Chapter 281 Wei Yanwan 21
"Master, is this enough?"
Chunchan and Chunlei each carried a bamboo basket filled with osmanthus flowers. Lan Cui was addicted to picking them and ran a long way without returning.
Wei Yanwan took a look and nodded reluctantly: "Let's make these first. When we get back, we can make some honeyed osmanthus, some into some kinds of osmanthus cakes, and the rest into osmanthus green plum wine."
"Slurp... Master, please stop talking. I'm drooling with greed."
Chunlei is the youngest and the greediest among them. After hearing a few words from Yanwan, she couldn't wait to go back and make it.
“Puff…”
Suddenly, a muffled laugh came from behind the rockery. Chunlei raised her head alertly, raised her eyebrows, and shouted, "Who's hiding there? You're sneaking around! Come out!"
Chunchan hurriedly supported Yanwan. Her mistress was now more than six months pregnant, and she didn't dare let her get hurt.
After an unknown amount of time, the person behind the mountain finally came out. Chunlei had no choice but to apologize when she saw him. "I didn't know it was Concubine Shu here. I hope you will forgive me for my words that offended me."
Yi Huan smiled gently and waved her hand, "I was the villain to begin with. Although it wasn't intentional, I was still listening to others behind their backs. What's wrong with you being so dedicated to protecting your master? Get up."
After saying this, she sincerely apologized to Yan Wan: "I was originally taking a walk in the Imperial Garden, but when I saw someone coming, I hid myself away. I'm not good at socializing, so I was really rude just now."
"I am also impatient with this, and there is no need for this, Lady Shu."
Wei Yanwan had no problem with this love-brained girl who had no offensive power and was only immersed in her own love. To be honest, Wei Yanwan quite liked this kind of beauty who was as stable as a Capibalam and didn't cause trouble.
Since she liked him, she didn't hesitate and directly invited him to make friends: "The snacks in my palace are pretty good. Lady Shu, would you like to go to Yongshou Palace and have a seat?"
"Then I'd rather obey than be disrespectful."
Yihuan also felt that this Concubine Ling was very interesting and not as greedy as other people in the palace, so she did not refuse.
The two of them had just walked halfway when they bumped into Meipin. Yanwan turned her head to take a look and saw that Lan Cui and Meipin's Suyun were both carrying baskets.
"I happened to run into Lan Cui next to you when I passed by the Imperial Garden. She told me you wanted to make some osmanthus cakes, so she asked Su Yun to help make some. Is this enough?"
Meipin pretended to be calm, as if she was just helping out.
"That's great, thanks to you. Our Concubine Mei has been so kind to help us today. When we get to my palace later, I'll definitely prepare a wonderful osmanthus banquet to entertain you." Wei Yanwan smiled and took her arm, then said to Concubine Shu beside her, "Rui Ji can drink, but what about Yi Huan?"
“In the past, I could have a couple of drinks at home.”
Shu Guiren was initially stunned by her affectionate address, but when she came to her senses, she was attracted by her carefree and relaxed demeanor, and responded with a smile.
As soon as Yihuan reached the gate of Yongshou Palace, she was immediately drawn to the vibrant vegetation. As she crossed the threshold, the entirety of Yongshou Palace came into view.
She had only been in the palace for a short time, and this was her first time in anyone else's palace besides the Empress's. She had assumed the favored Concubine Ling's palace would be as elegant as the Empress's, at least a scene of opulence and splendor, but she hadn't expected to see such a lush, natural landscape in autumn.
Many flowers and plants that she couldn't name were still blooming lushly. The most autumn-like thing in the entire Yongshou Palace was the maple tree with intertwined branches beside the octagonal pavilion.
"It's very cold today, otherwise it would be best if the three of us could have our meal in the pavilion."
Bai Ruiji said this with regret, and asked Yanwan to add two more dishes to make up for her regret.
Yihuan also stopped there, staring at the falling yellow maple leaves in a trance. Yanwan followed her gaze and thought she also wanted to eat in the pavilion, so she smiled and coaxed her:
"It's late tonight. If you really want, let's make an appointment for a nice autumn day. I'll ask them to get some windproof curtains. Then I'll have the kitchen prepare a pot and we can eat together. That would be great."
Yihuan came to her senses and didn't refuse. Instead, she nodded and said, "Okay."
The three of them walked in together. The room was also clean and fresh, with a simple and elegant style and a rustic charm.
As soon as Ruiji entered, she skillfully took a piece of dessert and started eating. However, Yihuan was a little reserved as it was her first visit. It was not until Lan Cui brought the warm tea that she turned her attention to the room.
In a split second, Yihuan's attention was drawn to the antique display case across from her. On the center horizontal shelf was a wooden carving of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals, each the size of a finger, looking exceptionally round and strangely adorable.
There are also several flower baskets of various shapes next to it, all woven with various flowers and plants, and butterflies, crickets, dragonflies...
"Have you started learning the flute again recently?"
Yi Huan was distracted by Rui Ji's question. Following her gaze, she noticed a bamboo flute on the table next to her. Subconsciously, she asked, "Isn't Yan Wan good at playing the qin?"
"I can't say I'm a good pianist, but it's pleasant to the ears." Wei Yanwan smiled and picked up the flute, put it to her lips and played a few tunes casually, then put it down without waiting for the two to listen.
"Why don't you continue playing? I'm so engrossed in listening to it."
"The sound of the flute is too mournful. It is not advisable to listen to it before a meal, lest it upset the stomach."
Bai Ruiji stopped asking questions after hearing what she said. Yi Huan beside her sighed, "I never thought Yan Wan was so talented. She could play so many instruments and produce heavenly sounds."
"I just tend to get bored with the old and love the new when it comes to these things. Eating, drinking, and having fun—I'm all about the fun."
"Yi Huan has learned his lesson."
"If you two want to discuss the sutras and doctrines, wait until you've filled your stomachs before you do so."
Bai Ruiji pushed Yanwan, indicating that she was so hungry that her chest was sticking to her back.
"Then let's eat first."
The banquet was filled with sweet osmanthus dishes: sweet osmanthus glutinous rice with lotus root, sweet osmanthus chicken, sweet osmanthus braised pork...
With the sour, sweet and refreshing green plum and osmanthus wine, even Yihuan, who has a small appetite, couldn't help but eat too much.
When the banquet was over, I thought it was almost over. Unexpectedly, Lan Cui brought people to serve seven or eight kinds of sweet-scented osmanthus desserts.
Yihuan looked at the delicate and small cakes and couldn't help but try all of them. When she said goodbye, she took her maid to stroll around for a while to digest the food.
"I didn't expect Master Ling to be so approachable and considerate to me."
He Xi was carrying a food box. It was rare to see their master being able to talk to people other than the emperor. Even his face looked popular. She was very happy.
Yihuan glanced at the full food box, which contained the snacks that Yanwan had seen her like, and two extra bottles of honey osmanthus. As for the green plum and osmanthus wine for today, Yanwan asked a few eunuchs to bring some to her.
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