My Fantastic Chef Wife

329. A Woman’s Jealousy

Translator: ChowvanLee

Empress Dowager looked up and down at Ye Xiaoxian and said, “Your clothes look good. Are they yours?”

Ye Xiaoxian thought, ‘Of course they’re mine. If not, are they yours?’

“Last time I entered the palace, the Empress gave them to me!” Ye Xiaoxian said.

This was the requested costume that the wives of the officials had to wear when they were in the palace, so Ye Xiaoxian put it on again.

Empress Dowager smiled disdainfully, “Hmph, the Empress is really considerate. In order to make you look like me, she even made the clothes into my favoured style. She is playing a good game.”

Ye Xiaoxian thought again, ‘Is this the case?’

It seemed that the relationship between Empress Dowager and the Empress was not good. It turned out that not only in ordinary families would mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws be on bad terms with each other, but as was the case in the royal family.

But what was the point of the Empress doing this? Was she deliberately embarrassing Empress Dowager?

It was reasonable for Empress Dowager to feel embarrassed if a village woman looked like her.

Empress Dowager asked again, “I heard that you’ve been living in State Preceptor’s residence recently?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Ye Xiaoxian answered.

“How’s your life in the residence?”

“Good.” Ye Xiaoxian said.

She thought that Empress Dowager and State Preceptor were of high status. They were probably friends, so she couldn’t speak ill of him.

She didn’t expect Empress Dowager added, “Oh? Tell me more.”

Ye Xiaoxian said, “I eat well and sleep well in State Preceptor’s residence.”

“Will State Preceptor give you enough money to spend?” Empress Dowager asked.

It was true.

However, Ye Xiaoxian was alerted by Empress Dowager’s unpleasant tone.

‘Could it be that Empress Dowager is in charge of State Preceptor’s money? Or does Empress Dowager want to punish me for the crime of wasting money?’

“I’m asking you. Why don’t you answer?” Empress Dowager asked again.

Ye Xiaoxian said, “At first, I’ve only had meals and a place to sleep in, but a few days ago, State Preceptor suddenly called me over to him and told me to go out shopping and he would pay the bill.”

“So, you’re spending his money?” Empress Dowager asked.

Ye Xiaoxian thought, ‘Why not?”

However, she didn’t say it out but answered, “State Preceptor might look after me because my husband is against the enemy on the battlefield.”

“Which means that he didn’t treat you well before, but suddenly became good to you a few days ago?”

Ye Xiaoxian realized something somehow.

After chatting with Empress Dowager for so long, she kept talking about State Preceptor. It seemed like Empress Dowager and State Preceptor had an affair.

Ye Xiaoxian hurriedly replied, “Yes, I have been living in State Preceptor’s residence for some days. I rarely see State Preceptor on normal days. A few days ago, State Preceptor suddenly summoned me over and told me that my husband had won many battles, so he rewarded me with some money.”

After a moment of silence, Empress Dowager asked again, “What do you think of State Preceptor?”

At this time, Ye Xiaoxian would be too stupid if she didn’t know Empress Dowager’s intention.

She hurriedly replied, “State Preceptor is… sophisticated. I don’t have much contact with him, so don’t know him very well. But I think he is kind of a good elder.”

Empress Dowager sneered, “Hmph, he has put you under house arrest. You still think he’s a good guy?”

“Perhaps. He might be doing this for the country. I know nothing about the imperial court.” Ye Xiaoxian said.

Empress Dowager’s anger finally alleviated.

However, she showed no intention to let Ye Xiaoxian go back.

She measured Ye Xiaoxian up and down and continued, “You are really smart.”

“I am flattered, Your Majesty.”

“You look a little bit like when I was young. No matter what, we’re brought together by fate. Why don’t you stay here tonight? You can have dinner with me tonight and then stay with me for a few days. What do you think?”

Ye Xiaoxian naturally did not want to accept this invitation. The palace was gorgeous, but it was like a cage with strict hierarchy and rules.

She blurted out, “But my friend is still in the State Preceptor’s residence. If I don’t go back, she’ll be worried.”

“Don’t worry. I will send a message to your friend that you’re having a good time here and won’t go back for the time being.”

Ye Xiaoxian: “…”

…

If Empress Dowager wanted to send a message to Jin Xiaoyu, State Preceptor would hear this message first and then Jin Xiaoyu would know.

State Preceptor was stunned when he heard that Empress Dowager had detained Ye Xiaoxian.

‘Could Little Ye’s secret be unlocked?’

‘Could Empress Dowager have discovered that she is our daughter?’

He couldn’t go into the palace at this time, so he was going to find Empress Dowager after morning assembly the next day.

…

Ye Xiaoxian lived in Empress Dowager’s palace and felt very unaccustomed.

Apart from chatting with her in the hall for a while, Empress Dowager ignored her completely. She sent her to a wing-room and let her live alone. During the time, apart from having someone send her water and food, she was alone in the room.

Even if she had been trapped in State Preceptor’s residence for so long, she had never felt so uncomfortable as in Empress Dowager’s palace.

Perhaps it was because Jin Xiaoyu wasn’t there and she didn’t even have someone to talk to, so she was particularly depressed.

However, what could she do? She couldn’t get out of the palace without permission.

