Chapter 27 Two in One
In Chengqian Palace, a young eunuch rushed back from the Ministry of Punishment and whispered something in Li Dexian's ear. Li Dexian's face changed slightly and he entered the palace.
Walking to the dragon throne, Li Dexian whispered, "Your Majesty, the eunuch who cleaned the Thousand Carp Pond has confessed."
"Is it her?"
Li Dexian: "Yes, it is just as the emperor said."
Xie Junyao narrowed his eyes slightly: "I remember that the head of the Imperial Garden is a distant relative of Concubine Wan?"
"Yes. Does the emperor want to replace him?" Li Dexian was puzzled as to why the emperor suddenly mentioned the steward of the imperial garden.
Although the Imperial Garden Manager was ostensibly a distant relative of Concubine Wan, everyone knew that he was just someone who could be manipulated.
"No need." Xie Junyao raised his eyelids, "No rush."
Li Dexian didn't understand.
The Emperor is clearly dissatisfied with him. Why doesn't he replace him?
Li Dexian realized that he was trying to guess the emperor's thoughts. He was so frightened that he slapped himself twice. As a eunuch, he absolutely could not guess the emperor's thoughts. He just had to do whatever the emperor said.
There was a moment of silence, and then Xie Junyao suddenly said, "Find someone with good abilities to wait."
"Yes, I'll do it right away."
"Wait, come back."
Li Dexian retreated and asked: "Your Majesty, does he have any other instructions?"
"Since the head steward of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is not in charge, let's find a time to replace him."
Xie Junyao hadn't just come up with this idea on a whim. He'd had it in his head for a long time. He still remembered that one time when he returned to Changlixuan, the flowers were wilted...
"Yes. I understand."
Thinking of this, Xie Junyao began to miss the heartless guy from Chang Lixuan.
Counting the time, I haven't seen her for more than ten days.
As for why? He didn't want to admit that he was being petty.
Not only did Li Dexian eat it before him, but he also ate the cake of that heartless boy.
I waited for more than ten days for the cake, but it never came. I couldn't deny that I was a little angry, so I deliberately avoided going to see her. But she was fine! She was like nothing had happened, hanging out with Cheng Zhaorong every day.
Xie Junyao's thoughts drifted further and further away. He withdrew his thoughts.
I couldn't help but 'defend' myself.
In fact, he was not angry, nor did he care much. He just felt that the women in the harem should put themselves first.
A woman is not enough to make him angry.
Even though he was thinking this, Xie Junyao asked, "What are my plans for tonight?"
"Your Majesty, you will be dining with the Imperial Concubine tonight."
Xie Junyao then remembered that he was already eighteen today.
Staying in Changlixuan for half an hour, and going back and forth for half an hour, is enough.
"That's enough."
"Enough?" Li Dexian asked. Enough of what? Enough of what? Had he said too much?
Before I could figure it out, the emperor stood up.
He followed behind, wondering what the words "enough" meant.
After pondering all the way, I finally arrived at Changlixuan.
Li Dexian finally figured out what the emperor meant: time is enough! He was so smart.
When Xie Junyao arrived at Changlixuan, Wen Wanyu was still taking a nap.
After waiting for nearly a quarter of an hour, seeing that she still showed no signs of waking up, Xie Junyao became anxious and walked over, sat down beside the bed, and pinched her nose.
Wen Wanyu couldn't breathe in his sleep and woke up from the suffocation.
He opened his eyes and saw a figure. Before his mind was clear, he spoke first: "Your Majesty? Why are you here?"
Xie Junyao snorted: "I can't come?"
What a sick person! Wen Wanyu cursed in her heart.
Disturbing someone's sleep is a capital crime.
"Your Majesty, have you been busy these days?"
"not busy."
Wen Wanyu took a moment to calm down, then sat up and leaned against Xie Junyao.
Xie Junyao deliberately avoided touching her and put his hands behind his back.
Wen Wanyu looked up at him, then pursed her lips, looking like a spoiled child, "Then why haven't you come to Changlixuan recently?"
The distance between them was very close, his chin was almost touching her head. If he lowered his head slightly, he could clearly see her eyelashes as thick as a palm-leaf fan and her eyes as clear as amber.
After a long time, Xie Junyao was the first to look away. He was afraid that something else would happen if he continued to look.
"If I hadn't come to Changlixuan, you wouldn't have come to Chengqian Palace."
The implication is: Can't you be more proactive?
Wen Wanyu curled her lips into a smile. She leaned forward, her breath softly caressing his face, filling Xie Junyao's nostrils with her delicate fragrance.
Xie Junyao was waiting for her answer, for example: I know I was wrong, I will know better next time.
But, it is: "I dare not."
Xie Junyao's face turned dark and he looked stupid.
