"No Wedding Unless Enemies and Lovers" 《不是冤家不拜堂》Chapter 193

Xiao Yi Chen looked down at the thing Chi Feng handed over wrapped in a silk handkerchief, "What is this?"

At first glance, it looked like a delicate gift, but Xiao Yi Chen knew, Chi Feng had never so properly given him a gift before.

Chi Feng smiled like a fox, "Something that I happened to get from ambushing Yuchi Gong Ru last night, I'm sure your majesty will be very surprised when you see it."

This way of telling the story made people very curious, what good thing could be in Yuchi Gong Ru's hands?

Xiao Yi Chen took the handkerchief and opened it up under Chi Feng's anticipation, there was a human mask inside as thin as a cicada's wing?

Xiao Yi Chen raised an eyebrow, seeing this, he wasn't surprised, where was the happiness? Xiao Yi Chen picked it up with two finger shaking the mask out to look at, he asked, "Whose face did this come off?"

The features on the mask were very pretty, it doesn't look like a man, could it be...

"It's from Zhi Xue's face?" Xiao Yi Chen raised an eyebrow, looking at Chi Feng, a warning in his eyes, only Chi Feng would dare to leave him on tenderhooks.

Chi Feng smiled: "Your majesty is wise!"

Xiao Yi Chen placed the mask on the table and continued to think: "Zhi Xue isn't really a princess of Dayan? Then who is she?"

Chi Feng said: "The person Yuchi Ru Ge is looking for is precisely the person your majesty has set your heart on, this official wants to share your majesty's worries and difficulties so I have dealt with this matter very well, currently she's in the palace."

Xiao Yi Chen nodded pretending to not care, his eyes sweeping over the bowls and plates on the table, "She's at the imperial kitchen?"

Chi Feng nodded, your majesty, this official can only do this much, you and her...the complexity can only be undone by you.

Xiao Yi Chen raised his hand patting Chi Feng's shoulder: "Thank you for your troubles, we won't take into consideration the fact you let Yuchi Gong Ru get away."

Chi Feng cupped his hands again flattering, "Many thanks your majesty, your majesty is kind and generous, it's this officials good fortune, the good fortune of the people, this official is moved, I will do my best until my dying days for your majesty."

Xiao Yi Chen waved his hand, "We know, you may leave."

Chi Feng retreated to the doorway, suddenly smiling he asked: "Your majesty, this official carried this out so beautifully, why is there no reward?" Your majesty, you're too petty?

Xiao Yi Chen looked at Chi Feng like it was a joke: "We rewarded you with a sumptuous breakfast, is that not enough?"

Chi Feng's eyelids twitched, lowering his head he obediently left.

Xiao Yi Chen stood up, putting the mask away, without a servant, he walked to the imperial kitchen.

By the well at the rear courtyard of the imperial kitchen, Ji Ling Xue was crouched down washing dishes with a rag, since the sun had risen she had been crouched there washing, buckets and buckets of bowls were brought over, she had been washing for over an hour, yet she hadn't finished, her tender hands being soaked in the water for so long had turned red and wrinkly.

The sound of a whip came from behind her from time to time, she now knew, the old woman who used a whip to call her awake and supervise her washing the dishes was the internal affair old maid.

Ji Ling Xue: What is actually happening, which scoundrel kidnapped me into the palace last night to wash dishes, when I find out who they are I'll "thank" his kindness properly!

It was easy to enter the palace but hard to leave, she had lost contact with An Ge and Ru Ge, she really was crying out to the heavens with no response.

"Achoo!" Chi Feng who had arrived at the palace gate sneezed loudly, rubbing his nose he looked at the sun above his head.

"Pa!" The head old maid's whip was like a cruel lesson, she saw a splash of water by her hand, it made Ji Ling Xue, who was lost in thought, hand weaken in fright, a bowl fell to the ground and shattered.

The head old maid: "Why do you eat, you can't even hold a bowl properly, wash up quickly, it's almost noon, this bowls need to be used! Don't think just because you made a few pastries and showed a few skills in front of the chef you don't have to work!"

Ji Ling Xue turned to glance at the sharp and unkind, whip branding, shameful head old maid, she was going to remember this woman.

Xiao Yi Chen went into the imperial kitchen personally.

"Your majesty!" A servant chopping wood in the courtyard was the first person to notice Xiao Yi Chen, in the entire palace only Xiao Yi Chen wore white, that white dazzling dragon robe was really eye-catching, he proceeded to get the head chef, helpers and old maids to come out and greet him.

Xiao Yi Chen waved his hand, "You may rise, we only came to observe, continue with your own matters!"

Everyone looked at each other in dismay, all of them wondering why the emperor personally came to the imperial kitchen? They also became more cautious.

A helper in the kitchen chopping vegetables and meat were so terrifed their hands shook, with a slip, crack, the knife nicked their finger, the next moment blood was everywhere.

The helper kneading flour wanted to show off in front of the emperor, the hand holding a ladle shook, the next moment too much water was added, the more the dough was kneaded the more mushy it became, his brows were covered in sweat as he kneaded.

On another side a helper cutting meat wanted to show off his years of knife work, he threw the knife up into the air, when he reached out to catch it he held not the handle but the blade, in a split second it was a bloodbath, the old maids around him were so scared they screamed.

The imperial kitchen became a disaster zone in an instant, Xiao Yi Chen's lips twitched, hurriedly sweeping his gaze over everyone in the room, having not seen Ji Ling Xue he turned and walked out.

