Chapter 185 Walnut Crisp

The Tongming Hall was very quiet, with only the sound of Hawking writing on paper and the occasional "crackling" sound of burning charcoal.

This little noise actually made the hall seem even quieter.

At this time, Xu An walked briskly into the hall and placed a plate of snacks on Huo Jinchi's desk.

Huo Jinchi paused with the pen in his hand, glanced at the snacks on the table, then looked at Xu An with some impatience in his eyes.

"This is what Xi promised to send over. He said it was..." Xu An smiled and said, "It was for the emperor to replenish his body."

Hawking Chi's eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of danger.

"Is that really what you said?"

"How dare I deceive your majesty?"

Hawking Chi snorted and glanced at the snacks on the table.

This little palace maid is really capable. She even dares to provoke him.

He reached out and picked up a snack and asked, "Who's coming?"

"It's Danxue. I saw it was freezing outside so I asked her to go back first." Xu An added, "Xu Danying's maid is still outside."

Huo Jinchi nodded before putting the snack into his mouth.

As soon as he took a bite, he knew that this was just an ordinary walnut cake made by the Yu kitchen, and not made by Yun Qin himself.

Even though he had only eaten it a few times and it had been a long time, he could still taste whether it was made by Yun Qin.

He was a little disappointed.

He is indeed a little liar. He forgot what I promised him before!

Hawking Chi lost his appetite and put the snack back. He accidentally saw half a peanut kernel embedded in the walnut pieces.

He picked up the snack again, broke out the one and looked at it carefully, then put it in his mouth and took a bite.

It turned out to be peanut kernels.

Huo Jinchi narrowed his eyes again, looked at Xu An and asked, "Go and call the cook from Yanning Palace."

Xu An watched his series of actions, then glanced at the snacks on the table, but couldn't make out what they were.

"I will go right away."

After calling the somewhat nervous cook and asking her questions, Huo Jinchi naturally learned about the so-called tradition of making pastry in the Yu kitchen.

He rewarded the cook with some silver and sent her away.

Looking at the snacks on the table, there was already a hint of darkness in Hawking's eyes.

He clearly sensed something was wrong and wanted to let himself know, but he took such a big detour.

After all, I still can't trust him.

In fact, if he hadn't noticed that there was something wrong with Concubine De, he wouldn't have let the Empress go so easily even if the Empress Dowager had stopped him.

She was thinking the same thing as I was thinking.

Huo Jinchi tapped the table with his fingers and said to Xu An, "Have someone keep an eye on the situation of the eldest prince."

"Yes." Xu An responded.

After listening to the whole thing, he naturally understood what the mystery behind this dish was, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

This Xi Da Ying really has a very clever mind.

——

It was almost noon when Yun Qin finally opened her eyes with great difficulty.

Compared to the dim sky in the morning, it was bright outside.

Rong Xin heard the noise, opened the curtain and walked in.

"It's snowing again?" Yun Qin asked, rubbing her eyes.

Rong Xin nodded, "It's been raining for quite a while."

As he spoke, he called someone in to help Yunqin dress and wash.

"Go prepare lunch."

After Yunqin was dressed and sat on the couch, she said to Tingchun in the hall.

Then he sent everyone else out.

Seeing her like this, Yun Qin understood what she wanted to say to her.

Sure enough, after everyone left, Rong Xin immediately said, "The emperor asked the palace cook to go to the throne."

Yun Qin was not surprised by this and asked, "Is it because of the walnut cake incident?"

"Aqin knows?" Rong Xin frowned again and said, "This cook is a well-behaved person. When she came back, she told me that the emperor gave her some money and also told me about the situation in the palace."

"The Emperor asked about the recipe for walnut crisps, and she told him about the two methods we use in the palace. She also said that you like the method made by the kitchen the most recently, and that you like hers the best."

Yun Qin smiled and nodded, "The emperor has rewarded her with silver. How can I, as her master, remain indifferent? You should also give her some silver."

Rong Xin agreed, but still had some doubts, "Is it really that simple?"

Yun Qin repeated to Rong Xin what she had said to Shen Danying that day.

"Danxue was on duty that day, and I didn't have the chance to tell you until now."

Rong Xin didn't mind this. She knew Yun Qin was busy.

"It seems that there is indeed something wrong with Concubine De. What should we do?"

Yun Qin's eyes also showed a little chill, "Don't worry, sister. The most important thing for a hunter is patience. The flaws and traces will only increase. We just need to find the right opportunity to give her a fatal blow!"

"It's just that you and Xiao Shunzi should keep a close eye on these people in the palace."

Rong Xin nodded, "Don't worry, the key places are being watched by the people we brought from Yuqian."

"Thank you, sister."

"What are you talking about?" Rong Xin glared at her.

Seeing that she was rubbing her lower back, Rong Xin walked over and said, "Let me do it."

Yun Qin felt a little embarrassed and cursed Huo Jinchi in her heart, but she didn't try to be tough and let her rub it for her.

"One more thing."

Rong Xin rubbed it and said, "The day after tomorrow is Laba Festival, and there is still a custom of giving gifts in the palace."

"I know." Yun Qin squinted her eyes comfortably. "Every year on Laba Festival, the Laba porridge, cakes, dried fruits and so on sent to Chunxi Palace are finally distributed to us, right? The masters of the palaces don't care about them at all."

Rong Xin smiled and said, "These are all old traditions. They are just for show and courtesy."

"Just take care of it as you see fit." Yun Qin said nonchalantly.

The two talked and lunch was served.

After dinner, when Yunqin was taking medicine, she suddenly thought of the incident of Laba again.

She asked Rong Xin, "Are the porridge stalls in the city still open?"

"Open." Rong Xin nodded. "Although there are not many disaster victims in the city, most of them are old and weak. They can only find limited livelihoods, and they still have to rely on relief for their three meals a day."

Yun Qin nodded, "Then take some money these two days and ask Xiao Shunzi to go to our porridge shed and make some Laba porridge for the disaster victims."

"The master is kind-hearted."