Chapter 6 is not Empress's dish

  "As expected..." Qilin supported her chin with her hand and gazed at the plate, where almost untouched dishes lay. On the other side was a nearly empty pastry platter.

  After a month of observation, she found that all this was not a coincidence. The Empress Dowager had no appetite for food, so the pastries would be eaten away, but it could not be ruled out that they were rewarded to the lower officials.

  "Master Zhao is still busy." Now, Qilin wants to inquire about the pastry master Zhao De'an. It's said that he's the most famous pastry chef in the country, and even the Emperor specifically requests his pastries.

  Handing over the yew wood box of tea leaves, this was her favorite floral tea and had to be brewed with morning dew to taste refreshing and fragrant, which she usually couldn't bear to drink.

  But he couldn't bear to part with his child and the wolf couldn't fit into the child's suit.

  "Hehe, our pastry master is not comparable to other masters." He said, taking a sip of tea, savoring it for a moment before continuing, "The empress may want to eat at any time, but pastries must be fresh to taste good, so we can't slack off for a moment."

  Qilin nodded, it was indeed hard work. She thought about the days when she had an appetite and wanted to eat pastries at any time, without knowing whether the pastry chef secretly scolded her.

  As I was thinking, a cute little cat-shaped cookie appeared in front of me "So cute, give it to me"

  Zhao De'an nodded and said, "This tea isn't cheap, is it? I've never had such fragrant tea before. You really have a good heart."

  Qilin continued to smile and waited for what came next.

  "But I, Zhao's family skills are passed down to males and not females, passed down within the family and not outside."

  Qilin smiled slightly, how could she not know the reason behind it? Just like modern chefs, which one isn't like that, which line of work doesn't have such rules.

  It was just her intention wasn't to learn how to make dim sum, but rather to prove a point.

  One bite of the pastry, and the rich sweetness spreads through my mouth. I'm sure it's made with jasmine flower honey, and they've even added a hint of almond to prevent it from being too cloying.

  However, it's not easy to perfectly combine these two things. She didn't study pastry and naturally doesn't know its secrets.

  "Sizzling"

  Qilin was pulled back to her senses by the sizzling sound of deep-frying, and when she looked up, it was An Shifu, a slender and agile woman who was in charge of the kitchen.

  At this time she was putting a large amount of sugar into the pot, and inside the pot were pork ribs that had been cooked to just the right doneness, was this the rhythm for making sweet and sour pork ribs?

  "Grrr......" Qilin's face flushed with heat, that damned busy collecting morning dew and forgot to eat breakfast, now the hungry worms in her stomach were stirred up and started protesting.

  Zhao De'an smiled slightly and handed over the two plates of pastries that Empress Dowager had left from breakfast, along with another plate he made, to Qi Lin saying "Take it and eat, there's nothing much to do at this hour, just be sure not to let Miao Tiao see."

  Looking at the exquisite animal-shaped cookies, Qilin's eyes lit up and she quickly took them over, nodding her head in thanks.

  Taking advantage of her free time, she ran to the artificial hill behind the imperial kitchen, where few people appeared, and it was also a must-pass route for her exploration.

  And she still believes in one thing today.

  Put down the dim sum and sat on the ground, saying in a soft voice "If you're there, come out. It's rare to have some time to sit."

  The skill of half a cup of tea, swept away by a gentle breeze, the faint scent of tea entered her nose, Qilin smiled slightly, indeed.

  "I thought you wouldn't come out." After all, it's broad daylight, and looking at A Piao's handsome eyebrows, Qi Lin already believes he won't leave her side.

  A Fei didn't mind being sized up by Qilin and directly sat down beside her, picking up one of the pastries and putting it into his mouth.

  "Not bad, you've become clever." He won't be surprised by his appearance anymore and will even take the initiative to call him.

  "I won't feel happy at all if you praise me." Zilin continued in a light tone, eating the slightly sour and sweet pastry, "Are you following me around because of Ziyan's orders or something?"

  A Fei placed her hands behind her head, leaned against the artificial hill, closed her eyes to enjoy the rare sunshine, and slowly said "None of them."

  Qilin looked at A Piao with a puzzled expression and slightly furrowed her brow, saying "You're here to enjoy the scenery?"

