Chapter Twenty-Three: Rewards
After finishing the glutinous rice dumplings, Huo Lin stayed with Jiang Huan for a while longer before heading back.
Not long after Huo Lin returned, Jiang Huan saw a line of palace servants carrying various things into the west side hall.
The chief eunuch walking at the front was none other than Wang Degui.
Jiang Huan blinked and took the initiative to go to meet her.
"Father-in-law, what's wrong?"
When Wang Degui saw Jiang Huan, a smile appeared on his face.
"His Majesty sent this old servant to deliver these things. These are all special gifts from His Majesty to Consort Zhuang."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Huan felt deeply moved and decided not to waste those few bites of glutinous rice balls.
Not only did she not lose money, she actually made a fortune.
It's not a loss, it's not a loss.
She nodded and thanked him, "Thank you, sir."
"You're too kind, Consort Zhuang. I was just relaying a message; it's what I should do."
After saying these words with a smile, Wang Degui had his things put down, offered a few more words of congratulations, and then left.
After Wang Degui left, Jiang Huan finally had time to examine the various rewards. Huo Lin had given her many things, including gold, silver, and jade ornaments, silks and satins, and ointments for treating leg injuries, but most of them were food ingredients.
Food made up half of the gifts.
This was indeed a bribe with a very clear target.
This was the first time she had ever heard that so many of the things the emperor bestowed upon his concubines were food ingredients.
She understood the blatant hint!
"What a glutton," Jiang Huan couldn't help but mutter.
She carefully placed the delivered ingredients in the small kitchen and discovered that some of them were ingredients that even the imperial kitchen rarely saw, yet the emperor had now bestowed them upon her.
I reckon the imperial kitchen doesn't have any left.
Jiang Huan raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on her lips.
She had heard a lot of complaints from the Emperor recently, so it seemed that the Emperor really had a deep grudge against the food served in the Imperial Kitchen.
However, this also further demonstrates that the Emperor enjoyed the food she made.
First came Aunt Li's support, then Consort Yu's demotion, and then these rewards...
Jiang Huan felt that the day she would move out of Jinhua Palace was not far off, and she was in a great mood.
If this trend continues, won't it just lead to promotions, raises, and groveling to the boss?
As a modern, qualified ox or horse, she can do it!
Meanwhile, news that Jiang Huan was favored by the Emperor spread rapidly throughout the palace.
Wang Degui was the chief eunuch, and his appearance often represented the emperor.
Many palace maids and eunuchs from various palaces saw him leading palace servants, carrying rewards covered with red cloth, to Jiang Huan's place.
As Consort Yu, who shared the same palace as Jiang Huan, had already received the news long ago.
If it weren't for Jiang Huan, she would never have been demoted and moved out of the main hall. Now she has to watch helplessly as the Emperor bestows rewards upon Jiang Huan!
Yu Chang flew into a rage, yelling, "You bitch!"
She swept her hand away so hard that everything on the table fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.
Upon seeing this, the palace maids all knelt down.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
Yu's eyes were red-rimmed, and her gaze was filled with jealousy and hatred.
In this harem, it would be fine if the emperor didn't favor anyone.
However, favoritism is absolutely unacceptable; once it occurs, it disrupts the balance.
What's more, this person has no power or influence!
Yu Changzai snorted coldly. She couldn't do anything about Jiang Huan now, but there were plenty of people willing to make things difficult for Jiang Huan.
Jiang Huan, just you wait!
A storm was brewing, but Jiang Huan was completely unaware of it.
The next day was the day to pay respects to Consort Jia.
Many concubines had already gathered in Consort Jia's palace. As soon as Jiang Huan entered, the atmosphere in the hall instantly became tense.
Jiang Huan also sensed something was wrong, but she could only brace herself, step forward gracefully, and bow, saying, "Greetings to Consort Jia."
Consort Jia did not ask Jiang Huan to get up. She held the teacup and carefully skimmed off the foam in it.
"I have heard that Consort Zhuang's small kitchen is even more lively than the imperial kitchen."
“That’s right.” Consort Yu glared at Jiang Huan angrily, twisting the handkerchief in her hand tightly. “Yesterday, Steward Wang sent a lot of things to Consort Zhuang. The commotion lasted for quite a while.”
Jiang Huan felt a chill run down her spine, but she still maintained a calm smile on her face.
Well, so they've come to demand an explanation.
"Your Majesty is too kind. I am merely a novice cook and was only ordered by His Majesty to prepare some food for him."
As he spoke, he changed his kneeling position.
I just finished kneeling last time, and I reckon I'll have to kneel again this time.
Sigh, when will these concubines finally understand?
What I fought for wasn't favor, it was clearly my destiny.
Consort Jia's eyes darkened slightly as she put down her teacup, which clinked against the saucer with a crisp sound.
A faint smile played on her lips, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"It's a good thing to share the Emperor's burdens, but Consort Zhuang shouldn't overwork herself, or it will be a loss."
Consort Jia's words were clearly a warning to Jiang Huan, telling her not to monopolize the Emperor's favor.
Jiang Huan lowered her head and secretly glanced at Consort Jia.
These days, even cooking delicious food is considered a sin.
We can't let Consort Jia use this as an excuse to make trouble any further.
A dull ache rose in Jiang Huan's knees, which she found difficult to bear.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I will keep that in mind. However, His Majesty is waiting for me to prepare the food, which will take several hours to cook. I'm afraid I might be delaying His Majesty."
She didn't say it explicitly, but the concubines were all shrewd and calculating.
This is a tactic of invoking the emperor to escape!
Consort Jia's knuckles turned white; she knew, of course, that Jiang Huan was doing it on purpose.
But she can't just leave things as they are, can she?
I'm afraid that if the Emperor really blames her in the end, she'll be the next one to be demoted!
Yu Changzai is a perfect example.
Consort Jia had no choice. She snorted coldly and finally waved her hand reluctantly, letting Jiang Huan leave.
Upon returning to the west side hall, Xiao Zhao immediately greeted Jiang Huan with eyes full of concern.
"Your Highness, you're finally back! Did Consort Jia give you any trouble?"
Xiao Zhao's facial injuries have almost healed, with only a slight mark remaining at the corner of her mouth, but it no longer prevents her from appearing in public.
Hearing Xiao Zhao's concern for her, Jiang Huan smiled slightly.
There is true kindness in the world.
She really wanted to pour out her grievances to Xiao Zhao, but then she thought about Xiao Zhao's sharp tongue...
Let's not cause any more trouble.
"I'm fine. With the Emperor's approval, they wouldn't dare to make things difficult for me."
Xiao Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and started chattering excitedly again.
"Now that Your Highness is favored, those concubines should be envious, especially Consort Yu, she must be furious!"
Jiang Huan chuckled at Xiao Zhao's liveliness, and her mood brightened accordingly.
With Huo Lin backing her up, she had a much better time these days.
While others use their beauty to win favor, she uses her delicious food, and she's happy to do so.
Thinking about it this way, it's like asking her to be Huo Lin's lackey.
It's not impossible!
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