"Come, try it, how does it taste?"
Based on the recipe Zhang promised, Wei Shuyi came up with new ingredients, but she wasn't from her mother's family after all. So, the final taste still had to be approved by Zhang.
"Hmm... Is it true that there is no meat mixed in with it, Sister Noble?"
"No, I just did what you said and picked the vegetables."
"It's a pity that I can't bring my mother to the palace. Otherwise, she would be happy to taste the flavors of her hometown." Zhang Da Ying took a few more bites with her chopsticks. "My dear sister, I know that only you can make a difficult dish like this."
Consort Xin, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, sensed the atmosphere and hurried to join in the fun, "Sister Yi, let me have a taste too! Otherwise, on the day of the gathering, everything will have to be placed on the Empress Dowager's table, and I won't have this blessing!"
Therefore, the maids who were favored in Lin'an Palace also got involved.
The improved version of crab stuffed with orange was served as the final dish and was unanimously approved by everyone.
After Zhang agreed to leave with satisfaction, they took off their disguises, especially Xin Xuanshi, who rubbed her cheeks vigorously.
"Sister Yi, my face is almost frozen from laughing! These days, I've been getting along well with that guy, and he speaks so softly to me. Is my acting okay?"
"very good."
"My lady! And this servant!" Jing Ning also raised her hand. "Although this servant despises her behavior, I have forced myself to keep my mouth shut several times. Even the expression of disgust was made behind her back. Is this very cooperative?"
"Not bad."
Wen Yu picked up the creased piece of paper on the table again. "I'm just not sure what Lady Wen will do with this dish."
"When an enemy comes, we will fight him; when a flood comes, we will block it with earth." Wei Shuyi walked into the inner room, while the others politely stayed outside. "I've been busy in the small kitchen all afternoon, and I want to rest for a while. Sister Xin, you should also hurry back to Jiaofeng Palace!"
Wen Yu knew that she had something to say, so he immediately closed the window tightly and then returned to the bed.
"Your Majesty, he seems to be suspicious of me."
"What are you doubting, young lady? You always follow the rules, how could you be caught doing anything wrong?"
She recalled the scene in the hot spring of Changsheng Palace: "He suspected that I had a past relationship with the Young General of the Nangong family. He deliberately invited me to dinner that day in order to warn the Young General in person."
"What?!" Wen Yu also became nervous. "Then, did the young general do anything to make the emperor more suspicious?"
"No." She shook her head and recalled, "He was staring at the roasting meat the whole time, and his eyes never left the warming wine. When I came out of the inner room, there were only a few dishes left on the table, and even the peach blossom wine was only left at the bottom of the jar."
"Girl, it's strange. Why does the young general always like to talk to you? Fortunately, we didn't choose a secluded place to meet. If this gets out, it will definitely..."
"Don't be afraid, he knows his limits."
However, even the most discerning person would arouse the emperor's suspicion.
Even Xie Yanqing, who was far away in the prince's palace in Beijing, was suspected at first, not to mention Nangong Heng, whom he often met in the palace recently.
She had already lost her family, and she couldn't let anyone in the Nangong clan be implicated because of her! Especially this brave and resourceful young general with a promising future.
"Then, regarding the gathering in three days, have you thought about how to deal with it?"
Compared to the emperor's heart, the minds of the women in the harem are easier to guess.
Wei Shuyi took the scroll beside his pillow and continued reading: "I have already made sufficient preparations in the small kitchen. No matter what they want to do to my cooking, they are destined to fail in throwing this dirty water on it!"
——
"Hurry up! Hand me that knife!"
"Hey, what are the seasonings?"
"How come a layer of skin is still torn off? Oh no! It's mushy!"
…
It was still a chaotic day in Fengluan Palace.
Ever since the Queen decided to practice cooking, the smell of burning and the color of carbon have been the norm in the small kitchen. Even after receiving instruction from famous chefs, all she could do was cook the food.
As for the saltiness of the taste, it all depends on fate.
As for the appearance, it's the type that everyone will avoid when they see it.
After Meng Ruhui left court, he came to visit the Queen with a heavy heart. However, the person who came to serve tea was not Jin Han, but an unfamiliar young palace maid.
Being stared at and glared at by the current Prime Minister for a few times, she was so frightened that her hands were shaking and she even dropped the tray with cups on it!
"Please spare my life, sir! This servant did not mean it!"
"Where's Jinhan? Why isn't she here to serve?"
"There will be a gathering in the harem soon. Aunt Jinhan is busy serving the Queen in the small kitchen and has no time to come to the main hall."
"What?!" Meng Ruhui couldn't sit still any longer. "The Master of the Sixth Palace is actually going to wash his hands and make soup?"
Just at this moment, the queen came back with stains on her face.
She was still frustrated with her cooking skills and didn't even have the courage to taste it again. When she saw Meng Ruhui coming, she quickly put on a smile and walked forward.
"Father, this is a gathering organized by my daughter to help the Queen Mother regain her appetite. By the way, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Would you like to try something I made myself?"
"Where?"
He looked directly at Jin Han's hands, but didn't see any delicious food. Instead, the Queen was clutching a plate of thick, tightly tangled black roots.
"Father, this is it! Do you want to try it?"
"Everyone, step back! I have something to say to the Queen."
"yes."
Meng Ruhui didn't even dare to glance at the suspected poisoned dish. "Your Majesty, everything I do is for you and for the good of our family. Last time, you suddenly broke into the inner chambers to help Concubine Yi give birth out of sympathy for our young son. I will not pursue this matter! After all, her pregnancy was unsuccessful, and she only gave birth to a princess. But now, you should reflect deeply and focus on the right path. Why are you still doing the work of servants?"
"My daughter took the initiative to ask the concubines in the palace to cook, but in the end, she didn't contribute. What should I do if people criticize her?"
"Empress, please tell me yourself." Meng Ruhui pointed helplessly to the side. "With your current results, what difference does it make whether you practice or not?"
"Father!"
"But this is a good thing. I was just worried about how to drag the Qu sisters into this. Now that we have this gathering, it will be much easier."
The Queen finally calmed down and asked curiously, "What is Father going to do?"
"Qu Wenhe is opposing the old ministers in the court again today. To put it bluntly, he's still relying on his connections in the harem. His eldest daughter is a noble concubine, and his legitimate daughter is now pregnant. He's truly invaluable!"
When this was mentioned, the Queen's face was filled with contempt: "The Qu family is a den of foxes! If one can't give birth, they send the next one in. It's so annoying!"
"So, haven't I come here to help Your Majesty solve your troubles?" Meng Ruhui placed a small paper bag in her hand. "This old minister hopes that the royal bloodline will never be tainted by lowly people."
"This, this requires my daughter to do it herself?"
"Your Majesty's life is worth a ton of gold, you can't take risks! Leave it to Jinhan, she will naturally know what to do."
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