THE NEXT AFTERNOON
XAVIER
Lunch service had finally ended. I let out a long sigh as I wiped my hands on a clean towel.
"I survived."I sighed.
"Barely." Ana laughed from beside the counter.
"Only three nobles tried to give you flowers today."Hin nodded.
"I call that progress."I nodded.
Before I could escape back into the kitchen, a palace maid hurried toward me.
"Chef Wei."A maid said.
"Yes?"I asked.
"The Empress Dowager wishes to see you."A maid said.
"Again?"I asked.
"Immediately."She said.
"Why is it never ’his majesty wishes to reward you with a nap?" I muttered under my breath and followed the maid through the gardens until we reached a quiet pavilion overlooking a koi pond.
"Come closer, child."The Empress Dowager smiled the moment she saw me.
"This humble one greets Your Majesty."I bowed.
"No need to be so formal." She waved me over.
I obediently stepped closer. She clapped once, and a servant immediately approached carrying an elegant lacquered box decorated with silver wolves. The servant knelt before me.
"For me?" I blinked.
"Open it."The Empress Dowager nodded happily.
"..." I carefully lifted the lid.
Inside rested an exquisite emerald hairpin. The jade glowed softly beneath the afternoon sun, carved into the shape of blooming plum blossoms with tiny silver leaves curling around the gemstone. It looked expensive. Very, very, very expensive. I immediately tried to close the box.
"Your Majesty..."I began. "It is too valuable."
"It belongs to you now."She said.
"I can’t possibly-"I tried again.
"You can."She said.
"I really can’t."I shook my head.
"You really can." The Empress Dowager chuckled. "Do you know what that hairpin means?"
"No."I slowly shook my head.
"It is one of my personal gifts."She said. "Anyone who sees you wearing it will immediately understand that you have my favor."
"Your favor?"My eyes widened.
"It tells the palace that anyone who bullies you answers to me."She nodded.
"That’s terrifying."I said nervously.
"It is supposed to be." She smiled far too innocently.
"May I?"The servant stepped behind me.
I didn’t even have time to answer. A moment later the emerald hairpin rested neatly in my white hair. The Empress Dowager leaned back to admire it.
"Oh..."She nodded. "It suits you perfectly."
"Thank you?"I said nervously.
At that exact moment ’Ding!’ the familiar blue screen appeared.
"New status aquired: Empress Dowager’s favored person. Benefits: palace servants become friendlier, noble harassment reduced, random gifts from elderly nobles increased."The system announced way too cheerfully.
"Random gifts?"I asked.
"Visible recognition item equipped. Emerald hairpin. Warning: Emperor Lang Li will notice." The system continued.
"That’s the warning?!"I asked.
"Correct."The system said.
I suddenly had a very bad feeling. A palace maid walking past froze the moment she noticed the hairpin.
"Th-That’s..."She began.
"The Empress Dowager’s emerald hairpin!"Another servant gasped.
Within seconds whispers spread across the courtyard.
"The Empress Dowager gave Chef Wei her personal hairpin."First one said.
"He has Her Majesty’s protection now."Another one nodded.
"I’ve never seen her gift that to anyone outside the imperial family."Third one added.
"I heard she adores his cooking."A someone else also nodded. "I think she adores him."
Please stop making rumors. The Empress Dowager looked completely satisfied.
"There." She smiled proudly. "Now everyone knows you’re under my protection."
"I’m beginning to think that may cause even more rumors."I said nervously.
"I know."She simply laughed.
"Relationship updated. Future mother in law affection: 20%."The system appeared one last time. "Status: protective."
"System."I said.
"Yes, Host?"A system asked.
"Please don’t call her that."I said.
"Request denied."A system said.
"Of course it is."I sighed.
As I walked back toward the kitchen, every servant I passed bowed a little deeper than before. One noble even stepped aside to let me pass.
"My peaceful life. It really is gone."I looked up toward the sky.
One hour later I had made one terrible mistake. I walked outside. That was it. The moment I stepped into the palace courtyard, I realized everyone was looking at me. Not normal looking, very obvious looking. Some servants smiled, several ministers whispered. A group of young noble omegas openly stared at the emerald hairpin resting neatly in my white hair.
"Why is everyone staring?" I whispered.
"Ding." The system appeared. "Host has become today’s hottest gossip."
"I noticed."I said.
"Probability of being stopped within the next thirty seconds: 98%."A system said.
"Please stop calculating my suffering."I frowned.
"Chef Wei!" One noble hurried over. "I heard the Empress Dowager personally gifted you that hairpin!"
"I... yes?"I said confused.
"Does that mean Her Majesty favors you?"He asked.
"I think so?"I said, confused.
"I have never seen her give that hairpin to someone outside the imperial family!"He said.
"WHAT?"I gasped.
"You... didn’t know?"The noble blinked.
"I literally found out five seconds ago!"I said.
Several nearby omegas immediately joined the conversation.
"It looks beautiful on you."First one said.
"The emerald matches your eyes."Second one joined.
"I wish Her Majesty liked me that much."Third one added. "I heard she placed it in your hair herself."
My ears immediately burned. The omegas only smiled knowingly, nobody believed me. Absolutely nobody.
A few minutes later I escaped. Or at least I thought I escaped. The kitchen door opened, Ana rushed inside and behind her came Hin. The second both of them saw the emerald hairpin they froze.
"Wei."Ana slowly pointed at my head.
"Yes?"I asked.
"Is that?"Ana asked.
"Oh... this?"I touched my hair.
"This?!" Ana nearly shrieked.
"Master Wei..."Hin covered her mouth.
"The Empress Dowager gave it to me after lunch."I said.
"AAAAAHHHHH!!" Ana grabbed both of my shoulders. "She likes you!"
"I know!"I said.
"No!"Ana shouted. "You don’t understand!"
"I don’t understand a lot of things lately!"I groaned.
"Master Wei..."Hin hurried closer, eyes sparkling.
"Yes?"I asked.
"Do you know what that hairpin means?"Hin asked.
"Should I?"I said confused.
"It means Her Majesty publicly acknowledges you. It also tells everyone not to bully you."Hin said.
"That’s nice."I said.
"And..." Hin smiled even wider. "It means anyone who insults you insults the Empress Dowager."
"Seriously?"I asked.
"You’re practically protected by the strongest woman in the palace!"Ana nodded so hard I worried for her neck.
"I only cook!"I groaned.
"You also accidentally conquered the imperial family!"Ana said.
"I absolutely did not!"I groaned as pointed at her.
"I give it another month."Ana leaned toward Hin.
"Lady Ana..."Hin said.
"Before Her Majesty starts calling him ’my future son-in-law.’"Ana smirked.
"That is... surprisingly possible."Hin nodded.
"PLEASE DON’T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT!"I nearly dropped the bowl I was holding.
Ana burst into laughter. Hin tried to remain composed, but she failed after three seconds. Both of them laughed while I stood there questioning every life decision that had brought me from Earth to this palace wearing an imperial emerald hairpin.
"Ding." The system appeared one more time. "Palace Rumor Update."
"Oh no..."I gasped.
"Current rumor ranking: First one: Chef Wei is Her Majesty’s favorite. Second one: Chef Wei has unknowingly joined the imperial family. Third one: Emperor Lang Li is going to be very difficult to separate from Chef Wei."A system said.
"I reject all three."I said immediately.
"Request denied."A system said.
"I knew you were going to say that."I sighed.
Each day was getting even messier, and I wasn’t so sure how I will survive here.