Chapter 110
Empress Dowager was very happy to see Princess Danyang, "Rong Xin."
As Princess Danyang wanted to bow, she immediately called her name and beckoned her to come over.
Princess Danyang stood up and came to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager held her hand, looked her up and down, and said, "You seem a little haggard. It’s because of Feng Ming's marriage, right? He doesn't like Princess Huining. Let him be."
Princess Danyang's complexion was getting worse and worse. Princess Huining. That happened four years ago. No wonder she said she was haggard. She was four years older. But in the other party’s eyes, it seemed that one day had passed. How could she not be haggard?
"Royal Mother." Princess Danyang wanted to say that Princess Huining had already married and her child was already two years old. Seeing the empress dowager's concerned eyes, she swallowed back these words and only nodded.
The Empress Dowager was a little surprised to see her like this. Wasn't she forcing Feng Ming to marry Princess Huining yesterday? What? She thought it through?
"It's good that you thought it through." Empress Dowager said relievedly, "Actually, I always felt I had wronged you and got you to marry into the Shen Family. That child Feng Ming had his own thoughts. It's useless to force him as it would separate you mother and child more."
At that time, you would regret it like I do. Then..." The Empress Dowager couldn't continue, because she saw Princess Danyang covering her nose with her hands and there were tears in her eyes.
The empress dowager hugged her into her arms. Princess Danyang wasn't young anymore, but in her eyes, she was the little girl who circled around her. She was her daughter.
Her daughter who she felt guilty toward.
Princess Danyang wanted to cry. For so many years after marrying into the Shen Family, she was unhappy. Moreover, what the empress dowager said seemed to be right. For so many years, she forced her son to marry like a demon and he became more and more cold. He didn't even say a word to her except for greeting her.
For what? For the good of her son? In fact, to prove that her choice was right back then. Marrying into the Shen Family brought supreme power for Emperor Brother, Royal Mother, and herself.
There were a lot of thoughts and feelings in her heart. But in the end Princess Danyang didn't cry. She wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, emerged from the empress dowager's embrace, and said with a smile, "Royal Mother, I brought you a Taibai duck. Do you want to try it?"
"Oh? Taibai duck. Did Cook Feng make it? If he made it, I won't eat it." The Empress Dowager replied.
Cook Feng was the royal cook in the palace four years ago.
"No. You'll know after you try it." Princess Danyang said.
Attendant Chang immediately opened the food box and saw a white porcelain jar covered with tissue paper inside. The tissue paper was tightly attached to the mouth of the jar without a single gap.
Attendant Chang carefully lifted the lid. Instantly, a smell of wine mixed with the smell of duck came out of the jar.
"It's Song Guang. Has he recovered from his illness?" The Empress Dowager asked in delight after smelling the fragrance.
Princess Danyang smiled wryly. Song Guang died five years ago. Where could she find him?
At this moment, a palace servant brought bowls and chopsticks to serve the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager took a bite of the duck in the bowl. It was soft, glutinous and smooth. She scooped up a spoonful of the soup, and found that the soup was delicious and mellow. It seemed to whet her appetite.
While eating, she admired, "Song Guang's skills have improved again. Reward him with more money later."
"En." Princess Danyang agreed when seeing that she was eating to her heart's content. After a while, a bowl of soup and duck meat was demolished. She personally helped her fill another bowl.
"You eat too. He makes the best Taibai duck." Empress Dowager grinned.
"Empress Dowager hadn't been this happy for a long time." Attendant Qi, who was serving the empress dowager, happily remarked.
Princess Danyang was happy, but she couldn't eat this taibai duck. She ate too much in Jiang Yun Zhu's store today and hadn't finished digesting it yet.
It was like this in the palace. Outside the palace, Jiang Yun Zhu wrote a letter to Celestial Doctor Wu and asked Shen Feng Ming to help deliver it to him.
That night, Princess Danyang lay on the bed, tossing and turning. She was unable to sleep. She wondered for a while whether her son had something to do with Jiang Yun Zhu. Then she wondered, if so, what was the relationship? Did her son finally like a girl?
It didn't feel like it.
"What are you doing?" Due to her moving around, Academician Shen was unable to sleep and asked.
Princess Danyang wanted to discuss it with him, but when she saw his serious face, she didn't want to talk to him anymore.
She turned over, had her back to Academician Shen, and thought for herself.
