Emperor Zhaojing was taken aback, then shook his head, his gaze dimming, and said, "It's not what you think. Actually, I wasn't good to her..."
Seeing that he had suddenly become sad, Rong Qingqing was at a loss as to how to comfort him.
Fortunately, Emperor Zhaojing did not let himself be sad for too long. Remembering something, he suddenly said with great interest, "I haven't been out of the palace to eat at Wangchun Tower for a long time. I really miss the food there. If the Empress is free, let's go together."
Rong Qingqing: "..."
Just a moment ago she was playing the role of a sentimental person, how did she suddenly become a foodie?
Rong Qingqing was somewhat amused and exasperated, but asked, "What dishes would Father Emperor like to eat today?"
Without a second thought, Emperor Zhaojing said, "I want to eat boiled live fish." He couldn't sit still when the dish was mentioned. "Let's go, let's go together."
Rong Qingqing thought to herself, "The Emperor Emeritus really has a special fondness for boiled live fish." But she said aloud, "Actually, I know how to make this dish. If Father doesn't mind, there's no need for you to go out of the palace to eat it."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhaojing looked at her in surprise, "Xingxiu's wife, you can cook? I've never heard Xingxiu mention it."
Rong Qingqing smiled and said, "I happen to know how to make boiled live fish. I'll show off my skills to Father Emperor at noon."
Emperor Zhaojing was actually somewhat skeptical of her cooking abilities, but seeing her eager expression, he couldn't bear to discourage her. He nodded, "Alright, I'll wait." If it didn't taste good, he could always go to Wangchunlou next time. As an elder, he shouldn't constantly discourage a junior from trying to prove herself.
Rong Qingqing knew that Emperor Zhaojing did not believe she was good at cooking, but since she had already said it, she could not go back on her word.
As long as the food tastes good, that's all that matters.
Around noon, Rong Qingqing finished preparing the dishes.
She made a pot of boiled live fish and several other home-style dishes.
As the palace servants carried the dishes past the Shouning Palace, the Empress Dowager was strolling and sunbathing in the garden when she suddenly smelled a domineering fragrance and was immediately stunned. What fragrance was that?
She hadn't had a good appetite lately, and nothing tasted good to her, but the aroma she had just smelled suddenly gave her a taste of food again.
"I think I smell a delicious aroma," she said calmly. "What dishes has the Imperial Kitchen prepared today?"
Lin Mama naturally smelled the aroma as well. After thinking for a moment, she replied, "You haven't had much of an appetite lately, so the imperial kitchen has been preparing some rather bland dishes for you. That aroma just now came from somewhere else."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's heart stirred, and she said, "Go and ask."
Granny Lin had no choice but to run out.
A short while later, he returned with a strange expression on his face.
The Grand Emperor glanced at her. "What's going on?"
"This old servant just asked, and the palace guards said they saw Her Majesty the Empress with several palace servants carrying food toward Taichen Palace. It seems Her Majesty the Empress wanted to have lunch with the Emperor Emeritus," Lin Mama replied.
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but feel a little jealous. "This Empress goes to Taichen Palace so often, but I've never seen her come to dine with me. Does she even respect me?"
Lin Mama wiped her sweat, thinking to herself, "Have you forgotten that you disliked the Empress and treated her coldly before?" She replied aloud, "Her Majesty the Empress rarely visits Taichen Palace. She probably had something to attend to today, which is why she went." She paused, noticing Lin Mama's restless expression, and immediately added, "Since the Empress Dowager hasn't been to Taichen Palace in a long time, why don't we go see the Emperor Emeritus now?"
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