Chapter 113 Cooking
Concubine Rong stood up from the beauty couch, her narrow and long phoenix eyes full of sharpness.
Just a moment later, Concubine Rong returned to normal. She half-sat on the beauty couch and looked around.
The magpie immediately waved his hands to block the left and right.
Wait until everything around is quiet and there is no sound. The voice of Concubine Rong was heard from inside the house: "I remember that His Majesty never brought anyone to live in Bamboo Garden."
His Majesty has always been afraid of heat and rarely goes to the backyard in summer. After the bamboo forest was built a few years ago, we spent less and less time in the harem during the summer.
Basically I only go there five or six times a month.
But this matter was done in secret, and very few people in the harem knew about it. Concubine Rong only found out about it by chance two years ago, and was smart enough not to leak it out.
"Was there someone in the Bamboo Garden yesterday? Or did Concubine Shu go there?" In the entire harem, Concubine Rong only thought of Concubine Shu.
"I don't know." Magpie shook his head.
As for what happened in the Qing Palace, as long as the Emperor doesn't tell you, it would be difficult to find out even if you have great ability.
"However, Eunuch Lin went to the Imperial Hospital early in the morning."
"Lin An will go and invite her in person." Concubine Rong lay on the beauty couch with her back up, raised the teacup beside her, lowered her head and took a sip.
"Then it must be His Majesty's order."
There are very few people in the entire palace who can order Lin An around. What's more... Lin An went there to invite him early in the morning, so something must have happened.
The magpie stood quietly by.
After a while, he asked softly, "My Lady, could it be because of Shen Ronghua?"
Concubine Rong paused while holding the teacup: "Why do you ask?"
"Now the whole harem just happens to have Shen Ronghua pregnant." The maid stood beside her and stepped forward to pat her shoulders:
“Doctor Xu happens to be good at this. Could it be that… Your Majesty is asking about the fetus in Shen Ronghua’s belly?”
The magpie's voice gradually approached, with a hint of tentativeness in its tone.
Concubine Rong lay on the beauty couch with her back up, but shook her head with a determined look on her face: "No."
She lowered her head and took a sip of the tea in her hand: "If His Majesty doesn't care about the fetus in Shen Ronghua's belly, why would he send Xu Shen to inquire about it so early in the morning?"
What's more... Concubine Rong narrowed her eyes.
Thinking of the expression on His Majesty's face when he heard that Shen Ronghua was pregnant that day in Changqiu Palace...
She always felt something was wrong.
"Send someone to Changqiu Palace to check." The fetus in Shen Ronghua's belly came too strangely, and no one knew whether it was real or fake.
As for why His Majesty sent someone to call Xu Shen so early in the morning... Concubine Rong tapped the teacup lightly with her hand.
"Send someone to follow Xu Shen and find out what medicine he prescribed."
There is already a pregnant woman in the harem. If there is another one...
Concubine Rong was thinking of something, she shook her head and chuckled, "The harem has been quiet for so long, now it seems like there will be some excitement."
******
The people from Ronghua Palace have extended their hands to the Imperial Hospital, but Chen Fu is still completely unaware of it.
The midday sun was hot and a little scorching, and the willow trees outside the window swayed slightly in the wind.
Chen Fu lay lazily on Begonia's soft couch, fanning herself with a round fan, looking as if she didn't want to move at all.
There was a sound of footsteps coming from behind, and Chen Fu immediately put down the fan in her hand. He opened his eyes and looked towards the screen with his hands.
"Is it coming?"
As soon as Shen Fu finished speaking, Xiao Songzi came in from behind the screen with a food box.
Ever since Little Songzi caught the young lady's eye some time ago, it didn't take long for him to become the number one person in Hehuan Palace.
Apart from Zi Su, he was the person Shen Fu trusted the most.
Fortunately, Xiao Songzi is quite smart and good-looking. The teenage eunuch had red lips and white teeth, and a dimple on one side of his face when he smiled.
At this time, holding a food box in his hand, he walked forward respectfully and said to Shen Fu: "The servant greets the young master."
