When the next morning arrived, Xuan Yu saw the girl and her maid stood before her room, eagerly waiting for his arrival. It was odd to see his concubine expecting for him today. Strangely, she even smiled warmly when she saw him. Xuan Yu could not help but to feel perplexed. "Is there any good things happened?"
The girl nodded her head shyly. "Having Your Majesty coming here is the happiest gift Concubine Shu ever had. How can she not feel happy?"
Xuan Yu become silent, even more puzzled hearing her suddenly say such honeyed words. What has gotten into the lady's mind? He stood there silently until his servant softly poked him from the back, awakened him from his thought.
"Very well." The Emperor said shortly.
The girl's lips stretched even broad as she invited the Emperor, "Please come in. Concubine Shu will prepare a tea for Your Majesty."
*****
After a moment, the girl brought the tea and carefully placed the tea on the table. "The tea is here, please drink it while it still warm. Warm tea is more enjoyable to drink during cold season."
Xuan Yu hummed shortly, still in bewilderment as he grabbed the tea and sipping it slowly.
Meanwhile, the girl sat opposite him and stared at the Emperor smilingly.
Xuan Yu took a glance at her. He admitted it was refreshing seeing her smile early in the morning. However, as she continued staring him, Xuan Yu beginning to feel something was off.
"How is the tea?" She asked, tilting her head.
The Emperor placed the cup back on the table. "Not bad."
"Concubine Shu is happy to hear that." She chuckled shyly behind her sleeve, caused the Emperor to feel even more suspicious.
Xuan Yu was familiar with such behaviour. Neither his officials nor concubines, all of them shared the same look when they wanted something. Since they could not ask straight, they will act all nice before proceeding to their real intentions. The situation was the same as the current situation; Xuan Yu could easily read her face like an open book.
"What is it that you want?" The Emperor asked frankly.
The girl's expression changed and her forehead was sweating. "It is nothing! Why does Your Majesty ask?"
The Emperor knitted his brows, "Your face clearly says it all. If you have something to say, just say it. "
She lowered her head and looked a bit panicked.
It appeared Xuan Yu was right. People would not change drastically unless they wanted for something. "Tell me." He asked impatiently.
"Actually, it is regarding to the cooking competition," She said while playing with her fingers nervously. "If Concubine Shu may, can she find the ingredients herself?"
Xuan Yu shot his eyebrows upwards. The girl being all suspicious over a small matter, the Emperor did not know what to feel. "Of course, you may. I will send the servant in charge to bring you the things you want. "
Her expression remained the same. There was no trace of smile in her face like earlier. "That is not what she meant, Your Majesty." She shook her head.
The Emperor confused eyes locked with hers as she continued, "Concubine Shu wishes for Your Majesty granting her the permission to go outside to gather all the ingredients she need."
The Emperor's eyes widened and shouted, "You are mad!"
His loud voice caused her body jolted and trembled in fear. The girl and her maid immediately knelt and apologised. Xuan Yu gritted his teeth and stood up, his face was dark as he continued, "I can provide you plenty of things yet you wanted to go outside and find it yourself? What kind of joke is this?"
She did not dare to look at his furious face and spoke tremblingly, "Forgive this insolent woman, but please do not get her intention wrong. This is Concubine Shu's first time having a cooking competition with somebody else. Since Your Majesty will personally be the judge, she wanted to do her best to create the best dish..."
She tried reasoning the Emperor but Xuan Yu found it illogical.
"Nonsense! How does going out from the palace can relate to a dish? This is only an excuse!" The Emperor roared. It was already stated anyone from Imperial Harem were forbidden to step out from the palace no matter what the reason was. Yet, she still had the audacity to ask such request. Xuan Yu could not help to be infuriated more.
"Please forgive her, please forgive her!" She desperately pleaded for forgiveness. "Concubine Shu knows she is a fool and understands why Your Majesty infuriated with her impudent request. In all honesty, she did not harbour any bad intentions. As cooking is her passion, she only wanted her hard work worth for her dishes. Please have faith in her, with the knowledge she had, she knows better where she can get the best ingredients suited for her dish."
Xuan Yu narrowed his eyes slightly and stared icily at the girl below him. "Whatever the reason is, anyone is prohibited to step out from the palace and that includes you."
Her lips shut tight, no longer dare to say anything.
