Not long after, the people in the imperial dining room delivered the imperial meal in a hurry. In addition to the usual dishes, there was also steamed pork with lotus leaf powder, fried pumpkin, and braised pork with dried plums and vegetables, all of which are Zhejiang dishes.
The two of them sat at the imperial dining table. Qixi served Ji Ling's meal, took a chopstick of the pork with dried vegetables and vegetables, held it with a spoon, and placed it in pieces in front of Ji Ling.
Yin looked at it and said with a smile: "There is a chef from Zhejiang in the dining room. These dishes were served a few days ago. I thought they were quite exquisite. I thought you always like to eat sweets, so they should suit your appetite."
Ji Ling tried it, and sure enough, the pork belly was just right. The little fat meat was turned into oil at high temperature and melted into the pickled vegetables. It was also paired with star anise, cooking wine, Sichuan peppercorns, and a rich and sweet sauce, which made people just taste it.
After taking one bite, I couldn't stop using my chopsticks.
Seeing Ji Ling enjoying the meal, Yin tapped the table with his index finger and said with a smile: "How about it, not bad?".
Qixi took another fried pumpkin and said with a smile: "Master, try this again!"
The pumpkin had been steamed on the basket in advance and cut into thin slices. It had been simmered with brown sugar until it was boiling. The outside was covered with a thick layer of glutinous rice powder, and it was rolled in the oil pan like broken snow sprinkled with silver.
When you fish it out, it's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. When you take a bite, you can see that the juice of the glutinous brown sugar can pull out silk threads. Seeing that Ji Ling enjoyed the food, Yin put down his chopsticks and just smiled and watched her eat.
Qixi was holding her chopsticks next to her, looking at the expression on the emperor's face, feeling extremely happy. However, when she glanced at her master's thin wrist, the smile on her face gradually faded away, and her eyes became swollen.
Worry.
Your noble master has a good appetite and has always been able to eat, but a while ago he used a lot of cold and cold substances that hurt the yin.
Although the master just suppressed the news and was not allowed to publicize it, he secretly asked Dr. Di to help prepare the decoction.
But what is the effect of conditioning? It is still hard to say.
If it were the Empress of the Other Palace, the Emperor would come here so frequently and show such great favor, I'm afraid there would have been good news already.
And what about my master? Look! It’s been more than half a year, and there’s still no movement in his stomach...
Yonghe Palace.
The sky has just turned dark, and the clouds are falling like silk and satin, reflecting like a rainbow on the night where there is still the last ray of skylight.
In the main hall, Concubine Ning put down the bowls and chopsticks and signaled to Meinian that she no longer had to serve the meal. Menian turned around and gestured. The maids came up and quietly cleared the dining table in front of Concubine Ning. There was another person.
Bring a plate of crystal clear fruit.
Concubine Ning looked at the fruits in front of her attentively. Suddenly, as if she remembered something, she raised her head and asked Menian: "Did you give the order in the dining room?".
Mei Nian was startled, then understood. She peeled the fruit with her own hands and put it on the fruit plate in front of Concubine Ning. She said with a smile: "Master, don't worry, I naturally followed the master's instructions."
.I’m afraid that Zhang Guiren hasn’t even eaten a grain of rice this day!”.
Concubine Ning had a smile on her face and said coldly: "I don't believe it anymore. Is it possible that the east courtyard of Jingyang Palace can still bring her meals every day in front of me?".
Besides, doesn’t our emperor like women who are light and slim? I am helping her! Zhang Yatou has not been favored since she entered the palace. If she were slimmer, she might be able to marry the emperor one day.
Eyes!".
Mei Nian smiled and said: "Master has good intentions and thinks of Zhang Guiren like this. Zhang Guiren is not grateful. Instead, he is still planting flowers in the courtyard. He has no master in his eyes. This really makes the master feel cold."
