vstars Chapter 143 Excuses
Chapter 143 Excuses
The princess hadn't been eating properly these past few days, and would often leave the table in a hurry. Fortunately, she had an excuse to come to the palace for a proper meal, and of course, she could also ask for some white sugar to make milk tea when she got back.
But speaking of milk tea...
The eldest princess secretly glanced up at the emperor and empress.
The emperor was unaware that his sister was plotting something, but he was simply annoyed by her.
His younger sister would often come to Kunning Palace to see the Empress, whether she had something to do or not.
In the past two years, his relationship with the Empress had finally improved somewhat, and he wanted to have a meal with her to strengthen their bond.
Therefore, he will make a special effort to spend time with the Empress.
Unfortunately, his younger sister was always getting in his way, and he and the Empress had no time for each other.
Little did the eldest princess know that her brother harbored resentment towards her yet was powerless to do anything about it. She asked, seemingly casually, "Has neither my brother nor sister-in-law had any sweet soup lately?"
"Why drink sweet soup when there's tea? Sweet soup is too cloying, only young women like you would drink it." The emperor picked up a crystal dumpling from the table and put it into the empress's bowl.
The observant palace maid who was serving nearby withdrew.
The princess was taken aback, but she didn't see the two of them move.
She thought to herself, it seems that her brother doesn't know that white sugar can be used to make milk tea, which also proves that her brother hasn't read any storybooks.
However, when it comes to milk tea, she has only read about it in storybooks and has never actually tasted it.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone to the palace to ask her brother for a piece of white sugar.
The princess chuckled to herself as she thought of this. She calmly put down her chopsticks and bowl, cleared her throat, and sat up straight.
When the emperor saw her familiar smile, alarm bells went off in his mind.
He wondered what kind of trouble his younger sister was up to now.
"I heard that Your Majesty has obtained some fine sugar. It is as white as fine sand and has a pure taste, just like described in the novels. I am very curious about it. I wonder if Your Majesty would be willing to let me see it for myself?"
She had indeed arrived; it turned out she was waiting here! The emperor smiled knowingly but did not refuse.
"If you want it, why bother asking me in such a roundabout way?"
To be honest, the Ministry of Salt and Iron sent quite a lot of white sugar. The emperor sent some to the Empress Dowager's palace, some to the Empress, and some to the concubines in the harem.
Even so, there are still a lot left.
It is indeed used a lot in making pastries, but the emperor did not particularly like to eat pastries.
The eldest princess smiled sheepishly, "Isn't it because I was afraid my brother wouldn't be able to bear it?!"
"How could I be reluctant? The Imperial Kitchen should still have quite a bit of this white sugar left. If you want some, I will have Fude go to the Imperial Kitchen to get some for you."
"These words sound so familiar," the princess thought to herself.
Then she remembered the last time her brother had generously given her peppers, but he didn't have enough to eat later, so he shamelessly tricked her out of some more.
However, she couldn't bring herself to say it. "Brother, there's no rush. But I have a recipe for making delicious sweet soup. I'll have the imperial kitchen staff learn how to make it today so that you and your sister-in-law can have a taste!"
Even the emperor said he wasn't interested in sweet soup.
He frowned imperceptibly, about to refuse, intending to let Yanran and the Empress taste it.
However, the eldest princess seemed to know that the emperor was going to refuse, and how could she let her brother refuse? She quickly added, "Brother, you must try it, this is Yanran's 'heartfelt gift'!"
The emperor's brows remained furrowed, his expression conveying an imposing yet dignified air. In contrast, the two women beside him showed no fear whatsoever, chatting and laughing amiably.
"Yanran? Where did you learn that recipe? How come you think it tastes so good?!" The Empress asked the Princess gently.
Having done so many times before, the Empress now accepts Yanran's creations quite well and even finds them rather good. Naturally, she is also full of anticipation for what Yanran is talking about today.
Anyway, she was idle in the palace, and with Yanran to keep her company, she wasn't bored on weekdays.
Seeing that the three had finished eating, the palace maids, being very perceptive, removed the bowls and chopsticks, moving very gently, not daring to disturb the three noble ladies' conversation.
"I learned it from storybooks."
"You didn't read 'The Little Chef of the Jin Dynasty' and learn some strange and unusual things from it, did you?!" the emperor suddenly said.
"Huh? How did you know, Your Majesty? I thought you didn't like these kinds of things!"
"I haven't actually read it, but..." However, this story has been so popular in the court lately that it's hard for him not to know about it.
However, he was so busy with official duties that he couldn't even finish reading all the memorials to the throne, let alone have the energy to read storybooks.
"But what about my royal brother?" The eldest princess leaned closer, anxiously asking as she noticed that her royal brother hadn't said anything.
"Didn't you say you were going to the Imperial Kitchen to have the Imperial Chefs make sweet soup for me and the Empress? Why aren't you going now?" The Emperor changed the subject, giving her a disdainful look, but didn't say anything.
The princess didn't mind and smiled. She was already exceptionally beautiful, and her smile stunned the palace maids waiting nearby.
"I almost forgot! I'm going to the Imperial Kitchen right now!" The Princess grabbed her long skirt and was about to get up when the Emperor quickly stopped her.
"Why go through all that trouble to go to the Imperial Kitchen?! The Imperial Kitchen is a place full of fumes and oil. You might as well write the recipe down on paper and have a palace maid deliver it to the Imperial Kitchen."
"That won't do. It's written on paper, and the finished product might be different. Besides, I want to see what the legendary white sugar looks like!" After saying that, the princess lifted her skirt and walked outside without waiting for the emperor to speak.
"Lanxin and Danqing, follow Princess Yanran." The Empress instructed her personal maid to help the eldest princess, still worried.
"Yes, Your Highness!" Two palace maids curtsied and hurried out to follow the princess.
"She's still so willful; it's all our fault for spoiling her." The emperor shook his head helplessly.
The Empress, however, held a different view: "Your Majesty, please don't say that. After all, it is we who owe her."
Upon hearing the Empress's words, the Emperor fell silent, cautiously observing her expression. At that moment, a palace maid poured the Empress a cup of tea, which she calmly sipped.
Are you still angry?
"Your Majesty, I dare not." The Empress did not look at him.
The emperor was powerless, as if striking cotton.
Upon hearing the news that the princess had personally visited the imperial kitchen, the imperial chefs quickly and efficiently cleaned the kitchen until it was spotless.
Then they were arranged in an orderly row.
As soon as the princess arrived at the imperial kitchen, she saw several hundred people standing together in the huge kitchen, shouting, "Greetings, Princess!"
The eldest princess was already used to such scenes and calmly told them to get up.
Who is in charge of the imperial kitchen?
At this moment, a fat man with big ears was pushed out.
He timidly lowered his head and called out "Princess".