Aside from muttering "big pig's trotter" under his breath, Wan Anran could only obediently turn around and prepare.
Who can blame them when the entire Forbidden City belonged to Kangxi?
Even if Grandpa Kang said Chuxiu Palace was a restaurant, or even a vegetable garden, Wan Anran would still have to obediently agree—Yes, yes, Your Majesty is right!
A lackey, huh?
But in the Forbidden City, who isn't so obsequious? For example, without even being asked, the courtyard would be quickly and efficiently cleaned by the palace servants in the blink of an eye.
Hai Tao served tea and snacks.
The tea was Kangxi's favorite Liuan Melon Seed tea, and the snacks were also the most exquisite. As for the melon seeds, nuts, and dried fruits that Wan Anran liked to eat, they had already been cleaned up and put into drawers and cabinets.
The imperial concubines all had to maintain proper decorum.
Elegant, dignified, and generous—how could one be like a common woman on the street, munching on sunflower seeds and chatting about everything under the sun? Even if one were to munch on sunflower seeds, it would only be when the emperor was not around.
Wan Anran couldn't help but sigh.
Which of these palace servants in their own courtyard wouldn't become an all-around assistant with an annual salary of hundreds of thousands or even millions in later generations?
As for returning to the future...?
Wan Anran felt that she should just stay at home and hire three or four nannies to help her.
While Wan Anran was still boasting about her all-around capable palace servants, Emperor Kangxi was quite disdainful. He waved his hand: "Why serve Liu'an tea when we're about to have a meal? Bring wine instead! I remember you made quite a few peach blossom wines in the West Garden?"
Wan Anran was instantly jolted awake.
Her expression almost faltered. You know, peach blossoms are good for the skin and complexion. After Wan Anran, Consort Xuan, and Noble Lady Nara divided the spoils, wouldn't they send another portion to the Empress?
Of course, the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager were not forgotten after the Empress Dowager was given the gift. Even though they were old, the two empress dowagers had no resistance to beauty products and were even enthusiastic about them. After all, women love beauty even when they are old!
If we've given some to the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress, shouldn't we also send a portion to the eldest princess? If we send it to the eldest princess, even if the second princess is too young to send wine, we should at least send her some peach blossom dew or something similar.
Therefore, the quantity of peach blossom wine is indeed very small.
Wan Anran pouted, feeling extremely frustrated—as expected, Grandpa Kang was no ordinary man. Look at him, so cunning, ruthless, and scheming, he immediately set his sights on the peach blossom wine.
Wan Anran waved her hand dejectedly.
Even so, she didn't give up. She made a gesture behind her back, and Hai Tao brought over a small earthenware jar of peach blossom wine, along with two jars of rice wine, trying to take advantage of the situation.
Emperor Kangxi immediately discovered Consort Qi's scheme.
He narrowed his eyes, a half-smile on his face: "I know there are five more jars in Chuxiu Palace, bring them all out."
Wan Anran looked completely dejected.
Even though she was reluctant, she had no choice but to have the palace servants bring up the rest of the peach blossom wine.
This year's peach blossom wine has been improved.
In addition to peach blossoms, honey and goji berries were added, giving it a color like peach petals with a light pink hue. Even the wine was changed from rice wine to white wine, resulting in a slightly spicy taste followed by a subtle sweetness. Emperor Kangxi tasted it once at the Empress's place and immediately became enamored with it.
However, this substance had beautifying effects, so the Empress deliberately hid it after only tasting a cup. Needless to say, the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager couldn't be fooled, could they? After much thought, Kangxi's gaze also fell on Consort Qi.
Wan Anran was unaware that this was an unexpected disaster.
She stared at the five jugs of peach blossom wine, secretly determined to drink as much as possible later, at least to make up for her losses.
Emperor Kangxi drank alone, thoroughly enjoying himself.
The refreshing and sweet taste of peach blossom wine is quite elegant; it would be even better if one could enjoy a beautiful view. Kangxi's thoughts turned to the peach grove in Tsinghua Garden, secretly pondering how to create his ideal paradise in the future.
At that moment, a familiar yet unfamiliar aroma of meat wafted in from nowhere, brazenly suppressing the fragrance of the peach blossom wine. It tantalized Kangxi's appetite, making his mouth water.
What was served was the long-awaited braised beef brisket with potatoes.
The enticing aroma not only made Emperor Kangxi's mouth water, but it also attracted two greedy cats. The two plump cats raised their tails and circled around Kangxi, emitting sweet meows. They were glossy and healthy, clearly well-cared for.
When did Consort Qi get her cat?
"It's only been a short time since we started raising it."
"Why are they big cats? Old cats?" Kangxi looked at the two fat cats in surprise. It was not unusual for concubines to keep cats, but they were usually kittens, or at least lion cats or Persian cats. However, the ones that Consort Qi kept had ordinary colors and nothing special about them.
“Your Majesty, don’t you remember? These two used to be kept in Jingyang Palace,” Wan Anran replied with a smile.
This time when Wan Anran returned to the palace, she also brought back the two cats. The eunuch Shi Shun who served her was incredibly lucky; by serving the two feline overlords, he also returned to the Forbidden City. He was so happy that he kowtowed several times before leaving, and was the envy of a group of palace servants.
Emperor Kangxi had no recollection of it.
Let alone the cats kept in Jingyang Palace, even the concubines that Kangxi hadn't seen for several years were hard to remember. Moreover, Kangxi almost never went to the study in Jingyang Palace, so how could he remember the two cats that used to be there? The only one he seemed to remember was Consort Qi, who used to go to Jingyang Palace to read and borrow books. Even the study in Chuxiu Palace was built in the style of Jingyang Palace.
