Volume 3 Linglong Dice An Red Bean 145 Thick Soup

  When Wang Kong entered the Pepper Chamber, Zhang Yan was cutting a branch of apricot blossoms and inserting it into a vase. The vase had a curved neck and a bulging belly, with a warm and moist green jade luster floating on it, paired with the apricot blossoms inserted at an angle, as if the bright and beautiful spring light by the Wei River were all blooming on this one branch of apricot blossoms.

  "Relax." Zhang Yan said casually, then raised her head, her gaze first lightly sweeping across her abdomen, before seeing Wang Xun's flying eyebrows and sparkling eyes.

  This is a woman who wants to fly.

  Wang Jing bowed slightly, and upon hearing the words, she stood up, placing her hand on her abdomen, with an even sweeter smile on her face. "Empress Zhang resides in the Zhāo Fáng Palace, I am a concubine, and should come here every day to pay my respects," she said softly.

  "It's me who likes quietness and doesn't like to interfere with others." Zhang Yan shook her head listlessly. "I heard that the Eighth Son is already pregnant with the imperial heir, originally as the Empress, taking care of the palace concubines is my responsibility. But I'm still young and not familiar with women's pregnancy matters. It's better not to meddle randomly. I should report to the Empress Dowager and ask older palace ladies to take care of it. The Eighth Son should also quietly stay in the Clear and Cool Palace to nurture her fetus, lest there be any accidents, which would not only make herself heartbroken but also worry the Empress Dowager and the Emperor."

  "Agreed."

  The host had no intention of keeping the guest, and the guest didn't want to stay either. However, after exchanging a few words, Wang Cong quickly took his leave. Before departing, his gaze swept over the luxurious curtains, beds, and furniture in the Pepper Chamber Hall, and he smiled slightly before leaving.

  "This Wang Jing is too arrogant." The angry hands of the concubine trembled, "Even if she really gives birth to a prince this time, the young prince will still have to call her 'Mother Empress', Wang Jing is indeed not self-respecting."

  Zhang Yan sniffled and lowered her head.

  She thought she would involuntarily be jealous of the woman who was pregnant with his child. But just now, sitting there and seeing Wang Kong worshiping herself, she seemed to be facing a very strange person, and her emotions were not moved at all.

  What can a small Wang Kelan do to stir up her emotions? The one who truly makes her sad and happy has always been the man who is very important in her heart.

  He brought Wang Qiang in front of him. Then he had to face her, and the distress and humiliation that the child in her womb brought upon himself.

  Zhang Yan suddenly stood up and said, "I'm in a good mood today. Let's go to the small kitchen and cook some small dishes."

  Empress Zhang was fond of tasting delicious food, and the kitchen in the Pepper Chamber was famous throughout Weiyang Palace. It is said that more than half of them were pointed out by Empress Zhang herself. Shi Guanling, Cen Niang, often discussed cooking skills with Zhang Yan. She set foot in the kitchen, which was also a common occurrence.

  The female official was instructing the maid to carefully attend to today's Empress when she suddenly heard a loud rumbling sound from behind the palace, which came from the imperial kitchen. Startled, she rushed out in three strides and two steps.

  "Mother." She stepped inside and suddenly lost her voice.

  The stove was in a mess, with a circular mouth stove that Qinniang usually used in the middle, and flames suddenly burst out of it, burning everything on the counter to a crisp. Only Zhang Yan seemed to have expected this and retreated to one side early on. At this time, Sili slowly raised her hand to smooth out her hair, except for a little ash on her face, not even a single strand of her hair was disheveled.

  The palace attendants standing around were stunned and speechless.

  Zhang Yan coughed. She turned around and ordered, "Find someone to clean up here. Then we'll continue." Her voice was clear and crisp.

  "There's no need for that." Cen Niang suddenly spoke up, "Your Majesty, if you want to eat something, just give the order. I'll do my best to make it for you. Your noble body is like a golden branch and jade leaf, it's our honor for you to simply point out what you want, why bother yourself with cooking?"

