Chapter 14 If possible, I hope Minister Pei will…
Chu Yueluan suddenly felt a terrible headache.
If a crack appeared in the ground right now, even if it led to the eerie underworld filled with ghostly flames, she would jump in without hesitation.
"I have nothing to do in the palace, so I've been writing these random things to pass the time... I hope you'll forgive my ramblings, Minister Pei..."
Faced with the undeniable facts, Chu Yueyuan had no choice but to shamelessly admit it.
She gently bit her lip, raised her head, and said in a weak voice, "If possible, I hope Minister Pei will keep this matter a secret..."
The woman sat sideways on the chaise longue with her legs together, her skirt spreading out behind her like flower petals. She tilted her head slightly, revealing her slender neck, snow-white skin, and exquisite features. The red jade hairpin with phoenix head and pearls hanging down her temple swayed gently, making her eyes sparkle.
It was as if the petals of the peach tree outside the window were blown in by the phoenix through the window frame, drifting and falling onto the chaise lounge, instantly transforming into bewitching peach blossom spirits.
Pei Muwei's dark eyes reflected a hint of crimson. He twirled his fingers behind his back and said calmly, "Your Majesty, I will keep my mouth shut."
Chu Yueyuan breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly changed the subject and casually asked, "Recently, the water lily pills in Fengqi Palace have produced quite a few lotus seeds. Did you enjoy the lotus seed cake that I sent to Minister Pei last time?"
Pei Muwei frowned slightly, pondering without speaking.
Chu Yueyuan found it strange that the Regent, who made decisive decisions even when faced with urgent military matters, remained silent and unable to give an answer when it came to the question of tasting tea and fruit.
A sudden realization dawned on her.
As a high-ranking and powerful regent, he naturally had to be very careful about what he put in his mouth.
She made a fool of herself.
Chu Yueyuan's eyes darkened slightly, a self-deprecating smile appearing in them. Just as she was about to find an excuse to leave, she heard Eunuch Wang's shrill voice say:
"Your Majesty, before the Regent ate the lotus seed cake last time, he drank Mao Feng tea. This tea has a bitter taste, and once it enters the mouth, it is difficult to fully appreciate the flavors of other foods afterwards."
That's how it is.
Chu Yueyuan's face blossomed into a smile again, her long eyelashes fluttering, and her tone cheerful:
"The season for the Water Ganoderma to ripen is only one month, and neither the Emperor nor I can finish them all. Since you didn't taste the flavor last time, I will send someone to deliver another portion to you when Granny Xu makes a new pastry next time."
The young empress dowager was beautiful. When she smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons, and her eyes shimmered like the surface of a lake ruffled by a spring breeze.
Pei Muwei nodded slightly: "Your Majesty, this humble subject thanks you."
——
At night, the moonlight was as bright as water.
Good news came from the front lines, and the Qin Zheng Hall was brightly lit until midnight.
During this time, the Imperial Kitchen delivered twelve delicacies, presented on white jade plates, arranged like clusters of flowers on the Eight Immortals Table.
The palace servants who attended to the emperor all knew that the regent was diligent in his duties and did not care much for food or drink, eating only breakfast and a light meal each day.
But tonight, the Regent, for the first time ever, requested tea and snacks three times after the meal.
Under the long corridor, Supervisor Song wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, quietly slipped a handful of silver melon seeds into Eunuch Wang's hand, and smiled broadly:
"Tonight, the Regent's Palace summoned three meals, saying that the Regent found the tea too bitter and wanted some snacks. I sent over magnolia-shaped hand-pulled pastries, lotus root starch and osmanthus cakes, plum blossom-scented cakes, milk cakes, and candied water chestnuts, but all of these snacks were returned untouched. This... I'm starting to feel a little uneasy. Your Excellency, you often serve the Regent, could you perhaps offer me some advice?"
Eunuch Wang weighed the contents in his hand, narrowed his eyes in satisfaction, and whispered a few words to Supervisor Song.
Supervisor Song frowned, a look of doubt creeping onto his face. He hesitated and asked, "Eunuch Wang, can this... really work?"
Eunuch Wang raised his whisk, tapped the smoker's hat, and said sternly, "Believe it or not, I don't have the time to joke with you."
A quarter of an hour later, the Imperial Kitchen Supervisor Song entered the study with trepidation, placed a plate of pastries on the rosewood desk with cloud and dragon patterns, and carefully considered his words:
"Your Majesty, I just delivered bird's nest soup to Phoenix Perch Palace. The Empress Dowager, hearing that Your Majesty was still handling state affairs late at night, sent me to deliver this plate of lotus seed cake..."
The man behind the desk didn't raise his eyebrows, only giving a faint reply.
"Let it go."
Upon hearing this, Supervisor Song was overjoyed, quickly put down the pastries, bowed, and withdrew.
As Song Shanjian stepped out of the threshold with light steps, he gave a thumbs-up to Eunuch Wang, who was standing by the partition door.
Wang Gonggong silently opened his mouth and mouthed the words "Get out of here."
The sturdy figure of Supervisor Song, trotting along, disappeared beneath the floating cloud-covered path. Eunuch Wang, standing beneath the canopy, turned sideways and, through the half-open double-pane window with its four-bowl design, glimpsed the tall, imposing figure behind the ink-wash screen. He reached out and picked up a piece of lotus seed cake from the plate...
