Chapter 123: Seduction by the Imperial Chef

It has been a few days since Chen Yu returned to the capital. Emperor Showa originally wanted to hold a celebration banquet, but now it is the end of the year and there are many political affairs. Emperor Showa is so busy that he has not visited the harem for nearly half a month, so the banquet has been delayed again and again.

However, a celebration banquet for the great victory over the Mobei Kingdom must be held. Finally, Emperor Showa decided to hold the celebration banquet together with the palace banquet on New Year's Eve.

The imperial concubine who was serving with pen and ink reminded Emperor Showa that the princess of Mobei Kingdom had been in the imperial city for a few days but had not yet been received.

Emperor Showa then remembered this matter.

So with a wave of his hand, the three events were arranged together at a banquet, which saved a lot of trouble.

It was snowing heavily. Chen Yu returned home after court and came to Yimeyuan without stopping.

Xu Zhao had just finished washing up and was sitting at the table on the first floor with a hot water bottle in his hand. Several maids arranged by the housekeeper were coming in with food boxes and happened to be with Shen Yu.

Two maids carrying food boxes made way and bowed to greet them.

Heavy snow fell on his shoulders, and Shen Yu was damp when he entered the house.

Doukou, a personal maidservant beside Xu Zhao, stepped forward, took the cloak that Chen Yu had taken off, and took it outside the house to shake off the snow on it.

Even so, because of walking all the way on the palace road, a lot of snow water soaked into the cloak. Doukou and another maid Fuling held the cloak and dried it by the charcoal brazier.

Chen Yu sat down next to Xu Zhao and told her that His Majesty had mentioned in the morning court session that three banquets would be held together.

When Xu Zhao learned about this, he was amazed.

I don’t know what else to say, but at least for now, Emperor Showa is still frugal and in order to save trouble, he wants to do the three things at once.

Nanxing and Banxia, ​​carrying lunch boxes, placed them on the table and took out the breakfast items one by one.

Because the prince had ordered that he would come over to eat with Miss Xu after court every day, the portions they brought were enough for two people.

"It seems that the Mobei envoy will spend the New Year in Yue Kingdom."

The envoys from Mobei originally came with a friendly agreement and had not yet met the King of the Moon Kingdom, so naturally they could not leave easily.

Chen Yu didn't care about the affairs of the Mobei envoys at all. He was only responsible for fighting on the front line. As for other matters, they would naturally be decided by the Honglu Temple and His Majesty.

"This time, the three banquets are combined into one, and the Imperial Concubine specially invites you to participate."

He remembered that when he was walking on the palace road and approaching the palace gate, he could see the prince's carriage from afar, and was stopped by the eunuch beside the imperial concubine, who asked him to invite Xu Zhao to the palace to attend the banquet.

Xu Zhao frowned, "In this imperial city, I only know you and Qinghe. It would be so boring to go to this banquet. I won't go."

She held the still hot dough stick in her hand and shook her head.

Which time traveler doesn't know that this palace is full of ferocious beasts and it is best not to enter if possible. Besides, she is not familiar with the imperial concubine.

"If you refuse, Qinghe will come to your door within a day."

As long as the Imperial Concubine has made up her mind, she will definitely find ways to make Xu Zhao attack. And the people with whom she has the best relationship in the Imperial City are herself and Qinghe. If one way doesn't work, she can just try another one.

Chen Yu naturally hoped that Xu Zhao would go. With him around, he believed that no one could bully her.

What's more, if Xu Zhao was left alone in the mansion to celebrate the New Year, it would be boring for her.

Spending the Spring Festival with Xu Zhao is something he has been looking forward to for many years.

"Do you still remember the dishes you had in Tianxiang Tower a few days ago? There are many imperial chefs cooking at this banquet. The dishes are definitely not to be underestimated. Don't you want to try them?" Knowing that Xu Zhao would be difficult to persuade, Chen Yu used the dishes made by the imperial chefs to seduce Xu Zhao.

The high-ranking officials in the capital attend the New Year's Eve dinner every year, but probably no one dares to say that he has tried all the dishes prepared by the imperial chef, let alone Xu Zhao who has just arrived.

Hearing this, Xu Zhao's appetite was aroused. She licked the corner of her mouth, and the soy milk and fried dough sticks in her hand suddenly lost their flavor.

What should I do? I’m so excited!

Think about the fist-sized lion head and the quail soaked in marinade, they seem to be waving at her!

"You are now called Zhaoxi. No one will know your name is Xu Zhao. I promise that your name will not leave any trace in history."

If Xu Zhao agreed, he would immediately have someone notify the imperial concubine and tell her Xu Zhao's new name. In this way, in public, Xu Zhao's name would only be Chaoxi.

After Chen Yu's persuasion, Xu Zhao, who had originally been determined not to enter the palace, began to waver.

Seeing her expression relax, Chen Yu knew he had hit the nail on the head, "The Imperial Concubine likes you so much that she gave you a set of jeweled headwear the last time we met. Maybe this time when you enter the palace, she can reward you with a royal chef."

As long as Xu Zhao enters the palace, he will definitely be rewarded with this imperial chef!

Xu Zhao's eyes widened when she thought that the imperial chef would cook for her every day here. It was a wonderful thought. Maybe she could even learn a few tricks from the imperial chef and cook for her parents when she returned!

"Okay, then I will reluctantly accompany you into the palace."

Xu Zhao felt much better when she thought that the imperial chef would soon cook for her. She dipped the fried dough sticks in the soy milk in her hand and they tasted much better.

…

Lunar New Year's eve.

The Imperial City is located in the north of the Moon Kingdom. I don’t know how many times it has snowed during the days I have been in the Imperial City.

Xu Zhao got up early today, and Doukou and Fuling worked together to give her a hairstyle that was most popular at the time.

Doukou opened the brocade box containing the head ornament sent by the imperial concubine, "Miss, today we are going to the palace to attend the New Year's Eve banquet. Would you like to bring the head ornament sent by the imperial concubine?"

This brocade box was originally put away by Doukou. Thinking that today was the girl's first time to attend an important banquet, she naturally had to attach great importance to it, so she specially found the headwear.

Fuling also echoed: "The girl has fair skin, this headdress will definitely make her look dazzling."

There were many red hairpins in this set of headwear. Doukou took out a gold hairpin with red and blue sapphire butterflies inlaid with silk that she liked at first sight, and tried it on Xu Zhao's hairstyle.

"This hairpin is so pretty. When the girl wears it, she will definitely outshine all the other girls." Fuling praised generously, with nice words gushing out one after another.

Who doesn't like to be praised by others? Xu Zhao is no exception.

"Okay, okay, I know you two are good at talking sweetly," Xu Zhao took the golden hairpin from Doukou's hand, "This hairpin is so beautiful, you'd better not wear it."

"Why? Such a luxurious headdress can probably only be worn at this time." Fuling asked in confusion.

"No matter how beautiful the headdress is, it has to match the clothes." What's more, she didn't want to stand out too much at the dinner party.

Xu Zhao put the hairpin back into the brocade box and asked, "Has the prince delivered the clothes I will wear today?"

Ever since she agreed to go to the palace together for the banquet, Chen Yu had been like a peacock these past few days, and he specifically reminded her that he had already prepared the clothes for the New Year's Eve banquet.

In order to maintain a sense of mystery, he did not reveal what style it was.