"Fire, hot pot?"
Jian Yang nodded and said, "That's right. I just drew up some blueprints a few days ago and had the palace craftsmen make a hot pot with two broths. Since you're already here, let's eat together. By the way, can Consort Xian eat spicy food?"
After spending so much time together, Jian Yang had already included Consort Xian in her own circle, so she no longer needed to put on airs like an empress when she spoke.
Consort Xian shook her head: "Not really, but eating a little won't hurt."
Jian Yang then looked at the emperor: "Where is the emperor?"
The emperor said quietly, "You make the arrangements."
Jian Yang made the decision: "Okay, it's a hot pot with two broths anyway, one spicy and one bone broth. If you can't eat spicy food, you can use the bone broth."
Half an hour later, a double-sided hot pot was placed on a small red clay stove, with various ingredients being cooked in the two-colored broth.
Jian Yang used serving chopsticks to place a dish of vegetables and meat on the plate for the Emperor and Consort Xian, and warmly invited them: "Try it, you can dip it in the sauce dish in front of you."
The two tried it according to Professor Jian Yang's method and both praised it, saying, "It tastes good."
Jian Yang said happily, "That's right, there's nothing that a hot pot meal can't solve, and if one isn't enough, we'll have two."
The other two naturally couldn't understand what she was saying.
Consort Xian had a small appetite; after a few bites, she put down her chopsticks and smiled, "Your Majesty, being of noble birth, how come you are so skilled in cooking?"
In this era where gentlemen keep their distance from the kitchen, young ladies from wealthy families naturally wouldn't learn to cook; at most, they might learn to make soup to appear virtuous.
Before Jian Yang could answer, the emperor suddenly grabbed her chin, turned her face towards him, and picked up a handkerchief from the table to carefully wipe the sauce from the corner of her mouth.
"Eat slowly, little kitten."
Jian Yang blushed deeply.
The two men's actions not only stung Consort Xian's eyes but also her heart.
Didn't the emperor personally catch them in the act? Why did it turn into the two of them showing affection in front of her?
The scene was too jarring, and Consort Xian, no longer concerned about why Jian Yang knew how to cook, quickly made an excuse to take her leave.
Jian Yang was completely unaware of the scheming thoughts in Consort Xian's mind. After a brief blush, she continued to happily enjoy her hot pot.
At this moment, she finally began to appreciate some of the advantages of being the woman of a powerful figure.
Killing cattle was illegal in this era, but if the emperor wanted to eat beef, it only took a word.
Otherwise, how could she be able to eat such tender and delicious beef to her heart's content like she is now?
Upon returning to the palace, Consort Xian picked up a pair of scissors and cut up the nearly completed embroidery of mandarin ducks playing in the water.
Yi Cui was horrified when she saw this and rushed to save her, but she was still cut in half by Consort Xian.
"Your Majesty, this is a pillowcase you painstakingly embroidered for the Emperor. Why do you suddenly want to destroy it?" Yi Cui held the broken embroidery, her eyes filled with heartache.
Consort Xian smiled wryly and said, "His Majesty doesn't like these things. I'm just trying to get his attention by offering them up."
Yi Cui said, "Whatever His Majesty likes, Your Highness can learn it. How could that be disliked?"
Consort Xian said coldly, "But I don't want to go into the kitchen, and I hate cooking fumes even more."
He also disliked women who used their culinary skills to please the emperor.
Yi Cui was puzzled, but still comforted her, saying, "It is said that a gentleman stays away from the kitchen. Since Your Highness dislikes it, then we will not enter the kitchen again from now on."
Consort Xian curled her lips into a smile: "Yes, if you dislike someone, it's best to stay away from them."
From that day on, Consort Xian's visits to Weiyang Palace decreased significantly.
Fortunately, Jian Yang was easygoing and assumed that Consort Xian had been busy lately, so she didn't ask any further questions.
After the Spring Equinox, the weather gets warmer day by day.
That day, Jian Yang had just finished lunch and was dozing off when the nanny from Fuxi Palace brought the imperial physician to take her pulse.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," the nanny said respectfully. "The Empress Dowager has been concerned about Your Majesty's health and has specially sent Physician Hu to treat you."
Jian Yang obediently offered her wrist.
She had eaten too many carbohydrates at lunch, and now her mind was foggy, and she felt like she had forgotten something important.
By the time the imperial physician finished examining her pulse, she could no longer recall what she had forgotten.
Jian Yang has never been one to fight against herself. Since she couldn't remember, she simply stopped thinking about it. Taking a nap was the most important thing right now.
After leaving Weiyang Palace, the imperial physician returned to Fuxi Palace with Granny Qin to report back.
At this moment, the young palace maids of Fuxi Palace were massaging the Empress Dowager's legs.
After Physician Hu finished his greetings, the Empress Dowager asked with concern, "Physician Hu, the Empress is in poor health. Have you prescribed any medicine to help her recover?"
Physician Hu respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress is in good health and does not require any tonics or treatments."
The Empress Dowager looked puzzled. "Nonsense! The Empress has been poisoned several times, damaging her very health. How could she possibly be healthy?"
Physician Hu said solemnly, "Your Majesty, it seems that Her Majesty the Empress has recovered and will have no problem conceiving and bearing children to continue the royal line."
The Empress's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this.
Is this really true?
"Absolutely true."
The Empress Dowager immediately stood up, smiling kindly and gently: "Granny Qin, come with me to Weiyang Palace again."
Poor Jian Yang had just fallen asleep when Lian Xia woke her up again.
She was just about to vent her morning grumpiness when she heard Lianxia say, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has arrived."
Jian Yang reflexively rolled over and sat up, "Quick, quick, help me comb my hair."
A moment later, Jian Yang saw the Empress Dowager, who was beaming from ear to ear.
She suddenly had a bad feeling.
"You child," the Empress Dowager stepped forward and patted Jian Yang's head, "I told you long ago, you are a blessed person!"
Jian Yang: "???"
When did you say that? She has no recollection of it at all.
The Empress Dowager continued, "The imperial physicians have already told me that your health has greatly improved. You should take advantage of your youth and produce offspring for the royal family; that is the most important thing."
Jian Yang is heartbroken.
At this moment, she finally remembered what she had forgotten before her afternoon nap.
She forgot to feign illness in front of the imperial physician!
This is it, we're doomed.
The Empress Dowager was overjoyed and said with a smile, "Empress, putting aside our status, we are both women. I must give you some advice: take advantage of the Emperor's current favor and quickly give birth to an imperial heir. If your beauty fades and the Emperor's love diminishes in the future, you will have a guarantee."
"Mother..."
The Empress Dowager didn't give her a chance to speak, interrupting her and saying, "Even if the Emperor only favors you from now on, you still have to take on the responsibility of ensuring the continuation of the royal family's lineage."
"But……"
"From this day forward, I will have Qin Mama send you some tonics to strengthen your body and replenish your vital energy every day. Your Majesty, you must hurry up. I don't have many years left to live, and now my only wish is to hold my grandson."
As she spoke, the Empress Dowager, who had been laughing heartily, suddenly began wiping away tears again.
Jian Yang: "..."
Well, here comes the moral blackmail again.
The Empress Dowager was a woman of action; when she said she wanted to send some tonics, she immediately had Granny Qin send over a large bowl that very day.
Jian Yang looked at the bowl of dark, murky medicine and felt utterly helpless and on the verge of tears.
I can't live like this anymore!
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