Although Xia Chunyu agreed to hear Ye Binghuai out, he made sure to put some conditions that would lessen their headache. Still, he knew, that this visit would be taxing for both him and Jinxuan.

Ye Jiayao has handed the responsibility for the New Year’s Eve banquet to Jiang Yue, but she was still a little concerned so she was watching her work in the kitchen. They have been braising meat since yesterday. They made some braised beef since that was the Old Marquis’ favorite as well as Madame’s favorite smoked fish. The kitchen was the busiest place in the whole mansion.

Ye Jiayao was happy with the bustle though. She has always loved how busy New Year preparations get. She also loved the decors, the red lanterns, the couplets, the countdowns… basically every New Year tradition. These traditions are slowly being disregarded in modern society so she was very glad to see them in full swing here. These traditions show how important family and ‘home’ are to Chinese culture.

She especially loved making food and watching her family enjoy it.

Which is why, despite all of the helpers, she couldn’t resist cooking.

Jian Yue grumbled, “Second Young Lady, I thought you’re letting me handle this?”

“I’m just going to cook a few dishes,” Ye Jiayao said innocently. She turned to one of the cooks and asked, “Is the sweet and sour lotus root ready?”

“Almost, Second Young Lady.”

“Good. Let it rest, cool it down with ice, then pour Osmanthus-scented honey on top,” Ye Jiayao ordered as she kneaded the dough of sticky rice into small portions to stuff into pitted dates.

Zhou Xingjia saw what she was doing and laughed. “Second Young Lady, you really are creative, putting so much flair on a simple date.”

Ye Jiayao smiled. The sticky rice date was quite a common cold dish in the modern days, and it was popular in the Heavenly residence too. It’s great for the elderly and the kids.

“Yaoyao,” Ye Jiayao heard Chunyu call. Since when does he come to the kitchen?

She handed the stuff she was doing to the cook next to her. “Stuff them in just like that.”

She wiped her hands before walking up to her husband. “Why are you here? It’s so messy in here.”

Chunyu’s face was grave as he said, “Come out with me for a bit.”

Ye Jiayao was confused but she followed him out of the kitchen. Once they were alone, Chunyu told her, “Someone from the palace came and said that the Empress Dowager wants you to cook her some Fo Tiao Qiang…”

Her lips flattened. It was New Year’s Eve today and the Empress Dowager was summoning her to the palace just to feed her appetite?

“Well, I can’t refuse the Empress Dowager’s call. I’m going to go change.” She had a feeling that she wouldn’t be able to make it back home in time for the family gathering.

Chunyu said, “I’m coming with you.”

He was pissed. Since marrying Yaoyao, the Emperor has mentioned a few times how he wanted to eat Yaoyao’s dish but even he didn’t dare to call her. Yaoyao’s a lady now, not just some cook at someone’s beck and call. So the fact that the Empress Dowager was calling Yaoyao now, of all days, to cook for her just made it obvious that she was messing with her.

However, she couldn’t very well refuse the Empress Dowager so all he could do was be with her.

“What are you gonna do there, work as a kitchenhand? You don’t know how to cook. Just stay home and in case I can’t make it back on time, keep my red packet for me.”

“We’ll have our packets regardless. I can’t sit through dinner with you not there,” he said.

“Don’t be silly. It’ll be okay without me, but if you aren’t there, that would affect everyone’s mood. If you want to make me happy, just stay home,” Ye Jiayao persuaded.

If Chunyu ditches dinner just to be with her, Ye Jiayao knew that it would upset Xia You. Xia You had just come to terms about her son caring deeply for his wife, but if he ditched the whole family for her, it’d set her back again.

Ye Jiayao changed her clothes and was just about to leave for the palace when Mother Sun came pass Xia You’s message. Her mother-in-law said for her to try her best to come back for dinner. She also said that if she couldn’t, they would just gather for late supper.

Ye Jiayao was touched. It’s nice of Xia You to consider her.

“Okay, Mother Sun. But please tell Madame, that if I can’t make it back in time, there’s no need to wait for me.”

Mother Sun told Xia You Jinxuan’s response and You was pleased with her daughter-in-law’s selflessness. However, she was still quite mad at the Empress Dowager? Who does she think Jinxuan is? Her chef on demand?

In her room, Liu Li was getting ready. She’s wearing a satin jacket with gold and pink butterflies pattern and fox fur collar. Underneath, she has a jade crepe dress that highlighted her snowy skin and body shape.

Little Ya complimented, “Princess, you look like a fairy.”

