Chapter 482: Four Dishes and One Soup
Chapter 482: Four Dishes and One Soup
Huang Ying hesitated: “If there’s any problem with the food, it would be troublesome.”
“I don’t mind the trouble.”
“You know what I mean.” Huang Ying said petulantly.
“Ah, how can I disobey the emperor’s Imperial Edict?”
“Why not let Chunlai make a few dishes to send over.”
“Huang Ying, you’re being silly. Whether I cook it myself, Chunlai cooks it, or someone else does, as long as it’s sent from our East Palace, it’s as if I made it. There’s no difference.”
“It’s me who’s being silly.” Huang Ying whispered, “Do you have any ideas?”
“Of course, I will behave properly and follow the orders of His Majesty the Emperor.”
Jiang Ning rolled up her sleeves and smiled, “It’s been a while since I’ve cooked myself. The weather is a bit hot and dry these days, so I’ll make more and we can eat together.”
Huang Ying laughed: “Chunlai 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?”
“Just looking at accounts and accompanying the children to read and write, how is that tiring? It’s you maids who really don’t know the hardships of ordinary people.”
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 emperor’s 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 emperor’s 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 Ning’s side.
Arriving at the small kitchen, Xiachu assisted her, preparing the ingredients.
She found it difficult and complained: “Concubine Yu has the audacity to ask the Princess Consort to cook for her, where does she get such a big face? Relying on the Emperor’s favor, she’s lost all manners!”
Jiang Ning said: “What manners or not, the Emperor’s favor is the greatest rule. Even if she wanted to climb over the Empress’s head, she could.”
Xiachu said: “But we don’t know what dishes she likes, do you want me to go and ask?”
“Are you really treating her as your master to serve?” Jiang Ning glanced at her, “We cook whatever we like, and simply send her the leftovers.”
Huang Ying, who had come over to listen, chuckled: “The Princess Consort is right. Concubine Yu doesn’t really want our food, she just… Anyway, just prepare whatever the Princess Consort and the little princes like.”
“Oh, I understand now.”
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 wasn’t lying about feeling unwell.
She was pregnant and experiencing morning sickness, so she really couldn’t eat.
When she heard that the East Palace had sent food, she originally didn’t 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..