  "How can that be?" Zhang Yan playfully stretched out her index finger and shook it, signaling silence. She said, "Your Majesty loves to eat millet rice the most, I personally cooked it with my own hands, it's also my heart's intention for Your Majesty."

  Her face was smiling as usual, like a spring day with blooming flowers. Her voice was also sweet and soft. But listening to it felt like scraping against ice shards, clearly hiding a chill beneath.

  Are you expressing your true feelings?

  Everyone shivered with fear.

  "Xiang Xiang." A weak and pitiful voice came from ahead, "Don't need to add bitter wine when making glutinous rice, right?"

  "What? This is bitter wine?" Zhang Yan exclaimed in surprise, "I thought it was vinegar."

  Chen Yu, who was far away outside the palace, couldn't help but let out a sigh and rubbed his temples, silently praying: Your Majesty, if you're seeking good fortune, then at least for today, please don't come to the Pepper Chamber Palace.

  However, things don't always go as planned. On this day, Liu Ying was in a good mood, and even though there were many pressing government matters accumulated from the previous days' outing, he still had a smile on his lips when reviewing them. Suddenly feeling tired, seeing that it was almost time for dinner, he said, "It's getting late. I won't keep you all here any longer. We'll discuss the rest tomorrow."

  Zi Xun Cao waited until all the other officials had withdrawn and then fell back a step, saying: "Your Majesty, there is one thing I do not know whether I should speak of."

  "Oh?" Liu Ying raised her head in surprise and said, "Cao Xiangguo is a former emperor's trusted minister, I have always relied on him. But it doesn't matter what you say."

  Cao Shen rubbed his nose and sighed, "When Your Majesty visited Pei County, the Empress Dowager often came to Weiyang Palace to inquire about government affairs."

  Liu Ying shook her head and smiled, "What can I do? I have always respected my mother, the empress dowager. If there is anything difficult to understand, I will also ask for advice from the Changle Palace. The empress dowager occasionally cares about government affairs when I am away on a trip, but it's not a big deal."

  "What if it's not just occasional?" Cao Can worriedly asked.

  "What does it mean?" Liu Ying was taken aback for a moment.

  "Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager are mother and son, originally one entity. The Empress Dowager was the wife of the previous emperor, not to mention that the previous emperor laid down this great Han dynasty's vast territory, in which the Empress Dowager also had a share of merit. Even when we ministers were in Pei County and had not yet attained wealth and nobility, we also had deep connections with the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager cannot be treated like an ordinary woman; she holds the country steady and sometimes is even more so than Your Majesty. Therefore, on the court's matters that are difficult to decide, Your Majesty must first ask the Long乐 Palace. This is Your Majesty's benevolence and filial piety, as well as our great Han's good fortune. However, Your Majesty, this Han dynasty after all bears the Liu family name. You can share the world with the Empress Dowager, but the Empress Dowager absolutely should not bypass you to interfere in government affairs."

  "For nearly half a month now, the Empress Dowager has been personally inquiring about even the smallest matters. Moreover, she makes decisions without consulting any of the officials."

  Liu Ying was silent for a moment before saying, "Let's go back first, Xiang Guo."

  He thought for a moment and said, "Summon Chen Ping, the Commandant of the Imperial Guard, to the Xuan Shi Hall."

  Waiting for Chen Ping to enter, Liu Ying asked about the recent trivial matters of the people in the Weiyang Palace, and then sat alone in the Xuande Hall for a while.

  "Your Majesty." Han Changyu asked, "Where are you planning to go tonight?"

  In the Weiyang Palace, Wang Bazhi thought that since he was newly favored due to his pregnancy, the Emperor would also go to the Qingliang Hall to pay a visit. However, Liu Ying took a step forward, raised her head and said, "Hmph, let's go to the Empress's Zhufang Hall instead."

