Hongchen didn't believe Hongmin's words: "How is that possible?"
“How is that impossible? Everyone in the palace knows that Xu Anda has no children.” Hongmin ruthlessly shattered this illusion.
Hongchen pursed his lips and asked again, "Then what does death mean?"
"..." Changning was stumped by the question. How was she supposed to answer it?
To everyone's surprise, this problem didn't bother Changning at all. Hongmin continued, "It's just that the person is no longer in this world, has completely disappeared, and can no longer be seen. We can only see the things he left behind."
"Never...will we ever see it again?" Hongchen's eyes widened in shock. "Will we all die?"
Changning wore a bitter expression. Hongchen now looked just like Hongyan, Hongzhao, and Hutu when they first came into contact with the truth about death.
She was trying to figure out how to comfort her son when Hongchen's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Does that mean that after Father dies, all those beautiful crystal paperweights and jade ornaments will be mine?"
Changning?
You really are our good son...
Fortunately, Yinzhen wasn't there, otherwise he might have been so angry he would have vomited blood.
The child was still young, so Changning didn't take his words to heart at all. She simply explained to him that we should cherish the people around us, not let ourselves have regrets, cherish life, and especially not wish for someone's death because of some jade ornaments.
(=_=)
Hongchen nodded, seemingly confused.
The next day, he shared this story with Xu Qingxue again.
“My brother said your father is dead.”
Xu Qingxue?
Xu Shida?
(╬ ￣?俣? ╬)
The Xu family mansion was thrown into chaos once again...
Hongmin rubbed his forehead and sighed, "Third brother, please come quickly."
Chengqian Palace...
After purging the inner court's personnel and promoting the female officials, the efficiency of the entire harem's operations improved significantly.
Those female officials who were promoted and granted ranks were all like they had been injected with chicken blood, wishing they could work every day and make their lives shine in their posts.
They always remembered that this was all thanks to the Empress's kindness.
Meanwhile, the Empress, whom they were eyeing, was currently idling away in Chengqian Palace.
"I don't want to watch, I don't want to watch!" Changning lay on the bed, not wanting to move at all.
Chuixue said helplessly, "Your Majesty, these account books have been here for almost ten days."
"I've been so busy for so long, I've even started getting gray hair."
Changning felt particularly tired lately, not only because of the establishment of the female official system, but also because of the children. She didn't feel it when she was busy, but as soon as she had free time, she felt sore all over and didn't want to move at all.
Ugh! We clearly agreed to just laze around and be a couch potato!
Why is it developing in the direction of the virtuous empress of the Qing Dynasty now?!
Changning felt that her style was starting to go astray, so she decided to treat herself and take a few days off.
Zhuiyu was the first to agree. She had long felt that the Empress had been working too hard lately, visibly thinner, and lacking in energy.
So she pulled Bai Shu to take Changning's pulse. Bai Shu had now entered the Imperial Hospital and was officially appointed as a Physician Bai. She was no longer an unknown female physician by the Empress's side.
Therefore, she was very grateful to Changning and was also Changning's personal physician. However, outside of her duties, she had more time to study medical skills and discuss medical principles in the Imperial Hospital.
After taking her pulse, Bai Zhu only said that the Empress had been feeling tired lately and should not be too busy. He also wrote down several medicinal diet recipes, saying that food therapy was better than medicine and that some nourishing soups would be more effective.
Unfortunately, Changning has never been particularly fond of soups or broths. After sleeping all afternoon, she asked Eunuch Ma from the small kitchen to make her some spicy strips.
When Zhuiyu relayed the message, he even wrote a note with a dense list of seasonings, including flour, starch, chili powder, cumin powder, sesame seeds, and salt. However, Eunuch Ma was an experienced eunuch. He glanced at it and knew what it was. He then led four junior eunuchs and made it in an hour.
Zhuiyu looked at the bright red spicy strips in front of her, glistening with chili oil, and swallowed hard.
It looks so delicious, it makes my mouth water...
When Changning ate spicy strips again, she almost burst into tears of joy. Why did she only think of making spicy strips now! How much happiness had she missed!
So she asked Eunuch Ma to make more and send some to the Empress Dowager's palace, to the children in the Southern Three Palaces, and to Prince Yinzhen in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
In addition, Consort Mao, Consort Shu, and Noble Lady Gao, all from her own team, also received a share.
Hutuli was playing chess with the Empress Dowager in Cining Palace when she heard that her mother had sent some snacks. She smiled and said, "I'm hungry from playing chess. Grandmother, come and have a taste. The snacks in my mother's palace are delicious."
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Alright, I'll have a taste too."
As a result, when the palace maid took out the bright red, spicy-looking snacks, Hutu immediately picked one up and gave it to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager's lips twitched...
She's getting on in years, can she really handle such spicy food?
However, since it was her beloved granddaughter who had put it in her mouth, she had to eat it even if she had to bite the bullet. She had no choice but to open her mouth and eat it. Although it was spicy and fragrant, it didn't hurt her stomach. In fact, the more she ate, the more she wanted to eat, and she couldn't stop.
Hutuli was the same; after eating one piece, her eyes lit up, and she kept eating one piece after another until she finished them in no time.
The plate was quickly emptied, and both the Empress Dowager and Hutuli were still reluctant to leave.
"Grandma, this is so delicious! Would you like another plate?"
The Empress Dowager shook her head: "Too much of a good thing is bad. Let's eat it tomorrow. Eating too much of this is not good for your health. The flavor is a bit too strong. Quickly bring some tea to balance it out."
When Yinzhen first saw this thing, he also found it quite novel. However, out of trust in Changning, he ate a piece without hesitation. He then found it to be very interesting, very appetizing, and perfect for passing the time.
The spicy strips were an instant hit, and everyone who tried them raved about them.
Even Consort Yu, who is always proud and sharp-tongued, came to Chengqian Palace to ask for some. She stammered for a long time with a shameless face, which made Changning impatient before she finally said that she wanted to try the spicy strips and ask the imperial chef how to make them.
Changning generously shared the recipe.
This gave her an idea, and she gave the recipe to Changxing, asking him to go into business and sell spicy strips in a suitable location in the capital.
The allure of spicy strips is absolutely irresistible.
Time slipped by quietly. Although Changning hadn't been dealing with palace affairs much lately, the palace was now in good order and presented a peaceful scene.
She is now focused on preparing for the year-end banquet and Dorsey's wedding at the end of the year.
Although she cannot attend the ceremony in person, she can send her children to witness it.
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