The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 181 Ancient Book of Incense Recipes
When Jiang Fuhai hurried back, he was holding a small fragrant cake in his hand, which was shaped like a rose-red flower.

Ulanara looked at the fragrant cake in Jiang Fuhai's hand and sniffed it, smelling a faint fragrance.

She looked at Zijing who was kneeling on the ground.

"Is this the spice you are talking about? Is the recipe for this spice in an ancient book?"

Zijing took a look at what Jiang Fuhai was holding and nodded quickly.

"Reporting to the Queen, it is this. But I really don't know if this spice recipe is in ancient books. I am not very literate, so I have to get the ancient books to find out."

After saying this, he glanced at Ulanara.

Jiang Fuhai approached Ulanara and said.

"Your Highness, it is already late. Why don't we wait until nightfall? I will wait for the guards to leave and then take this servant to find the ancient book."

Ulanara nodded and stood up.

"Alright. I'll go back first and ask someone to keep an eye on her. If she wants to eat or drink something, just ask someone to go to Jingren Palace and get it."

Jiang Fuhai responded behind Ulanara and respectfully escorted her back to Jingren Palace.

Xiao Linzi was approaching Nian Shilan and took something out from his arms. Upon closer inspection, it was half a book.

Nian Shilan asked when she saw Xiao Linzi taking out this thing.

"what is this?"

Xiao Linzi placed half of the book in front of Nian Shilan with both hands.

"Master, please have a look. This is what I found in a hidden hole in the rockery when I was playing with the Seventeenth Prince in the Imperial Garden. The Seventeenth Prince wanted to catch crickets, and I was just groping around and found this. The Seventeenth Prince took a look and said that there were some spice recipes written on it, and he didn't know who hid it there. The Seventeenth Prince also knew that the master loved perfume, so he asked me to bring it back to the master to see if the master was interested in finding someone to make it for him."

Nian Shilan took the book and flipped through a few pages. She saw that the paper was old and it was obvious that the book had been read many times. It looked like an ancient book, but only half of it was available. Nian Shilan looked at the incense recipe and thought of the Shu family's incense making skills.

"I don't know who hid it, but you took it out. If that person knew, he would be very anxious. Go find my notebook and return it to the owner."

Xiao Linzi said with a grin.

"After hearing what the master said, I thought he wanted me to send the book back. I will go find a good-looking book and send it back."

But after Xiao Linzi flipped through Nian Shilan's notebooks, he suddenly changed his mind. These notebooks were all collected by him when he was in the Qiandi Mansion.

So Xiao Linzi found a recipe book of Jiangnan cuisine and put it in his arms. He reported it to Nian Shilan happily, and ran to stuff the recipe book into the cave where he and the Seventeenth Prince found the ancient book in the afternoon.

Xiao Linzi hurried back to Yiku Palace to serve Nian Shilan dinner, and then raised the two crickets he had picked up on the way in a small pottery jar. Then he went to find his master Zhou Anhai. Xiao Linzi now knew a lot of words by following Zhou Anhai, and he also practiced the boxing and kicking skills that Li Ke taught him day and night.

At midnight, Jiang Fuhai and a guard escorted Zijing, bypassing the guards who were changing shifts, and arrived at the Imperial Garden. Zijing groped under the rockery based on her memory and found a book. It was dark and she couldn't see anything, so Jiang Fuhai put the book in his arms and took Zijing to Jingren Palace.

Under the lamp, Ulanara looked at the "ancient books" that Jiang Fuhai brought back, and her usual smile disappeared from her face.

"Is this the ancient book of incense recipes you mentioned? Oh, it is indeed full of color, fragrance and taste."

Zijing knelt on the ground and looked at Ulanara's confused expression. Ulanara handed the "ancient book" to Jiang Fuhai, who threw it in front of Zijing. Zijing hurriedly picked up the book and read it, then collapsed to the ground.

How could it be a cookbook? She had clearly put half of an ancient book in there, and she had hidden the other half somewhere else.

