When Wan Fu said he wanted to participate, Lady Nara immediately agreed.

As for Consort Xuan, she originally wanted to politely decline, but Wan Anran and Wan Fu kept nagging in her ear like chanting sutras, and in less than half a cup of tea's time, Consort Xuan had no choice but to surrender.

you do not say?

If she didn't surrender soon, she was afraid she would start hallucinating!

Consort Xuan and Noble Lady Nara are both going to attend, is Wan Anran's small portion enough? Consort Xuan instructed the palace servants to go to the imperial kitchen while giving Wan Anran a suspicious look: "You little rascal, you wouldn't happen to be eyeing my food, would you?"

Wan Anran felt guilty for a second.

She then shamelessly said, "This concubine thanks Your Majesty for the generous reward."

Noble Lady Nara kept shrugging her shoulders.

As for Wan Fu, he was practically rolling his eyes. He lowered his eyelids and stuck his tongue out slightly at Wan Anran: "Shameless!"

Consort Xuan remained silent for a long time.

Where did this shameless behavior come from? It was Consort Wan's promotion banquet, after all, so Consort Xuan was too lazy to argue with her: "Never mind, just consider it my way of celebrating for you."

Don't underestimate Consort Xuan just because she's not favored.

As a member of the Borjigit clan, a cousin of the Empress Dowager, and a cousin of the Emperor, Consort Xuan received exceptionally good treatment in the harem. At her command, within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a pile of ingredients and utensils, along with several eunuchs to assist her, were delivered to the imperial kitchen.

Before me lay a snowy landscape, with a wintersweet tree in full bloom.

Enjoy the beautiful scenery while we have a barbecue later, and then we'll have a feast for the eyes, nose, and taste buds.

Wan Anran admired the surroundings with satisfaction; with such a beautiful view, all that was missing was delicious food. After a moment's thought, she turned back and stopped the eunuch who was picking up a tinderbox: "Wait, there's no need to light it yet."

We need to prepare first.

Wan Anran instructed the palace servants to wash a basket of vegetables, then slice the pumpkin, cucumber, zucchini and other vegetables, stuff the slices with pieces of meat marinated with pepper and cumin, and finally skewer them with long bamboo strips.

The colorful bunches looked incredibly appetizing.

With this batch ready, Wan Anran then instructed the palace servants to make a few cuts on the chicken wings, marinate them for the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, and then sprinkle them with snow-white sesame seeds. Even before they were put on the grill, they were enough to catch everyone's attention.

Other items included fatty beef and mutton, thick-cut pork belly, small yellow croaker and prawns, lettuce, enoki mushrooms, mushrooms... and small steamed bun skewers prepared in the imperial kitchen.

Wan Fu couldn't resist jumping out of the house.

He wore a black cloak trimmed with white fox fur, and held a hand warmer in his hands. His only visible feature was his round face, which looked around with great curiosity.

Wan Fu stared at it for a long time.

He couldn't help but tilt his little head and said in a wise old-fashioned tone, "If Wan Changzai is planning to win over Xuan'erniang's heart with these things, then you're doomed! Xuan'erniang is from Mongolia, and she eats more lamb skewers than Wan Changzai eats grains of rice."

Wan Chang's lips twitched slightly.

When no one was looking, she secretly tapped Wan Fu on the forehead: "You're always talking nonsense!"

Wan Fu objected: "I'm not making this up!"

He paused, then muttered hesitantly, "At most, at most, it was just a tiny bit of an exaggeration!"

This is not just a little bit!

Wan Anran ignored Wan Fu and pondered carefully: Consort Xuan came from Mongolia and was used to all kinds of roasted mutton. Did Wan Anran really think she could win Consort Xuan's heart with just these mere skewers? Even if Wan Fu didn't say anything, Wan Anran knew it was impossible.

Therefore, Wan Anran had other ideas.

She held up a finger and waved it at Wan Fu: "Don't worry, there's more than that!"

The real magic weapon is about to appear!

Besides peanut butter, sesame paste, and seasoning sauces made with ingredients like dogwood and Sichuan peppercorns, Wan Anran also prepared a secret weapon.

That's mayonnaise.

The method for making mayonnaise is very simple. Under the astonished gazes of Wan Fu and the palace servants, Wan Anran cracked an egg into a bowl, removed the yolk and set it aside, then added a few drops of vinegar—from this step onward, everyone was completely bewildered, having no idea what Wan Changzai was planning to do.

Wan Anran took out the simple stirring stick that the palace servants had prepared and vigorously swung her arms around it in the bowl, occasionally instructing the servants to pour in a little rapeseed oil—the palace mainly used animal fat for cooking, and it had taken quite a bit of time to find rapeseed oil.

While Wan Fu and the palace servants were puzzled, they saw the egg yolk in the bowl gradually change. Its color became lighter and lighter, and its volume increased. Its soft and fluffy texture was far removed from its original shape.

This is practically a transformation akin to magic.

Stirring until thickened means the mayonnaise is ready.

Wan Fu shouted excitedly, pointing at the mayonnaise inside: "Is this delicious? What flavor is it?"

Wan Anran chuckled.

She instructed the eunuchs to light the charcoal fire, and then placed a string of steamed bun slices on the fire.

The steamed bread slices only had their own milky aroma. To be honest, Wan Fu wasn't interested in them. Seeing that Wan Anran was holding steamed bread slices, he muttered, "Barbecue, barbecue, we definitely have to eat meat! What are these steamed bread slices... I don't want them."

Wan Anran ignored him.

Once the bread slices were golden brown and crispy, she dipped them in some mayonnaise and shoved them into Wan Fu's hand: "Want to try some?"

Wan Fu looked disgusted: "...Huh?"

