Chapter 278 Zhongyuan
"Lotus root starch cake?" Consort Yu glanced at the small box and smiled. "Princess Suiyun is so thoughtful, bringing me things every time she comes to the palace."
In the past few months, Qiu Heng has entered the palace at least eight or ten times a month, always bringing gifts, such as sachets, pendants, or various snacks; she never comes empty-handed.
At Consort Yu's glance, a palace maid took the food box, took out some snacks, and presented them to Consort Yu.
The lotus root starch cake comes in two colors: a pinkish-white one inlaid with goji berries, and a light yellow one sprinkled with dried osmanthus flowers.
"It looks really good, no worse than the ones in the palace," Consort Yu praised, and the palace maid placed the lotus root starch cakes on the table to the side.
Qiu Heng didn't care about this.
The snacks she brought were never touched by Consort Yu, but no matter what Consort Yu thought, she would not neglect the proper sentiment.
"I also made some little trinkets in my spare time." Qiu Heng took out a pair of dragonflies, a pair of butterflies, and a pair of cicadas from her purse and placed them on the table.
Consort Yu's beautiful eyes widened slightly: "Is this made of straw?"
Qiu Heng smiled and nodded: "Yeah, these were all things I learned to pass the time when I was a kid. I haven't made them up in a long time."
If her biological daughter could know that her adoptive father had taught her to weave butterflies and dragonflies, she would surely be happy.
Consort Yu's gaze lingered briefly on the rustic, woven grass butterflies, her eyes unfathomable. Just as she was about to speak, a palace servant's voice announced.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
"Princess Suiyun has arrived." Emperor Jingping glanced casually at Qiu Heng, who was curtsying, then noticed the straw-woven insects on the table, and his eyes lit up with interest. "Did Princess Suiyun bring these?"
"yes."
Emperor Jingping picked up a dragonfly and examined it, then smiled and said to Consort Yu, "My dear consort, look, this dragonfly made of grass is truly lifelike."
"Indeed, I find it quite interesting."
Emperor Jingping then noticed the lotus root starch cake on the table: "This snack doesn't look like the ones from the palace; it must have been brought from outside the palace?"
Consort Yu glanced at Qiu Heng and answered for her, "It was also brought by Princess Suiyun for me to try."
"Then I'll try some too."
Emperor Jingping spoke without moving. His personal attendant took out silver chopsticks from his sleeve, picked up a piece of lotus root starch cake, ate it, and only after seeing nothing unusual did he pick up a piece of pastry of the same color and put it in his mouth.
"This lotus root starch cake tastes very good, my beloved, please try it."
Consort Yu's momentary hesitation did not escape Qiu Heng's notice; she still picked up a piece of lotus root starch cake and slowly took a bite.
Lotus root starch cake is soft, glutinous, and sweet, with a faint fragrance of osmanthus. It doesn't have the overly delicate and bland taste of palace pastries; it's a simple and delicious treat.
It felt like the taste of home.
Consort Yu silently finished the rest of the lotus root starch cake, and a thought suddenly occurred to her: Were the pastries that Qiu Heng brought earlier also like this lotus root starch cake?
"It seems that Princess Suiyun is living a good life, with delicious snacks and plenty of leisure time."
Qiu Heng bowed and said, "It's all thanks to His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine's protection."
"Haha, Princess Suiyun is truly intelligent and kind-hearted." Emperor Jingping was in a good mood lately and did not hold back his praise.
Qiu Heng's lips twitched slightly at the perfunctory and hasty praise.
Although the lotus root starch cake was delicious, Consort Yu did not eat too much. After finishing one piece, she would wipe her mouth lightly with a handkerchief and then not touch it again.
"Your Majesty, the pastries and straw crafts that Princess Suiyun brought today are very much to my liking. I would like to invite Princess Suiyun to stay in the palace for a few days so that I can learn to weave these little things from her."
"I'm glad my beloved concubine is happy."
