Kangxi was surprised, but his expression remained unchanged.
He strode into the courtyard at a leisurely pace, picked up the half-empty wine pot, and glanced at it. The quick-witted eunuch presented him with clean cups with both hands, while Consort Xuan, Noble Lady Nara, and Wan Anran remained in a half-squatting position, pursing their lips and remaining silent.
The sound of wine being poured filled my ears.
Wan Anran shifted her aching feet, inwardly groaning. How did a simple celebratory banquet end up attracting the Emperor's attention? Her gaze was fixed on the embroidered shoes; aside from a pair of apricot-yellow boots with nine-clawed golden dragons that she could catch a glimpse of out of the corner of her eye, she could see nothing else.
Emperor Kangxi took a sip of wine.
The aroma of the wine is irresistible, rich and fragrant. It is mellow on the palate and spicy on the finish; it is indeed a fine wine.
No wonder the three of them were a little drunk.
Emperor Kangxi waved his hand and told her to get up, and Consort Xuan's heart, which had been hanging in mid-air, slowly settled down.
Before she could even settle her mind, Kangxi spoke again: "Who brewed this wine?"
The wines brewed in the palace all have sealed dates and detailed specifications, while the wine in front of me is just casually packaged in a porcelain bottle, which makes it obvious that it was brewed privately.
Consort Xuan dared not conceal the truth and honestly confessed: "It was brewed by Consort Nara."
Kangxi glanced at Consort Nara.
With Wan Fu present, Kangxi was somewhat familiar with Consort Nara. Glancing at the reserved Wan Fu, Kangxi said indifferently, "Wan Fu is only three years old and doesn't know how to handle alcohol yet. As her mother, I should pay more attention to her."
Lady Nara cautiously replied, "Yes."
Her fearful and apprehensive demeanor dampened Kangxi's enthusiasm. He frowned, looked away, and found Xianfu Palace indeed quite boring.
Having lost interest, Kangxi turned and prepared to leave.
Wan Anran let out a long sigh of relief without making it obvious. She looked up slightly but could only see the back of Kangxi's head.
Wan Anran withdrew his gaze with little interest, only to meet Wan Fu's forlorn eyes as he turned. He looked at Kangxi's retreating figure with a mixture of longing and disappointment, his fist trembling slightly at his side.
Wan Anran glanced at Wan Fu, then at Kangxi.
Perhaps it was the alcohol that emboldened her? She gently patted Wan Fu's shoulder, and in the instant he turned around in a daze, she pushed him forward, while shouting loudly, "Your Majesty! The Ninth Prince has something to say to you."
After saying that, Wan Anran quickly hid behind Consort Xuan.
Her agility was astonishing. Not only were the palace maids and eunuchs stunned, but even Consort Xuan and Noble Lady Nara were dumbfounded. Unfortunately, both of them were a little tipsy from drinking, and they couldn't stop her. They glared at Consort Wan, who seemed to feel uncomfortable if she didn't cause trouble every day, with gritted teeth and angry eyes.
Wan Anran: Innocent.jpg
Emperor Kangxi was also somewhat taken aback upon hearing this.
He naturally recognized that the voice was neither the composed and reserved Consort Xuan, nor the gentle and quiet Noble Lady Nara… So it could only be? Kangxi's gaze was fixed on Consort Xuan… the part of her skirt that was exposed behind her.
What could Consort Xuan do?
She could only pretend not to see the Emperor's reaction, keeping a straight face and staring intently straight ahead.
Emperor Kangxi withdrew his gaze in displeasure.
He looked at Wan Fu, who was tense and clutching the hem of his clothes tightly with both hands. His heart was pounding wildly, more than twice as fast as usual.
Even someone as timid as Wan Changzai did it.
Could it be that he, a grown man, couldn't do it? Wan Fu steeled his heart, closed his eyes, and shouted, "Father, could you, could you, could you dine with your son?!"
His voice was loud and clear, and the echo lingered in the air above Xianfu Palace for a long time.
Wan Fu received no answer for a long time, and he felt increasingly disappointed, as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart, causing him both soreness and pain.
Wan Fu's voice grew softer and softer as he murmured, "It's alright if I don't eat... Would you like to try Wan Fu's favorite food?... If Father doesn't like it, could you please talk to Wan Fu..."
Wan Fu: weak, helpless, and pitiful.
Emperor Kangxi stared blankly at Wan Fu. He didn't have many sons; only four, including the Crown Prince, were still alive. Bao Qing and An Tai (Yin Zhi) were now being raised outside the palace and had never returned. Besides the Crown Prince, Wan Fu was the only one left in the harem.
The more attention they paid to Bao Cheng, the more indifferent they were to Wan Fu.
Emperor Kangxi pondered for a moment, but couldn't recall any time he had spent with Wan Fu. Seeing his son's eyes gradually dimming, he reached out and gently patted Wan Fu's head: "I still have state affairs to attend to..."