  "Look at the beauty." Ah Piao still closed his eyes, but he could clearly feel Cai Lin's suddenly rapid heartbeat, and even saw the blush on Cai Lin's cheeks.

  He felt a gentle breeze beside him and opened his eyes to find Qilin tidying up the grass on her body, and also caught sight of Qilin's bright red ear roots.

  "I'm going back." Although his heart kept warning himself that his words were unreliable, his heartbeat betrayed him by beating a little faster.

  She hadn't thought of a way to respond yet, so she could only leave in disarray...

  After Qilin left, A Piao smiled slightly and looked at the place where Tai Hou lived. With a few leaps, he disappeared from sight.

  At this time, in Xiao Ran's bedroom, the palace maids were kneeling neatly beside her, not daring to make a sound.

  The imperial physician slightly furrowed his brow and carefully took Xiao Ran's pulse.

  Feng Changqing sat on one side, absent-mindedly sipping tea, but didn't know why the tea was tasteless.

  "Report to the Emperor." The imperial physician finally confirmed the conclusion in his heart, but still hesitated and looked at Feng Changqing, saying "Her Majesty is only recently due to irregular diet causing gastrointestinal discomfort, no big deal."

  "You must be joking" Xiao Ran obviously didn't quite believe it, suddenly asked with a loss of composure, hastily lowered his head and said "Your servant was just..."

  Before she could finish speaking, Feng Changqing hooked her chin up, and Xiao Ran's eyes dropped in embarrassment.

  "Everyone go down." Feng Changqing waved his hand, and waited until everyone went down before releasing Xiao Ran.

  Looking at Xiao Ran's big watery eyes, he stretched out his long arm and wrapped Xiao Ran in his arms, gently saying "My dear, don't blame yourself, these things can't be rushed."

  "It's the emperor." Xiao Ran's face flushed, and she had been vomiting continuously for days. The menstrual water had not appeared for two months, and thinking back to the days when Feng Changqing left the palace, she thought it would be a sign of pregnancy, but it turned out to be just her imagination.

  But he can still get such gentle treatment, turn back and let the imperial physician give a prescription for having children, the child is just a matter of time.

  Xiao Ran Feng and Chang Qing walked into the Imperial Garden on foot, dismissing their attendants.

  "Speak." The faint opening seemed to be speaking to the air.

  A figure emerged from behind the artificial hill, and it was none other than the imperial physician who had just left.

  "I report to Your Majesty, the Empress is indeed two months pregnant."

  Feng Changqing slightly furrowed his brow, slowly closed his eyes, and coldly said "Do it cleanly."

  "Yes sir. Your humble servant takes his leave." The imperial physician bowed and withdrew.

  Feng Changqing looked up at the azure sky and suddenly felt a chill run down his entire body.

  He drew out a black soft sword from his waist, which was used for self-defense. He usually wore dark-colored clothes, and the soft sword looked like a belt.

  A person concentrates on practicing sword in the imperial garden.

  Suddenly the long sword turned around and chopped straight towards the fake mountain.

  "Ah..."

  "You're a dead girl who doesn't want to live"

  Qilin's eyes widened and her raised foot hovered in mid-air, despite the sweet scent that filled the air, she could still sense the thick killing intent and anger.

  She looked up to see Ahn Shi Fu, who was currently glaring at a small maid. If looks could kill, the maid would have been dead ten thousand times already.

  Not far from their feet was a delicious dish emitting hot air, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be sugar vinegar ribs, which looked very appetizing, except that the sweetness was a bit too strong.

  Qilin also made an educated guess and quietly walked in, she didn't want to intervene.

  "Master An, please forgive me, I didn't mean to. Please spare my life." The palace maid knelt on the ground with a sobbing tone, her tears falling like rain, and she looked very pitiful.

  "This was the result of my hard work for half a day, and you've ruined it just like that. Can you afford to compensate me?" Master An's eyebrows furrowed, and he reached out to pinch the maid's arm, but eased up on the force at the last moment.

  The palace maid was frightened and burst into tears, constantly kowtowing.

  When the palace maid cracked her forehead, Qi Lin couldn't bear to watch it anymore. For a dish, a palace maid's life was at stake. Although this had been performed on TV before, this was still too absurd.

  "Don't eat dinner today." Master An said with a frown and turned around to leave.