Xiao Songzi stroked his sleeves and was about to kneel down and kowtow, but before he could bend down, Shen Fu immediately reached out to stop him: "Hurry, hurry, hurry up."
She looked at the food box in Xiao Songzi's hand expectantly and asked eagerly, "Did you bring the sour plum soup?"
It is midsummer and now is the hottest time of the year. The midday sun is so hot that people can't help feeling dry.
Chen Fu had no appetite in the summer, and she lost weight because she ate less. Every day she just waited for some sour plum soup to whet her appetite.
But ever since she came back from the Bamboo Garden last time, His Majesty has stopped giving her this soup.
It's not good to drink too much of these things.
Chen Fu endured for five or six days, waiting for her period to finally end, and then she hurriedly asked Xiao Songzi to go to the imperial kitchen to bring her some soup.
"I brought it. I brought it."
Xiao Songzi put the food box in his hand on the sandalwood table. He did not even bother to wipe the sweat off his forehead and opened the food box in a hurry.
"As soon as I got it, I rushed over here. My dear, please try it and see what it tastes like."
As Xiao Songzi spoke, he took out a ceramic pot from the food box with both hands and put it down.
The anticipation on Shen Fu's face instantly disappeared when she saw the ceramic jar.
"Why...why isn't it iced?"
The ceramic jar was placed on the table. When it was opened, there was no ice at all on the jar. The sour plum soup inside was bland and tasted mediocre.
Shiso was standing nearby. Seeing this, she stretched out her finger to test the ceramic jar and said, "Hey, it's really not cold."
"I have tried my best." Xiao Songzi raised his hand and scratched his head. His face was flushed all the way here.
Seeing the young lady looking at him with disappointment, Xiao Songzi felt guilty: "But I went to the imperial kitchen, and those eunuchs refused to give it to me no matter what I said."
"This... this is outrageous."
Before Shen Fu could speak, Zi Su couldn't sit still anymore. She put the round fan in her hand on the table and immediately rushed to the door: "We girls have been raised in the palm of the old lady's hand since we were young. She didn't give us the moon even if we asked for the stars."
"After entering the palace, Rong Hua is at least a fourth-rank official. Those servants really went too far and refused to even give her a bowl of sour plum soup."
Zi Su was so angry that he was furious and rushed to the door like a firecracker.
Fortunately, Xiao Songzi was quick to reach out and hold her back: "Auntie, please be kind."
Little Songzi glanced at Chen Fu, and a hesitant voice came out of his throat: "The young master hasn't started talking yet, so don't make trouble."
Shen Fu was indeed feeling uncomfortable and tight.
It was such a hot day and I had no appetite. I sent someone to the imperial kitchen to ask for a bowl of iced sour plum soup, but couldn't get any.
No one feels comfortable.
But just like Zi Su said, with her status, her favor is not noticeable in the harem. But His Majesty has come here a few times.
If someone hadn't specifically told her to do so, Shen Fu wouldn't have believed that there would be a young eunuch so bold.
"But." Shen Fu was silent for a while, looking at Xiao Songzi with her eyes open.
"But what did someone say?" Zi Su also widened her eyes and looked at him with her red eyes.
"Is someone targeting our young master?" It's too tiring to have the ice broken in the middle of summer.
Xiao Songzi looked back and forth between the two men, then nodded: "Yes, it's Your Majesty."
"Your Highness?"
Little Songzi nodded as if to confirm: "The eunuch in the imperial kitchen said that His Majesty specifically ordered that the young master not to eat cold drinks."
His Majesty's words were like an imperial decree. Once the order was given, the eunuchs in the imperial kitchen would not dare to add ice cubes to the food in the Hehuan Palace even if they had the courage to do so.
I heard that even He Cairen was affected.
He Cairen was of low status, and his daily income from ice was not much. Now the ice was broken without any reason, and He Cairen still thought he had offended someone.
I'm trying to find a solution by asking for help from everyone.
Of course, this is just off topic. Little Songzi raised his head and looked at his young master with sympathy.