She had nothing to do but stay in the room. She took a shower in the evening before heading to bed.

That night, she never missed Xiao Baoshan so much.

…

Ye Xiaoxian was dreaming all night before she woke up the next day.

After she woke up, a maid served for her to freshen up.

She asked, “Does Empress Dowager say when I can get out of the palace?”

The maid immediately scolded her, “How can you call Empress Dowager, you should say Her Majesty!”

So Ye Xiaoxian asked again, “Does Her Majesty say when I can get out of the palace?”

“Her Majesty didn’t say anything. Just wait.”

Ye Xiaoxian: “…”

After breakfast, she had nothing to do so went to the garden for a walk.

The maids outside didn’t stop her, so she strolled around and stayed beside which flower was beautiful.

The flowers in the palace were carefully planted. Even an ordinary Chinese rose was much bigger than the ones outside.

Ye Xiaoxian stopped in front of a pink flower and there was a bee searching for nectar on it. She stared at the bee.

Empress Dowager came across this scene in the hall.

Ye Xiaoxian was looking at the bee, which reminded Empress Dowager of her youth.

She came from an influential family in the south of the Changjiang River. When she met State Preceptor, she was deceived by State Preceptor’s sweet words. She unknowingly fell in love with him, and later they met each other in private.

There was a pool of beautiful Chinese roses in the date place. When State Preceptor was doing business, she enjoyed the sight of flowers and bees.

State Preceptor told her that she looked like a gorgeous angel when she was staring at the flowers.

Empress Dowager thought, ‘Madam Xiao also likes to stare at the flowers, which is similar to me. Does State Preceptor ever praise her as an angel?’

Empress Dowager was a little angry when just thinking about it.

‘Hmph. Wearing clothes of the same styles as me, and doing the same actions as me. She is definitely imitating me!’

‘This little bitch must know the relations between me and State Preceptor, so she imitates me to flatter State Preceptor.’

‘She’s quite good at playing games. She emphasized that she has barely seen State Preceptor yesterday and she even called him an elder.’

‘But a person who has been put under house arrest would say that she knows nothing about political affairs; isn’t she lying?’

Empress Dowager had a worse impression of Ye Xiaoxian.

Initially, she wanted to invite Ye Xiaoxian to have lunch together, but she cancelled the plan. She just let servants send Ye Xiaoxian some food to keep her alive.

…

In the afternoon, State Preceptor finished a long assembly.

Right away, he rushed to Empress Dowager’s Palace.

Usually, when he came to Empress Dowager’s palace, he would do it quietly. But now he gave up doing that secretly and asked for Empress Dowager the moment he arrived.

Ye Xiaoxian was stunned in the garden when she saw State Preceptor rushing over.

According to her learning about the rules in ancient times, a male official was not allowed to come to the imperial concubine’s palace unless he had a daughter as an imperial concubine. Whatsoever, he had to visit his daughter at the right time.

However, State Preceptor came in so boldly that Ye Xiaoxian was keenly aware that something must have happened between them.

As expected, Empress Dowager imprisoned her here because of jealousy.

Ye Xiaoxian pretended that she didn’t see State Preceptor. She sat in flowers and listened carefully to what they would talk about.

When Empress Dowager saw State Preceptor, she blurted out. “Oh, you’re in such a hurry today. What’s the emergency?”

State Preceptor had expected how Empress Dowager would be like.

If Empress Dowager was angry and he was reprimanded, then it meant Empress Dowager had known the truth. She would lose her temper and blame him for telling her that Ye Xiaoxian had no red mole on her back and lying to her that Ye Xiaoxian was not their daughter.

She was so eager to find her daughter. If she knew the truth, she probably didn’t want to talk to him anymore.

But Empress Dowager wasn’t angry. She was jealous like a little girl. It seemed that she hadn’t found the truth yet.

State Preceptor asked, “Did you hold Madam Xiao in the Palace?”

“That’s right, didn’t you say that Madam Xiao looks like me? I met her yesterday and felt we’re getting along, so I made her stay with me for a few days. Why? Madam Xiao is not someone important to you. Why are you so anxious?”

State Preceptor quickly coaxed Empress Dowager, “You know that she is Xiao Baoshan’s wife. His Majesty and I are planning to threaten Xiao Baoshan to eradicate Yan Ziyan with her, then…”

“Then make Xiao Baoshan stay in the capital city and slowly weaken his power. When he is useful in the future, let him be the General again!” Empress Dowager said.

State Preceptor said, “Since you know what we’re doing, you should know that Madam Xiao is very important to us. If anything happens to her…”

“What can hurt her in the palace? Can I beat her or abuse her?” Empress Dowager asked.

“Of course not. That’s not what I mean. It’s just… since she’s not in the State Preceptor’s residence, I feel quite uneasy. If someone comes to rescue her or she manages to escape, we’ll lose our advantage.”

“This is the imperial palace. She can’t fly out even with wings!”

When State Preceptor saw Empress Dowager’s tough attitude, he changed to a smile and consoled Empress Dowager, “Be good, honey. If you’re bored, I will collect some funny gadgets for you, or pick a few maids for you. Aren’t you fond of small animals? I’ll get you some local puppies from Persia. The fluffy ones, eight or ten of them, is that okay?”