Chapter 157 It’s time to return Yan’er to me
When they arrived at Shou'an Academy and entered the main room, they saw that Empress Dowager Jiang had taken off her phoenix crown and outer robe, and was only wearing a autumn-colored satin jacket with a chrysanthemum pattern and a double-breasted collar, sitting cross-legged on the kang.
Meng Yan smiled and walked forward to greet him.
Empress Dowager Jiang hurriedly asked her to sit down and said with a smile, "You didn't eat well at the palace banquet, did you? You must be hungry now. I asked the small kitchen here to cook some duck noodles. Bring it here, let's eat it together."
Meng Yan couldn't help but laugh, "Empress Dowager, there are so many dishes prepared for the banquet, and you even asked the kitchen to cook noodles for us. I guess the dishes I prepared are not to your taste, and I actually made you go hungry. This makes me feel ashamed."
Empress Dowager Jiang waved her hands repeatedly. "What are you talking about! Don't I know the dishes at the palace banquet? Year after year, day after day, the appearance and taste remain the same. It's okay for a master to teach his apprentice, but I've had enough of them. You're busy arranging the banquet, so naturally you can't enjoy the food well."
The Empress Dowager's words were quite true. Meng Yan had just been at the banquet, constantly paying attention to the movements of all parties, interacting with others, and only ate a few small dishes and drank a few sips of wine, not really eating much. And after two big performances, she was really a little hungry.
Therefore, Meng Yan no longer refused and agreed with a smile.
After a while, a palace maid walked in slowly, holding a red lacquer carved tray. On the tray were two small gold-painted celadon bowls. White smoke curled up and the aroma of meat was intoxicating, making people's appetites whet.
The palace maid placed the tray on the ebony table inlaid with glazed glass and decorated with mother-of-pearl, bowed, and retreated.
After Empress Dowager Jiang brought over a bowl, Meng Yan also brought over a bowl.
In the bowl, noodles as wide as chive leaves are neatly arranged, green onions and bamboo shoots are scattered on the snow-white noodles, and a few pieces of duck meat with skin are lying in the clear soup.
Meng Yan picked up the chopsticks and took a bite. The duck meat was fried with scallion oil, which was crispy, fragrant and soft. The noodles were smooth and chewy, and the crisp bamboo shoots complemented each other perfectly.
Although it was just a simple bowl of duck noodles, the warm and simple taste finally relaxed her heart which had been tense all day.
She had always been mindful of her manners in front of the Empress Dowager, and would only take a couple of bites of any delicious food.
However, this bowl of duck noodles today made her completely relax. When she came to her senses, the small celadon bowl was empty.
Meng Yan felt a little embarrassed, put down her chopsticks, and said with a smile, "I am greedy, and I am sorry to make the Empress Dowager laugh at me."
The maid brought up Biluochun. Empress Dowager Jiang took it, took a sip, and said with a faint smile, "Girl, you must be exhausted from today's banquet, right?"
Meng Yan was slightly startled, then shook her head and replied, "I'm not tired."
Empress Dowager Jiang put down her tea bowl and smiled meaningfully. "It's good that you're not tired. If you're tired now, the road ahead will become even more difficult. From now on, you'll encounter more people and more things, more bizarre and more difficult. There's nothing else to do but deal with them." At this point, a hint of weariness appeared on the Empress Dowager's face, and her voice was soft and drawn out. "I'm already old, and from now on, this burden will be passed on to you."
Meng Yan looked at the silver hair on the Empress Dowager's temples and the fine lines at the corners of her eyes, and her nose suddenly felt sore.
This is the third reason why the Empress Dowager asked her to organize the flower-viewing banquet, right?
The Empress Dowager, the elder whom she had always cared for since she entered the palace and whom she respected and loved from the bottom of her heart, suddenly showed signs of old age.
Meng Yan's biological mother passed away early. Although she still has a father and brother at home, the lack of her mother's love is a regret in her heart.
When she met the Empress Dowager, her earnest teachings and love gradually filled this gap in her heart.
In her heart, Meng Yan respected and loved the Empress Dowager as her own mother.
She simply sat down beside Empress Dowager Jiang, put her arm around her, and murmured with a nasal voice, "Your Majesty is not old. I don't know anything yet. I still have many things to learn from you."
Empress Dowager Jiang gently stroked her cheek, her broad palm conveying warmth.
She smiled faintly, "Girl, you are not young anymore. When I was your age, I had already married the late emperor and gave birth to Prince Yi. You did very well today, and I saw it all. I have nothing more to teach you. From now on, you have to find your way on your own. I believe that Yan'er is so smart and capable that she will be able to turn misfortune into blessing and danger into good fortune."
Meng Yan leaned her head on the Empress Dowager's arm, smelled the faint sandalwood scent on her body, and gently closed her eyes.
The Empress Dowager's aura somehow reminded her of her mother who had passed away so long ago...
Warm, peaceful and reassuring.
"It smells so good! What delicious food is the Queen Mother eating? She's carrying her son on her back!"
Lu Haozhi's hearty voice sounded from outside, and he had already walked into the house.
Meng Yan quickly stood up and bowed to him, "Your Majesty."
Lu Haozhi changed into a casual snow-blue Hangzhou silk long gown, took off the crown and belt on his head, and only tied it with a mutton-fat jade hairpin. He looked like a green pine, elegant and handsome.
He waved to Meng Yan, motioning her to stand up, then walked forward and paid his respects to the empress dowager.
As she bent over, the sachet hanging on her gold-woven belt began to sway, attracting great attention.
The material is bamboo leaf green, with large navy blue flowers, a style that is unique in the palace.
Meng Yan's face immediately turned red. She hadn't noticed it when the sachet was just embroidered, but now that she saw it again, she realized how rough and clumsy the needlework was.
The large blue flowers that were spread out didn't look like baoxiang flowers, but more like morning glories wrapped around a fence in the corner...
It looked strange, but he actually wore...
How embarrassing!
Empress Dowager Jiang accepted his gift and said with a smile, "It's just a bowl of duck noodles. What's so good about it? The emperor has delicacies from land and sea every day, and you still want to keep these little things!" As she spoke, her eyes fell on the sachet worn on his waist.
Empress Dowager Jiang lived her entire life and knew everything. But in the entire harem, only one person could produce such needlework.
Immediately, she smiled meaningfully and said, "Wow, what a unique sachet! Where did the emperor get it from?"
Lu Haozhi was quite proud. He took down the sachet as if presenting a treasure and showed it to the Queen Mother. "Mother, this sachet was made by my beloved. The needlework bureau can't make one like this. I am the only one in the world who can own it!"
Empress Dowager Jiang nodded and smiled. "It's indeed good. This sachet is unique in design, and it's obvious that extra care was taken in making it. Your Majesty, you must cherish this gift."
Meng Yan stood aside, listening to the conversation between the emperor and the empress dowager, her pretty face burning hot like a boiled egg.
Right now, she just wanted to dig a hole and bury herself.
"Your Majesty, I have some matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."
After saying this, Meng Yan fled Shou'an Academy in a hurry.
After Meng Yan left, Lu Haozhi smiled at Empress Dowager Jiang and said, "Mother, isn't it time to return Yan'er to your son?"
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