Chapter 83 The Emperor's Personally Appointed Little Chef

Consort Wang was already plump and juicy, and also a glutton.

Upon hearing this, she immediately nodded and said with a smile, "Now that you mention it, I am indeed hungry."

Meng Yanzhi didn't hide anything and went into the small kitchen to make jujube paste cake and a gourd chicken.

Soon the aroma filled the air.

After Xiao Xingyuan finished court, he heard that Meng Yanzhi was here, so he came over without stopping. He smelled the aroma from the small kitchen from afar and inexplicably felt a sense of peace.

Upon entering, Consort Wang was somewhat surprised. She hurriedly stepped forward to help him change his clothes and then asked, "His Majesty just finished court and came here. Is there something you need?"

"It's nothing, I just came to see you." Xiao Xingyuan smiled gently and sat down.

Just then, Meng Yanzhi walked in carrying the jujube paste cake and gourd chicken she had made. Upon seeing Xiao Xingyuan, she immediately placed the food on the table, knelt down, and bowed, saying, "This humble woman greets Your Majesty."

"Get up." Xiao Xingyuan raised an eyebrow, looking at Meng Yanzhi, or more precisely, at the dishes on the table: "What are you doing here?"

"Your Majesty, how could you forget? Didn't you send her to the Imperial Kitchen as a lady-in-waiting?" Consort Wang looked at Xiao Xingyuan with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

Xiao Xingyuan nodded.

"I'll have a taste."

The next second, Consort Wang took the chopsticks and placed them in Xiao Xingyuan's hand.

Xiao Xingyuan took a bite of the gourd chicken, frowned slightly, and said indifferently, "It's barely edible."

Before he could finish speaking, he continued eating. These past few days, Xiao Xingyuan hadn't been eating well, so he was really hungry. In no time, he had finished the whole gourd chicken.

Now, Consort Wang's expression immediately turned sour. Before the gourd chicken was even ready, Consort Wang was already craving it. She had originally wanted to have a good bite, but she didn't expect that Xiao Xingyuan would eat it all.

Seeing Consort Wang's pitiful expression, Xiao Xingyuan felt awkward and silently put down his chopsticks, looking at Meng Yanzhi: "Not bad."

"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty." Meng Yanzhi immediately bowed.

Immediately afterwards, Xiao Chenglin said, "Such a talent should go to the Imperial Kitchen. You will be in charge of preparing dinner tonight."

"Yes." Meng Yanzhi glanced at Consort Wang subconsciously, her eyes filled with doubt.

Logically speaking, a lowly female official like Meng Yanzhi should have started by peeling potatoes when she first entered the palace, and then she could cook for the emperor right away.

How can this be so surreal?

Wang Huanhai immediately stepped forward and smiled at Meng Yanzhi: "Lady Meng, this way please."

"Yes, thank you, sir."

"This humble woman takes her leave."

Meng Yanzhi bowed respectfully and then obediently followed behind Wang Huanhai.

Xiao Xingyuan stared at Meng Yanzhi's back, then looked at the jujube paste cake on the table.

"Your Majesty, haven't you always disliked sweets?"

"Quickly, take this jujube cake away and replace it with a less sweet one for the Emperor."

Consort Wang doesn't vie for the emperor's favor, but she is extremely possessive of her food!

She could accept not being able to eat the delicious gourd chicken, but she absolutely had to keep this jujube paste cake!

Seeing that Consort Wang's heart was set on the jujube paste cake, Xiao Xingyuan couldn't help but touch her cheek: "If you like it, I'll have that girl make more. The palace can afford to provide what you eat!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Consort Wang immediately beamed with joy, and then happily saw the person off.

At this moment, Zhao Bailu stepped forward, carrying a jujube paste cake, and said, "Your Majesty, don't you feel that the Emperor's attitude towards Rouge is strange?"

"Of course something's wrong. You know how rigorous the selection process for female officials in the Imperial Kitchen is, but when I mentioned it to the Emperor, he immediately agreed. Something's definitely not right."

"Based on my experience, she's probably taken a liking to that little girl."

Consort Wang took a bite of the jujube paste cake, her eyes squinting happily, her eyebrows curving into a smile.

this……

Zhao Bailu looked at Consort Wang cautiously, then whispered, "Your Majesty, aren't you angry at all?"

"Why should I be angry? There will only be more people in the palace, not fewer. I'd be overjoyed to have one more person who can cook." Consort Wang was a very insightful person.

She didn't like Xiao Xingyuan, nor was she deeply in love with him. She only entered the palace for the sake of her family's interests, so she didn't have a strong possessive desire for Xiao Xingyuan.

but……

Consort Wang took another bite of the jujube paste cake, then said sullenly, "Of course that's what I think, but if someone else finds out, things might change, especially if Consort Liu finds out, then Rouge will be in big trouble!"

"Your Highness, since you also like Rouge, why don't you help her?" Zhao Bailu held Consort Wang's hand and looked at her pleadingly.

Consort Wang finished the remaining jujube cake in her hand, then looked at Zhao Bailu with some confusion: 'You're not even that familiar with this Meng Yanzhi, so why are you defending her like this?'

"Although we haven't known each other for long, we feel like we've known each other for ages, and I really like her!"

"Your Majesty, do you know? Rouge is the first person to treat me so well. She doesn't care about my status or family background. She simply admires me and genuinely thinks I'm amazing."

Zhao Bailu lowered her eyes as she spoke.

Although she came from a noble family, it was clear that her status in the capital was not particularly high, especially among the noble ladies of the capital, where she found it difficult to move an inch, since no one liked her fiery temper.

Upon hearing this, Consort Wang took Zhao Bailu's hand and said, "In the harem, it's already difficult enough to protect oneself. Although I am a consort, I am powerless to do so."

"Your Majesty, is this jujube paste cake delicious?"

"Only Meng Yanzhi knows how to make this delicious jujube paste cake!"

Zhao Bailu knew Consort Wang so well that she naturally knew where to start.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Consort Wang glanced at the last piece of jujube paste cake, picked it up, popped it into her mouth, and whispered, "Hmm! I think what you said makes perfect sense! Then it's settled!"

"For the sake of the jujube paste cake, I must protect her well!" Consort Wang squinted her eyes, letting the aroma of jujube paste spread in her mouth.

Wang Huanhai personally led Meng Yanzhi to the Imperial Kitchen and went directly to the Grand Steward Wang Huan.

"This is the imperial kitchen lady appointed by the Emperor, Miss Meng Yanzhi of the Meng family. She will be in charge of dinner tonight. You all need to cooperate well, understand?" Wang Huanhai said very simply and concisely.

Wang Huan was dumbfounded. When did a newly arrived young lady-in-waiting become able to prepare dinner for the emperor?