The Emperor ate until there was not even soup left on the table.

Worthy Consort Xu was stunned by this turn of events. It was no wonder that the Emperor was so dissatisfied with the imperial chefs. He kept saying that they couldn’t make the taste of the Empress Dowager. She thought that the Empress Dowager was some immortal chef, but it turned out… it was this pig food taste?!

Worthy Consort Xu didn’t know what to say. At this time, she could not say that it tasted bad. Otherwise, wouldn’t she be saying that the Empress Dowager’s dishes tasted bad too, although this was the truth.

Worthy Consort Xu did not mention that Yu Wan was Yu Shaoqing’s daughter. Her heart was unfathomable. Seeing how touched His Majesty was, who knew if he would impulsively pardon Yu Shaoqing’s death penalty?

Although it had nothing to do with Worthy Consort Xu, why should she help this girl?

Shangguan Yan did not mention it either. After all, she was only here to freeload. She did not know Yu Wan, and knowing too much about Yu Wan would make her look like she had ulterior motives.

After that, Yu Wan made a few more side dishes—green pepper mutton belly, chives fried egg, boiled eggplant, and cold bean sprouts. However, the Emperor’s stomach was already so full that it couldn’t fit anymore, so he generously rewarded it to the servants of the Xianfu Palace.

The people in the palace cried and thanked the Lord for his kindness.

The Emperor could feel that they were really crying. They were not pretending like before. It seemed that they also understood his and the Empress Dowager’s hardships back then.

The palace servants who were crying: Your Majesty, you’re thinking too much. We really just cried because we felt terrible.

The Emperor held Worthy Consort Xu’s hand. “Worthy Consort is considerate.”

This was the second time Worthy Consort Xu heard this from the Emperor, but it was clearly much heavier than the first time. However, Worthy Consort Xu was not happy. This was not the outcome she wanted. The more the Emperor praised her, the more stifled she felt.

The Emperor was happy after eating, so he naturally had to reward her. He rewarded Yu Wan with a hundred taels of silver, but that was not enough. He raised his pen and personally wrote the “world’s number one chef”.

Worthy Consort Xu was about to explode with anger. How could that culinary skill that could only make pig food be worthy of the “world’s number one chef”?!

The news reached the small kitchen.

Yu Wan: “I knew it. I knew I would meet my Bo’le one day.”

Master Qin: “???”

… .

The news that the chef of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion had suddenly obtained the Emperor’s appreciation spread throughout the palace. The Emperor credited this credit to Worthy Consort Xu. That night, many concubines came to Xianfu Palace to congratulate Worthy Consort Xu. Worthy Consort Xu was almost embarrassed to death.

What was the use of the Emperor giving her credit? Wasn’t she still unable to touch a single hair on that girl’s head? That girl had made the Empress Dowager’s cooking. One day, the Emperor might reminisce about his mother and invite that girl into the palace to cook a few dishes.

Worthy Consort Xu was furious just thinking about it. She wished she had never summoned that girl to the palace.

“Your Highness, calm down.” The nanny in charge presented a bowl of herbal jelly.

Worthy Consort Xu took the bowl and scooped a spoonful. She said coldly, “Is she imitating me?”

Back then, Worthy Consort Xu was stepped into the mud. The reason why she could turn things around was all because she took the risk and learned from the Empress Dowager to plant some vegetables in the palace. After that, many people followed suit. However, such things could not be done twice or thrice. The Emperor had seen it many times and was no longer interested.

When Consort Li lost favor back then, she had once tried to make an elm money cake. However, not only was she unable to move the Emperor, but she also made him hate her even more.

Worthy Consort Xu also knew that her accusation was a little unreasonable. After all, Yu Wan had never tasted the Empress Dowager’s dishes, so how could she deliberately imitate the Empress Dowager’s taste? Everything was just fate.

“If I had known that this girl could please His Majesty so much, I would have…”

Worthy Consort Xu did not finish her sentence. It was already too late to say anything.

