Yaohuagong.
The Imperial Concubine Zhao also heard about it, leaning against the soft sofa with disdain, her eyes filled with scorn as she cursed, "That slut Concubine Rou is nothing but a destitute from Jiangnan. She is so lowly that she's not even fit to lift my shoes for me. Yet the Emperor prefers her and is willing to dote on her. It's truly maddening."
Jin Si stood respectfully to the side, speaking in time, "Your Majesty, the Emperor is not in a good mood at the moment and needs to be comforted. Perhaps Your Majesty can send a warm-hearted soup to comfort His Heart."
Since Hongyu became a colored maiden, the Empress' favor has visibly waned. Jin Si has seen it with concern and felt it in her heart, and now she couldn't help but offer a suggestion.
Zhao Imperial Concubine's heart stirred, and she said, "Very well, arrange a nourishing soup for me. I will deliver it to the Imperial Library for His Majesty to drink when he is done with his work."
"Yes, Empress!"
Jin Si, with a look of joy, stepped back and quickly went about her business.
Shortly, she entered with a jin box.
"The Empress is enjoying a turtle, goji berry, and lily broth, personally monitored by the concubine kitchen."
Jin Si stepped forward to say.
Zhao Imperial Concubine opened the jin box and took a glance, feeling that everything was okay, "Alright, let's go!"
After saying this, she also left with Jin Si from the Jade Flower Palace and set off for the Imperial Library to deliver the soup to Yebei Chen.
The same soup was also delivered to Yebei Chen by Mei Fei and Wan Fei.
Their intentions were also similar to that of the Empress Zhao, they all wanted to take advantage of the Emperor's bad mood to gain some favor.
Although there was a risk when approaching the Emperor when he was angry, risks and favor were coexistent.
If only she could occupy a place in the Emperor's heart because of this, then a little risk is nothing.
Imperial Library
Yebei Chen looked at the three bowls of nourishing health soup that had been delivered to his imperial study, and his mood only got worse.
"Your Majesty, this is the turtle, goji berry, and lily soup that I have made with my own hands. The ingredients and materials are all of the highest quality and the freshest. It's very nutritious. May I serve you a bowl for a taste?"
Today, Empress Zhao was dressed in a peach-red Yunnan silk palace dress, with large peony flowers embroidered on it, very bright. Her hair was styled into a high chignon and adorned with a complete set of hibiscus red coral jade gold step-stitching accessories. Her eyes resembled the rising dawn, and her beauty shone brilliantly.
Mei Fei, not wanting to lag behind, smiled and approached, saying, "Your Majesty, I have prepared chicken velvet duck tongue soup. If it's not to your liking, please don't blame me."
She wore a pearl-blue earring, discarded the beads and fringes, and tied her long hair with a delicate mei flower hairpin, leaving aside the faint elegance. Her delicate eyebrows opened gracefully like mountains in the distance, and her green hair was thick and dyed with spring smoke. She exuded a kind of enchanting beauty like misty Wu mountain.
Wan Fei gave a subtle glance at Empress Zhao and Mei Fei, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes, but she still approached with a smile and said:
"The Emperor is busy with state affairs and is very tired. This Du Zhong Dang Shen pigeon soup can relieve lower back and knee soreness, fatigue, and exhaustion. Your Majesty should also try the soup that I have prepared."
She wore a light cyan palace dress, her skin as snowy as alabaster, and her features exquisite and beautiful. Her eyebrows and eyes were gently curved, with faintly applied kohl. She was elegant and graceful, refined and dignified.
Facing the three beauties who were being flattering towards him, Yebei Chen did not feel happy at all, but instead felt quite agitated.
"Alright, the Emperor is busy at the moment. I will drink it later. Everyone may leave now!"
Yebei Chen said coldly with a stern face.
His look of displeasure was obvious to anyone who saw it, as he clearly wasn't in a good mood.
Empress Zhao, Consort Mei, and Consort Wan, realizing that the Emperor was in a bad mood, dared not linger. With great discernment, they gracefully retreated.
Yebei Chen dismissed the Empress Zhao and the other two concubines, and then saw the three bowls of soup on the imperial desk.
After thinking for a moment, he said to the Fu public official beside him, "Send all these soups to Yu Yao. Let her finish drinking them and then come over immediately."
