Later, when Sister Yuan returned to the Duke of Ying's Mansion, Second Master Chu Qizheng found out that she stole tea. The father and daughter had a falling out, so I won't go into details.

Later, when Chu Lian learned about it, she only took it as a joke.

In the front yard, where the male guests were received, a table of nobles, young and old, sat around. From High Duke Zheng to Marquis Wei, some of whom were rarely in contact with each other, today they gathered together because of the delicacies brought by Chu Lian.

Everyone unanimously enjoyed the delicacies in front of them and did not talk about the state of affairs.

High Duke Zheng had recuperated for half a month and was carefully taken care of by Ming Yan. Now, he was hale and hearty. The old man's nose was a little red, which made him look even more energetic.

High Duke Zheng had recently fallen in love with spicy boiled fish. When he was at the High Duke's Mansion, he ate it for every meal. The white and sticky fish slices floated on the red chili oil, with a unique flavor of freshness and tenderness. With one bite, it was so tender that one wanted to swallow their tongue into their stomach.

Originally, this spicy boiled fish was a supreme delicacy, but today, when they came to Guilin Restaurant and saw a servant serving a huge plate of grilled fish, their eyes widened.

Guilin Restaurant's spicy grilled fish was made from the freshest and most tender Qingjiang fish in Min River. When the fish was killed, it was still fresh and tender. The outermost layer of the fish skin was brown. When dipped in the chili oil in the grilled fish plate, the grease of the fish skin had already been grilled out, leaving only a smooth and burnt fragrance. When swallowed, one couldn't help but want to take another bite. After a few more bites, one couldn't stop eating until one's tongue was slightly numb. However, this feeling of eating was extremely comfortable.

The grilled fish plate could also be filled with all kinds of side dishes, such as fresh bean sprouts and lettuce, fragrant chestnuts, and green lettuce. These were originally ordinary dishes, but after being boiled in the grilled fish sauce, the taste immediately changed, making one unable to stop eating.

In the Flower Hall of the main courtyard, a table full of nobles is eating and forgetting to talk. After a few chopsticks, they all have snot running down their noses. Behind them, a servant comes up with a wet towel. Old High Duke Zheng wipes his snot generously. It's already autumn. His forehead is covered with a thin layer of sweat because of the spicy food. Even in such a sorry state, he still has to shout "refreshing".

This made the manservants standing behind him blush with shame.

Little Wei's taste was light and he could not eat spicy food. However, when he saw the chopsticks reaching towards the plate of fragrant grilled fish, he swallowed his saliva and finally couldn't resist the temptation. He reached towards the square plate.

After eating two mouthfuls of fish, Little William was so spicy that he started tearing up. His originally pale lips were even redder and a little swollen. He looked like he was evolving into a sausage.

While fanning his mouth with his hand, the hand that was holding the chopsticks could not help but pick up the grilled fish. Looking at his appearance, where was the usual handsome and noble appearance of the Little Marquis? At this moment, he looked like a gluttonous diner, the kind that had no image at all.

The manservants lowered their heads even more, wishing they could stuff their heads into their crotches. This scene of them fighting for food did not look like a noble or high-ranking official at all.

Ming Yan had also followed the old duke to Guilin Residence today. She could not enter the reception pavilion where the nobles ate together, so she hid behind the screen and secretly peeked.

The manservants serving in the reception pavilion were all quick-witted people personally selected by Steward Qin. Today, the old duke had brought a maidservant with him. It was clear that this maidservant's status was not ordinary, so they turned a blind eye to it. In any case, this maidservant was only standing behind the screen and looking at them. There was nothing else she could do.

When Ming Yan saw the situation in the reception pavilion, her face instantly turned pale.

Her gaze landed on the sandalwood square table in the center of the reception pavilion. She suddenly realized that she had not seen any of the new dishes!

Ming Yan's heart instantly sank to the bottom.

What was going on?

Why did Third Young Madam have so many new dishes? Could it be that she had many secret recipes in her hands?

Ming Yan was momentarily dazed and grabbed onto the engravings on the screen. The screen almost tilted from the weight of her body. Fortunately, the manservant standing beside her was quick to react and supported the screen.

The manservant said unhappily, "Miss, if there's nothing else, you should leave. If anything happens here, we won't be able to pay for it even if we sacrifice our lives."

At this moment, Ming Yan regained her senses and regained a shred of rationality. She frantically thanked the manservant, then turned around and stumbled out of the reception pavilion from the back door.

Could it be that Third Young Madam had hidden many secret recipes from them in Songtao Court?

That was impossible. Every time Third Young Madam made food, she did not hide it from the senior maidservants. She even personally told them her secret recipes. She was not stupid. As long as it was Third Young Madam's secret recipes, she would carefully memorize them and learn them.

Third Young Madam was only a normal person. How could she have an endless supply of secret recipes? Even if she had many, she should have learned all of them. How could there be so many dishes that she had not even seen before?

Speaking of which, Ming Yan had only learned about twenty dishes. To Chu Lian, who was a glutton who had eaten all over the country, this was just a drop in the bucket. It was not even worth mentioning.

Only Ming Yan was pleased with herself. She thought that she had completely mastered the secret recipes passed down by Third Young Madam's ancestors.

