(BL) Reborn as Lycan's Emperor's abandoned Beta concubine?!

Chapter 27: 27. A banquet for an envoy

A FEW HOURS LATER

XAVIER

I was beginning to think I had finally escaped being noticed. I was wrong. The moment the envoy’s daughter entered the hall, the atmosphere changed. Everyone was watching her, everyone except the Emperor. At least, that was what I thought. Until I noticed his eyes. Lang Li was sitting calmly on the imperial seat, his expression unreadable as usual, but his gaze kept moving. Not toward the envoy, not toward the ministers, but toward me.

More specifically, towards the envoy’s daughter standing near me. I immediately became nervous. Why was this suddenly my problem?

"Chef Wei."The young woman smiled politely as she approached.

"Miss."I quickly bowed.

"My name is Hua Jin." She introduced herself. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine." I replied.

She looked at the dishes being carried by the servants.

"I heard your cooking is famous even outside the palace."She said.

"People exaggerate."I became slightly uncomfortable.

"Do they?" Hua Jin smiled. "I find that hard to believe."

Before I could answer, I felt a strange pressure from across the room. I slowly looked toward Lang Li. His expression was still calm, too calm and that was the problem. The Emperor was never calm when he was actually bothered.

"Ding." The system appeared.

"Please don’t."I nearly sighed.

"Emotional observation detected."A system said.

"No."I closed my eyes.

"Emperor Lang Li is experiencing slight jealousy."A system said.

I almost dropped my cup.

"System."I began.

"Yes?"A system asked.

"Why are you announcing this?"I asked.

"Because host reaction is interesting."A system said.

I quickly looked away before anyone noticed my expression. Unfortunately, the Empress Dowager noticed, of course she did. She was sitting beside Lang Li and watching everything with the biggest smile I had ever seen. She looked between her son and me, then between Hua Jin and me. She looked extremely entertained. I had a terrible feeling that the Empress Dowager was plotting again.

"Chef Wei."Lang Li finally spoke.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"I immediately turned.

"The envoy has requested a special banquet."He said.

"A banquet?"I blinked.

"Indeed, Your Majesty."The envoy stepped forward and bowed. He smiled. "We have heard many stories about Chef Wei’s cooking. During our visit, we would like to experience his skills personally."

My eyes widened. Me? Again?

"I am only a palace chef."I said nervously.

"Your reputation says otherwise."The envoy shook his head.

I had no response to that.

"My son’s palace has gained quite a treasure."The Empress Dowager smiled proudly.

"Your Majesty..."I almost choked.

She ignored my panic. Meanwhile, Lang Li’s expression became slightly colder when Hua Jin looked at me again. Not angry, just unhappy.

"Ding."The system appeared. "Emperor Lang Li affection: 12%. Jealousy detected and emotional growth possible."

I silently begged the system to disappear. It did not. The envoy continued discussing the banquet details while I stood there, realizing my peaceful evening had completely collapsed. I came here wanting to live quietly as a chef, instead, I was now preparing a special banquet for foreign guests while the Emperor’s mother watched with amusement and the Emperor himself seemed strangely bothered by a simple conversation. My life was becoming more complicated every single day, and somehow I had a feeling Hua Jin’s arrival was only the beginning. In the evening, the palace kitchens had transformed into complete chaos. Steam filled the air, pots bubbled over roaring flames. Servants rushed in every direction carrying baskets of vegetables, trays of spices, and stacks of porcelain plates. I stood in the middle of it all with my sleeves rolled up.

"More ginger!" I called.

A young servant immediately ran toward the storage room.

"Hin, how are the dumplings?"I asked.

"They will be ready in five minutes!"I heard a response.

"Ana?"I asked.

She looked up from a massive pot.

"The broth is finished. Taste it."She looked up from a massive pot.

"Perfect."I dipped a spoon into the soup.

"I learned from the best."Ana grinned proudly.

"You learned because you kept stealing tastes while I cooked."I teased.

"I call that education."She nodded.

Hin giggled while folding another dumpling. The three of us moved almost without speaking now. After weeks of cooking together, everyone knew what needed to be done. For a brief moment it was peaceful. No emperors, no nobles, no mysterious system messages, just cooking.

"I could get used to this." I muttered.

"Ding."I heard a similar signal in my head.

"I said nothing."I looked toward the ceiling.

The system wisely remained silent. Good.

"Chef Wei."I heard a similar voice.

I nearly dropped the knife. That voice. I slowly turned around. Standing in the middle of the kitchen entrance was Hua Jin.

"How did you get in here?"I asked.

"I walked."She blinked.

"This is the imperial kitchen."I said.

"Yes."She said.

"There are guards."I said and pointed at one.

"Yes."She nodded.

"There are servants."I added.

"Yes."She nodded.

"They are supposed to stop people."I sighed.

"They smiled and let me in."She looked around.

"Ana."I turned toward Ana.

"Don’t look at me."She said.

"Hin." Hin awkwardly avoided eye contact.

"They... asked if Miss Hua was expected."She said.

"And?"I asked.

"I may have nodded."Hin whispered.

I covered my face. Wonderful, absolutely wonderful. Hua Jin stepped closer, her eyes wandering around the busy kitchen.

"So this is where you work."She said.

"Usually without unexpected visitors."I said.

"I was curious."She smiled apologetically.

"Curiosity is dangerous."I said.

"So I’ve been told."Sjhe nodded.

"I like her."Ana leaned toward Hin and whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear.

"She seems friendly."Hin nodded.

"I can hear both of you."I said.

"We know."Ana nodded.

"I won’t interrupt for long."Hua Jin laughed softly.

"You look... different while cooking."She watched as I sliced vegetables with practiced movements.

"Different?"I paused.

"You seem happier."Hua said.

"Cooking is the one thing that always makes sense."I looked down at the cutting board.

For a second, Hua Jin simply smiled.

"Chef Wei!" A servant rushed inside. "His Majesty wishes to know how preparations are progressing."

"Tell His Majesty everything will be ready on time."I sighed.

The servant bowed and hurried away.

"You don’t seem frightened of the Emperor."Hua Jin tilted her head.

"You have clearly never seen me when he suddenly appears behind me."I nearly laughed.

Even Ana burst into laughter.

"That happens surprisingly often." She admitted.

"I have lost years off my life because of it." I muttered.

Hua Jin covered her mouth, trying not to laugh herself. The kitchen, which had been filled with tension moments earlier, suddenly felt much lighter. Unfortunately, knowing my luck, that peaceful feeling probably wasn’t going to last very long.

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