Chapter 337: The Empress’s Feast
The palace was unusually lively that evening.
Golden lanterns illuminated the corridors.
Servants hurried through the halls carrying trays, wine jars, and decorations.
The fragrance of freshly cooked food drifted through the air.
Tonight was not an imperial banquet.
Not a political gathering.
Not a royal ceremony.
It was simply—
A feast.
A feast prepared personally by the Empress.
And the guests were few.
The Emperor.
Princess Zhi.
Prince Liang.
The Dowager Empress.
Lady Chen.
A simple gathering.
At least on the surface.
---
The Imperial Kitchen
Long before sunset, Lian An had entered the kitchen.
The chefs were already waiting.
As were the staff from Whisper Bowl.
Nobody dared be careless today.
The Empress herself was supervising.
---
Steam filled the room.
Large pots simmered.
Knives moved rapidly across cutting boards.
The kitchen buzzed with energy.
---
Lian An stood in the center.
Calm.
Focused.
Her sleeves tied neatly.
Her hair pinned up.
---
"Reduce the heat."
"The lotus soup needs another half hour."
"Prepare the peach blossom cakes."
---
The cooks immediately obeyed.
---
Several dishes had already been completed.
Eight Treasure Duck.
Jade Mushroom Soup.
Honey Glazed Pork.
Sweet Lotus Fish.
Golden Shrimp Rolls.
Peach Blossom Cakes.
Osmanthus Rice.
Dozens of dishes.
---
The kitchen staff watched her with admiration.
No matter how many times they saw it—
The Empress’s cooking remained extraordinary.
---
One elderly chef smiled.
"Her Majesty cooks with heart."
Another nodded.
"That is why people love her food."
---
Lian An simply smiled and continued working.
---
The Emperor’s Anticipation
Meanwhile—
Inside the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor had finished reviewing memorials.
Yet he had barely read a single word.
---
His mind wandered repeatedly.
To one thing.
Food.
More specifically—
Food prepared by her.
---
He still remembered the first meal she cooked after entering the palace.
Back then—
He barely touched it.
---
Now the memory filled him with regret.
---
His attendant noticed the faint smile on his face.
"Your Majesty seems happy today."
---
The Emperor didn’t deny it.
---
After a moment he quietly replied,
"The Empress cooked."
---
The attendant nearly laughed.
Only the Empress could make the Emperor abandon work mentally before dinner.
---
The Emperor stood.
Looking out the window.
---
After the divorce discussion—
Everything had changed.
---
For years he thought he wanted freedom from her.
Thought he disliked her presence.
Thought Lady Chen was the one closest to his heart.
---
Then she almost died.
---
And suddenly—
Nothing made sense anymore.
---
The thought of divorce now felt unbearable.
---
The thought of losing her frightened him.
---
His expression softened.
---
"I won’t let her leave."
He murmured quietly.
---
Princess Zhi
Princess Zhi sat happily before her mirror.
Unlike the others—
She wasn’t excited for the feast itself.
---
She was excited because the Empress cooked.
---
To her—
Food made by the Empress always tasted different.
Warmer.
Kinder.
---
She wore a pale pink dress.
Simple but beautiful.
---
Her maid adjusted her hair.
"You seem very excited, Your Highness."
---
Princess Zhi nodded immediately.
---
"Sister An cooked."
---
That alone explained everything.
---
The maid laughed softly.
---
Princess Zhi smiled.
Tonight she would sit beside the Empress.
Eat her food.
Talk to her.
And perhaps spend the entire evening listening to stories.
---
The thought made her genuinely happy.
---
Prince Liang
Elsewhere—
Prince Liang was practically running through his chambers.
---
"Hurry up!"
---
The servants sighed.
---
The prince was excited.
Not because of politics.
Not because of the guests.
---
Because of food.
---
"The Empress’s food is the best!"
---
One servant muttered quietly,
"At least His Highness is honest."
---
Prince Liang grinned.
---
"If I arrive late, the Emperor Brother will eat everything."
---
The servants exchanged amused glances.
---
That actually sounded possible.
---
The Dowager Empress
The Dowager sat quietly while attendants adjusted her robes.
---
Unlike everyone else—
Her thoughts were complicated.
---
She remembered the past.
The punishments.
The misunderstandings.
The prejudice.
---
She remembered the pale girl lying unconscious.
Almost dead.
