Chapter 326: Being a Monk for a Month

"She wants to compare herself with the Qiao family!"

"Fine, let her be; after all, I'd rather abandon her than cut ties with Qiao Yatou."

The Old Emperor, in disguise with his wife and children, visited the Qiao family as guests. Since it was the Guifei's first time at the Qiao house, Qiao Mai personally accompanied the mother‑in‑law to tour her own home, and Jia Mei also came along.

The Old Emperor had already looked around twice, so naturally he didn't follow; Yuan Jiaqi stayed with him in the Keting drinking tea.

"Jiaqi, I heard that Minister Wang and his wife are staying at your house?"

"Yes, because I'm getting old, I took the initiative and didn't invite the two elders over."

"Hmm, I don't mind this; your learning all comes from Minister Wang?"

"Yes, thanks to his generosity in imparting knowledge, I wouldn't be where I am now."

"Hmm, you repay kindness and have good character; shall I help promote you to Prefect Wang?"

"He doesn't want to come to the capital, saying his temperament isn't suited for city life; it's better to do practical work for the people in the provinces. Over the years, the silver earned by Prefect Wang's household has partly been sent to the Shun Wang Fu, partly used to aid the common folk, and he keeps little for himself."

At the end of April, the Emperor, seeing that there was no hope for the Empress and Princess's illnesses, handed the management of the harem over to the Guifei.

"Isn't it just for the Qiao family's food?" The Emperor, without politeness, walked to the table, plopped down on the head seat, and said, "Eat, eat, eat."

"What a joke; these were all made by my own wife. He's not old‑fashioned; after living with his wife for so long, he's picked up some of her virtues, more or less."

Yuan Jiaqi gritted his teeth, "If he comes again next time, I'll say you returned to Tianshui Town, aren't at home, and your husband can't cook."

The Guifei, while eating, almost shed tears; having such in‑laws is wonderful. If in the future she is no longer in the palace, she wonders whether the mother‑in‑law could take her in, because she really loves this place.

Now he has six sons and over a dozen imperial grandsons; he has no intention of sitting on the throne until death. He wants to live to a ripe old age, so he naturally can't be constantly burdened with state affairs.

With this disguised private visit concluded, as soon as the person left, Qiao Mai's face fell.

After eating the Qiao family's food, he felt all his grievances and fatigue melt away.

"It existed earlier, but later, because of Prefect Wang's daughter, my lady refused to accept it."

Qiao Mai got up and went out, ordering the Steward to have the kitchen start setting the meal.

Yuan Jiaqi knew the Emperor's informants were placed throughout the capital; some matters couldn't be hidden from the Emperor, so it's better to speak plainly.

Ling'er paid his respects to the three, showed them his shop, and gave the Guifei and Jia Mei each a set of ethereal garments.

"Wife, don't be angry; great anger harms the body. Let me, your husband, knead your shoulders for you."

"Not inferior to my Imperial Palace, right? Especially the food, it's even better than what the royal chefs make."

The Steward prepared a table of fine wine and dishes in the side room, inviting Yubao to come eat. Seeing that the Emperor no longer needed him, Yubao only then followed the Steward into the side room.

She thought that when the Emperor passes away, she won't have to stay in the palace any longer.

"If he's really gluttonous, take him to the restaurant opened by the Wang family; they have many dishes there. As for wine, you can bring a jar from home; then you won't have to return often, and if the mother‑in‑law and daughter‑in‑law visit, it's fine."

If it should be cut, cut it; otherwise chaos ensues. Those people ought to be killed, lest they keep assassinating one's own family.

If it's not good, an early death is also possible.

Qiao Mai shot him a glance, stormed back to Yuexian Pavilion, with Yuan Jiaqi hurrying after her.

"Hmm, I have indeed heard that after she arrived in the capital, some people took advantage of her, but rest assured, the Shun Wang Fu will not dismiss her, the Main Consort will always be hers, and they won't plot behind her back to cause an early death."

Yuan Jiaqi hurriedly explained, "Although the food at my household is delicious, the palace physicians' dishes are all good for the Emperor's health."

"Just consider yourself a monk for a month, okay?"