At nine o'clock the next day, Shiguang Restaurant was tidied up and ready to open for business.
At this moment, two fast horses came from the other side of the street.
Jin Jiao Yue frowned when she saw it. These two horses...why did they feel like something was going to happen.
At this time, the two horses had already arrived in front of the restaurant. The riders on the horses were dressed in sturdy looking clothes. It was exactly like the clothes of the Imperial Forest Army.
"Are you from Shiguang Private Restaurant?" the man asked.
"I'm the manager of the store." Jin Jiao Yue said.
The man took out a token, "Emperor issued an oral order to summon the cook of the restaurant into the palace."
Jin Jiao Yue's heart sank, "What's the matter?"
The person was a little anxious and only urged, "Where is the cook in your store? Follow me into the palace quickly."
Jin Jiao Yue had no choice but to go in and tell Jiang Yun Zhu about it. She secretly signaled to Zhan Chang Chuan and the others that if the situation is wrong, they would immediately protect Jiang Yun Zhu and escape.
Zhan Chang Chuan and the others understood. While quietly staring at the two people, they grasped the weapons on their bodies.
The two imperial guards felt inexplicable chill. But it was summer! Why did they feel cold?
When Jiang Yun Zhu heard that the emperor was summoning her into the palace, she panicked. What's going on? Was something wrong with the duck yesterday? No, if something went wrong, she should have been arrested yesterday.
"Boss, how about you go through the back door and find Commissioner-in-chief Shen." Jin Jiao Yue said.
She believed that Commissioner-in-chief Shen would protect Jiang Yun Zhu.
Jiang Yun Zhu shook her head. She didn't know what happened. If she ran away first, she would be in the wrong when the time came.
She thought about the recent things carefully. There was nothing wrong. Since that was the case, she didn't have to worry so much.
Thinking like this, she walked out.
"Boss." Jin Jiao Yue said anxiously.
Soon, Jiang Yun Zhu came to the entrance.
Seeing her, the two imperial guards were a little surprised, "Are you the cook of this restaurant?"
"En." Jiang Yun Zhu replied with a voice like spring water.
Seeing that she was a beautiful girl, the two imperial guards softened their voices, "The emperor called you into the palace."
Then they added, "The empress dowager doesn't want to eat or drink after she woke up this morning."
She was summoned into the palace to cook? Jiang Yun Zhu heard the meaning of his words and her heart settled back down.
"Miss, please." The man said anxiously. The emperor was waiting!
A few days ago, Jiang Yun Zhu bought a carriage. It can be used now. Zhan Chang Chuan drove the carriage and Shi Liu followed Jiang Yun Zhu to the palace.
All the way, they were unimpeded. Soon, the carriage entered the palace and stopped. The two imperial soldiers got off their horses and took Jiang Yun Zhu to the empress dowager's living quarters.
At another side. Jin Jiao Yue hurried to deliver a letter to Shen Feng Ming.
At this time, the emperor, empress dowager, and Princess Danyang were all in the empress dowager's living quarters.
What was going on? This morning, the palace staff served the empress dowager for breakfast as usual, but the empress dowager didn't want to eat when she saw the meal.
Empress dowager not having breakfast? How could that do! This matter soon alarmed the emperor.
Even with the emperor’s arrival, there was nothing that could be done. Later, Attendant Qi guessed whether the empress dowager wanted to eat yesterday's duck. According to her recollection, last night the Empress Dowager ate the Taibai Duck brought by Princess Danyang and liked it very much. She ate two bowls in a row and even muttered something before going to bed at night.
Of course, everyone didn't pay attention to it. What happened today is usually forgotten by the empress dowager when she wakes up tomorrow.
But this time...she was guessing.
As long as there was a guess, it was fine. Emperor Qinglong immediately sent for Princess Danyang and told her about it.
Princess Danyang was very surprised and asked the Empress Dowager, "Royal Mother, do you want to eat Taibai duck?"
"Taibai Duck? Isn’t Song Guang sick?" Empress Dowager said.
Princess Danyang became uncertain.
Emperor Qinglong didn't let go of any possibility and immediately got someone to summon the cook who made the duck yesterday. So the previous incident happened.
Jiang Yun Zhu stepped into the main hall and bowed to the emperor, empress dowager, and Princess Danyang.
She behaved properly. With a respectful but not flustered expression, she bowed gracefully like willows following the wind.
