Chapter 1
As the saying goes, there are four great joys in life: rain after a long drought, meeting an old friend in a foreign land, the wedding night, and getting one's name on the list of successful candidates.
At this moment, Fumiuri is experiencing what is said to be the most challenging moment for both parties: the wedding night.
She wore a full set of headdress with a golden sparrow and a camellia tree, a light red wedding dress with cloud patterns, and was adorned with a dazzling array of rings. She sat in her bridal chamber, and an old woman from the palace was nagging her.
"Forgive me for being so nosy, but now that you've entered the palace, you must not act as recklessly as you do at home. Remember to pay your respects to the princess every morning and evening, and don't cling to the prince. Our Huaiwang Mansion is not like the uneducated people out there... Do you understand?"
Wen Weili shook her head lazily, wondering who this old woman was targeting, and immediately said, "Zhiyun, help me take these off my head."
The maid Zhiyun came over quickly, her face pretty, and her words were merciless, "Po Wang, please go out."
"You!" Wang Po sighed angrily, "Another vixen!" Seeing that Zhiyun was about to push her away, Wang Po walked out of the yard cursing.
While helping the young lady remove her jewelry, the maid Zhiyun asked curiously, "This isn't like your usual style. I thought you'd kick her out right away."
Wen Weili reached out and pulled off a long string of gold peanut-shaped pendants on her clothes, complaining, "Do you think I don't want to kick her out? It's just that I'm new here, so I have to be cautious and careful. I work so hard, I should have some reward tonight." After that, her big watery eyes stared at Zhiyun pitifully.
Zhiyun chuckled and did not refute the young lady's cautious words. She nodded and said, "Yes, yes, Zhiyun knows that the young lady has worked hard..." Before she finished speaking, Wen Weili showed a surprised expression.
Zhiyun smiled and shook her head, completing the second half of the sentence, "But Doctor Li also said that we can't give you extra meals at night."
"He's talking nonsense!" Wen Weili took off her hairpins and hugged Zhiyun, acting coquettishly. "Good Zhiyun, just drink some soup. The soup is all water, so it will definitely not affect the efficacy of the medicine."
"good......"
"What? Someone won't let you eat?" A gentle male voice came. It was her childhood sweetheart, the second prince of the royal family, the master of Prince Huai's Mansion, and her current husband, Duanmu Huaixin. He pushed open the door and raised an eyebrow at Wen Weili, "How can my Prince Huai's Mansion let you starve?"
Zhiyun knelt down quickly and said, "Greetings, Prince Huai."
"It's Zhiyun, go down."
Wen Weili simply took off her half-changed wedding dress and changed into a thin shirt. She sat on a stool and said lazily, "Greetings, Prince Huai. I'm not feeling well, so I'm afraid it's inconvenient for me to get up and pay my respects."
Duanmu Huaixin looked at this childhood friend who had taken refuge in his palace with amusement. Suddenly, his face turned serious and he shouted sternly, "How dare you, a concubine, see your husband and refuse to stand up to serve him. I will punish you for disrespect."
Wen Weili didn't even bother to give him a look, "Do you think I want to pay attention to you? If you have that kind of power, use it on your brothers. Don't let yourself get screwed and cry and ask my dad for help."
"Hey, Sister Wen, what are you talking about? Is it possible for me to bother Lord Wen?" Duanmu Huaixin skillfully raised a smile that could be considered silly to outsiders. "Isn't this the first time I've seen you dressed like this, Sister Wen?"
For the first time, Duanmu Huaixin looked at Wen Weili openly. Her skin was as white as snow, her eyebrows were like distant mountains, and her eyes were as clear as a mountain stream. He couldn't help but think of the natural black crystal that was once presented by a small overseas country and was regarded as a national treasure. Its luster and translucence made her beautiful face even more touching.
He paused and touched his chin as if to conceal his feelings, as if he had never seen Sister Wen with such heavy makeup since they met. However, "She looks pretty good." Duanmu Huaixin praised her half-flatteringly and half-sincerely.
