Gourmet Red Chamber: A Chronicle of Baochai's Rebirth

Chapter 102 Worship
The officials entered through the Taihe Gate, and the ladies entered through the Wuying Gate. After passing the Que Gate, Xue Pan and Mrs. Xue went their separate ways.

They arrived very early, and before the palace gate opened, there were already many carriages parked in front of the palace, arranged in an orderly manner.

Xue Chen's family got out of the car to explore the road and came back and said they saw Jia's carriage.

Mrs. Xue was quite surprised to meet her old friend in a foreign country, so she hurriedly stepped forward to pay her respects.

Mrs. Wang was imprisoned in Cucui Nunnery by Jia Mu because of loan sharking. Wang Xifeng had just found out that she was pregnant. Among the female relatives, Jia Mu only brought Mrs. Xing and Jia Yuanchun's concubine to visit her.

Jia Mu was very surprised when she saw Mrs. face!"

Xue Baobao entered the palace to accompany Queen Mother Yang. Although this matter could not be said to be a secret, it was not publicized everywhere.

Except for Jia Zheng, who has an unimportant position in the Ministry of Industry, the men of the Jia family are enjoying life in various ways. They have been out of touch with the court for a long time, and they have not received any news until now.

Jia Mu was angry at Mrs. Xue for not telling her earlier. Mrs. Xue smiled and said, "The Queen Mother's blue eyes are our blessing. It's not good to show them everywhere, because the Queen Mother hates our frivolity."

Mother Jia smiled and patted Mrs. Xue's hand, "My aunt is right, you should have such a calm and generous attitude.

After entering the palace today, I took a look to see if I had time to pay homage to Concubine Xiande.

If so, please invite your concubine and concubine to come with you, and also ask your empress to recognize your relatives."

Mrs. Xue was very surprised and quickly thanked Jia Mu.

Jia Mu added, "My aunt came a little early. Today, people have to enter the palace according to their grades. I'm afraid my aunt will have to wait for a while."

Mrs.

Jia Mu nodded in agreement, "That's true."

While the two were talking, the palace's carriage also arrived.

However, Mrs. Wang had long known that Xue Baobao was brought to the palace by Queen Mother Yang. During the period when Xue Baobao was in the palace, she often took Wang Xiluan to Xue's house.

She was eloquent and deliberately lowered her stature to make friends with Mrs. Xue. She also strictly ordered Wang Xiluan to please Mrs. Xue obediently.

Mrs. Xue is soft-hearted and cares about the brother-sister relationship between Nian and Wang Ziteng. After this period of time, the sister-in-law can still maintain a polite relationship.

Even Mrs. Wang didn't know that Xue Mansion had received grace and could enter the palace to pay homage, so she didn't have to ask about it.

After hearing the reason, she was so happy that she took Xue Baobao's hand and praised her repeatedly, "We, Sister Bao, are so lucky. It just so happened that your uncle said that he would be able to get home before the New Year's Eve dinner tomorrow. It's good to tell him then." The news made him happy too."

Xue Baobao, "..."

Given Mrs. Wang's enthusiasm, if she had known that Mrs. Sheep had personally come to persuade Mrs. Xue to give her to Baozhu as a concubine, she would have immediately persuaded Wang Ziteng to pack her up and send her to the palace!

Mrs. Xue was very surprised, "Brother will return to Beijing tomorrow?"

Mrs. Wang couldn't hide the joy in her tone, "Yes, I haven't been back for several years. I saw Brother Pan once when I was a child, but I have never seen Sister Bao.

This time, they finally got the emperor's grace and allowed their uncle to return to Beijing to report on his duties.When the time comes, sister-in-law, you should take your brother and sister home often, and have a good time as a family."

Mrs. Xue was so surprised that she still remembered the holiday with Mrs. Wang and nodded repeatedly.

Mrs. Wang asked about Yu Xin again and learned that Yu Xin could not return to Beijing to celebrate the New Year. She sighed with regret, "It's such an unlucky thing. His uncle often praised him in his letters. I don't know if the two nephews can meet each other." ".

Mrs. Wang's regret was so sincere that Xue Baobao was very suspicious of what she was regretting. Anyway, it couldn't be that she was regretting that Yu Xin and Wang Ziteng's "nephew" could not meet.

Mrs. Xue asked, "My brother is going out this time when he comes back? He is not young anymore. It is better to ask the emperor for grace and stay in the capital. No matter what the title, it is worse than running around outside."

Mrs. Wang sighed, "Who wouldn't say it? This kind of thing depends on the emperor's grace. How can we be the master?"

Just as he was talking, the vermilion palace door slowly opened in the morning light, and everyone stopped talking and quickly and quietly returned to their carriage.

The palace door has just opened, and the ministers in the palace have not yet appeared. It is still early to enter the palace to congratulate them.

All the dignitaries and ministers who usually have great power outside are silent at this time, waiting for the call in the cold wind.