Since that day, Shen Fu had to drink medicine every day, three bowls a day without any meal.
Although no coptis root was added, it was still extremely bitter.
Not only that, His Majesty heard it from somewhere. Women who are menstruating should not be too cold or disturbed by cold air, and most importantly, they should not drink cold drinks.
So, since returning from the Bamboo Garden that day, Chen Fu's life has undergone earth-shaking changes.
The daily supply of ice was reduced by half, and there was no ice for drinks at all.
No matter how much money was given or nice words were spoken, they remained unmoved and those servants would not give anything if they said they would.
After several times, Chen Fu became obedient. She knew that the Emperor must be behind this, but she endured it every day and hoped that everything would come to an end.
Everything was fine after my period was over.
Can!
I never expected that even after my period was over, the Emperor would not allow me to do so? They even refused to give us iced sour plum soup?
"I take three bowls of medicine every day, and I'm about to vomit up the bile I drink." Chen Fu stood up angrily, clenching her fists.
"I just wanted everything to return to normal after my period was over, but I never expected..."
Shen Fu just felt that her life was more bitter than the medicine she drank every day. With a sullen face, he gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty is really going too far."
"Yes!" Zi Su beside him agreed: "This is really too much!"
The young lady is already angry enough, why are you joining in the fun?
Xiao Songzi reached out and pulled Zisu helplessly, signaling her not to add fuel to the fire.
Then he raised his head and forced a smile: "My lady, this is what His Majesty ordered. Even if you feel uncomfortable, you must not get angry with His Majesty."
The young lady in his family has a very delicate temper.
It seems that the Emperor cut off the young lady's ice drink, but if you think about it carefully, it is because he is thinking about the young lady.
Otherwise, there are so many concubines in the harem, and all of them have their periods, but His Majesty has never shown any concern for them.
Apart from anything else, the young lady's status in the Emperor's heart is definitely different.
Xiao Songzi felt like he had a scale in his heart, but he just didn't know how to start.
Shen Fu was not stupid. After she became angry, she gradually regained her rationality. No matter how much she makes a fuss, it will probably be of no avail.
What's more, all this is just a matter of a word from His Majesty.
Shen Fu's anger instantly subsided after she figured it out. She glanced at the table, then pointed at Zi Su and said, "Come on, follow me to the imperial kitchen."
"My lady, are you going to the imperial kitchen to argue with them?" Zi Su looked worried, but after hearing that, she followed behind happily.
"Those servants won't listen to us. If the young master goes to argue with them, it would be better to hit them with silver." Anyway, the Gu family has plenty of silver.
"This is the palace, not in Suzhou." Chen Fu couldn't help but shook her head helplessly at Zi Su.
"Don't say such things again in the future."
Zi Su nodded obediently, took the oil-paper umbrella from the palace maid and held it above Shen Fu's head, but couldn't help but ask.
"Then what are you doing in the imperial kitchen, young master?"
"The person who tied the bell must be the one to untie it." Chen Fu looked at the scorching sun above her head and sighed sadly.
"Now we can only think of a way to get His Majesty to personally take back his order."
"Then we should go to the Palace of Heavenly Purity to ask His Majesty for favors." Zi Su asked doubtfully, "Then what are we going to do in the Imperial Kitchen?"
Xiao Songzi, who was following behind him, also raised his head in confusion.
"Begin with courtesy, then force." The scorching sun at noon made people feel annoyed. Chen Fu stepped on the road and looked at the two of them helplessly.
"Don't you bring some gifts when asking for favors?"
Zi Su nodded ignorantly at first, then her eyes widened as she remembered something.
What gift should I give to the imperial kitchen?
My lady, is she thinking of cooking by herself?
******
It's just past noon and now is time for lunch. There are not many rare ones in the imperial kitchen.
Seeing Chen Fu coming over, the eunuchs who were guarding her didn't know what to do and knelt on the ground without daring to raise their heads.
"No need to be so polite." Shen Fu looked around and was very satisfied.
There are few people in the imperial kitchen at this time, so there is no need to be stared at.
