Di Yunjian was in an extremely good mood, feeling as light as if floating on clouds.
Outside, Li Dahai heard that the commotion inside had stopped. He quietly asked someone to prepare hot water and send it in. Then he went to interrogate some young eunuchs who had close contacts with the concubines in the harem.
If the matter of having sex in broad daylight got out, the court officials in the previous dynasty would surely scold the emperor severely. Concubine Yan wouldn't end up in a good situation either.
After the two of them took a bath and tidied up, it was almost time for dinner.
Di Yunjian still had some memorials to review. Seeing her eyes constantly glancing outside, he sent the head maid of Qianyuan Hall to accompany her for a stroll.
As Yan Qingshu walked in Qianyuan Hall, the voice of the system rang in her mind.
[Host, 50 concubine favorability points have been credited. Do you want to convert them into mall points?]
[Convert them.]
Yan Qingshu replied in her mind.
This afternoon's act of accompanying the emperor had successfully shown all the supposed pity.
Presumably, the news that she had accompanied the emperor in the imperial study had spread throughout the harem. The virtuous concubine was probably unable to sit still again.
A faint smile curled up on Yan Qingshu's lips. She came to the small back garden of Qianyuan Hall and bent down to smell a well - blooming peony.
She was truly more charming than the flower.
"The peonies here are even more gorgeous than those in the imperial garden," Yan Qingshu said with a smile.
"The emperor often comes to take care of the back garden of Qianyuan Hall. I suppose it's because of the prosperous aura in Qianyuan Hall that the flowers grow particularly well," Shuangning, the head maid of Qianyuan Hall, replied with a smile standing behind her.
Yan Qingshu turned around and was about to speak when she saw the small kitchen in Qianyuan Hall filled with curling smoke.
"Your Ladyship, the emperor's dinner is always prepared in the small kitchen of Qianyuan Hall," Shuangning explained when she saw Yan Qingshu's eyes fall on the small kitchen.
"I can cook some home - style dishes at home. Let's go and take a look."
Saying this, Yan Qingshu walked towards the small kitchen.
Shuangning wanted to stop her, but in the end, she went to the imperial study to report.
In the imperial study, Di Yunjian looked up from the memorials, a faint smile on his lips.
"You mean she ran to the small kitchen to cook for me?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Your Ladyship Yan seemed very enthusiastic. I didn't dare to stop her, so I came to report to you first," Shuangning replied with a troubled nod.
"Let her be. Just make sure she doesn't set the small kitchen on fire," Di Yunjian said with a laugh, shaking his head. Yan Qingshu was only sixteen years old this year, at an age full of playfulness. Just let the little girl have her fun.
However, he wondered if the food she cooked would be edible.
Shuangning nodded after getting permission and immediately went to the small kitchen.
She thought the small kitchen would be in a mess with the woman's panicked cries. After all, there had been concubines who volunteered to cook for the emperor in the past but almost set the small kitchen on fire.
Unexpectedly, everything inside was in good order. She saw the beauty busy in the small kitchen.
Soon, a bowl of noodles with excellent appearance was ready.
Shuangning was extremely surprised. She really could cook...
"Shuangning, it's dinner time. Go and report to the emperor that it's time for dinner," Yan Qingshu said with a smile as she took off the brand - new apron.
In her childhood, she was so miserable that she could only eat leftovers with her step - mother and younger brother. She had long known how to make some snacks.
With a bit of smoke on her body, she went to the side hall of Qianyuan Hall with Zhuyao to wash up and change her clothes before going to the imperial study.
The dinner had already been set in the imperial study.
In front of Di Yunjian was the bowl of noodles that Yan Qingshu had just made.
He raised his eyebrows. He didn't expect her to make it look so decent.
"Your Majesty, eat quickly. This is specially made for you by your concubine."
There were also some special ingredients added.
Yan Qingshu smiled sweetly, looking extremely innocent.
Di Yunjian nodded. After taking a bite, he ate the whole bowl of noodles in silence.
