12 Peace Offering

Zhi Yan left Mai to think about what she was going to make when she went to get the other 3 servants. Deep down she knew that they also wanted some of the food as well.

Mai decided to make light and crispy fried chicken. She hoped that they would have all of the ingredients to make the dish.

Zhi Yan returned with all the other servants who were talking about what type of meal they would make today.

"Zhi Ruo can you tell me if these ingredients are available?" Mai asked, "chicken breast, fat, egg, flour, garlic, and a crumbly bread." Normally Mai would make fried chicken with panko and corn flakes but she doubted that those would be available here so she could only hope for a good alternative.

"We have all of those mistress, this servant will direct someone to bring everything you need." Zhi Ruo replied.

Not to much later a man arrived with everything that Mai had listed. She started to get everything ready to cook when she saw 4 pairs of eyes staring at her.

"Miss, let us help you" Feng Mian said

"Yes, give us something to do, we don't just want to watch you make food" Ying Yue said as well.

Mai thought about it for a moment and decided that the only way she could justify them eating was with them helping to make it so she agreed.

"Okay, Zhi Yan take all the chicken breast and beat them with the meat tenderizer try making them as thin as possible. Next Feng Mian mix all the seasoning and flour together in a bowl. Finally, Ying Yue can you take the crunch bread and make it as small as possible, tiny pieces, crush it even and also put it into a bowl" Mai said as she gave commands to the servants.

Each one of them started on their tasks with great enthusiasm. Zhi Yan went wild with hitting the chicken breast it was a good thing that the poor bird was already dead. she didn't want to stop even when she ran out of chicken. She looked over at the bread crumb pile and starting smashing those as well.

Mai cracked the eggs into a third bowl. Zhi Ruo looked dejected as she didn't have any tasks to do and just stood there watching the others. Mai assured her that she had the most important task coming up.

Once all of the ingredients were prepared Mai melted the pig fat on the stove top again. Mai showed Zhi Ruo how to dip the chicken breast into the eggs, flour mixture, eggs, and finally the bread crumbs to create the perfect fried chicken.

Once each chicken breast had its coating Mai started to fry them. She did the first one so that Zhi Ruo would know when the rest of them were done.

"Feng Mian can you make rice again?" Mai asked.

"Of course," Feng Mian replied.

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Han Bing was currently annoyed that he was stuck in his room going over documents for the manor. This should have been someone else's job but because Han Bing could find no one that he trusted he had to do it. However, he was used to doing this task. What had annoyed him was the lunch that was made for him. After eating Mai's cooking the night before he could now understand what she meant by it tasting bad. There was no juice that dripped out or a hard-crunchy shell to bite into. He was almost annoyed at her for ruining his taste buds for other food but couldn't complain as he told her to do it.

"I wonder if Mai will even invite me over for food again since I ate all of it last time" Han Bing thought to himself. He easily resembled a puppy dog that was begging for food from it's owners.

An aroma that he had never smelt before had drifted into his room from the opened window. He knew that it was once again Mai cooking in the kitchen and couldnt stop his stomach from grumbling out in protest.

"Maybe I'll just take a bite" Han Bing thought to himself as he walked out of his room and followed the smell to Mai's courtyard. Even if there was a chance that the Emperor would find out about a new chef here he was too busy right now to really focus on it.

Han Bing knocked on the kitchen door as he entered looking at the pile of crunchy golden chicken with bright eyes. If earlier he was like a puppy now he resembled a child at Christmas who got the exact gift that they had asked for.

"Smells amazing Mai" Han Bing said once he saw the no one had noticed his presence.

One of the servants groaned when they saw Han Bing with sad eyes.

"Han Bing" Mai said in surprise "what are you doing here" she asked.

"I couldn't help it" Han Bing replied "I can only eat your cooking from now on Mai. Everything else is exactly as you said tasteless."

Mai blushed at the compliment but didn't say anything back to Han Bing.

Han Bing walked towards Mai and took out the flowers that he had hidden on his walk to the kitchen. "These are for you, there are not as beautiful as you" Han Bing handed Mai a bouquet of flowers.

Mai was speechless had the ice cube actually just handed her flowers and called her beautiful all at the same time. Mai was still staring at Han Bing with wide eyes as he chuckled and took one of her hands in his and gave it a gentle kiss before placing the flowers in it.

"See, there beauty is great but it does not match a hair on you" Han Bing said.

Mai's face was now bright red from Han Bings compliments. She had never been courted before so this was a completely new experience for her.

This was his peace offering in case they had tried to chase him out of the kitchen without any food.