Chapter 73: Your Prince Only Paid for Two Dishes

If she didn't mistake, this box should be Qinan inlaid with gold.

How much gold is inlaid no longer matters; compared with Qinan wood, that gold is merely an appetizer.

A box this large, if made of gold, would be incalculable; whatever can be stored in it certainly isn't an ordinary treasure. Now that's real wealth.

Seeing her glittering eyes, Mo Junyan's lips twitched slightly—she's truly a little treasure‑hunter.

"If Miss Chi doesn't want to…" he said while dragging the box backward.

Chi Nan Yi objected, her eyes sharp and hands swift, and she rushed over to hold the box.

Her body, propelled by inertia, lunged forward briefly; soft strands of hair brushed Mo Junyan's face, bringing a burst of fragrance to his nostrils, and Mo Junyan was momentarily dazed.

The eyes beneath the mask darkened, and the hand hanging under the table clenched tighter.

"Your Highness, the servant girl hasn't refused; why are you taking the box back?" Chi Nan Yi didn't notice Mo Junyan's gaze shift, focusing only on securing the box: "You only said what to eat; the servant girl will go prepare it for you now."

"Anything is fine; just make two of your signature dishes, that's enough."

Two dishes will suffice?

Prince Li is surprisingly easy‑going.

"The servant girl will go now."

"Yun Shui." Mo Junyan said, and Yun Shui pushed the door open before Chi Nan Yi could even straighten her posture.

Yun Shui instinctively halted, his eyes bulging.

He thought to himself, "Not good!"

"What are Miss Chi and the master doing?"

He had already imagined the posture in which he would hit the ground.

"Take her to the kitchen."

"Yes—uh? Kitchen?"

Chi Nan Yi glanced at the box with lingering reluctance, urging, "Brother Yun, hurry and take me to the kitchen."

"Brother Yun..."

Upon hearing those three words, Yun Shui reflexively felt an uncontrollable pain in his chest.

Seeing Chi Nan Yi's anxious expression, Mo Junyan's smile could no longer be concealed.

They arrived at the small kitchen, where the cook, preparing the meal, waved his knife, carving decorative patterns.

Chi Nan Yi objected, shaking her head.

Does Prince Li's cuisine have to be this refined?

Those unaware would think they're preparing a state banquet.

When Yun Shui entered, the cook halted his movements and said, "Yun Wei."

"You don't need to prepare today's meal," he said, stepping aside, and Chi Nan Yi's figure appeared from behind him.

"Let this girl handle it."

"Girl?"

"Let a girl do it?"

He surveyed Chi Nan Yi from head to toe, suspicion flashing in his eyes.

"A girl, fit to cook for the Prince?"

But since Yun Wei said so, it must be the Prince's intention.

He sheathed his knife and handed the kitchen over to Chi Nan Yi.

"Miss Chi, today's meal for the Prince is entrusted to you."

"I only prepare the noon meal," Chi Nan Yi said with a smile. "If you add the evening meal, it won't be at this price."

Chi Nan Yi's smile was radiant; Yun Shui, seeing it, felt his own face flush slightly.

Fortunately, he is somewhat dark‑skinned.

He brushed his nose, let out two low coughs, nodded absentmindedly, and walked out with the cook.

"Yun Wei, who is that girl!" the cook called from outside the kitchen, his eyes constantly scanning inward: "Is the Prince dissatisfied with my skill?"

"No, just want to try new techniques."

"What remarkable dish could a girl possibly make? Look at her tiny arms and legs; she probably can't even wield a knife."

Chi Nan Yi busied herself in the kitchen for half an hour. When she opened the kitchen door, fragrant aromas surged out, and Yun Shui and the cook, who had been waiting in the courtyard, both involuntarily swallowed.

Chi Nan Yi carried a tray bearing two dishes and a bowl of rice.

"Just… just two dishes?" Yun Shui couldn't help reminding, "Miss Chi, isn't this a bit too plain and meager? Usually the Prince enjoys six dishes and a soup at the residence; today only two dishes… the Prince might be angry."

"There certainly won't be six dishes and a soup; your Prince only paid for the silver of two dishes."

Yun Shui's mouth twitched a few times at the words.

Their Prince wouldn't be that cheap.

"Miss Chi, did you keep a sample of the two dishes?"

"Sample?"

"Before serving the Prince, we servants always taste the dishes to confirm they're non‑poisonous before presenting them to him."

"No need for such hassle; if it's poisoned, I'll antidote it," Chi Nan Yi handed the tray to Yun Shui. "Hurry and bring it over!"

She is still waiting to see the treasure inside the box!

When they reached the study, Mo Junyan set the book down and said lightly, "If you don't bring it in now, This Prince will think you burned the kitchen down."

"Couldn't prepare the ingredients ahead of time, so there's a slight delay," Chi Nan Yi's eyes kept drifting to the box; anyone not blind could see her intention.

Mo Junyan's lips twitched, pretending not to have seen, he looked at the two dishes on the table and, smiling, asked, "What are they called?"

"Fu Ling yam powder‑steamed meat, and the other is golden‑broth yam soup. Although the Prince's health has recovered, his spleen and stomach are cold, and he is usually particular about his diet. Yam is best for strengthening the spleen and stomach; medicinal cuisine is not an instant remedy—only through years of conditioning can the body improve."

That said, the medicinal meal had Spirit Spring Water added to it; after eating it, while not exactly instantaneous, the effect was nearly so.

Mo Junyan nodded: "Would you like to dine together?"

As his words fell, Yun Shan and Yun Shui in the study both froze.

Dine together?

The Prince actually wanted to dine with Miss Chi?

This... had they not been hearing things?

"No need, I am not hungry." How could she not be hungry? She just wanted to grab the treasure and leave quickly.

Yun Shan and Yun Shui silently withdrew their gazes, standing to one side with lowered heads.

Being refused by a young lady — this was likely the first time in their Prince's life.

Having witnessed this scene, it was best for them not to speak up at this moment.

The two even kept their breathing as quiet as possible.

Mo Junyan was not annoyed at being refused. He picked up a spoon and ladled a spoonful of golden broth yam soup — fragrant, savory, and rich — simply irresistible, his body seeming to be wrapped in a wave of warmth, exceedingly comfortable.

"Miss Chi's culinary skill is unexpectedly good."

"The Prince flatters me." She pressed her thin lips together slightly and said softly: "Prince, it is getting late. I wonder about that box..."

Mo Junyan opened the box and took out a delicate, small jade stone from inside: "This is for you."

Just this?

Chi Nan Yi looked at that seal, her smile stiffening at the corners of her lips.

A broken stone had made her busy herself in the kitchen for a full half-hour?

"This jade is thousand-year warm jade; it is warm to the touch, and wearing it on the body is greatly beneficial to one's health."

Warm jade or whatever — Chi Nan Yi looked at this thousand-year warm jade, her heart ice-cold.

As the saying goes: a man's mouth, a deceiving ghost — truly not a word of it is wrong!

Thousand-year warm jade — where was there any warm jade at all?

It was merely warmed by being worn against someone's body, and due to the special nature of jade's texture, it did not cool down so quickly.

Besides, what jade had not taken thousands or tens of thousands of years to form?

If she had known Prince Li would fob her off with something like this, she would never have served him!