Chapter 195 A Sullen Mood? A Roasted Sweet Potato Turns the Emperor's Anger into Joy

Coral followed behind Meng Yanzhi, watching her like this, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

But Meng Yanzhi spoke first: "Sister Shanhu, take your people over there, and I'll take my people here. That way we can get there faster."

Coral was also somewhat surprised to see Meng Yanzhi like this. Things had already escalated to this point, so could it be that only the crabapple blossom was in her heart?

However, Coral dared not say more and could only nod, then led the little palace maid to the other side to pick crabapple blossoms.

Meng Yanzhi, meanwhile, continued picking fruit with the young eunuch.

The process itself wasn't particularly troublesome; the real challenge lay in the subsequent handling. Little Corn stared blankly at the dozens of baskets of crabapple blossoms: "Miss, when are we going to finish this?"

"Just do it."

Meng Yanzhi was feeling depressed, so working helped her to concentrate a lot. She didn't even realize it until late at night, as if she wasn't tired at all.

She was in a bad mood and needed to distract herself, but Little Corn really couldn't hold on any longer, so she leaned against a chair and dozed off.

Late at night, Meng Yanzhi was still tending to the crabapple blossoms by candlelight, her expression extremely focused.

Over here, Xiao Xingyuan fell ill. It wasn't anything serious, but he still stayed in bed all day. To his utter surprise, he didn't see the person he wanted to see until late at night. And to make matters worse, not even a single piece of good food was brought over.

This was the first time Xiao Xingyuan had ever lost his composure like this. He got up and walked towards the imperial kitchen. From afar, he could see Meng Yanzhi concentrating on processing the crabapple blossoms in her hands. This scene made Xiao Xingyuan feel even more suffocated.

He grabbed Wang Huanhai, pointed in Meng Yanzhi's direction, his fingers trembling: "What...what is she doing?"

"Your Majesty, Miss Meng is tending to the crabapple blossoms."

Wang Huanhai really couldn't see what was so outrageous about this, and for a moment he didn't know how to respond.

Xiao Xingyuan certainly knew that Meng Yanzhi was dealing with the crabapple blossoms!

His eyebrows furrowed tightly as he gritted his teeth: "Does she think I'm less important than those crabapple blossoms?"

"Your Majesty? This... this old servant doesn't understand either."

Wang Huanhai looked helplessly at Xiao Xingyuan. He was a eunuch; what could he possibly know?

Seeing Wang Huanhai's helpless state, Xiao Xingyuan became even more furious. He strode towards Meng Yanzhi, kicking over a chair in the process.

Little Corn was dozing here when he was woken up and startled. He hurriedly knelt down and greeted the Emperor: "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"roll!"

"yes."

Little Corn gave Meng Yanzhi a pitying look, then quickly ran away.

"This humble woman greets Your Majesty."

Meng Yanzhi knelt down and bowed respectfully.

Admittedly, the moment she saw this person approaching, Meng Yanzhi felt a surge of inexplicable pride, but she controlled it well and didn't show it at all.

"Meng Yanzhi, what are you doing?"

Xiao Xingyuan lowered his eyes and stared intently at the back of Meng Yanzhi's head.

Meng Yanzhi showed no other expression, simply replying, "This humble woman is preparing the dishes for the Begonia Banquet!"

"you!"

"Meng Yanzhi!"

Xiao Xingyuan was furious, gritting his teeth as he called out Meng Yanzhi's name, his voice tinged with unspeakable grievance.

"I am standing right here, a living, breathing person, and you don't even glance at me? Am I less important than these flowers?"

Meng Yanzhi chuckled inwardly, but still said, "The Emperor is naturally more important than these flowers; the Emperor himself is more beautiful than the flowers."

"you!"

Xiao Xingyuan was somewhat annoyed and reached out to grab Meng Yanzhi, but Meng Yanzhi followed his hand, stood up, raised her eyebrows and smiled lightly.

"Your Majesty, I was afraid I would get hungry in the middle of the night, so I specially roasted some sweet potatoes. They should be ready by now."

"Since His Majesty is here, shall we eat together?"

Meng Yanzhi's eyebrows curved into crescents, and she looked as smug as a pretty little fox.

Before Xiao Xingyuan could even say whether he wanted it or not, she turned around, dug out the roasted sweet potato from under the stove, broke it open, and gave Xiao Xingyuan a piece: "Sweet potatoes don't taste good when they're cold."

"you!"

Xiao Xingyuan snorted, gritting his teeth, but still subconsciously took the roasted sweet potato.

Meng Yanzhi then took a small stool, sat on half of it herself, and left the other half for Xiao Xingyuan.

She didn't say anything, but just stared at Xiao Xingyuan with obvious intent.

Xiao Xingyuan hesitated for a moment, but couldn't resist her gaze. So he reluctantly sat down next to her, holding half a roasted sweet potato.

"So you're not going to hold a grudge against me anymore?"

Xiao Xingyuan tilted his head and glanced at Meng Yanzhi.

"Your Majesty, the sweet potatoes are getting cold."

Meng Yanzhi shook the still-steaming sweet potato in her hand, looking very serious.

"I won't eat it if it gets cold!"

Xiao Xingyuan was a little annoyed, but he couldn't bear to throw away the sweet potato in his hand.

The next instant, Meng Yanzhi suddenly leaned forward and placed a kiss, sweet with the scent of sweet potato, on Xiao Xingyuan's lips, fleeting and ephemeral.

By the time Xiao Xingyuan realized what was happening, Meng Yanzhi was already looking down and continuing to eat the sweet potato in her hand.

"you!"

Xiao Xingyuan turned his head and saw Meng Yanzhi happily eating sweet potatoes. All his dissatisfaction vanished, and he joined in, eating bite by bite.

Is that all?

Wang Huanhai stood at the back and witnessed almost the entire process. He simply did not want to admit that this incompetent man was the wise emperor he had accompanied since childhood.

However, for some reason, seeing Xiao Xingyuan's discomfiture, Wang Huanhai even felt that he had also vented his anger!

"Your Majesty, you've been lying in bed all day; you should stretch your muscles and bones."

"Shall we help this lady wash the crabapple blossoms?"

After eating the roasted sweet potato, Meng Yanzhi looked at Xiao Xingyuan with a smile.

"I will not!"

"I can teach you!"

Meng Yanzhi reached out and helped Xiao Xingyuan roll up his sleeves, then patiently told him how to deal with these things.

Xiao Xingyuan really didn't understand why he, the emperor, would do such a thing, but those two deadly hands were already working uncontrollably.

After a whole night, Xiao Xingyuan was completely exasperated, as he was too exhausted to even lift his hands.

Meng Yanzhi obediently prepared hot soup for him so that he could drink it before going to court.

In the imperial court, Xiao Xingyuan felt a dull ache in both arms, and even the heads of the ministers in front of him inexplicably turned into begonia flowers!

His eyebrows were tightly furrowed, and his face looked very sour.

The court officials had no idea what had happened yesterday, and they were all trembling with fear.