When Yan Shu arrived, Concubine Zhou's chestnut cakes had already been placed on the kang table in the study.
She took a quick look and saw that the lid of the food box had not been opened yet, and there were no bowls or plates in front of the emperor. She thought he had not had time to eat yet, so she quietly put it aside.
Concubine Zhou asked her with a look of disgust, "Why is Li Guiyi here?"
She had just spent a long time trying to enter the study under the banner of the empress dowager, so why did this bitch ask her to come in as soon as he informed the emperor?
Yan Shu hurriedly bowed to the emperor and her, and said, "I just picked up a turban in the palace. It seems to be your majesty's, so I quickly sent it to your majesty."
Then she presented a purple turban that she had just picked up from the palace.
Tsk, this color, you can tell at a glance that it is not for men.
But Yan Shu had no choice. She was in a hurry to save the emperor. How could she have the time to be picky?
Concubine Zhou thought that she was here to show off to her that the emperor stayed at her place again last night. Her eyes were almost emitting sparks.
However, the emperor did not expose her. He hummed and put away the rope.
Yan Shu was certain in her heart and said casually, "By the way, Your Majesty, you had persimmon cake for breakfast today. The imperial physician has instructed that you must remember to eat chestnuts, otherwise the two substances will conflict and cause abdominal pain."
[Emperor, I can only help you this way. The chestnut cake contains the love-locking powder. Other men will have sexual problems after eating it, but you will have menstrual disorders and become obsessed if you eat it! ]
Yuwen Lan secretly choked.
He had already known from Concubine Zhou's voice that something was wrong.
But he didn't know that it could be such a vicious thing?
Was it true or not?
How did she know so much? She even knew what would happen to him after eating it?
On the side, Concubine Zhou's face was about to turn green. What she brought today was chestnut cake. What did this jerk mean?
She said, "You will fast for three days starting today. The Queen Mother was worried that Your Majesty would be hungry, so she asked me to send you chestnut cake. I have never heard that chestnut cake and persimmon cake are incompatible."
As she spoke, she threw a threatening look at Yan Shu.
Jerk, if you dare to ruin her good deeds again, she will tear you into pieces!
However, it was too late. The king said to Yan Shu, "I almost forgot. Fortunately
, you reminded me." Then he looked at her and said, "It's a pity that the Queen Mother is so thoughtful. I can't eat this chestnut cake today."
Concubine Zhou secretly clenched her fists, but could only smile and said, "I hope your majesty is well."
As she said that, she gritted her teeth and cursed in her heart, [Li Yanshu, you bitch, I must turn you into a human pig! ! ! ]
Human pig?
Yuwen Lan temporarily put aside his doubts about Yan Shu and said to her, "I remember that Lord Cheng'en didn't look very good a few days ago. I think he was a little deficient in blood. This chestnut cake is a good thing. Let's give it to Lord Cheng'en."
Yan Shu was stunned when she said this.
Give it to Lord Cheng'en?
This, this, this is a good idea!!!
I just don’t know if the old man can stand it?
Concubine Zhou hurriedly said, “But your majesty, this is what the Queen Mother asked me to bring to you.”
Yuwen Lan smiled and said, “Isn’t Duke Cheng’en an outsider?”
Concubine Zhou choked and said, “But in this weather, I’m afraid it will be cold if we send it over.”
Yuwen Lan looked at her and said, “I asked the guards to hurry up. Duke Cheng’en’s mansion is not far away, it won’t be cold.”
Concubine Zhou finally panicked and said repeatedly, “It’s better not to use it. It’s too troublesome. ..."
Yan Shu hurriedly added, "Your Highness is too humble. Your Majesty's gift of snacks is a great grace. I'm sure Lord Cheng'en will be grateful and honored."
After he finished speaking, Yuwen Lan nodded and directly ordered Fu Hai, "Tell someone to deliver the chestnut cakes that Your Highness brought to Lord Cheng'en. Remember to hurry and don't let the snacks get cold."
Fu Hai hurriedly agreed, took the food box and went out to find someone.
Noble Concubine Zhou could only suppress her anger and said, "I thank Your Majesty for your grace on behalf of my father. I will not disturb Your Majesty and will take my leave first."
