"You're being too modest, Lady Hou! Oh, Lady Hou, with such a sweet and endearing personality, it's no wonder Lord Dingyuan dotes on you so much!"
The other lady said with a beaming smile on her face, squeezing Bai Zheng's hand even tighter.
Bai Zheng lowered her eyes and stared at her hands held tightly by the other woman. Her delicate eyebrows knitted slightly as she listened to the lady continue.
"Come to think of it, the dessert shop in Anren Alley with booming business was opened by Lady Hou, wasn't it?
After my third son heard about it, he cried and threw tantrums, insisting on having some. I sent people to buy it several times, but the queue was so long! We never managed to get any.
Not long ago, I heard that it was smashed by a group of troublemakers. Alas... it's such a pity!"
As the lady spoke, a look of great regret crossed her face.
At this moment, in the main hall, since Queen Chu had left, the atmosphere was no longer as stifling as before. It had become much livelier.
Some of those who were already familiar with each other gathered in twos and threes to chat. There was a murmur of voices in the hall, but they weren't too loud.
The shop opened by Bai Zheng had been the hottest topic in Yongding recently. And everyone present was a woman who had nothing much to do on weekdays and only cared about "looking beautiful" and "good food".
Now, hearing the lady's sigh about the smashed dessert shop, they all looked over.
Bai Zheng casually withdrew her hand and replied calmly, "It's inevitable when you're too prominent."
"Those heartless scoundrels! My third son hasn't even had a single bite yet." As the lady spoke, her eyes widened as if she was extremely angry.
"They all say that the desserts sold in Lady Hou's shop are extremely delicious. Anyone who has tasted them has nothing but praise. When the news that the shop was smashed came, my third son has refused to eat properly for the past few days. It's really giving me, his mother, a huge headache..."
Bai Zheng remained expressionless and just listened quietly.
Seeing that after she had spoken so vividly for a long time, Bai Zheng didn't even say a word in response, the lady rolled her eyes and then forced a smile on her face.
"Lady Hou, I'm really lucky to meet you today. So, I have a, well, an impertinent request.
Since I've finally met you today, could you... could you please teach me just one way to make the desserts in your shop? I can go back and pacify my third son."
Hearing this, Bai Zheng raised her eyes and glanced at the lady indifferently.
The lady's face was full of flattery and obsequiousness. She stared straight at Bai Zheng and continued to plead.
"I know that Lady Hou's dessert recipes are trade secrets and shouldn't be casually revealed. But I'm not trying to open a shop to sell them. I'm really at my wit's end because of my third son's tantrums!
Lady Hou, you don't know. In just these two days, my third son's little face has lost a whole lot of weight! It's like killing me, his mother!
Alas, back then, my great - grandfather and the old Lord Dingyuan were old friends. The old Lord Dingyuan was always kind - hearted. If he heard about this, he would surely feel sorry for my third son."
Bai Zheng smiled faintly.
The lady had spoken so self - righteously and even brought up the old Lord Dingyuan. Wasn't it obvious that if Bai Zheng didn't agree to teach her today, she would be seen as neither kind - hearted nor filial?
She had really put two big labels on her!
It almost made people forget how unreasonable her request was.
If she taught the lady how to make the desserts, wouldn't there be one more competitor in the future? Could she be trusted just because she said she wouldn't open a shop?
Such trade secrets couldn't be casually taught to outsiders!
Moreover, if she really wanted to learn cooking, she could have sent a visiting card and come to pay a sincere visit a few days ago. Why did she have to make things difficult for her in public at this banquet?
Thinking of this, Bai Zheng's eyes flitted slightly. Out of the corner of her eye, she seemed to see Bai Sheng, a few seats away, looking at her with a half - smile.
Something was off.
Bai Zheng maintained a proper demeanor and spoke politely but coldly, "They're just some humble snacks. I never expected Young Master Third to think so highly of them. I'm truly flattered.
If the lady wants to learn, it's not impossible. But today is the engagement banquet of His Highness the Third Prince and Princess Yunxi. It's not appropriate to steal the show.
There will be plenty of time in the future. The lady can come to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion to find me then. There's no need to rush."
Her words were quite appropriate, and everyone nodded in agreement after hearing them.
Unexpectedly, the lady refused to let it go.
"Oh! Lady Hou, are you trying to decline me politely and not willing to teach me the dessert recipes?
Everyone knows that Lady Hou is a busy person with many important matters. And Lord Dingyuan guards you as if you were his most precious treasure. How could we ordinary people dare to visit you on weekdays?
Moreover, my third son is still young. If he keeps refusing to eat and drink like this, something bad might happen. He really can't wait for 'plenty of time in the future'.
His Highness the Third Prince and Princess Yunxi are kind - hearted people. They surely won't mind this matter today.
Right, Princess Yunxi?"
As the lady spoke, she loudly asked Princess Yunxi while reaching out to hold Bai Zheng's hand again and secretly exerting force to drag her away.
Princess Yunxi had been watching the direction of Bai Zheng and the other lady with great interest all along. Hearing this, she didn't hesitate at all and immediately replied loudly, "I don't mind. I've been craving Lady Hou's cooking skills too!"
Hearing this, everyone burst into laughter and started to join in the coaxing.
"Yes, Lady Hou, just have mercy and agree to her request!"
"That's right. It's a matter of life and death. There's no time to wait for the future! If Lady Hou really doesn't want to teach, at least make a few desserts and send them to Young Master Third to satisfy his craving."
"Oh, it's really pitiful. I feel so sorry just hearing about it. As a mother, I can't bear to hear that a child is suffering..."
Listening to these blatant acts of moral coercion, Bai Zheng lowered her eyes and tried hard to control the urge to roll her eyes and scold out loud.
By now, if she still couldn't guess the background of this lady, she would really be a fool.
It must be a "big gift" from her dear cousin.
If she really followed this lady to the kitchen today, without the protection of the secret guards, Qing Shao, and Feng Linyuan, a powerless woman like her would surely be in big trouble!
Just as she was still thinking about how to get out of this situation, Bai Zheng had been dragged by the lady to the door of the main hall.
"I..."
She suddenly raised her hand and struggled hard to break free from the lady's grasp. Just as she was about to shout out "I'm not going", she heard a childish voice coming from below.
"Sister, pretty sister... hug me!"
Bai Zheng was slightly stunned and then looked down. She saw a chubby little white hand tugging hard at her light - blue dress.
The owner of the little hand was a little boy about four years old.
On his chubby, pinkish - white face were two big, shiny black eyes and a straight little nose. He looked extremely cute.