Chapter 262: Gifts in the Name of
That night, Ye Jiayao ignored Xia Chunyu. She was a little angry at him, but more importantly, she was frustrated by her own powerlessness and didn't want to pay attention to him.

Xia Chunyu was also helpless, but he understood Yaoyao's feelings and just gave her time to calm down.

The next morning, Ye Jiayao went to Tianshangju and called Deng Haichuan over.

"Haichuan, I have an important task for you to do." Ye Jiayao thought about it all night. A'ruan asked her to find a cook. After thinking about it, she felt that Deng Haichuan was the most suitable person. Deng Haichuan was smart and tactful. Let him keep an eye on the palace. Even if he could not help A'ruan in any way, at least she would know about any disturbance in the palace.

After hearing this, Deng Haichuan was not unwilling to go: "But, if I leave, what will happen to Tianshangju?" Now, he is the key figure, and Wang Mingde and Cui Dongpeng are not here.

Ye Jiayao said, "I've already thought about this. I'll let Jiang Yue take charge of the pastry shop, and let Zhong Xiang take care of this side. If you go to the palace, I'll double your wages."

Deng Haichuan said, "Second Young Madam, you are being too polite. As long as Second Young Madam needs me, I will do it without hesitation. I don't care about the salary. I earn more here in a year than I would in ten years elsewhere."

Ye Jiayao said solemnly: "When you go to the palace, you must be extra careful and don't let anyone catch you by mistake. I will make an agreement with them. You go there during the day and return to Tianshangju at night."

Now the Lin family is in charge of the palace. Lin knows that Deng Haichuan is her man, so it is unlikely that she will make things difficult for him openly. However, she cannot guarantee that he will plot against her in secret, so she has to give an explanation.

Seeing how serious the Second Young Lady was, Deng Haichuan knew that this job was not easy and it was not as simple as being a cook.

"Don't worry, Madam Second Young Master. I will be careful and cautious."

After making an agreement with Deng Haichuan, Ye Jiayao went to the pastry shop again. The pastry shop had already started selling snowy mooncakes, and the business was booming, with a long queue.

Jiang Yue was there collecting the money personally. When she saw Ye Jiayao coming, she quickly handed the work over to her subordinates and welcomed Ye Jiayao in.

"Second Young Madam, we sold eight hundred mooncakes yesterday. It looks like we'll sell even more today." Jiang Yue said happily while serving tea to Ye Jiayao.

Ye Jiayao smiled: "Thank you for your hard work."

"It's not hard. Business is so good that I would wake up smiling in my dreams." Jiang Yue said happily.

Ye Jiayao felt apologetic. She had only spent some effort in the beginning on this pastry shop, and later left it all to Jiang Yue and Zhong Xiang. It could be said that the pastry shop's success was all due to the two of them, especially Jiang Yue. She taught Jiang Yue alone the method of making ice cream, which was a trade secret. Jiang Yue didn't dare to delegate it to others. She did it all by herself. She knew better than anyone how hard it was. Jiang Yue simply regarded the pastry shop as her home and didn't go back at night. Aunt Jiang had complained to her several times, saying that she could no longer see Jiang Yue.

"After the busy Mid-Autumn Festival, I'll give you a few days off to have a good rest." Ye Jiayao said.

"No, no, I'm not tired." Jiang Yue has never felt so accomplished. She always thought that she would live a mediocre life, but now she has become the backbone of the pastry shop, and the pastry shop is becoming more and more prosperous under her leadership. Such a sense of accomplishment is enough to offset all the tiredness and hard work.

She enjoys it very much.

"I came here today because I have something to tell you." Ye Jiayao asked her to sit down.

Jiang Yue said with a smile: "Second Young Madam, just tell me what you want to do!"

Ye Jiayao smiled and said, "I think from now on, I will leave this bakery to you alone to manage. I will give you a commission, and 20% of the profits will belong to you."

Jiang Yue was stunned: "Second Young Madam, how can this be possible?"

Others didn't know how much the 20% profit was, but she knew it very well. A 20% profit would be tens of thousands a month. Why did she need so much money? Besides, although she and Zhong Xiang were in charge of the pastry shop, more than 90% of the most profitable pastries here were developed by the Second Young Lady. She was just helping out, so how could she ask for so much money?
"This is what you deserve. Consider it your dowry." Ye Jiayao smiled.

Jiang Yue blushed and said shyly, "I'm not married yet, why do I need a dowry?"

Ye Jiayao smiled meaningfully. Don't think she couldn't see that Jiang Yue and Zhong Xiang clearly had that intention. She also thought that the two were a good match. She wanted to talk to Zhong Xiang about it after she finished A Ruan's wedding banquet and let him propose marriage. However, it seems that she has to postpone it now.

"Can't you save it first? Silly girl, it's settled. Zhong Xiang will be very busy recently. He has to be responsible for teaching in the training class and taking care of Tianshangju. You may not be able to meet often." Ye Jiayao informed her first.

Alas, I feel that we are short of manpower now. Manager Zhao was sent to the farm to assist Manager Bai in building a villa, and Deng Haichuan was sent out by her again. Manager Qian’s ability is a little worse. However, once Wang Mingde and Cui Dongpeng graduate from the training class, it will be easy to deal with, as we will have two more capable assistants.