"What are you afraid of?"
...What are you afraid of? Doesn't he know? Wen Wanyu just felt that he had suddenly become as annoying as a child, so she could only agree for the time being, "I was just talking nonsense, I will remember it."
In order to stop him from continuing the previous topic, Wen Wanyu quickly changed the subject, "Your Majesty, will you stay and have dinner with me?"
Wen Wanyu looked at him expectantly, but Xie Junyao didn't say anything.
From his silence, Wen Wanyu knew that he was just bored and wanted to "tease" her.
I already had an appointment with a beautiful woman in the evening.
Dark eyes stared straight at her, their deep irises illuminating her features.
"Not today. I...have to dine with Concubine Zhengui."
"Okay, I understand." Wen Wanyu replied with a smile.
Xie Junyao tried hard to find a trace of unhappiness on her face, but there was none.
An inexplicable irritation rose in his heart. She nodded so obediently and happily, he should be happy and relieved.
There is a gentle touch between the eyebrows.
She was trying to smooth out the furrows between his brows.
The tone of her words was like a reproach: "Your Majesty, why are you frowning again?"
Xie Junyao snorted and laughed: "You don't make me frown? There are a lot of troubles in the court. You don't make me worry either."
"I'm not obedient?" Wen Wanyu raised her voice, her round eyes seemed to be wide open.
It's both unbelievable and incomprehensible.
"I am the most obedient one. Okay?" OK?
Xie Junyao burst out laughing.
"I can't dine with you. Aren't you disappointed?"
"I'm not disappointed! Your Majesty must have told you long ago that he would be dining with Concubine Zhengui. Your Majesty was able to find time to visit me despite his busy schedule. I'm already very happy! How could I be disappointed?"
She was good at comforting people, and Xie Junyao's discomfort was also soothed by her.
I just think she is very sensible.
She could always easily make him happy and no longer upset with just a few words.
Xie Junyao wanted to stay and spend more time with her.
Finally, it was Li Dexian who reminded him three times before Xie Junyao left Changlixuan.
Walking along the long corridor, Xie Junyao sighed. He recalled the year he ascended the throne. To make amends to Concubine Zhengui, he promised her that he would go to Fuyao Palace to dine with her on the 18th of every month.
Over the years, there has never been an exception. The thought of staying in Changlixuan was fleeting.
Even after the last house arrest, Xie Junyao still went to Fuyao Palace. He was angry and disappointed, but when he thought about how much she had suffered for him, and how every time he got angry, she would take the initiative to admit her mistakes and promise that it would never happen again, Xie Junyao's heart softened again.
I don’t know since when, the 18th of every month is like the 15th of every month, as if my legs and feet are bound by rules and regulations.
In Fuyao Palace, Concubine Zhengui welcomed Xie Junyao into the house.
Perhaps because he had just come from Changlixuan, Xie Junyao was in a good mood. Unlike his usual aloofness, Zhengui Fei didn't know the reason and thought it was because of her.
In Concubine Zhengui's heart, after what happened last time, the two of them had become somewhat estranged and there was a gap in their hearts.
In order to eliminate the rift in the emperor's heart, she devoted more energy and attention to Yu'er during this period, which often led to rumors about the relationship between the two of them.
She took the initiative to mention Yu'er, even the smallest details such as her three meals a day and even her daily schedule. But she didn't mention Jingshi at all, which seemed deliberate.
Xie Junyao listened quietly, occasionally interjecting.
After the meal, Xie Junyao saw the palace maid bring a bowl of black medicine. Concubine Zhengui closed her eyes and drank it all.
"Yao'er is sick?"
Concubine Zhengui shook her head and smiled shyly, "This is the medicine that the imperial physician prescribed for me to replenish my body."
Medicine that replenishes the body is a euphemism for medicine that helps with pregnancy.
Xie Junyao glanced at her and smiled faintly: "Yao'er suffered a lot when she gave birth to Jingshi. Jingshi is only three years old, so let's wait for another two years."
Concubine Zhengui was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head. Although the emperor spoke with a smile, she knew that he did not agree.
When she was pregnant with Jing Shishi, she experienced multiple unstable fetal positions, and the delivery was even more dangerous, nearly resulting in two deaths. If she could help it, she wouldn't want to give birth.
But if she waited another two years, would her favor still be the same? She was not sure.
Concubine Zhengui hesitated for a moment, then held his arm and said coquettishly, "Your Majesty, don't you want me to give you another little prince or princess?"
"Let's wait another two years. Yao'er's health is the most important thing."
Hearing this answer, Concubine Zhengui's discomfort and nervousness immediately disappeared.
Leaning on his shoulder, she said, "Then I will obey the emperor."
But she didn't see that although Xie Junyao always had a smile on his lips, there was no smile in his eyes.
