Chapter 550: Eight Treasures Salmon Soup
Half a month later, the late autumn palace banquet was held as scheduled, and the imperial garden was filled with a colorful scene of golden and fiery red.
Qin Yuwei was checking the menu for the last time, but when she saw the last line, she frowned slightly.
"Eight Treasures Salmon Soup?" Qin Yuwei looked at the palace attendant in charge, "I don't remember arranging this dish. Who allowed you to add it privately?"
The palace servant knelt down hurriedly and said that the head chef of the imperial kitchen had obtained a new recipe and was sure that it would please the emperor and the empress.
Qin Yuwei remembered that Dong Lanxin rarely ate fish and shrimp. The imperial kitchen must have known about this, so why did they suddenly add a dish like salmon soup?
Before she could ask further questions, she heard the voices of concubines talking outside the imperial garden.
The concubines arrived one after another, including Dong Lanxin, accompanied by Yan Ning and Yan Jing.
Qin Yuwei stepped forward and bowed with a smile, "Greetings to Her Majesty the Queen."
"Mother." Yan Jing leaned against Qin Yuwei and rubbed against her.
"Sister, you have worked hard in preparing for the palace banquet." Dong Lanxin smiled and pulled her up, but Qin Yuwei gave her a look without any expression.
Dong Lanxin said to the concubines behind her:
"His Majesty is still discussing matters with several court officials in the Purple Palace. He will be here soon. Sisters, please take your seats first. I have something to say to the Imperial Concubine."
She then said to Yan Ning:
"Ning'er, take sister Jing'er out to play first."
After everyone left, Qin Yuwei quietly asked Dong Lanxin, saying that the imperial kitchen had taken the initiative to add a salmon soup, which was now being prepared.
"I remember that you don't like fish and shrimp. Should I order them to cancel it now..."
"No need." Dong Lanxin opened her red lips slightly.
Qin Yuwei saw Dong Lanxin's expression and felt even more puzzled as she seemed to have known that the imperial kitchen had such an arrangement.
Dong Lanxin asked her, "I remember that His Majesty gave you a guqin named 'Luan Yin'?"
Qin Yuwei was slightly stunned by her irrelevant question, and then she nodded, saying that there was indeed such a piano.
“The hearts of people in this palace are complicated. I only regard you as my confidant, and you are the only one who can understand my thoughts.
Have you learned the song "High Mountains and Flowing Water" now?"
Qin Yuwei nodded.
"Please have someone fetch the zither. I want to hear you play a piece for today's family dinner."
"Yes, I'll ask someone to get it right away." Qin Yuwei agreed, but still a little worried.
"Empress, the salmon soup—"
Dong Lanxin suddenly raised her index finger and gently placed it on her lips.
"Don't ask anything." She looked into Qin Yuwei's eyes and said.
"Don't ask, don't think."
"Enjoy today's family dinner. I will give you a great gift."
…
As the night deepened, the palace lanterns lit up one by one, illuminating the entire imperial garden as if it were daytime.
"The Emperor has arrived——"
As Butler Zhao's voice sounded, all the concubines stood up and saluted Yan Xiuyun.
Yan Xiuyun sat down next to Dong Lanxin and announced the official start of the family dinner.
Qin Yuwei and Li Yao sat at the left and right seats respectively. Li Yao was dressed in a gorgeous crimson dress, with pearls and jade on her head. Her jewelry jingled as she walked, and it was obvious that she wanted to outshine the others.
However, Qin Yuwei, who was sitting opposite her, was wearing a light purple silk dress, like clouds and mist, but with a natural and unpretentious beauty.
Yan Jing sat obediently beside Qin Yuwei, looking around at everyone, not knowing what he was thinking.
Yan Xiuyun and Dong Lanxin spoke in turn. Li Yao, who was sitting opposite Qin Yuwei, smiled and raised his glass:
"Your Highness and I wish you good health and long life!"
All the concubines echoed and raised their glasses to celebrate, creating a lively atmosphere.
Qin Yuwei observed Yan Xiuyun's complexion, which was better than before, but fatigue could not be concealed between his brows, and although his lips had some color, it was darker red than usual.
She didn't know what method the Imperial Hospital used to temporarily suppress the toxins in Yan Xiuyun's body, but she knew that with the medical level here, it was impossible to completely cure tetanus.