“Are you saying that I only look good when I dress up?” Liu Li joked.

Her servant replied hastily, “You are born beautiful, Princess. You are always gorgeous. Why do you think that the Prince Consort can’t take his eyes off of you?”

Liu Li blushed and gave her a look. “Stop teasing me.”

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Little Ya giggled. “By the way, the Second Young Lady is in the palace now.”

Liu Li picked a hairpin from the drawer and handed it to Little Ya. “Put this on for me.”

Her servant followed obediently.

Liu Li looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled in satisfaction. “I’m starting the New Year with my enemy out of the way. I finally get a win.”

Ye Jiayao was led to the kitchen the moment she stepped in the palace.

Lu Yiming handed her a menu shyly, “These are the dishes that the Empress Dowager wants you to cook.”

Ye Jiayao looked the menu over and was discombobulated. The list has thirty-six dishes, all of it were main courses. She thought that the Empress Dowager only wanted her to cook one dish? It was obvious that she wanted to make her stay for the evening.

She held in her groan. When will that old lady stop being a pain in her ass?

However, as upset as she was, it was still a royal banquet so she has to put her 120% in her food. Besides, she couldn’t afford to give the Empress Dowager more ammunition against her.

Lu Yiming called in two cooks and told her, “The preps for the ingredients are all done. They’re here to help you with whatever you need.”

Ye Jiayao smiled gratefully. “Okay. Thank you, Chef Lu.”

Lu Yiming continued with his work as Ye Jiayao began hers. This was going to be a long night.

At the end of the banquet, when the Emperor tasted the Fo Tiao Qiang, he couldn’t resist asking, “Who made this?”

Eunuch Wei whispered, “The Empress Dowager called in the Second Young Lady of the Jing An Marquis mansion to make it.”

The Emperor frowned. It’s New Years’ Eve today, why would the Empress Dowager ask Jinxuan to cook? Was she deliberately messing with her? What would the people in the Jing An Marquis mansion think? He couldn’t help but be embarrassed.

However, since the banquet’s almost coming to an end, the Emperor could only order Eunuch Wei to give her a huge reward and have someone take her home.

Ye Jiayao walked out of the palace and saw Song Qi waiting for her with a carriage.

“Second Young Lady, the Heir-son Lord asked me to pick you up. He was going to do it himself, but he got held up by the Old Lord. They’re playing Shuangkou,” Song Qi said as he loaded the gifts in the Eunuch’s hand into the carriage.

Ye Jiayao could not hide her laugh. “Father plays Shuangkou too?”

“Yeah. First Young Master suggested it and the Old Marquis’ learning really fast.”

“What about Madame?” she asked.

“Madame wanted to play Shuangkou too, but Third Young Lady doesn’t know the rules, so they can only play Madiao. Third Madame is quite skillful at it and she’s winning a fortune.”

Ye Jiayao could imagine Zhou’s eyes glowing in greed.

She was now more excited to go home since she hasn’t played these games for a long time. In the modern days, her family would also gather around to play Mahjong after New Years’ Eve dinner while the Spring Festival Gala plays on the TV. Her dad wouldn’t join any game and instead would make tea and give out food to everyone. It was quite a joyful occasion.

Inside Xia You’s room, the four ladies were sitting around playing Madiao. You held a ready hand, only needing six-Bamboo tiles and nine-Bamboo tiles. However, Zhou was before her and she kept playing character tiles. You was so anxious that she signaled for Qiao to give her some tiles.

Qiao has been losing all evening and thought that this was her chance to win one round. But when You asked her for some tiles, she couldn’t very well refuse.

You was just about to celebrate her win when Zhou laughed. “I’ve been waiting on a six-Bamboo tile for three of a kind! Come on, give me the money people…”

Qiao stared open-mouthed at the tiles. Zhou was bleeding her dry!

Xia You closed her hands into a tight fist.

Liu Li handed her money without any hesitation. “You’re very lucky today, Third Auntie! You have some skills!”

“Please, I don’t even play that often,” Zhou said with fake modesty.

“Second Young Lady is here,” a servant reported just as Ye Jiayao stepped inside.

Xia You stood up and said, “You play for me, Second Daughter-in-law. I want to change up the luck for a bit.”

Ye Jiayao took off her cape and handed it to a servant. “Mother, I don’t know much about this.”

Zhou perked up upon hearing Jinxuan say that. She would love to take money from Jinxuan.”Just play around with us! Don’t say no to your mother-in-law!”