Chapter 212 - 183: Jealousy (Part 2)

Jiang Xian wasn’t particular about food; she was happy with the cooking of any chef from the imperial kitchens.

As a result, she never even noticed the kitchen staff’s attempts to curry favor by secretly adding extra, high-quality dishes to her meals.

"For the next seven days, have him prepare Chen Cairen’s meals," Xie Che ordered. "There’s just one thing. Chen Cairen should be eating lighter fare. Base her menu on a patient’s diet—and go easy on the meat and fish."

"..."

Such is the swift change from great joy to great sorrow.

Chen Cairen’s small, round face went slack with shock. It was only when He Xiang pinched her from behind that she remembered to express her gratitude. Not daring to mention sharing the Emperor’s meals again, she departed with an aggrieved expression. But she couldn’t leave it at that. Before walking away, she turned back to shoot Jiang Xian a look brimming with silent complaint.

This silent exchange did not escape Xie Che’s notice, and he was rendered speechless.

’How dare she try to badmouth me in front of Xian’er! I should have had Xia Deshui send her a meal of stir-fried shredded ginger and potato!’

"Your Majesty, why did you arrive without having someone announce you? I would have come out to greet you."

"I told them not to," Xie Che said, sitting down. He glanced at Jiang Xian’s expression. "Xia Deshui is a skilled chef. Even his light vegetarian dishes for the sick aren’t unpalatable. You don’t need to feel too sorry for her."

Liang Yuyin listened, practically cringing.

’And he’s still worried Gu Zhaoyi might be upset? The Emperor’s favoritism knows no bounds.’

Jiang Xian said she wasn’t sorry for her; Chen Cairen would just come to the main palace to cadge a meal whenever she craved meat anyway. "Your Majesty must have been waiting outside for a long time," she said. "You must have heard everything."

"If you’d rather I hadn’t heard, then I heard nothing."

"Good."

With a smile, Jiang Xian actually did change the subject.

Xie Che listened for a moment before he couldn’t help but interrupt. "I heard Consort Ji paid you a visit."

"She did. I didn’t see her."

"If you find her troublesome, I’ll have her stay put in Yizhu Pavilion."

Consort Ji had gone to great lengths, yet she still hadn’t managed to leave an impression on the Emperor.

Xie Che tried to recall seeing Mrs. Ji during the concubine selection. Because she had deliberately imitated Jiang Xian from those years, dressing plainly and simply, all he could remember was a vague outline.

"If Your Majesty gets involved, Consort Ji will be utterly humiliated. She’ll give up on her own if she comes a few more times and gets nowhere."

Of course, Jiang Xian wasn’t concerned about a stranger’s pride.

It was just that women of the harem placed great importance on their dignity. If she really had the Emperor confine Consort Ji, it would create a major feud. Making an enemy for no good reason was simply not worth it. As it stood, Consort Ji was just trying to curry favor with her. Refusing to see her hardly qualified as a nuisance.

"You’re just good-natured."

For the Emperor, the harem was a place to unwind after dealing with matters of state.

Xie Che despised Concubines who stirred up trouble. Even when it came to rivalries and jealousy, as long as one party was sensible and restrained enough not to bring the drama to him, all was well. Jiang Xian’s calm, unbothered reaction to a newcomer’s provocations should have been exactly what he appreciated most. Yet after the dry compliment, he couldn’t resist prodding her. "Are you truly not angry at all?"

Jiang Xian was taken aback by his question.

’The boss is asking if I’m angry that a new employee is copying me and trying to take my place...’

Jiang Xian laughed. "Your Majesty isn’t going to reduce my monthly silver because of her, so what is there for me to be angry about?"

"..."

This time, it was the Emperor who got angry.

"So you’re saying that if I were to favor her because of her resemblance to you, you wouldn’t mind at all."

Angry as he was, Xie Che didn’t want to get up and storm out. But his voice changed subtly. His usually warm and pleasant tone grew cold, as if laced with sharp gravel that grated on the ears. He showed no expression as he spoke, not even looking at Jiang Xian. He lowered his head to brew a pot of tea, for all the world like a giant, sulking cat, turning its back on you but with its ears pricked straight up, waiting to hear what nonsense you’d spout next.

They had spent enough time together for Jiang Xian to easily see he was displeased. "I’m not angry," she said, "because Your Majesty hasn’t favored her. She poses no threat to my position. Furthermore, she’s imitating the me from when I first entered the palace. That’s ancient history. I’ll always have newer, better facets to show. An imitator is nothing to be afraid of."

It was a fair competition, and the victor would be king.

By choosing to imitate her, Consort Ji was doomed to always be one step behind.

"Oh."

Xie Che turned back to look at her, his mood slightly improved.

But he wasn’t completely placated.

In truth, most of the time, Xie Che conducted himself as a proper Emperor should. He wore the imperial yellow Dragon Robe with authority, possessed the innate, graceful dignity of the Heavenly Family, and had the imposing aura of a ruler that was powerful without being angry. It was enough to make any woman who admired strength fall for him, and countless young scholars at court followed his lead. Yet no matter how dignified and handsome he appeared, when Jiang Xian looked at him, she felt only respect.

It was only when he was sulking and being willful that Jiang Xian couldn’t help but smile. "You get upset with Chen Cairen and deny her meat. If other people heard about it, they’d say the Emperor is petty."

"I had Xia Deshui prepare her meals. Others will only think she’s basking in your glory."

The mere mention of Chen Cairen set Xie Che off again.

It wasn’t that he was truly angry with Chen Cairen. It was more like when a woman argues with her partner; she wants to hear a detailed explanation, but if the explanation falls short, her anger flares up all over again. They can be very hard to please.

And this Emperor was a particularly difficult one.

"Wait a minute. Did you just say I was petty?"

"I did not."

"It sounded like that’s what you meant."

"Your Majesty must have misheard."

"So you think I’m wrong," Xie Che paused, frowning. "You didn’t tell Chen Cairen she was wrong when she spoke."

Ever since giving birth to Zhao’er, Jiang Xian’s patience for placating people had reached a new level. She had to coax Xie Che for quite some time before he finally cracked a smile and stopped harping on about Chen Cairen. ’Honestly, what did that child do to provoke him so much? He’s actually competing with her for my affection.’

Meanwhile, when Consort Ji learned that the Emperor had arrived at Bihua Palace right after she had left, she could have kicked herself. If only she had known she might see the Emperor, she would have shamelessly lingered at Bihua Palace no matter what!

Because of this, her visits to Jiang Xian became even more frequent.