In the middle of the south side of the palace is the Yangxin Gate, facing south, with a yellow glazed gate tower on the top of the mountain. The entrance is surrounded by a wooden screen wall and archway, and around the screen wall is the main hall of the Yangxin Hall.
Although Chu Qiao didn't have to carry anything, she was cautious and trembling. The white jade railing at the entrance of Yangxin Palace kept sliding past her, and the colorful skirts of the palace ladies were dancing. She poked her neck several times, but she didn't see An Ge's shadow.
, didn’t he say he was waiting for her outside the Yangxin Hall? Why was there no shadow?
"Eat." A soft voice shouted.
The maids entered the Yangxin Hall one after another, lined up in neat queues, knelt on both sides of the hall, and Xue Wanyue opened the meals one by one in person.
"Taste the meal."
This is an important process in the imperial kitchen, where the eunuchs and food supervisors taste the meals at a time. This is an important step in ensuring that the meals are non-toxic.
First, test with a silver needle. If there is no change, then try using people.
The meal tasting was going on, and when Chu Qiao was about to look into the Yangxin Hall, someone tugged on one of her sleeves. She turned around and saw that it was An Ge.
"Where have you been? Why did you leave me alone? I can't handle it." Chu Qiao complained softly.
"Don't you do well on your own? I went to see the Queen Mother just now and came back late. The royal meal will be over soon. I have something to say to you."
An Ge smiled, his handsome eyes narrowed into a slit, and he looked at Chu Qiao with a strange look.
"Meet the Empress Dowager? You are really dignified as a royal cook. When can I be like you and meet the Empress Dowager whenever I want? That would be great."
As Chu Qiao said this, she looked towards the Yangxin Palace. She had not yet seen what the emperor looked like, so she was full of curiosity. However, An Ge's words made her look away again.
"Soon, you will be able to see the Queen Mother. Like me, you can see her whenever you want."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Chu Qiao turned back and looked at him in confusion. These words sounded puzzling. Even if she was an imperial cook, she was not capable of Ange. How could she meet the Empress Dowager just because she wanted to see her?
An Ge didn't explain too much, just looked at Chu Qiao with a smile, not knowing what made him so happy, even a little excited.
"I'm so nervous, but you smile happily."
Just after Chu Qiao scolded An Ge, the eunuch Xiao Fuqing walked out.
"Oh, Chef Li, why haven't you gone in yet? Come in quickly. Now that we've finished tasting, it's time to eat."
"Okay, I'll go in right away."
Chu Qiao took a deep breath and took a step forward. After thinking about it, she turned back and glanced at An Ge.
"Can you walk in front of me? Right now, I'm very nervous and have no foundation."
"Silly girl, okay, I'll walk in front of you." An Ge was still smiling. His words "silly girl" made Chu Qiao glare at him. Why is this guy so unruly today? This is the door to the Yangxin Palace.
Now, with so many people here, couldn't he just call him Li Chunxiang in a formal and proper manner?
"Still not leaving?" An Ge walked in front and called back to Chu Qiao who pursed her lips.
Only then did Chu Qiao follow her. With An Ge blocking her in front, she felt relieved and could freely look at the people inside. But when she saw a person by the door, she felt relieved.
At a glance, isn't this Ruoshui, the maid next to Concubine Hui?
Unexpectedly, Concubine Hui also came. Since Concubine Hui was here, other concubines who were at the same level or higher than Concubine Hui should also be here. As expected, she saw Concubine Hua, Concubine Huang, Concubine De, Concubine Xian, and so on.
The one who is closest to Concubine Hua is Concubine Hui. She has a wistful look on her face. She knows that because of her pregnancy, she is stressing it out for everyone to see.
Chu Qiao's eyes followed these panics, and a woman with a phoenix crown appeared in her sight. She was graceful and luxurious, with a smile. No doubt, she was trying her best to show her amiability, but the arrogance in her bones was concealed.
I couldn't help but feel pride overflowing between my brows. This must be the current Queen. The person sitting next to the Queen, no need to ask, must be the current Emperor.
Chu Qiao saw Long Gong embroidered with a dragon-shaped pattern. She looked again. When she saw the emperor's face, she almost screamed, how could it be him?
"What's wrong?" An Ge obviously felt that Chu Qiao couldn't stop, so he turned back to look at her.
"that……"
Chu Qiao frowned, bent down, and whispered.
"My stomach hurts... Oops, it hurts so much now."
"Stomach pain? Why do you feel the pain at this time?" An Ge turned around and looked at Chu Qiao, and found that her face was indeed a little ugly.
"I can't go in. If I get too painful or cause any trouble, I'll be in trouble. You, you, go in. I, I'll wait outside. If I feel better, I'll go in again."
Chu Qiao broke into cold sweat. She said she couldn't go in. Wasn't the emperor sitting inside the man who saw her using a slingshot that day? Who would have thought that he was the emperor? No wonder the princes and princes would personally look for the maid who used the slingshot.
This time I really got into big trouble by meddling in my own business. I was so unruly in the palace and was caught by the emperor. Isn't that asking for death?
Although Chu Qiao was not sure whether the emperor saw her face clearly that day, she did not dare to take the risk. If the emperor recognized her at once, even if he had a hundred mouths, he would not be able to explain it.
Turning around, Chu Qiao hunched down and ran down the steps of the Yangxin Hall.
"Don't you have a stomachache? Are you running so fast?"
An Ge looked at Chu Qiao in confusion. This woman had a stomachache. She was clearly trying to avoid something.
Shaking his head, An Ge walked into the Nourishing Heart Hall.
Standing outside the Yangxin Hall, Chu Qiao breathed a long sigh of relief. This time it was really dangerous. If she hadn't taken a look in advance out of curiosity, she would have gone in so recklessly and still not have anyone's head fall to the ground? The emperor saw it with his own eyes.
, it’s even scarier than hearing it from other people’s mouths.
Maybe she broke out in a cold sweat. Now the cold wind was blowing, which made her feel a bit chilly. Chu Qiao hugged her shoulders and bumped her feet on the spot. At this time, a woman's voice rang out from behind her.
"You think that your cooking skills alone can help Li Yerong compete with the empress, Li Chunxiang, you are so naive."
Chu Qiao slowly turned around and found that Ruoshui had come over at some point and stood behind her, looking at her with a pair of contemptuous eyes, the corners of his mouth almost touching her cheeks.
"I think you misunderstood. I never thought about competing with Concubine Hui, let alone helping Li Yerong. I just wanted to be a good royal chef."
Chu Qiao felt that Ruoshui was just a palace maid, and she actually talked to He Yuchu like this. She was undoubtedly relying on the power of Concubine Hui, and was a little confident.
"Humph, I'm afraid that after today, everything will be different." Ruoshui raised his eyebrows, chuckled, and walked forward.