"Your Majesty, let's return to the palace!" Chuxue couldn't help but advise: "You are pregnant, and the current situation is unfavorable. It would be better for you to pretend to be ill and rest in the palace, avoiding this wave of trouble for now."
Lin Wan looked at her with a sigh, "I'm not like Wang Shu Rong. I was already a public figure, even if I wanted to avoid trouble, many people wouldn't let me."
Again, if one is always hiding like Wang Shurong, perhaps a safe outcome can be obtained, but nothing more.
In this palace, if you don't fight, then you really have nothing. Fighting comes with risks, but Lin Wan is that kind of person who likes to go all out.
Lin Yans thought for a long time and finally instructed: "Let's go to the small kitchen to cook lotus leaf congee."
That was still last year, Lin Wan and Chu Xue came up with the dish of lotus leaf congee. After Emperor Taizong ate it, he praised it highly. At that time, Lin Wan was just an ordinary concubine, in the heart of Emperor Taizong like a plaything, because of this wholehearted effort to win favor, she also gained many benefits. Later, the concubines vied with each other to imitate her, and there were more people cooking congee, but Emperor Taizong became tired of it and disliked it.
After a year, there are already early-blooming lotus flowers in the Bi Bo pool. Cooking lotus leaf congee again, Tuoba Hong will probably like it.
Moreover, according to what De Cai said, the Emperor did not have lunch that day and must have been in a very bad mood, unable to eat his usual food.
Lin Wan's body was not convenient, but she still washed her hands and went to the kitchen, personally rinsing the rice water, chopping the scallions and fish into small pieces. In the Hongyan Building, there were imperial chefs bestowed by the emperor, but Lin Wan always made things for the emperor with her own hands. The emperor who owned the world would not put any delicious food in his eyes, while the slightly flawed dishes made by the concubine's own hands would make him feel fresh and interesting.
"On a summer day, the emperor's mood is irritable, add a bit more mung bean." The several cooks were naturally much better at their craft than Lin Yu, but unfortunately Lin Yu didn't allow them to intervene, so they could only offer suggestions from the side. Lin Yu looked at the grains of rice in her hand and asked: "How about grinding the mung beans into powder? I've never liked eating mung bean rice, it's even harder than Job's tears after cooking."
Several cooks looked at each other, all knowing that the taste of mung bean flour mixed with rice wouldn't be great... but seeing Lin Yu's enthusiasm, none of them dared to raise any objections.
The lotus leaf porridge was time-consuming and laborious to make, and after Lin Wan and Chu Xue had been busy for half a day, they hastily filled a small pot with it and placed it in a red wooden food box lined with cotton padding, preparing to send it to the Emperor. Chu Xue slightly furrowed her brow and said: "After His Majesty lost his temper with Madame He, none of the palace maids dared to go near Jianzhang Palace anymore. Didn't Your Ladyship also say that we can't casually go and inquire about His Majesty's news? Are we really going to send it over now?"
"Nature has to be delivered." Lin Yuen insisted: "It's just that we can't go directly to the emperor." After thinking again, she said: "The emperor doesn't eat lunch, and the people in the imperial kitchen are afraid of being scolded if they send food rashly. They must be worried about starving the emperor. Chunxue, you take the lotus leaf congee to the imperial kitchen and prepare a meal for the emperor in my name. The people in the imperial kitchen are just afraid that the food won't suit the emperor's taste and will be blamed again. Since it's our preparation, let them send it up, and even if the emperor doesn't like it, the responsibility won't fall on their heads."
Lin said with increasing certainty: "Right, let's do it this way! The people at the Shang Shi Bureau are helpless and will definitely help us present the things to them!"
Xue De obtained the order and didn't say much, took the food box and went out. Lin Yuan asked Xiao Chengzi: "Is there anyone else sending meals to the Emperor today?"
In the past, when the emperor was not feeling well, many people in the harem would take advantage of the situation to curry favor. However, today... Xiaochengzi thought for a moment: "Actually, no! The Gui Ren was demoted just a few hours ago and was downgraded three ranks, which scared all the concubines. Everyone is afraid that if they disturb the emperor again, they will end up like Renshi, so who dares to go to the Jianchang Palace?"
"That's good." Lin Wan nodded as she listened: "If everyone is like me, we'd be doing useless work and would appear the same as those who deliberately try to win favor in the emperor's eyes."
"After all, I'm still intentionally vying for favor..."
Xiao Chengzi listened with a hint of puzzlement, and smiled obsequiously: "Your Majesty is the most favored person in the six palaces, and you're also pregnant. The Emperor dotes on you every day, it's not enough... why would this favor need to be 'contended' for?"
She gave him a glance, and after a while, she hummed softly: "You think it's that simple! You think I have the merit of saving the emperor, so I can live a carefree life from now on? The palace has many talented people, like Empress Jing who fainted for five years to give birth to the emperor's child, and how much the emperor loves her... I think I have a place in the emperor's heart, but others may not be worse than me. Even Empress Xiao, her contributions to the emperor are far greater than mine, and when she was young, she and the emperor were deeply in love, and she was also exclusively favored. But what about now..."
"Sighing softly: 'Serving Your Majesty, I have never dared to be careless.'"
Lin Yan sent the things over, and the person in charge of the Imperial Food Bureau was an old eunuch over 50 years old. When he saw the food box of Princess Hui, he came back to life like a dead man revived. He had been in the palace for more than 30 years, with the same seniority as Yao Fu Sheng, but unfortunately, he was a bit wooden and didn't have much cleverness, so he could only be the manager of the Imperial Food Bureau, a place without any benefits.
