"No Wedding Unless Enemies and Lovers" 《不是冤家不拜堂》Chapter 80

 Xiao Yi Mo and the empress dowager sat opposite each other in the reception pavilion taking in everything lovely in the garden and drinking perfectly steeped spring tea, a familiar figure passed through the garden heading their way.

Xiao Yi Mo's lips raised into a smile, knocking on the table, saying to the empress dowager who was drinking tea: "Mother, brother has come!"

The empress dowager nodded in acknowledgement, putting down the tea cup in her hand saying:  "Chen Er and Xue Er have been married for a year, there's no movement in Xue Er's stomach at all, you already have several children, Chen Er has a wife and concubines, but there's been no children...when can I hold a grandson!"

Xiao Yi Chen covered his mouth laughing in his sleeve, he didn't know what was happening in Xiao Yi Chen's residence, but he knew Xiao Yi Chen had not touched a woman so far, how can there be a child?

The empress dowager felt the white hairs on her head had increased, she turned to see Xiao Yi Mo covering his mouth, laughing so that his shoulders shook, she kicked him once in a bad mood, "When Chen Er comes, find an opportunity to ask him about this."

Xiao Yi Mo nodded, it was very clear in his mind, to Xiao Yi Chen marrying Ji Ling Xue was a humiliation, he wouldn't favour that woman, or allow her to carry his child.

Xiao Yi Chen entered the reception pavilion, greeting the empress dowager and emperor, casually looking around, he did not see Ji Ling Xue, some distrust flashed in his eyes.

That distrust was only brief, he very quickly controlled his emotions, saying to Xiao Yi Mo: "Why does imperial brother have the time to sit with empress mother today?"

Xiao Yi Mo gave a profound smile, "It's almost time for dinner, I've come to have a meal with mother, what about you, it's already so late yet you come to mother's?"

Xiao Yi Chen didn't admit he was worried that stupid woman Ji Ling Xue would enter the palace and cause trouble, saying things that would be unbeneficial to him, he had returned to the residence to change his clothes then rushed to the palace.

Xiao Yi Chen smiled saying: "I've also come to here to have a meal, accompany mother."

The empress dowager looked at the two self-declared "filial" sons in front of her, her lips couldn't help twitch, one had come here to find someone, the other had deliberately come to eat, cough, cough, she really was benefiting from Xue Er's good fortune...

Xiao Yi Mo waved his hand, indicating for Xiao Yi Chen to sit opposite him, making a gesture with his finger, a maid immediately brought over a chess set.

Xiao Yi Mo said: "We haven't played chess in so long, there's still some time before dinner, let's play chess to pass the time."

Xiao Yi Chen bowed with his hands held in front, accepting the invite he sat opposite Xiao Yi Mo, lowering his head to study the chessboard, in his mind however he was wondering what his brother was planning.

Two hours later, Xiao Yi Chen had lost two games, Xiao Yi Mo was pleased, he could only attack and beat Xiao Yi Chen on the chessboard.

The empress dowager sat in front of the table looking at the delicious food for a long time, her two sons were clearly still playing chess, this old woman couldn't eat first, she could sit and wait, seeing the victor was clear, she beckoned saying: "You two always forget the time when you play chess, quickly come eat."

Xiao Yi Chen looked at the dishes asking: "When did a new chef arrive in the imperial kitchen?" These dishes did not look like they were by the old chef, he had already gotten used to the cooking of the imperial kitchen having grown up in the palace, the food produced by the imperial chefs were exquisite and carefully chosen, a simple radish would be carved into a dragon, yet the dishes today were not exquisite, they were plain and novel, the colours were bright and gorgeous, they looked very tasty.

Xiao Yi Mo and the empress dowager looked at each other, smiling without answering, picking up their chopsticks they gave it a try and couldn't help exclaim, "It's so tasty, sweet yet not greasy, full-bodied in fragrance.2

The empress dowager nodded, turning to look at Xiao Yi Chen, she continued eating.

Xiao Yi Chen was baffled from being looked at, he finally couldn't help say: "Mother..."

The empress dowager waved her hand saying: "I know what you want to ask, first eat."

At this moment Ji Ling Xue came out of the imperial kitchen with a small stomach, walking through a serious of lengthy corridors, she saw from afar a somewhat familiar figure being led by a maid.

Ji Ling Xue raised an eyebrow, she couldn't help follow after them...