Adorable Food Goddess

Ye Jiayao was so grateful for the heartwarming words and support that Uncle and Auntie gave her. She also appreciated them rushing over to her even when they live so far away when they found out what was happening to her.

The only thing she didn’t understand was Chunyu. After all that he did to hurt her, why was he helping her? What’s his angle? He wasn’t showing himself these days so she couldn’t really ask him.

Ye Jiayao initially wanted Uncle and Auntie to stay in the courtyard, but Uncle said that Chunyu has already made living arrangements for them as well as a horse carriage to fetch them from here. Besides, staying here would expose her identity. They should not contact each other for the time being.

The next day, someone from the palace summoned Ye Jiayao.

Ye Jiayao was not familiar with the eunuch who came for her and that worried her. She was naturally very apprehensive of palace summons given what happened with Consort Mei.

“Did His Majesty summoned me to make a royal meal?”

“Yes.”

“Do you work at Zi Chen Palace?”

“What are you asking so many questions? Just hurry up,” the eunuch urged, annoyed.

“Then… can I ask what your surname is?” Ye Jiayao smiled meekly.

“My surname is Yao. Can we go now?”

Ye Jiayao nodded and turned to tell Little Lu, “Go tell Manager Zhao that I left with Eunuch Yao to the palace. Tell him to settle the things in the restaurant.”

Ye Jiayao followed Eunuch Yao into the palace. After walking for a while, she found something amiss. Although the palace buildings look similar, she has a good sense of direction and she took special notice the previous time she went to Zi Chen Palace and the imperial kitchen. She was certain that this route doesn’t lead to either Zi Chen palace or the imperial kitchen.

“Eunuch Yao, where are we going?”

Eunuch Yao said in a sharp voice, “Just follow me.”

He ignored Ye Jiayao from then on.

Ye Jiayao silently memorized the route.

She was mentally grumbling when she suddenly saw a familiar face.

It’s Susu.

Ye Jiayao quickly said to Eunuch Yao, “Eunuch Yao, I am going to greet the Third Young Master Su.”

Before the eunuch could even react, Ye Jiayao was already running over to Susu.

“Third Young Master Su, what a coincidence! I would’ve never thought that we’d run into each other here.”

Su Yi turned and a brief flash of shock passed through his eyes. He really didn’t want to exchange pleasantries with Li Yao but he still nodded perfunctorily.

“Third Young Master Su, can I inquire whose palace is up ahead?”

“The Empress’ Ning He Palace,” Su Yi answered.

Ye Jiayao’s brows furrowed. Was the Empress Dowager looking for her?

Su Yi glanced at the eunuch that was standing behind Li Yao and frowned. “You don’t know who summoned you here?”

Ye Jiayao shook her head and laughed bitterly. “The people in the palace are weird. They always do things secretively that I just tremble with fear and apprehension every time I enter here. Hopefully, it wasn’t like the last time where I almost didn’t make it out.”

She dropped implicit hints. Su Yi wasn’t her first choice for an ally, but at least someone would know where she is if she doesn’t make it out.

“We should go now,” Eunuch Yao rushed.

Ye Jiayao cupped her hands and bowed. “I shall make my move.”

Su Yi nodded again and watched Li Yao enter the Ning He Palace.

After a few turns, Ye Jiayao was finally brought to the person who summoned her.

Princess Liu Li.

“Li Yao, where are the mooncakes you promised? Where are the delicacies?” Liu Li demanded, huffing angrily.

This whole thing was just about the mooncakes? Are you kidding me?  Ye Jiayao laughed apologetically and responded, “Princess, the people from the palace say that the food outside cannot be sent in here so casually. If my food upsets the stomach of the masters here, my head will be chopped off.”

“But didn’t you send food over to the Crown Princess and the Old Ancestress? You can deliver to them but not me? Li Yao, I think you are doing this on purpose.” Liu Li pouted.

“I was able to send the Crown Princess some food because it was under the orders of the Crown Prince with the imperial physician keeping watch. As for the Old Ancestress’, Young Royal Highness Jing brought her the food himself so it has nothing to do with me,” Ye Jiayao explained. The things that she makes is definitely safe to eat, but the same could not be said about the person who would deliver it. She would have no proof of it if Liu Li tries to sabotage her.

“Forget it now. Say, Li Yao, you stayed in Black Wind Ridge, right?” Liu Li asked, dropping her ruse.

Ye Jiayao’s heart skipped a beat. She could already guess where Liu Li was going with this so she had to think of an answer that matches Chunyu’s story.

“I didn’t stay there for long before it got destroyed by the Jing An Marquis’ Heir-Son Lord and Prince Helian Xuan,” Ye Jiayao answered.

“Do you know that the Jing An Marquis’ Heir-Son Lord married a woman there?”

Ye Jiayao pretended to think about it. “Yeah, I think something like that happened.

“Have you seen what she looks like?” Liu Li asked curiously.

The information she recently found out said that the First Lady Ye was already married to the Ji Nan prefecture magistrate’s oldest son. She’s now in Jin Ling, but there was a rumor that she’s only pretending to be the First Lady Ye. Liu Li was confused as to which story was true.

