My Fantastic Chef Wife

361. Winter Days

Translator: ChowvanLee

Empress Dowager did not feel sorry for the death of Mrs. State Preceptor. Being in the palace for so many years, she had long gone through the death of many people. She would not care about anyone except for the ones she loved.

She sighed at the ruthlessness of men.

‘Because of my beauty, I’m still valued by State Preceptor. If I’m not beautiful any more, State Preceptor would throw me away like a doll.’

‘I had been so stupid that I actually loved State Preceptor for so long.’

…

After Mrs. State Preceptor died, State Preceptor still went to the court every day as if nothing happened and as if the person who died was not his wife, but an insignificant person next door.

One of his sons also worked for the imperial court. His son had witnessed the miserable condition of his mother. He could not forgive State Preceptor for the time being, so he didn’t even greet State Preceptor when they met.

State Preceptor didn’t care and didn’t explain anything to his son.

He thought he was powerful and his son was not a fully-fledged official. One day, his son will ask him for help because of political issues. He intended to repair their relations then.

Thus, they were like enemies. One didn’t care about his son, the other was angry at his father.

…

In the North.

Yan Ziyan’s troop originally only had tens of thousands of soldiers. However, ever since they defeated Jing Feng of the Northern Qing Kingdom, the army had been expanding non-stop because a lot of men nearby joined the army. For a time, the troop had expanded to a hundred thousand soldiers.

Since military forces expanded, they naturally need more provisions and funds.

So, Yan Ziyan sent a letter to the imperial court for help, otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to raise so many soldiers.

It was good to expand the troop in the north after a war. They needed to consolidate their force in case the Northern Qing Kingdom invaded them again. Besides, after a war, they needed to cultivate new strength.

Therefore, Li Chengkun showed Yan Ziyan’s letter to State Preceptor.

State Preceptor read it and threw it away. “Rapacious bastard! What rapacious bastard!”

Li Chengkun frowned and asked, “Why do you think so, State Preceptor?”

In fact, Li Chengkun also thought so, but he hoped that these words would come from State Preceptor.

State Preceptor said, “Your Majesty, you can’t give provisions and funds to him. Although the north needs to be consolidated, we have to guard against Yan Ziyan. After all, he was a bandit and has a group of bandits following him. I’m afraid that they will launch an uprising one day.”

Li Chengkun asked, “What do you mean, State Preceptor?”

State Preceptor felt his beard, “We can expand the troop in the north, but the leader can’t be Yan Ziyan. It has to be our man!”

Li Chengkun said, “That’s exactly what I mean.”

State Preceptor said, “So, we can’t have Yan Ziyan any more. We have to secretly kill him. As a result, the gang of bandits will lose their leader and we will find them a new leader.”

Li Chengkun thought it was difficult, “If we want to kill Yan Ziyan, the best person is Xiao Baoshan, but Xiao Baoshan is obviously unwilling to do this.”

“How about Wan Shijie?” State Preceptor said, “Give Wan Shijie a title of Ministry of War so he could go inspect the troop. Then he can find a chance to kill Yan Ziyan.”

Li Chengkun asked cautiously, “Is Wan Shijie reliable?”

“At least he is loyal to me, unlike Xiao Baoshan.”

Li Chengkun thought for a while and felt this was what they got to do, so he agreed to use Wan Shijie.

…

At Xiao Manor.

Xiao Baoshan could rest today and didn’t have to go to the Ministry of War.

It was not cold, so he suggested Ye Xiaoxian take a walk outside.

Ye Xiaoxian had been stayed at home and never left the house. She thought that although she had recently been popular in the capital city, there shouldn’t be many people who had met her. Xiao Baoshan happened to have a day break, so she might as well go out to look around.

Instead of wearing the gorgeous clothes given by the loyal family, she dressed as plain as possible, just like a maid.

Xiao Baoshan found it funny, “You are burying your head in the sand.”

“Why is it that?” Ye Xiaoxian asked.

Xiao Baoshan asked, “The person next to you is me. How could others not know that you are Madam Xiao?”

Ye Xiaoxian suddenly realized that, ‘That’s right. Baoshan arrived at the capital city on a big horse. Therefore, people in the city know what he looks like. If I’m walking by his side, so how could others not know that I’m Madam Xiao?’

‘Why not dress up a little better to avoid making Baoshan embarrassed?’

‘Besides, I’m Princess Ning Yuan.’

Hence, she changed into a slightly more beautiful outfit. Although it was still plain, she looked much more elegant in it.

…

Ye Xiaoxian had only come out with Jin Xiaoyu after arriving in the capital city for so long, so she wasn’t familiar with the route. She only knew where she could find good restaurants.

It was winter and there were very few people on the streets, but restaurants and teahouses were packed.

Ye Xiaoxian and Xiao Baoshan strolled on the street for some time and then entered a teahouse, intending to appreciate operas.

As soon as they walked into the teahouse, many people were paying attention to them. Someone recognized Xiao Baoshan and couldn’t help shouting, “Hey, isn’t that General Xiao?”