Li Dahai on the side wanted to stop him. According to the ancestral rules, one should not eat more than three mouthfuls of any dish. Even if the food was delicious, it should be removed after three mouthfuls to prevent those with ill intentions from figuring out the emperor's favorite food and poisoning him.
After seeing him finish eating, Yan Qingshu asked with a sweet smile, "Is it delicious, Your Majesty?"
"Delicious," Di Yunjian replied truthfully.
"Of course. Your concubine has known how to make these since childhood. My step - mother and younger brother both like the food I make," Yan Qingshu said proudly.
Moreover, there was the appetite - enhancing powder from the system gift package in this bowl of noodles, so it was naturally more fragrant than ordinary noodles.
"The Marquis of Zhenyuan's mansion is so wealthy. Why do you cook for your step - mother and younger brother yourself?" Di Yunjian sensed something wrong and asked.
Yan Qingshu opened her mouth and said, "Your concubine just likes cooking."
"Your Majesty, today's time was tight. Your concubine could only make a bowl of noodles. In the future, your concubine will make other dishes for you to taste."
After saying that, she began to serve Di Yunjian food.
Di Yunjian glanced at Li Dasheng. Li Dasheng knew what the emperor meant and nodded before retreating.
Yan Qingshu noticed Di Yunjian's slightly gloomy look and the smile on her lips deepened.
The bastard daughter of the Marquis of Zhenyuan's mansion was not well - versed in poetry and books but was good at cooking. Moreover, the reason she entered the palace was to give birth to a child for her older legitimate sister.
Her older legitimate sister was resplendent, well - dressed, and knowledgeable, while the bastard daughter was so pitiful.
What a tragic experience.
After dinner, Yan Qingshu returned to Guanghan Hall.
---
In Guanghan Hall.
There were a dazzling array of rewards on the table. The eunuchs from the Internal Affairs Office had also selected some maids and eunuchs and sent them over.
The Internal Affairs Office, which had previously hesitated because of the power of the virtuous concubine, didn't hesitate anymore when they heard that Yan Qingshu had accompanied the emperor in the imperial study for an afternoon. They quickly found some smart servants and sent them over.
They also sent the silver and silk clothes that had been owed in the past.
These were all things that the virtuous concubine had instructed not to be sent.
The virtuous concubine had let her enter the palace to serve the emperor, not to enjoy herself. It was just for the purpose of removing the mother and keeping the child.
When Yan Qingshu returned to Guanghan Hall, she saw the silk and satin all over the hall and the head of the Internal Affairs Office with a wrinkled - faced smile.
"Your Ladyship is finally back. I suppose the emperor favors you very much, which is why he kept you until now," the head of the Internal Affairs Office, Hai Dasheng, said somewhat nervously. After all, in the past, when the people in Guanghan Hall asked the Internal Affairs Office to repair the decorations, he had ignored them.
He thought he would be looked down upon, but he only heard the gentle voice.
"Thank you for your hard work, Eunuch Hai. Zhuyao, go and make a cup of tea for Eunuch Hai," Yan Qingshu said, turning her head to give an order.
Zhuyao was puzzled. In the past, the Internal Affairs Office had looked down on Guanghan Hall because of the virtuous concubine's order. Now, why did she still have to make a cup of tea for him? In her opinion, it would be better to throw a cup of hot tea in his face.
Although reluctant, Zhuyao still turned around to make tea.
Hai Dasheng was a bit panicked. "Your Ladyship is too kind. This is what this servant should do. How can I deserve a cup of tea from you?"
"Of course you deserve it," Yan Qingshu said with a smile, her tone full of implications.
Just as Zhuyao served the tea and Hai Dasheng was about to take it, he heard footsteps outside.
It was Yinqiao, the maid beside the virtuous concubine, who walked in. Her arrogant eyes swept over the jewelry and silk in the hall, and her sharp eyes stabbed directly at Hai Dasheng.
What a sycophantic eunuch!
The empress had taken good care of him on weekdays, but now, as soon as this low - status bastard daughter got a little favor from the emperor, he rushed over to curry favor.