Jiang Yue asked curiously, "Isn't Deng Haichuan in charge of the kitchen in Tianshangju?"

"I've sent him to do other things. Just hang in there. Once this period is over, everyone will be able to relax." Ye Jiayao sighed.

Finally, she asked Jiang Yue to pack forty snow-skin mooncakes and some pastries as she was going to the palace.

It was the first time for Qiao Xi to follow the Second Young Madam into the palace. She felt both fresh and terrified. The majestic palace, the high walls, and the solemn and luxurious atmosphere everywhere made people have to breathe carefully. Holding the ice mirror, she followed the Second Young Madam cautiously.

Ye Jiayao went to the emperor's residence first. The emperor was working in the imperial study, so she did not go in to disturb him and handed the mooncake to Eunuch Wei.

"We made a new flavor this year, and sent a few to the emperor to try."

Eunuch Wei narrowed his eyes and smiled: "Madam, you are so thoughtful." Ye Jiayao handed over another box of snacks: "This is pea yellow for you, it can clear away heat and help digestion. Please accept it."

Eunuch Wei's eyes became smaller and smaller: "I love to eat pea yellow, thank you very much, Madam."

"You are too polite, sir. It's just some food. If you like it, I will send more next time."

Afterwards, Ye Jiayao went to the Chaoyang Palace of the Imperial Palace and gave mooncakes and pastries to the Queen. She talked with the Queen for a while before going to Concubine Shu's palace.

Concubine Shu was very happy to see Ye Jiayao coming to give her mooncakes.

"It's still a long way from August 15th. You guys in Tianshangju really know how to do business." Concubine Shu said with a smile.

"We're doing this in advance. There are a few new flavors this year, so I thought of sending a few Niangniangs for you to try." Ye Jiayao smiled sincerely, showing that she was very thoughtful.

Concubine Shu was indeed happy and had it put away.

"I'm sorry for making things difficult for you last time. Are you feeling better now?" Concubine Shu asked softly.

This was exactly the same as what the Queen said. Ye Jiayao had to say the same thing for the second time: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. It's nothing serious. I just caught a cold and I've recovered a long time ago."

"Fortunately you are okay, otherwise I would feel so guilty." Concubine Shu said.

"Your Majesty, please don't say that. Your Majesty trusts me and lets me take on this important task. I am only grateful in my heart, but I am afraid that I will not do well and disappoint Your Majesty. Besides, the princess is on good terms with me. I will do my best both in public and in private." Ye Jiayao said tactfully.

Concubine Shu felt relieved after listening to this. Ye Jinxuan was really good at talking, and she was even more determined to win her over.

"It's rare that Ruan gets along so well with you. It's also her blessing. With a good sister like you, she will be happier in Jinling."

Ye Jiayao said: "I just went to see the princess yesterday, and she also said that the queen cared for her more than her own mother. The princess is lucky to have a mother-in-law like you!"

Concubine Shu smiled and said, "That child is well-behaved and sensible. It's hard for me not to like him."

"But, speaking of which, she hasn't come to pay her respects to me for several days."

Ye Jiayao said: "She wanted to come, but she has been feeling unwell these past few days."

Concubine Shu was surprised: "Are you feeling unwell? Have you asked the imperial physician to take a look?"

Ye Jiayao said embarrassedly: "Maybe it's because of her loss of appetite. The dishes made by the chef in the palace are not to her taste."

Concubine Shu said thoughtfully, "She is from Nanyue. When she was in the palace, the queen specially asked the chef to cook Nanyue dishes. I was negligent. The chef in the palace can't compare with the imperial chef in the palace."

Seeing Concubine Shu's reaction, Ye Jiayao seemed to not understand the specific situation in the palace, so she said, "She joked with me that she liked the dishes I cooked the most, so I thought, why not send a chef from Tianshangju to cook for her? I taught the chef at Tianshangju how to cook, and the taste of his dishes is almost the same as mine."

Concubine Shu sneered and said, "Now that she is a princess, it is up to her to decide."

Ye Jiayao hesitated to speak.

Concubine Shu noticed something, but she didn't point it out. She said, "Since she likes it, please send a cook to cook for her."

"I'm afraid Prince Yu will be unhappy." Ye Jiayao said.

Concubine Shu became more suspicious: "I will go and talk to Prince Yu, it's not a big deal."

Ye Jiayao was delighted. She could have sent Deng Haichuan directly to Prince Yu's mansion without going through Concubine Shu Guifei, but with Concubine Shu Guifei's decree, the effect was completely different. Deng Haichuan's safety in the mansion could be guaranteed. Anyone who wanted to embarrass Deng Haichuan had to think twice.

"In that case, I will go back and pick the best one." Ye Jiayao said with a smile.

After Ye Jiayao said goodbye, Concubine Shu's face turned cold and she called the palace servants: "Go and call Nanny Wu into the palace. I want to question her."

Nanny Wu was an old palace maid whom she arranged to serve in the palace, and she was also her spy in the palace.

Ah Ruan was not feeling well, and the food cooked by the chef in the mansion was not to her taste. Ah Ruan was the princess, who would dare to cook food that was not to her taste for her? Did they want to lose their heads? Today, Ye Jinxuan came to send mooncakes as an excuse, but in fact, she wanted to remind her of something.

It seems that there is a problem in the palace!

(End of this chapter)