Obviously, nobody believes that.
Seeing the Empress eat only half a bowl of rice, Granny Zhou was already beaming with joy. She looked at Wan Anran with a newfound happiness, her previous disdain gone. If it weren't for the strict rules, Granny Zhou would have wanted Wan Anran to dine with her mistress in Kunning Palace every day!
Granny Zhou felt regretful, and her hands moved even faster.
Braised lion's head meatballs, ham stewed with deer tendon, fish intestine baked egg, mushroom, shrimp and tofu soup...
Wan Anran: ...
What else could she do? Just keep eating! Her heart pounding with anxiety, she immediately forgot all her earlier worries once she put the food in her mouth. Wan Anran squinted slightly, and it seemed as if one or two small red flowers floated behind her.
It's just a regular braised lion's head meatball!
Wan Anran cupped her cheeks and let out a satisfied hum. The pork, having been thoroughly cooked, was extremely elastic. With a slight effort of her teeth, she tore through the slightly crispy exterior, and the soft meat filling inside, along with the rich and fragrant juices, rushed out and recklessly invaded her mouth.
What's even more surprising is the wisp of a strange, refreshing fragrance... Dao? Wan Anran chewed carefully, and after a moment, her eyes showed a hint of surprise: "There's a fragrance in this... Is this green tea?"
The Empress was greatly surprised upon hearing this.
She gestured to a palace maid to bring her one as well, and savored its flavor. Empress Niohuru was surprised to find that it indeed tasted like tea, and couldn't help but order someone to summon the chef who had prepared the dish to ask him why.
The cook's surname is Zhao.
He bowed respectfully and said, "This servant greets Your Majesty the Empress."
The Queen called out with great interest.
Then she pointed to the lion's head meatball in front of her and asked with a smile, "Is there tea in this dish?"
Chef Zhao glanced up slightly, then nodded cautiously in response, "Your Majesty, green tea was indeed added to this lion's head meatball dish to remove the greasiness and fishy smell, and to enhance the flavor."
Wan Yingda was right.
The Empress clicked her tongue in amazement and smiled at Wan Anran, saying, "Your tongue is truly that of a born foodie!"
After saying this, the Empress smiled and rewarded Chef Zhao.
Empress Niohuru was not one to indulge in gluttony, and this was the first time she had ever bestowed such a reward upon a cook like him since her investiture! While delighted, Cook Zhao was also somewhat puzzled. After carrying the reward and following the young eunuch out of the palace, he couldn't help but whisper, "Your Majesty, what is this...?"
This is no secret.
Don't be fooled by Chef Zhao's obsequious manner before the Empress; once they're in the kitchen, even the eunuchs have to watch their step! The little eunuch's mind raced, but he replied with a forced smile, "It was Consort Wan from Xianfu Palace who said that the lion's head meatballs had a hint of green tea fragrance. The Empress found it intriguing and specially invited Chef Zhao to inquire about it!"
Chef Zhao's eyes widened: "Wan, the concubine from Xianfu Palace?"
This was a choice he never expected. Chef Zhao was amazed and kept thinking about it after returning to the kitchen.
Should we try to form a positive connection?
---
After Wan Anran finished her second bowl of rice, the Empress, unusually, ate until she was about 70-80% full, and even felt a little bloated. She cleared away the bowls and chopsticks, rinsed her mouth with tea, and, unusually, leaned back in her chair in peace, letting out a lazy yawn.
Taking the opportunity, Wan Anran looked up and stole a glance at the Empress.
She was immediately stunned upon seeing her. The Empress Niohuru in front of her looked to be only seventeen or eighteen years old... with a dignified appearance and fair skin. Although she was only the age of a high school or college student in later generations, she exuded an aura of power and a presence that could not be ignored.
Wan Anran clicked her tongue in amazement.
At that moment, a small detail caught her attention—Empress Niohuru's bright red palace dress embroidered with pomegranate flowers looked completely empty, revealing bulging veins on her wrists, making her shockingly thin.
Wan Anran looked down at the back of her hand.
Even though it was she who had been sick for more than two months, the Empress in front of her looked even thinner than she did.
Just then, Consort Xuan, noticing that the Empress was dozing off, also got up and took her leave. The Empress, who had originally wanted to continue speaking, nodded and said gently, "Then come and talk to me again next time."
Then her gaze turned to Consort Wan, and she said gently, "Consort Wan, you've had a hard day too."
What is she struggling with? Is it eating?
Wan Anran blushed deeply, and at Xuan Pin's prompting, she quickly curtsied and respectfully replied, "It is my honor to serve Your Majesty the Empress with your meal."
Wan Anran spoke these words sincerely.
