Free Web NovelChapter 375: Chapter 376: Insatiably Greedy
Hua Manman and her two companions wandered around the State Duke Mansion for half the day.
As lunchtime approached, Hua Manman made a point of having hot pot for lunch.
She deliberately had the hot pot set up right outside the window of Princess Rouwan’s bedchamber.
That’s right—it was the same spot where they’d had their barbecue that morning!
The grill they had used for the barbecue was still there.
Hua Manman ordered the charcoal to be lit, the pot to be set on the frame, and the hot pot base and broth to be poured in. Time to cook!
Feihua Zhenren came looking for Hua Manman, intending to ask why she had sought him out that morning.
But the moment he arrived, his attention was completely captured by the hot pot.
He asked in shock.
"You’re eating hot pot on a day this hot?"
Instead of answering, Hua Manman countered with a question of her own. "Want some?"
Without the slightest hesitation, Feihua Zhenren plopped down right next to the hot pot.
"Absolutely!"
Si Yun immediately handed him a bowl and a pair of chopsticks.
The aroma of the hot pot drifted through the cracks in the window and into the bedchamber.
Princess Rouwan was sitting on her bed, lost in a daze.
She was still clutching an old set of Duke Zhen’s clothes and had been sitting there listlessly all morning.
Suddenly, the rich, spicy aroma hit her, and her thoughts were abruptly pulled back to the present.
She set down the clothes, pushed open the door, and walked out to see Hua Manman up to her antics again.
Princess Rouwan was furious.
"What do you think you’re doing?"
Hua Manman quickly fished out a piece of cooked beef, speaking as she ate.
"We’re having hot pot. Would you care to join us, Commandery Princess?"
Princess Rouwan had never had anything like hot pot before.
She saw the bright red broth bubbling and gurgling in the pot, her nose filled with its numbing and spicy yet savory aroma.
It was infuriatingly tempting!
Princess Rouwan quietly swallowed, just about to refuse.
Just then, she heard Hua Manman suddenly speak.
"Oh, I completely forgot. The Commandery Princess is still recovering from her illness; she can’t eat anything this spicy. Forget it, forget it. Just pretend I never said a thing, Your Highness."
With that, she went back to eating with gusto, completely ignoring Princess Rouwan.
Princess Rouwan nearly died of anger.
Not wanting to eat it was one thing, but being told she *couldn’t* eat it was another matter entirely.
Especially when the one saying it was that wretched girl, Hua Manman.
That made it even more unbearable for Princess Rouwan.
"Attendants!"
The next moment, Nanny Zhang hurried over with several servants.
"What are your orders, Your Highness?"
Princess Rouwan pointed at the hot pot and demanded, "I want to eat that... that blasted hot pot thing too!"
Nanny Zhang looked troubled. "The hot pot is too spicy. It’s not suitable for you in your current condition..."
Princess Rouwan cut her off.
"What? Do you dare to disobey me now?"
Nanny Zhang said hastily, "This servant wouldn’t dare!"
"Then why aren’t you getting me a hot pot?!"
Nanny Zhang had no choice but to agree. "Yes, Your Highness."
Hua Manman glanced at Si Yun.
Understanding at once, Si Yun put down her bowl and chopsticks and slipped away to the kitchen.
In just a few moments, a fresh, steaming hot pot was placed before Princess Rouwan.
However, unlike the spicy red broth hot pot Hua Manman was eating, Princess Rouwan’s was made with a chicken broth base filled with various mushrooms. Though it also smelled quite fragrant, Princess Rouwan was extremely displeased.
"Why does my hot pot look so bland and watery?"
By this time, Si Yun had already returned to Hua Manman’s side.
She reported in a low voice, "As you instructed, I had them prepare a nourishing mushroom and chicken broth hot pot for the Commandery Princess."
Hua Manman placed a piece of steaming hot, spicy beef in her bowl.
"Well done. A reward for you."
Si Yun smiled, her lips pressed together. "Thank you, Your Highness."
Inside the room, Princess Rouwan was still taking out her anger on Nanny Zhang.
"I don’t care! I want the red broth hot pot they’re having outside! Have someone take this one away immediately!"