  As soon as he stepped into the pepper house, he felt that it was somewhat different from the usual leisurely atmosphere of the pepper house. The azalea who welcomed him in looked back at him with a glance, and her eyes seemed to have a hint of pity. Liu Ying was inexplicably puzzled, and when she raised her head, she saw Ah Yan standing on the ladder in the hall, tiptoeing from the top of the bookshelf to take down a volume of books, her figure soft and slender.

  "Be careful." He was startled, hastily stepped forward and carried her down, frowning, "There are so many maids in the Pepper Chamber, you can just call someone to help you. Why do you have to go get it yourself?"

  Zhang Yan smiled slightly, as if it were an ordinary day. Naturally, there was someone blocking her way. But today she seemed to be in a particularly fiery mood, and from top to bottom of the palace, no one dared to provoke her. However, thinking about it again, it's just climbing a ladder, what could possibly happen? It's not worth making such a fuss.

  And under these wide sleeves, how many beautiful women's waists have those arms actually wrapped around?

  Thinking of this, all the grievances that had been hidden away seemed to have floated up. Zhang Yan lowered her eyes and asked softly, "Your Majesty is in a good mood today?"

  "Have you also heard the news?" Liu Ying was taken aback, then nodded and said, "You are the Empress. The matters of Weiyang Palace naturally cannot be hidden from you."

  "It's getting late." She tossed the book in her hand onto the couch and said, "Let's have dinner."

  She slowly walked over, exchanged a final inquiring glance with Zhang Yan, and saw her nod solemnly. With no other choice, she ordered the prepared dinner to be brought in.

  Liu Ying had always loved to eat taro rice. It was served with a dish of braised abalone, a dish of stir-fried celery, a dish of stewed lamb, and a dish of steamed fish. Liu Ying had something on her mind and called out, "Ah Yan, what do you think...?" After taking a bite of the rice, she suddenly felt a strange flavor emerging in her mouth and coughed, saying, "This, this rice...?"

  "What's wrong with this meal?" Zhang Yan smiled and said, "Oh. I came out from the Empress Dowager's place today, heard that Wang Baizi is pregnant, Your Majesty has a son, this is a great joyous event, very delightful for Your Majesty, so she personally cooked this meal for Your Majesty. Don't disappoint Ah Yan's kindness, okay?"

  Liu Yingdi's face turned red and white, and she asked, "Did Ah Yan make this dish herself?"

  "Yes." Zhang Yan nodded heavily, stretched out both hands in front of him, and boasted, "Look, I even cut my hand to make this soup for you."

  She had a pair of very beautiful hands, with slender and delicate fingers, as white as jade. On the index finger of her right hand, there was indeed a small cut, without any blood visible, but with a faint scent of gunpowder lingering on it, which hadn't been completely washed off by water.

  "Hehe." Liu Ying forced a smile and said, "A Yan, as the Empress, if you want to eat something, just call the chef to make it. There's no need for you to personally take action."

  "I want to." Zhang Yan said firmly, "The chef does the chef's job. What I made with my own hands is my heart's intention." She lowered her head, her face slightly flushed, and said shyly, "This time I'll go with you to Pei County. The old people in Pei County say that when a new daughter-in-law enters her husband's family, she has to wash her husband's hands and make him a sweet soup. When I married into the Weiyang Palace years ago, I was still young and no one told me this. Now I'll just make up for it, would you like to try some?"

  Liu Ying was momentarily speechless, and couldn't help but ask, "Then what you used today, was it also made by yourself?"

  Zhang Yan shook her head and said, "I'm not very diligent in cooking, I only made a portion for one person, and offered it to Your Majesty. As for myself, let Cen's mother cook whatever she wants for me to eat."

  He glanced at the four small dishes of the same color in front of her and felt that the dishes were even more fragrant.

  Meow. This chapter has been basically updated today.

  Add more. Clench fists. Come on.

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