Under the night sky, Yu Wan and Shangguan Yan left the palace together. Master Qin tactfully did not disturb them and followed from afar with the two chefs. After the two of them got into the carriage, they also got into their own carriage and returned to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

Shangguan Yan’s carriage was as exquisite and luxurious as her clothes. Yu Wan felt that she was not sitting in a carriage, but an immortal carriage.

It was quiet in the carriage.

“Thank you for today, Princess Consort.” Yu Wan thanked her. Although Shangguan Yan had remarried to the Xiao family, she heard Uncle Wan call her that, so she took after him.

Shangguan Yan did not show any concern about how she was addressed, but Shangguan Yan remembered that this girl had once embarrassed her in the magistrate of the Capital. She asked this girl to bring the children to the Xiao Manor, but she listened to that brat and brought the children to the Young Master Manor.

She was very vengeful!

Shangguan Yan snorted coldly. She was no longer as affectionate and protective as she was in front of Worthy Consort Xu. She said coldly, “It’s not for you!”

Yu Wan said softly, “No matter what, the Princess Consort offended Worthy Consort Xu because of me…”

Shangguan Yan said disdainfully, “Do I still need to offend her?”

That’s right, how could she have forgotten that Shangguan Yan’s reputation in the Capital was only worse than Yan Jiuchao. All the women in the Capital hated Shangguan Yan. Even if Shangguan Yan didn’t do anything, she was already a thorn in these women’s side. Worthy Consort Xu couldn’t be spared.

Yu Wan felt that this was most likely because of jealousy.

She was jealous of Shangguan Yan’s background, jealous of Shangguan Yan’s looks, and even more jealous of Shangguan Yan’s marriage. She was simply the ancient version of a male god harvester. Whether it was Prince Yan or Xiao Zhenting, they all treated her wholeheartedly. This was what all women hated her the most.

Shangguan Yan glanced at Yu Wan, who wanted to say something but hesitated. “Alright, stop flattering me. I told you that I didn’t want to save you! Don’t flatter yourself!”

Yu Wan: “Oh.”

Oh? What kind of attitude was that!

Shangguan Yan frowned and looked over. Time had really given her preferential treatment. This angry expression was as delicate as a young girl’s. “Aren’t you going to ask me why I saved you?”

“Why?” Yu Wan’s tone was gentle.

Shangguan Yan felt like she had punched cotton and became even more angry. She was so fierce. Shouldn’t this girl be very afraid, uneasy, and anxious?!

“Princess Consort?” Yu Wan looked at Shangguan Yan with sparkling eyes.

Shangguan Yan was defeated by her gaze. She turned her face away and looked at the night outside the window. “That kid asked me to take care of you.”

How many years had it been since her son took the initiative to talk to her? He actually came looking for her for the first time and said that he was going to leave the Capital. There was a little fool who he was worried about and was afraid that she would be bullied, so he asked her, his mother, to help take care of her.

Her heart ached. However, she could not bear to disagree. After all, this was the first time her son “begged” her after so many years.

Yu Wan realized that the kid she was talking about was Yan Jiuchao. Her heart felt like it had been touched by something, and it was so warm that it hurt.

“But… I didn’t have time to send the news to the Princess Consort. How did the you know that I was detained by Worthy Consort? Did you go to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion to eat stinky tofu?”

Shangguan Yan’s eyes flashed and she sat up straight. “How is that possible! Would I go all the way to eat that unpresentable thing? I… I have eyes in the palace!”

Yu Wan: “Oh, but I heard that you ate the most stinky tofu today.”

Shangguan Yan said angrily, “Isn’t that for His Majesty to see! I don’t even want that smelly thing for free!”

“…Okay.” Yu Wan silently put the jar of stinky tofu that she had taken out back into her bag.

Shangguan Yan bit her handkerchief. “…”

Wu ~

… .

The palace had never been able to hide news, let alone such earth-shattering news. Almost as soon as Yu Wan and the others left the palace, the news of the Emperor eating and crying from the food made from the Master Chef of Drunken Immortal Pavilion reached the Second Prince Manor.

“What did you say? What happened to Father?” Yan Huaijing put down the brush in his hand and looked at the eunuch who went to investigate it.