"I will send the people in charge for your needs. Ask them anything you want and let them handle their works." The Emperor walked to the door, followed by his servant. His footsteps stopped and turned his head to the girl. "I have shown you much consideration, if you dare bring this matter again in the future, do not blame me for being ruthless!"
The girl silenced for a moment before she thanked the Emperor. By the time she raised her head, the Emperor already gone from her sight.
*****
It as he expected. He did not success to get permission from the Emperor. Ruolan can only lament over his failure.
"How does Lady Shu even thought of going out?" Meng Yue asked while rubbing her lady's temples.
Ruolan sighed, "To find the ingredients I need, going out is a must. How can I create a better dish if I did not find them myself?"
Meng Yue tilted her head quizzically, "Why do Lady Shu need to trouble herself going out to find the ingredients when the servants can bring it to her? It sounds illogical to ears- Aiyo!" She yelped in pain as her hand pinched by her lady. "Why did Lady Shu pinch me?"
"Silly girl. I have my reasons doing so." Ruolan said, frowning.
"Yes, it is because Lady Shu wants His Majesty to know the dishes she made was due to her hard work alone, is it?" Meng Yue sighed while rubbing the place she got pinched.
"Telling you the truth, that is not my only reason." Ruolan pulled his sleeves down and showed the small jade bracelet in his hand. "This."
It took Meng Yue for a while to recognise the bracelet and when she remembered, her eyes widened. "Jiao Yi!"
"You are right." He nodded. "I figured that this is my chance to broaden my search for him."
"So Lady Shu made up such reasons just to go out and find him?"
Ruolan shook his head. "The reasons was not a made up. My intention was pure as I wish to show His Majesty how passionate I am on this field. Jiao Yi's case was something came up from my mind unexpectedly. Imagine if His Majesty granted me the permission to go out, is it not killing two birds with one stone?"
The maid pondered for a while then agreed with her lady's words. "That is true. But Lady Shu, as His Majesty already warned, he does not want to hear anything regardless the matter in the future. Meng Yue also pleads Lady Shu to not act recklessly too. His face was terrifying to the point this servant's heart almost fell."
Ruolan could feel his blood ran cold, "You are not the only one who scared of him!"
"Then do not act recklessly like earlier again!" Meng Yue pouted.
*****
Ruolan and Meng Yue was ready heading out to the kitchen. When they stepped out from the room, they saw a woman stood not far from the room, waiting for them. Her back was facing them and when she heard their footsteps stopped, she turned to them with her usual haughty look.
"What took you so long to walk out from the room?" Hui Qing put her hands on her waist, looking impatient.
"What are you doing here?" Ruolan looked completely surprised seeing Hui Qing again. He thought the beauty no longer want to see him after she furiously left them last night.
"Hmph, I will say this straight." She crossed her arms over her chest. "It is not like I want to help you or something, but since you desperately begged for my help; I have no choice but to do it."
Both Ruolan and Meng Yue could not believe what they just heard.
"R-Really?" Ruolan asked in disbelief. The arrogant and stubborn Hui Qing will help him? Was he dreaming? Ruolan could not help but to ran and held her hands tightly. "Thank you so much, Hui Qing! Thank you so much!"
"L-Let me go!" The beauty exclaimed, trying to pull her hands even though she knew she could not escape from her grip. "Do not be so happy, I will only help you this once! Only this once!"
"It is alright! Even it is once, I will forever remember your kindness." Ruolan beamed. His depression from the Emperor's severe scold disappeared after he heard a good news from the beauty. Although his request was greatly rejected by Xuan Yu, but knowing Hui Qing will help him enough making him smile again.
Her heart stopped for a moment and scarlet colour gradually spread all over her face. Hui Qing almost unable to hide her emotion. She looked away and shouted, "Hmph, idiot! I am just doing you a small favour! Do not be to happy about it!"
Ruolan smiled, feeling grateful. Hui Qing was as not bad as they thought, even though she looked arrogant on the surface but actually she owned a good heart. On the other side, Meng Yue still doubted Hui Qing's sincerity, but seeing how happy her lady was, the maid said nothing but gave a relief smile.
*****
"The kitchen is quite big." Hui Qing said while looking around the place.
"Yes it is," Ruolan smiled while washing the vegetables. "It is easier for me to move around the place."
Hui Qing continued taking her stroll in the kitchen. In all her life, she never had been into a kitchen once. The beauty could not help but to be curious and checked every place, shelves, and drawers in the room. She even gasped in awe seeing the big knife and other utensils that was foreign to her.
