His Majesty the Emperor, who had been “working” in the Kunning Palace until dusk yesterday before reluctantly leaving, returned the following afternoon.
This time, his reason for visiting was even more "concerned about the people's plight"—euphemistically called "inspecting the palace's expenses and caring about the Empress's meals."
When Chief Eunuch Li Dequan announced the imperial arrival in his melodious voice, the palace maids and eunuchs in Kunning Palace showed no surprise whatsoever. They simply proceeded swiftly and methodically to perform their duties, welcoming the emperor as if this had become the third routine event in the palace after sunrise and sunset.
Lin Wanwan had anticipated this all along.
She didn't even wait in the main hall, but instead had tea and snacks prepared in a side hall where the afternoon sun could shine. She was certain that after His Majesty the Emperor finished his "inspection," he would eventually find a place to sit down and begin his real "today's agenda."
As expected, Xiao Che made a symbolic tour of the palace, and after giving a "passable" evaluation of the maintenance of the palace buildings and the demeanor of the palace staff, he was "invited" to a side hall.
Upon entering the side hall, a sweet but not cloying aroma, a blend of milky and fruity scents, wafts over you. Warm sunlight filters through the window lattices, casting bright spots of light on the floor, and the entire hall exudes a sense of relaxed comfort and tranquility.
Xiao Che's gaze was immediately drawn to the plate of exquisite pastries on the small table.
It was a plate of small, delicate, milky-white pastries, seemingly made in a style from the Western Regions, yet with some differences. A bright red, juicy berry adorned the top, and the pastry itself was delicate and soft, like clouds sculpted by a skilled artisan. Just looking at it was enough to whet one's appetite.
He subtly withdrew his gaze, maintaining the composure and indifference typical of an emperor, and sat down in the main seat, seemingly having no interest in the plate of pastries.
Lin Wanwan looked at him with a smile, poured him a cup of tea herself, and said softly, "Your Majesty has had a long inspection tour. These are some new snacks made by the Imperial Kitchen. Please try them and see if they suit your taste."
This was certainly not the work of the imperial kitchen. It was the result of her special trip to her own small kitchen yesterday, where she improved and upgraded the small cakes she had made before. She reduced the sugar content, enhanced the aroma with fruit nectar, and mixed extremely fine almond powder into the flour, making the texture richer and smoother. She was certain that this taste was absolutely unique in the palace.
Xiao Che hummed in response. He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, his posture elegant, but his gaze seemed to drift unnoticed towards the plate of pastries.
Lin Wanwan didn't urge her, but just sat quietly to the side, peeling pine nuts.
In the end, it was Xiao Che who couldn't hold back any longer. He put down his teacup and said in a condescending tone, as if to "give the Empress some face and reluctantly let her have a taste," "Since it is the Empress's good intention, then I will try it."
The palace maid Ruolan, who was standing to the side, immediately stepped forward, took a piece for him with a small silver fork, and placed it in the white jade dish in front of him.
Xiao Che picked up the small silver spoon and scooped up a small piece with a reserved demeanor, then put it into his mouth.
The moment the pastry touches your tongue, its soft, cloud-like texture and rich, sweet flavor melt instantly. The milky aroma is mellow, the fruity fragrance refreshing, and there's a hint of the unique oily aroma of nuts—a complex and layered flavor that's sweet but not cloying, an unparalleled delight.
A fleeting look of amazement and satisfaction flashed in the depths of Xiao Che's eyes, and even his usually taut jawline seemed to soften by a fraction of a second.
However, when he looked up, all the ease on his face had vanished, replaced by a stern expression that was scrutinizing and critical.
He started his "performance" again.
"Cough." He cleared his throat, his brows furrowed, as if he had just tasted not nectar, but poison.
"It's sickeningly sweet," he commented coldly, each word carrying an unquestionable authority. "The texture is rough, and the ingredients are mixed up haphazardly, wasting all this good stuff."
He put down his silver spoon, glanced at the plate of pastries with a look of disappointment, and finally concluded: "The quality of the imperial kitchen's pastries is getting worse and worse. It's time to replace the head of the Imperial Household Department."
Lin Wanwan lowered her eyes, listened respectfully, and nodded in agreement while trying hard to suppress her laughter.
Because in her eyes, the emperor who said the food was "disgusting" had a completely different view above his head.
A chibi-style figure, identical to him, is blissfully squinting, its lips exaggeratedly upturned, and a single, glistening drop of drool dangles from the corner of its mouth. Its entire face is immersed in the immense happiness brought by the food. Next to the emoji, several large words are dynamically flashing—
[So delicious! I want to have another piece.gif]
Lin Wanwan sighed inwardly. This emperor's "image burden" was truly heavier than his empire.
“Your Majesty is right.” She continued, a perfectly measured look of worry on her face. “I also feel that the Imperial Kitchen has been somewhat lax lately. I will certainly reprimand them properly later, so that they will not serve Your Majesty such unpalatable pastries again.”
Her tone was so sincere, as if she genuinely thought the cake was inedible.
Xiao Che seemed quite pleased with her "pragmatism" after hearing her words. He hummed in agreement, picked up his teacup, and took another sip of tea, as if rinsing away the "unpleasant" taste in his mouth.
But his eyes never left the white jade plate containing the cake.
Lin Wanwan could see clearly that he had only taken a small bite of the dish, and there was still more than half left.
Sure enough, after rinsing his mouth with tea, Xiao Che picked up the silver spoon again. He naturally scooped up another spoonful and put it in his mouth, chewing as he continued to look at the plate with that disgusted expression, as if he were studying just how bad this thing could taste.
One bite, two bites, three bites...
Amidst the continuous verbal criticism and extreme disdain in his expression, he slowly and methodically ate the cake on the plate until it was completely gone.
Lin Wanwan watched in awe. This was probably the highest level of the legendary "saying one thing but doing another".
After finishing his plate, Xiao Che's gaze once again, and for the nth time, fell on the large plate of cake on the small table. He seemed to be hesitating whether to "reluctantly" try another piece for a more in-depth "criticism".
Lin Wanwan saw an opportunity and decided she couldn't let him continue to be "in a difficult position".
A look of sudden realization crossed her face, and with a touch of consideration and concern, she said, "Look at my memory! Since Your Majesty finds these pastries so unpalatable, we can't trouble you any further, and we certainly can't waste food."
Xiao Che paused almost imperceptibly as he reached for the plate, looking up at her with a questioning gaze.
Lin Wanwan turned her head and softly instructed Ruolan, who was standing beside her, "Ruolan."
"This servant is here."
“His Majesty doesn’t like this plate of pastries.” Lin Wanwan’s voice was clear and melodious, and it was particularly clear in the quiet side hall. “Take it away and share it with the sisters, so that everyone can have a taste of something new.”
The moment the words were spoken, time seemed to be paused.
Xiao Che's hand, which was holding a silver spoon and preparing to add another piece of the "unpalatable" pastry to his plate, suddenly and stiffly stopped in mid-air.
For the first time, a slight crack appeared on the mask of cold composure that usually clung to his face. A hint of astonishment, disbelief, and a fleeting trace of panic flickered and intertwined in his deep eyes.
He probably never imagined that his carefully laid-out "disdain" would be so...sincerely adopted by the Empress.
The entire side hall fell into an eerie, tense silence.
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