The eunuch said, “Your Highness, His Majesty cried. His Majesty said that it tastes like what the Empress Dowager made when she was alive.”

Yan Huaijing had two grandmothers. One was Empress Dowager Sheng De, the biological mother of the Emperor and Prince Yan. The other was Empress Dowager Sheng Ci, the second Empress of the late Emperor.

Back then, Empress Dowager Sheng De had been deposed of her posthumous title and was banished to the Cold Palace. Although she had come out after that, the previous Emperor had already established another Empress. The successor did not make any major mistakes, so he did not depose the successor and confer the title of Empress to Sheng De.

Empress Dowager Sheng De was conferred the title of Consort De until the late Emperor passed away and the eldest son ascended the throne. Only then did she and her successor be conferred the title of Empress Dowager.

Empress Dowager Sheng De had passed away early. Three years ago, it was Empress Dowager Sheng Ci who had passed away. No wonder Worthy Consort Xu did not believe the excuse that Yan Huaijing had mourned for Empress Dowager Sheng Ci for three years and did not want to get married. He was not her biological grandson.

Yan Huaijing did not have a deep impression of the Empress Dowager. The most he remembered was that she always hugged Yan Jiuchao, who was a year younger than him, and was in a daze. He fell and cried, but the Empress Dowager never cared. As long as Yan Jiuchao snorted casually, the Empress Dowager would be so nervous that she would beat everyone in the palace.

Perhaps it was because the Empress Dowager’s relationship with his father was not harmonious, she did not even like his father’s children.

Yan Huaijing thought that his jealousy of Yan Jiuchao might have started when the Empress Dowager was still alive.

“Actually, I don’t understand,” Yan Huaijing said thoughtfully.

The eunuch looked at Yan Huaijing blankly, then at Jun Chang’an. Who was His Highness talking to? How should he answer?

Jun Chang’an waved his hand and the eunuch tactfully left. Jun Chang’an asked, “Your Highness, what don’t you understand?”

Yan Huaijing said, “I don’t understand. The Empress Dowager dotes on Prince Yan so much. Why isn’t Father jealous?”

Jun Chang’an paused and said, “Perhaps His Majesty has already obtained the world and can’t ask for more.”

“Is that so?” Yan Huaijing murmured in a daze and continued to write the memorial.

The eunuch stuck his head out of the door.

Jun Chang’an strode out and brought him out of the study. He asked, “What else is the matter?”

The eunuch whispered, “That chef from the Drunken Immortal Pavilion… is Miss Yu! Mrs. Xiao also entered the palace, and His Majesty suddenly went to the Xianfu Palace… Didn’t His Highness send someone to keep an eye on Miss Yu? Why didn’t he get a message from the spy? I wonder if something happened and the spy was dealt with by Worthy Consort Yu? If that’s the case, I’m afraid Miss Yu’s entry into the palace today isn’t simple.”

Jun Chang’an pondered for a moment. “I understand. You can leave.”

“Yes.” The eunuch left the courtyard.

Jun Chang’an returned to the study room.

“What is it?” Yan Huaijing asked.

“Nothing,” Jun Chang’an said.

… .

The cold wind whistled as a carriage sped along the flat official road. A suppressed cough came from inside the carriage.

“Slow down.” Shadow Thirteen instructed.

The coachman pulled the reins and was about to slow down the carriage when Yan Jiuchao said indifferently, “There’s no need. Continue on your way and go to Gong City as soon as possible.”

Shadow Thirteen said, “With Shadow Six around, there’s no hurry for the next few days. The clues won’t stop.”

“It’s not about the clues…” Yan Jiuchao pulled up the blanket covering his body. The light from the Night-Luminescent Pearl landed on his slightly pale face, making him even thinner.

“Young Master, are you worried about Miss Yu?” Shadow Thirteen asked.

Yan Jiuchao let out a long sigh and said, “If she doesn’t see me for a day, it’s like a cat’s paw scratching her heart. She even did something like stopping me at the inn. I wonder what she’ll do to herself after I leave.”