"Ah, then what about me?"

Yuan Jiaqi thought to himself, "Hope so, otherwise none of you can escape the wife's revenge."

"So you say you're basking in my glory? Quickly pass the dishes; I'm starving."

"Eating such greasy food often is unhealthy; we don't usually eat it at home, only now that you're here will we have it once."

He responded outwardly, but roared inside.

The Emperor's passing? That seems impossible now; guarding Qiao Mai, if the Emperor treats the Qiao family well, perhaps as Qiao Mai's cultivation advances, she could even forge a longevity pill for him.

"Isn't the food at your home not good for the body?"

It was the Guifei's first time accompanying the Emperor on a disguised private visit; it was fresh and unceremonious, like an ordinary commoner's home.

After the meal, they went to Qiao Ji Snack Shop to look around, then visited Ling'er's Embroidery Shop.

Now she has become the most powerful person in the palace, also the Emperor's most trusted.

He is the Emperor's confidant, and the Steward is also the confidant of a prince of a different surname; the two ate and drank together, getting along well, and as they kept drinking they began to call each other brothers.

"I don't care; anyway, you find a way. He's old, who can endure? Do I have nothing to do?"

Afterwards, whenever the Emperor tried to speak, Yuan Jiaqi pretended not to see it, or quickly found an excuse to leave.

The sovereign and the minister got along well, chatting from state affairs to family matters, and then those few cases.

Jia Mei and her mother Consort ate heartily, sipping warm fruit juice and feasting, simply reveling in the enjoyment.

"Taking and giving, the New Year's gifts, after the New Year I give to my daughter‑in‑law, it's only been a short time, and they even took two of my carts' worth of stuff, hm! Starting tomorrow, I will Seclude for a month."

The Guifei gave Ling'er a waist badge, inviting her to come into the palace to play anytime.

Yuan Jiaqi spoke well at first, then started to act clueless.

The Guifei, upon seeing Jin Mama, recognized her at a glance, but the two said little.

"Wife, your husband is a minister, he is a lord, how can he refuse?"

"Don't you also have a share?"

"All sit, all sit, it's been a long time since we ate your family's food."

When Qiao Mai and the others return, the sovereign and minister continue their lively banter.

Several servants passed by his side; as they walked over, they all pursed their lips and snickered. Yuan Jiaqi never cared about these; his love for Qiao Mai was etched into his bones.

Watching the servants lay out the dishes one by one, the Emperor and his two children took small mouthfuls, it was incredibly fragrant.

Without waiting for Yuan Jiaqi's polite yielding, the Emperor grabbed his chopsticks, flung aside his cheek guard, and began eating; Yubao outside was extremely anxious.

He wouldn't allow testing poison, nor would he restrain his own mouth; as an Emperor, how could he eat however he liked?

Why aren't the rights given to the mother of the prince? The emperor is not foolish; after just enjoying a period of stability, he does not want to encourage their ambitions.

To tell the truth, he also craved the Qiao Family's Meal; just now dealing with the emperor that way was his duty, and since he and the emperor grew up together, their bond made him anxious.

Although they are no longer sworn sisters, as long as the old man and old lady are in her house, she will certainly not stand by and watch.

"Tell that Old Emperor that he is not allowed to come again; my time is being wasted on this kind of socializing, it's really annoying."

"Uh, understood."

Although Qiao Mai hasn't truly entered Seclusion, she cannot be found; she isn't at home during the day, spending the whole day setting up a stall for free medical consultations.

"Your Majesty, the in‑laws' home is truly wonderful; I have finally broadened my horizons."

He kept glancing inside, the emperor glared at him; when he saw Yubao no longer poking his head, he happily began to eat.

So he secretly dispatched the Golden Dragon Guard to observe the Dizi and grandson, recording every move in a book, secretly seeing who is fit for the Crown Prince's position.

However, these are matters for the future.

Qiao Mai resumed free medical consultations, which delighted the common folk; long queues formed again on the street.

She saw with her own eyes the decline of Mingren Yi Guan; colleagues truly are rivals, even the pharmacy‑medical hall industry that hangs a pot to save the world is no exception.

(End of chapter)