Chapter 633: Falling Snow and Mutton Hot Pot
As the weather grew colder, snow began to fall in Beijing.
A thick layer of snow covered the trees and houses, and all you could see was silver.
Outside the Qiyun Hall, palace maids were sweeping the snow on the open space in front of the hall. A charcoal basin was burning in the side hall, and the hall was as warm as spring.
Rong Yue was invited by the wife of Marquis Wenxin and others to the South Side Hall to talk, while Zhou Yuchang and Tang Ning stayed in the East Side Hall.
Listening to the rustling sound of falling snow on the trees outside, Zhou Yuchang turned to Tang Ning and the others and said, "The winter month is almost over. I heard from the palace servants that preparations for the New Year have already begun outside. I don't know when we can leave the palace."
Originally, they thought they would only be taking care of the patient for three to five days, but who would have thought that it had already been seven days, and there was no mention of letting them leave the palace in Shoukang Palace.
Zhou Yuchang didn't like the palace. There were rules everywhere, and she had to be careful in everything she did. Any mistake might implicate her family. Moreover, her marriage to He Jin was imminent, and their relationship was at its most ambiguous and passionate. Although she would not do anything out of the ordinary, she could still get news about the He family when she was in the mansion, and receive gifts and letters from her fiancé every now and then.
Once I entered the palace, I could not receive any information. Even the news from the outside world could only be heard occasionally from the palace servants.
Qian Qiyue had always been a happy-go-lucky person. She sat on the embroidery stool, roasting hazelnuts that Yue Jian had gotten from somewhere over the fire, and said casually, "Didn't you say the Queen Mother seems to be getting better? We came to the palace to tend to her. Once she's better, she'll have to let us out."
Zhou Yuchang heard this and said, "That's right. I heard from Shoukang Palace that the Queen Mother's condition improved because of us, the people who helped her ward off evil spirits. The Queen Mother is very grateful, and even His Majesty said he would issue an imperial decree to reward us."
Tang Ning suddenly said, "Has His Majesty been here?"
"Of course they come. They come every two days these days. Not only His Majesty, but even the Crown Prince and several other princes come quite frequently. Yesterday, when my mother and I were attending to the sick, we ran into the Crown Prince and His Majesty coming together. It was quite strange, though."
As Zhou Yuchang spoke, she glanced at the palace maids sweeping the snow outside. After making sure they couldn't hear what was going on, she lowered her voice and said,
"The Crown Prince and His Majesty have always been at odds, and there have been many disputes within the court. That day, when my father and his men were seeing him off before the battle, the Crown Prince slapped His Majesty in the face in public. Brother Jin even told me that His Majesty might have a falling out with the Crown Prince, but when I saw them yesterday, His Majesty was surprisingly warm towards the Crown Prince."
Qian Qiyue picked up the cracked hazelnuts and threw them on the plate: "I guess it's in front of the Queen Mother. Are you afraid of hurting her feelings?"
Zhou Yuchang shook her head: "I don't know, I just feel it's a little strange. His Majesty seems to be too kind to the Crown Prince, but the Crown Prince looks a little unhappy."
"Oh, right."
Zhou Yuchang looked up at Tang Ning as if she remembered something: "Before the prince left, he asked about you. He said he had come several times but had never seen you."
Qian Qiyue curled her lips and said, "The Queen Mother didn't even let Tang Ning and my aunt go to tend to the sick, so it would be strange if they could see it."
After all, this is the harem, and it is adjacent to Shoukang Palace. Further around it are the residences of the concubines, and there are palace servants walking everywhere.
After they entered the palace, only two people came to deliver news, bringing messages from Qian Baokun and Xiao Yan. Not to mention others, even Xiao Yan, who used to walk around the harem often, had never broken the rules and set foot in Qiyun Palace, for fear of being caught and gossiped about.
Everyone in Shoukang Palace was called over to take turns to tend to the sick, but these three were not called. So they stayed in Qiyun Palace and never went out on their own initiative.
It's impossible for the prince to come to Qiyun Palace to find Tang Ning for no reason. It would be strange if he could see her.
Zhou Yuchang was full of doubts: "The Queen Mother still hasn't summoned you to attend to her illness?"
Tang Ning shook his head: "No."
"That's strange." Zhou Yuchang looked puzzled. "I heard that the Queen Mother was very angry when she lectured Princess Huan that day, but she was very close to you and Madam Rong. Moreover, when Shoukang Palace sent rewards these past two days, you were more present in the East Wing Hall than others."
"Even Princess Huan went to attend to the illness and took care of the Queen Mother for two nights. Why wouldn't the Queen Mother summon you?"
Zhou Yuchang really couldn't understand. Since the palace had specially issued an order to recruit people to the palace to attend to the illness, even if it was just a formality, Tang Ning and Madam Rongguo should have been asked to serve the empress dowager with medicine. However, the empress dowager summoned everyone but didn't let them go.
If the Queen Mother didn't like them, why would she summon them into the palace and give them the most generous rewards?
But if they liked each other, why didn't the Queen Mother see them? It couldn't be that the Queen Mother felt sorry for Tang Ning and Mrs. Rongguo and didn't want them to work so hard to serve her?
“…”
As soon as this thought came to her mind, Zhou Yuchang fell silent subconsciously, feeling that she was thinking too much.
The people in the palace are born noble and never treat others normally. Even if they value someone very much, they will definitely not consider so many things.
Qian Qiyue snorted as she turned over the hazelnuts with the tongs. "Who cares? It's better if the Queen Mother doesn't summon us. It's better for us to stay in Qiyun Hall until we leave the palace, so as to avoid causing trouble after leaving."
Although eating and sleeping is a bit boring, it is better than being plotted against by others.
Zhou Yuchang nodded: "That's right."
Tang Ning pursed her lips while holding the hazelnut. She had a premonition that the empress dowager would not fail to summon them and let her and her aunt "go to the palace in vain". Moreover, the things sent from Shoukang Palace were not given in vain.
The Queen Mother might have other ideas, but she couldn't quite understand what she was trying to do.
When Yue Jian came in from outside, she was covered in snow. She stood in front of the door and shook off the snow on her body, then walked up to Tang Ning with her things in her hand.
"Some lambs were sent into the palace today. Shoukang Palace said they were going to have them cooked in a hot pot. The Empress Dowager ordered her servants to send some to Qiyun Palace as well. These are the lamb and vegetables sent from the Imperial Kitchen. Do you want to eat them now or wait for later?"
Tang Ning glanced at the sky and said, "Let's put it up."
Yuejian put the things on the table, and someone came in from outside carrying a small stove and a pot.
After everyone left, Yue Jian reached out and opened the food box she had been carrying. Zhou Yuchang looked in surprise, "Why are there so many dishes at this time of year?"
Tang Ning glanced at the lush green leafy vegetables, then looked up at Yue Jian inquiringly: "Did my brother send them?"
Yue Jian nodded.
The masters in the palace are noble, and the things they use are always the best, but the imperial kitchen is an exception. They never send rare or out-of-season items to the masters, for fear that they will not be able to give them to the masters after they have eaten them and want more, and they will be punished.
It's freezing cold now, and green leafy vegetables are far more valuable than meat. These should have been sent in from outside the palace.
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