"It's my fault for indulging A'Ran's recklessness and upsetting Madam," Xiao Man admitted readily.
"It's good that you know your mistake. Don't repeat it," Zheng Sanniang said, as if nurturing a promising student. "Now, tell me, why are you really in the small kitchen?"
"Madam was quite upset last night. I wanted to cook a meal for her to apologize."
"Madam's temper, though seemingly gentle, is actually quite firm. Making a meal to appease her won't be easy," Madam Zheng cautioned Xiao Man. "Madam comes from a prestigious family and has decent talent herself. It's just that her body was injured when she gave birth to the Young Master, so she only has him. She cherishes him like a treasure. If you hinder the Young Master's future, Madam will absolutely not forgive you."
Xiao Man smiled, "Thank you for the reminder, Madam Zheng. Speaking of which, how did Madam meet the Sect Master?"
Madam Zheng shook her head, "I don't know. When the Sect Master brought her back, she seemed to be injured and unconscious. No one knew who she was or where she came from. Later, the Sect Master investigated everywhere and found out she was the eldest daughter of the Huo family. He arranged for her to be recognized by her ancestors, proposed, and held a grand wedding that was celebrated far and wide."
"Madam Zheng is indeed an elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect. You must have witnessed the wedding ceremony yourself."
"Of course," Madam Zheng said proudly. "When the Sect Master brought Madam back, they weren't married yet. I attended to Madam then. Because of her injury, she remembered nothing of her past and was like a startled bird. Later, under the Sect Master's care, she gradually recovered."
"Amnesia?" Xiao Man was somewhat shocked. "Madam has amnesia?"
"She doesn't remember anything before coming to the Heavenly Sword Sect."
Xiao Man lowered her gaze. So she had amnesia. No wonder she had children with Yue Tianxia. But normal people wouldn't just lose their memory. It must be that Yue Tianxia had tampered with something. But she needed to examine Madam Yue herself to know what was wrong with her body. The problem was, Madam Yue was now wary of her like she was a thief, how could she allow her to get close?
"Madam Zheng, let me prepare Madam's lunch today," Xiao Man pleaded. "Please grant me this favor, otherwise, if Madam is truly angry with me, she'll kick me out."
Madam Zheng glanced at Xiao Man. "You truly are a scheming child. Fine, it's yours. If you don't do exceptionally well, don't blame me for not sending the food over."
"Thank you, Madam Zheng!"
Xiao Man thanked her repeatedly, took the apron handed to her by Madam Zheng, tied it on, and began preparing the ingredients. As soon as the ingredients were ready, Yue Ran followed.
Madam Zheng glanced at Yue Ran, then at the busy Xiao Man. No wonder Madam was angry. The Young Master was clinging to Xiao Man like a dog's tail, afraid she would run away. One was a mere disciple, the other the Young Master, a proud scion of the sect. These two standing together... Madam Zheng stared at the two washing and chopping vegetables together. No matter how she looked at them, they seemed perfectly matched!
Madam Zheng shivered, quickly dispelled the thought from her mind, and went about her own business. Today's meal, even if it were a mess, Madam would probably eat it, after all, her beloved son had also contributed!
When Jing Shu came to collect the meal, Xiao Man and Yue Ran had already left. Madam Zheng handed the food box to Jing Shu and whispered something in her ear. Jing Shu's eyes widened slightly, seeming disbelieving. She quickly opened the food box to take a look, then smiled.
"It seems the Young Master is considerate, knowing he upset Madam." With that, she lightly carried the food box back.
"Madam, please eat. Today's lunch, after you eat it, you'll surely be happy."
Madam Yue continued to flip through the book in her hands, her voice cold, "I have no appetite. I won't eat today."
"Madam, you really won't eat?" Jing Shu asked again.
"No, you eat it."
Jing Shu brought out the dishes one by one and placed them on the dining table. "What a waste of the Young Master's earnest filial piety. He went to the small kitchen early in the morning to cook lunch for Madam, and Madam won't even taste it. If the Young Master knew, he'd be heartbroken."
Madam Yue immediately put down the book. "You said who made it?"
"Reporting to Madam, it was the Young Master who made it." Seeing Madam Yue walk quickly towards the dining table, Jing Shu knew she had been swayed. She handed her a damp cloth to wash her hands. "The Young Master also knows he angered Madam last night, so he went to the kitchen early this morning to prepare lunch for Madam. It shows that the Young Master's heart is still most concerned about you, Madam."
"You talk too much," Madam Yue glanced at Jing Shu, picked up her chopsticks, and took a bite of the Eight Treasure Duck. "Hmm, not bad. Sweet but not greasy. I didn't know his culinary skills were this good."
"The Young Master specially prepared this meal for you, so of course it's good. Madam, you're not angry anymore, are you?"
"He's my son. I carried him for ten months and gave birth to him at the risk of my life. What can I do to him? It's just that I feel this child is growing up and doesn't listen to his mother anymore..." Madam Yue chuckled as she said this. "His heart is heavier now. He has someone he likes and didn't even tell me, hiding her by his side secretly. What, as his mother, can I do to break them apart?"
"Madam, the Young Master is likely not guarding against you."
Madam Yue's expression changed slightly. Yue Ran, as the Young Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect, was destined not to act arbitrarily. He himself understood this, which was why he tried his best to hide things. But the feeling of liking someone could not be hidden. Both Madam Yue and Yue Tianxia could guess from Yue Ran's daily words and actions. Even those few young masters could guess that Xiao Man was Yue Ran's fatal weakness!
"What is this dish? It's so beautiful, like a flower." Madam Yue looked at another dish, picked it up, and brought it closer. It was indeed a flower, with white stamens and petals that faded into a beautiful blue.
"Madam Zheng said this flower is called the Blue Spirit Flower. It's a spiritual plant with the effects of tonifying Qi and blood, and beautifying the complexion. The Young Master spent immense effort to find it to present to you. He also specifically instructed that you must consume it, as it's good for your health."
"That brat. If he put this effort into his cultivation, I'd be even happier." Saying this, Madam Yue ate the Blue Spirit Flower nonetheless. She wouldn't waste her son's filial piety. Although she wasn't entirely pleased with Xiao Man, her son liked her, so as a mother, she could only protect her. Moreover, she saw Yue Ran's changes. Xiao Man could motivate Yue Ran to be positive and progressive, which was a good thing.
To show that she was no longer angry, Madam Yue had Jing Shu send a box of rare treasures to Yue Ran's courtyard, specifically for Xiao Man, indicating that she accepted Xiao Man's kindness.