Chapter 204.2

Once everything was ready, Yaoniang checked the time and felt it was about right to start cooking.

The stove in the small kitchen was fully equipped, and she and Mother Xue worked together to make four dishes without any problem. When stewing the chicken, Yaoniang used a cloth dipped in oil to rub around the pot and then took the fermented dough to start making pancakes around the pot.

“I never expected niangniang to use this method. Making pancakes this way really showcases one’s skills,” exclaimed Mother Xue.

“Back at home, cooking, laundry, and all the other household tasks had to be done on my own. But after entering Jin Wang Manor, there were others to do this, so my skills have become rusty. The commoner’s households don’t pay so much attention to these things, especially in cold weather and limited space. It’s all about efficiency. If it takes too long, by the time the pancakes are done, the meal will be cold,” Yaoniang explained.

As Yaoniang spoke to Mother Xue, she tore the dough into small pieces without rolling them into a flatbread shape. She simply wet her hands with cold water and pressed the dough onto the pot to flatten it.

In fact, it was more accurate to say that this method created flatbread and not pancakes.

Soon, a circle of pancakes surrounded the sides of the pot, and Yaoniang covered the pot with the lid.

After a while, she lifted the lid, and the corn pancakes were cooked. She removed the pancakes from the sides of the pot and continued to stick more pancakes. She did this two more times, making a total of two large plates of corn pancakes.

Yaoniang picked up a piece of pancake, blowing on it as it was scalding hot. She tasted the one with pumpkin and then the one with sheep’s milk. She was about to let Mother Xue and the others taste them when she suddenly noticed that it was very quiet around her.

She automatically turned around and saw Emperor Jin’an standing behind her.

Emperor Jin’an was dressed in a crimson-purple dragon robe with a black gauze-winged crown on his head. The dragon robe had a cross collar and narrow sleeves, with shoulder coverings depicting the sun and moon. Eight dragon patterns and a white jade belt adorned his waist. He exuded an indescribable sense of grace and majesty.

The other people in the small kitchen had all retreated.

“Ah?”

Yaoniang was caught off guard and startled.

She felt a bit embarrassed and instinctively touched her hair and apron. At this moment, she no longer felt like an emperor’s woman but more like an average woman easily found in the marketplace. Standing in front of Emperor Jin’an in his dragon robe, she couldn’t help feeling a sense of self-consciousness and shame.

As if trying to cover it up, she smiled and asked, “Why has Your Majesty come? Are you not busy with state affairs today?”

Emperor Jin’an remained indifferent as usual, with no change in his expression. “No, so Zhen came back early today.”

Yaoniang suddenly lost her constraint and smiled, saying, “I also didn’t have much to do either, so I wanted to cook some food. Xiaobao said that the Emperor Emeritus hasn’t had a good appetite lately and likes the soup I send, so I thought of making some food to bring over. Try it and see if it’s delicious. I tried it and it’s not bad.”

She pulled a piece of corn pancake from her hand and stuffed it into Emperor Jin’an’s mouth. There was a low exclamation from outside the door, but it abruptly stopped, as if someone had covered their mouth.

Emperor Jin’an opened his mouth and took the corn pancake in, chewing a few times before swallowing.

“Not bad.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Yaoniang instantly became even happier and said, “After eating many delicacies, it’s also nice to occasionally eat this kind of common people’s food.”

Emperor Jin’an nodded and looked around. “Is it all ready?”

“It’s almost ready, just waiting to be plated.”

“Then let the servants take care of it.”

Yaoniang nodded, took off her apron, and Emperor Jin’an stood aside waiting for her. After she washed her hands and tidied her clothes, she held his hand and left the small kitchen.

During dinner, Erbao ate with great relish, and even Emperor Jin’an had a bit more than usual. As for Xiaobao, he took the food made by his mother and went to the Qianqing Palace.

After finishing their meal at the Qianqing Palace, the Emperor Emeritus felt a bit full and wanted to burp, but when it reached the exit, it turned into a light cough.

“Not bad, but it can’t compare to the imperial kitchen’s dishes.”

“These are some common people’s dishes. My mother said she wanted to make something different.”

The Emperor Emeritus couldn’t help but feel a bit shameless. Clearly, he had eaten a lot, but he still gave such a comment. He blushed and coughed lightly, then spoke seriously, “Common people’s dishes also have their merits. If your mother makes it in the future, bring some for me to taste.”

“If Grandfather Emperor likes it, then it’s settled. Mother is just afraid that you won’t like it.”

The Emperor Emeritus smiled and said, “Alright, it’s getting late, Zhen won’t keep you. It’s cold, so go back and rest early. Li Dequan will escort the young prince back to Yangxin Hall.”

“Grandfather Emperor should rest early too. Your grandson takes his leave.”

After the meal, Emperor Jin’an had the two children taken away. Instead of attending to his memorials, he accompanied Yaoniang to read a book on the large kang bed.

Yaoniang hadn’t finished reading two pages when he grabbed the book and threw it aside, then he called for someone to come in to help them prepare for bed. What else could she not understand?

Behind the bright yellow curtain, two people entwined.

Tonight, Emperor Jin’an was exceptionally enthusiastic, with a particularly tantalizing passion. Perhaps it was because Emperor Jin’an had been busy lately, and whenever he was in the mood at night, it was always rushed, like a storm. But today, he exuded a calm and unhurried aura, steady and composed.

He was composed, but Yaoniang was quite flustered. However, she couldn’t ask anything of him, so she could only endure the suffocating tenderness by burying her face in the quilt.

He didn’t allow it and forcefully turned her over to kiss her mouth. Beads of sweat fell, dripping onto her shoulders and neck. The sweat soaked the sheets, and Yaoniang felt a suffocating sensation of being unable to breathe.

“Are you uneasy?”

She was already dazed, when Emperor Jin’an suddenly spoke. Yaoniang was momentarily stunned.

“I-I’m not… not…”

“Don’t overthink it. Those things have nothing to do with you.”

“I’m not overthinking.” She spoke with some guilt, not entirely honest.

Emperor Jin’an reached out and touched her face. The sweat on it belonged to both of them.

He moved downward, and she bit her lower lip lightly.

He kissed her, pressing against her lips, mumbling, “You are you. No need to change, no need to please anyone deliberately, no need to worry about those meaningless things. Everything is in Zhen’s hands.”

“Mmm…”