Lily Evans didn’t hold back—she went straight for the jugular! Mia Qian’s face turned so red it looked ready to burst into flames.
Lily Evans said it outright: Mia Qian was duped, dumber than a pig, and fell for the oldest trick in the book.
Right in front of Alexander Hayes, Mia Qian couldn’t stand it. She immediately retorted, “Your Majesty the Queen, that chef is a famous master from the Capital—he was the head chef at the most celebrated restaurant, Eight Treasures Bistro! Your Majesty lived in the Capital for a while, surely you’ve heard of Eight Treasures Bistro?”
“Eight Treasures Bistro?” Lily Evans waved her hand with a laugh. “Miss Mia, you hired the head chef from Eight Treasures Bistro as your mentor? Well, I can tell you for sure—you’ve been totally scammed. You’d better go get your tuition back. These dishes you made are just…
Lily Evans shook her head, looking at the table full of food with utter disdain. “It’s awful. Better not let His Majesty eat it.”
Mia Qian was about to lose her mind from anger. She rushed to defend herself: “Your Majesty the Queen, how could my dishes be awful?! I really did learn from the famous chef at Eight Treasures Bistro. He praised my skills, said I mastered ninety percent of his techniques! Why do you belittle me so much? Is it because your cooking is even better than his?”
Lily Evans snorted, “When I was cooking, you were still at home playing with dolls. If I say your food is bad, then it’s bad.”
“I…” Mia Qian stomped her foot. “Then I’ll bring that master chef here and let Your Majesty talk to him directly! He can tell you exactly where I went wrong!”
Mia Qian was determined to prove herself. She dashed to the kitchen, grabbed the chef, and dragged him over, grumbling along the way, “Master Chef, my skills are being trashed here—please, you have to back me up!”
The chef patted his chest confidently. “Don’t worry, Miss Mia. I’m the best in the Capital—my cooking is legendary! Even the Emperor can’t stop praising my dishes. I’d like to see who dares to criticize my cuisine!”
With his assurance, Mia Qian felt triumphant. She was counting on her high-priced chef to thoroughly embarrass Lily Evans!
Mia Qian dragged the master chef into the courtyard, pointed at him, and said to Lily Evans, “Your Majesty, look! This is the famous chef from the Capital I hired with a hefty fee—the head chef of Eight Treasures Bistro!”
Lily Evans glanced over, raised an eyebrow, and clicked her tongue. “Well, well, since when did Eight Treasures Bistro have a head chef like you?”
The master chef had been feeling proud on the way over, but when he saw Lily Evans sitting at the table, his face turned ghostly pale. He started trembling all over, his legs went weak, and his eyes stared blankly ahead.
Mia Qian didn’t notice the chef’s sudden change. She boasted, “Your Majesty, he’s the real deal—a genuine master chef from the Capital! If you don’t believe me, just ask him yourself.”
Just as Mia Qian finished speaking, Lily Evans shot him a look. The so-called head chef of Eight Treasures Bistro’s legs buckled, and with a thud, he dropped to his knees before Lily Evans, his face drained of all color.
Mia Qian was completely stunned. She yanked the chef a few times, exclaiming, “What’s wrong with you? Get up and testify for me! Her Majesty says I’ve been cheated—prove you’re the real head chef and not a fraud! Get up and say something!”