After she finished speaking, she left in a hurry.
Yuwen Lan looked at Yan Shu, thinking about how to ask her, but she hurriedly said, "I will not disturb Your Majesty, I will take my leave first."
I hurried back to eat the melon and see what the old man Cheng En looked like after eating the chestnut cake!
Then he left the palace.
Yuwen Lan, "..."
She said... eat melon?
I still remember that she seemed to say so the night before.
What exactly is this melon?
~~
But Concubine Zhou Guifei hurried back to Zhongcui Palace and immediately ordered the eunuch Zhou Laishun, "Hurry up and send someone to Cheng Engong's mansion to tell my father not to eat the chestnut cake!"
Zhou Laishun agreed and hurried out to find someone.
However, she was still a step late. When she delivered the letter, Cheng Engong had already been flattered and happily ate two.
Tsk, this is a gift from heaven, a great favor from heaven!!!
Concubine Zhou suffered for an hour, and at noon, she saw Zhou Laishun coming back to report the news.
"Your Majesty, when our people arrived, the prince had already eaten half of the chestnut cake..."
What!
Concubine Zhou asked immediately, "Then how is my father?"
"This..."
Zhou Laishun blushed, so he had to lean close to her ear and whispered something. Concubine
Zhou was so angry that she smashed the glazed plum vase at hand. Zhou Laishun
comforted her, "Your Majesty, don't worry. Fortunately, the doctor went in time and has given the prince medicine. He should be fine after a few days of rest." Concubine Zhou gritted her teeth
and said, "Li Yanshu!"
If she hadn't interfered today, how could the current situation be like this?
Her father was suffering outside the palace, but she herself had no way to express her suffering!
But before she finished speaking, a palace maid came outside the door and reported, "Your Majesty, Eunuch Fu from Qianming Palace is here."
Fu Hai is here?
Concubine Zhou's heart tightened.
Fu Hai had never been to Zhongcui Palace before. Could it be that... the emperor had noticed something and came to ask her for punishment?
Although she felt extremely guilty, she couldn't avoid seeing him. She had to quickly put on a calm expression, tidy up her clothes, and said, "Please come in."
The palace maid outside the door hurriedly responded and lifted the cotton curtain, and then she saw Fu Hai, dressed in a long robe, coming in with a scroll in his hand.
The moment he stepped into the palace, Fu Hai saw the broken vase on the ground. He pretended to be stupid and shouted, "Which servant made a mistake and let the Concubine break such a good vase?"
Concubine Zhou felt better and smiled, "Isn't it that clumsy Xiuyun? I will punish her to sweep the yard later. What is the purpose of Eunuch Fu's visit?" Fu Hai hurriedly
presented the scroll in his hand and said, "I am here to give this to the Concubine on the order of His Majesty. His Majesty said that the Concubine must hang it in the palace and examine it carefully."
Scroll?
Concubine Zhou was stunned.
This was the first time His Majesty gave her something.
I heard that the late emperor gave the concubines palace training maps at the end of each year to show his appreciation. Could this be it?
She was delighted, and her anger just now disappeared immediately. She smiled and said, "Thank you for the gift, Your Majesty. I will read it carefully."
After she finished speaking, she asked someone to give Fu Hai a gift.
Fu Hai thanked him and left, thinking that he had to leave quickly, so as not to be affected by the fire at the city gate.
As soon as Fu Hai left the door, Concubine An, who had heard the news, came right after him.
Looking at the scroll on the table, she said with envy, "Is this the Palace Training Map? Your Highness is the first to receive this item after the current emperor ascended the throne, which shows your position in his heart." Concubine
Zhou's heart was already in heaven, and she said proudly, "I am the head of the harem, so of course your highness will give it to me first."
"Of course."
Anpin nodded in agreement, and then asked curiously, "But I don't know which allusion your highness gave it to you? Please ask your highness to open my eyes."
Concubine Zhou also wanted to know, so she ordered the maid, "Open the scroll."
The maid agreed and hurriedly did it carefully.
Anpin hurried forward, but was stunned.
