However, this was her own choice, so Chu Lian wasn't going to blame her.

Chu Lian's expression didn't reveal any trace of her inner thoughts. She smiled sweetly and said, "Alright, then you'll stay and take care of Old Duke Zheng. Since you're my handmaid, don't disgrace my name. Don't be stingy with the secret recipes you've learned from me and use them generously for Old Duke Zheng's meals. As for the rest of the arrangements, leave it to me and Grandmother."

Mingyan hadn't expected Chu Lian to have agreed so quickly; her sudden happiness showed on her face. She secretly glanced at Chu Lian before looking carefully at Matriarch He. It was only after observing their expressions that Mingyan finally relaxed.

She began to look forward to her new life in the Zheng Estate.

In the end, as smart as Mingyan was, she was only a young maidservant who hadn't seen much of the world. As ambitious as she might be, there was a limit to her vision.

Since they had already finished their discussion and there wasn't any need for the other ideas she had prepared, Chu Lian instructed Mingyan on a few other things before helping Matriarch He out of the room.

Old Duchess Zheng hadn't thought that a simple handmaid serving Chu Lian could know so many secret recipes. She was full of shock and surprise, as well as disbelief. A single secret recipe was already rare enough. Even if Chu Lian could cook well, she couldn't possibly be so generous as to teach all of her recipes to her handmaids!

Taking in their disbelief, Chu Lian smiled and asked someone to prepare some ingredients. She then told Mingyan to show off her skills for the old duchess.

Mingyan prepared some dragon beard noodles. Rolling out the dough and cooking the noodles were not skills that normal people would know.

It wasn't until the finished dish was placed before Old Duchess Zheng that she finally believed that Chu Lian's handmaid was actually a skilled cook.

Since she had proven her skill, Mingyan was left behind to take care of Old Duke Zheng's meals. Old Duchess Zheng also knew that this was Matriarch He's largest concession to her request, so she personally escorted Matriarch He and Chu Lian all the way to the outer court together with her daughter-in-law.

Just as they were preparing to board their carriage, Heir Zheng rushed over.

Heir Zheng was young, and good at flattery. The moment he arrived, he greeted Matriarch He and thanked Chu Lian for the feast the other day. Finally, he asked about the opening of Guilin Restaurant.

Chu Lian was a little surprised. "Heir Zheng, how did you know that I'm about to open up a restaurant?"

Heir Zheng grinned. "I heard Brother He talking about it a few days ago. When the time comes, please don't forget to send me an invite, Honoured Lady Jinyi!"

"Of course."

So that was what had happened. Chu Lian smiled. Heir Zheng was so straightforward that it was hard to be annoyed by him.

After exchanging some pleasantries, Chu Lian followed Matriarch He back to the Jing'an Estate.

After he watched House Jing'an's carriage leaving the Zheng estate, Heir Zheng turned to his grandmother and mother curiously. "I heard that Honoured Lady Jinyi left her handmaid behind in our estate. What happened?"

When Duchess Zheng heard his question, she glared at him. "You keep playing around and skiving off on your work just to pry into small matters like this? Why do you want to know all these things?"

Heir Zheng had always had a sweet tongue around others, especially senior members like his mother and grandmother.

He hugged Duchess Zheng's arm. "Mother, like you said, it's just a small matter. Since it's something small, just tell me~ Then I won't have to go and ask other people."

Duchess Zheng only had one son, so she normally pampered him a lot. She looked at her son helplessly before poking him in the forehead. "The handmaid that Honoured Lady Jinyi left behind is good at cooking. She's here to take care of your grandfather, so don't go around making trouble for her."

Heir Zheng was surprised by this answer. "Good at cooking? Then how is she compared to Honoured Lady Jinyi?"

Old Duchess Zheng glared at her grandson. "How could she be compared to Honoured Lady Jinyi? She was taught by the Honoured Lady herself. Didn't you say that you've tasted the Honoured Lady's skills? If you try that handmaid's cooking in the future, then you'll know for yourself."

When Heir Zheng heard this, he couldn’t help but grow excited. With the meal he’d had back at the Jing’an Estate, it was no surprise that he had some high expectations.

It was already late afternoon by the time Matriarch He and Chu Lian finally returned to the Jing'an Estate.

Chu Lian escorted Matriarch He back to Qingxi Hall first. Right before she left, Matriarch He sent all the servants out of the room. She held Chu Lian's hand and spoke intimately with her.

"You silly child. How could you send your handmaid off just like that? Now there's one less person serving you. How about having Grandmother's Muxiang serve you?"

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