Huang Ying hesitated: âIf thereâs any problem with the food, it would be troublesome.â
âI donât mind the trouble.â
âYou know what I mean.â Huang Ying said petulantly.
âAh, how can I disobey the emperorâs Imperial Edict?â
âWhy not let Chunlai make a few dishes to send over.â
âHuang Ying, youâre being silly. Whether I cook it myself, Chunlai cooks it, or someone else does, as long as itâs sent from our East Palace, itâs as if I made it. Thereâs no difference.â
âItâs me whoâs being silly.â Huang Ying whispered, âDo you have any ideas?â
âOf course, I will behave properly and follow the orders of His Majesty the Emperor.â
Jiang Ning rolled up her sleeves and smiled, âItâs been a while since Iâve cooked myself. The weather is a bit hot and dry these days, so Iâll make more and we can eat together.â
Huang Ying laughed: âChunlai and the others will be delighted. But the Princess Consort will have to work hard again. Nowadays, you are managing the vast affairs of the East Palace and taking care of the two little princes. If you get tired, what will we do?â
âJust looking at accounts and accompanying the children to read and write, how is that tiring? Itâs you maids who really donât know the hardships of ordinary people.â
Jiang Ning shook her head and went to the kitchen.
There was no kitchen in the East Palace originally, but she knew how to cook, and the emperorâs eldest grandson and the two little ones were all picky eaters, so she discussed with Li Hongyuan and set up a kitchen.
It was more convenient to make soups and congee.
Huang Ying had to look after the two little princes, Dongxie was steady and had been assigned to serve the emperorâs eldest grandson closely, Qiulai was smart and helped manage the affairs of the East Palace. Now, besides Gucheng who was responsible for her safety, only Xiachu was by Jiang Ningâs side.
Arriving at the small kitchen, Xiachu assisted her, preparing the ingredients.
She found it difficult and complained: âConcubine Yu has the audacity to ask the Princess Consort to cook for her, where does she get such a big face? Relying on the Emperorâs favor, sheâs lost all manners!â
Jiang Ning said: âWhat manners or not, the Emperorâs favor is the greatest rule. Even if she wanted to climb over the Empressâs head, she could.â
Xiachu said: âBut we donât know what dishes she likes, do you want me to go and ask?â
âAre you really treating her as your master to serve?â Jiang Ning glanced at her, âWe cook whatever we like, and simply send her the leftovers.â
Huang Ying, who had come over to listen, chuckled: âThe Princess Consort is right. Concubine Yu doesnât really want our food, she just⦠Anyway, just prepare whatever the Princess Consort and the little princes like.â
âOh, I understand now.â
Xiachu finally cheered up.
Preparing meals for the Princess Consort and the little princes was something she was willing to do.
As for that Concubine Yu who was up to no good, did she even deserve it?
That day at noon, everyone in the East Palace received the reward of added dishes.
Everyone was delighted.
After the meal, Huang Ying prepared a food box with several dishes and asked a young eunuch to send it to Concubine Yu.
Concubine Yu wasnât lying about feeling unwell.
She was pregnant and experiencing morning sickness, so she really couldnât eat.
When she heard that the East Palace had sent food, she originally didnât want to bother with it and was ready to frame them. But curiosity got the better of her, and she asked the palace maid to bring it over to take a look.
The palace maid brought out four small dishes, a bowl of soup, and a stack of golden roll pastries.
The small dishes were very simple and refreshing. Besides one shrimp dish, the rest were vegetarian, but they were exquisitely prepared, and the color combinations were vibrant and appealing, creating an appetite just by looking at them..