mtl008 Chapter 227 Suspicion
Chapter 227 Suspicion
"Your servant, Huacaofang Changxi, pays respects to Her Majesty Shu Guifei. May Her Majesty be blessed with good health and happiness."
An elderly eunuch knelt tremblingly on the ground and saluted An Lingrong respectfully.
"Eunuch Chang, please stand up."
"Xiao Linzi, quickly help Eunuch Chang stand up and find a seat."
Although this eunuch Chang Xi's face was covered with wrinkles, his voice was loud, which showed that he was in good health.
"Eunuch Chang, the Emperor and Empress have ordered me to be in charge of the flower and plant room, but I have never been exposed to these things before. I would appreciate your guidance."
An Lingrong said sincerely.
"I heard that Eunuch Chang is not used to drinking tea, so the servants prepared plain water."
"This is a small gift from me. Eunuch Chang, please take it and exchange it for something useful."
Baoque handed over a purse containing silver bills at the right time.
According to the news brought by Concubine Hua, Chang Xi did not belong to any faction, and the reason he had been able to stay in the flower and grass room for many years was entirely due to his seniority and the ability to speak differently to different people.
Just now, he prostrated himself and bowed more piously than Xiao Linzi and the others.
This person is smooth, but extremely greedy for money.
The reason why this person entered the palace was that he was disheartened after his only son was kidnapped, and he was in a daze and had his roots cut off.
He made money in the palace with his ruthlessness and asked his family to find out the whereabouts of his son.
A lot of money has been spent over the years, but the son is still nowhere to be found.
Chang Xi took the purse and knew it contained silver bills as soon as he touched it.
A satisfied smile unconsciously appeared on his face, and there was a hint of joy in his voice.
"Your Majesty, you are too kind. I will do my best to answer your questions."
Although his son unfortunately died young, he had clues about his grandson, and his family was waiting for money.
The palace people all said that Concubine Shu was kind and benevolent, and it was indeed true.
Chang Xi is also a smart person. He answers whatever An Lingrong asks.
Never willing to say more.
After seeing Chang Xi off, another inconspicuous eunuch reported to her the twists and turns of the flower and plant room.
This is exactly the person planted by Concubine Hua.
An Lingrong also gave rewards.
Chang Xi, who was paid to do the work, was very cooperative, and the affairs of the flower and plant room were not difficult to handle.
In just one month, An Lingrong took the opportunity to search all the palaces and even placed her own people in the flower and plant room.
That day she received another small note from Yiku Palace. Zhang Wuwei went to take her pulse more frequently, and Concubine Hua became a little restless.
An Lingrong took a sip of tea and gave the instructions calmly.
"Bao Ge, the weather is getting hot. Let me make a pot of mung bean soup for everyone to cool down."
"Remember to add sugar and a small packet of licorice."
"The slaves obey."
Before it got dark, Xiao Dongzi, who was on duty at the Yangxin Palace, heard that mung bean soup was being cooked at the Yonghe Palace, and his mouth was watering with greed.
He licked his cracked lips and leaned over to Su Peisheng to beg.
"Master, I heard that Concubine Shu is considerate of her servants and ordered them to make some mung bean soup to relieve dryness. Can we try it too?"
"You only know how to eat. You are serving the master but you don't follow the rules. Go back to your place and keep guard."
Su Peisheng slapped Xiao Dongzi on the head.
After scolding the man, Su Peisheng walked into the hall with tea.
Not long after, the emperor ordered to visit the Sixth Prince at Yonghe Palace.
Su Peisheng looked at Xiao Dongzi's eager eyes and asked the more steady Xiao Xiazi to accompany him.
Xiaodongzi, who stayed behind, was so angry that he glared at Xiaoxiazi fiercely several times.
"Rong'er, I heard that you ordered someone to stew mung bean soup again, so I came to ask for a bowl."
"Your Majesty, you are teasing me again. If you want to drink, I will bring you some in the future."
An Lingrong personally brought the white porcelain bowl presented by Baoque to the emperor.
"Your Majesty, I know you don't like things that are too sweet, so I specifically asked you to put less sugar."
"Rong'er is still considerate."
The emperor took the bowl with emotion.
In the past, whenever he returned to the main courtyard, Rouze would also kindly hand him a bowl of mung bean soup to relieve the heat.
A familiar taste flowed in his mouth, and the emperor asked in surprise.
"This mung bean soup tastes better than ever. What did Rong'er add to it?"
"Your Majesty, I heard from Imperial Physician Wei that cooking mung beans and lily of the valley together can soothe the mind and calm the spirit."
"Your Majesty, you have worked so hard in the past, and I am deeply distressed. I have specially ordered someone to cook this."
An Lingrong walked to the side of the emperor and gently massaged his shoulders.
This recipe was given by Nanny Suo, who took care of Zhaohua.
Looking at the nostalgic look on the emperor's face, An Lingrong knew that Nanny Suo really loved Zhaohua.
"If the emperor likes it, you can have two more bowls."
"Oh? Why can I only use two more bowls?"
The emperor, lost in his memories, unconsciously recalled the conversation he had with his wife in the main courtyard that year.
"Your Majesty, mung bean soup is cold in nature."
"If it's the old duck soup cooked by the Empress, the Emperor can drink as much as he wants."
When An Lingrong talked about old duck soup, she showed an embarrassed expression at the right time.
"It's just that I'm incompetent. I used the same ingredients, but I couldn't make the same taste that the emperor brought that day."
"It's okay. The Queen will make old duck soup later. I'll have someone bring it to you."
It was only then that the emperor discovered that Jingren Palace had not delivered soup to Yangxin Palace for some time.
A few days later, before the morning court session, the emperor casually mentioned old duck soup.
Su Peisheng, who understood the elegant meaning from the sound of the strings, called a young eunuch to Jingren Palace to deliver the message.
"Empress, the Emperor said this morning that your stewed duck soup suits his taste best."
"Okay, I understand."
The queen thought that the emperor would not enter the harem again in the next few days, so she sprinkled some powder into the soup secretly when making it.
Jianqiu personally carried the pot to the Yangxin Palace. After the emperor drove the person away, he scooped it out several times with a porcelain spoon but couldn't find the secret to the old duck soup.
"Su Peisheng, come and try what ingredients are in this old duck soup?"
Su Peisheng drank a bowl of soup, but tasted nothing except freshness.
A few days later, Jingren Palace delivered old duck soup again. Su Peisheng, who was beaten with a stick, pushed out the delicious Xiaodongzi.
"Your Majesty, this kid has a very sensitive tongue. Perhaps he can taste the ingredients in the duck soup."
Xiao Dongzi only took a sip and then lowered his head to report.
"Your Majesty, I tasted a bitter taste in the bright duck soup. It must have been given some medicinal herb."
He was weak when he was young, and before his younger brother was born, he was almost always soaked in medicine jars.
Xiao Dongzi hates the taste of medicinal herbs. Even if there are medicinal herbs in the most delicious soup, he can taste it at one bite.
The only exception is licorice in mung bean soup.
The suspicious emperor gave orders immediately.
"Su Peisheng, call Zhang Wuwei over!"