Became Duke Winston Wood's Aide

Henry Chen took a deep breath, his face dark, and turned to leave.

"Stop right there!" Felix Zeng called out sharply.

Henry Chen froze in his tracks.

"Are you the kitchen supervisor for the Spirit Alliance?"

Henry Chen looked flustered and said, "So what if I am? The affairs of the Spirit Alliance are none of your business!"

"His Majesty ordered me to investigate," Felix Zeng shrilled. "Just days ago, President Zhu was perfectly fine—so why does she suddenly have stomach trouble? Did someone drug her food? No need to investigate further. Seeing the slop you delivered, it must be you!"

"Y-you're talking nonsense! Why would I ever put drugs in the President's food?"

"Hmph!" Felix Zeng snorted. "Guards, seize him!"

Though Henry Chen was a Spirit Practitioner, he was only a low-level one and no match for the imperial guards. He was immediately apprehended.

"What are you doing?" Henry Chen shouted in panic. "If you're catching a thief, show me the evidence! Why do you say my food is poisoned?"

Felix Zeng smirked wickedly, "Then eat it all. If you survive, that proves it's not poisoned, and we won't take you in for questioning. Deal?"

Henry Chen glanced at the five imperial guards. With no way out, he lowered his head and said, "Fine, I'll eat..."

Felix Zeng was the emperor's man—even Duke Winston Wood couldn't control him.

In fact, Winston Wood was also a subject of the emperor.

As a mere lackey, Henry Chen didn't have the protection that Spiritual Alchemists did. If the emperor wanted him dead, he could be killed without question.

He had no choice but to submit.

So, Grace and her two friends enjoyed their delicious imperial cuisine while watching Henry Chen choke down spoiled dishes and pot-washing water.

As he ate, Henry Chen started to vomit.

Felix Zeng said from the side, "He threw up! The food is clearly bad—take him away!"

"I didn't throw up! I didn't!" Henry Chen scooped the mess back into his mouth with a spoon. "I'm just nervous—that's all! I'll keep eating!"

Watching Henry Chen eat what he'd just vomited, Rina Chu covered her eyes. "Oh my god, my poor eyes!"

Bobby flashed her a smile.

That smile dazzled Rina Chu.

"Wow! I just realized..." Rina Chu looked at Bobby. "Bobby, you're really good-looking! If you dressed up as a girl, you'd be the Spirit Alliance's number one beauty!"

Bobby shot her a sidelong glance but said nothing.

Even that glance seemed full of charm to Rina Chu.

She nudged Grace's arm and asked, "President, don't you think so?"

"Absolutely!" Grace replied with a laugh.

Bobby's looks truly were extraordinary—skin like jade, brows like ink, eyes like autumn water. He was a rare handsome man indeed.

"Stop teasing me!" Bobby chuckled, though his smile was tinged with bitterness.

Grace glanced at him but said nothing.

Actually, The Ten Wilderness Spirit Herb Compendium mentions a pill that could fix Bobby's flaw.

Unfortunately, the ingredients for that pill are incredibly rare—not even the rare herbs vault has them.

So Grace kept it to herself.

She was afraid that the greater his hope, the greater his disappointment...

Afterwards, Emperor Henry Tuoba really did send imperial cuisine every day.

Duke Winston Wood had no choice but to rein himself in.

At the very least, he wouldn't pull any tricks in such obvious places.

But Henry Chen, after all this, kept rising higher and higher.

He left the kitchen and became one of Duke Winston Wood's close aides.

...

With Grace's real power taken away, she found herself with a lot more free time to cultivate.