Wan Anran was in a very good mood.
The snacks and breakfasts that Consort Xuan bestowed upon her were all meticulously prepared by the imperial chefs. They were a hundred, a thousand, or even ten thousand times tastier than the snacks that Wan Anran had been eating these past few days, which were either a little burnt or a little too salty.
For example, there's the crispy and sweet Sachima, or the crispy and fragrant walnut shortbread... Wan Anran ate this and that, her face beaming with satisfaction.
Just as she was enjoying her snacks, a loud voice rang out from outside the door: "Her Majesty the Empress has decreed that Consort Nara must allow Lady Wan to enter Kunning Palace for an audience!"
Wan Anran: …………
She spat out all the snacks she was chewing with a "pfft" sound!
Before Wan Anran could even think about why the Empress had summoned her, she leaped to her feet and screamed in alarm, "Haitao! Haitao! Quick! Come quick! Where are my clothes?!"
Haitao was also extremely anxious.
As she rummaged through chests and drawers searching for clothes, she muttered to herself, "Your Majesty the Empress, why would Your Majesty suddenly summon me?"
Not to mention a mere concubine, even noble ladies and ladies-in-waiting were not required to pay their respects to the Empress morning and evening. They only needed to greet their respective mistresses within their palaces. The sudden summons not only threw the mistress and her servant into disarray, but the commotion also caused Zhou Mama, who was waiting outside, to frown slightly.
Noble Lady Nara led Wan Fu out.
Seeing this, she quickly spoke up for Wan Anran: "Consort Wan only has one palace maid now, and this is the first time she has paid her respects to Her Majesty the Empress. I'm afraid she is a little too nervous."
Wan Fu nodded as well.
He often went to Kunning Palace for tea and was very familiar with this seemingly stern but actually gentle Granny Zhou. Following his mother's words, he laughed and said, "Wan Ying is so stupid, Granny Zhou, don't be angry!"
Granny Zhou responded with a smile.
Of course, she also kept Wan Daying's affairs in mind without leaving a trace. For example, the Imperial Household Department had not yet replaced the missing palace maids, and she noticed that Consort Nara and the Ninth Prince both had a good impression of Wan Daying.
Granny Zhou patiently waited for Wan to agree.
Before the door to the east wing could even open, the door to the west wing opened. Xu Changzai, dressed in a red robe embroidered with pomegranate and begonia flowers and with ruby tassels on her head, hurriedly came out. She walked happily to Nara Guiren's side, stared at the east wing with slight disdain, and raised her voice slightly: "This Wan Yingying is really outrageous, troubling the old nanny to wait for her."
Granny Zhou frowned.
She didn't reply, but just stood there expressionless.
After waiting for about half a cup of tea's time, the door to the east wing was finally opened in a hurry.
Wan Anran appeared before people, her hair simply tied in two buns, dressed in a decent palace outfit, panting heavily. If it weren't for Zhou Mama's quick reflexes, she probably would have tripped on the steps.
Wan agreed and quickly thanked him.
Granny Zhou said gently, "Please be careful, Your Highness."
On the surface, she remained calm, but inwardly, Granny Zhou shook her head for a long time.
Sure enough, not a single rumor in the palace could be believed. How could they portray Consort Wan as arrogant and ambitious? Granny Zhou wished she could drag them out and make them keep an eye on Consort Wan.
Look! Look!
She thought it was all Wan Ying's good fortune that she wasn't expelled from the palace for being stupid.
Unaware that she had already been branded an idiot, Wan Anran thanked him, straightened her clothes, and followed at the back of the group, earning several eye rolls from Xu Changzai in the process.
Upon reaching the entrance of Xianfu Palace, Consort Xu was stopped by the eunuchs at the palace gate. Consort Xu, her face filled with astonishment and displeasure, raised her voice slightly and rebuked, "You dare disobey the Empress's decree?"
"My lord."
Granny Zhou interrupted her, bowing slightly and saying, "Her Majesty the Empress has decreed that the Ninth Prince, Consort Nara, and Consort Wan are to come to an audience."
