"Yes, there are some..."
Cui Jinxi almost blurted it out, but it was too late to stop now; it would be like trying to hide something obvious...
Your Highness is utterly lacking in martial ethics!
Cui Jinxi forced herself to say, "When we first met, from a distance of a few steps, Your Highness did indeed resemble Empress Chun Yuan somewhat."
"However, upon closer inspection, Your Highness and Empress Chun Yuan are completely different people."
“Especially since I serve you, your temperament is completely different from that of Empress Chun Yuan, and they cannot be compared.”
Zhen Huan said, "Jinxi, I have not received the Emperor's favor, and this Suiyu Pavilion is no different from the Cold Palace. You are so meticulous in everything, yet you are willing to serve me, a mere lowly concubine. Is it also because of Empress Chun Yuan?"
The moment Cui Jinxi first saw Zhen Huan, she knew this day would come. Even if Zhen Huan didn't know, and the Emperor didn't want her to know, there were so many people in the palace who knew.
This matter would be exposed sooner or later, but Cui Jinxi didn't expect it to happen so soon.
Cui Jinxi said, "This servant was favored by Empress Chun Yuan, but she has passed away. Your Highness is my master."
"The only way to serve your master is to be loyal. Your master has been kind to me. How could I dare to have any other thoughts?"
Zhen Huan helped Cui Jinxi up, saying, "I'm glad you think that way."
"If people do not betray me, I will not betray them."
*
Chuxiu Palace
Sun Miaoqing sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) by the window, her chin resting on her left hand. Through the half-open window, she looked at the snow-covered landscape and the bright red lanterns outside.
"While everyone else is enjoying the singing, dancing, and acrobatics at the palace banquet, I can only stay here and look at the snow on the ground."
Rose said, "Your Majesty, you are not fully recovered and cannot go out."
"There are too many people and too many eyes at the palace banquet. Didn't you complain that it was too stuffy there before? It's much more comfortable in our own palace, where we can do whatever we want."
Sun Miaoqing said, "I haven't even stepped out of my bedroom for a month, and everything seems new and exciting to me now."
"Guan Changzai's illness has been cured, so she should be inside, right?"
Rose said, "Consort Wan is in poor health. She said she caught a cold after being exposed to the wind and has a terrible headache. She is currently recuperating at Suiyu Pavilion and missed the evening banquet."
Upon hearing this, Sun Miaoqing immediately sat up straight. Zhen Huan had visited her a few days ago with a strong voice and showed no signs of her illness worsening. Why did she suddenly change her mind?
Is he really sick, or does he have other plans...?
I had previously thought that Zhen Huan would make a name for herself at the New Year's Eve palace banquet and capture the attention of the chubby orange.
But since he's claiming illness now, he's probably given up on that idea. Perhaps he was hoping for a chance encounter with the chubby orange cat, and then some kind of... well, you know, to cultivate some vague, unrequited affection...
People in ancient times really knew how to have fun!
Sun Miaoqing asked, "Wan Changzai is ill. Who is treating her? Is it still that Imperial Physician Wen Shichu?"
Rose nodded. "After Consort Wan fell ill from fright, it was Imperial Physician Wen who treated her."
"Her Majesty the Empress ordered Imperial Physician Wen to treat her. In addition, Consort Wan is out of favor, and Suiyu Pavilion is in a remote location. Apart from Imperial Physician Wen, no other imperial physician is willing to go there."
"Does Your Highness believe that Imperial Physician Wen and Consort Wan have some kind of relationship, which is why you are being so devoted?"
Sun Miaoqing said, "Which concubine doesn't have a familiar imperial physician? Consort Wan is no exception. This matter has nothing to do with us, so we don't need to concern ourselves with it."
Rose replied, "This servant understands."
"However, during the time Your Highness has been recuperating, Consort Wan has come to visit several times. Now that she has caught a cold, I'd like to bring her some things over for you?"
Sun Miaoqing said, "No need. I'll be able to leave in two days. I'll go there in person then. That will show my sincerity."
"By the way, since we have nothing to do tonight, take some men to the imperial kitchen and ask for some milk. Ask for a lot, preferably as much as a water vat."
Rose was puzzled. Was the Empress preparing to take a bath with so much milk in the water vat? But even a bath wouldn't require so much.
"Is Your Highness planning to use it for a milk bath? Or for buttered abalone and snails? But you can't possibly use a whole vat of it."
Sun Miaoqing said proudly, "I'm going to make some new things with milk. Oh, and I'll also get a lot of maltose, at least as much as a washbasin."
When Rose arrived at the Imperial Kitchen with several eunuchs, everyone there was bustling with activity.
The dishes at the palace banquet could not be delayed, and the bestowed dishes and Laba porridge for the ministers also had to be delivered at the right time.
Tian Zhijing, the head eunuch of the imperial kitchen, stood on the scene, shoving his cheeks and shouting, "Make it with care! Stir-fry it with care!" He yelled back, "Be quick and keep the heat steady!"
After calling for a while, I took a moment to come out and have a drink of water, only to hear someone below report that Consort Cheng's personal maid from Chuxiu Palace had come to ask for milk and maltose.
Tian Zhijing said, "Since it's Consort Cheng who wants it, just give it to her directly. Do you need to teach me? I'm so busy I don't even have time to drink water. You have to come and report such a small matter. You have no sense of propriety."
The young eunuch looked miserable and said aggrievedly, "If it were just one jar, I wouldn't dare to bother you, Your Highness. It's just that Consort Cheng wants too much."
"The Rose Girl came with four or five eunuchs, saying she wanted a vat of milk and a basin of maltose."
"The maltose is manageable; the imperial kitchen has plenty in stock. But the milk is delivered from the estates outside the palace every morning, in fixed quantities. It's already dark; there's no time to have it delivered to the palace now!"
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