Chapter 174: The Empress Dowager Makes Things Difficult

The next day, Ye Jiayao woke up with her whole body aching.

Xia Chunyu gently patted her cheek and said, “Your performance yesterday wasn’t that bad. Keep up the good work.”

She threw a pillow at his head.

He just laughed at her and walked out.

Ye Jiayao was frustrated. Why was she always the one feeling battered and sore when he’s the one doing all the work?

Qiao Xi came to the room and told her, “Housekeeper Zhong has brought the mason.”

Ye Jiayao quickly got up and got dressed.

The three of them took a tour around the courtyard while the mason listened to Ye Jiayao’s requests. Since the ‘small kitchen’ that they were planning to build wasn’t small in dimensions at all, it was recommended for it to be built in the penthouse opposite the main room.

Ye Jiayao addressed the mason, “Please start work as soon as possible. If you do a good job, there will be rewards.”

She then turned to Manager Zhong and said, “Don’t bother Mother with the fees for this, Manager Zhong. I will pay for this myself. Mother’s a little tight right now so we shouldn’t trouble her.

Manager Zhong nodded, impressed by the Second Young Mistress’ thoughtfulness and ability to carry her weight.

“For the time where the small kitchen is in construction, it is best to build a wall here. This is the inner garden and I don’t want to inconvenience anyone,” she added.

“Yes, Second Young Mistress,” the mason said.

After settling the matter of construction, Ye Jiayao then proceeded to Xia You and Old Lord’s place to greet them.

There, she found both Concubine Wei and Qiao kneeling, seeking forgiveness on Xia Chunli’s behalf. The Old Marquis was drinking his tea, unbothered by them.

“Chunli has learned his lesson. He has work today, let’s just forget about this,” Xia You reasoned.

The Old Marquis snorted. “I don’t think he needs to go to Han Lin Institute anymore. He has resorted to lying, cheating, and other underhanded tricks just to get a good review. He’s just going to tarnish our name.”

“Old Lord, this is not the way to make him change. We have to take things slow. We just need to observe him in the future and if he makes the same mistake again, then you can mete out more punishment,” Xia You said. She actually wanted Chunli to finish the three days of his punishment, but since she was the lady of the house, she has to appear gracious and fair.

Xia Zhuofeng thought it over carefully before finally saying, “I shall pardon him this time and just punish him to copying the family rules a hundred times.”

Concubine thanked him profusely before getting up to go to the ancestral hall with Qiao. When Qiao passed by Jinxuan, she glared at her with her red-rimmed eyes.

Ye Jiayao was unfazed, she did nothing wrong. She ignored her and instead walked up to greet her in-laws.

Upon seeing her, Xia Zhuofeng’s mood visibly got better.

“Jinxuan, I heard you built a small kitchen for yourself. That’s good, you get to make more good food!” he started.

Ye Jiayao gave him an indulgent smile. “Father, I have made a lot of spicy cabbage and garlic eggplant for you. Whatever else you want to eat, just let me know. Mother, I also invented a new type of special pastry yesterday. I will bring back some for you to try later.”

Xia You was moved that she thought about her. She was actually excited to try this as she recalled how much she enjoyed the ice cream mooncake she invented. However, she didn’t dare show any emotion as she said, “I heard that you didn’t want to get new clothes.”

“Mother, I still have a few more sets of new clothes I have yet to wear. It is best to not be wasteful,” Ye Jiayao replied.

Xia You did not respond, but on the inside, she was happy with her daughter-in-law’s attitude. She wasn’t wasteful or extravagant, yet she proved to be generous. Disregarding her background, she actually has a lot of merits.

“Go ahead and get going with your day. I will take the menu to the Empress Dowager today and if she doesn’t have any corrections, we’re all set for the wedding feast. Come back later tonight,” Xia You informed her.

Ye Jiayao left and headed straight to the courtyard with Jiang Yue where Zhong Xiang was already waiting.

First, she told Zhong Xiang to chop some firewood and asked Jiang Yue to go fetch some water. Once they were done with the preparations, she handed the recipe to Zhong Xiang and told him to just follow all the instructions she wrote.

“The most important part is the control of the fire. If you do not have good control, the cake would not rise. You can ask Jiang Yue to help you but ultimately, you should trust your instincts as a chef.”

She wanted to teach him how to bake a cake by letting him discover the critical points by himself. This way, he would have a first-hand experience of what works and what doesn’t.

As she expected, his first attempt failed. She asked him to point out the details that he think he missed and which area he thinks he could improve more before she told him all the mistakes that she saw.

Zhong Xiang tried again, and since he was a fast learner, he got it right on his second try.

Ye Jiayao was happy to his final result. She said, “If you succeed for three consecutive times, you pass.”

They hustled around the courtyard for the whole morning to produce three cake sponges. The cake that Zhong Xiang decorated turned out rough and ugly so she told him to bring it to the brothers in Heavenly Residence. She finished the other two cakes herself because she wanted to give them to the Crown Princess and Xia You to try. She also made a mental note to make one tomorrow for Elder Princess Yu De and Little Jing.