"Please forgive me, Queen! I am not very literate, but what I put in there is really an ancient book of incense recipes. I don't understand what this book is about!"

Ulanara stared at Zijing and sneered in her heart, thinking that she would actually believe the words of a lowly slave.

After a while, Ulanara spoke.

"Forget it. From today on, you will stay in Jingren Palace. We can talk about other things later."

After saying that, he stood up and returned to the bedroom, leaving Jiang Fuhai to settle Zijing.

Jianqiu changed clothes for Ulanara and said, "Madam, are you still looking for that book?"

Ulanara was very tired that day. She rubbed her temples and spoke slowly.

"It's obvious that this servant left a way out for himself in order to survive. The ancient book is probably just made up. But I still have a use for this servant. By the way, lock up the fragrant cake. Don't lose it, and don't let others get access to it."

Jianqiu agreed and helped Ulanara lie down.

On the first day of October, Nian Shilan got up early to pay her respects to Ulanara, and then followed Ulanara to the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace. Empress Dowager De was not at home today, and her personal eunuch An Muhe came to inform the Empress Dowager early that Empress Dowager De felt dizzy and unwell, and would not attend today.

The Empress Dowager agreed with a smile, and An Muhe returned to Yonghe Palace to report.

But Empress Dowager De still looked pale. She was half leaning on the bed, and Zhuxi was feeding her medicine.

After drinking the medicine, Zhuxi wiped Empress Dowager De's mouth, and then Empress Dowager De spoke.

"I have been ill these days, but I am proud of her."

Zhu Xi naturally knew who this "she" was referring to, but when the late emperor was alive, his master was already inferior to her, and now he was still inferior to her, which was really frustrating.

"Queen, calm down. You should take care of yourself first. Once you are well, you can make plans."

Empress Dowager De snorted coldly.

"Humph, she looks harmless every day. I'm afraid Tong Jia can't figure out how she died in her grave."

Zhu Xi quickly made a hushing gesture and whispered.

"Empress Dowager, please be careful with your words. The former imperial concubine passed away because she was overwhelmed with grief and fear over the death of the former emperor."

Empress Dowager De said nothing, thought for a moment, and then spoke.

"Have you been paying attention these days? I always feel that my illness is strange, but there is no clue at all."

Zhuxi handed the medicine bowl in his hand to the palace maid at the door of Empress Dowager De's bedroom, sent those maids away, and returned to Empress Dowager De's bedside before speaking in a low voice.

"I also find it strange. Your diet is always carefully prepared by the imperial kitchen, and you have been using the food tonic prescriptions. How come you suddenly have anemia? But I can't reach the imperial kitchen, so I can only ask the small kitchen in the palace to prepare meals these days, and the Empress Dowager has to eat them."

Empress Dowager De closed her eyes and rested, thinking about something in her mind.

Nian Shilan paid her respects to the Empress Dowager and just returned to Yikun Palace when she saw Su Peisheng coming happily.

"This servant greets Her Majesty Hua Fei. May Your Majesty be blessed with good fortune."

Nian Shilan said with a smile.

"Eunuch Su, do you have any good news today? Why are you so happy?"

Su Peisheng said.

"It is indeed a happy event. Your Majesty, I congratulate you. General Nian has been found. He led his troops to capture the rebel leader Lobsang Danjin alive. The army is now on its way back and will be able to return to the capital soon! General Nian has made a great contribution. The Nian family should be bustling again!"

Nian Shilan's face did not show the ecstasy that Su Peisheng had imagined, she just smiled faintly.

"Thank you, Eunuch Su, for telling me."

Songzhi hurriedly handed over a purse filled with gold pieces.

When Yinzhen heard Su Peisheng's report, he shook his head and chuckled.

"She is calm and seems to have great confidence in Nian Gengyao. I wanted to tell her in person at dinner, but today is the first day of the new year and the Queen Mother has already told me not to neglect the Queen. Tonight, I have to go to Jingren Palace."

(End of this chapter)