Eunuch Wang turned around, a smug look of joy creeping onto his face. He casually flicked the horsehair whisk in his hand.
Hey, this time, we finally guessed right!
Now, let's turn to the Phoenix Perch Palace.
Chu Yueyuan often needed Xiao Yanzi to run errands for her outside the palace, and she didn't hide the secret that she was a Jade Rank Immortal from him.
When Xiao Yanzi learned that the Jade Steps Immortal, whom he revered as a god, was right in front of him, his jaw nearly dropped to the ground. It wasn't until Jin Tong's crisp slap landed on the back of his head that he snapped out of his daze and stammered, "If Chu Yueyuan has a new work published, could you send me a deluxe edition?"
Jin Tong tapped Xiao Yanzi's forehead and laughed, "Silly boy, you're already serving by the Empress Dowager's side, so you can read the latest manuscripts as you please."
Chu Yueyuan asked Xiao Yanzi to send her newly written manuscript to Moxiangju.
Three days later, she received a reply from Hengting Siyi.
In addition to the silver notes, the letter also contained a contract for the trading of the books. Hengting Si instructed Chu Yueyuan to send the manuscript on the first day of each month starting next month, and her fee would be five times more than before.
Xiao Yanzi, who had just returned from outside the palace, didn't even have time to drink some water to moisten her throat before she rushed over, beaming with excitement:
"No wonder the Empress Dowager calls Manager Heng a vixen. This person is good at doing business. Today, I saw all the well-known bookstore managers in the capital at Moxiangju. These people are fighting tooth and nail to get the seal for the new work of the Jade Immortal who has returned to the world."
The engraving certificate is a certificate issued by the bookstore for holding the engraving, printing, and sales rights. Once Moxiangju has the engraving certificate of Yujie Xianren, other bookstores are not allowed to reproduce it. If there is any violation, the matter can be taken to the government.
Chu Yueyuan smiled faintly and remained silent. She didn't mind Heng Tingsi using her name to make money from other bookstores.
Hengtingsi is a bookseller, and Yujie Xianren is a scholar; their relationship is purely one of mutual benefit.
Just like her and the regent, one was an ambitious dragon vying for the throne, and the other was a pleasure-seeking, beautifully plumed phoenix.
The man wanted her to paint a picture of peace and prosperity for him, while she wanted the man to protect her and allow her to live out the rest of her life in the harem.
It was precisely this profit-driven relationship between the two that made Chu Yueyuan feel at ease.
___
As the Flower Festival approaches, the primroses and camellias carefully cultivated by the palace gardeners are in full bloom, filling the garden with fragrance as a gentle breeze blows.
The woman walked hurriedly along the garden path, followed by several palace servants carrying peacock fans.
She wore a long dress with a wide strip of pale yellow brocade wrapped around her chest, embroidered with peonies symbolizing wealth and nobility, and delicately outlined with auspicious clouds in silver thread. The hem was decorated with waves and cloud patterns, creating ripples as she walked. The pearl and crystal hairpins adorning her black hair reflected a delicate shimmer in the sunlight.
"Your Majesty, please slow down. It rained last night. Your Highness, please be careful of the pebbles under your feet."
Jin Tong quickly caught up and said urgently, "The Regent did not summon Eunuch Wang to urge the Empress Dowager. I suppose the Regent has heard about what happened last night and is not too concerned that Your Highness is a little late today."
Chu Yueyuan neither confirmed nor denied, and her pace did not slow down.
After the Awakening of Insects, the court sessions were moved from the beginning of Chen Shi (7:00 AM) to the exact moment of Chen Shi (7:00 AM), and the time when she and the Regent listened to government affairs in the Xuanzheng Hall was also moved forward by half an hour.
Last night, Xiao Yun had a nightmare and woke up crying and screaming. No one could comfort him. The head lady-in-chief of Zichen Palace had no choice but to knock on Fengqi Palace in the middle of the night and invite Chu Yueyuan over.
When Chu Yueyuan rushed to Zichen Palace, Xiao Yun's fair face was almost purple from crying.
She held Xiao Yun and gently coaxed her for a long time before Xiao Yun gradually stopped crying, his little chubby hands tightly gripping her neck and refusing to let go.
After all that commotion in the middle of the night, Chu Yueyuan was wide awake and didn't fall asleep until dawn.
I slept soundly until the sun was high in the sky.
Although the Regent did not send anyone to the Zichen Palace to urge her, Chu Yueyuan believed that as a puppet, she should act like one. Even if she only showed her face at the end of the council meeting, it would be better than letting the court officials suspect that the Regent was persecuting orphans and widows in the deep palace.
Turn right at the end of the West Garden Water Corridor to reach the Hall of Diligent Governance.
The lake water was crystal clear, and a brood of newly hatched mandarin ducklings followed their mother, playing freely on the lake's surface.
Chu Yueyuan vaguely heard the conversation between Prime Minister Shen and the Minister of Revenue ahead, so she quickened her pace.
Hurriedly rounding the corner of the corridor, Chu Yueyuan suddenly felt the light dim in front of her. Before she could stop, she stumbled straight into the other person's arms.
The man raised his hand in time and firmly supported her arm.
A tinkling sound, like jade clashing together, rang out. She looked down, staring blankly at the mutton-fat jade mandarin duck rings hanging from the man's waist, her expression momentarily dazed.
A note from the author:
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Leave a comment, my darlings, and there will be a surprise coming your way from time to time! [Orange Candy]
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