Just now, it was obvious that Duke Zheng's favor had been stolen by Guilin Restaurant's dishes.

If that was the case, how could she continue to stand by Duke Zheng's side in the future?

The more Ming Yan thought about it, the worse her mood became. She was not willing to give up. She had already bravely taken a step forward. She would definitely not retreat back to where she was.

She paced back and forth in the corridor outside the courtyard. The handkerchief in her hand was already crumpled up. Finally, she made a sudden decision. In the next second, she quickly walked out of the courtyard.

On the way out, she asked a manservant for directions to the kitchen. Then, she quickly walked to the kitchen. However, before she could enter, she was stopped by a tall and sturdy man standing guard outside the kitchen.

"Miss, please wait. The kitchen is an important part of Guilin Restaurant. Unauthorized people are not allowed to enter."

Ming Yan lowered her head. Her body trembled slightly. After a moment, she mentally prepared herself and raised her head. She met the sharp gaze of the man and said confidently, "I am Third Young Madam's head maidservant. I am here on Third Young Madam's orders to the kitchen. You dare to stop me?"

The man, who had been speaking confidently, paused. Just as he was at a loss for what to do, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from behind Ming Yan. "Ah Zhong, go in and help. Leave everything here to me."

The person who spoke was Xiyan. Xiyan often came to Guilin Restaurant to teach the chefs. Everyone here was familiar with her.

The man called Ah Zhong immediately bowed to Xiyan and entered the kitchen.

Ming Yan's entire body froze. She hadn't expected Xiyan to enter the kitchen at this time.

However, when she thought about it again, she realized that she hadn't done anything. What was there to feel guilty about? Moreover, she was currently serving by the Duke's side. The Duke didn't treat her as a maidservant. If she said that she was a concubine's granddaughter, everyone would believe her. Her status was now higher than Xiyan's, so she should be even more upright.

"Miss Ming Yan, you've been taking care of the Duke all this time. When did Third Young Mistress order you around? Why didn't I know about it?" Xiyan mocked.

This Ming Yan usually looked quite honest. She hadn't expected her to have other intentions long ago. Now, she was even faking Third Young Mistress' words. If she had really entered the kitchen just now, who knew what kind of irreparable consequences would have occurred.

Today was the first time Guilin Restaurant was hosting a banquet. It was of utmost importance. Nothing could happen.

The way Xiyan addressed her as Miss Ming Yan showed how distant she was from her.

Ming Yan furrowed her brows and cursed Xiyan fiercely in her heart. However, she put on a smile on her face.

She quickly walked to Xiyan's side. "Older Sister Xiyan, you're wrong about me. I just saw that the dishes Third Young Mistress made in Guilin Restaurant's kitchen today were all very fresh. I just wanted to take a look and broaden my horizons. I didn't have any other intentions."

Xiyan pulled back her arm and looked at her coldly. "You'd better not have any other intentions. It's fine. You should return to the Duke's side. The dishes in Guilin Restaurant's kitchen are all made with secret recipes. We don't want outsiders to see them."

Xiyan's words were blunt. She wasn't someone who liked to think. Furthermore, she was in front of the detestable Ming Yan. She said whatever she wanted to say.

Ming Yan couldn't maintain her composure. She stomped her feet. "Older Sister Xiyan, what are you saying?

Do you think I'm an outsider?

Even when Third Young Mistress is cooking in the fu, she never avoids me! "

"That's because you were Third Young Mistress' head maidservant at that time. You were supposed to serve Third Young Mistress, but the master you're serving now is the Duke. When you return to Third Young Mistress' side, you'll be the same as before."

After saying this, Xiyan couldn't be bothered to argue with this ingrate any longer. She turned her back to Ming Yan and quickly entered the kitchen.

Ming Yan stared at the kitchen door and was stunned for a while. In the end, she could only spit and stomp her feet as she left.

After that, Ming Yan went to look for Jing Yan and Fuyan. Unfortunately, Jing Yan and Fuyan were by Chu Lian's side, so she couldn't see them.

With a perturbed and anxious mood, Ming Yan returned to the parlor of the main courtyard with a restless mind.

She had just arrived at the entrance of the reception pavilion when she heard old Duke Zheng's energetic voice. She paused and walked forward, getting closer.

"Jinyi, you've opened a good restaurant. This old man will have a place to eat in the future." This was old Duke Zheng's voice. He clearly couldn't hide his happiness.

"Then Guilin Restaurant's business will have to rely on you in the future." Chu Lian's voice was soft and clear. It was very pleasant to the ears.

"That's right. A few days ago, this old man's health was all thanks to you, little girl. The maidservant you left in the fu is also quite skilled. However, this old man's health is almost recovered, so I can't take over your head maidservant. Why don't you send someone to take that maidservant back today?"

Chu Lian blinked and smiled. "It seems that Ming Yan is very favored by the Duke. This junior doesn't lack people to serve me. Since the Duke is so comfortable with her, there's no need to send her back. This junior will have the maidservant send the maidservant's contract to the Duke's Public House another day.

No matter what, that maidservant has learned many of my secret recipes.

Old Duke, you can't not give this junior a chance to show her filial piety. "

(Today, my hands slipped and turned "Sister Su" into a "vegetarian chicken." Sob sob sob, Sister Su, I've let you down!)