Nanny Zhang was in a bind.
It wasn’t that she was unwilling to give the Commandery Princess the spicy hot pot. The truth was, Her Highness was still very weak. Eating something so spicy would be harsh on her stomach and hinder her recovery.
Just then, Hua Manman walked in, bowl and chopsticks in hand.
She said with a wide grin.
"Don’t you like this mushroom and chicken soup, Your Highness? As it happens, I love it. Why don’t you let me have it?"
With that, she reached out with her chopsticks, plucked a piece of chicken from the pot, and ate it with great relish.
Princess Rouwan snapped, "Don’t you already have your own spicy hot pot? Don’t be so greedy!"
Hua Manman replied nonchalantly.
"The red broth is delicious, sure, but the clear broth is great, too. I’m thinking of making a split pot. That way, I can have both. The best of both worlds!"
After speaking, she deliberately licked her lips, looking as though she couldn’t resist the craving.
How could Princess Rouwan possibly let her get her way? She snapped irritably.
"In your dreams! This is my hot pot. Don’t you even think about touching it!"
With that, she picked up her bowl and chopsticks and began fishing food out of the pot to eat.
’I already let that wretched girl, Hua Manman, snatch my food once. I absolutely will not let her get her way again!’
Seeing this, Nanny Zhang quickly grabbed a pair of long chopsticks and began helping the Commandery Princess cook food in the pot.
"Please eat slowly, Your Highness. Be careful not to burn yourself."
Hua Manman reached out with her chopsticks. "I want some too!"
Princess Rouwan: "Get lost!"
Hua Manman pretended to be startled, resentfully withdrawing her chopsticks and huffing.
"Fine, I won’t eat then. So stingy."
With that, she stood up and stormed off in a huff.
At the sight of this, Princess Rouwan felt a wave of satisfaction.
’I finally drove that wretched girl away!’
Princess Rouwan ate her fill at lunch that day.
Nanny Zhang watched with such relief that her eyes turned red.
Ever since Duke Zhen’s passing, the Commandery Princess had lost her appetite and couldn’t sleep at night. She had been wasting away at a visible rate.
Now, she finally had her appetite back and was willing to eat a proper meal.
From the bottom of her heart, Nanny Zhang was deeply grateful to Princess Consort Zhao.
’If it weren’t for Princess Consort Zhao,’ she thought, ’Princess Rouwan would probably still be moping, refusing to eat or drink.’
After that, whenever it was mealtime, Hua Manman would bring her people to feast right outside Princess Rouwan’s bedchamber.
What was worse, the food Hua Manman ate was always incredibly fragrant. The aroma was like a hook, luring out every last one of Princess Rouwan’s cravings.
It made Princess Rouwan angry enough to kill.
Unfortunately, the estate’s Protectors were no match for Qing Huan.
Princess Rouwan had no choice but to endure it.
Without realizing it, she went from struggling to eat even one meal a day to never missing any of her three. She even put on a little weight.
Furthermore, when Hua Manman had free time, she would tell stories outside Princess Rouwan’s room.
She was telling the story of *Journey to the West*, and her voice was exceptionally loud.
Inside the room, Princess Rouwan could hear every word, even when she covered her ears.
Hua Manman was a brilliant storyteller. Her voice rose and fell with a rich, emotional cadence. When she reached a climax in the story, she would even act out the characters’ movements to build the atmosphere.
Her storytelling captivated not only Si Yun and Qing Huan but also drew in all the nearby maids and servants.
Even Princess Rouwan found herself listening with rapt attention before she knew it.
She tiptoed to the window and opened it just a crack.
She peeked out through the opening.
She saw Hua Manman imitating Zhu Bajie, waddling forward as she narrated.
"When that Zhu Bajie entered the Silk Cave, it was like a kid in a candy store, he was so happy... OOF!"
She accidentally tripped and fell flat on the ground.
Before anyone could run to help her up, she clutched her lower back and cried out dramatically.
"Oh, this old pig’s back!"
Everyone burst into laughter at her vivid impersonation.
Even Princess Rouwan, hiding behind the window, couldn’t help but crack a smile. ’What an idiot!’