However, this imperial chef has one advantage, that is, he is loyal and dedicated to his work, serving the emperor with great care. He personally led two maids under him, carrying food boxes and several ordinary dishes into the Jianzhang Palace.
The emperor in the Jianzhang Palace was indeed still sulking, and as soon as he heard it was someone from the Shangshi Bureau, he waved his hand and only said one sentence: "Let them withdraw." The Shangshi person carefully handed over the things to Yao Fusheng's hands, and begged: "Lord Yao, please secretly send it into the house for the emperor. The emperor doesn't need to eat, but we can't just watch as the people who serve him go hungry. These dishes are nothing special, they're just ordinary imperial cuisine, but the hot congee in this food box is made by Concubine Hui's own hands, I'm sure the emperor will like it."
Yao Fusheng's eyes lit up as he watched the Emperor sulking and refusing to eat, his heart more anxious than the Imperial Kitchen. This Consort Hui was indeed well-versed in the Emperor's temper, having always been able to placate him whenever he was displeased before. Yao Fusheng immediately took over the task with both hands, exclaiming: "Why didn't you directly report to the Emperor just now? With Consort Hui's backing, what's there to fear about not being able to get things in?"
Shang Shi Nei Jian is a conscientious person, who not only thinks of himself but also remembers the entrustment of Hui Bin Niang Niang. He hastily said: "This is absolutely impossible! Hui Bin Niang Niang entrusted me to send it up in the name of Shang Shi Ju, without mentioning Hui Bin Niang Niang... and said that as long as it is quietly placed on the emperor's desk, if the emperor does not want to use it, it means that this porridge does not meet the emperor's intentions, then come back and redo it, rather than forcing the emperor to use it."
Yao Fu Sheng listened quietly, then smiled and said: "You're right! I was thinking too much. This dish not suiting the emperor's taste is our fault, those of us below. Advising the emperor on food is not as good as going back to make it more exquisite so that the emperor will like it."
In her heart, she had somewhat understood that this Hui Bin was a hundred times more cunning than them. She knew that the emperor's anger was not simple this time and didn't dare to rashly come forward to provoke him, so she used the name of the Imperial Food Bureau. When the time came, if the emperor ate well, both Hui Bin and the Imperial Food Bureau would have merit. If it wasn't good, they also wouldn't think that Hui Bin had taken advantage of the opportunity to show off and curry favor with him.
While speaking, Yao Fuxiang did not dare to linger and, together with several aunts, carried things and slipped into the emperor's study. Emperor Taizong of Northern Wei was busy in the study, and all of Yao Fuxiang's trusted palace staff had been driven out by him, but they still had to come in from time to time to pour tea, water, grind ink, and spread paper. This time they came in without attracting Emperor Taizong's attention.
Yao Fusheng quietly put down his things and didn't dare say a word before going downstairs.
Tuoba Hong was still reading the memorial, the cover of which had the imprint of the Ministry of Justice's report. The memorial was pressed down by a thick stack of documents an inch high. He read for a while, and when he reached out to take his cup with dry mouth and tongue, he finally saw the food box that had appeared not far away.
The things were not far away, and he could reach them with a stretch of his hand. Originally, he didn't plan to use the bowl, but simply opened it casually to see what was inside. As soon as he lifted the lid, the refreshing and delicious aroma of lotus leaf porridge mixed with fish meat wafted out.
Lotus leaf congee is not much better than black chicken congee or bird's nest congee, but it wins in its rich aroma and refreshing taste on a summer day.
Tuoba Hong didn't have lunch, and when he smelled the aroma, he naturally felt hungry. He picked up a bowl, scooped a large spoonful into his mouth, and immediately felt very satisfied, relaxing his eyebrows. The taste of this porridge was different from what he usually ate, but it had a peculiar familiarity, when did he eat something like this before...
However, Tuoba Hong didn't have the heart to think about congee at this moment. He stood up and took several big mouthfuls from the bowl, hastily filling his stomach, then loudly ordered outside: "Someone come! Prepare the carriage for Changxin Palace."
***
The emperor actually went to Changxin Palace.
Jeonghui and Jo Soo-young were both shocked. The crime of the one in Changshin Palace had not been cleared up yet, and the Emperor had not set foot there for several months, disgusted, and even moved Ye Gui-ji out. How could he suddenly have a strange idea to go to Changshin Palace today?
Just now, people didn't have much wisdom, only knowing how to flatter the Empress Jing, and when no one was around, they would whisper and laugh: "The entanglement between Chang Le Palace and Chang Xin Palace has been investigated by the Ministry of Justice for a long time, and it's about time there's a result. Who knows, maybe after the Emperor makes this trip, one of them will be deposed!"
Jing Fei was born into a noble family, had a long history of service, and had won the emperor's favor. If Empress Xiao were to be deposed, who else could possibly succeed her? As soon as someone thought of this possibility, their heart felt joyful, if Jing Fei truly had good fortune, she would also rise to prominence, wouldn't she?
Although she is not clever, she has one advantage, which is that she has self-awareness and knows that relying on herself will never gain favor or power, so she can only go to hug a reliable thigh.
She felt that the cost of so many years of silence was worthwhile.
Jing Fei smiled and said gently to her, "Don't think about these things anymore. This is not something we can discuss casually. The new batch of Su embroidery has arrived at the Imperial Workshop, go to my small storage room and pick some good ones to take back."