I'm afraid Yan Xiuyun is now at the end of his strength.
Qin Yuwei sighed in her heart, touched Yan Jing's hair unconsciously, and a look of pity appeared in her eyes.
Qi Yan'er is now a concubine, and she raised her glass to Li Yao and said:
"We would also like to congratulate Sister Rong for giving birth to a son for His Majesty. We can now be considered to have a double blessing.
I see that the little prince has a full forehead and will become a great man in the future. I hope that the little prince will grow up healthily and help the emperor relieve his worries."
Li Yao looked at her with a sarcastic smile on his face.
Back then in the Eastern Palace, she and Qi Yan'er were sisters who lived and ate together. Later, when Qi Yan'er saw that Qin Yuwei was favored, she gradually distanced herself from her.
Now that she had given birth to a prince, His Majesty was going to build a new palace for her and show her unparalleled favor. Qi Yan'er came eagerly to show her goodwill.
It's really a changing world.
Li Yao glanced at her and said with a smile:
"Sister Qi, this silver hairpin on your head was the birthday gift I gave you when you were in the East Palace, right?
At that time, Sister Qin also gave you a pair of pearl flowers. You have worn them every day over the years. I even thought you didn’t like silver jewelry.
Why did Sister Qi suddenly change her mind today and not wear the pearl flower, but instead took out this old thing of mine?"
Qi Yan'er's face turned red and white after being ridiculed by Li Yao.
Dong Lanxin said at the right time:
"Well, Your Majesty has been on the throne for many years, why are you still bringing up the old matter of the Eastern Palace?
By the way, I heard that Concubine Qi has prepared a dance for today’s family dinner to entertain Your Majesty.”
"Oh? Is this true?" Yan Xiuyun looked at Qi Yaner and said with a smile.
Qi Yan'er came forward with a shy look on her face, "Your Majesty, then I will show you my ugliness."
The sound of stringed instruments rang out again, and along with Qi Yan'er's dancing, the palace servants began to serve dishes, and the atmosphere of the family banquet gradually became lively.
Qin Yuwei looked at the Eight Treasures Salmon Soup that was served in front of her. For some reason, her right eyelid suddenly twitched twice.
Yan Ning was at the age of growing up, and her diet was arranged by the imperial kitchen, which was different from what the other concubines ate.
He stared at the salmon soup in front of Dong Lanxin.
"Mother, I want to try the salmon soup."
Dong Lanxin smiled at him lovingly and said softly:
"Most of the ingredients in this salmon soup are good for women's beauty, so it's nothing special."
Yan Ning said:
"I heard that salmon in this season is the most delicious, but the chefs in the palace always fail to make this dish well. I don't know if they got the hang of it today or what, but they made this soup so fragrant.
Since the Queen Mother doesn't like to eat fish or shrimp, you might as well give this salmon soup to me as a reward."
Yan Xiuyun couldn't help laughing when he heard the conversation between mother and son:
“As the crown prince, Ning’er seems to be at a disadvantage to him.
Since he loves to eat, why should the Queen be stingy with a bowl of salmon soup?"
Yan Xiuyun said so, Dong Lan had no choice but to call Dong Zhu and share some of the salmon soup with Yan Ning.
"This salmon soup is indeed much more delicious than before. Could it be that a new imperial chef has arrived?" Yan Ning kept praising it while tasting it.
"My Queen Mother is so stingy that she only gave me half a bowl." Yan Ning was obviously thinking about the remaining half bowl of soup.
If the dishes for the palace banquet were not prepared according to the portion per person, he would have asked the imperial kitchen to serve three more bowls.
Dong Lanxin looked at her son's smiling face and suddenly felt a little sore in her nose.
She lowered her eyes to hide her emotions and said to Yan Ning:
"By the way, didn't you prepare something to please Father?"
After being reminded by her, Yan Ning immediately perked up and said to Yan Xiuyun:
"Father, I have been practicing calligraphy recently and have gained some experience in calligraphy.
I, your son, would like to write a calligraphy on the spot and ask for your guidance, Your Majesty."
"Okay." Yan Xiuyun said happily, and immediately ordered someone to present the four treasures of the study.
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