Wan Fu was dejected.
Kangxi said gently, "But it shouldn't take less than the time it would take to grill two skewers."
This means they want to stay for a meal.
Wan Fu's face lit up with joy, and he jumped three feet high on the spot: "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Father, you are so good!"
He was so happy just from having a meal with this child? Kangxi was surprised, then felt a pang of heartache, and his smile softened considerably. His gaze followed Wan Fu as he watched him trot and skip behind Consort Xuan, pulling someone out of the way: "Consort Wan! Thank you!"
Wan Anran looked completely bewildered.
Why are you thanking me?! Especially when Kangxi's gaze was fixed on her, Wan Anran almost froze.
Kangxi chuckled.
He thought he was some kind of brave person? But looking at his stiff expression, he's like a rabbit. I bet he got that bit of courage from drinking.
As the saying goes, a bad general leads to a bad family.
Look at Consort Xuan, she's so cautious and careful. No wonder Noble Lady Nara and Consort Wan are both so timid.
Kangxi shook his head and quickly put Wan Anran out of his mind.
Since the Emperor wanted to stay for his meal, they couldn't let him eat the leftovers. The palace servants in the imperial kitchen suppressed their excitement and quickly cleared the various items from the table, replacing them with a fresh batch as fast as they could. As for the preparation, Wan Anran and the others didn't need to worry about it. In any case, when Wan Anran came to her senses, she saw Kangxi sitting at the head of the table like a king.
The only one who could sit with Master Kang was Consort Xuan.
After sobering up, Wan Anran, still throbbing with a headache, began to wonder why she had done anything wrong and why she had to make Wan Fu keep the emperor around. With a numb face, she poured a cup for the emperor, watched Kangxi drink it all in one gulp, and then obediently refilled it for him.
The only advantage is that you can still see what Kangxi looks like from this position?
Emperor Kangxi was tall and imposing, with dark eyebrows and bright eyes. His lips were slightly downturned, and even the few freckles on his face could not conceal his handsome features. Although he was only a young man in his early twenties, his imposing aura made people dare not look him in the eye for long after just one glance.
Wan Anran held her breath and decided to be a mere tool for pouring wine.
Wan Fu was incredibly excited. He nestled next to Kangxi, chattering about all the fun things that had happened around him, and casually offered Kangxi his favorite little steamed buns: "Father, these are the most delicious!"
A question mark slowly appeared on Kangxi's forehead.
Looking at the crispy toasted bread slices, he suddenly had the urge to drag the Imperial Household Department in and interrogate them thoroughly to see if they had the audacity to neglect the young prince. Otherwise, why would Wan Fu have said that the bread slices were delicious?
Fortunately, Wan Fu's next words dispelled Kangxi's idea.
Wan Fu stuffed a slice of steamed bread into his father's palm, and then moved the half-eaten mayonnaise over as well: "Father, you must eat this with your food."
The strange sauce also made Kangxi raise his eyebrows.
He tasted a little bit, and the taste was indescribably strange, but seeing Wan Fu's excited expression, Kangxi still dipped the small steamed bun slice in the sauce and put it in his mouth.
Unlike the slightly greasy taste when eaten alone, the unique flavor explodes instantly between your lips and teeth when eaten with steamed bread slices—who wouldn't be captivated by this magical sauce when they first taste mayonnaise?
The same goes for Emperor Kangxi.
His eyes widened slightly, and he took another slice of steamed bun, dipped it in the sauce, and bit into it. First came a faint sour taste, followed by an explosion of milky flavor in his mouth. Kangxi ate the whole skewer, and then looked at the next one with lingering satisfaction.
So Emperor Kangxi's tastes were actually the same as a child's?
Wan Anran was convinced she must be drunk, otherwise how could she have mustered the courage to whisper devilishly in Kangxi's ear: "It would be even more amazing with fried chicken!"
Before Kangxi could react, Wan Fu had already become excited.
He waved his chubby little hands: "Fried chicken, fried chicken, fried chicken!"
Kangxi: "...Bring the next one."
How do you make fried chicken? Just put the chicken in a pot of oil and fry it? Is it that easy? Liang Jiugong threw the question to the Imperial Kitchen. The simpler the method, the more nervous the chefs in the Imperial Kitchen became. They looked at each other, and beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads.
Is the Emperor in Xianfu Palace?
A sudden inspiration flashed through Chef Zhao's mind, and he respectfully asked, "Eunuch Liang, was this proposed by Wan Da... Wan Changzai?"
"Exactly."
"May I ask someone to inquire about the method?"
Liang Jiugong naturally dared not be negligent.
He brought Chef Zhao to the small kitchen of Xianfu Palace. Soon Wan Anran also arrived. She didn't need to do anything herself; her job was mainly to explain things from the side.
First, debone the chicken thighs and marinate them in milk with a little salt and pepper for about two cups of tea's time. Then, mix the marinated chicken with egg and flour, coat it with cornstarch, and fry it in oil at 60% heat until golden brown.