He hadn't slept all night and was tired from the previous evening, while she had a good night's sleep. Suddenly, he felt a bit resentful and wanted to summon her over as well.
Fu official's lips twitched, and he spoke respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty!"
He also turned and left with the soup.
......
Over here, Yu Yao was sleeping soundly when she was woken up by Fu official's voice outside the door.
She went out and saw that Fu official had brought the soup from the Emperor's order.
Why did he bring three bowls of soup, when just one was needed?
The three bowls of soup are: turtle, goji berry and lily soup, chicken velvet duck tongue soup, and eucommia and ginseng milk goose soup.
No matter which one, it is very nutritious, and it's not something a small concubine like her can afford.
In fact, even the common concubines can't drink such fine soup.
At least you need to be a concubine of the rank of "fei".
She remembered that the women in the harem often liked to send soup to the Emperor, and with a moment's thought, she understood the reason.
She didn't know which three concubines had sent the soup.
"Fu official, I can't drink this much by myself. How about you join me?"
Yu Yao pushed the bowl of turtle, goji berry, and lily soup towards Fu official and smiled.
"Oh, Yun girl, you are so generous. This is a gift from the Emperor, and how can I accept it!"
Fu official smiled and declined.
Although most of the soups sent by the concubines in the harem end up in their own bellies, as long as it's a gift from the Emperor, it is an honor.
But drinking too much will inevitably feel disgusting.
"It's okay. The gift from the Emperor is mine. Besides, there's no one else in this room. Please drink it, Uncle Fu. Otherwise, I'll drink three bowls by myself, and I'm afraid I'll get too full."
Yu Yao pushed the bowl of turtle, goji berry, and lily soup towards him again, smiling.
Fu official knew that she couldn't drink so much by herself, so he didn't push it further. He thanked her politely and drank it accordingly.
Although it felt a bit greasy, it was indeed good stuff.
If it weren't for the Emperor's gift, they wouldn't have the qualifications to drink such good soup.
Yu Yao also drank the bowl of eucommia and ginseng milk goose soup.
As for the chicken velvet duck tongue soup, she planned to save it for the evening. Since there was a stove in the partition of the Taihe Hall, she could just warm it up then.
The two of them each drank a bowl and their moods were both quite good.
"Yun girl, let's go. The Emperor is still waiting at the Imperial Library."
Fu official placed down the bowl, wiped his mouth, and also said to Yu Yao.
Yu Yao nodded, tidied up a bit, and then followed Fu official to leave.
……
"Today the Emperor is in a bad mood. When you are attending to him, please be more careful."
On the way to the Imperial Library, Fu official whispered to Yu Yao in a low voice.
Yu Yao knew from the sound of Fu official's voice that he was giving her a hint. She looked gratefully at him and said, "Thank you for your reminder, Uncle Fu. I understand."
It seems that the turtle, goji berry, and lily soup did have some effect. Fu official is a favored figure in the Emperor's court and cannot be offended.
It's unclear why the Emperor is in a bad mood. He seemed to be in a good mood when he left in the morning.
"Do you know what the reason is, Uncle Fu?"
Yu Yao looked at Fu official and couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
Fu official looked around before whispering back, "The Emperor went to the Yongfu Palace after the morning's audience."
Since the whole harem was talking about it, there was nothing to hide.
It's just that, as Yu girl was sleeping inside the room, she was unaware of it.
Yu Yao knew that Queen Rue had caused trouble again, and she knew why the Emperor was unhappy.
She didn't ask any more.
Shortly afterwards, Yu Yao and Fu official appeared at the door of the Imperial Library.
Fu official did not go in, but stood waiting outside the door.
Yu Yao entered by herself, curtsied towards Yebei Chen, "I see you, Your Majesty. May the Emperor live a long and prosperous life."
Yebei Chen looked up and gave her a cold glance, saying, "Can you grind the ink?"
The voice was cold, the attitude was cold, and it was entirely different from the good mood when she left in the morning.
Seeing him like this, Yu Yao dare not tease him, and respectfully said: "I can do it, Your Majesty."
"Then come over and grind the ink."
Yebei Chen coldly threw down a sentence and continued to handle his official affairs with his head down.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Yu Yao didn't dare to delay and quickly went to the imperial desk, first adding a few drops of clear water onto the inkstone, then pushing the ground ink into the ink pool, and repeatedly grinding it with a steady pace.