The beauty did not notice the maid has been staring at her for a while. "Lady Hui, have she ever gone to a kitchen before?" Meng Yue said bluntly.
Hui Qing became rigid as she released a trembling voice. "...F-Foolish maid! Of course I do! I am just checking where the utensils were placed!"
Both Ruolan and his maid silently shared a glance before he said to Hui Qing, "Well then, if you do not mind, help me to cut this cabbage." Ruolan handed the vegetable over the beauty.
Hui Qing's face turned black. "Why do I need to cut that? I am not your kitchen helper!"
Ruolan blinked. "You promised to help me, are you going to take back your words?"
"Of course I promised that! But I did not say I will help you as a kitchen hel-"
She has yet to finish her words but Ruolan already put the vegetable on her hands.
"For the time being, be my assistant."Ruolan grinned. "Now you are free to show your cooking skill here."
The beauty put the cabbage away and stubbornly said, "Hmph! I will not do this useless thing! Do it yourself!" As for someone who never entered a kitchen before, she never know how to cook and even cut an onion. How on earth was she going to slice the cabbage?
Judging from the way the beauty talk, the maid knew Hui Qing tried making excuses so she would not have to do her part. "Then it is true that Lady Hui never been in a kitchen before." Meng Yue shot in, purposely triggering her.
"You-" Hui Qing glared the maid fiercely. "If you think I cannot do it, then you are wrong!" The beauty took back the cabbage and roughly placed it on the chopping board.
Ruolan begin to have a bad feeling when he saw how the beauty placed the vegetable. He tried to stop the overly emotional woman before things turning worst. "Hui Qing if you do not want to then it is alright-"
"Shut up, Shu Xiaofan! I know what I am doing!" She pointed the knife at them, immediately caused them to keep a safe distant from her. In one quick slash, the knife met the chopping board and the cabbage instantly divided into two. Using all her strength, Hui Qing soon vigorously chopped the vegetables in thin pieces.
They became panic when they say the horrific scene before them. "H-Hui Qing that is enough!" Ruolan stopped the woman from continuing as he held her from behind.
"Wait, I am not finish yet!" Hui Qing struggled, still wanting to continue her unfinished work.
"Lady Hui, please do not move! You have a knife with you and that is dangerous!" Meng Yue shrieked.
Thus, that was how the cabbage turned into thin strips. The three of them stared at the poor vegetable with an uncomfortable silent.
"What can we do with this this?"Meng Yue asked awkwardly.
"......."
"I-Is it not obvious, cook them!" The moment Hui Qing said those words was the exact moment she received black stares from the two of them.
Ruolan sighed helplessly. "As she said, I will just make a food out of this."
The maid nodded, agreed with her lady. "Throwing it will be a waste."
Hui Qing glared at both of them. "If you do not like it, then just throw it away!" She crossed her arms and looked away, angrily. "You were the one asked me to do it, so it was not my fault the cabbage turned like that!"
Ruolan scratched his cheek, "Truthfully, I did not expect you would do it for real. I was just teasing you-" Ruolan sensed another wave of volcano will erupt again then immediately shifted the topic. "Since you never been into a kitchen before, I will teach you the basics first."
"What, why? I should not be doing this! Am I not only your food tester?" She said exasperatedly.
"True. But since you are already here, why not? Only this time, please?" He begged childishly.
It was the first she saw the hateful Shu Xiaofan did such face. Hui Qing's face gradually turned pink and her anger disappeared after seeing her adorable face. She pursed her lips and looked away again, "Fine then!"
Ruolan nodded cheerfully. "Alright! Then let's begin on how to chop these vegetables!" He said as he prepared the vegetables and utensils.
These routines continued every time they entered the kitchen. Even though Hui Qing was still a beginner in everything and sometimes can be extremely annoying, Ruolan did not complain even a bit. At least his relationship with the beauty gradually turned better than before. Every tranquil autumn's morning until evening, the kitchen was busy with clashing metals and chopping sounds.
As well as panic rants and screams.
*****
"Imperial Brother, your darling brother is here again~" Xuan Yuan Rui announced happily as he shamelessly barged into the study room. He approached the Emperor only to be greeted with the dark atmosphere and a grim stare.
"Woah! What is this depressing aura? Did someone broke Imperial Brother's favourite vase?" Xuan Yuan Rui asked, looking surprised.