With her head lowered, Princess Danyang couldn't see her expression. Still seeing that she was so calm and steady, Princess Danyang liked her in her heart.
Emperor Qinglong was looking at Jiang Yun Zhu. He didn't expect that the cook was such a beautiful woman. From a high point, he looked down. He could see half of Jiang Yun Zhu's face and found her very soft and charming.
Although Princess Danyang wasn't sure about the relationship between Shen Feng Ming and Jiang Yun Zhu, she definitely wanted to help Jiang Yun Zhu. She immediately spoke, "Empress Dowager has no appetite, but she liked the Taibai duck you made yesterday very much. Would you like to help make it one more time for the empress dowager?"
She said this very softly.
"En." Jiang Yun Zhu said. It was just cooking.
"Then you go." Princess Danyang stated.
Jiang Yun Zhu retreated.
Emperor Qinglong and Princess Danyang remained in the palace.
Emperor Qinglong frowned slightly. Why did he feel that Princess Danyang treated this cook differently?
"She was suddenly called into the palace because of me. The girl must have been quite shocked." Princess Danyang explained.
Emperor Qinglong nodded.
Jiang Yun Zhu went to the imperial kitchen. At this time, the imperial kitchen was preparing the lunch meal. Though it was busy, it was in order.
Jiang Yun Zhu had once visited the imperial kitchen in her dream. Shelearned and discussed with an imperial cook surnamed Dong here and benefited a lot.
Now that she came here again, she looked around, wanting to see if that Imperial Cook Dong was there.
There were so many people. She didn't see him at a glance.
"Miss, tell me what you need." Attendant Qi said to Yun Zhu.
On the way here, Jiang Yun Zhu had already thought about what to cook. Taibai Duck was a must. It seemed that the Empress Dowager hadn't eaten in the morning. For an elderly, eating Taibai Duck on an empty stomach was a bit greasy.
"I need..." She didn’t hold back and stated everything she needed one by one.
Attendant Qi got people to prepare them immediately and everything was soon ready.
Jiang Yun Zhu washed her hands and started cooking.
At this time, Shen Feng Ming got the news that she was entering the palace. He immediately got up and rode his horse into the palace.
Empress Dowager was very happy to see Princess Danyang, "Rong Xin."
As Princess Danyang wanted to bow, she immediately called her name and beckoned her to come over.
Princess Danyang stood up and came to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager held her hand, looked her up and down, and said, "You seem a little haggard. It’s because of Feng Ming's marriage, right? He doesn't like Princess Huining. Let him be."
Princess Danyang's complexion was getting worse and worse. Princess Huining. That happened four years ago. No wonder she said she was haggard. She was four years older. But in the other party’s eyes, it seemed that one day had passed. How could she not be haggard?
"Royal Mother." Princess Danyang wanted to say that Princess Huining had already married and her child was already two years old. Seeing the empress dowager's concerned eyes, she swallowed back these words and only nodded.
The Empress Dowager was a little surprised to see her like this. Wasn't she forcing Feng Ming to marry Princess Huining yesterday? What? She thought it through?
"It's good that you thought it through." Empress Dowager said relievedly, "Actually, I always felt I had wronged you and got you to marry into the Shen Family. That child Feng Ming had his own thoughts. It's useless to force him as it would separate you mother and child more."
At that time, you would regret it like I do. Then..." The Empress Dowager couldn't continue, because she saw Princess Danyang covering her nose with her hands and there were tears in her eyes.
The empress dowager hugged her into her arms. Princess Danyang wasn't young anymore, but in her eyes, she was the little girl who circled around her. She was her daughter.
Her daughter who she felt guilty toward.
Princess Danyang wanted to cry. For so many years after marrying into the Shen Family, she was unhappy. Moreover, what the empress dowager said seemed to be right. For so many years, she forced her son to marry like a demon and he became more and more cold. He didn't even say a word to her except for greeting her.
For what? For the good of her son? In fact, to prove that her choice was right back then. Marrying into the Shen Family brought supreme power for Emperor Brother, Royal Mother, and herself.
There were a lot of thoughts and feelings in her heart. But in the end Princess Danyang didn't cry. She wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, emerged from the empress dowager's embrace, and said with a smile, "Royal Mother, I brought you a Taibai duck. Do you want to try it?"
"Oh? Taibai duck. Did Cook Feng make it? If he made it, I won't eat it." The Empress Dowager replied.