---
The memory still haunted her.
---
The Dowager sighed.
---
Perhaps she had judged too quickly.
Too harshly.
---
Tonight she wanted to observe.
Not as the Dowager Empress.
But as a mother.
---
And perhaps—
As someone seeking understanding.
---
Lady Chen
In her courtyard—
Lady Chen finished dressing.
Her reflection stared back from the mirror.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
Calm.
---
Recently everything felt different.
---
The obsession.
The competition.
The jealousy.
---
Gone.
---
She smiled softly.
---
The Empress had every reason to hate her.
Yet she never had.
---
Princess Zhi too.
---
Neither woman had harmed her.
---
While she herself had often been cold.
Suspicious.
Defensive.
---
Lady Chen lowered her eyes.
---
Perhaps she owed them apologies.
---
Perhaps she owed herself a new beginning.
---
And tonight—
She intended to simply enjoy the evening.
---
No schemes.
No competition.
No fighting.
---
Just food.
Conversation.
And peace.
---
As for Shin Gu—
A shadow crossed her face.
---
The more she thought about that woman—
The more uneasy she became.
---
Something wasn’t right.
---
And Lady Chen intended to pay close attention moving forward.
---
The Empress Prepares
Back in the kitchen—
The final dish was completed.
---
Lian An finally removed her apron.
The chefs applauded quietly.
---
"It’s perfect, Your Majesty."
---
She smiled.
---
Then she returned to her chambers.
---
The maids immediately surrounded her.
Bath prepared.
Clothes waiting.
Jewelry selected.
---
Soon—
She emerged wearing a beautiful crimson gown embroidered with silver phoenixes.
---
Her long hair flowed down her back.
Jade ornaments glittered softly among dark strands.
---
She looked breathtaking.
---
The three ghosts appeared nearby.
---
Fen Yu immediately screamed.
"Beautiful!"
---
Wei Rong nodded.
"Acceptable."
---
Li Shen sighed.
"He’s going to stare all night."
---
Lian An rolled her eyes.
---
"Who?"
---
All three ghosts answered together.
---
"The Emperor."
---
Fen Yu laughed loudly.
---
"The poor man is completely in love."
---
Lian An’s cheeks immediately turned pink.
---
The ghosts laughed even harder.
---
The Gathering Begins
Outside—
The dining hall had been prepared.
Candles glowed.
Lanterns illuminated the room.
Golden tableware sparkled.
---
One by one—
The guests arrived.
---
Princess Zhi.
Prince Liang.
Lady Chen.
The Dowager.
---
Finally—
The Emperor.
---
And when he saw the Empress entering the hall—
He stopped.
---
For a moment—
The entire room disappeared.
---
Only she remained.
---
Beautiful.
Alive.
Smiling.
---
The woman he nearly lost.
---
The woman he no longer wanted to let go.
---
And for the first time—
The Emperor felt grateful.
---
Grateful that she had survived.
Grateful she had returned.
Grateful that tonight—
They could sit together.
---
Not as enemies.
Not as strangers.
---
But as family sharing a meal.
The Imperial Palace was unusually lively that evening.
The Empress had recovered.
The atmosphere in the palace had gradually become cheerful again.
For the first time in months, the Empress had invited several palace residents and noble ladies to a feast in her courtyard.
Lanterns glowed throughout the palace paths.
Servants carried trays of food.
Musicians were already preparing in the distance.
Everyone was heading toward the Empress’s courtyard.
Including—
Lady Chen.
---
Inside her residence, Lady Chen sat before a bronze mirror while maids adjusted the final details of her appearance.
A pale blue hanfu flowed elegantly around her figure.
Silver butterflies decorated her hair.
She looked beautiful.
Yet her expression remained troubled.
Ever since the Emperor had begun spending more time with the Empress, a feeling she couldn’t name had settled inside her chest.
Jealousy.
Fear.
Frustration.
She hated all of it.
"Miss, it is almost time," a maid reminded gently.
Lady Chen stood immediately.
"We’re already late."
Without waiting, she hurried from her courtyard.
---
The palace corridors were crowded.
Eunuchs hurried past.
Palace maids carried wine.
Guards stood at attention.
Lady Chen moved quickly through the lantern-lit halls.
Her mind was elsewhere.
Thinking about the Emperor.
Thinking about the Empress.
