Chapter 59 The Kitchen Burns
"This..." Yindian stammered.
"Speak." Hai Jiaren scolded.
"The kitchen in Youlan Courtyard broke down for some reason, so we ended up in the main kitchen."
Yindian lowered her head and said, "Master, the kitchen staff is making a chicken soup with codonopsis and astragalus for Aunt Chen. It needs to be simmered on low heat for three hours. Master, your chicken soup...is a little late."
"How can this be possible!"
Haijia was so angry that she slammed the table, but she was also afraid that she might have a miscarriage.
"Master, please calm down. The kitchen doesn't know that you are pregnant, so it's natural for them to be a little slow." Yindian's comforting words were like adding fuel to the fire.
"Master, be careful of miscarriage."
Jindian hurried forward and patted her on the back, whispering, "Please be patient, Prince..." It's good that you're back.
"Be patient, bear with me!"
When Hai Jiaren heard this word, it was like a firecracker that was lit. She turned around and glared at Jin Dian fiercely, saying, "Alright, go and throw away the medicine residue quickly. Don't let anyone find out that I'm pregnant."
As a concubine, Hai Jiaren could not leave the house easily. She was afraid that something might happen to the child, so she bought some pregnancy-protecting medicine herself to keep the child safe.
After Jindian left, Yindian said angrily, "Master, this Concubine Chen is so arrogant. Even if her small kitchen breaks down, it won't affect the work of the main kitchen. She just relies on the fact that she's pregnant with twins and makes the kitchen look like she's the only one in charge."
"That's right." Hai Jiaren became angrier and angrier the more she thought about it. The chicken soup in front of her didn't smell good enough anymore.
Hai Jiaren shoveled at the chicken soup and asked, "Didn't I pay for it? Why isn't this chicken soup fragrant at all?"
"Maybe the herbs weren't added? The people in the kitchen are just trying to please Concubine Chen because they see that you're not favored." Yindian comforted her, "Don't worry, Master. Who knows, Concubine Chen might give birth to two daughters."
"Yes, she must have two daughters."
Hai Jiaren drank the chicken soup, looked down at her belly and said, "It would be best if I give birth to a son."
"Master, you're pregnant. You're definitely going to give birth to a son." Yindian finished speaking, and Hai Jiaren's eyes lit up: "Really?"
Yindian: "..." She looked at Hai Jiaren's flat belly. Her belly wasn't even visible yet, so how could it be seen?
"My mother gave birth to two sons first and then two daughters. I will definitely be the same, so this time I must be a son." Hai Jiaren said happily.
"Master is right." Yindian said regretfully, "It's a pity that the emperor said that the child born to you would be promoted to concubine, but he didn't say that your son would be a concubine."
“…”
The more Hai Jiaren thought about it, the angrier she became.
Youlan Courtyard.
"Have you figured it out? Why did the kitchen catch fire out of nowhere?"
Shen Lingshu looked at the small kitchen that was burnt black in the corner. Fortunately, the fire was put out as soon as it was discovered. Otherwise, if the fire broke out, wouldn't her yard also be affected?
"Master, please have mercy on me. Xiao Miao didn't burn down the small kitchen on purpose. Please have mercy on me."
Mrs. Zhou from the kitchen knelt in front of Shen Lingshu, hugged her trembling granddaughter Xiao Miao, and cried with tears and snot: "It's all my fault that I didn't watch the fire carefully. That's why Xiao Miao almost got into big trouble."
"Master, please spare me because I used to work so efficiently. If I die, my son and granddaughter will have no way to survive."
Madam Zhou was crying with tears and snot, and Shen Lingshu was frightened by her loud voice. She looked at Xiao Miao, who was only three or four years old, and then looked at the half-burned kitchen.
Shen Lingshu raised her eyes and looked at Madam Zhou, whose eyes were swollen from crying, and said meaningfully: "Madam Zhou, you must be careful next time. Water and fire are not merciful. Once something goes wrong, it will be irreversible."