"I came here today to make some soup. You guys go about your business and don't worry about me."
The little eunuchs kneeling on the ground looked at each other.
After hearing the order, they all backed away with red faces.
Chen Fu was not familiar with the imperial kitchen, but fortunately it was fully equipped.
She had cooked a few times before, but her specialty was only simple and easy-to-make dishes like dumplings and glutinous rice balls.
"My lady, how about we try another method?" Zi Su stepped forward.
"There are a few new cooks in the small kitchen. The cakes they make are also excellent. You can personally deliver them to His Majesty. His Majesty will also know your intentions."
"You don't understand." Shen Fu shook her head: "It's not about whether this thing tastes good or not."
What kind of delicacies has His Majesty not tasted?
Her cooking is just a cover, it is not certain whether the Emperor will taste it or not.
It’s just that these four words “made by myself” sound a little different.
Besides, the entire harem belongs to His Majesty. Doesn’t he have anything when he owns everything?
"When you ask someone to do something for you, you have to have the right attitude. Cooking for them yourself is just a superficial appearance."
Chen Fu worked all afternoon to make a bowl of glutinous rice balls by herself, and then carried the food box to the Palace of Heavenly Purity herself.
The young eunuch in the Palace of Heavenly Purity was quite alert. He knew that Miss Shen was in the limelight at the moment, so he saw Shen Fu from a distance and immediately went in to report.
After a while, Lin An came out and said, "Your servant greets Miss Shen." Lin An saw Shen Fu from a distance and immediately bowed.
"Miss Shen, how come you have time to come to the Palace of Heavenly Purity today?" This person cannot be offended now, and the Emperor is obviously concerned about him.
The Emperor would ask about a minor menstrual irregularity every day.
This treatment is unique in the entire harem.
Thinking of this, Lin An smiled more gently at Chen Fu. He forced a smile on his face: “It’s good to keep Miss Shen waiting.”
"My father-in-law is in serious condition." After being busy for an entire afternoon, this is the moment I've been waiting for.
Shen Fu held up the tray in her hand, lowered her head and smiled gently: "I brought some soup, thinking of letting His Majesty taste it."
The four words "made by myself" seemed less valuable when spoken out loud. Shen Fu deliberately lowered her eyes and asked in a low voice, "I wonder if His Majesty has time to see me now."
"Others may not have it, but Miss Shen must be free." The young eunuch had just come in and reported it, otherwise he would not have come out.
Lin An hurriedly pushed the door open, forcing a smile at Chen Fu: "My lady, please follow me."
Shen Fu was relieved when she heard this. After working for a whole afternoon, if I don’t even see him/her, I’ll die before I accomplish anything.
Fortunately, His Majesty is free to see me now.
Chen Fu carried the food box, gave Lin An a grateful smile, and quickly followed him into the house.
As soon as the vermilion door closed, Zi Su, who was standing behind it, felt something was wrong.
Why does the young lady look like she is asking for help from her grandparents?
Before entering the palace, when she was at home, whenever the young lady made a mistake or wanted some treasure.
I will definitely make some food, drinks, soups and the like myself.
Everyone in the Gu family treats the young lady as their darling and dotes on her, and everyone falls for her tricks.
As long as he cooks, no matter what the young lady wants, he would even want to find a way to pick the moon from the sky for her.
Even... for the sake of the young lady's reputation, no one would say a word even if what she cooked was inedible.
As the door made a sound, Zi Su couldn't help but feel sad: "Now I'm asking for your Majesty, not your grandfather."
She looked worried.
If the food the girl cooks is too bad, His Majesty will not punish her for it, right?
"What did you say?" The door was filled with servants from the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and Xiao Songzi was afraid of losing face for his young master again.
He quietly leaned forward and whispered, "What did you just say?"
Shisu looked up at the closed door in front of her and sighed deeply.
"I hope Your Majesty has a heart of stone." She raised her head and looked at the god above her head.
Chanting Amitabha in my heart.
May Buddha bless you, please! Your Majesty, please don’t eat a single bite!
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