Chapter 248 Chef Awu, I'm not eating, take it away.
Wei Ting's face was ashen, like a wilted eggplant, and his eyes were dull.
Those who saw him assumed he had been reprimanded again and was completely disillusioned with the emperor.
This ruler and his minister have reached the end of their road.
After the morning court session, there was still a while before noon.
Emperor Wusu was reviewing memorials, and every now and then he would look up at the water clock placed on the right side of the hall.
The water clock's indicator remained motionless for a long time. Emperor Wusu, growing impatient, said, "Li Yuzong, go and check if the water clock is broken."
Li Yuzong went over to check and found that the thin stream of water was still flowing, and there was nothing unusual.
The Emperor is complaining that time is passing too slowly...
Li Yuzong said righteously, "Your Majesty, the water clock does indeed have a problem; it's not very accurate anymore."
Emperor Wusu frowned and said, "Bring a new one."
Li Yuzong instructed Xiao Dongzi to fetch a new water clock from the Imperial Household Department, and also brought up tea and snacks.
"Your Majesty, these are some new snacks made by the Imperial Kitchen."
Upon smelling the pastries, Emperor Wusu's handwriting flowed swiftly and without pause as he said in a deep voice, "I don't want to eat them, take them away."
Emperor Li Yuzong ordered palace servants to take away the tray.
Emperor Wusu looked up and said, "Wait a moment."
Li Yuzong asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, shall this old servant put it back for you?"
These colorful and sweet-smelling pastries were not to Emperor Wusu's liking, but they were clearly something Ji Qingwu would enjoy. Last time at Cining Palace, he saw her eating crab roe pastries and he found them delicious.
He raised his chin and said, "Send it to the Empress Dowager's palace."
Emperor Wusu, remembering that Xijin's spies were still lurking in the shadows, added, "Send a portion to each of the palace ladies."
*
Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager sent Ji Qingwu to prepare lunch, something she had never expected.
Fanghua, accompanied by two young palace maids, led Ji Qingwu to the small kitchen.
After entering, Ji Qingwu looked around and found that everything was available here.
It wasn't until the palace maids came forward and put silk and linen armbands on her, tying up her wide sleeves, that she was able to stop.
Ji Qingwu then realized that things were not good. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she turned around and said, "Aunt Fanghua, do I really have to do this myself?"
She had assumed that once the cooks had prepared all the dishes, she could simply stand aside and watch the cooking process, and if the emperor came and asked how the dishes were made, she could answer the question.
At most, she would simply reach out with a spatula, stir the vegetables a few times, and consider that as having cooked them.
Fanghua smiled and said, "The Empress Dowager means that you should do it yourself, so that your dedication can be shown."
Ji Qingwu really didn't know where the Empress Dowager got her confidence from.
Looking at the delicacies in the food basket, she suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness, like a eunuch going to a brothel.
She doesn't know how to do it...
My cooking skills are good enough to get by, but when it comes to cooking for kids, as long as the ingredients are well-balanced and the nutrition is complete, it's fine.
If it were brought to the palace, it would be completely unfit for public display.
Ji Qingwu stood in front of the stove in the small kitchen, pondering for a long time.
Fanghua and the palace maids beside her just watched helplessly. Ji Qingwu couldn't figure it out either, so he simply cleared everyone out.
She was left alone in the small kitchen. Ji Qingwu looked around and finally picked out a few common ingredients.
Fanghua, standing outside the door, could clearly hear the clanging sound of a cleaver hitting the cutting board. Although she couldn't tell how skilled the knife was, she could tell how strong it was.
About half an hour later, Ji Qingwu pushed open the door to the small kitchen.
Fanghua asked in surprise, "Fifth Miss, is there anything you need?"
Ji Qingwu stood at the door with his hands on his hips and said, "Nothing is needed. We can prepare dinner."
The aroma of food wafted out from the doorway, but the smells were mixed and Fanghua couldn't tell what they were.
"Fifth Miss, is it ready already?"