Concubine Ning glanced sideways at Mei Nian and said calmly: "You don't need to remind me. I will naturally remember the flower planting. I have had a day of rest today, and now I feel energetic at night."
She lazily raised her elbows from the armrests of the chair and said: "Let's go with me to the side hall to see Zhang Yatou!".
Concubine Ning had been sitting still for a long time, and her body felt a little cold. At this time, she walked to the courtyard and felt that the evening breeze was blowing, which reduced the heat and heat during the day, which was very pleasant.
The moonlight filtered through the sparse branches and spilled onto the ground, and the stars were scattered all over the ground, just like water shining on broken silver. Concubine Ning stepped on the water shining in the courtyard and quickly reached the door of the side hall.
Seeing that the door was closed tightly, Mei Nian whispered: "My queen, come and take a look. The door is very cracked. Even though the door is closed, you can still catch a glimpse of the flowers inside. What I said is true!" .
Concubine Ning frowned and complained: "I'm confused! I looked through the crack in the door, what's it like!".
Even though she said this, she still adjusted her body slightly and cast her eyes through the crack in the door from a distance. Sure enough, she saw pink hibiscus flowers swaying in the courtyard.
Concubine Ning raised her eyebrows coldly and said: "Knock on my door!".
Seeing his master here, Mei Nian felt confident in his heart and raised his chin to the two young eunuchs behind him.
The two young eunuchs understood the idea, stepped forward, grabbed the brass door handle, and knocked lightly on the door panel a few times.
Concubine Ning showed displeasure and scolded: "You haven't eaten yet!".
The two little eunuchs panicked when they heard Concubine Ning's displeased tone, and immediately said obediently: "Yes, yes." Then they slammed the door hard.
The courtyard was originally very quiet, but now there was a loud bang on the door, and four or five birds flew up from the trees.
There was finally movement in the hall on that side, and a little eunuch's voice said: "Who is it?"
As soon as Mei Nian heard this voice, he came to Concubine Ning and said, "Master! It's him. He was the one who kept the slaves out last time!" He then stepped forward and said loudly: "Concubine Ning came to see you in person. Master, why don't you open the door?"
There was a hint of fear in the little eunuch's voice, and he just said: "Noble Zhang is under restraint, and the slaves are not allowed to open the courtyard door without permission. I also ask Concubine Ning to wait for a while, and let the slaves go and report to the noble man." .
Mei Nian sneered and said: "That's unreasonable! What do you mean, is it possible that Concubine Ning is waiting for you, Mr. Zhang, at the door of this side of the palace? Don't forget that Concubine Ning is the head of the Yonghe Palace. If your master follows the rules, It’s long past time to come out and greet us!”
The little eunuch's voice became a little softer, and he just smiled and said: "Concubine Ning, please allow me to report this."
After waiting for a while, I heard some movement inside. The movement gradually came towards the door, and the courtyard door finally opened slowly to both sides.
I saw Zhang Guiren standing at the door. He was indeed much thinner than before, his cheeks were sunken, and he looked very haggard.
She was wearing flowerpot-soled shoes, holding the hand of Maidong, the palace maid who was close to her, and said lightly: "The noble lady Zhang, in accordance with the emperor's instructions, stayed in the courtyard to think about her mistakes. I didn't know that Concubine Ning was here, and it was a little delayed, so I would like to invite the concubine. Forgive me."
Concubine Ning laughed out loud and said with a wave of eyes: "Zhang Guiren has been grounded for a month, and he has indeed improved. He also knows how to lift the emperor out and crush him." After she finished speaking, her expression suddenly changed, and she suddenly raised her palms.
Jingyang Palace, east courtyard.
Yin and Ji Ling chatted about some casual things, and unknowingly they got involved in calligraphy and painting. As Ji Ling talked, he laughed and said: "I often use the couplets that the emperor wrote for me a while ago.
Writing, there are only two characters in it, no matter how I copy them, I can’t learn them.”
