Chapter 95 Xiao Tuanzi’s Defense

At this point, his eyes narrowed slightly as he vented all his frustration from earlier, when he couldn't help in the imperial kitchen, onto Ji Qingqing.

"What's wrong with people these days? When you go to a restaurant outside, you have to pay for your meal. Here in the palace, you don't pay a cent, and someone else cooks it and brings it right to your table, yet you still complain the cook is stingy. If you're so great, why don't you show us all a thing or two and let us see just how generous you really are, Second Miss Ji."

Ji Qingqing: "..."

She shot Xie Liuzheng a resentful glare, biting her lip in frustration. Ji Huaiche pulled her back, saying, "Qing Qing, that's enough, knock it off!"

Ji Qingqing felt even more wronged.

She never expected her eldest brother, who usually had her back, to not only not help her here but to actually scold her.

What did she do wrong? Why was everyone against her? How was she any worse than Ji Yuntang?

Just then, Ji Yuntang and Luo Qingge came over together. When he saw them, Xie Liuzheng immediately repeated what Ji Qingqing had said, without adding anything.

He thought Ji Yuntang would get mad when she heard it, but she just smirked and gave Ji Qingqing a cold look.

"No big deal. Like I said before, the food I made isn't for her or Heir Ji. Whether it's good or bad doesn't matter to them, since they won't be eating it anyway."

Luo Qingge blinked and added, "Oh~ I get it now. So Second Miss Ji is like the fox who says the grapes are sour because she can't reach them~ What's your angle in saying that? Could it be that since you can't eat, you don't want anyone else to?"

At that, many young masters and ladies looked at Ji Qingqing differently.

Even though Ji Yuntang already refused to let her eat, she still tried to stir up trouble, making everyone think Ji Yuntang was stingy.

Second Miss Ji is really scheming.

Seeing Ji Qingqing's face red with shame and her body swaying like she might collapse, Ji Huaiche quickly pulled her behind him.

"It's just a few plates of veggies. It's not like we've never had that kind of food before. Even if she offered it to us, we wouldn't eat it. Only Heir Xie treats Princess Ye's cooking like it's gold."

Just then, an awkward sound rang out.

"Growl~"

"Growl, growl~"

Two long growls in a row.

Xie Liuzheng shot a mocking look at Ji Huaiche's stomach, a sarcastic smile curling his lips.

"Tsk, Heir Ji says he doesn't care, but his body's telling a different story. I bet just the smell has your mouth watering, huh?"

Ji Huaiche: "!!!"

Embarrassment—total, soul-crushing embarrassment.

His face turned bright red in an instant. He didn't want to admit it, but his body was totally out of his control.

Standing behind Ji Huaiche, Ji Qingqing heard his stomach rumble over and over and just felt embarrassed for him.

Hah, her eldest brother was such a hypocrite!

He kept saying he didn't care about Ji Yuntang's cooking, so why did his stomach have to growl right now?

Wasn't he just making them look stupid?

Suddenly, a cute, childish voice rang out.

"Wow, this rice with eggies is so yummy, Mom. An'er wants more."

Everyone turned to look. There was the lively, adorable little dumpling, Xiao Tuanzi, leaning over the octagonal table next to the Empress. He was barely as tall as the table, clumsily holding a spoon with his chubby little hands and shoveling some mystery rice into his mouth with great effort.

And he was eating so happily!

Who else could it be but the Seventeenth Prince, Luo Xianan?

Since the Emperor hadn't given the go-ahead, no one dared to pick up their chopsticks. Only the youngest, Luo Xianan, could break the rules and eat early.

The Empress lifted him onto her lap and gently wiped the rice grains from the corner of his mouth.

"An'er, eat slowly. No one's going to steal it from you."

Luo Qingge looked at her little brother excitedly.

"Third Sister-in-Law, I can't believe even my seventeenth brother loves your cooking. You have no idea—he's usually so picky. He doesn't even like the fancy food from the palace kitchen. This is the first time I've seen him scarfing down food like this!"

Emperor Jingyang, seeing his youngest son eating so happily, felt his own appetite stirred. He picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the egg-fried rice in front of him, instantly amazed.

"Princess Ye, this rice... how did you make it? It's so fragrant and delicious?"

Ji Yuntang said softly, "In answer to Your Majesty, this is egg-fried rice. The main ingredient is leftover rice from breakfast, stir-fried with eggs and carrots. Finally, sprinkle some chopped green onions on top before serving."

Ji Yuntang's intention was to encourage them to cherish food, to make everyone present understand that even leftover rice, with a little effort, could become a delicious meal.

But Luo Jingshen interpreted it differently. He mistakenly thought Ji Yuntang was deliberately serving them leftovers.

"How dare you! With Father and Mother here, Princess Ye dares to fob us off with leftover rice? My seventeenth brother is still young, with a weak digestive system. What if eating this leftover rice upsets his stomach?"

But just as he finished his angry outburst, Luo Xianan was displeased!

He pouted and said huffily, "I want to eat it! I love Fairy Sister's cooking! Fairy Sister is a good person. Second Brother won't let An'er eat, so Second Brother is bad!"

Ji Huaiche: "..."

Who was Luo Xianan's real second brother?

How could he side with an outsider?

Though young, Luo Xianan immediately recognized Ji Yuntang as the fairy sister who had saved his life in the imperial garden not long ago.

He had been drawn here today by the aroma of Fairy Sister's cooking.

Luo Xianan picked up another piece of braised potato, soft and tender, stuffed it into his mouth, and mumbled, "Yummy, so yummy!"

"Father, Mother, you eat too."

Emperor Jingyang then swept his gaze over the crowd and said, "In that case, everyone, pick up your chopsticks and have a taste. Don't waste Princess Ye's kind intentions."

As soon as he finished, Xie Liuzheng was the first to grab his chopsticks, picking up a pan-fried mushroom and popping it into his mouth.

Instantly, the smooth texture of the mushroom combined with its savory juice was so delicious that tears nearly streamed from the corners of his mouth.

This was just too damn good!

Thinking back on all the meals he'd eaten over the past twenty years, Xie Liuzheng suddenly felt like complaining—what had he been eating before? Wasn't that just pig feed?

Luo Feizhou also picked up a mushroom to taste. After finishing it, he narrowed his eyes and said with a hint of meaning:

"I never expected Third Sister-in-Law to turn such an ordinary mushroom into something with the savory flavor of meat. Your culinary skills are truly impressive. I'm starting to envy Third Brother a little. I imagine in the Prince Ye's Mansion, he gets to enjoy your cooking every day. After a while, I'm afraid no delicacy from outside will catch his eye anymore."

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