"Which palace are you a maid from?" As soon as the Second Prince entered the imperial kitchen, his eyes were immediately drawn to the delicious food on the table.
Upon seeing this, Hengniang immediately curtsied and said, "This servant greets the Second Prince."
She glanced at Xu Yuehuai, and was about to answer when Xu Yuehuai spoke first: "We are from Anfu Palace."
"Good, did you prepare this meal?" The Second Prince's attention was entirely focused on the food box.
Although he was a prince, he rarely got to eat such delicious food. Moreover, the dishes prepared by the kitchen staff were all the same and could not please him at all.
"Yes, do you want to eat?" Xu Yuehuai asked quickly.
Upon hearing this, the second prince hesitated, then shook his head after a long while.
Despite this, Xu Yuehuai still saw the longing in his eyes. After thinking for a moment, she quickly took out a bowl and plate and served him another portion.
She smiled and said, "I made a lot, so you should try some too. You're still growing, so you must eat more."
Although she didn't know the Second Prince's character, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him when she saw how well-behaved he was.
Fortunately, they made quite a lot, and there was some left over. Xu Yuehuai and Hengniang packed it all up and carried the food boxes back to Anfu Palace.
On the way, Hengniang couldn't help but complain: "Why didn't Princess Heyue just say that this was made for Consort Jia? That way, the Second Prince wouldn't be thinking about these foods."
"Is it a good thing that he doesn't care?" Xu Yuehuai asked rhetorically.
Hengniang couldn't understand what these words meant.
Xu Yuehuai quickly smiled and said, "That is the Second Prince. Consort Jia has just lost her child. If she treats other princes and princesses badly, she will surely be criticized. If we are careful in everything we do, it can be considered as accumulating good fortune for Consort Jia."
Hengniang didn't speak, but stared blankly at Xu Yuehuai.
"What's wrong?" Xu Yuehuai asked quickly after noticing her gaze.
Hengniang shook her head.
...
At this moment, the Duchess of Zhenguo was still analyzing the miscarriage with Consort Jia. They were convinced that the miscarriage was definitely not simple, but rather caused by human intervention.
“I don’t think it’s Consort Min,” said Consort Jia, beginning to rule out other possibilities. “She has no sons and is close to the Crown Prince, so how could she possibly do such a thing to me? Cousin, I think it might be one of the concubines who have princes. If they get rid of the child in my womb, their sons will have a better chance.”
The Duchess of Zhenguo thought for a moment and then asked, "What about the Empress?"
“The Empress might be a possibility, and there’s also Consort De. If the Crown Prince isn’t found, then Consort De’s second son will be the future heir apparent,” Consort Jia said, frowning.
The Duchess of Zhenguo shook her head: "I don't think so."
“The Second Prince is a man of noble character. An unborn baby could never pose a threat to him. We should target the Crown Prince instead.”
Although she was analyzing things this way, she still felt in her heart that things were not that simple.
Xu Yuehuai and Hengniang had just stepped outside when they overheard them talking about this.
She felt that this matter was definitely not that simple. If it was really the work of these concubines who had children, then it would be too obvious. Moreover, since Consort Min was able to get close to A-Qi, she was very likely to pave the way for A-Qi. Consort Min was the most likely candidate.
On the contrary, the Empress always felt that Ah Qi was not her son, so how could she possibly have blood on her hands for someone who was not her son?
Just as she was thinking about it, Hengniang brought in the food.
The words of the Duke of Zhenguo's wife and Consort Jia came to an abrupt end, and Consort Jia even wanted to try the food after smelling it.
"Is it A-Yue back?" Consort Jia looked towards the door.
Sure enough, the next moment they came in carrying their things, and Hengniang couldn't help but tease them, "Your Highness, it looks like you're all better now."
As they talked, the two quickly moved aside and placed the food on the table.
"In all my years in the palace, I've never smelled such delicious food. It seems that A-Yue's cooking skills are truly remarkable. A-Yue, bring it here so I can have a taste." Consort Jia's appetite was whetted, and she couldn't help but praise the food.
"Your cooking is delicious." Consort Jia ate with great delight.
Seeing this, the Duchess of Zhenguo smiled. She thought for a moment and said, "A-Yue, why don't you stay at Anfu Palace for a while? You can cook more delicious food for your aunt."
Consort Jia was immediately delighted upon hearing this.
She had been feeling that there was something wrong with the food these days, but this food was normal. Besides, the chefs in the imperial kitchen could never make food this delicious.
However, after a moment's thought, she pouted and said, "Cousin, can you really bear to part with her?"
"Ah Yue, what do you think?" The Duchess of Zhenguo threw the topic to Xu Yuehuai.
However, she didn't forget to give Xu Yuehuai a wink.
Xu Yuehuai knew, of course, that the Duchess of Zhenguo wanted her to stay, partly to cook for Consort Jia and help her recover, and partly to continue investigating Consort Jia's miscarriage. If she could help Consort Jia rise in rank, it would be a favor to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
“Great! A-Yue is willing to stay and take care of her aunt.” Xu Yuehuai said with a smile.
She also wanted to see what secrets were still hidden in the palace.
Upon hearing this, Consort Jia jumped up, and Hengniang quickly went over to help her up.
The room in Anfu Palace burst into laughter. Xu Yuehuai teased, "Mother, why is Aunt acting like a child? Luckily, we're in our own palace, or she'll definitely be ridiculed."
Hengniang hadn't seen Consort Jia so happy in a long time, and she couldn't stop laughing along with her.
Xu Yuehuai suddenly realized that their decision alone wouldn't be enough; it also had to go through the Empress, after all, she was the head of the harem. Moreover, she had just left Fengyi Palace because of her poor health, and if she went to Anfu Palace like this, the Empress would definitely target Consort Jia.
Not to mention, if the Empress were to ask Consort Jia for herself, the situation would become much more complicated.
Seeing that she suddenly looked troubled, the Duchess of Zhenguo knew that something must have happened, and quickly asked, "A-Yue, what's wrong?"
"I wonder if the Empress will object? Mother, I left Fengyi Palace because I wasn't feeling well. I just saw the Empress and she said I wasn't fully recovered. If I just move into Anfu Palace so rashly, I'm afraid the Empress will become suspicious." Xu Yuehuai said, frowning.
The Duchess of Zhenguo felt this was not a problem.
She quickly reassured him, "You can have your aunt go to His Majesty. As long as His Majesty agrees, that's fine."
Consort Jia looked troubled upon hearing this. Since her miscarriage, she had hardly seen His Majesty, and in addition, she had been unwell and had not been able to serve him in bed for a long time.
Although Consort Jia did not speak, her expression said it all.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com