Chapter 265 Wei Yanwan 5
Hongli searched his mind for a moment and finally recalled that this passage did exist. A slight smile appeared on his face. "Are you so obedient to me?"
"This is my duty. Moreover, the Emperor is my master. When the master gives orders, I should do my best."
"Very good. I like obedient servants." Hongli took a step forward with a hint of ambiguity. The distance between them instantly shortened, and they could almost feel each other's breaths intertwining. "We've been talking for so long, and I still haven't asked your name."
Yan Wan had no choice but to slowly move back, bit by bit, while still answering Hong Li's words: "My name is Yan Wan, and I am a graceful girl. Yan Wan Ji and Jiang are my given names."
"Zhang Hua's marriage-inspiring poem from the Western Jin Dynasty? What, are you thinking of getting married too? I remember you were born into the Plain Yellow Banner, so you planned to spend your whole life in the palace, and when you're old and your looks have faded, you can leave the palace and marry anyone you want?"
"Although I am from the Zhenghuang Banner, my father is gone and my brothers are not very ambitious. I can't really be considered a good family. Being able to stay in the palace is already very good."
"The status of one's family does not depend on what their elders have left behind; it should be earned through one's own efforts. I remember a line from a poem: 'Joy in the present and the past, in the gentle and beautiful times.' I give it to you today."
Hongli saw Yanwan, who had finally taken a small step, suddenly stop. Her gentle and affectionate eyes now widened like apricot blossoms. "This poem... how could this servant have deserved it?"
Hongli was reciting two lines from Su Wu's "Farewell to My Wife," a poem from the Western Han Dynasty. These two lines might not be well known to others, but the two lines above them, "We have been married since birth, and our love for each other is undoubted," are certainly very familiar to everyone.
However, Hongli said this sentence at this time to tease the palace maid, and also out of his nostalgia for Ruyi.
But as a little maid at the bottom of the deep palace, how could I know the love-hate relationship between you, Your Majesty, and that concubine in the cold palace? Naturally, I looked at you with fear and disbelief.
Wei Yanwan suppressed her goosebumps and squeezed out two tears that were about to fall towards Hongli's shiny forehead. However, she didn't look timid or annoying, but rather like a frightened rabbit, pitiful and adorable.
Hongli twirled his index finger, not only feeling more satisfied with her appearance, but also becoming interested in her literary accomplishment.
"I never take back what I have said."
After Hongli finished speaking, he took the red plum from her arms, without even looking at her reaction, turned around and left along another road.
Wei Yanwan lowered her head, her face revealing no emotion. She just silently picked up the one who was better sent away and returned to Zhongcui Palace.
…
During the New Year, because the Second Prince had passed away and the Empress had been bedridden, the palace did not dare to celebrate in a grand manner and only held banquets for a few days according to the rules.
"Brother, you look more like a big boy today after dressing up."
Yan Wan tied the purse that Concubine Chun had given him. Yong Huang glanced at it and said, "Please tie the purse embroidered with two deer eating apples on me too."
Yan Wan smiled happily and tied the indigo purse to the eldest prince's belt.
This was embroidered by her, and it was also a secret code between her and the eldest prince. In addition to the two deer, the purse also had a pair of bats embroidered on it.
If someone asked, it would naturally be a good omen of both "blessings and fortune"; even in private, the eldest prince would only say it was "two deer eating apples."
In fact, you have to look carefully to see that it means "deep love for your calf", because it is actually a female deer with a half-fed fawn.
"Brother! Brother, are you ready?"
The Third Prince, Yong Zhang, spoke with great energy, "Brother, come and play!"
"Run slower, or you might fall."
Yonghuang reached out and supported him, a friendly smile on his face: "You came here so early, have you eaten yet?"
Yong Zhang shook the hand he was holding: "Not yet, wait for big brother to use it together."
Yonghuang smiled more sincerely, shook Yongzhang's hand in return, and the two of them went to pay their respects to Concubine Chun in a friendly manner.
Wei Yanwan followed the eldest prince and entered the room. She heard Concubine Chun's happy voice: "Yonghuang, Yongzhang, come to mother quickly."
It was rare for her to be so happy, but it was no wonder. A few days ago, when Yongzhang brought Yonghuang to pay New Year's greetings to the Empress Dowager, she was very proud. The Empress Dowager even praised Yongzhang for the first time. As a mother, she was naturally proud and felt even more sincere towards her adopted son, Yonghuang.
"Your mother is coming to have dinner with us today, so if you're hungry in the afternoon, please eat less snacks, okay?"
"I understand."
Concubine Chun gave the servants another reminder before she felt relieved.
When Wei Yanwan was about to leave, Concubine Chun spoke up, "Yanwan, please wait a moment. I have something to ask of you."
"yes."
Wei Yanwan gave the eldest prince a reassuring look, turned around and stood respectfully on the ground.
Concubine Chun smiled gently and said, "Ever since you came to my Zhongcui Palace, everyone here, from top to bottom, has disliked your cooking skills."
"The dried vegetable duck you made earlier tasted just as good as the one in the imperial kitchen. This New Year, the Emperor, besides going to the Empress's residence as per custom, came to our Zhongcui Palace for the first time. I wanted to learn how to make this dish from you, so that the Emperor could understand my intentions."
Wei Yanwan naturally agreed without hesitation, with a genuine smile on her face: "Who else in this palace has such a heart for me? No wonder the emperor values me so much and specially allows you to sit in the position of the first concubine."
"Even the eldest and third princes are both filial and intelligent. This is a unique blessing in the palace."
Concubine Chun was so coaxed by her that she smiled happily and immediately asked Ke Xin to pick out a plain silver hairpin as a reward for her.
In the afternoon, Concubine Chun waited until Wei Yanwan had almost finished preparing the dried vegetable duck before she threw the ingredients and duck into the pot in order according to Yanwan's instructions. This was considered as her own cooking.
"Since Your Majesty wants His Majesty to taste the Zhongcui Palace's small kitchen, only one dry-pot duck would be inappropriate. Would you mind adding two more dishes?"
Wei Yanwan pointed, and sure enough, there were dishes on the table. Concubine Chun thought it made sense, so she asked, "Are there any fresh dishes delivered today?"
"We've just received some bamboo shoots and some excellent Xuanwei ham, and we also got a fresh leg of lamb."
"That's perfect. I'll make another dish of pickled bamboo shoots and mutton with green onions and peppers."
"Your Majesty is truly thoughtful. Eating these with a glass of light wine in winter is truly nourishing."
Wei Yanwan joked and quickly advised Concubine Chun not to stay in the small kitchen for too long: "The fumes from cooking oil are very difficult to wash off your clothes. Your Majesty, please don't let them bother you."
After hearing what she said, Concubine Chun could not stay any longer. After returning to her bedroom, she changed her clothes. Then she remembered what Yan Wan said, and she had an idea. She called Ke Xin over and asked her to get some wine.
Ke Xin was a cautious person. After receiving the order, she went to the small kitchen first. Seeing that there was a dish of lamb with green onions and peppers on the menu, she quietly replaced the wolfberry and red ginseng wine that Concubine Chun had been drinking recently with chrysanthemum wine.
At night, the round table was filled with various foods. Concubine Chun and the Emperor sat opposite each other, while the eldest prince and the third prince sat below them. They looked like a happy family of four.
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