for the Dowager and the Prince. Lady Chang is sensitive to the smell; she should simply avoid having it cooked for her to save everyone’s effort and gratitude.”

“Then Mistress, shall I no longer prepare fish maw for Yunmeng Pavilion?” Kitchen Mistress Zhao asked cautiously.

The Dowager Consort nodded faintly. “If she cannot tolerate it, then cease delivering it. No sense in wasting good ingredients.”

But how could she not tolerate it before even tasting it?

It was well known that fish maw was a treasure, beneficial for women’s beauty and the fetus’s growth.

Chang Yuniang trembled with anger. That damned Jade Bamboo had known it was fish maw but hadn’t warned her sooner!

Not only did she embarrass herself in front of everyone, but now the kitchen would stop sending it altogether.

No, why should others have it but not her?

Just as Kitchen Mistress Zhao was about to leave, Chang Yuniang hurriedly said, “No, I can tolerate it. Today’s strong smell was probably because it had cooled. Please deliver it hot in the future.”

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Kitchen Mistress Zhao glanced at the Dowager Consort, who nodded, and only then did she withdraw.

There were shameless people, but she had never seen one so utterly shameless.

A moment ago, she accused the cook’s skills and food as unappetizing; in the next, she claimed she could tolerate it.

The Dowager Consort’s gaze held clear disdain and contempt.

Madam Xiao spoke without mercy: “Did you see the fish maw and assume the kitchen was trying to fool you with fish bladders? So you made an excuse about it tasting bad. Then, upon learning it was fish maw and hearing it would no longer be sent, you suddenly couldn’t bear to lose it and hurriedly claimed you could eat it?”

That was exactly what she thought, and Chang Yuniang’s face flushed deeply.

“I had never eaten fish maw before; I beg the Dowager and elder sister’s forgiveness,” she admitted, cheeks burning.

Having already offended Consort Xiao over the headwear incident, she dared not provoke her further.

Chang Yuniang knew well how fierce the consort was; if she did not admit fault and show humility, this sharp-tongued consort would say even worse things.

“By the way, you just said that besides cold steamed buns at breakfast, your two other meals daily are just tasteless radishes and cabbage?” Xiao Yunjie stared at the dishes on the table. “I don’t know if the buns are cold, but the stir-fried cabbage and lotus root here are cooked with animal fat. How can you say radish stewed with meat and shredded pork with green bamboo shoots have no oil or flavor?”

Chang Yuniang lowered her head guiltily. “Perhaps I’ve had no appetite these past few days, so nothing tastes right to me.”

“There’s no money left in the accounts. We’re all tightening our belts,” Xiao Yunjie’s face darkened further. “This grand prince’s mansion can’t be expected to cater to your tastes. Or else, before shopping each day, I can assign a maid to ask you what you want.”

“No, that won’t do,” Chang Yuniang hastened to refuse.

“That’s your own refusal. Don’t blame others if the food displeases you!” Xiao Yunjie glared fiercely. “Tell me, Lady Chang, where did you get the idea that the other ladies enjoy bird’s nest and sea cucumber while you’re stuck eating servant’s food every day?”