As expected, the Xue family was at the back of the queue as Jia Mu said. They did not enter the palace until the end of Chenshi. They kowtowed to the empress dowagers such as the Queen Mother Sheep and Queen Sheep from a distance. They were dismissed without even seeing the color of their clothes clearly. The palace servants took him to receive the royal banquet.

Most of the royal banquet consisted of cold dishes and snacks, and the few hot dishes were already served on the way.

Everyone raised their chopsticks with interest, and when the royal banquet was over, they went to kneel down in groups to thank the Queen Mother Sheep and Queen Sheep for the banquet, and then lined up to wait in line to leave the palace and go home.

The Xue family was still at the end of the queue, and it was already past noon when they got on their carriage.

Xue Baobao was so hungry that his chest pressed against his back. Fortunately, Xue Chen's family took care of things properly. Seeing that they were still waiting to come out, they prepared snacks and hot tea.

Xue Baobao took a big sip of hot tea and ate seven or eight cheeses in a row before he felt alive. He asked with a smile, "Do you still think it's a great blessing, Madam, to be able to go to the palace to pay homage?"

Mrs. Xue glared at her, "Don't talk nonsense! How many people want to suffer this crime, but they have never thought about it all their lives!"

Xue Baobao laughed loudly, "My wife also said it was her fault, so it's obvious that she doesn't like it either."

Mrs.

You have grown up surrounded by fine clothes and fine food, how do you know the benefits of wealth? "

Xue Baobao turned around and winked at Zhen Yinglian and made faces. Zhen Yinglian couldn't help laughing, poured her a cup of tea and brought it to her hand, "Drink some tea, don't choke."

……

……

The next day was New Year's Eve, and the Xue family, like countless other families, celebrated the New Year lively and busily. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the whole family went to the palace to worship.

Although she knew she would have to wait until the end before entering the palace, Mrs.

They waited for more than two quarters of an hour before the palace door opened.

According to usual practice, the ministers would not come to the palace gate to announce the decree until two quarters of an hour after the palace gate opened.

On this day, there was a movement very quickly, and it was not the internal minister who came, but a palace maid in green clothes.Soon, someone recognized the identity of the palace maid in green—Bizhu who was beside the Queen Mother. How could she be the one announcing the decree?

Bizhu quickly arrived in front of the palace gate and whispered a few words to the guard guarding the gate. The guard then shouted, "Are the family members of Mr. Xue, the master of Ziweishe, here?"

Everyone was stunned when they heard this. How could Ziwei's family come to congratulate her?
Tanchun heard Jia's carriage coming forward clearly and hurriedly sent someone to call Mrs. Xue.

Mrs. Xue was also surprised and hurried forward to greet him.

Bizhu returned the courtesy and said with a smile, "Mrs. Xue, the Queen Mother ordered the servants to invite Mrs. Xue and Miss Xue to Cining Palace for a talk. Please also ask Mrs. Xue not to be presumptuous."

Mrs. Xue, "..."

Why would you be surprised?
How could you be so presumptuous!
They were able to enter the palace before those first- and second-grade old feudal lords. This is really a great favor!
Although Mrs. Xue barely suppressed it, she still couldn't help showing a flattered giggle and said hurriedly, "The Queen Mother is too polite, too polite. I will go and pay her respects right now."

The betrothed ladies who were waiting in line in front of the palace gate were originally curious about what Bizhu was doing by asking Mrs.
It was actually summoned by the Queen Mother herself!
Or summon him as soon as the palace gate opens!
Usually, most of them kowtow to Queen Mother Sheep from a distance. Even Queen Mother Sheep’s sister-in-law, Mrs. Sheep, does not always have the grace to pay homage to the Queen Mother!
Everyone thought about the Queen Mother Yang personally being the guest of honor for Xue Baobao and Hairpin, thinking about the Queen Mother Yang summoning Xue Baobao into the palace to accompany them, and looked at the Xue family mother and daughter with wild eyes.

Yu Xin is really favored!
Even the Xue family, a merchant family, followed the chickens and dogs to ascend to heaven!

After returning home, I tried to find ways to make friends. Miss Xue just got her haircut, so I don’t know if she has decided to get married...

Naturally, Mrs. Xue and others did not know that they had become the most powerful and prestigious wife in the Great Xiao Dynasty and the favorite among the ladies. They followed Bizhu all the way into Cining Palace.

Then, Xue Baobao was invited in to "serve the Queen Mother's grooming", while Bizhu personally led Mrs. Xue and Zhen Yinglian to enjoy the scenery and chat in Cining Palace.

Xue Baobao, who was directly called to the Queen Mother Yang's chamber, was about to kowtow when he was helped up by the Queen Mother Yang herself.

"Good boy, you're so familiar with me, why are you so polite? You won't be allowed to kneel down in the future."

Queen Mother Sheep's attitude was gentle, and the smile on her lips was a bit embarrassed, "Good boy, you may have guessed why I called you in so early.