You weren't mentioned at all in their conversation.
Although Granny Zhou didn't finish her sentence, who couldn't understand the meaning behind it? Consort Xu's face turned pale, then red, then purple. After watching Granny Zhou and her entourage walk away, she grabbed the arm of her maidservant fiercely: "You lowly servant! How dare you embarrass me?!"
Neither Consort Nara nor Wan Anran were qualified to use the heated sedan chair. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the group walked through the thick white snow along the long passageway to the Imperial Garden, then through a palace gate, and across a wide square, where they could see the majestic Kunning Palace.
Behind them, many palace maids looked at each other in bewilderment.
Someone whispered, "Is the one leading the group... Zhou, the nanny from the Empress's side?"
"Isn't that Wan Yingying at the very back?"
"Could it be..." The palace maids looked at each other in surprise, while some of them looked uneasy. After dispersing, they ran back to report the news.
Wan, who was at the center of the conversation, was unaware of what was happening behind her.
With a lingering sense of shock, she surveyed the entire Kunning Palace...and everyone inside. Every three steps along either side, palace maids and eunuchs stood solemnly, heads bowed, faces composed. Despite the large number of people inside, just like outside, no one made a sound.
Wan Anran's heart was pounding wildly. She followed closely behind Nara Guiren, like a little chick afraid of getting lost.
Wan Fu secretly turned his head, made a face at Wan Anran, and then mouthed the words "coward!"
Good heavens!
Wan Anran was furious and reached out to pinch Wan Fu's cheek. Just as her hand reached out, the noble lady next to her coughed softly.
Wan Anran: ...
She silently withdrew her hand and stood obediently like a quail. Wan Anran lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the instep of her feet, while she could hear the conversation between the Ninth Prince Wan Fu and Empress Niohuru.
Aside from recognizing the Empress's melodious and captivating voice, well... I couldn't discern anything else. The main questions were about how Wan Fu was eating, sleeping, and playing.
Wan Fu's clear voice echoed throughout the hall.
The conversation between the two finally came to an end after a full cup of tea's time.
At Zhou Mama's signal, Consort Nara and Wan Anran both curtsied and said, "This concubine greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
Empress Niohuru seemed to have just noticed the two of them.
After laughing and calling her to stand up, she pointed to the small stool and instructed Consort Nara to sit down. Then she turned her gaze to Wan Anran: "Raise your head and let me see it."
Wan Anran responded respectfully.
She vividly remembered Granny Zhou's instructions before entering the palace: not to look directly at the Empress's face. Even as she raised her head, she still tried her best to look down. Little did she know that in doing so, her originally bright, doe-like eyes were squeezed into an inverted triangle, with most of the whites of her eyes showing.
Granny Zhou's face was contorted in pain.
Not to mention the Empress, who was slightly taken aback but was then amused by Wan Anran's strange expression.
Wan Fu curiously peeked out to look.
He then covered his mouth, his shoulders trembling, but the little boy couldn't hold back. He burst into laughter in no time. If Wan Fu hadn't remembered that he was in Kunning Palace, he probably would have fallen to the ground and rolled around laughing.
The Empress's eyes and brows were filled with a smile.
Her voice was much gentler than before: "Bring a small stool for Wan Yingying."
Wan Anran sat solemnly and carefully on the low stool.
She placed her hands neatly on her knees, like a poor student in a modern class, nervous and wary of being called on by the teacher.
Usually, the more you do this, the more likely you are to be called out by the teacher.
Similarly, the Empress also found Wan Anran quite amusing. When asked a question, Wan Anran acted like a timid rabbit, trembling at the slightest touch on her plump body. But if you truly believed she was a timid rabbit, her answers were clear and logical, suggesting she was quite intelligent.
The Empress, her curiosity piqued, asked a barrage of questions, only reluctantly stopping when lunchtime approached. She picked up her teacup and took a sip: "It's almost lunchtime, you all..."
The Queen's voice abruptly stopped.
Consort Xuan sensed something was wrong, and when she looked up, she saw that Consort Wan's eyes were already gleaming.