It turned out that it was not a picture at all, but two lines of poetry -
"Those who do ten evil deeds will receive evil rewards; those who do ten good deeds will receive good rewards."
Everyone was stunned.
Concubine Zhou was also stunned, "What does this mean? Does it mean that I have a vicious mind and will not be pardoned for ten evil deeds?"
The palace was silent for a moment, and Concubine An tried to comfort her, "Your Majesty, you think too much, this is just a poem from the past..."
"Do you think I don't know!"
Concubine Zhou gritted her teeth, but isn't this what the poem means!
"Li Yanshu is such a jerk that she allowed His Majesty to humiliate me like this. I must not let her off!"
Concubine An hurriedly advised, "Your Majesty, this matter is indeed excessive, but she is in favor now, so you'd better not anger His Majesty."
Concubine Zhou said angrily, "Then I will be pissed to death!"
And there is also the account of chestnut cakes!
After being angry for a while, she suddenly sneered at Concubine An and said, "The Queen Mother said that you are smart in front of me that day. I think I treat you well. Now you should think of a way for me to get rid of that bitch Li Yanshu?" Concubine An paused
, and did not dare to disobey for a moment, so she had to respond, "To share the worries of Your Majesty, I, Pinfei, will do my best."
...
After leaving Zhongcui Palace, Concubine An returned to her own palace with a heavy heart.
The maid Liu Di said worriedly, "What can you do if the Concubine Zhou forces you like this..."
Everyone in the palace knows that Li Guiyi is in favor now, and harming her is going against the emperor, and last time, Concubine Li was banished to the cold palace! But
Concubine An didn't let her continue, and just said, "I know what I'm doing."
Her grandfather, the Minister of Rites, is an old minister of the Queen Mother. Naturally, she has to rely on the Queen Mother in the palace. If she doesn't listen to Concubine Zhou, wouldn't it be like courting death?
Liu Di was still worried, "But if it's exposed, will she be like Concubine Li?"
At that time, Concubine Li was loyal to Concubine Ning, but when something happened, Concubine Ning pushed all the blame on Concubine Li.
Concubine An sighed, "At the critical moment, everyone would abandon the car and the marshal, but Concubine Li is stupid, I don't think I would be like her."
As she said that, she suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, who was sitting at the same table with Li Guiyi on the night of the New Year's Eve banquet?"
...
~~
At night, the Jinyiwei came to the king to report the situation in the mansion of Duke Cheng'en.
"Your Majesty, Duke Cheng'en had symptoms within half an hour after eating two chestnut cakes today. He stayed in the concubine's room for two hours. When he came out, he was already exhausted. I don't know if he can still participate in the sacrifice ceremony in Fengxian Hall on the day after the great queen."
Yuwen Lan understood.
What the stupid woman Zhou did today was enough to confiscate her property and deprive her of her title.
But today she was under the banner of the queen mother. If he wanted to investigate, the queen mother would definitely come out to defend him.
So, let it ferment for a while, and it won't be too late to settle the accounts in two days.
But at the same time, he fell into doubt again.
This matter was verified by Yan Shu again.
What kind of magical power does she have? She
can't have planted spies in Zhongcui Palace, right?
And, what exactly is the melon she mentioned?
Frowning and thinking for a while, he couldn't help but summon the eunuch Fu Bao to his side and asked, "What is Li Guiyi doing today?"
Fu Bao answered honestly, "Guiyi has not gone out since she came back to Qianming Palace except for coming to Qianming Palace today."
Yuwen Lan asked again, "Then... how is the food?"
She has been eating vegetarian food all day today, I wonder if she has mentioned delicious food?
Fu Bao said, "Guiyi's three meals today are the same as usual, but I just asked the chef to send some midnight snacks."
Midnight snack?
Yu Wenlan raised his eyebrows. Since he was not around, it would be convenient for her to have a midnight snack?
He asked curiously, "What supper?"
Fu Bao was also curious, and said, "The lady ordered some tofu, eggplant, potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc., but they are all raw."
"Raw?"
Fu Bao nodded, and added, "By the way, the lady also ordered two steamed buns." Steamed
buns?
