webnovelfull Chapter 542 Xie Jing Line: Will she be angry?
Chapter 542 Xie Jing Line: Will she be angry?
Upon hearing this, Consort Liang was immediately delighted. "I'm glad Your Majesty likes it. I'll make more another day."
"Since Your Majesty likes it, you may eat more."
As she spoke, she pushed the remaining osmanthus pastries on the plate forward.
Ningxiang Palace.
Shen Qingyan sat by the window, her fingertips constantly rubbing the hem of her clothes.
A maid dressed in a crimson palace gown entered; she was none other than Cui Mama, who served Consort Liang.
"Young Master Li," Granny Cui bowed, "Our Ladyship has sent me to deliver a message."
Shen Qingyan quickly stood up. "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
Granny Cui smiled and said, "Her Majesty said that His Majesty tasted the osmanthus pastry you sent and liked it very much. She asked you to send some more osmanthus flowers tomorrow, as Her Majesty would like to make some more for His Majesty to eat."
Shen Qingyan replied softly, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I will definitely prepare it myself and send it over tomorrow."
Granny Cui nodded, smiled, and took her leave.
The next day.
Shen Qingyan sat at the table, looking at the porcelain jar in front of her. The jar was plain white, and the fragrance of osmanthus flowers could be faintly smelled from inside.
She gently stroked the jar with her fingertips, then whispered, "Xiaoxue."
Shen Qingyan pushed the porcelain jar over, "Send this to Qiyun Palace, it's the osmanthus that Her Majesty wanted."
"Yes." Xiaoxue took the porcelain jar, turned around and left.
Shen Qingyan watched Xiaoxue's departing figure, her lips pressed tightly together.
Success or failure depends on this.
Inside the Qiyun Palace, the small kitchen was bustling with activity.
As Granny Zhang was instructing the cooks to prepare dinner, a young maid came in carrying a porcelain jar. "Granny, the dried osmanthus flowers from Ningxiang Palace have arrived."
Granny Zhang glanced at the porcelain jar. "The osmanthus flowers that Consort Li sent have all been washed and dried, so they can be used directly. Go and crush them; we'll make osmanthus pastries today."
"Yes."
The maidservant respectfully agreed and carefully opened the jar lid.
A delicate fragrance of osmanthus blossoms then wafted out, refreshing and delightful.
She skillfully poured out the osmanthus flowers, then picked up a small pestle and began to gently crush them.
The osmanthus flowers were pounded into a fine powder, and their fragrance gradually intensified.
But no one noticed that among those golden petals, there was a tiny, dark black dot mixed in with the others.
Evening, Qiyun Palace.
Consort Liang was waiting outside the palace gate early in the morning, dressed in a light crimson palace dress with cloud patterns, her slender waist so delicate that it could be encircled by one hand.
Upon seeing Li Wuyang, she immediately stepped forward gracefully and said softly, "I heard that Your Majesty is coming to dine tonight, so I specially cooked some of Your Majesty's favorite dishes."
Li Wuyang looked at the dining table in the hall, and sure enough, it was full of delicacies, with perfect color and aroma.
He glanced at Consort Liang.
Consort Liang was a woman he brought into his household when he was still a prince. She was intelligent, obedient, and caring.
Now there are many new women in the palace, but he doesn't trust them.
I don't want to go to their palace, and I'm even less willing to eat the food there.
After all, there are many poisons in this world that cannot be detected by silver needles.
He still preferred to come to the Empress and Consort Liang, concubines he had known for many years.
A quarter of an hour later.
Consort Liang personally poured the wine, her tone gentle and considerate, "Your Majesty is busy with official duties, please rest here with me tonight."
Li Wuyang nodded slightly and continued eating.
The food was all to his liking, and Consort Liang was as attentive as ever.
After dinner, Consort Liang ordered someone to serve osmanthus pastries and said with a smile, "His Majesty said they tasted good last time, so I made a few more."
Ningxiang Palace.
Shen Qingyan leaned against the window, her gaze fixed on the door, her fingers unconsciously twisting the handkerchief in her palm.
Finally, footsteps could be heard at the entrance of the palace.
It's light snow.
Shen Qingyan immediately went to greet him, "How is it? Has he eaten?"
Xiaoxue took a breath and nodded, "He ate it. This servant saw His Majesty eat several pieces with his own eyes."
Shen Qingyan swayed, tears welling up in her eyes instantly.
She murmured tremulously, "It really happened..."
Li House.
Li Sheng had just returned from playing outside, carrying a bunch of newly bought pastries in her hands, with a corner of her skirt still covered with roadside flower petals, and her steps were light and quick.
She had just stepped into the courtyard when she was drawn to a commotion ahead.
Several servants were seen surrounding a person and forcibly pushing him out.
The man struggled, shouting, "I won't leave! I want to see Young Master Xie! You blind fools, why are you trying to drive me away!"
Li Sheng looked closely and saw that it was Wei Wushuang.
His clothes were disheveled, and his wounds seemed not to have healed yet. He was roughly pulled, and cold sweat poured down his forehead as he grimaced in pain.
Startled, she quickly stepped forward, her voice tinged with urgency.
"What are you doing? Why are you hitting him? Who told you to kick him out?"
When Wei Wushuang saw Li Sheng, her eyes lit up as if she had found a lifeline.
"Miss Li, please persuade them! They must have misheard. Why would Young Master Xie send me away? I'm still sick!"
Several servants looked troubled, turned around, cupped their hands, and whispered, "Miss, it's the young master's order that Young Master Wei move out of the Li residence as soon as possible."
"Impossible." Li Sheng's tone immediately turned cold. "Xie Jingcai isn't that kind of person. Wei Wushuang's injuries haven't healed yet, how could he not care?"
After saying that, she handed the pastries in her hand to the maid, and looked at the group of people in front of her, saying, "Let's go see him and ask him for clarification."
Seeing this, the attendant had no choice but to follow Li Sheng to see Xie Jing.
inside the house.
Hearing footsteps outside the door, Xie Jing looked up and saw Li Sheng. His eyes softened, and he was about to speak.
Her gaze shifted, and she caught sight of Wei Wushuang behind her; her expression instantly turned cold.
"Those servants outside are trying to kick Wei Wushuang out. He's still injured; how could they do something like that?"
"And they even dared to use your name, claiming that you made them do it! That's just too much!"
Li Sheng's fair face flushed red with anger, and her voice became somewhat urgent.
Wei Wushuang seized the opportunity to speak up, "Young Master Xie, I haven't even explained anything yet, and they're already trying to throw me out!"
Xie Jing didn't look at him, his gaze only fixed on Li Sheng. "I'm the one who told them to leave."
After he finished speaking, he stared intently at Li Sheng.
His eyes were as deep as the sea at nightfall, suppressing his emotions.
He paid close attention to her every expression.
Will she be angry?
Will I distance myself from him because of this?
How far would she go for a stranger?
For a moment, Xie Jing didn't even realize that his breathing had stopped due to tension.