At this moment Ji Ling Xue was carrying bowls and plates which had just been washed and stacked up to half her height, she was carrying them into the imperial kitchen with some over maids, the plates and bowls blocked Ji Ling Xue's line of sight, she didn't see Xiao Yi Chen brush past her.

The head old maid who followed behind Ji Ling Xue greeted Xiao Yi Chen in trepidation as he stood there in an imposing manner, however Xiao Yi Chen stopped her, "Is everyone in the imperial kitchen present?"

The head old maid thought about it then replied: "Some maids went to bring food to each of the palaces, I wonder who the emperor is looking for?"

Xiao Yi Chen gave an oh, he had rushed over, and had brushed by Ji Ling Xue, it really was...forget it, it was good she was in the palace, it was better than being by Yuchi Ru Ge's side.

Xiao Yi Chen said: "Nothing, get on with your work." Having spoken he turned and left.

The head old maid reluctantly watched Xiao Yi Chen leave, the emperor spoke to her today...

Ji Ling Xue stretched her waist, while the head old maid was in a state of infatuation, she took a bun from the steamer and stuffed it into her mouth, turning she snuck out.

When she was leaning against the rockery, a group of imperial guards passed by, Ji Ling Xue wiped the oil from the corner of her mouth and walked out from behind the rockery, looking left and right, if she walked left it headed to the imperial study, the right led to the harem.

Ji Ling Xue walked right without a thought, only the further she walked the more quiet it got, strange, why was the layout different from what she knew?

Ji Ling Xue looked at the closeby inscription "cold palace" on the door, she curled her lips, turning she wanted to walk away but saw the patrolling guards heading over from afar, she lowered her head and looked at her maid outfit, she walked at slow pace.

Ji Ling Xue: I'm currently a maid, there's no reason to hide, a thin as a match hand suddenly appeared from a crack in the cold palace door, grabbing Ji Ling Xue's arm and pulling her inside.

Coming across such a sudden situation she felt a cold sweat break out, Ji Ling Xue covered her mouth to prevent herself from screaming out, if she startled the patrol it wouldn't be good, her identity would be exposed.

"Don't be scared...don't be scared..." A kind and amiable voice came from behind her.

Ji Ling Xue looked over, only then did she recognise the familiar face under the dishevelled hair, it was actually the former imperial consort.

When Xiao Yi Chen ascended the throne, besides from sentencing the previous empress and imperial uncle to death, the other females were basically chased out of the palace, the palace was completely cleaned up, the empress dowager was still the empress dowager, she still lived in her palace, only she very rarely came out of her palace.

The former imperial consort had given birth to a son and daughter for the former emperor, one son had died prematurely at three months old, one daughter passed away from illness before turning ten, without anyone to rely on this imperial consort turned mad overnight, finally she was sent to live in the cold palace to pass her days.

"Daughter, don't be scared, it's mother!" The former imperial consort pulled on Ji Ling Xue's hand looking her up and down, pleasant surprise in her eyes.

Ji Ling Xue: She actually thinks I'm her daughter.

The former imperial consort pulled Ji Ling Xue inside, the cold palace was very shabby, there were large holes in the window and doors yet no one came to repair them, Ji Ling Xue was pushed onto a stool, the former imperial consort took a set of clothes and gave them to her: "Daughter, I made some clothes for you see if you like them?"

Ji Ling Xue touched the cloth nodding, "Very nice!"

The former imperial consort felt a peal of happiness, lowering her head she looked at Ji Ling Xue's pale and tattered hands, she held them in hers in distress, "Daughter, your hands..."

Ji Ling Xue smiled, "It's nothing, they'll be fine after a few days."

The former imperial consort turned to the shabby dressing table and looked around, she found a jar of herbal ointment and carefully applied it for Ji Ling Xue, "This medicine was giving to me by your imperial father, the effects are very good, you'll heal very quickly with it."

Ji Ling Xue was touched, the little wrong she felt she suffered in the palace was dispelled by meeting the former imperial consort, she suddenly grasped the other person's hand, staring into her eyes she asked, "Do you want to leave here?"

The former imperial consort of stunned, she shook her head: "But you're here so I'm here." After speaking she covered her mouth and coughed.

Ji Ling Xue thought about the time, the patrol outside should have left, she stood up wanting to leave.

The former imperial consort pulled on her hand asking: "Are you leaving, when will you next come to see me?"

Ji Ling Xue thought about it: "In two days I'll come to see you."

The former imperial consort smiled letting go, "Good, I'll wait for you, hurry on your way, don't let anyone find you." She waved her hand as she spoke.

Ji Ling Xue walked to the door and turned her head, she saw the former imperial consort with her dishevelled hair waving at her, there was more life in her eyes, maybe because she had come here.

In the imperial study, Xiao Yi Chen called a secret female guard over, this was the Ji Ling Xue substitute Xiao Yi Chen had meticulously trained, when he and Ji Ling Xue went to Dayan, this substitute was in the prince's residence acting as Ji Ling Xue.

"Your majesty!" The female secret guard cupped her fist in greeting.

Xiao Yi Chen nodded, taking the human mask from his sleeve he passed it to her, "This is Dayan princess Zhi Xue, change your appearance and return to Ru Ge's side."

A trace of confusion flashed in the female secret guard's eyes, she had been trained by Xiao Yi Chen, her words and manners were Ji Ling Xue's, although she couldn't completely copy her, she was almost the same, now she had to change to another identity, how was she supposed to play the role.

Xiao Yi Chen however didn't feel like explaining, "If Yuchi Ru Ge asks you where you went last night, just say you went to the casino." He handed a bag of silver to her.

The female secret guard nodded and took it, turning she then left.