Chapter 7: The Villain Files a Complaint First

To a cook, a request like "wanting to eat" was far too simple.

Bao Mianmian circled the area once; those people's heads were practically touching their knees.

It was obvious they weren't taking sides; no one wanted to cause trouble.

She checked the stove; some embers were still left in the hearth.

The iron pot had been scrubbed clean, with a small amount of water left inside to prevent it from burning.

Bao Mianmian took the iron ladle in her hand, testing its weight.

From outside came Da Guo's complaining voice.

"Your Highness, this woman does not follow the rules of the manor."

What woman? She was in her prime, a lovely young lady.

"Look, just look! I wouldn't let her into the kitchen, and she kicked me with her foot!"

Bao Mianmian turned around to look for the young master's silhouette.

Yuan Bai was sitting quietly in a corner, without a word.

She immediately felt relieved. Let the villain complain first; she wasn't afraid.

In any case, she hadn't heard the Prince's voice for a long while.

"Where is she?" Yuan Wei's voice drifted in.

"She's inside, she's right inside!"

Da Guo could no longer care about the pain; the Prince had arrived at a timely moment, and he couldn't let himself be kicked for nothing.

He had to find a way to drive that little wench out.

Bao Mianmian raised her left hand and poured out the hot water from the iron pot.

When Yuan Wei entered, he saw a girl with slender arms and legs holding a large iron pot upside down.

She had quite a bit of strength.

Without turning around, Bao Mianmian knew he was looking at her.

Your Highness, there is no such thing as a cook with little strength in this world.

Da Guo wanted to add a few more words, but no matter how much he spoke until his mouth was dry, the Prince didn't react at all.

Yuan Wei's gaze had already quickly captured Yuan Bai.

The child looked as if he were waiting for a delicious feast, his black-and-white eyes blinking not once.

Yuan Wei had searched all the way here because he couldn't find his brother in the room.

Anyway, there were only a few places Yuan Bai could go.

As a result, he found Da Guo rolling around on the floor.

That wailing, that agony—anyone who didn't know better would think an assassin had entered the Prince's manor and delivered a fatal blow.

Before he could even walk up to him, Da Guo miraculously stood up.

His standing posture was truly unsightly, looking exactly like a duck.

Yuan Wei patiently listened to him finish his complaint, which was essentially saying that Da Guo had been hit by that Bao Mianmian.

Truly, no backbone.

If Da Guo could hear the Prince's inner thoughts, two lines of tears would have smeared his entire face.

Unfortunately, he was too busy badmouthing Bao Mianmian.

"Your Highness, what if she poisons the young master..."

"Shut up!"

Bao Mianmian and Yuan Wei scolded simultaneously, and then fell silent simultaneously.

The other people in the kitchen had shocked faces. Was this the legendary "tacit understanding"?

Bao Mianmian knew who was the greatest and who had the final say in the Prince's manor.

Therefore, she offered a defense for herself.

"Your Highness, the young master said he wanted to eat."

With a wave of Yuan Wei's hand, the kitchen became completely spacious.

Five, six, seven, eight people all vanished in a flash.

Even if Da Guo was thick-skinned, he knew he couldn't drive Bao Mianmian away today.

Limping to the kitchen entrance, he secretly spat on the ground.

It was so quiet. Bao Mianmian tilted her head and thought: why did the Prince do that?

"Your Highness, my cooking isn't a secret recipe; you don't need to drive them away."

That was the only reason she could think of.

Yuan Wei sneered. A cook so prone to self-importance was truly rare.

Just as he was about to open his mouth to mock her, Bao Mianmian moved first.

The iron pot was heated, and a small spoonful of soybean oil was added.

As it swirled around the bottom of the pot, the aroma emerged.

Bao Mianmian grabbed a handful of washed green onions, chopped them into fine bits, and tossed them in while the oil was hot.

She cracked three eggs with one hand, and her chopsticks moved so fast they almost flew.

Yuan Bai couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.

The egg liquid fell from a height, and the spatula flipped continuously.

In an instant, the aroma of oil, green onions, and eggs merged together.

Yuan Wei stopped talking.

Bao Mianmian scooped the cold rice into the pot; the flames flared up, staining the rim of the iron pot with color.

Her right hand stirred while her left hand tossed the pot, her movements as smooth and beautiful as flowing water.

Once the golden egg fried rice was out of the pot, she started another small pot and made an egg skin of even thickness.

"It's ready, young master, time to eat."

On a white porcelain plate sat a plump, semi-circular egg dumpling.

Yuan Bai's eyes lit up.

"Come, hold your chopsticks."

Bao Mianmian used her peripheral vision to glance at Yuan Wei with pride.

Fine, the Prince's eyes only have his brother.

This brother-con is basically beyond saving.

"Brother, time to eat."

Yuan Bai mumbled immediately, using the tip of his chopsticks to pierce the egg skin, letting an even richer aroma hit his face.

"Actually, it's more satisfying to eat with a spoon."

Bao Mianmian clasped her hands. The young master was indeed a young master; his eating manners were very good.

Under the four gazes of the two adults, Yuan Bai ate the entire egg-wrapped rice until not a single grain remained.

"Your Highness, I was just acting in self-defense; I wasn't the one who started it."

Bao Mianmian seized the right moment to quickly explain.

Clearly, a hint of a smile could be seen at the corner of Yuan Wei's mouth.

But as soon as he heard her words, the smile dropped.

"If I hadn't fought back, I would have been at a disadvantage."

"You certainly dare to use harsh moves," Yuan Wei said expressionlessly.

Da Guo's miserable state was definitely not faked.

As for who actually started it, with so many witnesses, it would be easy for him to find out.

However, for a young girl to dare use such a tactic...

She was quite wild.

Seeing that her explanation was ineffective, Bao Mianmian looked at Yuan Bai as if seeking help.

*You saw everything more clearly than anyone else, why don't you testify?*

Yuan Bai lowered his head to pat his full stomach, stood up, and without giving anyone a second glance, walked straight out.

He left, he left...

Bao Mianmian watched him go, not daring to call out.

Yuan Wei looked at her, seeing her face full of indignation.

What, do you want to lay hands on Xiao Bai too?

"Your Highness, the young master has finished eating."

Bao Mianmian pointed at the empty plate.

"The arrangements for tomorrow morning cannot change; I will come personally."

Leaving these words, Yuan Wei also turned and left.

He left, he left...

Watching the backs of the two brothers, Bao Mianmian ground her back teeth with a creak.

No, it's not just ten taels of silver in wages!

She, she would just... she would just...

Endure it!

The world is big, but silver is bigger.

If it weren't for the chance to enter the Prince's manor, she wouldn't even be able to change her old clothes.

Once she swallowed her grievances and anger bit by bit and fully digested them...

She turned around, only to find everyone who had just run out crowding the doorway, staring at her.

The scene was quite strange: five, six, seven, eight pairs of eyes all staring at her alone.

"What are you looking at? We'll be colleagues in the future."

No one answered her; they all stared at her with a uniform look of deep sympathy.

Bao Mianmian instantly became alert.

Someone was going to play tricks on her!

Making up a plan in her heart, she grabbed a few items and held them tightly in her arms.

Looking at those people again: *If you dare come over to snatch them, I will definitely scream loud enough for the whole manor to hear.*

To her surprise, when those people saw her walking toward them, they directly made way.

She walked out, then turned her head back to look.

Da Guo had also returned, looking at her with a calculating gaze.

He would get revenge on her, definitely.

Bao Mianmian hugged the things in her arms even tighter, retreating step by step, and ran away as fast as she could.

"What did she just steal!"

"It looked like half a bag of beans."

"Useless."