Auntie Ning might not be skilled at cooking meals, but she was excellent at making soups, a skill all ladies from prestigious families needed to master. After waiting for two days without finding an opportunity, she confirmed that Marquis Qingyun wouldn't be going out tonight. She personally made some soup, had the cook prepare a few dishes, and had the servants carry them to Marquis Qingyun's study.
Even the hardest steel can be bent by gentle hands. She didn't believe that after so many years of being a widower, he could resist her well-prepared display of tender care.
She wasn't interested in money—she had plenty. She didn't care if Marquis Qingyun promoted Ning Zheng. As long as he became Ning Zheng's stepfather, how could Ning Zheng not have a bright future?
What she cared about was the title of Marquis Qingyun's wife!
When her cousin secured this marriage, she became the envy of all their relatives. Marrying into the noble house of Marquis Qingyun, whose family had been granted a hereditary title for their founding contributions, was a great blessing. She had envied her cousin privately many times.
Later, even fate helped her. First, Ning Zheng's father passed away, and then her cousin died before they reached the capital. So when she learned that three-year-old Grace urgently needed care, she decided to stay.
Caring for a child was no easy task, especially while ensuring that she wouldn't be influenced by others in the Zhao family. Over the years, she had put in a lot of effort for Grace, always being cautious and warding off countless matchmakers trying to propose marriages for Marquis Qingyun. Thanks to her efforts, he had remained pure and clean, but in the past two years, he suddenly wanted to remarry!
Not to mention, Grace, the ungrateful child, also suggested she leave. Who could tolerate that?
Luckily, the Empress Dowager was wise. Widows remarrying had long ceased to be a novelty. Due to her scheming, people had long viewed her as the soon-to-be Lady of Marquis Qingyun.
In the past, she could maintain a facade of modesty and virtue, but now was the critical moment to act. If not now, then when?
As long as he could see her efforts and agree to give her a title, she wouldn't ask for anything else.
For the past two days, Marquis Qingyun had been busy with the issue regarding the Imperial Medical Bureau. Although it wasn't directly related to him as a commander of the Central Military Command, he was the most prominent supporter of the Emperor among the veteran ministers, even more than Grand Academician Zhang Yu, who had not openly expressed his stance. Naturally, he had to put in more effort.
Finally making some progress after two days, he planned to visit the clinic to find the female doctor, Chen, the next day.
As he was organizing his manuscripts, his servant entered. "My Lord... Auntie Ning is here."
Marquis Qingyun looked up to see Auntie Ning stepping in, followed by two servants carrying food boxes.
"Brother-in-law."
Marquis Qingyun frowned. "Do you need something?"
Auntie Ning replied softly, "I saw you haven't eaten yet, so I specially prepared some dishes for you."
With that, she instructed the servants to open the food boxes.
Just as Marquis Qingyun was about to refuse, Grace's voice came from outside, followed by her rushing in like a whirlwind. She loudly announced, "Father, I brought you some food! Come and eat while it's hot!
"Oh, Auntie Ning is here too? Have you eaten? Since your food box is still here, you must not have eaten yet. You should go back to your room to eat! Xiaojv, Xiaolan, quickly set the table!"
The maids quickly occupied the round table and began placing the dishes. Hua Xiangrong, Grace's handmaiden, wasn't idle either. She swiftly placed each dish on the table.
Their speed left the servants holding Auntie Ning's dishes bewildered.
"Did you cook this?" Marquis Qingyun's eyes involuntarily fell on the dishes under the glass covers. He walked over and lifted one cover. A rich aroma filled the room, whetting his appetite.
"What is this?"
"I made pork chops."
Marquis Qingyun looked at her in shock, then quickly uncovered a second dish. The sight of tofu cubes in a fragrant sauce showed a skilled cooking technique!
The third dish was noodles in a reddish sauce, garnished with fresh tomato slices and cilantro leaves, with a hint of sesame oil. And the fourth, the fifth...
Marquis Qingyun felt a pang of hunger. "You made this?"
Grace uncovered the remaining dishes. "I made them all. Father, try them!"
Of course, he had to try them. After all, she had cooked for the Empress Dowager before!
As she finally found an opportunity to come in, Auntie Ning couldn't help but approach the table.
Compared to the dull-colored dishes the servants were holding, the vibrant, appetizing dishes on the table were clearly superior.
She clenched her fists. "How could you have made this? This is impossible! Su'er, you're lying!"
Grace glanced at her. "How interesting. You bring a bunch of dishes cooked by others and claim they're your own, and now you're accusing me of lying!"
She pouted. "Auntie, why are you so fierce? What did I do wrong? Isn't it right for a daughter to cook for her father?"
Auntie Ning was stunned and looked at Marquis Qingyun, who was staring at her. She softened her tone. "I was just surprised, not being fierce. Be good."
Grace suddenly exclaimed, "Auntie, why are you in Father's room at this hour? For so many years, Father has never allowed women from the outside to be alone in his room!"
Auntie Ning blushed and looked at the food box. "What are you shouting about? I just came to bring food, fearing he might forget to eat."
"How could you come personally for such a task? Where are the maids? The servants? Why didn't they serve? All the lazy ones should be dragged out and punished!"
The people standing outside saw that Marquis Qingyun hadn't spoken, so they rushed in. "Miss Grace, forgive us! Auntie Ning said it was the Marquis' order, so we dared not stop her!"
Grace turned to Marquis Qingyun. "So it was Father's order! No wonder!"
By this time, Marquis Qingyun had already taken a bite of the tofu. After swallowing, he coldly said, "I gave no such order and never would! Everyone will receive five lashes!"
Seeing the servants rush out, Auntie Ning turned to Marquis Qingyun. "Brother-in-law!"
"You came at the right time. Have you considered the matter I asked you to think about?" His tone was serious, but his gaze was fixed on the table.
It was dinner time, and since the dishes were already here, Marquis Qingyun wasn't going to refuse. Besides, the sight of the dishes was already making him hungrier.
The food on the table looked as if it had been painted with the finest colors, making him even more hungry. But appearances could be deceiving, and he knew that only tasting would reveal the truth.
Yet, after tasting the tofu, he found he couldn't stop! How did he not know his daughter could cook so well?