The Empress... wants Sishi Chun to make desserts for the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet?
no!
This is a really tricky situation!
You can't just accept any answer!
She would agree to anything if it were someone else.
However, the Empress Dowager...
Yuan Yao hesitated for a moment, then said to Manager Bai, "I'll go take a look first."
Shopkeeper Bai nodded and led Yuan Yao upstairs.
In the private room at the far end of the second floor, sat two palace maids, one older and one younger.
Both of them changed into casual clothes, wearing light green dresses, and their hair was neatly combed, making them look very dignified.
Upon seeing Yuan Yao enter, the two stood up and bowed, saying, "Ji Xiang and Qin Xin from Fengwu Palace greet the Princess."
Ji Xiang was in her early thirties, with an oval face and a slight crease between her eyebrows. She was calm and composed, and her appearance was rather assertive.
Qin Xin, on the other hand, was about seventeen or eighteen years old. Although she sat up straight, her eyes were looking around, indicating that she had a lively personality.
Yuan Yao beckoned to Dan Qing and said, "Tell the kitchen to send some desserts to the two sisters."
Danqing responded and went to the kitchen himself.
Soon, the waiters brought the trays upstairs.
The desserts delivered included ice cream, red bean milk cake, and glutinous rice balls...
Qin Xin stared at the dessert and swallowed hard.
At this moment, Ji Xiang took a sip of tea and said, "Princess, I have come here on important business to discuss with you on behalf of Her Majesty the Empress."
"It's about the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, right?" Yuan Yao wasn't in a hurry. Instead, she pushed the glutinous rice ball towards Ji Xiang's hand: "Want to try some?"
With the sweet dessert right in front of her, Ji Xiang remained calm: "Princess, the Empress Dowager's sixtieth birthday celebration is being personally organized by Her Majesty the Empress."
The birthday banquet lasted three days, and the people enjoyed themselves together.
"The purpose of our visit is to discuss with chefs from several restaurants, and also to request that the desserts for the banquet be prepared by Si Shi Chun."
Besides the Four Seasons Spring restaurant, are we also going to collaborate with restaurants in the capital?
It'll be really chaotic when that happens!
Yuan Yao asked, "Why does Her Majesty the Empress want Si Shi Chun to make desserts?"
In the capital, there is no shortage of restaurants serving delicious tea and snacks, nor of excellent tea and snack chefs.
Upon hearing this, Ji Xiang and Qin Xin exchanged a glance.
Qin Xin said in a clear voice, "Your Highness, you may not know this, but the Empress Dowager has a sweet tooth. Although she is far away in Fotai Mountain, I have heard that a dessert shop has opened in the capital."
She sent a message back to the capital by carrier pigeon, saying that she wanted to try the desserts made in the four seasons of spring.
Yuan Yao: "..."
Even the Empress Dowager, far away on Mount Fotai, knew about the four seasons of spring?
It seems the Empress Dowager does indeed have spies in the capital!
Si Shi Chun had only been open for a few days when it was chosen by the Empress Dowager to serve desserts at her birthday banquet...
At this moment, Ji Xiang added, "Princess, when we were at the Donghu Imperial Palace, the desserts at Qianhua Palace were excellent and were very popular with the ladies and wives of officials."
This time, at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, Si Shi Chun was able to provide desserts, which not only pleased the Empress Dowager but also enhanced Si Shi Chun's reputation.
At that time, it will be very beneficial for both the Grand Eunuch and the Princess's business..."
"Sister Jixiang," Yuan Yao interrupted her in a childish voice, "Before you came, there might have been something you didn't understand?"
This spring season has nothing to do with Qianhua Palace, nor with the Ninth Prince.
This shop belongs to Yao'er.
Ji Xiang's mouth was slightly open.
After a moment, Ji Xiang said, "Princess, please forgive me. I misspoke."
Yuan Yao looked at Ji Xiang and asked, "The Empress Dowager is on Mount Fotai, so presumably she doesn't eat meat on a regular basis?"