Yu Wenlan frowned, what did she want these for?
Was she hungry?
After thinking for a while, he suddenly said, "I'm going out for a while."
Fu Bao was stunned, and was about to remind the king that it was the fasting period and he couldn't go to the harem...
But before he could open his mouth, he was stopped by a look from his master Fu Hai.
——This is the emperor, the whole world belongs to him, can't he do whatever he wants?
Fu Bao understood immediately, and hurriedly lowered his head and dared not say anything.
Fu Hai hurriedly took out the outer robe for the king to put on, and personally sent him to the door of the palace.
At this moment, the king said in a deep voice, "Keep your mouth shut."
The two hurriedly responded.
~~
It was late at night and everyone was asleep. Yuwen Lan came all the way to Ganlu Palace, but he did not see any palace guards on duty at the door of the palace.
The lights in the palace were still on. He
walked a few steps inside and smelled a faint fragrance. Looking carefully, he saw that a window in the palace was open and he could vaguely hear voices.
The further he went inside, the stronger the fragrance became.
He simply took a few steps to the steps and pushed open the door.
There was some smoke in the palace.
"These potato slices are ready, eat them quickly. Hmm, the tofu is also very tender, it would be even better with some spicy food. Oh, and some steamed bread slices, baked crispy..."
It was obviously her voice.
Yuwen Lan followed the sound and found that under the window, several people were surrounding a charcoal basket with an iron plate on top, on which something was sizzling.
The fragrance came from that.
"Your Majesty!"
Honeysuckle and the others saw him first,
and stood up in shock, their faces pale. Someone who was still frying tofu raised his head slowly and finally found him.
Yan Shu said in surprise, "Your Majesty? Why are you here?"
Why did he come?
Yuwen Lan looked at the delicacies on the iron plate. The tofu was golden, sprinkled with some red chili powder and yellow pepper powder, which looked pretty good mixed together.
There were also some potato chips, golden and greasy.
There were a few roasted soft sweet potatoes beside the charcoal cage, emitting a sweet taste...
Yuwen Lan cast his gaze towards her again, and clearly saw the remaining seasoning on her lips.
Ha, she was quite happy without him?
But after looking around, he did not find any... melons.
Winter melon, pumpkin, watermelon, squash, none of them were found in this palace.
Just as he was wondering, he heard her muttering in her heart, [Why are you looking at me like this? It's just some teppanyaki, is it illegal?]
Yuwen Lan, "..."
Yes, there is indeed no palace rule prohibiting eating midnight snacks.
And because of the vegetarian diet for these three days, many people in the palace will have extra meals at night.
But for her to do this... this is the first time Yuwen Lan has seen her do this.
He asked, "What are you doing?"
But Yan Shu smiled and said, "I'm eating Teppanyaki, Your Majesty, would you like to try it?"
Teppanyaki?
Yuwen Lan frowned. Just like this, sitting by the charcoal oven and eating it right after grilling?
He tried to ask, "Are these the only dishes? Nothing else?"
Yan Shu thought, why is this person asking this? Is he here to fish? To see if she has broken the rules and eaten meat?
She said, "Nowadays, the palace is fasting, and even the kitchen has no meat. I really only have vegetables here."
Yuwen Lan didn't know what she meant by "fishing".
But obviously this was not what he wanted to know.
So he asked again, "What fruits did you not eat?"
Fruits?
Yan Shu was even more confused.
In this season, there is nothing else to eat in the palace except oranges and apples. The few melons that are available are closely related to the Queen Mother and him. She can’t get them even if she wants to eat them!
However, she enjoyed the colored melons today.
Tsk tsk, that old playboy of Cheng Engong was tricked by his own wicked concubine. Today, he really almost died in the concubine’s bed.
This old rogue was in a state of failure. When she thought of the scene of him being carried out of bed with a crooked mouth and squinting eyes, she couldn’t help laughing to death hahahahahaha.
Yuwen Lan, "???"
The author has something to say:
A certain emperor: Damn it! Such an interesting melon was not allowed to be eaten with me! ! !
Yan Shu: ? ? ?
A certain author: Son, you have gone astray...