Emperor Jingping sat for a while longer before leaving, casually picking up a grass dragonfly.
Watching Emperor Jingping walk away, Consort Yu smiled and said, "Princess Suiyun, did you see that His Majesty really likes these little trinkets? I'll have to ask you for advice these next few days."
"If Your Highness is interested, I will certainly teach you well."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
The palace seemed peaceful, but when Xue Han received the letter from Fangzhou, his heart sank.
This month may be the last day of Consort Yu's patience. Once Aheng enters the palace, she will either exchange her prescription for her freedom or face a falling out with her sisters.
After arranging his work, Xue Han quietly left the city to meet Uncle Xu.
The courtyard gate, which was usually wide open, was tightly closed at this time. Xue Han guessed that Uncle Xu was engrossed in his research in the pharmacy, so he climbed over the wall and entered, just as Uncle Xu came out of the house and stretched.
When Xu Bo saw Xue Han climb over the wall and come in, his eyes widened: "Xue boy?"
Xue Han awkwardly touched his nose: "Uncle Xu, let me explain—"
"I don't want to hear any explanations, you're really not being polite!" Uncle Xu said angrily, blowing his beard.
Xue Han quickly approached: "Uncle Xu, don't be angry. I was just afraid of disturbing your research."
Upon hearing this, Uncle Xu became even angrier: "You brat, I've been working myself to the bone for months, and you think it's a waste of time to just open the door for you? Even a mule wouldn't be this demanding!"
Xue Han shoved the oil paper package into Xu Bo's hand: "Before Aheng went to the palace, she specially arranged for someone to send the snacks to me so that I could bring them to you."
Uncle Xu remembered that the snacks Xue Han had brought before were delicious, and immediately shifted his attention: "What snacks?"
Lotus root starch cake.
"Sounds pretty good."
It tasted even better. Uncle Xu ate the whole bag of lotus root starch cakes, one piece at a time. His stomach was full, and his energy was restored.
What kind of look is that?
Xue Han smiled bitterly: "You really didn't leave me a single piece."
"You had it easier eating Ah Heng's snacks than I did?" Uncle Xu said without a hint of guilt, casually wiping his mouth. "Isn't the one in the palace getting impatient?"
Xue Han's expression turned serious: "It seems so. Uncle Xu, have you made any progress on the prescription?"
Relishing the delicious taste of the lotus root starch cake, Uncle Xu said truthfully, "It's just one step away from completion."
"Can it be solved before the Ghost Festival?"
"The Ghost Festival? That's the day after tomorrow." Uncle Xu shook his head. "I can't guarantee that."
“Uncle Xu!” Xue Han grabbed Uncle Xu’s hands with both of them.
Uncle Xu looked disgusted: "Why are you getting handsy?"
Xue Han's eyes reddened slightly: "Uncle Xu, if you can't figure this out soon, you won't have a niece-in-law anymore."
If the sisters turn against each other, and Consort Yu wants to kill Aheng, Aheng will certainly not sit idly by and wait for her fate. He can't afford to gamble on what the outcome will be.
Uncle Xu rolled his eyes: "Look at you, crying like that."
Was she really crying, or was she just trying to coax him into working himself to the bone?
Uncle Xu remained skeptical. Looking at the vulnerable young man, he sighed and said, "This is not something that can be rushed. We can only do our best and wait."
"Please, Uncle Xu."
The farmhouse courtyard returned to silence. Uncle Xu went straight into the dispensing room, while Xue Han sat alone in the courtyard, waiting for the unknown outcome.
Two days later, the Ghost Festival arrived.
Just like the common people, the palace also celebrated the Ghost Festival with religious ceremonies and sacrifices, keeping Emperor Jingping busy all day. Consort Yu, feigning illness, stayed in the Jade Palace, sitting opposite Qiu Heng.
"Little sister, do you think the gates of hell will really open at night?"
(End of this chapter)
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