Ji Qingwu nodded and said, "Alright, please have someone pack it into the food box, Aunt."
Fanghua glanced around and noticed that there was only one dish on the stove.
She said hesitantly, "But..."
The imperial kitchen serves sixteen dishes for lunch every day; isn't it too meager to only have one dish today?
Ji Qingwu didn't care. She should have been prepared for this since the Empress Dowager had asked her to prepare the meal.
She asked, "Has the Emperor arrived?"
"His Majesty has just arrived and is speaking with the Empress Dowager in the front hall."
Fanghua handed the small tray from the palace servant behind her to Ji Qingwu.
Her eyes lit up, and she picked up a red-skinned pastry and took a bite.
After swallowing, Ji Qingwu narrowed her eyes with satisfaction and thanked her, saying, "Auntie still cares about me and knows to bring me some food to fill my stomach."
Fanghua softened her expression and said with a smile, "This is not because I feel sorry for you, but because Eunuch Li from the Imperial Household Department personally delivered it."
Upon hearing this, Ji Qingwu's face began to turn as red as the pastry.
Fanghua whispered in a voice that the two of them could hear, "His Majesty has always been thinking of you."
Ji Qingwu's eyes flickered. After thinking for a moment, she returned to the small kitchen.
Fanghua heard a lot of commotion inside. When Ji Qingwu came out again, his light green shirt was covered in flour.
Ji Qingwu had just put down his rolled-up sleeves.
Fanghua said, "Fifth Miss, we need to hurry over there."
Ji Qingwu said, "I checked the time, we should have enough time, there's no rush."
Fanghua said, "I'm in a hurry!"
It was still a while before the normal mealtime, but Li Yuzong sent Xiao Dongzi to urge them again.
It seems that both the emperor and the eunuchs are anxious.
On the way from the small kitchen to Cining Palace, Ji Qingwu was urged on by Aunt Fanghua, her steps hurried, and the jade pendants on her waist jingled.
As soon as she entered the hall, before she could even perform her rites, the Empress Dowager rose from her throne.
"Qingwu, you child, I have already told you not to bother, but you insist on cooking a meal for me to show your filial piety."
Ji Qingwu: "......"
Emperor Wusu had been there for a while, and the Empress Dowager was sitting with him in silence. Just as she was about to send Shixi to urge him on, Ji Qingwu appeared.
After Ji Qingwu finished performing the rituals, she looked up and saw the emperor's gaze fixed on her waist.
She looked down and saw that there was no flour on her clothes, and the tassel on the jade pendant was still swaying.
Ji Qingwu's ears burned, and she dared not meet Emperor Wusu's gaze. She lowered her eyes and said, "Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, it's time to eat."
The group moved to the dining hall.
Two palace servants carried in a large food box.
Take out a blue and white porcelain plate with a folded rim and a sunflower-shaped mouth. This plate takes up a third of the space on the table.
It was a far cry from the refined dishes served in the palace, exuding an air of extravagance.
Apart from Ji Qingwu and Fanghua, the others were speechless upon seeing this.
Emperor Wusu looked at the plate containing a dozen or so kinds of meat and vegetables and couldn't help but ask with a smile.
"What's the name of this dish that combines all the best elements?"
Ji Qingwu said, "...I forgot." She learned this from a peasant woman she stayed with on her escape journey.
She said sincerely, "It looks messy, but it tastes delicious, and you can still eat your fill."
Upon hearing her words, the Empress Dowager managed to squeeze out the words through her teeth.
"Qingwu, is this all you did?"
"There are others too."
Ji Qingwu then took out a plate of cold shredded chicken and cucumber salad, as well as some corn pancakes she had made, from the snack box.
The pancake was still steaming hot, and a natural corn aroma wafted out.
With mixed feelings, the Empress Dowager said, "You've been away from home for so many years; your life must have been very difficult."
While the Empress Dowager was speaking, Emperor Wusu had already taken a bite with his chopsticks.
Ji Qingwu stared intently at him, swallowing hard...
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