  Qilin's footsteps stopped abruptly as she blinked her eyes. Is this the punishment? It seemed she had worried for nothing.

  "As long as my younger sister is doing well, I can be at peace."

  "I will eat her?" Feng Changqing smiled slightly, but couldn't hide the coldness in his eyes.

  Just now I found someone, with a long sword passing by, only to discover it was the flustered Bu Yao. The sword tip turned around, not because of Bu Yao, but Long Ye.

  He himself didn't understand why he still kept her here now.

  "Red Snow sister has always been careless, and as her older sister, I'm also more concerned about her. No other intention, please don't blame me, Your Majesty." Bo Ya's mouth curved into a faint smile, but in her heart, she was actually sweating coldly, if not for using Qi Lin's name, perhaps even mentioning Long Ye wouldn't have allowed her to leave.

  But isn't it said that this emperor's mood is unpredictable? Why does he become a bit... gentle when mentioning Qilin? However, there is no sign of affection in his eyes.

  "Hmph. So... Very good." Feng Changqing let out a cold snort, hearing the footsteps coming from not far away, and looked at Bu Yao again. Although she was also a beauty, she could actually make Long Yan lose his composure, so she must be an extraordinary woman too.

  However, he always felt that Bu Yao didn't have the same affection for Long Yan as Long Yan had for her. On the other hand, when Bu Yao looked at him, there was always a deep affection in his eyes.

  "Step aside."

  Following the sound, it was indeed Long Ye. Perhaps he had been running for a long time, and his forehead was covered with fine sweat. When he saw Bu Yao, his anxious eyes suddenly lit up, and he even forgot that Feng Changqing was also there, directly running over to hug Bu Yao tightly.

  Embraced tightly by Long Ye, it seemed as if she would be crushed into his body the next second, and even her bones started to make a creaking sound. Bu Yao pushed him away with some difficulty.

  "Your Highness, why haven't you met with the Emperor?" Bu Yao took a slight step back and said softly, "Aren't you afraid of the Emperor's blame?"

  Long Yan was slightly stunned, turned his head and saw Feng Changqing, his face flushed with heat, scratched the back of his head, even forgot to kneel down to pay respects, it wasn't until Bai Yao pushed him that he came back to himself, just as he was about to kneel down but was stopped by Feng Changqing.

  "Never mind, we're family, no need for formalities." Feng Changqing turned around and glanced at the direction of Qingspring Pavilion, saying lightly "The Empress Dowager's birthday is just ahead, you've been working hard these days."

  Long Ye has always been the direct manager of these preparations, so today he is entering the palace to report on the preparation of the birthday banquet.

  "It is a duty for me to share the Emperor's worries." With a bow, Long Ye continued, "My princess was visiting the palace for the first time and missed her sister dearly after not seeing her for many days. In her anxiety, she accidentally went to the wrong place. If she disturbed Your Majesty, please forgive her."

  Feng Changqing turned around and said softly, "Even if it's a deep sisterly love, what's wrong with that? Hearing this makes me feel like our brotherly bond is somewhat distant."

  Long Yan was slightly stunned and lowered his head in shame.

  "But whether or not you are disturbing me, the princess naturally understands in her heart." As he spoke, he coldly glanced at Bu Yao, then turned and left with a flourish.

  Until Feng Changqing completely disappeared from Bu Yao's line of sight, Bu Yao seemed to float up to the surface, and she fell unstably into Long Ye's arms. She had just felt Feng Changqing's murderous intent.

  Because she heard something she shouldn't have.

  "As expected..."

  Zi Lin stared at the pastry plate in front of her and muttered to herself, "The empress dowager doesn't like eating sweets. That's why so many pastries that are relatively sweet were left over...so it seems."

  When she quietly took out the leftover pastries from lunch and gave them to the little palace maid during dinner tonight, she inadvertently discovered that the remaining pastries seemed to be another kind of sweet pastry. Although it was delicate and fragrant when entering the mouth, but she didn't like that strong sweetness, compared to which she still liked the ones with a sour taste.

  Furthermore, Empress Dowager likes pastries, will she only eat pastries and not eat dishes?

  It feels very strange.

  "Could it be that the pastries are the Empress's dishes, and all the hard work of the chefs in creating their culinary masterpieces is not for the Empress?"

  "What's being whispered?"