Wen Weili lay down dejectedly, "What's the point of looking good? I've been suffering all day just because of you and my father's bad ideas. It's just to take a concubine, but you have to make such a big fuss."
Duanmu Huaixin smiled helplessly. Sister Wen was just like that, tough on the outside but soft on the inside. When she knew that he and Lord Wen were facing threats, she scolded them, but was the first to come up with this method to avoid disaster.
He thought about Sister Wen saying she wanted some soup, and suggested, "You can eat and drink as much as you want in the palace. I'll pay for it. How about that?"
"Wow, Xinxin, you're awesome!" Wen Weili's eyes sparkled. She stood up suddenly and patted Duanmu Huaixin on the back. "That's great! You've really made it."
Duanmu Huaixin lowered his eyes and smiled slightly, "I also have Sister Chanwen's craftsmanship, don't forget to save a portion for me."
"Yours is indispensable." Wen Weili suddenly became energetic and ran out of the room happily, "Zhiyun, Zhiyun, Xinxin said he wants some soup, hurry up and start the fire."
From outside came the maid's complaint: "Miss, you are using Prince Huai's disguise to cheat for food again. Okay, okay, I get it..."
The sound gradually faded away. Duanmu Huaixin sat down at the tea table, poured himself a cup of tea, and took a sip slowly. It was a familiar taste. He couldn't help but laugh. It was indeed Sister Wen's style. She would first arrange for food and drink before going to a place.
In the small kitchen, the chef brought by the Wen family understood their young lady's temperament very well. He prepared all kinds of ingredients and let Wen Weili cook.
It was late at night and there was no time to make porridge, and fried food was too greasy, so Wen Weili decided to cook a bowl of wontons. Today was the Spring Equinox, and the tender bamboo shoots were delicious, so why not cook a bowl of bamboo shoot and fern wontons.
She used the prepared clear ancient well water and the best white flour to make the wonton skin. She put the flour in a wooden basin, added a little salt and an egg. The egg can enhance the taste of the wonton skin.
Then add water to the basin while stirring until it becomes flocculent, then knead it into a smooth dough, put it on the chopping board, cover it with a fine cloth specially used to wrap the dough, and wait for the dough to relax.
When the dough was almost ready, Wen Weili picked up the tender bamboo shoots and bracken that she had purchased today, blanched them in hot water, added a little sauce, a dash of sesame oil and Wen's secret spices, mixed them evenly and set them aside to let them marinate. The filling was then ready.
Wontons require a lot of soup, but there was no time to make broth in the evening, so Wen Weili had to use the broth from the main kitchen temporarily. This way, there was no need to wait. Wen Weili and Zhiyun wrapped the filling in the wonton skins, pinched them into cute shapes with the corners curled up, and placed them in rows.
The broth was bubbling as Wen Weili dropped all the wontons into the water, tumbling them like plump little balls. She added a little salt and vinegar to a clean porcelain bowl, along with a few drops of sesame oil. Once the wontons were cooked, she removed them and placed them in a porcelain bowl, then poured in the broth. The aroma instantly filled the air, and everyone in the small kitchen couldn't help but gulp.
"Hehe, Zhiyun, you must be craving for some." Wen Weili looked at Zhiyun with a smirk on her face, "How about letting me eat a few?"
"But......"
"Don't say but, don't you know that guy Li Zhigu? He just can't stand seeing me eat so well. Besides, don't I know my own body?"
Seeing that Zhiyun was somewhat interested, Wen Weili quickly pretended to be pitiful, "Zhiyun, think about it, I will definitely eat with Xinxin later. It wouldn't be good if he eats and drinks at the same time, and I can only drink soup and stare blankly."
After much coaxing and deception, Zhiyun finally agreed to let Wen Weili have a small bowl of wontons in the evening. However, she bit her lip and tugged at Wen Weili's clothes, half crying, "Miss, you are the master. You can eat whenever you want. You don't have to coax Zhiyun every time."