If the Empress hadn't allowed her to dine in Kunning Palace, how could she have found so much delicious food? She would probably be staring blankly at vegetables, tofu, and bitter medicine again.
The Empress smiled and waved for them to leave.
Wan Anran silently followed Consort Xuan out, but just before reaching the door, she inexplicably turned her head to look back.
Sunlight streamed through the window and fell on the Queen's pale face, making her skin appear even more translucent and her figure even thinner, as if she were about to transform into a butterfly and disappear at any moment.
All three of Emperor Kangxi's empresses died young.
These words suddenly appeared in Wan Anran's mind, and her heart pounded like a drum—a voice in her heart whispered: If you don't say it now, you may never have the chance again.
Wan Anran abruptly stopped in her tracks.
She took a deep breath and turned around abruptly under the surprised gazes of Consort Xuan and Noble Lady Nara: "Your Majesty, if you are not feeling well, you must eat well and rest well. Health is the most important asset!"
Empress Niohuru's eyes widened slightly.
She then flashed a bright smile: "I understand."
Empress Niohuru's smile was like spring snow melting and withered trees coming back to life, making Wan Anran's heart beat faster. She couldn't help but smile, and stepped lightly out the door, not noticing Consort Xuan's strange gaze for a moment.
Back at Xianfu Palace, after watching Consort Xuan enter the main hall, Wan Anran turned and went back to the east wing. Hai Tao happily greeted her, "Your Highness, you're back? This servant will go make some tea right away."
Holding the warm tea, Wan Anran's heavy mood eased considerably. She had already spoken; now it was up to Her Majesty the Empress. She took a sip of tea and looked up at Hai Tao: "Hai Tao, what are you doing?"
While tidying up the fabrics and furs in her hands, Haitao respectfully replied, "The New Year's banquet is in a few days. This servant must hurry up and finish making the clothes. Your Highness, please go and read a book first."
The original owner was seriously ill, and the Imperial Household Department did not arrange for anyone to make winter clothes for her; the neglect was obvious. Wan Anran curled her lips: "Anyway, the Consort doesn't need to appear at the New Year's banquet, so why bother with all this? Just take out last year's clothes and wear them."
Hai Tao was both amused and exasperated.
She folded the fabric on her lap, muttering, "New year, new clothes, new look. How can I use last year's fabric? Besides, although I can't go to the grand banquet, there's still the Qianqing Palace family banquet. Who knows, the Emperor might take a liking to you the moment he sees you!"
That's the treatment reserved for the female lead, not hers!
Wan Anran showed little interest in the emperor, but was quite interested in the fur fabric in front of her. Her eyes darted around, and she secretly pulled a piece of gray fur from the bamboo basket: "I can make that too."
Hai Tao let Wan Anran move as she pleased.
She carefully studied the blueprints while busily sewing. Only after a long silence did she look up at her mistress, who was engrossed in her work.
Wan Anran was intently fiddling with the fur coat in her hands.
The fur used in the application was of poor quality, mostly mixed with some mixed-color wild rabbit fur. Wan Anran trimmed the edges clean, added a lining, and sewed the edges together. When Hai Tao looked over, she proudly held up her fur gloves: "Done!"
Hai Tao's lips twitched slightly.
Can this uneven stitching and messy threads be called finished? Under the young mistress's smug gaze, she took the gloves, praising them against her will while starting to make corrections.
It should at least be repaired to the point where no flaws are visible.
Wan Anran was quite satisfied with her work, and then turned her gaze to the pile of furs, which startled Hai Tao, who quickly hid the basket behind her back: "My lady, my good lady, these are all useful, they can't be wasted... um."
Wan Anran: (each)
Her cheeks puffed out in anger: "Are you trying to say it's a waste?"
Hai Tao's eyes were darting around; she clearly felt extremely guilty.
Since the young mistress had said so, although Haitao was still heartbroken about wasting the fabric, she still moved the basket away: "How could this servant dare?"
Look at them, they dare to go anywhere!
Wan Anran secretly glanced at Hai Tao out of the corner of her eye. Whenever her hand touched those few intact pieces of leather, Hai Tao would immediately purse her lips, hold her breath, and not even blink until her hand was removed.
After teasing Haitao a few times, she finally noticed.
Her cheeks flushed: "My lady!!!"
Wan Anran stuck out her tongue.
Instead of choosing one of the few remaining intact pelts, she selected a rabbit pelt with a torn corner, held a ruler for a moment, and then carefully cut along the edge with scissors.
Hai Tao breathed a sigh of relief.
While the young lady's attention was fully focused on the handicrafts, she quickly moved a basket of leather to her side.
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