Translator: Henyee Translations | Editor: Henyee Translations
That girl liked to study fancy snacks. His senior sister would bring a bag of snacks to eat and he would crave for them!
He was the Emperor. He couldnât just watch others eat and take the initiative to ask, âCan you give me a piece?â Wasnât Senior Sister usually quite understanding towards her husband? Why was she suddenly slow at those moments?!
The Emperor was dissatisfied as he complained in his heart. Unknowingly, he was half full. At this moment, Xiaoxiao, who had changed her clothes, arrived late. Before the Emperor could ask, the Empress said, âSpeaking of which, itâs all thanks to Anâning that the banquet today was successful.
âPreviously, the chef was injured and there were still a few dishes that werenât completed. If Anâning hadnât volunteered to help, His Majesty might not have been able to see this table full of exquisite dishes.
âBut Anâning didnât lose out either. Since she likes to cook, she should have benefited a lot from taking this opportunity to see Madam Furongâs original recipes. She might be grateful now.â
Although the Emperor felt that it was not appropriate for the Empress to let Xiaoxiao cook, he felt that these words were reasonable. He was a little happy when he thought that he might be able to get more delicious food from the Xiao Family in the future.
The Empress smiled and asked Xiaoxiao, who had just returned, âAnâning, which of the dishes were made by you?â
Xiaoxiao put on an innocent expression and replied proudly, âAll of them.â There was a moment of silence. Everyone probably felt that Xiaoxiao was a little immodest, but on second thought, since Madam Furong was injured, she indeed needed Xiaoxiaoâs help for every dish. In that case, she was not lying. However, someone suddenly asked, âI wonder how you came up with these dishes.â
Xiaoxiao remembered that personâs appearance and still smiled, as if she had really fallen into a trap. âI learned them from books.â
As soon as these words were spoken, the Empress was smug, but her tone was calm. âYou mean that you figured out these dishes from reading books?â
Xiaoxiao said, âYes.â
The Empress stopped and smiled without saying anything.
Xiaoxiao didnât think that the Empressâs moves would stop here. Indeed, not long after, she heard her say, âAh, this Jade Dew Soup is Sister Jiâs favorite.
Anâning, go and bring a bowl to your future mother-in-law.â
To be fair, the Crown Princess Consort even suggested, âMother, I remember that you like it too. Let me get you a bowl too.â
The Empress was very satisfied and nodded in agreement.
However, when Xiaoxiao walked towards the palace maid carrying the tray in boredom, she heard a space notification: [Master, there are ingredients in the soup that are bad for the human body.]
[Preliminary judgment: There should be croton added. Itâs not a small amount.]
Xiaoxiaoâs hand paused. So it was waiting for her here?
There were two cups of soup presented by the palace servants. When Xiaoxiao raised her hand, the palace servants knelt on the ground and looked down. âThe bowl on the left belongs to the Noble Consort.â
Xiaoxiao nodded. [Treasure, Range Control.]
The space replied helplessly: [Master, youâve already used this skill today.] Xiaoxiao thought about it carefully and agreed, so she took the entire tray. Before the Crown Princess Consort came over, Xiaoxiao had already carried the tray to the side of the Empress. Where Noble Consort Ji was, she threw the double speed on her wrist when she turned around. With a whoosh, the positions of the two soup bowls were successfully exchanged.
She was going to take away Noble Consort Jiâs share and hand it over to the Crown Princess Consort, but Noble Consort Ji suddenly got up and started to serve the soup herself.
Before Xiaoxiao could say anything, she saw her sit back down.
The space said: [Eh, Master, she took the bowl with the extra ingredients.] Xiaoxiao looked at the remaining soup bowl on the tray and fell into deep thought. However, the Crown Princess Consort did not give her much time to think, in the latterâs opinion, Xiaoxiao was just trying to please Noble Consort Ji and the Empress at the same time. She was really flattering them.
Hence, she angrily snatched the remaining soup bowl from Xiaoxiaoâs hand and turned to walk towards the Empress without even greeting her.
Xiaoxiao no longer had the time to care about the Crown Princess Consortâs impolite attitude, because Noble Consort Ji picked up the bowl and was about to bring it to her mouth.
Although she didnât like Rong Yanâs strange and aloof mother, she was a beauty after all. It was a pity for her to make a fool of herself in public because of croton. As a veteran member of the Attractive Faces Association, Xiaoxiao admitted that she was sympathetic.
Hence, just as Noble Consort Ji was about to pick up the soup, Xiaoxiao silently thought to herself that Noble Consort Ji had at least given her an expensive meeting gift. She raised her hand and pressed down on the soup bowl. âWait.â Noble Consort Ji looked at her in surprise. Xiaoxiao pursed her lips. âItâs a little hot.â
At the same time that her palm covered the bowl lid, Xiaoxiao had already exchanged it with another Jade Dew Soup that was originally reserved for Little Big Brother in the space.
Only space could do such a precise operation of changing the soup but not the bowl.
In order to prevent the Empressâs meticulous plan from falling through, Xiaoxiao even âaccidentallyâ bumped into the Crown Princess Consort when she got up. When she turned around to help her up, she also exchanged the contents of the other soup bowl on the tray for a second time.
Hence, the soup with the added ingredients âreturned to its rightful ownerâ and back to the Empress.
Seeing the Empress accepting the Crown Princess Consortâs filial piety with a smile, Xiaoxiao looked forward to it.
She had always believed that one should not have the intention to harm others, but if someone offended her, she had to return it.
Especially since the Empress had done it again and again.
Ever since the Empress saw Noble Consort Ji finish the soup that had been tampered with, she couldnât help but look in her direction. However, after waiting for a long time, Noble Consort Ji still didnât move.
At this moment, the Empressâs people walked forward with Furong, who had hidden her wound tightly.
âThe dishes today are not bad. His Majesty and I are very satisfied.â The Empress glanced at the Emperor, who did not care about such a small matter, and said, âHow did you think of these dishes?â Furong lowered her head and replied obediently, âThey were created by my sect.â
As soon as she said this, everyone looked at Xiaoxiao strangely. Then, they were unmoved and continued to eat.
As expected of her. It was delicious and exquisite. It could be said to be perfect. The Empress rubbed her lower abdomen unconsciously and confirmed again. âYouâre saying that the dishes today are all your sectâs secret recipes?â Furong said yes, so the expressions of the people in the hall became even more complicated. Even the Emperor could not help but look at Xiaoxiao.
The Empress raised her hand to hide the curve of her lips. âAre you sure? If you lie in front of His Majesty, it will be a crime to lie to the Emperor.
Furongâs tone was firm. âI donât dare to lie. Everything I say is true.â The Empressâs expression changed. âHow dare you! Iâve already given you a chance, but youâre still stubborn.
Furong looked up in surprise, but the others knew what was going on. It was obvious that the Empress was planning to abandon the chef and protect Princess Anâning.
That made sense. Regardless of what Princess Anâning was like in the past, she was now considered half a member of the royal family. She would not be the only one who would be embarrassed if others found out that she had secretly learned the ultimate techniques of another sect and even tried to take them for herself.
However, it was a pity that this innocent chef had to suffer for Princess Anâningâs selfishness and vanity..