Cook Feng was the royal cook in the palace four years ago.
"No. You'll know after you try it." Princess Danyang said.
Attendant Chang immediately opened the food box and saw a white porcelain jar covered with tissue paper inside. The tissue paper was tightly attached to the mouth of the jar without a single gap.
Attendant Chang carefully lifted the lid. Instantly, a smell of wine mixed with the smell of duck came out of the jar.
"It's Song Guang. Has he recovered from his illness?" The Empress Dowager asked in delight after smelling the fragrance.
Princess Danyang smiled wryly. Song Guang died five years ago. Where could she find him?
At this moment, a palace servant brought bowls and chopsticks to serve the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager took a bite of the duck in the bowl. It was soft, glutinous and smooth. She scooped up a spoonful of the soup, and found that the soup was delicious and mellow. It seemed to whet her appetite.
While eating, she admired, "Song Guang's skills have improved again. Reward him with more money later."
"En." Princess Danyang agreed when seeing that she was eating to her heart's content. After a while, a bowl of soup and duck meat was demolished. She personally helped her fill another bowl.
"You eat too. He makes the best Taibai duck." Empress Dowager grinned.
"Empress Dowager hadn't been this happy for a long time." Attendant Qi, who was serving the empress dowager, happily remarked.
Princess Danyang was happy, but she couldn't eat this taibai duck. She ate too much in Jiang Yun Zhu's store today and hadn't finished digesting it yet.
It was like this in the palace. Outside the palace, Jiang Yun Zhu wrote a letter to Celestial Doctor Wu and asked Shen Feng Ming to help deliver it to him.
That night, Princess Danyang lay on the bed, tossing and turning. She was unable to sleep. She wondered for a while whether her son had something to do with Jiang Yun Zhu. Then she wondered, if so, what was the relationship? Did her son finally like a girl?
It didn't feel like it.
"What are you doing?" Due to her moving around, Academician Shen was unable to sleep and asked.
Princess Danyang wanted to discuss it with him, but when she saw his serious face, she didn't want to talk to him anymore.
She turned over, had her back to Academician Shen, and thought for herself.
At nine o'clock the next day, Shiguang Restaurant was tidied up and ready to open for business.
At this moment, two fast horses came from the other side of the street.
Jin Jiao Yue frowned when she saw it. These two horses...why did they feel like something was going to happen.
At this time, the two horses had already arrived in front of the restaurant. The riders on the horses were dressed in sturdy looking clothes. It was exactly like the clothes of the Imperial Forest Army.
"Are you from Shiguang Private Restaurant?" the man asked.
"I'm the manager of the store." Jin Jiao Yue said.
The man took out a token, "Emperor issued an oral order to summon the cook of the restaurant into the palace."
Jin Jiao Yue's heart sank, "What's the matter?"
The person was a little anxious and only urged, "Where is the cook in your store? Follow me into the palace quickly."
Jin Jiao Yue had no choice but to go in and tell Jiang Yun Zhu about it. She secretly signaled to Zhan Chang Chuan and the others that if the situation is wrong, they would immediately protect Jiang Yun Zhu and escape.
Zhan Chang Chuan and the others understood. While quietly staring at the two people, they grasped the weapons on their bodies.
The two imperial guards felt inexplicable chill. But it was summer! Why did they feel cold?
When Jiang Yun Zhu heard that the emperor was summoning her into the palace, she panicked. What's going on? Was something wrong with the duck yesterday? No, if something went wrong, she should have been arrested yesterday.
"Boss, how about you go through the back door and find Commissioner-in-chief Shen." Jin Jiao Yue said.
She believed that Commissioner-in-chief Shen would protect Jiang Yun Zhu.
Jiang Yun Zhu shook her head. She didn't know what happened. If she ran away first, she would be in the wrong when the time came.
She thought about the recent things carefully. There was nothing wrong. Since that was the case, she didn't have to worry so much.
Thinking like this, she walked out.
"Boss." Jin Jiao Yue said anxiously.
Soon, Jiang Yun Zhu came to the entrance.
Seeing her, the two imperial guards were a little surprised, "Are you the cook of this restaurant?"
"En." Jiang Yun Zhu replied with a voice like spring water.
Seeing that she was a beautiful girl, the two imperial guards softened their voices, "The emperor called you into the palace."