Thinking about how everything seemed to be slipping beyond her control.
Because of that—
She didn’t see the figure approaching from the opposite direction.
---
The collision happened suddenly.
"Ah—!"
Lady Chen lost her balance.
Her foot slipped.
For a moment she thought she would fall directly onto the stone floor.
---
Then a powerful arm wrapped around her waist.
Holding her firmly.
Effortlessly.
---
Her eyes widened.
The world seemed to stop.
---
A strong scent of leather and steel filled her senses.
Warmth.
Strength.
Safety.
---
Slowly—
Lady Chen looked up.
And froze.
---
Standing before her was a man dressed in black military robes.
Broad shoulders.
Sharp jawline.
Straight nose.
Dark eyes that seemed capable of piercing through lies.
---
General Zhao Ming.
---
The Empire’s youngest and most celebrated general.
The hero who had guarded the borders for years.
The man feared by enemies and respected by soldiers.
---
Lady Chen had seen him many times.
At court.
During ceremonies.
From across great halls.
---
But never this close.
Never close enough to notice the tiny scar near his eyebrow.
Never close enough to see the intensity hidden behind those dark eyes.
---
For the first time—
Lady Chen realized just how handsome he was.
Not the refined beauty of a scholar.
Not the elegance of a noble lord.
---
A different kind of handsome.
Strong.
Dangerous.
Masculine.
---
The realization made her heart skip unexpectedly.
---
General Zhao Ming was having a similar problem.
---
He had met countless noble ladies.
Princesses.
Daughters of ministers.
Ladies from powerful families.
---
Most blended together in his memory.
Polite.
Beautiful.
Forgettable.
---
Yet now—
Holding Lady Chen in his arms—
He found himself staring.
---
Her eyes were brighter than he remembered.
Her skin looked almost luminous beneath the lantern light.
A faint fragrance surrounded her.
Not overwhelming.
Just enough to linger.
---
And for a brief moment—
He forgot to let go.
---
Their eyes met.
Neither spoke.
Neither moved.
---
The corridor seemed strangely quiet despite the servants passing nearby.
---
Lady Chen felt her cheeks warming.
The realization finally struck her.
She was still in his arms.
---
Immediately she stepped back.
"My apologies, General."
---
Zhao Ming released her at once.
But his gaze remained on her.
---
"There is no need to apologize."
His voice was deep.
Calm.
Steady.
---
Lady Chen looked away first.
For some reason—
She suddenly felt nervous.
---
"I wasn’t paying attention."
---
The General folded his arms.
"I noticed."
---
Lady Chen blinked.
Then glared slightly.
"Was that a joke?"
---
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Barely visible.
---
But she saw it.
---
And somehow—
That made him even more attractive.
---
General Zhao Ming noticed her staring.
---
Interesting.
---
Most women became nervous around him because of his reputation.
Yet Lady Chen seemed more annoyed than frightened.
---
He found himself amused.
---
"You should be more careful."
---
Lady Chen crossed her arms.
"I could say the same to you."
---
For the first time in a very long time—
General Zhao Ming laughed.
Actually laughed.
---
The sound surprised both of them.
---
Lady Chen stared.
---
The General realized what he had done and quickly regained composure.
---
Silence followed.
A strange silence.
Not uncomfortable.
Just unfamiliar.
---
Then palace bells sounded in the distance.
Reminding them both why they were there.
---
"The feast," Lady Chen said softly.
---
"The feast," Zhao Ming agreed.
---
Neither moved immediately.
---
Then finally Lady Chen bowed slightly.
"I should go."
---
Zhao Ming nodded.
"Of course."
---
She turned.
Taking several steps away.
---
Yet something made her glance back.
---
To her surprise—
The General was still standing there.
Watching her leave.
---
The moment their eyes met again—
Both quickly looked elsewhere.
---
Lady Chen’s heart beat faster.
---
"What is wrong with me?"
she thought.
---
Meanwhile—
General Zhao Ming stood in the corridor long after she disappeared.
---
A palace guard approached cautiously.
"General?"
---
No response.
---
"General?"
---
Zhao Ming blinked.
"What?"
---
The guard looked confused.
"The feast is this way."
---
The General cleared his throat.
"I know."
---
Yet as he continued walking toward the Empress’s courtyard—
One thought remained stubbornly in his mind.
---
Lady Chen was far more dangerous than any battlefield.
