Chapter 251 Letters
[System, that's pretty good.]
"You're actually quite useful; these seeds are even more potent than the germination promoters we use back home."
A slightly smug electronic voice rang in her mind: "Hmph, now you know the benefits of this system?"
"These seeds are a cross-dimensional superior variety. So what if they germinate quickly? Plant them well and don't waste them."
He Ling listened to the system's electronic voice and, for the first time, didn't feel annoyed.
Yes! I will try my best!
[Grow delicious tomatoes, cultivate the empress's favor, and live a brilliant life in another world!]
She looked up at Jiang Huan, her smile somewhat silly, yet utterly sincere.
The rain continued to fall gently, nourishing the newly born land and two hearts full of hope for the future.
However, the tomato seedlings that sprouted in the experimental field west of Weiyang Palace, and He Ling's enthusiasm for Jiang Huan, spread like wildfire throughout the palace.
"Have you heard? Consort Ling spends all her time hanging around Consort Zhuang. If you didn't know better, you'd think she lived in Weiyang Palace."
"That's right. Yesterday, Consort Zhuang held a barbecue feast. She was rushing to hand the Consort meat skewers and serving her tea and water, wishing she wasn't a piece of meat herself and could fly into the Consort's mouth..."
"And this morning, it was raining outside, and she almost lost her shoes just to show her face in front of the Empress."
"Hmph, they're really shameless. They've lost all sense of shame just to curry favor with Consort Zhuang."
"That's right. A concubine spends all day like a palace maid, flitting around Consort Zhuang. Doesn't she feel ashamed?"
"Isn't it because Consort Zhuang is favored and they want to benefit from it?"
On the other side, Consort Li leaned against the soft couch, listening to her trusted maid vividly describe the situation at Weiyang Palace.
She gave a cold laugh, her face turning completely gloomy.
"Ha, that slut He Ling, she's quite the schemer. Does she think that by hooking up with that bitch Consort Zhuang, she can rise to the top? She's dreaming!"
One by one, they all opposed her.
What right does that Consort Zhuang have to ride roughshod over her?
Things change every thirty years; now he's showered with favor, but who knows how he'll be ruined in the future.
However, considering the frequent interactions between Huo Lin and Jiang Huan recently, Consort Li couldn't help but feel uneasy.
She stood up and paced restlessly around the hall.
The Emperor seems to be paying more and more attention to Consort Zhuang lately, even indulging her in planting all sorts of random things in the palace.
No, she couldn't just sit and wait to die; she had to do something to get the Emperor's attention.
As Consort Li walked, she paused, her gaze falling on a glass jar on a small table.
The jar contained a thick, amber-colored liquid that gleamed alluringly in the light.
That was the flower honey that Jiang Huan had given her before, saying that she had made it herself.
Consort Li had scoffed at it at the time and tossed it aside, but now, looking at the jar of honey, her eyes lit up slightly.
The news that Consort Zhuang had won the Emperor's favor through her culinary skills had been circulating in the palace for quite some time.
It is said that the Emperor praised the roasted meat, fermented rice wine, and drunken crab that Consort Zhuang made yesterday.
A thought began to take root in her mind.
Since the emperor likes it, why can't she cater to his tastes?
Consort Li walked to the small table, picked up the jar of flower honey, opened the lid, and a sweet and rich fragrance instantly filled the air.
This flower smells quite nice.
Since the Emperor likes the food made by Consort Zhuang, why doesn't she use this jar of honey made by Consort Zhuang herself to make food for the Emperor?
A glint of shrewdness flashed in Consort Li's eyes, and she immediately called out, "Guards!"
"What are your orders, Your Highness?" A palace maid hurriedly entered.
"Go, summon the imperial chef from the imperial kitchen who is best at making meat pies for me, and prepare the finest pork belly, the freshest one possible!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Soon, the imperial chefs from the Imperial Kitchen were invited to Consort Li's palace.
Consort Li sat upright in the main seat, pointed to the jar of flower honey, and instructed the imperial chef: "I want to use this jar of flower honey to make a dish of honey-glazed meat jerky. It must be sweet, tender, and delicious, surpassing all the dishes Consort Zhuang has ever made!"
The imperial chef quickly bowed and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, this servant will do his utmost."
For the next half day, Consort Li personally supervised the work, directing the imperial chefs to select the finest pork belly, slice it thinly, and marinate it with a secret sauce.
"Wait!" Consort Li suddenly called out to stop the imperial chef as he prepared to drizzle the flower nectar on the dish.
Previously, Consort Yu had also presented the Emperor with a dish of sweet and sour pork ribs, and then she was kicked out of the palace.
This stupid fool probably thinks he can do better than Jiang Huan.
She picked up the jar of honey, her eyes flashing with a hint of ruthlessness.
That vile Consort Zhuang, isn't she just trying to please the Emperor with these saccharine sweet things?
If she's going to do it, she'll make it even sweeter and more fragrant than hers, so that the Emperor will never forget it after just one bite!
"Add more honey!" Consort Li commanded, her tone leaving no room for argument. "It must be sweet, the sweeter the better, so sweet that the Emperor will remember my feelings!"
The imperial chef was taken aback, but seeing the look in Consort Li's eyes, he dared not say anything and could only do as she said.
His original sauce proportions were completely disrupted, with spoonful after spoonful of thick honey being added, almost completely masking the original flavor of the sauce.
The sliced meat simmered in the pot, and a rich, sweet aroma mixed with the meaty fragrance filled the air, but after a while, it became a bit cloying.
Consort Li was completely unaware that she was following in Consort Yu's footsteps; she only felt that the fragrance was more tempting than anything Jiang Huan had ever made.
What's the big deal about those little squabbles?
His Majesty will be delighted to taste my honey-glazed dried meat!
She looked at the glistening, tempting jerky coated in a thick layer of honey sauce in the pot, and a satisfied smile spread across her face.
"It's done!"
She ordered her servants to carefully arrange the prepared honey-glazed meat jerky on a plate, and then personally selected an exquisite white jade food box, carefully placed the jerky inside, and closed the lid.
"Tie it with the finest red silk, and then seal it with gold lacquer."
Consort Li gave her detailed instructions, as if she were dealing with some rare treasure.
"Keep it carefully in the ice cellar, and take it out at the next palace banquet. I will personally present it to His Majesty!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The palace maid respectfully accepted and carefully carried the food box away.
Consort Li was in a great mood as she watched the food box being carried away, as if she could already see Huo Lin's amazed expression when he tasted the honey-glazed dried meat at the palace banquet.
Just as she was immersed in her beautiful fantasy, a young eunuch walked in quickly with his head down, presenting her with an unsigned secret letter.
"Your Majesty."
Consort Li raised an eyebrow, took the letter, and waved away the people in the hall.
She opened the envelope and quickly scanned the contents of the letter.
This...this is...
Her fingers tightened suddenly, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
After the initial shock, a surge of immense joy welled up inside me.
"Hahaha, Liu Shuyao, now let's see how you pretend to be high and mighty in front of me, how you stay out of it!"
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