That little enemy of mine refuses to eat anything that doesn't pass through your hands.

In the past few days, I have been warming up the leftover steamed buns and steamed buns from the morning. How good is this! "

The Queen Mother of Yang was born into a noble family of the Yang family. She had been pampered since she was a child. After she got married, she became a mother to the world. Her husband and son were both emperors. It can be said that there was no more noble woman than her in the entire Great Xiao Dynasty.

In the eyes of a person of her status, eating leftovers is a big deal.

"Originally, it would be fine if you didn't enter the palace, but now that you have, I still have to trouble you.

Miss Xue is really good at cooking. In fact, not only Xiaoqi, but also I eat the food made by the imperial chefs. There are many varieties and the presentation is beautiful, but it just feels tasteless and tasteless, and nothing feels right no matter how I eat it."

Queen Mother Sheep's tone was sincere and sincere, and her words were full of admiration for Xue Baobao and her embarrassment at asking her to cook in person during the Chinese New Year.

In fact, she didn't have to do this, Xue Baobao had no choice but to do it. Her behavior made Xue Baobao embarrassed.

Queen Mother Sheep reached out and picked up a ringing hairpin from the dressing table, inserted it into Baby Xue's hand, and sighed, "Good boy, I'm afraid I will trouble you more often in the future.

This hairpin was originally carved by the Supreme Emperor himself when I entered the palace as the empress. Almost everyone in this imperial city knows it, so you are lucky to wear it."

Xue Baobao quickly wanted to take it off. Is it appropriate to give such a hairpin to her like this?

Queen Mother Sheep held her hand firmly and said with a loving smile, "Good boy, I can't give you anything good, but at least I can guarantee that no one in this palace dares to bully you. If I give it to you, you can take it." You deserve it."

Xue Baobao had no choice but to accept it, and Queen Mother Yang personally sent Xue Baobao to the kitchen before turning around.

Xue Baobao is very aware of Baozhuang's urinary properties. The "three pure meats" he pretended to talk about when they first met him have long been forgotten. Now he is absolutely happy with all kinds of meat.

Those who ate steamed buns and steamed buns at noon and evening yesterday must have become more greedy for meat.

It was early in the morning, and Xue Baobao would not give him anything rich and meaty to eat. After thinking about it, he decided to make fried noodles.

Pair it with the heat-reducing mung bean porridge and a few refreshing kimchi, and it should be almost done.

As for the Sheep Queen Mother, the mother and son have very similar tastes, but there is no need to prepare anything else, which saves trouble.

Xue Baobao was already familiar with the small kitchen of Cining Palace. He ordered the raw materials to be prepared, boiled the porridge first, and then started making fried sauce.

The fried sauce in fried noodles is mostly spring sauce. Xue Baobao adjusted it to sweet and spicy according to Baozhuang's taste, and added onions, shrimps, minced meat and other condiments.

In ancient times, conditions were limited. In the middle of winter, even the royal family did not have cucumbers to eat. Xue Baobao was going to take two green vegetables and roll them in boiling water twice to make a side dish.

After the fried sauce was prepared, Xue Baobao started kneading, kneading and pulling noodles.

No matter what kind of noodles it is, the first priority is to make it delicious and strong.

Xue Baobao was a northerner in his previous life. The whole family likes to eat noodles, so noodles are often served.

Naturally, Xue Baobao put a lot of effort into ramen noodles, and even asked her to perform the fancy ramen noodles of the ramen boy, and she could do it.

Well, he should be able to dance more beautifully than most of the guys.

After breakfast was prepared, the palace servants sent it out.

Xue Baobao usually cooks more food. If Queen Mother Yang and Baozhuang can't eat, she and the palace servants who help in the kitchen will take care of it.

After the portions of Queen Mother Yang and Baozhu were sent away, Xue Baobao invited the palace people to come and eat, while he took a piece of Wosi candy from his purse and put it in his mouth.

In fact, she didn't eat breakfast, but last night she stayed up all night under Mrs.

She held the candy in her mouth and said hello to the familiar palace people, then went out to find Mrs. Xue and the others.

She was already familiar with Cining Palace, and soon found Mrs. Xue and Zhen Yinglian drinking tea in a side hall of Cining Palace.

Bizhu was still accompanying her. When he saw her coming, he stood up with a smile and saluted, "Miss Xue, the empress has ordered that when the girl comes, she will lead Mrs. Xue and the two girls to sit with the Concubine Xiande.

Today, Mrs. Xue and the two girls will have dinner at Concubine Xiande’s place, so there is no need to kowtow to the Queen Mother and the Empress.”

Queen Mother Sheep was kind, so Mrs. Xue was naturally grateful and quickly thanked her for the favor. Bizhu then led them to Jia Yuanchun's place again, and then returned after handing them over to Jia Yuanchun.

(End of this chapter)