In the Kunning Palace, the nobles, including Consort Wan, were quite at ease and could even exchange a few words. But once they arrived at the Cining Palace, they instantly became wallflowers... no! Not even decorative flowers.
The only one who received the care of the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager was the Empress, followed by Consort Rong, who had recently performed quite well. In addition, Consort Xuan, due to her status as a member of the Borjigit clan, could also exchange a few words with the Empress Dowager. Apart from these, Consort Tong and the other six consorts all stood silently with their heads bowed and hands raised.
After exchanging pleasantries, the Empress Dowager asked them to sit down.
This "them" refers only to the Empress, Consort Tong, and the Eight Concubines, excluding the Noble Ladies. The Noble Ladies, who at least had a small stool in Kunning Palace, had to stand. Wan Anran lowered her head, trying to minimize her presence.
If she could, Wan Anran would rather not have any dealings with the two empress dowagers. Although she didn't know how the protagonist in the book had gained the favor of the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, just looking at the Grand Empress Dowager's imposing aura and thinking about the stories left by Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang in history, Wan Anran felt that she should just let things take their course.
The fact that it gained favor was due to the abilities of its predecessor.
It had nothing to do with her... Just then, a steady voice came to Wan Anran's ears: "Where is Consort Wan? Come out and let me see her."
Wan Anran's back was suddenly covered in sweat.
She stepped out of the procession with her head bowed and expression composed, and gave a deep curtsy: "Your concubine is here."
The Empress Dowager carefully examined Consort Wan.
In just a few months, she rose from a lowly concubine to a noblewoman, and even received praise from the emperor, empress, and crown prince.
Previously, the Empress Dowager's impression of Consort Wan could be summed up in three words: "poor thing." Now, she had a slightly different impression of her—of course, whether she was the honest person the Emperor and Empress described, the Empress Dowager felt she needed to observe her further.
Wan Anran felt uneasy.
The time seemed to pass exceptionally long, until she felt her legs go numb before she heard the Empress's voice: "Indeed, just as the Empress said, it is a good one, reward it."
OK
In the Empress Dowager's words, this was an excellent compliment, something Consort Tong had never received despite years of careful service. She felt a pang of bitterness, understanding that the Empress Dowager was supporting the Empress—what the Empress liked was good, and what the Empress disliked was bad.
Wan Anran breathed a sigh of relief.
After Consort Wan's incident, the other noble ladies also looked forward to being summoned again. However, after Consort Wan was summoned, the Empress Dowager put the others out of her mind and discussed the matters of the Emperor's birthday celebration with the Empress and others.
It was mainly Consort Rong who said it.
The Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress listened, occasionally adding their own interpretations. Consort Tong, Consort An, Consort Jing, and Consort Duan watched this scene with a bitter taste in their mouths. They should have been the main characters, but instead of getting a chance to shine, they were forced to put on a smiling face. Consort Hui, Consort Yi, and Consort Xi were even more resentful; if they were in their shoes, they could certainly have arranged things much better.
The hearts of the nobles were even more restless.
Looking at Consort Rong, who shone like the protagonist, almost everyone's eyes flashed with ambition.
Empress Niohuru seemed to sense something.
She looked up and glanced around the audience, a faint melancholy appearing between her brows. But when she turned to Wan Guiren, that melancholy vanished, replaced by a gentle smile.
The Empress Dowager followed the Empress's gaze and swept over.
She was slightly taken aback, then secretly shook her head—she saw that Consort Wan's eyes were glazed over, as if her soul had flown off somewhere else.
When the Empress Dowager finished her conversation and ordered everyone to leave, Wan Anran's eyes lit up, and she immediately felt her spirits return. But then the Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Consort Xuan, please stay."
Should Wan Anran stay or leave?
The Empress Dowager then glanced at her and Consort Nara: "You two should wait too."
Wan Anran's spirits immediately withered.
When Consort Nara pinched her, she immediately struck a pose full of energy again, almost making the Empress Dowager laugh.
Well, the Empress Dowager has already burst out laughing.
After all the concubines had left, she was no longer silent and beckoned to Wan Anran: "Consort Wan, come here and let me take a look at you."
Wan Anran stepped forward.
