Chapter 49: A Lifetime of Cooking (3)

At this moment, the emperor understood that if Ye Lang could be found, all problems would be resolved. Yet, he also knew it was nearly impossible to find him—if they could, that girl from the Ye family and his own beloved daughter would have settled down long ago, instead of still sulking. He found this quite astonishing; though everyone knew Ye Lang was nearby and hadn’t left, he remained elusive, always turning up in the most unexpected places. This wasn’t the first time—every time, he managed to go where no one would think to look.

This time, though Ye Lang wasn’t deliberately avoiding them, the place he had chosen was still beyond anyone’s imagination.

“I just hope he doesn’t do anything too outrageous this time—a little scare is fine, but he shouldn’t actually go through with those things,” the emperor said with a headache.

Really, what business did that boy have scaring those people? And now, with him gone, they were the ones left to suffer!

“Well, I suppose he probably won’t…” Ye Chengtian replied, not sounding confident at all.

The group of ministers fell silent. Among them, those whose daughters or granddaughters were counted among the talented young women seemed to understand: they would have to muster all their strength to protect their own, rather than relying on the royal family or the Ye family.

They wondered to themselves, if Ye Lang really did those things, would these two—one a sovereign, the other a father—punish him? Perhaps, but the punishment would certainly be light.

“Hey, he’s your son, how can you not know?” The emperor, seemingly oblivious to the others’ expressions, continued to banter—no, to conduct a solemn discussion with Ye Chengtian, as he himself described it.

“How could I know? You know what he’s like—hasn’t he done enough foolish things since childhood?” Ye Chengtian shook his head helplessly.

“That’s true. Let’s not talk about this now; if something does happen, we’ll deal with it then. There’s something that puzzles me—who is this Zhen Xiaoyan? Why would that boy go out of his way to help her?” The emperor suddenly recalled this key figure.

“I’ve looked into her. Zhen Xiaoyan is the granddaughter of Earl Zhen Tianming,” Ye Chengtian replied, knowing the emperor was asking about her identity—he must have already heard about the rest.

The emperor thought hard, then said, “Oh, him. I vaguely remember—the Zhen family has been in the restaurant business for generations. Are they still at it?”

The Zhen family was nowhere near the center of imperial power; one could say they were not even on its fringes. Most people here were unfamiliar with them, and but for this incident, no one would have paid them any mind. In fact, this could be considered a stroke of luck for the Zhen family, brightening their future prospects.

The emperor remembered them mainly because the Zhen family had once served as royal chefs. One emperor’s favor had secured them a hereditary title.

It is little wonder that so many seek ways to get close to the emperor—if he takes a liking to you, he can elevate you to glory and ensure your descendants enjoy fortune. Of course, there’s also the risk of catastrophe, but countless people are still willing to take that chance.

“They’re still in business. The Zhen’s Savory Pavilion remains a century-old tradition of our Xiangkong Empire,” Ye Chengtian replied.

Zhen’s Savory Pavilion, it was said, was named after the original royal chef himself. His culinary skills were once unrivaled, and the business had thrived for a long time.

But, like many family businesses, the restaurant’s fortunes rose and fell with the abilities of its managers. In recent decades, the Zhen family had declined—though this was relative. In the eyes of ordinary people, the Zhen family was still a great clan—only to ordinary people!

“Let’s set that aside. I’m curious—is Zhen Xiaoyan as skilled as her ancestor in the kitchen? Otherwise, why would your son take such an interest? In recent years, he’s been lukewarm about everything, even his own affairs, and yet now he’s moved to such action,” the emperor questioned.

“Apparently, her cooking is unsurpassed—and that is her one true talent,” Ye Chengtian replied, not directly but making it clear that nothing but Zhen Xiaoyan’s culinary skills could possibly attract his son.

“Chengtian, shall we place a small wager on Zhen Xiaoyan’s victory?” The emperor, growing more animated, seemed to forget he was still in court.

“You think so too? I’ve already had someone place a bet of ten thousand gold coins!” Ye Chengtian said with a laugh.

“…You’re shameless!” The emperor shot Ye Chengtian a look of disdain—after all, they were still on the imperial dais, and he had to maintain some decorum.

Ye Chengtian understood and returned a look that said, “Right back at you…”

“Your Majesty, why do you think Zhen Xiaoyan will win? With her qualifications, it’s impossible!” a minister exclaimed indignantly—naturally, because his own daughter was among the talented contestants.

Several other ministers shared his sentiment, finding the emperor and Ye Chengtian’s view distasteful, though their dissatisfaction was measured.

“With Zhen Xiaoyan’s qualifications, it’s indeed impossible—were it not for that remarkable boy from the Ye family. With him involved, the outcome is far from certain,” the emperor replied with a smile and a shake of his head.

“Your Majesty, you mustn’t let Ye Lang cause chaos. If that happens, I’ll have no choice but to withdraw my granddaughter from the competition!”

“Yes, if it comes to that, we’ll all withdraw. Better that than let him harm our daughters.”

…

“Don’t worry, everyone. I won’t let him break the rules. I’ll ensure this contest is as fair as ever. If you’re concerned, I’ll permit you to serve as judges for the competition, so you needn’t fear anyone being bribed. Rest assured, I’ll assign the elite imperial guards and city watch to guarantee your safety!” the emperor declared, determined to show he favored no one. He had never intended to play favorites—the ministers were simply mistaken.

But what good would protection do? That boy had slipped out under the tightest surveillance before. If he truly meant to target someone, no one could guarantee the outcome.

Ye Chengtian watched the relieved ministers and quietly laughed to himself, feeling a certain pride over the situation. Outwardly, he wore a serious expression, making it clear he too would do everything in his power to protect them.

[bookid=1011953, bookname="Peerless King in Another World"]