Golden Thread Peony Rolls: The dough is made with rose syrup and rolled until it's as thin as a cicada's wing, then filled with crab roe, matsutake mushrooms, and chopped ham sprouts.
Amber Hibiscus Soup is made by simmering freshly squeezed deer milk over a low flame at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), then adding snow lotus powder to form a trembling jelly. The surface is sprinkled with candied roselle petals and crushed amber, and drizzled with a spoonful of osmanthus honey syrup made from winter honey.
The Jadeite Buns are made by mixing mugwort juice with crushed jadeite snail shell powder to dye the dough. They are steamed on fresh lotus leaves and perilla leaves, and when they come out of the steamer, the aroma of mushrooms mixed with the smoky smell of pine needles fills the air.
Five-Colored Morning Glow Porridge is made by simmering red rice, purple ginseng, green beans, golden dates, and white jade Job's tears in a clay pot for seven hours, and finally sprinkling in dried cuttlefish bone powder to enhance the flavor.
The four dishes from the imperial kitchen all share one thing in common: an irresistible aroma.
The atmosphere in the side hall was quite strange.
Qin Zhaoyue enjoyed a sumptuous imperial meal, which was personally delivered by the palace's imperial guards, the Qingluan Guard. This kind of treatment was probably only reserved for her mother, the Empress.
However, Qin Zhaoyue had a sour face the whole time, and her eyes were like daggers as she glared at the four Qingluan Guards.
Heaven have mercy! I survived until the second day, then woke up at 3 AM and went to work at 5 AM!
Even the best of the best in their past lives couldn't be better than this, right? It's only slightly better than working overtime until dawn.
The four Azure Phoenix Guards sensed the intense resentment emanating from the Sixth Princess.
The other three really didn't understand. After all, attending court at dawn was the norm, so what was there to resent? Only Suimo knew the reason behind it.
She had regretted it many times that morning. Why was it that she was on duty in the Imperial Study yesterday? The Sixth Princess really couldn't get up.
As a commander of the Azure Phoenix Guard, Sui Mo had come into contact with many secrets and considered himself to be very good at judging people. At this moment, he could tell that the Sixth Princess opposite him was truly full of resentment.
The spoon made a clinking, scraping sound against the porcelain, which was not in accordance with the rules for a princess, but she deliberately made this annoying noise, as if in silent protest, and... it was quite cute...
As the saying goes, seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving. Suimo felt that the previous rumors about the Sixth Princess were too outrageous. She was clearly still a child who hadn't grown up.
"Your Highness, His Majesty's decree..."
"Okay, okay," Qin Zhaoyue waved her hand impatiently and let out a long sigh.
"I'll let it go this time, but consider it as a donation for the disaster victims. I'll make the donation later."
Tell the Queen Mother this is a one-time thing, and there won't be a next time.
Broken Ink: ...
How dare she say such a thing to His Majesty? Does she think her neck is too heavy for her head?
However, having finally completed the task, Suimo decided to let it go in one ear and out the other, pretending not to hear it.
When the time for court session arrived, civil and military officials entered the hall. After most of them had entered, Qin Zhaoyue seized an opportunity to come out from the side hall and slip into the main hall.
Arrange them according to rank and the six departments, with four princesses on the left and four princes on the right at the very front.
Qin Zhaoyue glanced at it and silently stood behind Xiao Jiu, because there was a pillar at the end of the line, which would save her some effort.
Before long, Empress Qin Minghuang made her appearance and officially began her court session.
The first problem to be solved was the flood. The Minister of Civil Affairs reported on the disaster and requested funding, but the problem remained: the national treasury was empty.
"Which of my beloved ministers can resolve my worries and difficulties?"
The officials couldn't let the conversation fall flat, so they offered a series of suggestions.
It's nothing more than increasing taxes, imposing corvée labor, and those blind fools proposing to reduce military expenditures.
The Northern Wind Dynasty has repeatedly attacked our borders, and military losses are absolutely unacceptable. This statement immediately sparked conflict between the civil and military officials, and the court was in an uproar.
Qin Minghuang remained expressionless, having asked a question at the beginning and then remained silent, letting the officials argue.
Gradually, they all noticed something was wrong, and the arguing suddenly stopped.
The court became so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and observant people would notice that not only the Empress, but also the Prime Minister and the heads of the Six Departments were not involved.
After a moment of silence, the Second Prince stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, the disaster is now raging like a raging fire, and disaster relief is urgently needed. Your subject is deeply worried and is willing to donate 20,000 taels of silver."
Many people in the court looked rather grim. Although they had considered donating silver, which was a common practice during major disasters, they still felt the pinch when it came to it.
However, it was the Second Prince who spoke, who was known for his virtue and status; who could possibly object?
The money had to be spent, and most of the reputation would end up in someone else's hands. The second prince's cronies were naturally fine, but one can imagine what the other officials were thinking.
The eldest princess narrowed her eyes, and the other princesses all frowned.
The idea of fundraising was proposed by the fourth brother, but it was just a common idea. The one who actually perfected it was the sixth brother.
After yesterday's audience with the emperor in the imperial study, the three princesses in front of her did not want to take credit for it and wanted Qin Zhaoyue to say it herself in court.
This delay unexpectedly benefited the second son.
The princess was furious. She turned around and was stunned.
The one sleeping against the pillar... isn't that Sixth Sister? It's Sixth Sister!
After the Second Prince finished speaking, he was prepared to accept the praise, but the court suddenly fell silent.
The officials were naturally unhappy, because since the prince had paid the money, none of them could escape.
The price decreases according to the grade, and there has always been a convention that you have to pay money for everything. Who would be happy about that? But everyone noticed that the atmosphere was a bit off.
Logically, when the prince brings up this topic, His Majesty should immediately respond.
Then the princes and princesses followed suit, from the prime minister down to the heads of the six departments, gradually claiming appropriate donations.
But why isn't His Majesty speaking? And why is he glancing to the left with a livid expression?
Not only His Majesty, but all four princesses were also looking back. What were they looking at?
An eerie atmosphere was spreading rapidly. Those nearby immediately turned their gazes in that direction, while others, unable to see, craned their necks to peer inside. For a moment, the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, until…
"Huff...huff...huff..." The sound of snoring gradually rose.
Civil and military officials: !
Who is it? Who dares to sleep in the imperial court, and even snore!
Whose general is this, so brave?
Qin Minghuang's fist hardened, and his face was so gloomy it could drip water.
She said she hadn't heard Xiao Liu's thoughts all morning, so he must have fallen asleep in the Phoenix Palace!
"Zhaoyue... Zhaoyue!"
The Ninth Princess was extremely anxious. She stood still, her mouth seemingly not moving, but she was actually calling out softly in a breathy voice.
God knows how much pressure she's under right now!
Perhaps it was hearing her call, or perhaps the overly quiet atmosphere made Qin Zhaoyue sense something was wrong, and she suddenly opened her eyes with a start.
"I'm not asleep!"
Empress: ...
The four princesses: ...
Civil and military officials: ...
Qin Zhaoyue's heart skipped a beat, realizing something was wrong. To make amends as quickly as possible, she immediately raised her hand, "I'll donate ten thousand taels!"
Those words were spoken with such conviction!
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