"Their cooking isn't as good as yours."
Unexpectedly, Lu Ziyuan ignored the barbs in Zhong Muyu's words and instead earnestly told the truth.
Zhong Muyu said, "You've never eaten it before."
“Chengfeng is my confidant. If he says it’s delicious, then it is delicious.”
Zhong Muyu wanted to roll her eyes. She should have known better than to entertain Chengfeng.
However, Zhong Muyu didn't want to argue with Lu Ziyuan over such a trivial matter, so she said, "I've already eaten. Go sit in the living room, and I'll make another one and bring it to you."
Lu Ziyuan was obedient and sat down to wait. Zaochun asked, "Your Highness, what should we make to entertain His Highness at this time?"
While preparing, Zhong Muyu replied, "What else can we do? He'll eat whatever we eat."
"This...isn't that inappropriate? His Highness probably hasn't had such a simple breakfast before."
"If you don't want to eat, then leave. This is all I have here anyway."
As she spoke, Zhong Muyu took out the remaining two baked pastries and placed them on a plate.
Waste is shameful, so these two were used to entertain him.
Before long, Zaochun brought a dish of food to Lu Ziyuan.
He received a snack, a bowl of salted pork porridge, and an extra egg from Zhong Muyu.
That's all?
Lu Ziyuan had some doubts; it was indeed a bit rudimentary.
Zaochun said, "Your Highness, that's all we have. The Princess Consort said that we ate the same things this morning, so we didn't prepare any extra ingredients."
The pastries had a sweet honey aroma, unlike the cake I ate yesterday, and the porridge was also very fragrant.
After finishing cooking, Zhong Muyu changed into normal clothes and came to Lu Ziyuan. Her long hair was naturally loose, and her face was free of makeup, making her look even more fresh and natural.
Just then, someone came to report: "Your Highness, Your Highness, Consort Su requests an audience."
"Rou'er? What's she doing here? Let her in."
Zhong Muyu was instantly dissatisfied. Didn't they even ask if she agreed? She was the owner of the Fragrant Courtyard!
Soon, before she even arrived, her voice preceded her arrival: "How delicious it smells! I've heard that Your Highness's cooking is superb, and just the aroma alone is enough to make my mouth water!"
Su Zhirou arrived gracefully, but the smile on her face did not reach her eyes.
The prince actually rejected her and came to the princess's house for dinner instead. How could she tolerate that!
Lu Ziyuan asked, "How did you get here?"
"I prepared breakfast for Your Highness and then heard that Your Highness came to my sister's place. It just so happens that someone recently said that Your Highness's cooking skills are superb, so I also wanted to come and see."
As she spoke, Su Zhirou took a deep breath: "This aroma smells so appetizing!"
Lu Ziyuan said, "The princess's cooking skills are indeed excellent."
This was an affirmation from Lu Ziyuan, but when it reached Su Zhirou's ears, it made her extremely angry.
Trying to attract the prince with her culinary skills? What a clever tactic!
Su Zhirou quickly said, "It smells so good, I feel like I could eat as much as I want. I haven't had breakfast yet, could Your Highness make me a portion to try?"
"cannot."
Zhong Muyu refused decisively; she didn't want to serve even one, let alone two.
Being directly rejected, Su Zhirou looked a little embarrassed: "Yes, Princess Consort can only cook for the Prince, it is not my honor to do so."
Seeing Su Zhirou's disappointed look, Lu Ziyuan said, "It's perfect that Rou'er hasn't had breakfast yet, why don't you make her a meal?"
Zhong Muyu didn't expect these two freeloaders to be so shameless, taking advantage of her kindness.
"If you're hungry, go to the Prince's kitchen. They have all sorts of delicacies there. I'm not a servant in the mansion, so I have no obligation to do that."
“Zhong Muyu, why are you being so aggressive? It’s just breakfast.”
Zhong Muyu sneered: "Indeed, it's just breakfast. There are so many people in the manor, why should I be the one to cook? Besides, I am the princess consort. Is there any reason for a princess consort to serve a concubine's meal?"
Su Zhirou felt wronged, and her eyes filled with tears. She knew that Lu Ziyuan couldn't handle a woman crying.
"I did not intend to be served by the Princess Consort. I simply admire her cooking skills! Since you dislike me so much, I will not stand in your way."
After saying that, Su Zhirou got up and took her leave.
Lu Ziyuan hurriedly chased after her for a few steps, then turned back and looked at Zhong Muyu with great dissatisfaction: "She didn't mean any harm, why did you speak to her with such veiled sarcasm?"
Zhong Muyu shrugged: "Am I not telling the truth? In early spring, after the prince has eaten his fill, he can throw the rest away to feed the dogs."
"Your Highness, this..."
Hesitant in early spring, Lu Ziyuan had only eaten one of the pastries and barely drunk any porridge.
This made Lu Ziyuan even angrier: "Zhong Muyu, how dare you take my food and feed it to the dogs!"
He's still not full, he hasn't had enough to eat!
"You're leaving soon, so you must have finished eating! In the spirit of not wasting food, I'll use this food to reward the dutiful big yellow dog in the manor."
Zhong Muyu couldn't help but sigh inwardly. It seemed that Lu Ziyuan didn't like Su Zhirou that much after all. He was still preoccupied with food and hadn't pursued her yet.
"Whatever!"
Enraged, Lu Ziyuan didn't want to get entangled with her any longer and quickly chased after her.
"Tsk! What a hassle."
My lovely morning was ruined just like that.
Zaochun walked over and said, "Consort Su is clearly here to see the Prince. She is really overestimating herself. In order to win the Prince's favor, she actually asked the Princess to cook for her."
"Yes, but I really have no intention of competing with her for Lu Ziyuan, that scoundrel. Don't try to play the innocent girl in front of me, I'm not falling for that."
Zaochun said indignantly, "Unfortunately, the prince falls for her act."
"Hmm...maybe so."
Zhong Muyu gave an ambiguous answer. Lu Ziyuan was clearly someone with zero experience in dating women, so it was no wonder that he was easily taken advantage of by a naive woman like Su Zhirou.
...
After Su Zhirou ran out, she sat in the pavilion in the garden and cried alone. When she heard that Lu Ziyuan had arrived, she not only did not stop crying, but cried even more sorrowfully.
"Your Highness, I have not disrespected the Princess Consort. Please believe me!"
Lu Ziyuan gently approached her, his face filled with guilt: "Of course I know, it's my fault that you've been wronged."
He originally wanted Su Zhirou to be his primary wife. If it weren't for Zhong Muyu, things wouldn't be in such chaos now.
Su Zhirou wiped away her tears: "If the Princess Consort doesn't like me, then I'll have to suffer every day in this mansion!"
"No, you won't. With me protecting you, Rou'er, you can rest assured. Zhong Muyu wouldn't dare to do anything to you."
The more he said this, the more prejudice Lu Ziyuan developed against Zhong Muyu. Right now, the only thing he could do was to prevent Su Zhirou from being wronged.
Su Zhirou forced a smile: "Of course I believe in Your Highness, and I only ask that Your Highness will always have me in your heart."
"Of course, don't cry. I'm still hungry. Would Rou'er be willing to entertain me?"
"Of course I'm willing, Your Highness, please come with me to Tingzhi Courtyard."
The two stood up and walked hand in hand affectionately to Tingzhi Courtyard.
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