“Of course,” Ji Xiang replied.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao immediately said, "In that case, this job will not be available in spring!"
Why is that?
On the other side, Qin Xin showed a surprised expression.
Yuan Yao said, "All the desserts at Qianhua Palace are made with milk."
Cow's milk is considered a meat product.
Since the Empress Dowager was a devout Buddhist and abstained from meat, she naturally wouldn't eat the desserts at Qianhua Palace.
If she were to deliver meat to a Buddhist person on their birthday, wouldn't that be tantamount to sending them to their death?
What is the Empress thinking?!
Unexpectedly, Ji Xiang and Qin Xin exchanged a glance.
Qin Xin smiled and said, "Princess, so this is what you're worried about?"
Princess, you may not know this, but when the Empress Dowager was at Mount Fotai, she ate only vegetarian food.
However, in the palace, in order not to worry her children and grandchildren, she would also have a little bit of meat.
The desserts served in the Four Seasons Spring Festival only used milk for flavoring; the Empress Dowager wouldn't mind.
Yuan Yao: "..."
This empress dowager is quite interesting.
She stood up and said, "Sisters, I need to think about this matter some more."
The two palace maids exchanged a glance.
Ji Xiang said, "In that case, we servants will wait for the princess's reply."
Yuan Yao nodded and left the private room.
There were already about ten guests seated in the lobby.
Shopkeeper Bai asked in a low voice, "Princess, what should we do?"
“I think I should refuse,” Yuan Yao said.
Empress Dowager, let's minimize contact.
The next day, Yuan Yao went to the National Academy as usual.
After school, a voice rang out outside the school: "Yuan Yao".
All the little kids in the school turned to look at the door.
Upon seeing this, many of the little kids immediately fell silent.
Yuan Yao was busy organizing the books when she heard this and looked up.
There stood Huairou and Huaiyao at the door.
Yuan Yao stood up, adjusted her hair ribbon, and walked to the door with her short legs, raising a smile: "Sister Huairou, Sister Huaiyao."
Huairou smiled gently, "Yao'er, Mother really likes those glutinous rice balls. I plan to go to Sishichun to bring some back for her."
“Okay.” Yuan Yao smiled obediently, “Perfect timing, I’ll go check on how business is today.”
"Let's go then." Huairou took her hand.
At that moment, Jiang Chengyan called out from the school: "Royal sister, where are you going? Wait for me!"
Upon hearing this, Huairou glanced at him and smiled, "Si Shi Chun, shall we go?"
Springtime all year round.
Spring has come again.
Jiang Chengyan frowned slightly.
He knew that the Empress intended for Sishi Chun to make desserts at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet.
He disagreed with this.
However, the Empress Dowager had already sent a message.
The Empress Dowager... was also in a dilemma.
Jiang Chengyan was in a bad mood and turned to look at Feng Xun, who was still engrossed in copying his homework: "Hey, wanna go play?"
Feng Xun sat upright and glanced at him.
"Stop writing!" Jiang Chengyan picked up a scroll and pressed it down on his Xuan paper. "Come with me. You haven't met my elder sister yet!"
Feng Xun was somewhat helpless as she was dragged out of the school.
Upon seeing Huairou and Huaiyao, he stood upright and bowed respectfully, saying, "Fengxun greets eldest and second cousins."
"Feng Xun?" Huai Yao frowned.
Feng Xun was born to their aunt who had married into the Western Hills Kingdom.
They've been in the Great Qi Kingdom for so long, and they still haven't seen each other!
However, she is very good-looking.
That's right...
Huaiyao asked, "Why do you look different from the other people from Xiqiu?"
"Huaiyao!" Huairou gently scolded, "Don't be rude."
Huaiyao pouted.
Huairou turned to Fengxun and said, "Huaiyao is straightforward, don't take it to heart."
My aunt and father are siblings from the same mother; you and we are also family.
Yuan Yao stood to one side, looking shocked.
Is Feng Xun's mother the emperor's older sister?
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