Those Years I Cooked for the Grand Princess

Blurb:

Shen Xiaoman was a little cook in Qinghe County. After receiving a letter from her older sister, she headed to the capital to look for her.

But...

She ran into a big problem as soon as she set out. Um, she didn't have enough travel money. Why did everything cost money?

Luckily, at an inn in town, she met a very, very pretty older sister. She was a little cold, but she agreed to travel with her.

What a kind older sister!

After reaching the capital, Shen Xiaoman had no idea where the older sister was. She searched everywhere without success and didn't even have a place to stay. Once again, the pretty older sister took her in, taught her to read and all sorts of things, and even promised to help her find her own sister...

Um, huh? But why are the things in this book so strange? Why, why doesn't the big sister want her to tell anyone about them? Ah, never mind. Anyway, learning something is always good!

What a really kind older sister!

To her surprise, the really kind older sister actually found Shen Xiaoman's sister for her, and even gave her sister lots of things. Now she could finally go home with her sister.

What an incredibly kind older sister! Um, she should say goodbye before leaving.

But...

As soon as Shen Xiaoman explained why she was leaving, the usually cold big, kind older sister's expression changed. She suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her into her arms.

The older sister whispered by Shen Xiaoman's ear that she was hungry, had been hungry for a long time, and wanted to eat something...

If she wanted something to eat, she could let Shen Xiaoman go. Shen Xiaoman would go cook for her right away, wouldn't that do?

But the look in her eyes seemed to say that the thing she wanted to eat was... Shen Xiaoman herself...!!!

Duan Qinghe, the esteemed eldest princess of Great Xia, left the capital in disguise to investigate a case, only to be trapped in a remote town by a heavy rainstorm.

Accustomed to delicacies, she naturally couldn't stomach coarse fare. Already a picky eater with little appetite, she grew thinner and thinner.

But...

At the inn, she met a little cook who mistakenly thought she was wasting food and stubbornly insisted on proving that even old rice could make delicious porridge.

Hmph!

She hadn't expected the little girl to have some real skill. She'd made something so delicious out of such crude ingredients.

They met again at the ferry crossing. The stubborn little thing was stranded there because she was short a few taels of silver. Fine. She might as well bring a little cat or dog along to the capital. Besides, this little dog could cook something to fill her stomach.

But...

As they traveled together, she discovered that the little thing was both silly and stubborn, and yet... truly interesting!

Duan Qinghe couldn't quite understand it. She'd made sure the little thing's stomach was full, yet another kind of hunger had begun to well up inside her.

When they reached the capital, she made her first attempt to keep someone by her side, giving Shen Xiaoman a chance to stay with her.

Who would have thought that the little thing would refuse an opportunity that so many people across Great Xia could only dream of, just because she wanted to find her sister?!

The second time they met, Duan Qinghe saw Shen Xiaoman knocking on doors one by one in the rain. She should have been angry that the little thing had left her, but for some inexplicable reason, her heart softened, and she invited her to take shelter at her residence again.

As they talked, she learned that the little thing's sister was a trusted aide in the household of her political rival. It was just the opening she needed to get a foothold along the route...

Looking at the innocent, bewildered Shen Xiaoman before her, Duan Qinghe calculated that she could keep her around and use her to get close to her sister, then bring down her political rival. If anything went wrong, she could sacrifice both sisters and sever all ties without a trace.

But...

Looking at Shen Xiaoman, who was sincerely thanking her over and over, Duan Qinghe returned to the capital and its fine food and clothing, yet somehow felt even hungrier.

She licked her red lips and struggled to suppress the feeling of hunger.

The third time, Prince Shen was brought down, the court was purged, and all went smoothly. The land was at peace, and the seas were calm.

And Shen Xiaoman came to ask leave of her.

Hmm... Hmm???

Duan Qinghe could no longer keep her composure. For the first time, greed showed in her usually cool and noble eyes. She hooked her fingers into Shen Xiaoman's robe, cupped her face, pressed close to her ear, and bit down along her neck.

At that moment, she finally understood. The exquisite delicacy she'd longed for, the one that could satisfy her bottomless appetite, could not be allowed to escape her side!

Shy, innocent little cook x Cool, scheming eldest princess

Both first loves + mutual pining

1. A slice-of-life story, with the romance developing gradually. There'll be a little angst later, but overall it's a food story and a sweet romance!

2. I've put real effort into revising the story, but I'm prone to typos, so don't be surprised if you spot some. Feel free to point them out. I'll fix them as soon as I see them.

3. Honestly, I don't know what to write here. I just added a third point to round things out, and to be cute while I'm at it (≧∇≦)ﾉ

[Little Skit No. 1: The Inner Thoughts of a Certain Princess]

A certain Duan: Does this palace really have to invite her personally?

Some time later...

A certain Duan: The spring waters of the Five Lakes are misty and vast. Won't you come with me...

A certain Duan: I... how could I entertain such thoughts? How is that any different from a tyrant abducting a young woman?

Some time later...

A certain Duan: Who can live without making mistakes? If I bring her into my residence and treat her well, then it can't be wrong...

A certain Duan: I must keep my thoughts pure. I absolutely must not entertain such ideas!

Some time later...

A certain Duan: I was never exactly a paragon of virtue, but if I think any further, I'll become a beast in human clothing...

A certain Duan: If she wants to leave, I'll let her go... No, she doesn't want to leave. But... what if she does?

That very day!

A certain Duan: Whether you want to leave or not, you cannot leave my side. I will never let you go!

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