Well, does Her Majesty mean she wants these young ladies to stay for lunch?
Li Chenjiao was about to stand up, but then she silently sat back down.
Since the Empress summoned her to take the lead, it must be because she would wait until the other girls outside had left before asking Li Chenjiao to go out and question her.
The girls outside are staying for lunch, so Li Chenjiao won't be able to leave anytime soon.
Sure enough, a maidservant soon asked Li Chenjiao to wait a moment, saying that when it was time to eat, the concubine would be invited to dine.
Li Chenjiao pondered the meaning of these words for a moment, then smiled and agreed.
Then let's wait and see.
Just then, Consort De spoke up again, instructing the young ladies to each order a dish they liked to eat at home, and the kitchen was to prepare them all at once.
Now Li Chenjiao understood why Consort De had kept these people for the meal.
While food may not be the most important thing, it is certainly better if you share similar tastes in daily life.
Li Chenjiao, for example, figured out the Fourth Prince's tastes and preferences in a day or two. Her tastes were not exactly the same as the Fourth Prince's, but she would indeed cater to his tastes while subtly adding her own favorite foods.
Consort De is indeed still Consort De.
After a while, Granny Zhao came in again.
By now, the young ladies outside had all gone to the side hall. Each of them had entered the palace alone, with their servants waiting outside.
"Her Majesty said that Consort Consort has just arrived and must be tired. Why don't you go outside and have a cup of honey soup to soothe your nerves?" Granny Zhao said with a smile.
"Just arrived"?
Li Chenjiao's eyes flickered slightly, and she naturally took over the conversation: "Yes, I heard it was quite lively inside the palace when I was outside. I was afraid that my arrival would disturb Your Majesty's peace and quiet."
This time, Granny Zhao didn't keep her in suspense any longer. She waited for Li Chenjiao to get up and walk towards the outer hall with her: "The Thirteenth Prince has reached the age to marry. His Majesty has instructed His Highness to keep a close eye on the eligible young ladies from each family. Today, all the young ladies who have come are of eligible age."
Li Chenjiao blinked, a little confused.
Well, she and Granny Lin have both forgotten about the thirteenth prince who came before the fourteenth prince.
Just moments ago, Li Chenjiao had been thinking that the Zhaojia woman outside might be a good match for the Fourteenth Prince, but she suddenly felt a little guilty.
Upon arriving at the outer hall, only Consort De and the palace maids standing inside remained. It was midday and hot, and the palace maids were quietly lowering the beaded curtain in front of the diamond-shaped window when another maid brought in a bowl of lotus flowers.
Consort De was sitting upright at the head of the table, removing her armor. She would no longer need to wear the armor when it was time to eat.
Li Chenjiao stepped forward and bowed.
Consort De raised her eyes slightly: "Good child, I've kept you waiting."
Li Chenjiao naturally dared not accept this, and after declining several times, she finally sat down.
"It's hot lately, how has the fourth prince's appetite been?" Consort De asked with concern.
The last time the Fourth Prince came to the East Courtyard was a few days ago when he came to tell Consort De about summoning her to the palace.
Li Chenjiao thought carefully about the Fourth Master's appetite that day: "It's hot today, so the Master's appetite is not as good as it is in spring, but the kitchen staff's cooking skills are superb, and he still finished a bowl of rice."
In reality, it was probably because the errands outside were over. That day, the Fourth Master ate two bowls of rice at her place, and even drank half a bowl more of the vegetarian soup than usual.
Later, she even followed Li Chenjiao to the corridor to digest her food.
However, Li Chenjiao still tried to save face for the Fourth Prince in front of Consort De.
Let's save face for the Fourth Prince. He probably won't eat two bowls of rice in front of Consort De.
Consort De's eyes crinkled with laughter upon hearing this: "You've tasted the cooking from my little kitchen a few times, so why don't you order a dish and see if it suits your taste?"
Well, it seems that Consort De first gave the young ladies some questions and then came to test her.
Li Chenjiao immediately sat up straight. She hesitated for a couple of seconds and said, "It's so hot today, so please trouble Your Majesty's small kitchen to make a chicken noodle dish."
Strictly speaking, it should be called shredded chicken cold noodles. Apart from Master Guo in the mansion making this dish well, Qiao Niang in Li Chenjiao's small kitchen makes it with a perfect balance of sweet and spicy. In any case, Li Chenjiao has been enjoying it lately.
Fourth Master loves shredded chicken noodles, but he prefers soup noodles even more. However, he will also "graciously" eat some cold shredded chicken noodles in the summer.
Upon hearing this, Consort De's smile deepened. Zhao, the old nanny behind her, waved to the maid to go to the small kitchen to deliver the message.
The palace maids were already setting out the meal at the dining table behind the screen in the outer hall.
The palace of Consort De was divided by screens and curtains.
The girls were probably still discussing something in the side hall. Li Chenjiao had drunk two or three cups of tea in the inner hall in the middle of the day. She sat for a while before standing up and saying she was going to change her clothes.
The changing room is located next to the side hall.
Li Chenjiao and Granny Lin came out of the main hall and vaguely heard the voices of the girls in the side hall.
She didn't linger and went straight to change her clothes, while Granny Lin waited outside.
When Li Chenjiao came out, she wiped her hands with a handkerchief, and her hands still had a faint floral fragrance.
The water used for handwashing in the Empress's palace smelled wonderful, though I don't know what was added to it.
The sun shone brightly through the covered walkway, but it didn't reach people. The handkerchief was slightly damp from the water, and Li Chenjiao skillfully tucked it into Granny Lin's sleeve.
The handkerchief was already folded and stuffed into Lin Mama's arms. It was hot today, and Lin Mama smiled, looking at Li Chenjiao as if she were looking at the Second Princess.
As Li Chenjiao walked towards the main hall, she suddenly heard a startled exclamation. The sound was somewhat abrupt, and it seemed to be deliberately suppressed afterward.
A sweet fragrance wafted into her nose, and before her eyes, a handkerchief embroidered with summer lotus flowers came into view. The handkerchief fluttered in the air and finally landed at Li Chenjiao's feet.
Granny Lin did not act immediately.
Li Chenjiao also looked at the opposite side first. Judging from the figure and clothing, she was probably one of the six girls from before. Li Chenjiao didn't know which one it was, and her lowered hand twitched slightly.
Only then did Granny Lin step forward, pick up the handkerchief, and hand it to her.
The girl was rather thin, dressed in a simple and elegant dark blue qipao. She had a small, palm-sized face and watery, grape-like eyes. At this moment, she seemed somewhat flustered, her lips tightly pursed.
They look like they're easy to bully.
After taking the handkerchief, she quickly bowed and thanked him, saying, "Thank you, thank you."
Li Chenjiao politely nodded in return, but since the person opposite her was a candidate for the imperial concubine examination, it would be somewhat impolite for Li Chenjiao to return the greeting.
Li Chenjiao continued walking towards the main hall, and as she passed her, she nodded politely again, thus fulfilling her proper etiquette.
Before entering the main hall, Li Chenjiao asked, "Is that Zhaojia?"
Lin Mama helped her up, saying, "It does look like it."
Li Chenjiao sighed, "Like a little lamb..."
And the Fourteenth Prince... No, no, I really shouldn't read too many storybooks.
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