Moving around in the water is much more strenuous than being outdoors. After splashing around in the hot spring pool for a while, everyone was panting heavily.
At that moment, palace servants brought over bowls of snacks.
Just as Wan Anran was wondering how the snacks would be served, she saw a palace servant place the delicate snacks on a tray, then place the wooden tray on the surface of the hot spring water, and gently push it to Wan Anran's side.
The tray drifted with the current.
If it's like when everyone is playing around, you can attach the tray to the shelf next to the pool to keep it stable and prevent it from being knocked over.
The novel approach elicited gasps of surprise from the princesses.
Wan Anran looked down with curiosity and saw a cup of sweet rice wine on the tray in front of her, the kind that was still emitting a cool aroma.
Of course, what was placed in front of the princesses was not sweet fermented rice, but four different kinds of milk pudding with different shapes and flavors: green grape flavor, caramel flavor, soy milk flavor, and osmanthus coconut milk flavor. Each one was made small and exquisite, and full of fragrance.
Wan Anran looked down at the sweet fermented rice, then looked up at the milk pudding.
Hmm...she wants to eat too? Wan Anran drooled and secretly gave Hai Tao a accusing look.
Hai Tao's eyes showed helplessness.
The mistress and servant exchanged glances for a long time, but in the end, Hai Tao was defeated. She turned her head and gave a few instructions to the palace servant beside her.
Wan Anran saw the surprise on the palace servant's face.
She stuck out her tongue and lowered her head to focus her attention on the sweet fermented rice in front of her.
The milk pudding is delicious, but the sweet fermented rice in front of me is also fantastic!
Before the rest of the snacks arrive, shall we enjoy this first? Without further ado, Wan Anran took a spoonful and gently scooped it up.
Even before tasting it, one could smell the sweet and fragrant aroma of the rice wine. Taking a sip, the icy, refreshing rice wine flowed into her stomach, blending with the warm spring water, causing Wan Anran's cheeks to flush red. She couldn't help but exclaim, "This is the first time I've ever experienced such a heavenly life!"
The princesses couldn't help but laugh.
They all picked up spoons and ate the sweet milk pudding spoonful by spoonful, occasionally exchanging bites. For example, the Fourth Princess even took a liking to the sweet fermented rice wine in Consort Qi's cup.
What does sweet fermented rice taste like?
Driven by curiosity, she splashed through the water and approached Wan Anran, saying, "Mother Qi~"
Wan Anran immediately understood the Fourth Princess's intentions.
She glanced at the fourth princess: "Children shouldn't drink alcohol."
The fourth princess puffed out her cheeks.
Her eyes lit up, and she immediately came up with another idea. The Fourth Princess promptly picked up the soy milk pudding beside her and offered it to Wan Anran in a fawning manner: "Mother Consort Qi, how about I exchange this with you?"
Qi's mother's weakness is food.
The Fourth Princess smiled smugly, confident that Qi's mother would definitely not be able to resist the temptation of delicious food.
Unfortunately—Wan Anran's lips curled up in a smile.
She resolutely refused amidst the Fourth Princess's shocked, bewildered, and confused gaze. As for the reason? Soon, the Fourth Princess saw a palace servant bring over another serving of milk pudding and place it beside Consort Qi's mother.
Fourth Princess: …………
Her cheeks puffed up in anger: "Mother Qi, you're cheating!"
Wan Anran flicked the Fourth Princess's forehead, then snorted softly, "When you grow up, you can do that too."
The soy milk pudding tastes amazing too!
The rich aroma of soybeans is irresistible. The creamy layer and the milk pudding underneath blend perfectly upon first bite, making it so delicious you'll want to swallow your tongue.
This kind of technology is simply amazing!
Wan Anran was amazed by the deliciousness of soy milk, and at the same time, she recalled soy milk cake... She swallowed and decided to try it later.
It was almost time.
After a relaxing hot spring bath, Wan Anran enjoyed a luxurious massage. With the intoxicating scent of sandalwood surrounding her nose and the skilled massage techniques of the palace attendants on her back, Wan Anran felt all the fatigue of the past few days vanish, leaving her refreshed and full of energy!
The group strolled leisurely out of the hot spring.
After soaking in the hot spring, you feel warm all over, making you want to lazily doze off.
I'm so sleepy...
However, before that, one must pay respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager and serve them their meals.
Wan Anran yawned and subconsciously quickened her pace, but halfway there she heard a commotion. She stopped and looked ahead, only to find that the leaders were none other than Yin Zhi and Yin Zhen.
Upon seeing Yinzhen, Wan Anran instantly woke up from her drowsiness. Her face turned serious, and she hurriedly stepped forward: "Yinzhen, what happened... oh?"
Wan Anran fell silent halfway through her sentence.
After taking a few steps forward, she discovered the reason: right behind Yinzhen, several eunuchs were carefully carrying Yinqi...
Wan Anran: …………
Consort Qi's silence aroused the princesses' curiosity, and they all crowded around, falling silent as well.
The fourth princess was the first to come to her senses.
She reached out and poked Yinqi's cheek: "Sixth Brother's face is as red as a boiled shrimp."
Yinzhen's face darkened: "Isn't it cooked?"
Yin Zhi, standing to the side, twitched at the corner of his mouth, his face looking very unpleasant: "The rest of us got up, but Sixth Brother refused to come out no matter what, saying he wanted to learn to swim in the hot spring. By the time Fifth Brother realized something was wrong, he had already turned into this state."
I actually got dizzy from soaking in the hot spring.
Wan Anran was both amused and exasperated. Seeing how exhausted and speechless Yinzhen and Yinzhi looked, she knew that the two had probably suffered quite a bit of torment.
