We did it right away.
Xu Yuehuai quickly called a carriage and sent Qi Guze's spy, Bai Zhi, to invite Zhou Wan and San Niang. The carriage waited outside the palace. Bai Zhi quickly got ready, got into the carriage, and headed towards Tianxiang Tower.
When Bai Zhi arrived at Tianxianglou, Zhou Wan was inside doing the accounts.
As soon as Zhou Wan looked up, she saw Bai Zhi, who should have been taking care of Xu Yuehuai in the palace, arrive. Thinking that Xu Yuehuai had something to tell them, she quickly went to greet her.
"What's wrong? Why did you suddenly leave the palace?" Zhou Wan asked Bai Zhi.
“Miss Zhou Wan, come with me quickly, and also call Third Sister. Princess Heyue is in charge of preparing the Duke of Zhenguo’s birthday banquet, but suddenly all the chefs in the Imperial Kitchen have fallen ill and can’t cook. That’s why Princess Heyue sent me to invite you.” Bai Zhi said this in a somewhat anxious tone.
Zhou Wan, who was standing to the side, was getting anxious. Someone must be trying to sabotage things.
Zhou Wan put down her work and let Bai Zhi rest in the hall for a while, while she went to the kitchen to find Third Sister.
San Niang knew that Xu Yuehuai needed her help, so she put down her work.
"What? Is someone deliberately making things difficult for you?" Third Sister asked, somewhat surprised.
Third Sister felt that Xu Yuehuai must have suffered in silence, which is why she sent someone to ask for help.
Zhou Wan nodded quickly: "That must be it. Consort Min, Marquis Ningyuan, and Aqi have always been eyeing Ayue covetously. I'm afraid this is their doing as well."
Third Sister had a bad feeling. She washed her hands and followed Zhou Wan out.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Bai Zhi immediately helped them onto the carriage without saying a word. She couldn't afford to waste a moment, so she quickly told the coachman to start the carriage and head towards the palace.
But just as they disembarked from the carriage and were preparing to attack, they were stopped by two guards.
Bai Zhi took out her token and showed it to the guard.
The guards glanced at her, put down their weapons, and waited for Bai Zhi to walk past before picking up their weapons again and pointing them at Zhou Wan and San Niang.
Bai Zhi was already anxious, and this incident made her even more anxious. She quickly explained, "My lord, these are the people invited by Princess He Yue to be in charge of today's birthday banquet. Please let them through quickly. If the banquet is delayed, none of you will be able to afford to lose your heads."
"I'm sorry, your token only allows one person to enter. You can't bring the rest in. Don't bother struggling anymore, you can go back now," the guard replied coldly.
When Bai Zhi explained again, she said, "These are people that Princess Heyue invited to help. They could clearly bring people in before."
But the guards ignored Bai Zhi's words and continued to point their knives at Zhou Wan and San Niang.
Zhou Wan and San Niang were also anxious.
What they feared was that the birthday banquet would be canceled, which would embarrass Xu Yuehuai, since it was an imperial decree from the emperor that Xu Yuehuai was tasked with planning this grand event.
"Please let us in, we're here to help. We're not bad people," Zhou Wan quickly said.
For a moment, the two of them didn't know what to do.
They remained deadlocked for quite a while.
Having no other choice, Bai Zhi left first to return to the palace and inform her Princess He Yue. Since the palace still needed someone to watch over it, San Niang and Zhou Wan let Bai Zhi go first.
This stalemate lasted for a long time.
Later, the two of them couldn't wait any longer, and just then, Qi Guze arrived.
He is the regent of the current dynasty, with supreme power, second only to the emperor.
Upon seeing him, the guard quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, Regent."
No need for formalities.
"What are you all doing, making such a racket here? Don't you know this is the palace gate? You have no manners at all. How were you taught?" Qi Guze's voice was very authoritative, and the guard immediately knelt down.
As he spoke, he noticed Zhou Wan and San Niang standing to the side, and was even more confused.
"We wouldn't dare, we wouldn't dare! This was all ordered by Consort Min, who forbade Princess Heyue from bringing outsiders in. We were just following her orders, please forgive us, Regent." The two guards pleaded for mercy.
The regent understood the guard's explanation and decided to ignore the palace intrigue.
But this concerns the birthday banquet, and even more so Xu Yuehuai; otherwise, if things turn upside down, he won't get any benefit.
"Are these two Consort Min's enemies? Why aren't they allowed into the palace?" Qi Guze asked.
The guards dared not answer, so Zhou Wan had to step forward and reply: "Your Highness, A-Yue is in trouble inside. All the cooks have fallen ill. If she misses the birthday banquet, A-Yue will definitely be implicated."
Upon hearing this, Qi Guze immediately granted permission: "I approve. These two can go in. If anything happens, it's my responsibility."
"This... how do we explain this to Consort Min?" the two guards asked hesitantly.
What if Consort Min punishes them for not doing a good job?
What a spineless wretch.
The regent saw through their intentions and became somewhat angry. These guards were actually afraid of people in the harem. Did this mean he was not governing well? How dare a concubine extend her influence so far?
"Whom do you listen to? Does nobody listen to me anymore?" Qi Guze was furious, and his voice trembled.
In an instant, all the guards knelt down.
"Let them through!" the guard ordered. Zhou Wan and San Niang successfully entered the palace.
Zhou Wan and San Niang repeatedly thanked Qi Guze: "Thank you, Regent."
After they entered the palace, they met Xu Yuehuai.
Zhou Wan and San Niang recounted everything that had happened at the palace gate to Xu Yuehuai.
Xu Yuehuai was even more grateful to Consort Min, but she never expected that it was Consort Min who was behind it all. She wondered if Consort Min would cause her trouble again in the future.
It's possible that the chefs in the imperial kitchen all fell ill because of Consort Min.
It seems I need to be wary of Consort Min. Since she doesn't want me to successfully host the Duke of Zhenguo's birthday banquet, Xu Yuehuai must do a good job so that Consort Min can take a good look.
Xu Yuehuai thought to herself.
It's getting late, and the birthday banquet is just around the corner. But I haven't prepared anything yet.
Xu Yuehuai didn't have time to think about anything else. He gathered everyone together and quickly gave instructions to Zhou Wan and San Niang.
"Zhou Wan, go prepare the dishes."
"Third Sister, go arrange for someone to deliver the meal. You are my person, and those palace maids won't make things difficult for you."
Xu Yuehuai had already arranged the manpower. She herself quickly got to work.
She tied her hair up, put on a hat, and looked very professional.
Heat oil in a wok until it reaches a certain temperature. Add scallions, ginger, and garlic and sauté until fragrant. Then add the vegetables prepared by Zhou Wan to the wok in order.
This completes the preparation of shredded pork with garlic sauce.
Xu Yuehuai picked up her chopsticks and tasted it briefly; the saltiness was just right.
Then, Third Sister divided the food into portions and arranged for people to serve it.
A row of palace maids carrying trays entered the birthday banquet.
Once one dish was ready, Xu Yuehuai moved on to preparing the next.
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