Exposing Your True Colors

Princess Mingyu simply could not resist the temptation of delicious food and, as if possessed, sneaked into Su Li's kitchen.

In the kitchen, Su Li was expertly cooking, skillful in her craft. Whatever was in the pot smelled so good it made one swallow hard.

Princess Mingyu hadn't eaten well these past few days. Seeing the delicious food now, her eyes turned green with envy. She immediately put on her princess airs and said, "I, the princess, order you to send the food you made to my room! Did you hear me?"

Su Li flipped the wok calmly while giving Princess Mingyu a sidelong glance: "Why should I make food for you?"

"Because I am a princess of the Kingdom of Chu!" Princess Mingyu said righteously.

"So what if you're a Chu princess? I'm a citizen of the Great Jin Dynasty. Your Chu nobles can put on airs in front of your own people, but don't act high and mighty in front of us Jin citizens," Su Li scoffed disdainfully. "If you don't like it, go back to Chu. If you insist on staying here, freeloading, where's your dignity as a Chu princess?"

"How dare you insult me!" Princess Mingyu was so angry her nose twisted. She pointed at Su Li.

"Oh, I was just asking where your dignity is, just a question, not an insult!" Su Li rolled her eyes at her.

"Hmph! You sharp-tongued village girl, you only pretend to be innocent and pure in front of General Xiao. Behind his back, you insult me. Hmph, you only dare because General Xiao is not here. When I expose your gentle facade and reveal your true nature, General Xiao will see you as a venomous woman and despise you!" Princess Mingyu was nearly driven mad with anger, pointing at Su Li's nose: "You act in front of General Xiao, but one day I'll expose you right in front of him!"

"What am I pretending? I've always been the same inside and out, haven't I, husband?" Su Li mocked, lowering her head to glance.

From beside Su Li, someone stood up—it was Xiao Zetian holding a fire poker.

"Husband, this Chu princess says I like to pretend in front of you and plans to expose my false face," Su Li said, leaning on the stove with a spatula, leisurely watching the dumbfounded Princess Mingyu. "General Xiao just helped me with the fire; he heard everything. If you want to expose something, go ahead!"

Princess Mingyu was stunned when she saw Xiao Zetian standing up beside the stove.

"General Xiao, you, why are you here... and why are you holding a fire poker?" Princess Mingyu widened her eyes, as if she had seen a ghost.

Xiao Zetian looked at Princess Mingyu with impatience: "Princess, didn't you see that I was helping my wife with the fire and cooking? Also, no need for you to bother exposing any true face—General Xiao likes every side of A'li, no disgust at all. But Princess, you are born of noble blood and should speak carefully. How can you be so rude, like a shrew, making people dislike you?"

Princess Mingyu failed to expose Su Li's true nature and instead lost her own composed and dignified facade. She was so embarrassed she wished to disappear. She even forgot her hunger, her mind filled with Xiao Zetian's words: "like a shrew, making people dislike you."

Unable to bear the humiliation, Princess Mingyu covered her face and sobbed as she ran back to her room, collapsing onto her bed and crying loudly: "What kind of spell did that wretched Su Li cast on General Xiao? He, a fierce war god general, is actually helping that wretch with fire and cooking!! I refuse to accept this! General Xiao belongs to me! Such a good man, I will never let go!"