Xuan Yu was in a foul mood to even speak a word; he just ignored the other man's presence and continued reading his documents.
Xuan Yuan Rui was in bewilderment then turned to Rong Heng; the servant was sitting beside the table, grinding ink. When his eyes made contact with the Third Prince, Rong Heng only shook his head. Since he did not want to say anything, Xuan Yuan Rui then went to the study table and looked closer to the Emperor. "Imperial Brother looks so scary today. Did he have stomach-ache or something?"
Even though Xuan Yu tried to ignore his idiot brother; he was still unable to ignore the annoying scrutiny. Worst, he cannot concentrate his work. "If you still want your head, get out now." He said coldly while still eyeing his document.
Xuan Yuan Rui blinked then put his palm on his neck. "I still want my head but I will not go out until I know the cause of Imperial Brother's depression."
Xuan Yu put the paper on the table and stared irritatingly at the Third Prince. If it was not because Xuan Yuan Rui shared the same blood with him, he definitely will cut his head long time ago just to shut him. "Third Prince Xiong Xuan Yuan Rui, do you not have any better things to do other than barging into my Imperial Study and disturb me?"
"None at the moment, Your Majesty." The Third Prince's tone hinted with sarcasm as he shrugged. "Which is why I came here in the first place."
The Emperor rolled his eyes then continued his reading.
Xuan Yuan Rui crossed his arms and put a wryly smile, "He he he, I know it was not those ministers that made Imperial Brother angry."
Xuan Yu did not bother to look at him.
"It must be about Rong Heng and Lady Shu, is it not?"
This time the Emperor's looked up and glared at him.
"So I am right!" Xuan Yuan Rui snapped his finger cheerfully.
The Emperor grimly stared at Rong Heng. The servant secretly heaved a sigh as he shook his head again. "Your Majesty, your servant's lips are completely sealed regarding to his competition with Lady Shu. The fact that Third Prince knew about it is also your servant's wonder."
The Third Prince smile went even broad as the servant explained. "What Rong Heng said is true. He has not spill anything to me yet, so do not blame him. It cannot be helped that the Third Prince's possessed a smart brain!" Xuan Yuan Rui proudly said.
"You must have planted a spy on me. Whoever that person is, if caught, I shall kill him without hesitation." Xuan Yu said coldly.
"Calm down Imperial Brother, your brother knowing it does not bring any harm. It is not like I am going to ruin the fun or something." Xuan Yuan Rui sighed. "So tell me, what is it that bothered Imperial Brother about their competition?"
Silence.
As expected, he will never get a straight answer from his brother, Xuan Yuan Rui pouted. "Fine! Just keep it as a secret and let it rot forever in your heart! What is the use of your darling brother if Imperial Brother does not want to share his burden?"
The Emperor glared at the Third Prince but he already turned and walked towards the door. When he reached to the entrance, Xuan Yuan Rui swirled to Xuan Yu's direction, "Imperial Brother knew me, I am not that someone who will stay silent and do nothing! This Third Prince may look like fool, but he will discover Imperial Brother's secret in just a day!" He said, pulling his lower eyelid and stick his tongue out. "I will be back!"
Before Xuan Yu could spit any curse words to his idiot brother, Xuan Yuan Rui already fled.
"Foolish boy!" He said in between his gritted teeth, slamming the table. "Next time when that fool came back, I will surely feed him with my knuckle!"
The servant responded to Xuan Yu's fury, "Please do not be so harsh, Third Prince only worried about Your Majesty. After all, being depress all day is not good for His Majesty's health."
"To hell with his worries. He is only an idiot who do useless things." Xuan Yu said irritatingly, immediately shut the servant's mouth.
It was known by everyone that the Emperor disliked having his personal affairs invaded by other people. However, his brother was different. Xuan Yuan Rui knew his personalities so well but still dared to disobey and butt into his personal problems. How would the Emperor not be angry towards Third Prince foolish act?
Seeing the Emperor in a bad mood again, Rong Heng did not wish to add more fuel into the fire so he continued doing his work silently.
The study room then was silence from voices but only the sound of grinding ink could be heard. Thus, both master and servant quietly spent their day in peace without any unwanted interruption.
End of Chapter 18
Artwork time~
Xiong Xuan Yuan Rui
Rong Heng
A little sketch of Hui Qing and Female!Ruolan moment. I'm just too tired and lazy to do serious art. lol