Recently, Emperor Xiao Che's visits to Kunning Palace to "work" have become an unspoken but common sight in the palace.
He didn't even bother to come up with an excuse anymore. After finishing his daily affairs, he would go directly here, with only one reason, which was quite grand: "The effect of the marriage ceremony is remarkable, and it needs to be maintained at all times."
The palace servants in Kunning Palace were already used to this. They would even move the memorials from the Imperial Study to the side hall at fixed times, arranging them neatly, just in time for His Majesty the Emperor's arrival.
Lin Wanwan was happy to watch him put on his daily "saying one thing but meaning another" show, and Xiao Che seemed to be immersed in this self-hypnosis of "I'm here to do official business and take a look at the Empress on the side." A wonderful tacit understanding formed between the two, making Kunning Palace always full of a warm and sweet atmosphere.
However, beneath the peaceful surface, Lin Wanwan discovered a new problem.
Although Xiao Che accepted all the novel snacks she made, even to the point of being "tsundere," he always showed little interest in the regular meals sent by the imperial kitchen every day.
No matter how varied the dishes the imperial kitchen eunuchs prepared, or how exquisite and refined they were, he rarely touched his chopsticks. Most of the time, he would only take a few symbolic bites before putting down his chopsticks and frowning slightly.
At first, Lin Wanwan thought it was because he was busy with official duties and had a poor appetite.
But later, she discovered that this wasn't the case. Because every time they ate, she could always see the most authentic answer from that "scenic area" above his head, which was uniquely hers.
Today's lunch was a feast of delicacies from land and sea, with eight cold dishes, eight hot dishes, and a variety of soups and stews, a truly luxurious meal.
Xiao Che sat opposite her, staring blankly at the table full of dishes. Above him, a pixelated figure lay listlessly on the table, poking at the rice in its bowl with chopsticks, while a line of gray text floated beside it—【No appetite.jpg】.
Last night's dinner featured a change to a light and elegant Jiangnan style, with each dish presented like a work of art. He remained as aloof as ever, the emoji above his head now a tiny figure facing a table full of food, helplessly spreading his hands, pouting, his face clearly saying "Why is it always these?"—[It's always these.gif].
After observing for several days, Lin Wanwan finally determined that the problem was not with his appetite, but with the dishes served in the imperial kitchen.
While the dishes served in the imperial palace used the finest ingredients and involved elaborate preparations, they all adhered to the same principles. To ensure the emperor's health, the flavors tended to be conservative, and the cooking methods were relatively fixed. After eating the same food year after year, even the best dishes would likely become monotonous.
More importantly, Lin Wanwan realized that although Xiao Che's so-called "illness" had greatly improved after the poisonous medicine was replaced, the long-term depletion could not be made up for overnight. His foundation was still weak.
To completely improve his physical condition and make him a truly strong and healthy emperor, instead of a sickly man who needs to rely on "lucky marriage" to maintain his health, it is necessary to fundamentally take control of his diet.
The Imperial Kitchen is out of the question; they have too many rules and involve various factions, making it impossible for Lin Wanwan to completely control them.
Therefore, the only solution was to start anew on her own turf. A bold idea gradually took shape in her mind.
That day, after Xiao Che finished reviewing the last memorial, Lin Wanwan personally served him a freshly brewed cup of calming tea. Watching him put down his brush and rub his temples, she spoke as if casually.
"Your Majesty, I have recently had some free time and have been reading some ancient medical books," she said softly, her tone earnest.
"Oh?" Xiao Che looked up at her, clearly intrigued. "Is the Empress also interested in traditional Chinese medicine?"
"I wouldn't say I'm interested," Lin Wanwan said modestly, shaking her head. Then she changed the subject and got to the point. "I just saw a sentence in a book that I thought made a lot of sense."
Tell me about it.
“The book says, ‘Food is worse than medicine.’ No matter how good the elixir is, it is still medicine, and medicine has some toxicity. The best approach is to incorporate nourishing ingredients into your daily diet, so that the body’s health benefits subtly and gradually.” She slowly recited her prepared words, looking at him earnestly.
Xiao Che's eyes flickered, but he didn't speak, gesturing for her to continue.
Lin Wanwan took a deep breath and finally revealed her ultimate goal.
