Xie Yanci sat at the imperial desk, concentrating on reviewing memorials. Eunuch Yang, serving tea, glanced at him several times, seeming to want to speak but hesitant.
He was looking for a suitable opportunity to inform the emperor of the news he had learned in the past few days.
"If you have something to say, just say it. Isn't it uncomfortable to hide it?"
"Your Majesty is wise. I really can't hide this from you!" Eunuch Yang wiped the sweat from his forehead. "There's been some unrest in the Yanxi Palace lately."
"What's going on? Is Lady Wen's pregnancy unstable again?"
"Not really. The main thing... the main thing is that in the West Wing Palace, Zhang Da Ying has been acting much more recklessly since she was summoned. The Empress recently planned a cooking competition, and she's been busy cooking in the small kitchen. Every time she fails, she punishes the palace maids who bought the food. It's said that a lot of fresh vegetables have been wasted..."
Xie Yanci just found it ridiculous: "I didn't refuse Noble Lady Wen's kindness that night. I stayed overnight at Zhang Yingying's palace and let her massage my back all night, showing off my proud massage skills. But did I make her angry?"
"What?!" Eunuch Yang responded in astonishment, and quickly changed the subject, "It's her blessing to be able to serve the Emperor so closely. How could she become spoiled by such favor?"
"I don't need to make a special trip to deal with matters in the harem. I'll find an opportunity to pass this matter on to Chengqian Palace, and the Imperial Concubine will naturally have a solution."
Eunuch Yang nodded in agreement and walked out to instruct his disciples on what to do.
Xie Yanci put down his brush in annoyance: In the future, no matter how difficult it is, he will screen carefully and will never let such a person enter the harem again.
When people in the imperial court do things, speed is of the essence.
Just when Concubine Jin was worried about not being able to find evidence against the Yanxi Palace, Qian Dai delivered the news back.
"Your Majesty, you're right! That Zhang is truly useless! Noble Lady Wen worked hard to promote her, but the Emperor only stayed with her once, not to mention any official rewards! Now, she's courting death again!"
"Oh? How do you mean?"
"I heard from the chef at Yanxi Palace that Zhang isn't a very good cook. She initially flattered Noble Lady Yi, and then carried Noble Lady Wen's shoes, offending her. So, from now on, it's not convenient for her to ask for advice at Lin'an Palace, so she can only figure it out on her own. How could someone as foolish as her master this craft? Not only did she waste a lot of meat and vegetables, but she also gave those people a lecture!"
Imperial Concubine Jin snorted coldly, "She may not hold a high position, but she has a rather bad temper. My sister is so busy taking care of her pregnancy right now that she has no time to care for her, right?"
"Yes, we are just waiting for you, Your Majesty, to take action and enforce the rules of this palace!"
"Then what are we waiting for?" Imperial Concubine Jin became interested, her armor leaving a faint mark on the table. "Prepare the sedan chair! I'll go to the Yanxi Palace and take a look!"
When she reached the palace gate, she stopped again.
Turning around, he ordered Qian Dai: "Tell the people over there to keep a close eye on it. Find an opportunity to make a big fuss, and then notify me!"
——
Zhang agreed to sit on the rattan chair, his mind blank.
She hadn't been to Sangyuxuan for a few days, and she had forgotten all the details she had memorized. She couldn't read, so her initial attempt to record them with pen and paper was impossible.
Now, looking at the food in front of me that tastes weird and is dark in color, almost gray-black, makes me feel even more irritated.
"Is my sister still studying cooking? It's really hard work!" Noble Lady Wen held her waist and slowly moved to the door of the small kitchen. "I heard that my sister is not satisfied with the results and is often angry. Why is that?"
"I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, my dear sister. I've almost forgotten the method that Noble Lady Yi taught me. And no matter how hard I try, I can't achieve results similar to hers. If this continues, all my past efforts will be in vain!"
"Don't worry, don't worry. Let me take a look. Eh? What's that black thing?"
Zhang agreed and explained awkwardly, "Yes, it's the stuffed green peppers with meat that I prepared."
How can this be the color of green pepper at all?
The food that should have smelled meaty now had a sour and astringent smell.
Lady Wen picked up her chopsticks and poked it. It didn't feel burnt as she had imagined, but was still soft and springy. However, the appearance was really disappointing!
Her mind raced, and she suddenly laughed out loud: "My dear sister, is this what Sister Yi taught you?"
"Yes, Noble Lady Yi said that I am clever and willing to study detailed work, so she specially made a menu and asked me to choose a few dishes. At that time, I chose this."
"Sister, you are careful and patient, that's true. However, it seems Sister Yi gave me the wrong guidance." Noble Lady Wen pretended to hesitate. "I don't know if I should say this."
Zhang Da Ying quickly stood up and said in an almost pleading tone, "Sister Noble, please tell me! Did she deliberately teach me the wrong recipe?!"
"Look at what you're saying! Sister Yi is not that kind of person! She simply doesn't understand you well enough and is holding you to her own standards. This dish would be fine if it were made by the palace chefs. You're a beginner, so it's difficult for you to achieve the desired appearance, aroma, and flavor."
"What?! No wonder that person from Jiaofeng Palace was so good at everything he did! So..."
Noble Lady Wen explained softly, "Selected Lady Xin and Sister Yi live together in Lin'an Palace. They see each other more often and have a deep friendship. It's understandable that Sister Yi favors her and tailored a menu just for her. Besides, weren't your current cooking skills also taught by Sister Yi? There's no need to get upset over such a thing."
Seeing Zhang Da Ying's expression changing several times, the effect she wanted to achieve was already taking shape. Concubine Wen pounded her waist again and made an excuse to leave.
"It's so abominable!"
Zhang Da Ying returned to the main hall angrily and overturned all the tea brought by the maid!
The nanny had never seen such a scene before. She signaled the palace maids to leave before bending down to pick up the cups and plates. "What's the young lady throwing a tantrum about?"
"In Fengluan Palace, I made a fool of myself, and it was only Noble Lady Wen who interceded for me and silenced those women! I watched coldly. When others mocked Noble Lady Yi, she was quite eloquent and good at speaking. Why couldn't she help me out?"
"My lady, this happened a few days ago. Why are you only now losing your temper?" The old nanny patiently advised, "You know, those powerful ladies in the palace have all laughed at Concubine Yi. Her life is not easy either. If you speak rashly, it will only..."
"She keeps saying she treats me like a sister, giving me perfume and teaching me how to cast stones, but what's the result? She's deliberately fooling me with the very things I care about most!"
"My Lord, what happened?"
"I just found out that the dishes Noble Lady Yi taught me to cook can only be cooked by someone at the level of an imperial chef! She's just trying to trick me into not understanding and deliberately leading me further and further in the wrong direction!"
The old nanny was incredulous: "How could that be? She spent more time teaching you personally at Sangyuxuan than Miss Xin did."
"It's all a lie! She's just hoping I'll make a fool of myself in front of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager!"
"My dear, please don't be impatient. When you are upset, your thinking will be biased. How about we think about the food first, and then talk about other things?"
Zhang Da Ying fiercely pulled off the sachet from his waist and threw it to the ground! Still not satisfied, he stomped his feet fiercely a few times.
"I'm not going to believe her nonsense anymore! Starting today, I'm going to learn to cook something else!"
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