When she arrived at the Crown Prince’s residence, she was immediately ushered in.

The Crown Princess’ belly has gotten very big since the two months that Ye Jiayao saw her.

“We never expected you to be a woman,” said the Crown Princess. “The Crown Prince was so shocked when we found out the truth.”

Ye Jiayao blushed and lowered her head in embarrassment. “I had to conceal my identity under dire circumstances. I seek your forgiveness, Crown Princess.”

The Crown Princess waved her apology away. “You know, I actually envy you. Your life might have been dangerous but at least it was colorful and exciting.”

Ye Jiayao could understand where the Crown Princess was coming from. Wealthy ladies lead a boring life where they are catered to 24/7 and their most important job was to keep their husbands happy and bear them an heir. To pass the time, they gossip and scheme against other women. She wouldn’t last two days in that kind of life.

“What have you brought me? It looks extremely exquisite,” the Crown Princess asked curiously.

“It’s a cake, Crown Princess. I have brought you the best one that I made.”

The Crown Princess smiled kindly at her. “You are so thoughtful! In the future, even if you don’t bring food, do come over more often to talk to me.”

Ye Jiayao was elated. The Crown Princess liked her!

“I don’t want you to find me naggy when the time comes, Crown Princess,” Ye Jiayao said laughingly.

“Well, I don’t have anyone naggy by my side so that’s alright. Come, tell me about what is happening outside.”

Ye Jiayao sat and chatted with the Crown Princess for more than two hours. It wasn’t until she remembered her mother-in-law’s reminder that she finally excused herself to leave.

When she returned to the mansion, she went straight to Xia You.

Xia You was in a terrible mood at the moment.

“The Empress Dowager is purposely making things difficult for the Second Young Mistress! The Second Young Mistress is no longer a chef, how can she bring up such a request?” Granny Sun lamented. “Second Young Mistress would agree to it but this is too much.”

Xia You sighed. “I think this will just get worse as soon as Liu Li joins the family. Jinxuan can be kind and tolerant but she is not a pushover. If the two of them are in a conflict, I can’t favor one over the other.”

“Second Young Mistress is here,” the servant outside reported.

Ye Jiayao entered the room, a box of cake in hand. “Mother, this is the cake I made for you.”

Xia You, however, was too worried to eat so she got Granny Sun to take it. After much hesitation, she started, “Empress Dowager gave the go-ahead for the menu that you created, but…”

Ye Jiayao saw Xia You’s weird expression and carefully asked, “What is it?”

“She wants you at the helm of the kitchen for the wedding feast.”

Ye Jiayao’s spirits fell. The Empress Dowager wanted her to cook at the feast? Why the hell was this old woman still trying to make her life miserable? She knew that the old crook just wanted to show everyone that even though she’s the Second Young Mistress now, she was still a cook.

What’s wrong with being a chef anyway? If she thinks they’re so beneath her, then why doesn’t she cook her food herself?

After seeing Ye Jiayao’s silence, Xia You added, “I know that it’s a little inappropriate.”

“Mother, don’t fret,” Ye Jiayao assured, swallowing her rage. “I will take on this wedding feast. I have done the Old Ancestress’ birthday feast and I have cooked for His Majesty. Doing a wedding feast for my brother-in-law is no big deal.”

Xia You knew that Jinxuan would not reject this proposition but she still felt uneasy. It was obvious that Liu Li came up with this to punish Jinxuan, but in doing so, she’s also bringing shame to Chunyu, the Heir-son Lord. That she cannot tolerate.

“I shall make another trip to the palace tomorrow!” Xia You declared resolutely.

“Mother, it is alright. I am Chunfeng’s sister-in-law and it is only right that I put in the effort to make his wedding beautiful.” Ye Jiayao curtsied and said, “I’m going to take my leave now, Mother.”

Once Jinxuan was out of the room, Granny Sun remarked sadly, “The Second Young Mistress is not happy!”

Xia You massaged her temples. “Who would be in her situation?”

“Then… are we going to let it slide?” Granny Sun asked.

Xia You didn’t respond. Their troubles were just beginning.

Ye Jiayao returned to her room, depressed.

Jiang Yue followed her in and asked, “Second Young Mistress, Madame said that she would make another trip to the palace, why did you refuse her? You know that Princess Liu Li is just doing this to get back at you!”

“It’s no use. We all know that Mother wouldn’t be able to change the Empress Dowager’s mind. Just as you said, they wanted to get back at me,” Ye Jiayao explained. “It doesn’t matter. They won’t succeed. Everyone will look down at them for making me work and sympathize with me instead. So what if I’m a cook? Everyone already knows that!”

Jiang Yue stayed quiet. Although the Second Young Mistress was putting a brave front, Jiang Yue knew that she was unhappy with the situation.