The Empress Dowager's personality was far better than the Grand Empress Dowager's. Aside from some unpleasant experiences during the late Emperor's reign, she had enjoyed a smooth, comfortable, and harmonious life before and after that. To the curious Consort Wan, she asked directly, "I heard from the Crown Prince that you are an excellent cook?"
Wan Anran waved her hands repeatedly.
She honestly confessed: "Actually, most of the time it was the concubines who came up with the idea, and then the chefs in the imperial kitchen figured it out."
"It's good enough if they can even offer suggestions."
The Empress Dowager was unconvinced and even somewhat eager to try it: "I heard that besides salty milk tea, there's also sweet milk tea?"
So this is what you're interested in?
Wan Anran was both amused and exasperated. She glanced at Consort Xuan, who was still talking to the Empress Dowager and the Empress, and said, "How about I go to the kitchen and make one?"
The Empress Dowager liked this kind of directness.
She stood up happily and led Wan Anran cheerfully towards the backyard.
While the Empress Dowager was speaking, she also paid attention to the conversation between the Empress Dowager and Consort Wan. Watching the two of them leave in a harmonious manner, she was speechless for a moment. Consort Xuan couldn't help but laugh: "I always thought that Consort Wan might have something to say to the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager shook her head.
The Empress Dowager's temper is already impatient enough, and now there's Consort Wan? The Grand Empress Dowager's head ached just thinking about it. She changed the subject: "There has been no news of an imperial heir in the palace this past year. You all need to work harder."
The empress gave an awkward smile.
Consort Xuan pretended not to hear, and Consort Nara, content with her son, also pretended not to hear. The Empress Dowager, furious, laughed coldly: "It's all my fault! What's the use of talking to you three blockheads?"
Consort Xuan nodded: "What the Empress Dowager said is absolutely right. I'm sure all of you sisters will be interested."
A vein popped out on the Empress Dowager's forehead.
To be honest, Consort Xuan's personality has become much more unconventional in the past few months. Although she used to act like an old woman devoted to Buddhism, which was uncomfortable to look at, her current sharp-tongued and quick-witted demeanor is just irritating.
Unaware of what had happened in the main hall, Wan Anran felt completely at ease in the kitchen. She prepared milk tea frequently, with Hai Tao handling everything herself, while Wan Anran pondered other variations. At the same time, the red bean double-skin milk pudding was freshly made. Its jelly-like texture, combined with the double layers of milk and red beans, immediately caught the Empress Dowager's eye after one sip: "I reckon Your Majesty will like this."
After instructing the cooks to prepare four more portions and send them to the front hall, the Empress Dowager looked at Consort Wan, who was busy with something, and asked, "Can so many kinds of dishes be made from just milk?"
Wan Anran nodded.
She instructed the palace servants to wrap a bowl of the mixed liquid in a towel and place it in an ice chest: "Let these sit for an hour before cutting them into pieces, coating them in flour, and deep-frying them. The outer skin will be crispy and the inside soft, and the taste will be absolutely fantastic! And this one, sprinkled with a little osmanthus sugar and steamed, has a texture somewhat similar to double-skin milk pudding, yet completely different..."
Wan Anran talked about the various uses of milk.
Most importantly, she earnestly explained: "Drinking milk can strengthen the body, so the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager should drink it every day."
Calcium deficiency is a major concern for the elderly.
In a world where there are no other ways to get calcium, drinking milk and bone broth may be the best option.
The Empress Dowager seemed to be deep in thought.
She crossed her arms and pondered carefully: "Speaking of which, when I was on the grasslands, every family's children grew up drinking cow's milk, and they were all strong and healthy. The Manchu people of the Eight Banners also had the habit of drinking milk tea, and they did look much stronger than the Han people."
Milk tea was an essential daily item in the Qing Dynasty palace.
However, the salty milk tea was a bit oily, and the milk had a slightly off-flavor, so many concubines, princes, and princesses didn't like it. After thinking it over carefully, the Empress Dowager nodded seriously: "That makes sense. Everyone should have a couple more cups."
Sweet milk tea, double-skin milk, fried milk, steamed milk with osmanthus sugar, cream of mushroom soup, milk and brown sugar steamed cake, milk, red date and walnut milk... The Empress Dowager, the Empress, Consort Xuan and Noble Lady Nara watched the snacks being served one by one. At first, they were very interested, but later they were at a loss for words. It continued until the Empress Dowager ordered someone to stop.
