When Lu Xiaoyi saw that she had accepted it, her eyes lit up slightly.
"These are locust blossoms picked from behind the Chuigong Hall. The imperial kitchen made them quite fragrant and soft, but if milk were added, they would taste even sweeter."
When it comes to food, Lu Xiaoyi is very knowledgeable.
Huo Qinghe lowered her head and ate the locust flower cake in small bites. After listening to Lu Xiaoyi's words, she smiled.
"Xiaoyi is right. Adding milk and locust petals to this locust flower cake makes it look very appetizing. This locust flower cake is delicious. Thank you for your kindness, Xiaoyi."
She ate in small bites, her delicate eyebrows relaxed slightly with pleasure, and a sweet blush appeared on her rosy cheeks, her almond-shaped eyes curving even more.
She had never eaten such delicacies when she was a child. Although she loved them after entering the palace, she no longer showed it on her face.
What girl doesn't love sweets?
Lu Xiaoyi was only pretty; she glanced at Huo Qinghe once, then turned back to get a piece of locust flower cake.
"Why did you come out, sister? It's sunny outside, and I was just about to go back."
After eating the cakes, Huo Qinghe lowered her head and took out a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe her hands. Only after she finished speaking did she stand up with a smile.
Having been out for so long, and with Lu Xiaoyi now out too, if we don't go back soon, who knows what trouble might arise.
Seeing this, Lu Xiaoyi simply nodded slightly, showing no intention of getting up as well.
Unlike Huo Qinghe, she was not in a hurry to go back.
If we don't eat more locust flower cakes now, we don't know if we'll have any left at the banquet when we get back.
"Let's finish these locust flower cakes and then go back." Lu Xiaoyi clapped her hands, clearly in a good mood.
The maid beside him nodded silently, already used to it, and naturally dared not offer any advice.
...
Behind the Chuigong Hall lies a rockery near the Imperial Garden, with flowing water. Lying on the rockery and basking in the occasional slanting sunlight is the most comfortable thing to do right now.
Chi Qinlin has always disliked these formal banquets, so he came here to relax as soon as he entered the palace.
I never expected that while I was trying to be lazy, my stomach would be craving something.
Chi Qinlin was tall, and when he stood up, he bent his knees and leaned forward.
Huo Qinghe had just turned around when a gust of wind billowed her dress. She calmly lowered her head and raised her hand to brush it off, her gentle profile flashing by.
A gentle breeze seemed to steal away Chi Qinlin's heart as well.
What exactly did she see? Was it the pale peony in her hair, the skirt fluttering in the wind, or simply her gentle, helpless smile as she lowered her head to stroke the hem of her skirt?
Chi Qinlin had an older sister, Consort Chi, and had witnessed her beauty since childhood. He also knew how beautiful all the sisters in his clan were. Even when he was away on military campaigns, he could remain unfazed and walk away from the beauties presented to him by his subordinates...
But in that very second, Chi Qinlin was genuinely distracted.
This is what true beauty looks like.
It took Chi Qinlin a long time to come back to his senses; the voices of the two people from before still seemed to echo in his ears.
He heard her call another person "Lu Xiaoyi," but he didn't know her identity...
In the end, they were all the emperor's concubines.
Chi Qinlin withdrew his gaze and sat casually on the artificial hill, but his mind was still not completely at ease.
When people are young, they admire their parents; when they are lustful, they admire young women.
Chi Qinlin was indeed momentarily captivated by the beauty, but it was only a fleeting encounter, and he would soon forget about her.
He threw a punch into the air, sending gusts of wind through the air.
"Oh my lord, what are you doing here? I've been looking for you everywhere. Her Highness the Imperial Concubine is looking for you. It's almost time for the Emperor and Empress to present their gifts in the main hall..."
Chi Qinlin immediately raised his hand and covered the little eunuch's mouth, lest Lu Xiaoyi below hear it.
As a man from outside the palace, he found it inconvenient to meet the concubines in the inner palace.
That's why he hasn't spoken up.
However, Chi Qinlin returned to the main hall too late; the birthday gifts presented by the Emperor and Empress had already been given.
He had returned secretly, but the officials above him were sharp-eyed and gave him instructions.
"Where has Yu Lin gone again? Is he late, or is he afraid to see Consort Chi?"
Judging from the tone of the official's voice, he must be in a good mood.
Consort Chi sat opposite him, and glared at Chi Qinlin as soon as he sat down.
Hearing the emperor's teasing voice, she twitched her lips and didn't really want to speak up for her brother: "General Yulin is unruly, Your Majesty should punish him properly."
Pei Yuanhui smiled faintly upon hearing this: "Punishing him with wine is also a reward. Today is the Empress Dowager's birthday, so punish him by having him present a birthday poem at this moment."
Chi Qinlin loved martial arts and was relatively good at studying, but what he feared most was writing poetry and prose, which was a real punishment for him.
He wasn't shy at all, and without hesitation, he recited a simple and easy-to-understand birthday greeting, which immediately made everyone in the room burst into laughter.
Chi Qinlin was dressed in red today, looking every bit the dashing young man.
As he sat down, he subconsciously glanced across the table, but saw several empty seats, so the person hadn't returned yet.
"I was momentarily blinded by the locust blossoms behind the Chuigong Hall, which is why I am late. You can only blame the people in the greenhouse for taking such good care of the locust trees."
"Your Majesty, don't listen to his nonsense. I think he's becoming more and more unruly. He even dares to talk nonsense in front of Your Majesty."
Previously, Chi Qinlin's poem had amused Consort Chi, so now, when she spoke of Chi Qinlin, it sounded like she was scolding him.
Upon hearing Chi Qinlin mention locust flowers, two people in the hall stirred.
Consort Xie glanced to the side and back first, but that spot was empty at the moment, and she didn't know where it had gone.
The other one is Pei Yuanhui, who sits at the head of the table.
After Chi Qinlin finished speaking, he glanced at the concubines' seats.
Everyone assumed he was looking at Consort Chi who was speaking, and most of them felt envious.
However, Pei Yuanhui only saw empty seats when he looked over.
He withdrew his gaze without showing any emotion, but whenever he listened to people talking, he would occasionally glance at the empty seat.
Huo Qinghe should have returned quite early, but she was bumped into by a palace maid on the way, and her arms were covered in cakes.
The clothes were one thing, but Huo Qinghe was genuinely heartbroken over the cakes.
She didn't blame the palace maid, but she also didn't interfere much with the aftermath of the cakes. She went to change her clothes first.
Fortunately, I brought a change of clothes with me when I went out today.
However, as soon as she came out of the changing room, she ran into Huo Yiyun, who had been sitting outside for who knows how long.
Today, Green Locust and Green Cloud accompanied Huo Qinghe. Green Locust helped Huo Qinghe change her clothes inside, while Green Cloud stood guard outside.
However, Green Cloud was standing silently to the side at that moment.
Huo Qinghe paused slightly, then quickly stepped forward: "Sister, are you here to change clothes too? Then wait for me, sister."
She curtsied.
Huo Yiyun didn't move at all: "When I was under house arrest, you seemed to be living quite comfortably."
Her words were clearly laced with anger, especially given Huo Yiyun's scrutinizing gaze.
That would make people feel even more uncomfortable.
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