A trace of embarrassment flashed across Mao Bin's face.
She held Jasmine's hand and sat down, pointed to the food box in Jasmine's hand, smiled and said to Concubine Qi: "Thank you for not giving up, I still think about the friendship in the dormitory in the past. Concubine still remembers
When the empress was still pregnant with her third brother, her favorite thing to eat was this glutinous rice, wine lees and red date cake...
Time is really unforgiving, alas, so many years have passed in the blink of an eye!"
Concubine Qi just smiled and said nothing.
Maobin said a few words and glanced at Jasmine. Jasmine understood and stepped forward to hand the food box to Menian.
Mei Nian was about to take it, but hesitated for a moment, glanced at Concubine Qi, and saw Concubine Qi nodded slightly. Then she stepped forward, took the food box, and said to Mao Bin, "This slave thanks Empress Mao Bi on behalf of the master.
"
Mao Bi smiled and covered her mouth and said: "I have only been a vegetarian these years, and my skills have become rusty. In order to make this red date cake, I got up at night and didn't work on the stove until dawn."
As she spoke, she waved her hands repeatedly and said, "I am old and my hands are no longer as skillful as those of the past. I will treat my food as fresh. If I feel that the taste is crude, I will tolerate it."
Concubine Qi smiled, her expression softened a little, and said: "Don't be humble, Mao Bi. I remember back then, your craftsmanship was the best in Baylor House. Even the emperor praised you many times in public!"
Mao Bi laughed so hard that the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were squeezed out. She just bowed and said, "My dear, I am already this old. You, please stop teasing me!"
As she spoke, her expression gradually turned sad, and she said: "I did like cooking in the past, and because I was young, I always thought that if I studied hard, I might be able to retain the emperor's heart. But later on, my daughter... Concubine
This is how I become a vegetarian."
Concubine Qi raised her eyes slightly and saw that Mao Bi's eyes were already red and she was about to cry. She knew that she was talking about the thirty-third year of Kangxi's reign. She gave birth to Yin's first daughter, but she died not long after.
Concubine Qi was touched, and she also thought of her own daughter, the second daughter of the emperor, and Princess Shuohuaike.
In the 51st year of Kangxi's reign, the ignorant Princess Heshuo Huaike married Xingde of the Nala family with the longing of a girl. Her talent and beauty soon became a legend.
But no one expected that in the fifty-sixth year of Kangxi's reign, just five years after their marriage, the princess would pass away without even waiting for her to ascend the throne.
Concubine Qi let out a long sigh and silently lowered her eyelashes.
Mao Bi wiped her tears with a handkerchief, raised her eyes and glanced at Concubine Qi's expression. Seeing that the fire was almost done, she whispered: "The heart of a mother is always the same, poor Princess Heshuo Huaike, such flowers
The same child, if he is lucky enough to be here today, will definitely have a happy child. When I saw the princess in the past, I always thought about my daughter, and thinking about it made me feel very sad..."
After she spoke, her voice became choked up again.
Concubine Qi turned her head and said in a rough voice: "Maobin! Stop talking."
She lowered her head for a long time, then raised her head, her expression returned to normal, but Xu Xu ordered her servants to put out the glutinous rice, wine lees and red date cake, along with a pot of milk tea.
Seeing the dazzling array of things on the dining table, Concubine Qi said calmly: "Mao concubine, why don't we come and use some together?" Her voice became much softer.
Hearing her voice, Mao concubine immediately became energetic and said with a smile: "That's fine! Concubine, I can use some with you."
The two of them sat down at the dining table while talking like this, and the servants brought a copper basin of hot water for them to clean their hands.
Because the red date cake was huge, Hongcha had already used a knife to cut the cake into thin slices, and then used chopsticks to place it on the plate in front of Concubine Qi.
When Concubine Qi saw it, she shook her head and said with a smile: "You stupid girl, the red date paste wrapped in this cake is the most delicious. If it falls apart like this, what's the point?"
Mao Bi smiled and said: "Don't blame her, I'm just being careful and thinking about cutting it into small pieces for your convenience."
After she finished speaking, she reached out and picked up a piece of cake, rolled the two sides slightly, and put it into her mouth.
Concubine Qi also took one and chewed it. After a while, she nodded and sighed softly: "The taste is still the same as before, but the beauty is no longer the same as before."
Mao Bi smiled and complimented: "My wife is well-maintained and her appearance is outstanding. She is only twenty-eighty-nine years old. There is no need to be so cold and sighing."
Concubine Qi glanced at her with a half-smile and said: "Mao Bi, when I was in the palace, I didn't realize that your mouth was full of sweet words. No wonder Concubine Nian likes you!"
Mao concubine smiled and said: "What are you talking about, ma'am? It's just because in the past, my concubine lived closer to Nian Bei Fujin and we moved around a lot, so we became more familiar with each other."
She paused and then said cautiously: "My dear, you also know that concubines have no favors and no children to rely on. Women in the harem always have to find someone to rely on. What can I do with concubines?"
!”
Concubine Qi smiled lightly, smoothed her hair, and just looked at Mao Bin reservedly without saying a word.
Seeing that she didn't talk to her, Mao Bi could only continue: "I know that I know that I think I am the concubine of the year, so I can't trust my concubine!
But I don’t know that in my heart, I have always admired and respected my empress. If it hadn’t been for Concubine Nian’s preconception, I would have wanted to get close to you long ago!
Concubine, if you don’t believe what I said, please think carefully about whether I have ever instigated Concubine Nian to target you in the past few years.”
After hearing this, Concubine Qi was speechless for a long time. Finally, Concubine Qi snorted coldly and said: "Concubine Nian is arrogant and arrogant. She has never dealt with Kunning Palace. I... I'm afraid she hasn't taken it seriously yet.
inside!"
Mao Bi leaned over and boldly lowered her voice and said: "It's not that I don't take it lightly, it's just because you are a noble person, and the third elder brother seems to be a very lucky one. Who still has this thing in his heart?"
Don’t have a clue?”
When Concubine Qi heard her mentioning her third elder brother, the words "he is very lucky" struck a chord in her heart. She couldn't help but smile at the corner of her mouth and said cheerfully: "Maobin, what you said is quite clever!"
After she finished speaking, she looked Mao Bi up and down a few times, and then said slowly: "I know your sincerity.
However, if you want to get your wish, you have to do one thing for me."
Mao concubine looked at her with a serious look and said: "Concubine Qi, please give me your instructions. I will do my best to plan for you."
Concubine Qi said kindly, "Don't agree so readily yet!", she said, gesturing to Maobin to come closer.
Concubine Mao gave her the ear, and Concubine Qi covered her mouth with her hands and whispered a few words.
Concubine Mao frowned deeply and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, it's not that I don't want to work for you, it's just that the matter is serious and requires long-term planning."
Concubine Qi said coldly: "Long-term planning? Since the fifty-third year of Kangxi, I have been planning for eleven years! Isn't it long enough? I don't care what method you use, whether it is radical or vicious, you just let it go.
Do it! If I can take care of everything for you, I will take care of it for you. The rest depends on your ability."
She paused and stared ahead with dark eyes. She did not look at the concubine, but said calmly: "If you want to surrender to me, you must first give me a meeting gift! Everything in the world is the same as this."