But he was also very interested in mayonnaise. After thinking for a moment, Wan Fu gritted his teeth and took a big bite of the steamed bun.

The rich aroma instantly filled my mouth.

How to put it? The mayonnaise doesn't taste sweet, sour, or fishy. Yet, this unique flavor blends perfectly with the sweetness of the steamed bread slices, like an electric shock to my heart.

Wan Fu's eyes widened.

He devoured the slice of steamed bread in three bites, then excitedly exclaimed, "Delicious! Super delicious!"

Wan Anran smiled smugly: "Right?"

Wan Fu reached out to the remaining slices of steamed bun: "I want more!"

Wan Anran smacked his hand with her chopsticks: "We have to wait for everyone to come and eat together!"

"Hey—it's okay to sneak a piece, right?"

"No! Didn't I already let you sneak some?"

"But I only really crave it after I've already eaten it!"

"That won't do! Will you have the energy to eat anything else if you're full later?"

The noisy chatter filled the yard.

Noble Lady Nara couldn't help but stand up and walk to the window. Looking at the radiant Wan Fu and Wan Changzai, she shook her head: "It's a good thing that Wan Changzai can play with Wan Fu."

Consort Xuan shook her head: "Yes..."

Who could have imagined such a thing? The two looked out the window, watching the two people, one big and one small, chatting and laughing, and a sense of anticipation arose within them.

Once everything was ready, Wan Anran personally invited Consort Xuan and Noble Lady Nara to come out. Soft cushions had been placed on the veranda, and screens blocked most of the cold wind while still leaving gaps for people to enjoy the scenery.

Wan Anran stared at it for a long time.

She seemed to have forgotten something? Or perhaps she hadn't? Wan Anran's thoughts were interrupted by Wan Fu, who pointed excitedly at the courtyard: "Look, it's snowing again!"

Snowflakes fell from the sky, fluttering down like edelweiss.

The four sat casually on the veranda, next to a steaming charcoal brazier, ensuring that Wan Anran, Consort Xuan, Noble Lady Nara, and Wan Fu felt no chill at all. They sipped fine wine with grilled skewers, followed by side dishes such as cold black fungus and cucumber salad, garlic lettuce, and braised duck tongue. After a few rounds of drinks, a blush rose on the faces of the three of them.

Wan Anran held her wine glass and gently twitched the tip of her nose.

Beneath the pungent aroma of the liquor lay a subtle fragrance, almost imperceptible, like willow branches gently tickling her heart. She smacked her lips, murmuring like a kitten, "The liquor... is delicious."

The drinks were served by Lady Nara.

She was unusually pleased with herself and said softly, "This is made with peach blossoms... If you like, we can make it together when spring comes."

Wan Anran was, of course, more than happy to agree.

She even glanced at the plum tree in the yard, her eyes sparkling: "Peach blossoms can be used to make wine, right? Plum blossoms can too, can't they?"

It seemed as if Consort Nara was about to say yes and then proceed to tear the plum tree bare. Consort Xuan, holding her chopsticks, tapped Consort Xuan's hand with her other hand: "What nonsense are you talking about? This is the only plum tree in our Xianfu Palace, you're not allowed to damage it!"

Wan Anran was displeased: "Is the concubine more important, or is it?"

Consort Xuan looked at her with a shocked expression: "What are you comparing yourself to the plum blossom tree for? Besides, it's obvious that the plum blossom tree is much more important than you!"

Wan Anran: …………

She covered her face and sobbed, but Consort Xuan ignored her and instead turned her gaze like lightning to Wan Fu—the boy was reaching out his little paws towards the wine cup.

Consort Xuan reached out and pushed Wan Fu away.

She tried to scold him with a stern face, but the hiccup she let out ruined her image: "Hiccup... Uh! Children shouldn't drink alcohol."

Lady Nara then pulled Wan Fu into her arms.

Ruffling her son's chubby cheeks, Noble Lady Nara said with great interest, "If you want to drink, then wait another ten years!"

Consort Xuan said with a grin, "Ten years from now, let's drink until we drop!"

Nara Guiren and Wan Anran grinned and echoed her, the three women looking at each other silly and laughing, their clear laughter echoing throughout the courtyard.

But a male voice suddenly interrupted the joy in the courtyard.

His voice carried an air of authority: "What are you three doing?"

Consort Xuan waved her hand: "Drink, let's drink."

After answering, she paused for a moment, the man's voice sounded...familiar? She racked her brains, and suddenly, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head, Consort Xuan snapped back to reality.

That sound was clearly—

Consort Xuan quickly got up, but being half-drunk, she lost her balance and fell straight towards Noble Lady Nara.

The three of them immediately fell into a heap.

Before Consort Xuan could even cry out in pain, she quickly pulled the two of them up and made them kneel in a curtsy: "This concubine greets Your Majesty."

Lady Nara: ...

Wan Anran: …………

The two men, who had been wincing and groaning in pain, froze on their faces. After a long while, they suddenly bowed their heads and curtsied, saying, "Greetings to Your Majesty, may Your Majesty enjoy ten thousand years of good fortune and peace."

A strong smell of alcohol wafted towards us.

Kangxi's expression was extremely strange. He originally wanted to go to Yikun Palace to comfort Consort Yi—the green-headed plaque had selected Consort Yi to serve him that morning. However, the Empress Dowager had spoken, and Empress Niohuru's condition looked really bad. As a very ambitious emperor, Kangxi decided to stay in Kunning Palace for the time being.

Of course, Emperor Kangxi was happy to appease and reward Consort Yi, whom he cared about so much. However, he did not expect that before even stepping into Yikun Palace, he would be attracted by the laughter and merriment in Xianfu Palace, and even more unexpectedly, he would see three drunkards upon entering.