The Empress Dowager was extremely reluctant to part with him.
She held Consort Wan's hand and sighed, "We'll have to come to Cining Palace again sometime."
Consort Xuan and Noble Lady Nara would agree to let her do it, but they wouldn't do it with her. Finding true friends was difficult, so Wan Anran grasped the Empress Dowager's hand in return: "I'll come again tomorrow!"
Empress Dowager: ...
"Perhaps I should order the nobles not to come and pay their respects?" But seeing the Empress Dowager's rare smile, the Grand Empress Dowager's heart softened: "Alright, alright, it's just making some food, isn't it? It's better than thinking about all sorts of nonsense."
Wan Anran returned to Xianfu Palace.
As soon as she stepped into the east wing, all the fatigue from the morning rushed over her, and she collapsed onto the soft couch and rolled around.
"Is Master tired today?"
"Isn't that right?" Hearing Zisu's question, Wan Anran launched into a long rant. Aside from the joy of cooking with the Empress Dowager, everything else was so painful QAQ
At least in Kunning Palace, people can sit and talk.
But Wan Anran had been standing for over an hour in Cining Palace! Thinking about how this would happen every day from now on, Wan Anran felt her feet were about to swell. And with the weather gradually getting warmer, she couldn't even get some plush insoles to make things easier. Wan Anran sighed, "I feel like I'm even more tired since I was promoted to Noble Lady than when I was a Gentleman of the Palace."
Haitao couldn't help but roll her eyes.
If word got out that the mistress had said this, she'd be torn to shreds by the palace ladies-in-waiting. While inwardly grumbling, Hai Tao gently persuaded her, "My lady, of course there's good news! Think about it, only concubines of the rank of Noble Lady or higher can attend the Emperor's birthday celebration in three days. Countless concubines are eagerly anticipating it, and you're the one who's not happy about it!"
Wan Anran sighed.
Suddenly, her expression froze, and a look of doubt crossed her face: "Hai Tao?"
"What's wrong, Master?"
"You said you promised that Consort Chang could not attend the Emperor's birthday banquet?" Wan Anran's expression was very strange, extremely strange.
Haitao was a little confused.
She nodded: "Your Highness, just like other banquets in the palace, Consorts and Attendants are not required to attend. For example, Your Highness, you didn't attend any banquets except for the family banquet at Qianqing Palace during the New Year!"
Wan Anran's expression gradually became distorted.
In the book, this year's birthday celebration is a major event. The Empress has just passed away, and the palace is filled with grief and gloom. At this time, Uya-shi announces the good news of her pregnancy, which immediately attracts the attention of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
But now.
Not only has the Empress recovered her health, but even Wuya has lost her right to attend. Wan Anran's expression was extremely strange—how can Wuya Changzai continue her act?
Of course, Wuya Changzai's performance couldn't continue!
Determined to make a splash at the Emperor's birthday banquet, she began preparing her costume and accessories half a month in advance—the clothes were designed by Consort Wuya herself and sent to the Imperial Household Department for production. They had just arrived today, and Consort Wuya fell in love with them at first sight: peach blossoms were embroidered on the moon-white brocade, elegant and simple, and she would surely stand out among the heavily made-up and flamboyant concubines.
Uya is always full of confidence.
Meanwhile, Consort Tong, upon receiving the news, feigned confusion: "What is Consort Wuya doing? Doesn't she know that Consort Wuya can't attend the Emperor's birthday banquet?"
The palace maids pursed their lips and chuckled to themselves.
With a stern face, Granny Zhao replied in a pretentious manner, "Reporting to Your Highness, perhaps Consort Wuya has forgotten that she has been demoted to the rank of Consort and still thinks she is a Noble Lady."
Consort Tong chuckled.
Consort Wuya naturally knew that she had sent someone to the Imperial Household Department to order clothes, but Consort Tong was so focused on watching the play that she didn't ask anyone to remind her.
Seeing that Consort Wuya had already received the clothes, Consort Tong picked up her teacup. She lowered her eyes to stare at the tea leaves floating in the tea soup, and said softly, "Go and remind Consort Wuya."
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