Shadow Thirteen: “…” I was wrong, I was really wrong. I shouldn’t have said that!

Yan Jiuchao had a helpless expression. “Do you think she’s crying to death at home? Or is she already on her way to look for me? Sigh, fortunately, I had the foresight to leave three children in the Capital. Forget it, write a letter and tell her that if she really misses me, she can go to the Xiao Manor to see the children as a way of comfort.”

The corners of Shadow Thirteen’s mouth twitched. He hadn’t even left the Capital yet. Was he sure he wanted to start writing the thirty-fifth letter?!

… .

They were finally out of the Capital.

Shadow Thirteen’s face darkened as he sent out the fifty-third letter.

… .

Gong City was in the east of Great Zhou. The carriage left the eastern city gate and rode east at a fast speed. Seven days later, they arrived at Prefecture Ji. Prefecture Ji was adjacent to Gong City. After that, they crossed the Prefecture Ji Bridge and arrived at Gong City’s Yuan Yang Town.

“Young Master, it’s getting dark. Let’s find an inn to rest first and set off tomorrow.” Although Shadow Thirteen couldn’t stand his Young Master’s nature, Yan Jiuchao was really sick. He had to find a doctor to treat Yan Jiuchao.

Yan Jiuchao leaned against the wall of the carriage sickly. His head was dizzy, and he opened his mouth weakly.

Shadow Thirteen quickly said, “I know. I’ll write a letter now.”

Yan Jiuchao shut his mouth and fell asleep.

When Yan Jiuchao woke up, he was already in the largest inn in Prefecture Ji. He was sleeping on the bed in the Heaven Room, while Shadow Thirteen and Shadow Six were guarding the bed.

Yan Jiuchao looked at Shadow Six weakly and strangely. “Why are you here? Aren’t you in Gong City?”

“Young Master, drink this bowl of medicine first. I’ll report to you slowly.” Shadow Six poured the warmed medicine from the stove into the bowl and brought it over to Yan Jiuchao.

Yan Jiuchao sat up.

Yan Jiuchao had grown up drinking all kinds of medicine, so he was not delicate when he drank the medicine. The bowl of medicine was quickly emptied. He handed the medicine bowl back to Shadow Six. Shadow Thirteen opened a sugar jar and gave him a rock candy.

Even if he could not taste it, other children had done this after they drank medicine when they were young. Yan Jiuchao gradually learned it.

Yan Jiuchao ate a rock candy that was tasteless to him and said expressionlessly, “Speak.”

Shadow Six explained everything that had happened in the past few days. “…I got someone to chase them to Prefecture Ji.”

It turned out that after Shadow Six went to Gong City, he found clues about Yan Ruyu. Following the clues, he found a very important witness, but that witness refused to tell him the entire truth unless he saved his family.

Saving people was not Shadow Six’s forte, so Shadow Six sent a pigeon to Yan Jiuchao and asked him to arrange two sacrificial soldiers.

While waiting for the sacrificial soldiers, Shadow Six happened to meet Zhou Huai.

Young Master Yan sent other spies to keep an eye on Zhou Huai, but Zhou Huai was too cunning and shook off the spies from the Young Master Manor. Shadow Six thought that since they had already bumped into each other, it was better for him to stay behind. After completing Yan Ruyu’s mission, he would bring Zhou Huai back to the Capital.

At that time, the Second Prince’s men appeared.

Shadow Six had secretly gone to Prefecture Ji. He could not let anyone discover his identity, so he abandoned Zhou Huai and ran away. Zhou Huai, on the other hand, was a vengeful person. He led the trouble to Shadow Six.

Both sides fought, and Zhou Huai took the opportunity to escape.

“They recognized you?” Shadow Thirteen interrupted Shadow Six.

Shadow Six shook his head. “No, I covered my face in time and ran fast. They didn’t recognize me.”

“Are they the ones who chased you to Prefecture Ji?” Shadow Thirteen looked at Shadow Six in disdain. Wasn’t this guy too lousy? He couldn’t even defeat a few spies from the Second Prince Manor. Was he really too helpless?

