Alexander Hayes didn't respond, his gaze fixed intently on the dishes before him. Just as Mia Qian nervously tried to guess his thoughts, a lively female voice suddenly rang out: "Oh my, so His Majesty is here to sample some delicious food!"
A flash of anger erupted in Mia Qian's eyes. She turned and saw Princess Jade Hayes, exquisitely dressed, entering gracefully from the courtyard gate, smiling charmingly at Alexander Hayes.
Alexander Hayes immediately stood up, smiling warmly as he welcomed her, taking Princess Jade Hayes's hand. "Queen, what brings you here? Are you finished with your work?"
Princess Jade Hayes rubbed her neck and laughed, "With so much to do, when is anything ever truly finished? I just stepped out for a breather because I was tired."
With Princess Jade Hayes arriving, Mia Qian had no choice but to stand and give up her seat. Alexander Hayes helped Princess Jade Hayes sit down, then took his own seat.
Princess Jade Hayes glanced down at the spread of dishes on the table and instantly understood.
So that's why Mia Qian has been cooped up in the courtyard for days—she's been learning how to cook.
Tsk tsk, to win a man's heart, you must first win his stomach?
Princess Jade Hayes turned to look at Mia Qian and saw the unwillingness in her eyes, as if she greatly disliked Princess Jade for disrupting her plans.
Yet Mia Qian put on a gentle and magnanimous front, saying, "Your Majesty, I heard His Majesty is always busy and works so hard. Since the cuisine here in Qin is different from the capital, I worried that His Majesty might not be used to it. So I specially invited a famous chef from the capital to teach me, and after much practice, I hope these dishes will bring His Majesty some happiness."
"Tsk tsk, Miss Mia Qian really is attentive to every detail," Princess Jade Hayes remarked, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Mia Qian. Then she picked up her chopsticks and said, "Since these are dishes you've just learned, I'll give them a try. Miss Mia Qian, you don't mind if I offer a few suggestions, do you?"
In her heart, Mia Qian cursed Princess Jade Hayes's ancestors up and down, thinking, "Who does this country bumpkin think she is, putting on airs? She probably hasn't had a decent meal in her life, and now she wants to critique gourmet food? How many dishes has she even tasted?"
But on the surface, Mia Qian put on a docile expression and said, "It's an honor for me to have the Queen taste my dishes."
Princess Jade Hayes picked up her chopsticks and began tasting each dish one by one, giving her verdict after every bite:
"This one's too sour. Way too much vinegar."
"What kind of spice did you use here? The flavor is so weird."
"This won't do—the chopping's off, so the flavor didn't soak in."
Princess Jade Hayes kept critiquing each dish, and with every word, Mia Qian's face grew darker. If not for the Queen's status, Mia Qian would have flipped the table right then and there.
Finally, Princess Jade Hayes set down her chopsticks and shook her head. "Miss Mia Qian, it seems your cooking skills are still lacking—they're really far off the mark."
Mia Qian's anger was like a volcano ready to erupt, smoke practically pouring out of her ears. She forced herself to stay graceful and gentle, but couldn't help putting a little sarcasm in her words: "Your Majesty grew up in the countryside, used to plain food. I suppose these famous dishes are just too much for your palate. After all, I learned these recipes from renowned chefs in the Capital—naturally, they're quite different from what you're used to!"
"Tsk tsk... Renowned chefs? I bet they're just con artists teaching nonsense. How could food like this ever be worthy of the King?" Princess Jade Hayes was still looking down her nose at Mia Qian. "Miss Mia Qian, don't tell me you got swindled by some traveling charlatan pretending to be a master chef? Ah, such is the life of a sheltered heiress—so naive about the wickedness of the world. Someone tells you they're famous, and you believe it. How much did you pay in tuition? You'd better hurry and get your money back!"