If she fails to treat her children equally, takes advantage of them, and even pushes them into trouble, then she is not a qualified mother and there is no reason for her to continue giving birth.
This is just one of them.
The eldest son of the Gu family is only thirty years old, but he has already become a general of the auxiliary state. If Yan invades, if he can make meritorious deeds again, he will be promoted to a general of the cavalry.
He is only in his thirties, so you can't blame him for being suspicious.
He sighed quietly and closed his eyes, as if to wipe away the irritation in his eyes.
An idea flashed through my mind, why not...
Xie Junyao lowered his eyes, and a dark and sinister look appeared in his deep pupils.
…
On the second day, the chief judge of the Imperial Medical Service was summoned to Chengqian Palace.
"How long has Concubine Zhengui been drinking the tonic?"
The Imperial Medical Bureau's Chief Physician, He, was so nervous that he could barely speak clearly. "Your Majesty, one, one month. No, half a month."
"One month? Half a month? How long is it exactly?" Xie Junyao stared coldly.
The pressure was so strong that Doctor He didn't dare to look up. He knelt on the ground and said tremblingly, sweating profusely, "Half a month."
"I don't want Concubine Zhengui to get pregnant again, understand?"
Doctor He nodded: "I understand. I understand."
"As for Concubine Wan, you can also take care of it."
"I understand."
Xie Junyao raised his eyelids and said, "If something unexpected happens, you won't have to continue serving as the Chief Judge of the Imperial Hospital."
"I dare not, but I will do my best."
"Go down."
After leaving Chengqian Palace, Imperial Physician He looked up at the sky and sighed deeply. "I'll almost never see the sun tomorrow." He left with trembling legs. Sure enough, nothing can be hidden from the Emperor.
The day after the salary was paid, Chang Lixuan's brand new small kitchen was completed.
Others who have a little money or receive a salary will save it for emergencies.
But Wen Wanyu is different. She flaunts her little money, focusing on the Engel coefficient.
Although it is a bit painful when you spend money, as the saying goes, money is just a piece of paper before it is spent, and it becomes money only after it is spent.
Wen Wanyu gathered the servants in the small kitchen.
He casually said a few words.
Let’s start the main task - making vegetable and fruit chips and boiling peach jam.
She personally demonstrated it to her servants. Her hometown is a culinary oasis. Because she loves to eat, she knows how to cook many delicious dishes.
Many ancient delicacies are not available today. Similarly, many modern delicacies were not available in ancient times.
Scarcity makes things valuable. Anything new and unusual can create a buzz among the crowd. People are very curious.
"You're all familiar with dried fruits, right?"
Every year, the imperial kitchen would make a small amount of dried fruit, but few people could accept it.
"What about the vegetable chips?"
The servants all shook their heads. They seemed to have never heard of vegetable and fruit chips.
Wen Wanyu smiled: "Then I will teach you how to make vegetable and fruit chips today——"
"First, wash and core the apples. Add a little more water to a large bowl and cut them into thin slices. Add a small spoonful of salt and stir until dissolved. Soak the sliced apples in the water to prevent them from turning black..."
"Try it."
Qingdai exclaimed: "It's so delicious! The young lady is so amazing."
Siyun asked, "How did you know about this practice?"
Wen Wanyu: “Uh…”
“I learned it before.”
To prevent them from getting to the bottom of the matter, Wen Wanyu quickly changed the subject: "All fruit and vegetable chips can be made using this method. Don't forget it."
Bai Su: "Yes."
Leaning close to her ear, he asked somewhat embarrassedly, "Young Master, aren't you going to send some to the Emperor?"
Bai Su's words reminded Wen Wanyu of the Emperor. She held her chin and thought.
This man was very annoying. A few days ago, he told her, "If I don't come to Changlixuan, you won't come to Chengqian Palace." But countless eyes were staring at Chengqian Palace. Wouldn't it be like walking into a trap if she went there?
After weighing the pros and cons, Wen Wanyu decided to go to Chengqian Palace.
"Please prepare some. I'll send it to Chengqian Palace later."
Bai Su responded with great joy, and accidentally said what was in his heart: "My lady, you have finally learned how to compete for favor."
"What?" Wen Wanyu was speechless.
"The other ladies send things to Chengqian Palace every day. It's either chicken soup or snacks..."
Well, no wonder the emperor went crazy that day. It turns out everyone was working so hard, secretly making progress behind her back!
Wen Wanyu turned his back to Bai Su and said, "Let's talk about this in private."
————
P.S. This book may be different from other books. Concubines can use their own allowances to set up their own small kitchens in the palace. They don't need the emperor or empress's permission. Before Wanwan entered the palace, her family gave her a lot of money. [Why is this writing like a food article? 2333]
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