When Shadow Six saw Shadow Thirteen’s wretched gaze, he knew that he was thinking about something dirty again. He glared fiercely at Shadow Thirteen, wishing he could glare a hole in Shadow Thirteen’s head. “What are you thinking?! I wasn’t chased by those spies!”

His martial arts were bad, but that was only relative to Shadow Thirteen. In the martial world, he had few opponents!

“Then what’s going on?” Yan Jiuchao asked with a frown.

“I met Zhou Huai again.” At the mention of this, Shadow Six was quite helpless. Others could not find Zhou Huai even if they wanted to, and he could meet him even if he peed. He was at the end of the toilet, and Zhou Huai was at the end of the toilet. Both separated by a bamboo door. The two of them held their own bird and looked at each other. That scene… was unbearable to look at.

Shadow Six skipped this part and only said that he had bumped into Zhou Huai on the street. “…I was angry that he tricked me earlier, so I wanted to teach him a lesson!”

“And was taught a lesson by him?” Shadow Thirteen said angrily.

Shadow Six said with a livid face, “How is that possible? Someone else came, but this time, it’s not a spy from the Second Prince Manor, but a group of…”

At this point, Shadow Six’s expression suddenly froze. He clenched his fists tightly, and a trace of fear that even he did not notice flashed across his eyes.

Yan Jiuchao looked at him steadily and patiently waited for him to continue.

Shadow Six took a deep breath and his throat moved. After he recovered, he said, “I’ve never seen such terrifying people… They haven’t attacked yet, but their eyes and aura…”

Shadow Thirteen patted Shadow Six’s shoulder. Although he always teased Shadow Six, he knew better than anyone that Shadow Six was not a coward. Someone that even he was afraid of was definitely someone that even sacrificial soldiers might not be able to deal with.

Shadow Six gritted his teeth and said, “Zhou Huai, that fearless person, actually ran to provoke that group of people in order to escape. In the end, that group of people thought that I was with Zhou Huai and chased me down… I fled all the way to Prefecture Ji before I could finally shake them off.”

To be precise, they were too lazy to chase after them. They seemed to have something more important to do and did not want to waste their time on two little thieves.

“Who are those people?” Shadow Thirteen asked in confusion.

Shadow Six shook his head. “I’m not sure, but I suspect they’re not from the Central Plains.”

The most terrifying experts in the Central Plains were all under the Young Master.

Yan Jiuchao paused and tapped his fingers on the blanket a few times. “Ignore Zhou Huai for now. Yan Huaijing’s people will find him. Now, tell me about the news you found in Gong City.”

Shadow Six said, “I found someone. He once had a house in Gong City. About four years ago, a woman with a Capital accent came and bought his house.”

Yan Jiuchao’s eyes darkened. “This woman is Yan Ruyu?”

“That’s right.” Shadow Six nodded.

Four years ago, not long after the Yan Family’s incident, everyone in the Yan Family was arrested and imprisoned. Only Yan Ruyu was left out. The authorities had once searched for her vigorously, but they could not find her.

Yan Jiuchao said thoughtfully, “Is that house very hidden? Why didn’t the authorities find her?”

Shadow Six said, “The house isn’t hidden, but…”

Yan Jiuchao finished the rest of his sentence for him. “But someone protected her.”

“I’m afraid so,” Shadow Six said.

To be honest, Yan Jiuchao was not interested in Yan Ruyu’s past, but only by investigating Yan Ruyu’s dealings with those people could he find out the truth about the three children. Who was the woman that night? Who was the children’s biological mother? He had to give himself an explanation.

Yan Jiuchao gestured for Shadow Six to continue.

Shadow Six said seriously, “The original owner of the house said that Yan Ruyu was already pregnant at that time. She looked like she was three to four months pregnant. Because it was summer, her clothes were thin, so he could tell. Also, Yan Ruyu didn’t come alone to buy the courtyard from him. There was a man beside her… Young Master definitely won’t guess who that man is.”

Yan Jiuchao said, “Who?”