166 She May Have a Brain but It Is Nothing to Speak Of
Qiao Xuan was right; there was not enough for everyone. She had made sure of it.
Herbal congee took a lot of work to make. Furthermore, the sheer variety of ingredients called for a precise amount to be used. It was a delicate balance, which required using a specifically sized clay pot with adequate thermal conductivity.
Most clay pots were not very large, so they helped concentrate the flavours in a dish. This specificity gave the chef pause because he needed to look for a clay pot that would fit Qiao Yue’s requirements.
Moreover, the herbal porridge was based on a recipe meant to nourish the Old Master’s body – it was not suited for general consumption. Even if she could tweak the recipe, why should she? Qiao Yue disliked the petty tricks of the third branch of the family and did not feel like making food for them to enjoy.
“Big Brother, why don’t you ask Grandpa to give you some?” Qiao Yue’s eyes formed twin crescents as she spoke.
Qiao Xuan rapped Qiao Yue on the head. “It’s fine. Next time, don’t forget to prepare enough for the rest of the family.”
The family was a sensitive topic for Qiao Yue, and considering what the First and Third Madams had done, Qiao Xuan could not blame her. Still, it should not hurt to nudge her gently.
Qiao Yue’s eyebrows shot to her hairline. “That’ll depend on my mood.”
While the two laughed in the kitchen, they did not notice a figure watching them from a window nearby.
Qiao Jing frowned as he considered the two. The air around him chilled in the early morning light. When had Qiao Yue and his brother grown so close?
His fingers clenched, leaving deep marks on his palm, but Qiao Jing did not notice.
At breakfast, Qiao Yue sat next to the old man once again. To her surprise, Qiao Xin did not glare at her; she merely stared at her food, refusing to meet her in the eye.
A glance at the breakfast laid out was enough for the Old Master to note the difference. Immediately, he asked one of the servants why breakfast was not as usual.
Without waiting for the servant to respond, Qiao Xuan said, “Xiao Xue prepared some herbal porridge for you, Grandpa.”
“You made this?” The old man seemed to ask, curious to know what Qiao Xuan meant.
Qiao Yue shot Qiao Xuan a look, shaking her head helplessly. “Grandpa, Big Brother’s words aren’t accurate. The chef cooked the porridge. I merely gave him the recipe.”
“What recipe?” The old man asked.
Qiao Yue smiled. “I know a little about herbal cuisine. Grandpa, you’re still recovering from that illness, so I asked the chef to prepare something mild but nourishing.”
The Old Master beamed, quite pleased by Qiao Yue’s thoughtfulness. However, before he could praise Qiao Yue, the Third Madam interrupted, “I didn’t know you knew much about herbal cuisine. When did you become so knowledgeable?”
Qiao Yue’s smile faded as she turned to the Third Madam. “Is there a problem?”
The Third Madam was more experienced than Qiao Xin and could hide her vicious edge behind a mask of civility.
She offered Qiao Yue a warm and gentle smile. “Qiao Yue is a dutiful child. It’s good she prepared breakfast early while thinking about you. However, I’m concerned that this herbal porridge might be too nourishing for you. You’ve just recovered. It isn’t a good idea to eat something too strong for your body to handle.”
Qiao Yue eyed the Third Madam expressionlessly, wondering how long she would continue this charade. While it might seem like she was praising her on the surface, the underlying note to her words was an implicit criticism. Filial to a fault but only insofar as one allowed themselves to be drawn into her cunning web of ill-intentioned schemes. The Third Madam probably did not even care about the Old Master’s health; she merely wanted to appear as if she cared.
Qiao Yue lowered her eyes, a self-satisfied smirk sprawling across her face. The Third Madam may have a brain, but it was nothing to write home about since she scarcely used it. Did she forget Qiao Xuan had spoken up on her behalf?
As expected, Qiao Xuan intervened. “Don’t worry, Third Aunt. I’ve reviewed all the ingredients used in Xiao Yue’s herbal dishes. They won’t affect Grandfather’s body. The ingredients are warm and nourishing, but they are still mild enough to be safe for Grandfather to consume.”
The Third Madam’s expression froze. “Ah, I’m glad you were involved in the process, Xiao Xuan. I was worried.”
The Third Madam had thought Qiao Yue had found a recipe or two from the internet and wanted to use it to curry favour with the old man. The fact that Qiao Xuan had curated them already meant they were safe. Not only would this gesture alleviate any suspicions the Old Master might have towards Qiao Yue in the future, but it would also serve as a reminder of her attentiveness. Who would have thought Qiao Xuan would check the ingredients? This time, the Third Madam acknowledged that she had shot herself in the foot.
The Old Master nodded in relief and patted Qiao Yue on her shoulder, “Alright, let’s have breakfast.”
Although he could smell the fragrant aroma filling the air, the old man had thought the porridge would be the same as what he had eaten in the hospital. That porridge may have smelled nice, but it did not have the taste to match it.