Then they added, "The empress dowager doesn't want to eat or drink after she woke up this morning."
She was summoned into the palace to cook? Jiang Yun Zhu heard the meaning of his words and her heart settled back down.
"Miss, please." The man said anxiously. The emperor was waiting!
A few days ago, Jiang Yun Zhu bought a carriage. It can be used now. Zhan Chang Chuan drove the carriage and Shi Liu followed Jiang Yun Zhu to the palace.
All the way, they were unimpeded. Soon, the carriage entered the palace and stopped. The two imperial soldiers got off their horses and took Jiang Yun Zhu to the empress dowager's living quarters.
At another side. Jin Jiao Yue hurried to deliver a letter to Shen Feng Ming.
At this time, the emperor, empress dowager, and Princess Danyang were all in the empress dowager's living quarters.
What was going on? This morning, the palace staff served the empress dowager for breakfast as usual, but the empress dowager didn't want to eat when she saw the meal.
Empress dowager not having breakfast? How could that do! This matter soon alarmed the emperor.
Even with the emperor’s arrival, there was nothing that could be done. Later, Attendant Qi guessed whether the empress dowager wanted to eat yesterday's duck. According to her recollection, last night the Empress Dowager ate the Taibai Duck brought by Princess Danyang and liked it very much. She ate two bowls in a row and even muttered something before going to bed at night.
Of course, everyone didn't pay attention to it. What happened today is usually forgotten by the empress dowager when she wakes up tomorrow.
But this time...she was guessing.
As long as there was a guess, it was fine. Emperor Qinglong immediately sent for Princess Danyang and told her about it.
Princess Danyang was very surprised and asked the Empress Dowager, "Royal Mother, do you want to eat Taibai duck?"
"Taibai Duck? Isn’t Song Guang sick?" Empress Dowager said.
Princess Danyang became uncertain.
Emperor Qinglong didn't let go of any possibility and immediately got someone to summon the cook who made the duck yesterday. So the previous incident happened.
Jiang Yun Zhu stepped into the main hall and bowed to the emperor, empress dowager, and Princess Danyang.
She behaved properly. With a respectful but not flustered expression, she bowed gracefully like willows following the wind.
With her head lowered, Princess Danyang couldn't see her expression. Still seeing that she was so calm and steady, Princess Danyang liked her in her heart.
Emperor Qinglong was looking at Jiang Yun Zhu. He didn't expect that the cook was such a beautiful woman. From a high point, he looked down. He could see half of Jiang Yun Zhu's face and found her very soft and charming.
Although Princess Danyang wasn't sure about the relationship between Shen Feng Ming and Jiang Yun Zhu, she definitely wanted to help Jiang Yun Zhu. She immediately spoke, "Empress Dowager has no appetite, but she liked the Taibai duck you made yesterday very much. Would you like to help make it one more time for the empress dowager?"
She said this very softly.
"En." Jiang Yun Zhu said. It was just cooking.
"Then you go." Princess Danyang stated.
Jiang Yun Zhu retreated.
Emperor Qinglong and Princess Danyang remained in the palace.
Emperor Qinglong frowned slightly. Why did he feel that Princess Danyang treated this cook differently?
"She was suddenly called into the palace because of me. The girl must have been quite shocked." Princess Danyang explained.
Emperor Qinglong nodded.
Jiang Yun Zhu went to the imperial kitchen. At this time, the imperial kitchen was preparing the lunch meal. Though it was busy, it was in order.
Jiang Yun Zhu had once visited the imperial kitchen in her dream. Shelearned and discussed with an imperial cook surnamed Dong here and benefited a lot.
Now that she came here again, she looked around, wanting to see if that Imperial Cook Dong was there.
There were so many people. She didn't see him at a glance.
"Miss, tell me what you need." Attendant Qi said to Yun Zhu.
On the way here, Jiang Yun Zhu had already thought about what to cook. Taibai Duck was a must. It seemed that the Empress Dowager hadn't eaten in the morning. For an elderly, eating Taibai Duck on an empty stomach was a bit greasy.
"I need..." She didn’t hold back and stated everything she needed one by one.
Attendant Qi got people to prepare them immediately and everything was soon ready.
Jiang Yun Zhu washed her hands and started cooking.
At this time, Shen Feng Ming got the news that she was entering the palace. He immediately got up and rode his horse into the palace.
Come, protect your girl from this emperor.
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