Qian Lan knew the voice didn't belong to anyone she knew. Quickly turning around, Qian Lan finds a beautiful young woman around her age who was with two maids. The woman was even more elegantly dressed than her. She had a unique beauty with her sharp eyes, long limbs and beautiful face. Qian Lan could see that she held herself in high regards from her attitude.
Qian Lan didn't even know how to go about greeting this woman. After staying silent and merely staring at them, one of the maids cuts in front of the woman and lectures Qian Lan.
"Consort Dee just asked you a question! Who are you?!"
"Ah…. I see. Don't mind me. I'm just waiting for his majesty."
The women all looked shocked at how rude Qian Lan was. Meanwhile, Qian Lan brushes them off and continues exploring the garden. The women all quickly left as soon as Qian Lan ignored them. Thinking that they had given up, Qian Lan decides she had seen enough and makes her way to the pavilion.
After ten minutes, the women returned. This time they brought guards with them to punish Qian Lan.
"There! That's the woman! Throw her out after lashing her fifty times!"
"Hah? I dare you to try and touch me. I don't care who you are, but if you insist on creating trouble with me, I'll make you regret it."
Qian Lan was already annoyed that she had to wait for the king. Now a self-proclaimed woman comes along and tries to start problems with her. Qian Lan wasn't having none of it. As one of the guard walks towards her; to grab her. Qian Lan grabs the guards by his arm and throws him to the ground with everything she had. The consort looked shock at how unladylike Qian Lan was.
"How…how barbaric! Just how did your parent's raise you?!"
Just as the other guard was about to charge at Qian Lan. A familiar voice calls for them to stop.
"Stop! What do you think you're doing to my honored guest?!"
Qian Lan looks to her left and sees the king walking by with his guards. The consort quickly cries and blames Qian Lan for harming her.
"Your majesty, you have to seek justice for me! That women threatened to harm me!"
"Oh Jesus. I guess people really were a bunch of liars in this time."
"What? What did you call me?"
"A freaking liar. Stop spouting lies to cover up your poor judgement. I told you earlier I was a guest of the king but you were the one that got offended and started trouble for me."
"Lies! Your majesty! That woman threatened to drown me. Do you not see her brute strengthen? She threw my guards like nothing!"
The king ignores the woman and goes on to check on Qian Lan.
"How are you feeling, Qian Lan?"
"I'm fine! Would've been better if you could control your crazy woman there more."
"Ha Ha! If you don't like her, I can get rid of her."
The consort falls to her knees and crawls to the king to beg for mercy.
"Your majesty, I've been wronged!"
Qian Lan rolls her eyes, and squats down to face the crying woman.
"I'll forgive you if you apologize. I should also tell you I'm just a commoner. You can suck in your pride and apologize or be punished by the king, your choice."
The woman goes silent before glaring at Qian Lan for asking her; a noble to apologize to a commoner in front of so many. Qian Lan refused to back down and continues to stare at the woman who eventually gives in.
"Please…. please forgive this one for offending you honored guest. I allowed my pride to cloud my judgement and have brought you trouble. I will take my leave now and go reflect."
The consort's maids quickly run to help her up. After bidding the king farewell; they soon all disappeared from sight. Once it was quiet, Qian Lan takes a deep breath and seats herself on a stone chair inside the pavilion. The king soon followed and motioned for his guards to stay a distance away.
"So, why did you summon me here? I doubt you wanted to just catch up on life."
"Ha Ha! I just wanted to talk with. I found you rather amusing from our last encounter."
"Oh, can you forget that? It was such a bad first impression."
The king looks at the annoyed Qian Lan and smiles after seeing her so flustered as their eyes meet.
"Qian Lan, you don't speak like other people I know. Even a commoner wouldn't dare to speak like you."
"What…. what're you trying to say?"
"I'm asking about where you came from."
"I don't understand your majesty. I am just a commoner from the country side that was sent by my family to compete in this tournament of yours."
"I had someone do a little check on you. You're the adopted daughter of Hao Fen, the village leader of Guiyang right?"
"I am…. what about it?"