"Master, you are right. I will keep a close eye on him in the future and there will be no mistakes." Madam Zhou nodded repeatedly.
"Since you've made a mistake, you will be responsible for the loss of this small kitchen." As soon as Shen Lingshu opened her mouth, Madam Zhou's heart trembled. She looked up in disbelief and said, "Master, I..."
"What? Your daughter burned down the kitchen, you can't ask me to pay for it, right?" Shen Lingshu asked back.
Madam Zhou said with an embarrassed look on her face: "Master, my son is in poor health and my granddaughter is so young, it's really..."
"Or, you don't have to pay."
Shen Lingshu's eyes flickered slightly, and she said, "Go back to the main kitchen, and I'll replace you with a new cook. I'll bear the loss, and you'll be fined one month's salary."
Either deduct one's salary and send them back to the main kitchen, or compensate for the loss of the small kitchen, Madam Zhou thought in embarrassment. Youlanyuan is favored and the master is kind, but the small kitchen is half burned. It is exquisite in every way, and the loss may be equivalent to half a year's monthly salary.
"I'll go back to the kitchen." Mrs. Zhou replied.
"Okay, Zhuxin, take Madam Zhou back to the kitchen and wait for the prince to come back, then pick a new cook." Shen Lingshu said, looked back at the half-burned kitchen, and went back to the house.
"Master, don't you like the dishes cooked by Madam Zhou very much? Why..." Zhu Xin was very confused after sending Madam Zhou away.
"Tell me, why did the kitchen catch fire?"
Shen Lingshu did not answer but asked instead. She did not believe a single word that Madam Zhou said. Madam Zhou was meticulous and careful in her work and washed the vegetables cleanly, so she let her cook in the small kitchen with confidence.
But how could it be possible that he accidentally let his granddaughter light the firewood?
"Is there some kind of trick?"
Zhuxin's heart skipped a beat and she looked around worriedly.
"You said that you ran into Jindian serving food in the kitchen and were delayed?" Shen Lingshu asked.
"Yes, Jindian was very angry." Zhuxin said carefully, probably because she had delayed Aunt Hai's lunch.
"Please keep an eye on the cooking in the big kitchen. The prince won't be back for another half a month." Shen Lingshu sat by the window. It was early February, and the weather was still cold. Some people couldn't hold back any longer.
"Master, why don't we find a reliable cook first?" Zhu Xin always felt something was wrong.
"No need for that. The kitchen is under the supervision of the steward in the front yard, so it's relatively safe."
Shen Lingshu suddenly stood up and said, "Let's go for a walk by the lake."
"ah……"
Zhu Xin was confused. Weren’t they just talking about the small kitchen being half burned?
"Let's go for a walk." Aunt Liu saw her going out for a walk and reminded her with a smile: "Madam Chen, put on your cloak, don't catch a cold."
"My aunt is now more than six months pregnant. As long as you don't feel uncomfortable, walking slowly will help with the delivery." Aunt Liu reminded her while looking at her big belly. Since she was ordered to come and help my aunt with her pregnancy, Aunt Liu felt really comfortable.
Aunt Chen was obedient and not spoiled. She was kind to the servants and even more respectful to her, never showing any disapproval. For a master like her, Madam Liu only hoped that she and her child would be safe.
From that day on, Nanny Hua and Nanny Liu took better care of Shen Lingshu, fearing that something might go wrong.
At Qixia Lake, Shen Lingshu walked steadily around the lake. The spring breeze made her mind clearer and calmer. Concubine Fang regarded the child in her belly as a thorn in her eyes and a thorn in her flesh. Did she want to provoke Haijia's anger and use her hand to get rid of the child in her belly?
She would never let them have their way.
Shen Lingshu deliberately walked towards Aunt Lin's Meixiangyuan. Sure enough, after a few steps, she saw the hustle and bustle.
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