Noble Lady Wen understood: there was a smart person standing in front of her. If she suppressed her anger and pretended to be indifferent, she would easily be seen through by the other party and appear hypocritical.
So, she took a few steps closer, her tone filled with dissatisfaction: "Fortunately, I don't live here, otherwise, I would definitely teach her some rules! Sister, you are not far from her palace, haven't you thought about..."
"I still say the same thing. If Lady Xu hadn't come to provoke me, I would have been able to live my life behind closed doors. Today, I will pretend that I only admired the flowers and didn't hear anything else. Farewell."
Zhen Chang bowed to her and left with her maid.
Seeing her indifferent attitude, Mu Tao also became anxious: "My lady, why are all the people in Yonghe Palace confused? You kindly reminded her, but she is mocking you for trying to sow discord?!"
"Normal, within my expectations."
As a lady from a noble family, Zhen Changzai not only dabbled in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, but also must have had someone to take care of her emotional needs.
This person is different from Zhang Da Ying who lived under the mistress. He did not learn to read people's expressions. Instead, he developed a spoiled temper and only complained when encountering things.
If he put more effort into winning over Zhen Changzai, he would be even more powerful in dealing with others in the future. After all, a relative of the second rank could also have a say in the court.
"My dear, aren't you angry? Why are you still smiling?"
"Yonghe Palace hides a fox, and there's also the noble Yun Zhonghe. I admire both, so how can I not be happy?" Noble Lady Wen didn't explain clearly, but got on the sedan chair. "It seems that I have to show my sincerity like Cheng Men Li Xue in order to influence them!"
When they returned to the Yanxi Palace, they happened to see Zhang Ying walking out.
"Sister, where are we going?"
"I pay my respects to the noble sister." Zhang Da Ying suppressed the joy on her face. "I have thought through what you reminded me of last night. I am just about to go to Lin'an Palace to tell them!"
"Oh? You're not angry that I deprived you of your qualifications?"
"Noble sister, everything you do is for my own good. Anyway, I don't have much talent. I can't be as good as others even if I study from morning till night. Why not give this opportunity to Noble Yi? She should be satisfied."
Concubine Wen just smiled and said nothing, and asked the palace servants to make way for Zhang to move forward.
Mu Tao looked back curiously: "My lady, what does she mean?"
"You idiot, it's better not to listen to such talk, let's go!"
——
Wei Shuyi watched helplessly as the bowl filled with egg liquid fell to the ground. Zhang Da Ying was at a loss as to how to clean it up. In a hurry, he actually wiped it with the handkerchief he carried with him!
"Hey, wait!" She hurriedly stopped him, "Jing'an, ask the servants to come and clean it up."
"I'm so sorry, I really can't live up to your kindness! I'm so stupid, my head is full of mush, I'm really not cut out for cooking!"
Concubine Xin sat down helplessly and wiped the egg liquid off the hem of her skirt. "Before I entered the palace, I never thought that after leaving my parents, I would have to work in the small kitchen and be exposed to these things. Calm down and don't belittle yourself like this."
Zhang Da Ying was so anxious that she was about to cry. She stammered in response, "Well... otherwise, I'd better not make a fool of myself in front of the Empress Dowager."
"Why?"
"My cooking skills are not very good, and I can't learn well, and it will waste my time. So, what dish are you going to make, my dear sister? I can help you."
Wei Shuyi vaguely sensed the other party's intentions and pretended to be troubled: "I haven't thought about it yet. I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, but the Queen Mother doesn't like the food I cook. If I don't put more effort into this gathering, I might still fall behind others."
"Actually, actually... I have a secret recipe here, which happened to be passed on to me by my family through connections."
"Hmm? What's the secret recipe?"
Zhang Da Ying quickly pulled a piece of pale yellow paper from her sleeve. "My mother wasn't favored in the palace, and she was a concubine. Therefore, she sincerely hoped that I could rise to a higher position in the palace, so that she wouldn't be bullied. This is a recipe she prepared for a lost family in her hometown. Perhaps, with your skills, I can bring it back to life."
It is indeed a recipe.
Wei Shuyi took it and glanced at it quickly: "Using vegetables as raw materials, to make it taste like meat?"
"Exactly! Mother said this was first invented by the monks in the temple in my hometown. Back then, their place was the most popular, and this unique vegetarian meal alone attracted many people!" After Zhang agreed to finish the introduction, she rubbed her hands awkwardly, "It's a pity that she put so much effort into this disappointing daughter of mine, only to be disappointed in the end."
"I can also teach you how to make a simple one..."
"I can't do that! I've made up my mind. Rather than being a failure and attracting dislike, I'd rather be your helper! This top-secret recipe is my apology for my previous mistakes!"
Concubine Xin winked at him more than once, realizing that there might be something fishy going on.
Wei Shuyi readily agreed: "Since you have made up your mind, I will not force you. Dinner will be served soon, you and Sister Xin should go to the main hall together. It just so happens that I need to find out the dialect names for the recipes."
"Yes, I obey your command!"
Wen Yu had already prepared a large table of delicious dishes, most of which were styles Zhang Da Ying had never seen before.
"Sister Noble, are these... also rewards from the Emperor?"
Wei Shuyi laughed dumbly: "They were all sent by people arranged by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The emperor is busy with state affairs, so he doesn't care about the kitchen."
"I see." She carefully tasted the fish-like dish again, but accidentally bit the skin, choking with the spiciness and bringing tears to her eyes. "Ahem! What, what is this?"
Before anyone could explain, Eunuch Yang's voice could be heard: "The Emperor has arrived!"
Xie Yanci is here?! And at dinner time?
Wei Shuyi looked at the table full of delicacies and immediately thought: Should we add another stool? Will it be too crowded?
"Yao'er! I tasted something today... Hmm? Why are you all here?"
They saluted together, but the emperor took the lead and shook Wei Shuyi's hand, pulling her up.
He looked at the banquet that had already begun, frowning slightly: "I came too late."
"Your Majesty, will you please sit down and dine with us?"
"Remove these dishes." Xie Yanci pointed to her seat and ordered the palace servants to bring the still steaming dishes. "Yao'er, these are made by the imperial chef selected from the people. I tasted a few bites at lunch and thought you would like them, so I specially brought them here to give to you."
The red oil in the copper pot is rolling, and the condensed bubbles burst instantly. After the thinly sliced meat is dipped in it for a few times, the light red color is covered with a layer of spicy shell, and the aroma is fragrant!
No one in Sang Yuxuan had ever seen this new thing before, and even the palace maids stood on tiptoe to take a look.
Seeing this, Wei Shuyi pulled Xie Yanci to sit down again and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for sending us some delicious food. Shall we all try some?"
"Let me try too!"
Zhang Da Ying hurriedly stood up and wanted to put the silver chopsticks into the pot, but was stopped by the emperor with displeasure.
He loosened his right hand for just a moment, flicked his fingertips, and used his internal force to create a gust of wind, causing the silver chopsticks with white rice grains stuck on them to fall to the ground!
Then, he continued to hold Wei Shuyi's left hand and angrily scolded in a cold voice: "This is a delicacy I specially gave to Concubine Yi to enjoy alone. Don't you understand?"
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