Upon hearing this, Hongli's eyes flashed with surprise. "The Empress Dowager assigned you a cook and a nanny? Why would she suddenly be so kind?"
"The Empress Dowager said I was pregnant and told me to watch my diet. But I'm already triple pregnant, and I have experience. I know what I should and shouldn't eat." As a mother, Su Yushan valued the health of her unborn child more than anyone else.
"I absolutely won't touch things that pregnant women can't eat, like hawthorn. But the Empress Dowager says that chicken feet are forbidden, which is pure superstition. If we follow those so-called old sayings, what can I eat?"
"She's just too idle, always trying to meddle in things to feel important." Gently squeezing her hand, Hongli coaxed her softly.
"I'll handle this, don't worry, go to sleep!"
After Hongli spoke, Su Yushan felt a little relieved. She didn't ask him what his plans were, assuming he had his own solution.
The next morning, when Hongli got up, he asked someone to summon Granny An, but the palace servants said that Granny An had gotten up early and left Huanbi Island by boat.
She left before dawn; judging from the situation, she probably went to Songhezhai to file a complaint.
With his eyes slightly narrowed, Hongli gave Li Yu a few instructions, and Li Yu nodded and agreed, thus staying behind.
Just as Hongli had predicted, Granny An did indeed go to Songhezhai and relayed the events of the previous night to the Empress Dowager in detail. Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager was furious and scoffed in anger.
"This woman is getting more and more arrogant! I care about her and her child, but she doesn't appreciate it at all! She's really been spoiled by Hongli; she doesn't even know the rules!"
“That’s right!” Granny An added fuel to the fire, “I told her it was the Empress Dowager’s good intention, but she just refused to eat out of spite. I didn’t dare to let the Consort and her son go hungry, so I could only let her be.”
"She is carrying the emperor's child, how can she be allowed to act recklessly?" The more Su Yushan resisted, the more the Empress Dowager wanted to control her and make sure she was completely subdued!
After a moment's thought, the Empress Dowager had Granny Mei give something to Granny An and gave her a few special instructions.
Granny An took the things and headed to Huanbi Island, but was stopped by someone when she was about to board the ship.
Li Yuhou stood on the shore, refusing to let her board the boat. "The Emperor has decreed that no one may enter or leave Huanbi Island without His permission."
Granny An stared at him suspiciously, "There was no such rule when I went out."
Hongli guessed that Granny An was an old servant of the Empress Dowager and was not afraid of ordinary palace servants, which is why he left Li Yu here.
Others feared her, but Li Yu did not. Holding a whisk, Li Yu coldly warned:
"The rules were just set by the Emperor and are not to be questioned. Granny An should just follow them."
Logically, Granny An should have obeyed the Emperor's orders, but today's situation was quite different. Granny An was not afraid at all and directly took out what the Empress Dowager had given her.
"This is the Empress Dowager's token. The Empress Dowager has specially granted this servant permission to stay on Huanbi Island to serve the Imperial Concubine. No one is allowed to obstruct this!"
Li Yu never expected that the Empress Dowager would actually give her the token! Even so, Li Yu still refused to let her pass.
"I am acting on the Emperor's orders. If I let anyone in without permission, I cannot bear the consequences if the Emperor blames me!"
"You mean you only listen to the Emperor and not the Empress Dowager? Can the Emperor's orders still override the Empress Dowager's orders?"
Granny An's words were rather serious. If Li Yu insisted on stopping her, it would not only cause trouble for herself, but also deepen the conflict between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
After careful consideration, Li Yu feigned respect and put on a smile, saying, "The Empress Dowager's decree is naturally the most powerful."
With a haughty glance at him, Granny An snorted coldly, then lifted her skirt and boarded the boat.
Upon seeing her enter the cabin, Li Yu's smile vanished, and he immediately turned and went to Yanbo Zhishuang Palace to report to the Emperor.
Hongli had thought that as long as he gave the order, Granny An would not dare to disturb Yushan anymore, but the Empress Dowager actually showed the token!
If he were to confront the Empress Dowager now, she would surely launch into a tirade. With a slight shift in his dark eyes, Hongli devised a plan…
On Huanbi Island, Su Yushan is having his breakfast. Today he is eating savory tofu pudding with mutton pan-fried buns.
As soon as Granny An entered the room and saw this scene, she immediately frowned.
"Your Majesty, pan-fried buns are very oily, and eating too many can easily cause internal heat. You shouldn't eat these greasy foods."
The moment Su Yushan saw her figure, her mind went blank, feeling both annoyed and surprised.
At that time, Yunfang said that Li Yu was guarding the ferry. The Emperor had ordered that Granny An was not allowed to go to the island. Su Yushan was thinking that she could finally have some peace and quiet today. Why did Granny An come again?
Why couldn't Li Yu stop her? What exactly happened?
Suspicious, Yu Shan didn't press further, and coldly retorted,
"I only ate one, why are you making such a fuss?"
Granny An said in a sinister voice, "This servant is only thinking of Your Highness and the imperial heir. Please understand, Your Highness."
Su Yushan gave a forced smile, "That really troubles Granny An. Running back and forth so early in the morning, it must have been very tiring!"
With Consort Chun's sarcasm so obvious, how could Granny An not understand it?
Anyway, it wasn't a secret, so Granny An answered frankly, "The Empress Dowager was afraid that I wouldn't serve Your Highness well, so she sent me to report. The Empress Dowager cares for Your Highness so much; this is your good fortune! Other concubines can only dream of such a thing."
She didn't care about this so-called concern at all! Her good mood was ruined first thing in the morning, and Su Yushan lost her appetite. She put down her chopsticks heavily and got up to go to the inner room.
When it's time to eat, Granny An is nagging. But when it's not time to eat, she won't nag anymore, will she?
As it turns out, Su Yushan was too naive.
When she doesn't eat, Granny An will come over and give her some nuts.
She loves all other nuts, but she just can't eat walnuts.
Su Yushan thought it was a matter of personal preference, but Granny An said that walnuts are good for the brain, and that she had to eat two every day so that her future children would be smarter.
Is this old woman deaf? Even someone as good-tempered as Yu Shan was enraged and furious.
"I'll say it again, I won't eat! Guards! Throw Granny An out!"
At Consort Chun's command, two eunuchs entered. They were about to drag Granny An out when they saw her calmly pull out her token.
"Your Majesty, I am acting on the Empress Dowager's orders. Are you going to disobey her?"
They're using the Empress Dowager to pressure her again! Su Yushan was extremely annoyed. She wanted to get angry, but she was also mindful of Hongli's situation and didn't want to put him in a difficult position.
Just as she hesitated, she suddenly heard a familiar voice outside.
"This humble servant, Li Yu, requests an audience with Your Highness, the Noble Consort!"
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