The aroma of fried chicken quickly spread.
The method was simple and straightforward, yet the aroma was exceptionally rich. The cooks in the small kitchen, their faces solemn, each took a piece of chicken and tasted it.
……tasty.
The cooks had very strange expressions.
Just as they were about to prepare another serving to present to the Emperor, Wan Anran stopped them. Her face was serious: "Now is not the time to relax. Turn the heat up and fry the chicken again!"
The cooks: ...Huh!?
The fried chicken, which had been fried again, was a darker color, but the aroma was a little weaker than before. Under everyone's watchful eyes, Wan Anran sprinkled sesame seeds on the fried chicken and added some decorations before announcing that it was done.
Of course, this one wouldn't be sent to the Emperor.
Chef Zhao took the first bite. It was delicious, but... he frowned: "It feels like it needs to be served with dipping sauce..."
Wan Anran nodded: "That's right."
Just then, they ran out of mayonnaise, so she personally added some more. Regardless of Chef Zhao's reaction, Wan Anran had Hai Tao carry the plate all the way to the Emperor.
Putting aside Kangxi, Wan Fu was quite interested in the fried chicken—or rather, extremely interested. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he stared at the fried chicken in front of him. After Kangxi took a piece, Wan Fu quickly picked one up as well.
Spread it with lots of mayonnaise, then slurp it up and pop it into your mouth.
Long live fried food! Long live mayonnaise! Wan Fu cupped his cheeks and hummed excitedly to Wan Anran, "This is the best thing I've ever eaten."
Emperor Kangxi chuckled to himself.
This is just ordinary fried chicken, Wan Fu is exaggerating. He took a bite, and the crispy exterior burst open between his lips and teeth, releasing the aroma that had been sealed inside. Combined with the tender and smooth chicken and the slightly sour mayonnaise, the deliciousness... was far, far better than a slice of steamed bun.
Even Emperor Kangxi ate three large pieces in succession.
Still wanting more, he subconsciously reached out his chopsticks again, but they hovered in mid-air without falling. Wan Anran had heard that, to prevent assassination attempts and avoid thieves discovering his preferences, the emperor could only eat three bites at a time.
What a pity.
Being an emperor is indeed not something an ordinary person can do.
Kangxi hesitated slightly.
Just as he was getting into the swing of things, a voice inside him was shouting, "One more piece, one more piece!" But reason made Kangxi stop abruptly, his gaze lingering on the fried chicken with a hint of reluctance.
"Isn't Khan going to eat?" Wan Fu asked, his cheeks bulging like a squirrel hiding its prey.
"...Uh-huh."
"Then I will finish it off!" Wan Fu viciously stabbed the last piece of fried chicken with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth with a gulp. After finishing, his little belly was bulging high, and Wan Fu let out a big burp with his belly protruding. The only thing missing was the four words: "Completely satisfied."
Kangxi: …………
Wan Fu was satisfied, but Kangxi felt uneasy. He sighed sadly over the fried chicken, and a hint of malice crept into his eyes as he looked at Wan Fu.
Wan Fu: …………
He shuddered and sat up abruptly, looking around like a nimble kitten. Wan Fu almost bristled when he met Kangxi's eyes.
Emperor Kangxi's voice was gentle: "Wanfu..."
Wan Fu broke out in a cold sweat: "...My son, is your subject here?"
Emperor Kangxi said gently, "You should be learning now, right? Go and write a large character for me to see."
Wan Fu's pupils trembled.
This... isn't the parent-child relationship he wants QAQ
Even if Wan Fu was a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand times unwilling, he was still dragged into the study by Emperor Kangxi. Consort Xuan, Noble Lady Nara, and Wan Anran followed closely behind. Wan Fu was young and pampered in Xianfu Palace, and it was already a miracle that Consort Xuan and Noble Lady Nara hadn't spoiled him into an arrogant and domineering little tyrant, let alone his formal education.
Just these twelve characters, "If not taught, nature will change. The way of teaching is to focus on one thing,"... any mistake would make Emperor Kangxi facepalm. They were either missing a horizontal stroke or a dot, or an extra vertical stroke or a missing horizontal stroke.
Emperor Kangxi sighed.
Consort Xuan and Noble Lady Nara immediately looked down at their feet, but Wan Anran peeked out and asked in a naive and confused voice, "Isn't Wan Fu's handwriting quite good?"
Xuan Bin:...?
Noble Lady Nara: ...??
Emperor Kangxi stared wide-eyed at Wan Anran in disbelief. He raised his voice: "Wan Anran, come here and write a few words for me to see."
Wan Anran: …………
She steeled herself and stepped forward, her hand holding the wolf-hair brush trembling slightly.
Wan Anran suddenly discovered something.
As a modern Chinese, she can read traditional Chinese characters, but she... can't write them :)
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