Chapter 21: Because I'm Adorable

As they stepped out of the palace gate, the Emperor paused under the corridor, "The late Emperor spent his entire life laying the foundation of the empire, and groomed me to be his successor. I must fulfill my duties no matter what.

"The military funds are now entrusted to the commander, and many eyes in the court are watching this case, including some of the late Emperor's trusted old officials.

"So, the matter of Shawn must be handled with utmost care and detail. We cannot give anyone a handle to grasp, or else, the several policy measures we discussed earlier will encounter obstacles."

Marquis Qingyun bowed respectfully, "I will handle it with caution, Your Majesty."

The Emperor nodded, "It's getting late. I'm going to Cining Palace to have a late meal with the Empress Dowager."

As he was about to turn, a eunuch approached them hurriedly, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager had her midday meal from noon until almost noon, according to her usual schedule, she might not have a proper dinner tonight."

Both of them froze for a moment, and after a brief pause, the Emperor furrowed his brows, "It took her more than an hour for lunch. Is the Empress Dowager feeling unwell?"

"The Empress Dowager is fine. It's just that today... today's lunch was also cooked by Miss Su."

Marquis Qingyun was shocked, almost stumbling down the steps!

As the highest-ranking person in the country, everything she enjoyed was of the highest quality. Even the servants in the Cining Palace kitchen had to be exceptionally clever. How could the food served casually? Given the differing stances in the Shawn case, she actually let Grace cook again?

Marquis Qingyun urgently asked, "And Miss Su? How is she?"

The eunuch looked envious, "Miss Su not only cooked for the Empress Dowager but was also asked to stay and have a meal with her before leaving the palace."

"..."

Wasn't that even more shocking?! How many people in the world could dine at the same table as the Empress Dowager?

The Emperor also became puzzled. He looked at Marquis Qingyun, "Did the Empress Dowager talk to you these past two days?"

"She didn't! She hasn't contacted me since yesterday until today!"

"But she did contact Miss Su." The Emperor frowned. "Yesterday, I heard from Cining Palace that the meal Miss Su cooked for the Empress Dowager was just a pot of reddish soup with some ordinary vegetables thrown in, paired with two pieces of fried dough sticks—

"The Empress Dowager, with her high status, never ate such coarse food. What's more, why would your Miss Su cook?"

Marquis Qingyun really didn't know how to answer that question. After all, until now, the food Grace cooked only existed in legends!

"What did she cook today?" the Emperor asked.

This got the eunuch excited!

"Your Majesty, Miss Su made an antique stew today, with just lamb, offal, radish, and cabbage, but Lord Gao said it was hotpot—You have no idea, Miss Su sliced the lamb as thin as paper, as big as half a palm, put it in a soup made of star anise, cinnamon, and chili that simmered to a rich and fragrant red oil, and with just a quick dip, it became a melt-in-your-mouth meat roll..."

"Enough," the Emperor interrupted him, "And she even added chili peppers. Can the Empress Dowager's stomach handle it? Did she eat it well?"

"The Empress Dowager ate very well! After the meal, she took a short nap and then drank the fresh vegetable juice squeezed by Miss Su before going for a walk in the garden."

The Emperor fell silent for a moment.

Marquis Qingyun also fell into silence...

...

Grace was now twenty-four years old, not really fifteen, though not as academically brilliant as Empress Dowager Lu, someone who had passed the college entrance examination surely didn't have any cognitive deficiencies.

From the memories inherited from the original host and the accounts of those around her, she knew that although this large family had thought about educating the original host properly, when Aunt Xing, as the eldest aunt, reached out, Aunt Ning blocked her; when Marquis Qingyun brought in a female teacher to teach seriously, Aunt Ning also blocked her.

Of course, one could argue that this was just a "kind-hearted" "mother" of a "bad child," but intervening in Marquis Qingyun's remarriage was a bit out of line for an outsider, right?

The experience of mingling with gossiping old ladies in a small county town told her that Aunt Ning's attitude was somewhat problematic.

Silently sending Aunt Ning away, she then thought for a moment and had dinner set up in the courtyard's hexagonal pavilion. Then she sent someone to invite Yunxiyi and Huanxiangrong.

But when it was time for dinner, they hadn't arrived yet, and instead, Marquis Qingyun came in a flurry!

"Girl! Did you go to the palace again today to cook for the Empress Dowager?"

Marquis Qingyun's words were quite restrained, as if afraid of confirmation.

But Grace was direct, "Yes, I even had dinner with the Empress Dowager!"

"Why is the Empress Dowager treating you like this?"

"...Probably because I'm adorable?"

Marquis Qingyun choked.

He had a mission to turn her against them, and now that he had taken the initiative to come, Grace couldn't let him off easy, "I just had a meal with the Empress Dowager. Why is Father so nervous?"

"How would you know? The Empress Dowager has been watching me closely lately!" Marquis Qingyun sat down with a troubled look on his face, "But I've managed to avoid her. Now, suddenly she's so warm to you, naturally, I'm nervous."

"Why is she watching Father? Did Father do something wrong?"

"It's all because of—"

Marquis Qingyun stopped halfway through his words and closed his mouth, "Forget it! I can't explain it to you."

"If you don't explain clearly, then the Empress Dowager might ask me to cook for her every few days. Cooking a meal is fine, but what if she tries to frame me with something in the food? What then?"

Marquis Qingyun was also taken aback by her words, and it took him three seconds to say, "Tell me honestly, what did the Empress Dowager say to you during these two visits to the palace?"

"She mentioned the Flower Moon Society."

"How did she say it?"

"She said how successful the establishment of the Flower Moon Society was. Since the founding of Da Liang, countless women have changed their destinies because of this initiative, and from then on, they can hold their heads high..."

"Forget it, a Flower Moon Society, which benefited a few women, but caused chaos in the court! Ever since the late Emperor's passing, there have been constant troubles surrounding the Flower Moon Society.

"In just three years, more than a dozen officials of Grade Four and above have been implicated. And now, there's a big problem looming. And she's still talking to you about the Flower Moon Society?"

Grace hadn't finished speaking when Marquis

 Qingyun interrupted her with a flurry of words.

This was quite different from what Empress Dowager Lu had said!

Grace said, "Isn't it a good thing to benefit women? Why would it cause chaos?"

"You won't understand if I explain."

Marquis Qingyun shook his head and picked up the tea brought by the maid, brushing her off.

Grace stood up straight, "Father said there's a big problem, it must be Shawn."

Marquis Qingyun looked up, "You know?"

"Aunt said."

At this point, Marquis Qingyun's face showed a hint of gloom, and his expression cooled, "Why would she tell you this?"