Thinking about it this way...
Kangxi raised the corners of his lips: "You're quite sentimental."
These two cats are clearly getting old.
As a concubine, if she wanted to keep cats, she could have freely chosen whichever cat she liked in the cat and dog room, but instead she chose two old cats used for catching mice.
but……
Emperor Kangxi stared speechlessly at the two cats, both standing on their hind legs and waving their front paws up and down, begging for food. He sighed and rubbed his forehead, "Consort Qi, these two cats were originally master mousers, how come they've become as greedy as you after you raised them? I haven't even had a bite to eat and they're already begging for food."
Look at how eager they are to eat! If I weren't here, they'd probably be jumping on the table to grab the food. They've probably done plenty of petty theft.
Wan Anran: …………
She felt a little guilty: "This, how could I possibly know..."
Little did he know these two cats were so clever; they learned after only a few lessons. Wan Anran looked up and down, not daring to speak, which amused Kangxi. He pointed ahead: "What are you all standing there for? Sit down and eat with us."
Wan Anran's eyes lit up.
She immediately became happy and sat down. The first thing Wan Anran did after sitting down was to touch the peach blossom wine she had been longing for.
The Emperor has already drunk one and a half pots!
Wan Anran was heartbroken. As she put the peach blossom wine in her pocket, she pretended to comfort Kangxi: "Your Majesty, drinking alcohol is bad for your stomach. Why don't you eat something? This braised beef brisket with potatoes is especially good with rice."
"If you hadn't taken the peach blossom wine, I would have trusted you more." Kangxi glanced at Consort Qi, who had also enjoyed the wine, and pretended not to notice Consort Qi's little scheme.
Emperor Kangxi nodded: "You should eat too."
Wan Anran smiled and agreed. After instructing the people around her to hide the peach blossom wine, she then told Zisu to serve rice.
Braised beef brisket with potatoes is so delicious with rice.
Even after finishing a whole serving of fries, how could Wan Anran resist the allure of the beef brisket? Not to mention the thick, marbled beef brisket that was incredibly chewy and flavorful, the rich sauce could only be described with one word: Absolutely amazing!
At first, Wan Anran was a little reserved, but after carefully eating a few bites, she couldn't hold back any longer.
This sauce is so delicious!
The sweet and sour tomatoes and the slightly numbing and spicy black pepper blend perfectly, paired with the smooth taste of wine, amplifying the deliciousness of the sauce to the extreme. Combined with the chewy rice, Wan Anran buried her head and ate half a bowl of rice in just a few bites.
Emperor Kangxi snorted: "You glutton."
Even if this braised beef brisket with potatoes is delicious, how delicious can it be? He picked up a piece of beef brisket with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. The beef, stewed until tender, was full of juice, chewy and tender, and the aroma of meat was overwhelming.
Kangxi licked his lips.
I must say, this braised beef brisket with potatoes is really delicious. Kangxi picked up another piece of carrot; the crisp carrot had been cooked until soft, and with a good chew, you could taste the rich sauce and a subtle sweetness.
As for the potatoes soaked in meat juice, they are absolutely amazing. They require almost no chewing and melt in your mouth, making them a refreshing treat. It's hard to believe that these were the same bland potatoes from before.
Seeing Consort Qi enjoying the food so much, Emperor Kangxi, who had only been curiously tasting it, couldn't resist eating a little more. It was really just a little bit, nothing more than two bowls of rice instead of one on a normal day!
Wan Anran felt nothing.
As for Liang Jiugong, he was speechless with astonishment. The Emperor was very particular about health and wellness. He would never eat until he was 70% full, but this principle was always compromised when it came to Consort Qi. She would eat until she was 100% full, and even take a walk to digest her food.
Delicious food can bring happiness.
The Emperor valued health, and so did the concubines. Even the most daring Consort Yi would eat as little as possible when dining with the Emperor—and of course, there was another reason.
If you eat too much and end up with a little belly when you're in bed, the emperor will be embarrassed and you'll want to disappear into the ground. When you're dining with the emperor to cultivate romance, shouldn't the focus be on enjoying the food and flirting with him?
As for Consort Qi...
Before Kangxi could even see her face, he put down his chopsticks. All he could see was her thick, black hair and simple, ordinary beads swaying gently.
Kangxi propped his face up with his hand.
His gaze, tinged with embarrassment, slid down his body, and a thought suddenly popped into his mind: I wonder how much belly fat Consort Qi has after eating so much.
Wan Anran shivered.
She looked around nervously, like a cat with its fur standing on end, or a squirrel stealing chestnuts. Once she was sure there was no danger, Wan Anran lowered her head and ate her fill.
Wan Anran also knew about Emperor Kangxi's health preservation practices.
Well, how should I put it? The feeling of weakness when I first transmigrated into this body is still fresh in my memory. Coupled with the habits from my previous life, and most importantly, Wan Anran doesn't have much desire to compete for favor. Isn't eating a normal meal more enjoyable for him?
Look how much the Emperor is enjoying his meal!
There was one thing Wan Anran wasn't quite satisfied with—perhaps because she ate so much, Kangxi felt she needed to exercise more to burn off the calories. He was so enthusiastic that Wan Anran didn't get a good night's sleep.
What really infuriated Wan Anran was something else.
Why couldn't he do something right? Kangxi had to pinch the faint "spare tire" on his stomach and mock him. Wan Anran wished she could just kick him to the ground!
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