"Who are your real parents?"
"Let's just say they're in a far away place…..far away from here."
Qian Lan knew it wasn't exactly a lie. Her parents were still in the future and probably waiting and looking for her. The king finally stops question Qian Lan after seeing her pained expression.
"Alright, I'll take your word for it."
"Tha…thank you."
"I also heard you can read from the duke?"
"Er…. yes, I can read and write."
Just as the king was going to ask Qian Lan another question; he could hear her stomach growling.
"Growls."
"Oh! Yikes…..Ha Ha…my bad. I was rushed here this morning I didn't have time to eat."
"Where are my manners. I will have the head cook prepare something for you."
When the king mentioned food and a chef, Qian Lan knew the royal kitchen had to have products that weren't sold in the markets. Seeing as she missed cooking and eating food from her time, Qian Lan proposes an idea to the king.
"Your majesty! May I ask for a favor?!"
"Go ahead."
"May I use the royal kitchen?!"
"You want to cook for yourself?"
"Yes! Please!"
"Ha Ha! Very well, I'll even be your escort there."
The king gestures for Qian Lan to follow him as they made their way out of the garden. As they continued to talk, Qian Lan goes on to tell the king about her life with her adopted parents and siblings. After fifteen minutes, they all finally arrived at the kitchen. The head cook who was prepping ingredients was shocked to see the king coming without notice. He quickly stops chopping his vegetables and runs to greet his king.
"You…your majesty! What brings you here?"
"My guest would like to use the kitchen for a bit. Do you mind?"
"Not at all! Please!"
"Good, you may leave for now. When we're finished, I will have someone come fetch you."
The head cook quickly motions for all his helpers to follow him out of the kitchen. Qian Lan breaks into a smile as she sees the endless amount of food and ingredients in the room. Forgetting where she was, Qian Lan goes on to open the wooden cabinets and looks for anything she could use. The king couldn't help but find Qian Lan amusing as she looked like she had just discovered a treasure box.
"Finding what you need?"
"Yes! There's so much I don't know where to begin!"
"What do you plan on making?"
"I want something spicy…and minced pork with tofu sounds good. They even have rice here!"
"Well, I'll have whatever you're having."
"What? You're going to watch me cook and make me cook for you?"
"I'm letting you use my things, aren't I?"
"Fine, but you can't complain about it. And it's going to be spicy so I hope you know what you're getting yourself into."
Qian Lan knew what she wanted now. Quickly grabbing the tofu that was immersed in water she slices the tofu into cube shapes and moves on to grab the minced pork. Quickly stir frying the meat with garlic, she goes onto look at the containers of spices.
"Great! They have peppercorn and dried peppers!"
Qian Lan grabs her needed spices and adds in a pinch of salt. Quickly chopping up some green onions she throws them all into the large wok as she plates the rice onto two plates. Once her dish was finished, she uses her large ladle to scoop up the meat and tofu.
"Here you go!"
Qian Lan places a plate of food in front of the king who was sitting and waiting on a small table. Unlike anything he's seen before, he watches as Qian Lan stuffed her face.
"What is this dish called?"
"Mapo tofu!"
The king scoops up a fair amount of the dish along with rice and chews on it. To his surprise, it was delicious and unlike anything he had ever eaten.
"How did you come up with this dish?"
"Uh…...I can't say. Let's just say I threw things together and It turned out good."
The two chatted the hours away as they enjoyed their food. Once their lunch was done, Qian Lan found herself more relaxed and talking to the king like he was a close friend. Hours go by and with the sun not far from setting, Qian Lan figured it was time for her to head back to the duke.
"Pardon me for being rude, your majesty. But I believe it's getting late."
"You're right. I've kept you too long. Let me escort you to your carriage."
"Oh! Thank you!"
After walking for another ten minutes, Qian Lan could now see her carriage.
"This is far enough I believe. Until next time your majesty."
Just as Qian Lan turned to leave, the king grabs hold of her left arm and catches her off guard.
"Will you come cook for me again next time?"
"Sure, if you don't send a royal decree next time."
"Ha Ha! I will keep that in mind."