She sighed and instructed the princesses to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, while she herself turned around and personally escorted Yinqi back to his courtyard.
After settling the dazed Yinqi down, Wan Anran turned and went to the two empress dowagers. When she arrived, the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager were talking about Yinqi.
The Empress Dowager said with a stern face, "This boy is getting worse and worse. If it weren't for the Fifth Prince keeping an eye on him, he would have flown to the heavens."
The Empress Dowager smiled broadly.
The Empress Dowager rolled her eyes at her: "What are you laughing at?"
Empress Dowager: "Your subject recalls past events!"
"before?"
"Yes!" The Empress Dowager nodded emphatically, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Empress Mother, do you still remember the Emperor when he was a child?"
"Of course I remember. The Emperor was intelligent, studious, quick-witted, and conscientious..." The Empress Dowager murmured, listing a hundred or a thousand of the Emperor's virtues, before adding at the end, "Yinqi is nothing like him!"
"I was referring to Chang Ning."
The Empress Dowager was both amused and exasperated: "Changning was just as troublesome back then, and it was only thanks to the Emperor and Fuquan cleaning up the mess that everything was done for him!"
The Empress Dowager was taken aback.
She then smiled and couldn't help but nod: "If you ask me, Yinqi is like Changning... and Yinzhen's temperament is just like Fuquan's! He's very steady, and it's all thanks to him that Yinqi can be kept in check."
"The Fourth Prince also helped this time."
"Yinzhi is also a good one." The Empress Dowager nodded, but then she changed the subject and brought up Yinzhen again.
If the Empress Dowager hadn't said anything, it would have been fine, but mentioning the Grand Empress Dowager really made me think it was true! She pulled Consort Qi aside and grumbled, "It's a good thing that he resembles Fuquan..."
The Empress Dowager is right.
Almost every concubine in the palace hoped that their prince could be like Prince Yu, Fuquan, who was trusted by the emperor and held a high position and great power. As for Prince Gong, Changning, who was disliked by the emperor and was scolded every few days, his reputation was not good at all.
Wan Anran, however, disagreed.
She smiled and said, "Prince Yu is certainly good, but Prince Gong is free and easy, which isn't so bad either." After all, Prince Yu's high position and power were earned through caution and prudence.
"He's not free and easy at all; all he does is cause trouble!"
"Consort Qi, don't think like that. If you really had a child like Changning, you would definitely cry!" The Empress Dowager also nagged hurriedly. She glared at Consort Qi with disappointment and poked Consort Qi's forehead with her finger: "I think it's because Yinzhen is too sensible and obedient that you have this kind of misconception."
Perhaps?
Wan Anran smiled and quickly changed the subject: "Speaking of which, it's about time for dinner."
I had some pastries casually for lunch.
After soaking in the hot springs and engaging in some exercise, Wan Anran was starving. It would have been better if she hadn't mentioned it; bringing it up made even the princesses' stomachs rumble, and they all felt hungry.
Even at the hot spring resort, the cooks were all brought from the palace. As soon as Consort Qi spoke, a group of palace servants hurriedly entered and quickly filled the round table to the brim.
From tender chicken with scallion oil to eight-treasure duck, from fish and mutton soup to "flowers in full bloom and wealth," from cabbage in broth to minced meat and jade-like slices, everything that flies in the sky and runs on the ground has been served on the table.
However, the Empress Dowager only picked up a piece of tender chicken with scallion oil, then took two bites of steamed meatballs, two bites of steamed lamb with milk, and a bowl of duck porridge. After that, she put down her chopsticks, picked up her teacup, and took a sip.
Wan Anran couldn't help but frown, and served a bowl of mutton soup: "Your Majesty, please try this, it tastes delicious."
The soup is pure white and has a wonderful aroma.
The imperial chefs in the palace made it with exquisite skill. The milky white soup looked just like cow's milk. It looked ordinary, but it was a combination of various delicacies and could be called the best of the best. Wan Anran could drink three bowls in one go.
However, the Empress Dowager shook her head: "I have a poor appetite, this is enough for me."
Even if you have a poor appetite, isn't this too little?
Before Wan Anran could speak, the Empress Dowager helped Su Mala to her feet, instructed everyone to continue their meal, and then slowly walked into the house.
The princesses looked at each other in bewilderment.
Wan Anran was also full of questions. Watching the Empress Dowager's departing figure, she felt that the Empress Dowager seemed to be in a bad mood. After finishing her meal absentmindedly and after the princesses had left, she asked the Empress Dowager in a low voice, "Is the Empress Dowager feeling unwell?"
The Empress Dowager's expression was somewhat strange.
After a long pause, she answered in a low voice, "The Empress Dowager lost two more teeth a few days ago, so the palace switched to softer food... You know, it's fine to use it occasionally, but after ten days or half a month, wouldn't you get tired of it?"
Wan Anran understood now.
Recalling what the Empress Dowager had just eaten, it was indeed all kinds of steamed dishes. In addition, for the sake of health, she mainly ate light food, which made the Empress Dowager have little appetite.
Wan Anran seemed to be deep in thought.
She then told the Emperor about it, and Kangxi wasn't too surprised.
That makes sense; the Emperor probably already knew.
Wan Anran quickly realized that the reason for coming to the hot springs was probably to help the Empress Dowager recuperate.
Almost as soon as Wan Anran's thoughts settled, Kangxi calmly said, "I did this precisely to help Grandmother Empress Dowager recover."
Just as I expected!
Emperor Kangxi looked at Consort Qi expectantly: "My beloved consort, do you have any thoughts?"
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