In any case, this matter has been making her feel quite depressed. Now that everyone knew about Brother Chunyu’s marriage in Black Wind Ridge, even if she gets to marry him in the future, she could only become a concubine. A princess  as a concubine. How pathetic!

“Princess, I was working in the kitchen then, making meals for the ruffians. The Jing An Marquis’ Heir-Son Lord was the third-in-charge and they live at the core of the stockade. It was a place that I wasn’t permitted to go to so I have never seen her,” Ye Jiayao said.

Liu Li was extremely disappointed. She had thought that Li Yao would know something about this elusive Ye Jinxuan. She rolled her eyes and said disdainfully, “Useless.”

Ye Jiayao suddenly thought of a diabolical idea. “Princess, why don’t you ask the First Young Madam Wei about this? Even if she’s not the real First Lady Ye, she’s still from the Ye family and she would know the most about this Ye Jinxuan.”

She would leave the hot potato in Jinrong’s hands. Let her come up with the answer.

Outside the Ning He Palace, Su Yi watched his mother and Elder Princess Yu De come out together.

Yu De was extremely envious of Su Yi’s gentlemanly demeanor and scholarly flavor. She has two sons but only one of them was engaged in martial arts. She had hoped that Little Jing would be more engaged in his studies so she could be a mother of both a fine scholar and a fine soldier, but alas!

“Su Yi, the Empress Dowager very much likes the Vajra scripture that you copied,” Yu De praised. Even she wanted a book for herself. Su Yi’s calligraphy was elegant and clean, just like the man himself.

Madam Su smiled, pleased. “If Elder Princess likes it, Su Yi can copy one for you, too.”

Su Yi cupped his hands respectfully. “Which scripture does the Elder Princess like?”

“Do you have the Amitayus script? The Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration is next year.” Yu De was overjoyed.

Su Yi replied. “I can borrow it from Master Hong Ji.”

“Then, I will trouble you with that.”

“It is my honor to serve the Elder Princess.”

Yu De laughed. “Madam Su, I must admit that I am very envious of you. How can you give birth to such an outstanding son?”

“Elder Princess, Prince Helian is the real cream of the crop, the model of all young man in Jin Lin.”

Both started to praise each other, both feeling satisfied.

“Mother, did you see Heavenly Residence’s Li Yao just now?” Su Yi asked.

Madam Su shook her head. “I did not see anyone come.”

“Li Yao entered the palace?” Yu De asked.

Su Yi nodded. “I saw him enter Ning He Palace and thought it was the Empress Dowager who summoned him.”

It didn’t take long for Yu De to figure out what was going on. It must be Liu Li who summoned Li Yao over here. What’s the princess trying to do again? If anything happens to Li Yao, Little Jing was going to be anxious.

Yu De turned to the mother and son and said, “You guys go ahead, I still have some things to do.”

Su Yi smiled. With the Elder Princess here, Li Yao should be alright.

In Liu Li’s palace, the princess’ eyes brightened up upon hearing Li Yao’s idea. Why didn’t she think of that?

“Li Yao, have you seen the Jing An Marquis’ Heir-Son Lord recently?” Liu Li asked again.

“I haven’t, Princess. I have been busy with the restaurant and it seems quite a while since the Heir-Son Lord came there.”

“Maybe he has to stay at home to do his filial duties because the Old Master has returned.”

Their father is back? No wonder that both Xia brothers seemed to have disappeared.

Come to think of it, even Zhao Qixuan was a rare sight these days now that Susu has returned. It also has been a few days since Ye Jiayao saw Little Jing, inside the restaurant or out.

What’s happening?

“The Elder Princess arrives,” a palace servant reported.

Liu Li quickly got up to greet her and Ye Jiayao lowered her head at the side in respect.

When Elder Princess saw Li Yao, she asked calmly, “Li Yao, what are you doing here?”

Liu Li interrupted, “Royal Aunt, I summoned him here. I wanted to ask him to teach me how to make some delicious food.”

“You have yet to get married, how can you summon a man from outside casually? If you want to learn how to cook, we have our own imperial chefs,” Yu De reproached slightly

Liu Li blushed in embarrassment. That was why she had Li Yao brought in secretly! Since she was unable to go out of the palace, this unorthodox method was the only choice.

Yu De said to Li Yao, “Why are you still here? Don’t think that this place is someone you just can come to.”

Thankful, Li Yao bowed and left immediately. She was glad that the Elder Princess arrived when she did because the conversation with Liu Li had become so stressful. If she slipped up and said something wrong, there would be another chaos.

Liu Li stared helplessly after Li Yao. She had wanted to hear Li Yao talk more about Brother Chunyu when he was in Black Wind Ridge.

Helian Jing was unaware that Li Yao has entered the palace as he went to Zhao Qixuan’s place early in the morning. Today was the seventh day that Zhao Qixuan promised.

After waiting for quite a while, she finally got his hands on 500,000 taels banknotes. Carrying the money, he then marched on to look for Xia Chunyu.