“Yes, he is General Xiao, tall and fierce. I can recognize him at a glance.”

“Is that Madam Xiao next to him?”

“I don’t expect Madam Xiao to be so good-looking. They are the perfect couple.”

“…”

Some people even waved at them and Xiao Baoshan responded politely. In this way, people became more fond of him. They didn’t expect a seemingly ruthless general to be so gentle and easygoing.

Xiao Baoshan and Ye Xiaoxian asked for a private parlour upstairs and some peanuts and tea, waiting to listen to operas.

Now the actors were playing an opera halfway and Ye Xiaoxian couldn’t see which opera it was. She felt that she was watching the traditional opera channel, so she couldn’t enjoy it and looked up from the opera.

Thus, they started to chat about Jin Xiaoyu and the recent events that had happened in the capital city.

They thought that Jin Xiaoyu should have returned to the tribe now. Even if she didn’t return to the tribe, she was safe now.

As for the recent event, which was the death of Mrs. State Preceptor, Ye Xiaoxian felt that State Preceptor was so cruel that even his wife could end up like that.

Xiao Baoshan did not answer and just listened to Ye Xiaoxian.

The previous opera was soon over and it changed to a new opera.

Perhaps it was because the opera started from the beginning, Ye Xiaoxian actually could keep watching it.

She still didn’t know what they were singing, but she could guess some through some words and actors’ expressions.

Ye Xiaoxian paid attention to the opera.

As she listened, she suddenly heard a sarcastic voice from behind, “Well, aren’t these Assistant Minister Xiao and Princess Ning Yuan?”

Due to the disturbance, Ye Xiaoxian turned around unhappily and saw Tao Baoqun and Bao Yuda they saw in the hunting ground that day.

The two of them also came out for operas, but they were too sarcastic.

Ye Xiaoxian replied, “Alas, aren’t you Mr Tao and Mr Bao who are bad at hunting and making stories? Well, you’re here for operas? You do should watch more to not get beaten next time because your clumsy dramas gave you away!”

“You…” Bao Yuda looked at Ye Xiaoxian angrily but he was speechless.

Tao Baoqun was angry too, but he held it. “Princess Ning Yuan is a good actress. You’re the biological daughter of Empress Dowager and State Preceptor and helped to kill Mrs. State Preceptor, yet you still got the mood to watch operas here.”

Ye Xiaoxian was irritated. “Mr Tao, you have to prove what you said is true. The rumors came from a teahouse back then. Do you want to spread it again? If you insist on saying that, let’s go to the government office to reason things! Let’s see if the prefectural magistrate would agree with your statement!”

For a time, Tao Baoqun was speechless and felt that Ye Xiaoxian was incredibly articulate.

Tao Baoqun and Bao Yuda had wanted to tease Ye Xiaoxian and Xiao Baoshan, but they failed completely. They felt unhappy with the result but couldn’t do anything to Ye Xiaoxian.

Tao Baoqun and Bao Yuda returned to their private room, but they were too angry to listen to the opera. They were thinking about how to teach Ye Xiaoxian a lesson and embarrass her in public when they met her next time.

…

After Ye Xiaoxian and Xiao Baoshan appreciated the operas, they walked around many shops outside.

In other people’s eyes, they were dating, but Ye Xiaoxian was looking for business opportunities.

She had always wanted to run a dessert store or a restaurant in the capital city. She expected it to earn more than ever before. She wasn’t worried about capital. Over the past few days, the things given to her from the palace and from high officials and noble persons in the hunting ground were enough for her to open the second largest restaurant in the city.

However, she, an official’s wife, couldn’t do business. If she wanted to do it, she could only find a partner to be the manager of the shop. However, she hadn’t found such a partner yet.

She planned to take a vacation. After all, she didn’t know how long she could live. She wanted to enjoy herself when she got some money in her hands.

…

“Did you send Wan Shijie to the north?”

In the palace, Empress Dowager spoke to State Preceptor casually.

It was getting colder and snow had fallen the day before yesterday. In Empress Dowager’s room, incense was lit and coal burned. No matter who was in the room, he would feel lazy.

State Preceptor was really unhappy with Empress Dowager’s look.

He said, “Yes, aren’t you protecting Madam Xiao? Xiao Baoshan wouldn’t like to do it, so I had to send Wan Shijie.”

“I’m not protecting Madam Xiao. Why do I protect her? I’m protecting the prestige of imperial family,” Empress Dowager retorted and said, “Can Wan Shijie complete the mission?”

State Preceptor said, “If he is more alert, he will do it.”

“Well, that’s the best.” Empress Dowager said and took a sip of cold tea that had been brewed.

State Preceptor asked, “It’s been so cold recently. Why are you drinking this? You’ll get stomach upset.”

“The physician told me to drink some. We’re different from the commoners. My room is warm and I’ve had too much nutritious food, so cold tea can redress the balance.”

State Preceptor was even more upset when he saw that Empress Dowager said and moved lazily.