“Your Majesty,” she stood up, gave him a solemn curtsy, and said with utmost sincerity, “I humbly request Your Majesty’s permission to set aside a space in the backyard of Kunning Palace to build a small kitchen.”
"Build a kitchen?" Xiao Che's brows furrowed immediately.
This was indeed an overstepping of the bounds. According to ancestral rules, the meals of all the masters in the palace were uniformly managed by the Imperial Kitchen. This was for ease of management and, more importantly, for safety reasons. Throughout history, apart from the Empress Dowager who might have had her own small Buddhist shrine and vegetarian kitchen, no empress or concubine had ever been able to set up a private kitchen in her own palace.
This is not just a privilege, but a challenge to the rules.
Lin Wanwan remained calm and met his scrutinizing gaze, continuing with composure: "Your Majesty, I know this is against the rules. But my actions are not for my own selfish reasons, but entirely for Your Majesty's health."
"For me?" Xiao Che's tone carried a hint of inquiry.
“Exactly.” Lin Wanwan nodded, playing her trump card of “concern for the Emperor’s health.” “Your Majesty, I wish to personally research medicinal cuisine. The Imperial Kitchen is overcrowded and complex; they may not be able to fully grasp the intricate cooking techniques and unique recipes. If I had my own small kitchen, I could personally supervise and ensure that every dish presented to Your Majesty is prepared with utmost care, satisfying both your palate and providing nourishment.”
She spoke in a dignified and impeccable manner, brimming with a sense of responsibility and sacrifice as a wife and empress. Every word revolved around the point of "for the emperor's good."
This reason made it impossible for Xiao Che to refuse.
As expected, Xiao Che fell silent. His slender fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, making soft "tap, tap" sounds. This was a habitual action he took when thinking.
Lin Wanwan knew that he must be weighing the pros and cons at this moment. On the one hand, there was the potential controversy over whether building a kitchen in his palace was in accordance with ancestral rules; on the other hand, there was his own personal desire for food, and... his indulgence of Lin Wanwan's "intentions".
Above his head, in the area visible only to Lin Wanwan, a fierce "intellectual struggle" was raging. One little figure, representing "rules," was shaking its head vigorously with a stern face. The other, representing "selfish desires," was a little gluttonous cat, clutching a chicken leg, drooling and nodding frantically. The two little figures were locked in a fierce battle.
In the end, it was that little gluttonous cat who was holding the chicken leg who kicked the little figure representing the rules flying.
Lin Wanwan was overjoyed, knowing that the matter had been settled.
With a "thud," Xiao Che's fingers stopped tapping.
He raised his eyes, looking intently at Lin Wanwan. After a moment of contemplation, he finally uttered a single word: "Approved."
The weight that had been hanging over Lin Wanwan's heart finally lifted, and a bright smile immediately bloomed on her face: "Your Majesty, I thank you!"
“However,” he added, a subtle, fox-like cunning gleaming in his deep eyes, “since this small kitchen of the Empress was specially built to improve my health, then it should be done thoroughly.”
"Your Majesty, please speak."
He leaned forward slightly and said in an unquestionable, somewhat matter-of-fact tone, "From tomorrow onwards, Kunning Palace will be responsible for all three of my daily meals. There is no need for the Imperial Kitchen to send any more."
Lin Wanwan's smile froze instantly.
What?
She just wanted to take over his "medicinal cuisine" and occasionally cook something delicious to improve his meals, but how did he... just dump all his food responsibilities on her?
This workload is far more than just building a small kitchen! It means she has to be responsible for all his dishes, snacks, and soups for three meals a day, from purchasing ingredients to supervising the cooking process; she has to take care of every step.
She... dug a hole for herself, and then he pushed her into it?
Lin Wanwan stared blankly at him, trying to detect a trace of a joke on his calm face. However, there was none. He remained as serious as ever, his words carrying no weight.
But above his head, the little gluttonous cat that had just triumphed had changed its appearance. It had transformed into a cunning little fox with squinting eyes and a wildly upturned mouth, its fluffy tail wagging triumphantly behind it. Beside it was a line of shimmering text—【Plan Successful.gif】.
Lin Wanwan instantly realized that she had been completely "tricked".
He had been planning this all along, just waiting for her to bring it up so he could conveniently dump his food problem on her, the "Empress," and have her solve it!
This emperor is becoming more and more shrewd.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com