Wen Weili quickly put down the wonton in her hand, gently rubbed Zhiyun's face, and said seriously: "I am willing to comfort you. I know that Zhiyun is doing this for my health, so I always try to find the right reasons to reassure you."
Zhiyun was so moved that her eyes were filled with tears. Wen Weili added the second half of the sentence, "But it's also very interesting to see you struggling every time I tease you." After that, she picked up the food plate and ran away.
"Miss!" Zhiyun was both angry and amused, but she still smiled quietly as she looked at Wen Weili's back as she ran away. Meeting the young lady was her lifelong blessing.
She knew that the Wen Mansion had many servants, all eager to serve the young lady, but no matter how much they tried to please her, the young lady still chose to bring her to the Huaiwang Mansion. Thinking of this, Zhiyun returned to the small kitchen with full energy. The young lady didn't like to eat with others, so she would definitely eat here often in the future, so she had to keep an eye on her.
Zhiyun did not chase after her. The moonlight was bright and the evening breeze was blowing. Wen Weili was walking slowly on the path with a lunch box in her hand. Suddenly, a white and tender little hand reached out from the side to stop her.
"Sister, are you going to deliver food to the new lady?" the unfamiliar little girl asked Wen Weili.
Wen Weili rolled her eyes and said, "Yes, what's your name, sister? Why haven't I seen you before?"
The little girl smiled shyly and said, "Sister, you are a noble woman with many things to do. I am a new maid in the palace, working in the kitchen of the main courtyard. The master sent me to ask if you would like to send some dishes tomorrow?"
"Oh, I don't know about that. I have to wait for the 'master' to reply." Wen Weili said as if she was not the master.
The little girl's smile grew even brighter. She slipped a small piece of silver to Wen Weili and pleaded, "Sister, please be more careful. Master is always strict. If there's anything wrong with the information, he'll definitely be scolded."
Wen Weili felt something was wrong, but she still pretended to want the money but was hesitant.
"Is there any inconvenience, sister?"
"I have to deliver food to the new wife, so I don't have time to help you find out."
"That's easy. I'll just wait here for a while after Sister delivers the food." Seeing Wen Weili nod, the little girl placed the silver on the food box. "Don't worry, Sister. Although the chef is strict, he also has many benefits."
Looking at Wen Weili's hurried steps as she left, the little girl nodded with satisfaction. It seemed that she was a sensible person.
Back in the room, Wen Weili couldn't help laughing. She took the wontons out of the food box while laughing. Fortunately, the weather has been warm recently, and the wontons were slightly steaming and still looked very delicious.
Duanmu Huaixin had been looking forward to Wen Weili even before she entered the room. Seeing her smile so happily, he couldn't help but ask, "Sister Wen, what makes you so happy?"
"Well, I won't tell you for now." Wen Weili placed the bowl with more wontons in front of herself and handed the second bowl with less to Duanmu Huaixin, "Here, this bowl is yours."
"Sister Wen..." Duanmu Huaixin's lips curled up into a smile, "Sister Wen, you are still like this. You must have said before that you would give me the extra bowl, right?"
Wen Weili scooped a wonton from the bowl and quickly put it into her mouth. She chewed it, swallowed it, and looked at Duanmu Huaixin innocently, "What? Did I say that in front of you? Oh, you must have remembered it wrong. Eat it quickly, or I will help you solve it." After saying that, she stared at Duanmu Huaixin with shining eyes.
Duanmu Huaixin pondered for a moment, then imitated Wen Weili's evil smile and said, "No need. I'm still confident that I can handle this."
After that, he spotted a wonton with thin skin and rich filling, and put it into his mouth with a porcelain spoon, savoring it carefully. "Mm, Sister Wen's cooking skills are as superb as ever, and it's still so delicious, especially under Sister Wen's resentful gaze, it seems even more delicious."
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