Chapter 103 The Emperor's Heartache Over the Little Chef's Injured Hand

The two young maids suddenly stopped talking and looked at Meng Yanzhi with a hint of indescribable fear.

Meng Yanzhi didn't say anything more, and just continued with her work.

She didn't care about these people's arguments, as long as they didn't cause trouble.

Tan Yun walked over and looked at Meng Yanzhi expectantly: "Miss Meng, shall I bring you dinner? Your hands are swollen, you should rest well."

Meng Yanzhi knew perfectly well what her little scheme was, but she didn't care. Just like Zhao Bailu said, there is only one emperor in the world, so everyone can have their eyes on him. As for whether one can gain the emperor's favor, that depends on one's own abilities.

Without the slightest hesitation, Meng Yanzhi nodded directly: "Okay, then thank you for your trouble."

After finishing dinner, Meng Yanzhi went straight back to her room to apply the medicine.

Her fingers were already swollen and red, and now they were even cracked, after all, they had been in the kitchen all afternoon and had been in contact with water.

Ming Chu had already left, leaving only Meng Yanzhi in the room. She took the ointment and carefully applied it to her hands. Although the ointment was effective, it still stung intensely the moment it was applied.

Xiao Xingyuan's expression changed as he watched Tan Yun enter with dinner, and he looked at Wang Huanhai with displeasure.

Wang Huanhai naturally understood Xiao Xingyuan's meaning, so he asked directly, "Where is Miss Meng?"

"Sister Meng's hand is injured, so she sent me to deliver dinner," Tan Yun replied obediently, her head bowed.

Now, Xiao Xingyuan couldn't sit still any longer and frowned: "How could her hand be damaged?"

"I came back from Hanliu Palace and it's like this, all red and swollen. I've asked Sister Meng several times, but she won't say. I don't know what happened either." Tan Yun knelt on the ground and answered respectfully. Chao Jue inadvertently raised her head, wanting Xiao Xingyuan to see her face.

Unfortunately, Xiao Xingyuan was preoccupied with Meng Yanzhi and didn't even glance at her. He got up and headed straight for Meng Yanzhi's room.

bump!

Meng Yanzhi's room door was suddenly kicked open. Startled, she quickly got up, grabbed a pair of scissors from the side, and pointed them at Xiao Xingyuan.

Meeting her panicked eyes, Xiao Xingyuan frowned, then stepped forward and took the scissors from her hand, looking at her helplessly: "What are you afraid of? This is the palace."

His gaze fell on her fingers, and his face darkened horribly: "What happened?"

"It's nothing, this always happens when you're working in the kitchen," Meng Yanzhi smiled nonchalantly.

Immediately afterwards, he stood up and bowed respectfully: "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Get up and tell me what exactly happened?"

"I am truly unharmed."

Meng Yanzhi didn't take it to heart at all. It would be fine in three to five days, so why bother?

In her previous life, Meng Yanzhi had countless scars like these. Often, new wounds would appear before old ones had even healed. Over the years, she had long since become accustomed to them and no longer cared about them.

Seeing Meng Yanzhi's indifferent attitude, Xiao Xingyuan felt a pang of sympathy for a woman for the first time.

"Summon the imperial physician."

Xiao Xingyuan let out a low growl.

Soon, the best physician from the Imperial Hospital, Dr. Zhao, came in carrying a box. After a careful examination, he sighed and said, "Miss, this seems to be a recurrence of an old injury. Do you also get chilblains in winter, which are painful and itchy?"

Meng Yanzhi glanced at Xiao Xingyuan subconsciously, then nodded: "Such a situation can indeed occur."

"Miss, you shouldn't overwork your hand in the future, otherwise you won't be able to handle it."

"I will prescribe some medicine for you later. You can take it internally and apply it externally to take good care of yourself. Otherwise, it will recur every winter, which is really too painful."

It is said that doctors are benevolent, and Physician Zhao is the best doctor, so naturally his medical ethics are also the highest.

"Thank you, Imperial Physician."

Meng Yanzhi immediately stood up and politely bowed.

Why do people get frostbite?

Xiao Xingyuan frowned and looked at Meng Yanzhi with confusion.

She is, after all, the biological daughter of the Meng family. How could she be in such a sorry state?

"Because in winter, I also have to wash clothes in cold water, and my hands are soaked in cold water and exposed to cold wind, so I will naturally get frostbite."

"Aren't you Miss Meng?"

Xiao Xingyuan couldn't understand why a daughter of an official would live such a life.

"They...don't like me."

Meng Yanzhi's voice was choked with emotion.

Even after being reborn, Meng Yanzhi still couldn't appear calm when she said these words. She would still feel sad, upset, and confused.

But she believed that things would get better, sooner or later, they would definitely get better.

Seeing Meng Yanzhi's aggrieved expression, Xiao Xingyuan felt a surge of anger.

Why don't you beg me?

Xiao Xingyuan gritted his teeth and stared at Meng Yanzhi.

What does that mean?

For a moment, Meng Yanzhi was somewhat unable to understand what Xiao Xingyuan meant.

She looked up, only to gaze blankly at Xiao Xingyuan, her eyes asking a question.

Xiao Xingyuan then realized his slip of the tongue, his eyebrows furrowing tightly as he coldly snorted, "You're hopeless!"

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Xingyuan had already turned around and left in a huff.

It was obvious that he was angry, but what was unclear was what he was angry about.

Meng Yanzhi had long since honed her ability to read people's expressions in both her previous and current lives, but she never expected that she would be unable to discern Xiao Xingyuan's true intentions.

Physician Zhao packed up his small medicine box, looked at Meng Yanzhi, shook his head with a sly smile, and turned to leave.

It seems like everyone else understands what's going on, except her?

Zhaoyang Palace.

"Aunt, I want to stay at Meng Yanzhi's place tonight! I want to stay with Yanzhi!" Zhao Bailu said, holding Liu Guifei's hand.

Just then, Tanxiang entered carrying a pot: "This was specially made by Miss Meng for Miss Zhao, and she sent me to deliver it."

"Is there only enough for Miss Zhao, and not for me?" Consort Liu became interested as soon as she heard there was something delicious to eat, and came closer to take a look.

Sandalwood smiled, then opened the lid of the pot, and a fragrant aroma instantly wafted out.

"This smells amazing! I've had hot pot before, but this one tastes so different!" Zhao Bailu looked at the sandalwood in confusion. "How is it made?"

“I don’t know the specifics, but I do know that Miss Meng seems to have used butter to stir-fry the spices.” Tanxiang smiled and placed the pot on the table. “Your Highness, Miss, this should be eaten while it’s hot. I’ll take my leave now.”

Zhao Bailu looked at Consort Liu expectantly: "Your Highness, can I eat this?"