Qiann Yan bought the two brothers, Wu Liang and Wu Zhi, under a death contract for three thousand taels.

Wu Liang took the money and went to the brothel, while Wu Zhi stayed by her side, very dedicated, not sneaking glances at her, his eyes unwavering, focused entirely on staying beside her.

She was satisfied with this kind of tool.

"Never seen such a girl, no matter how good-looking, she isn’t worth six thousand taels. And she sells her art, not her body. People want someone proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, don’t they know to go to the brothel to find the Oiran? Even the Oiran isn’t as aloof as this girl."

"That’s beside the point, this girl still wants to choose her buyer herself. If she thinks they’re unsuitable, she refuses them; even Lord Zhang’s son was refused before."

The gossip caught Qiann Yan’s attention, and Wu Zhi, seeing her interest, quickly parted the crowd for her.

Qiann Yan walked up to the girl selling herself; she was holding a zither, standing there tall and graceful, dressed in white, cold and noble. Even without smiling, her beautiful face was captivating.

However... Qiann Yan found this girl somewhat peculiar.

She first stared at the girl’s throat, then her chest, and finally looked below her waist.

Of course, aside from the girl, no one else noticed her gaze.

"What can you do?" Qiann Yan asked.

"Music, chess, calligraphy, painting, proficient in all." The girl replied indifferently, "If the lady is looking for some entertainment, she can buy me."

"Can you cook?"

The girl was surprised—cook?

She didn’t want music, chess, calligraphy, or painting; she wanted someone who could cook? But the girl’s expression quickly returned to indifference, as if the prior shock was an illusion.

"I’m very smart; I learn everything quickly. The lady won’t regret buying me."

"I need someone to cook."

Qiann Yan didn’t want to always eat the meals cooked by the Prince Mansion’s chefs; they wouldn’t dare do anything dubious now, but that doesn’t mean they won’t in the future. She could detect it, but found it bothersome.

This girl was unusual, successfully attracting her. If she could cook, Qiann Yan might buy her to give it a try.

"Just give me a day, I guarantee I can satisfy you."

Qiann Yan raised an eyebrow. "I heard buying you requires conditions? You don’t know who I am, yet you’re willing to come with me?"

"It’s rare to see someone like the lady come here; following men always carries the risk of losing oneself, following a lady is different." The girl answered matter-of-factly.

"Oh? I see."

Qiann Yan’s eyes held a faint smile as she handed six thousand taels to the girl, "Come with me, first learn to cook from the chef."

The girl calmly took the silver note and casually tucked it into her sleeve.

Qiann Yan’s eyes darkened slightly, contemplating this person’s origins. Unfortunately, her predecessor had had different encounters, had not met this girl.

The other agrees to be bought, pretending not to know her identity—impossible.

Was this a coincidence, or a deliberate setup for her?

"What’s your name?"

"You may call me Ashui." Ashui replied calmly and respectfully.

The people were gathered, and Qiann Yan no longer roamed around Grass Market Street, leading them back to the Prince Mansion. She directly took Ashui to the kitchen; she wasn’t joking.

No matter what this person’s purpose is, now she must learn to cook.

Ashui: "..."

"Wu Zhi, help carry the zither." Qiann Yan instructed.

Wu Zhi hurried forward to take the zither from Ashui’s hands.

The people in the kitchen were puzzled about why the Princess Consort brought two people here. Naturally, their eyes couldn’t help but fall on Ashui’s face, such a beautiful girl was impossible not to attract attention.

Though the Princess Consort was pretty, having witnessed her past misdeeds, they dared not admire her.

"This is Ashui; these days she’ll learn cooking from you. Once she learns, you won’t have to cook for me anymore. Teach her well."

Ashui looked down at her slender fingers, pulling at the corners of her mouth—these fingers suitable for cooking?

"Ashui."

"Princess Consort."

"Go cook."

Ashui: "Yes."