If the breakfast bestowed by the Xuan master is this delicious, I wonder what the Empress's meals are like? Wan Anran swallowed hard. She had no intention of staying for the meal—just standing in Kunning Palace was enough to put her under immense pressure, let alone staying for a meal.
Just then, Wan Anran heard the Empress's voice.
The Empress changed the subject: "You may stay and have lunch with me." After lunch, they could continue their conversation.
Wan Anran: ...?
Shouldn't they all go home now? Especially when Consort Xuan and Noble Lady Nara glared at her angrily, Wan Anran was completely bewildered.
Wan Fu shook his head and patted Wan Daying's arm like a little adult. Noticing Wan Anran's questioning gaze, he raised his little head and mouthed to her: You're doomed.
Wan Anran: …………What's wrong with me!?
Wan Fu sighed in an old-fashioned manner, then hopped towards the Empress, shouting, "Empress Mother, I want to eat braised lion's head meatballs, and I also want to eat sweet and sour pork, and I want to eat more..."
Wan Fu announces the names of the dishes.
Wan Anran didn't have time to think about anything else. Her eyes lit up, and she nodded emphatically whenever she heard the name of a dish.
Consort Xuan and Noble Lady Nara exchanged a glance.
Both of them couldn't help but sigh at the same time—what are we going to do!
The rules for serving the Empress meals are quite unusual.
Not to mention Wan Anran herself, even Consort Xuan and Noble Lady Nara had to stand respectfully on both sides, ready to serve the Empress and the Ninth Prince their meal.
Wan Anran, who had initially thought she would be able to enjoy a royal meal, immediately became dejected. Although she was saddened inside, she remained respectful and cautious on the surface, mimicking the mannerisms of Consort Xuan and Noble Lady Nara, and also adopting the posture of serving her mistress a meal.
The Empress led the Ninth Prince to sit down.
Seeing the serious expressions on the three men's faces, a faint smile appeared on her lips. The Empress casually pointed ahead and said, "You three, sit down quickly and don't be shy."
Consort Xuan hesitated.
Seeing that the Empress beckoned for several maids to serve her, she cautiously took her seat. After Consort Xuan sat down, Noble Lady Nara and Wan Anran also sat down carefully—their buttocks could only sit on the front third of the chair, their backs straight, their eyes fixed straight ahead, a posture that was even more tiring than standing.
As for meals, Wan Anran thought about it and decided to choose the one closest to her.
She held a bowl of white rice and focused on the lotus root and meatballs in front of her. The lotus root and meatballs were very chewy, and the lotus root pieces inside were especially fragrant and delicious, cutting through the greasiness and adding to the flavor. With each meatball and a mouthful of rice, Wan Anran ate with great relish.
She ate with great relish, which was quite a sight to behold.
The concubines all had small appetites, and many of them finished their meals in just three bites. The Empress, who had been busy with the New Year's banquet and had been tired for many days, did not have a good appetite. However, she couldn't help but look at Wan Anran and her eyes drifted towards the lotus root and meatballs.
Hmm... I kind of want to eat this?
The palace maid serving the meal quickly picked up a piece and brought it to the Empress. Empress Niohuru tasted it and inexplicably found it quite appetizing. She then ate a couple more bites of rice.
Granny Zhou was overjoyed.
Now she paid close attention to Wan Anran's movements.
The lotus root and meatballs were almost gone when she quickly had a palace maid come to serve her. With a palace maid serving her, Wan Anran's choices suddenly increased significantly. Her target was sweet and sour pork tenderloin. The sweet and sour taste stimulated her appetite, and Wan Anran quickly ate a bowl of white rice.
Well... we can't have another bowl, can we?
Wan Anran looked at the empty bowl and sighed inwardly.
Just then, Granny Zhou picked up the bowl with a smile and gently instructed the palace servants, "Serve another bowl of rice to Consort Wan."
Wan Anran: …………
Facing the gazes of everyone, she hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't: "If I say I'm not a foodie now... will anyone still believe me?"
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