first princess

Chapter 41
Ever since Concubine Yu was pregnant, the emperor authorized Guanju Palace to open a small kitchen, and any ingredients needed every day could be picked up from the imperial dining room one day in advance. Now these dishes do not come from the small kitchen, but the imperial dining room according to the order of the second-rank concubine. Meals delivered: duck in spiced sauce, tenderloin in salt water, diced chicken with shouwu, fish sticks with sweet-scented osmanthus, fragrant abalone, beef fillet with celery, braised straw mushrooms in oil, pearl tofu, enoki mushroom pinch vegetables, cucumber in honey sauce, stir-fried cabbage , five-spice cooked mustard, a total of six meat and six vegetables, plus one serving of corn lick soup and Longjing bamboo fungus.For a concubine who only eats three meat dishes and one vegetarian dish on weekdays, and the amount of meat is not too much, this meal is simply delicious.

Shui Linglong saw that although Shui Lingyue was sitting upright, a trace of longing flashed in her eyes, while Shui Lingqing simply did not hide her greedy face, and her saliva flowed down the corner of her mouth.

The maids thought it was funny, but they didn't dare to laugh, so they just lowered their heads and endured it.

Nanny Tan and Xiao Dezi spread chopsticks for Concubine Yu and Shui Linglong, and two handsome court ladies set the tableware for Shui Lingyue and Shui Lingqing.

Lady Xin handed over the wet handkerchief, Concubine Yu cleaned her hands, and said with a smile: "I'm not familiar with your tastes yet, so I followed the imperial dining room for the first meal. Later, you will tell Nanny Tan your preferences. Mommy will order the small kitchen to do it tomorrow."

Everyone also cleaned their hands with the handkerchief handed over by the maid, and got up again to thank them. Before eating, they had already performed two rounds of salutations. The rules in the palace are so staggering.

When eating in the palace, it is usually the nanny who gives you what to eat, even the prince and princess. When Mammy put down the chopsticks, she was telling the masters that it was time to remove the table, even though the meaning was still more than enough.Don't look at Concubine Yu being pregnant, and don't look at the emperor who has built a small kitchen. It's impossible to eat whatever you want.Concubine Yu wants to eat crabs, and Nanny Tan says that crabs are cold in nature, so it is not suitable for pregnant women; Concubine Yu wants to eat spicy chicken, and Nanny Tan says that chili is not suitable for fetuses.Gradually, the only function of the small kitchen is to be able to prepare meals at any time when you are hungry, but the content is determined by Nanny Tan.

Of course, the daughters of the Shui family do not need to abide by such rules. They just glance at what kind of food they want to eat, and the maid will present it immediately, there is no taboo.Just one point, when Concubine Yu stopped chopsticks, they couldn't eat any more.

In order to let her nieces and daughters eat more, Concubine Yu ate a lot slower than usual, she probably had a bad appetite, although she chewed slowly, she didn't actually eat much.

Shui Lingqing gradually became a little uncomfortable. If it wasn't for being beaten by Jin Shanggong to improve her memory, she would almost stand up and pick up delicious dishes several times.

Shui Lingyue enjoys this noble and luxurious life quite a bit, it is very novel and exciting, she even feels that her taste and life path have instantly improved to a level different from ordinary people.

Shui Linglong ate in silence. In her previous life, she felt that the rules in the palace were too big, so she started to reform, and the six bureaus joined forces to rebel. In a fit of anger, she killed three palace officials and fifteen female officials, and suppressed those who were stubbornly resisting with thunder. However, the negative impact that followed was that when she was thrown into the cold palace, the palace people who had been oppressed by her launched a series of revenge on her one after another, so that Shui Lingxi easily bribed the palace. People, set fire to Qing'er.

After eating, a court lady brought mint water for the masters to rinse their mouths, and Concubine Yu took everyone to Yilanxuan for a small sit.At this time, the lights are bright, the trees are full of shadows, and the outside is a little bit cold. Xiao Dezi said with a smile: "I thought that Miss Fourth and Miss Fifth were still at a fun age, so I set up a swing in the front yard in the afternoon. Are Young Miss and Fifth Miss interested in playing around?"

Shui Lingqing's eyes sparkled with excitement: "I like playing on the swing."

Shui Lingyue pursed her mouth, a dead girl with no eyesight, Concubine Yu simply wanted to get rid of the two of them, one fourteen, one thirteen, how could they still be fun?Not to mention it's so cold outside!
After entering the room, Concubine Yu went to the ear room to have a pregnancy vomit, and now she came back to see Shui Lingqing's overjoyed expression, her face was slightly pale, then she looked at Shui Lingyue, and said softly: "It's rare that Lingqing likes it, Lingyue ,And you?"

Can she say she doesn't like it?She is not a brainless girl like Shui Lingqing who doesn't know how to read words and expressions!Shui Lingyue raised an innocent smile: "I like it too, Eunuch De is really considerate."

Concubine Yu smiled and looked at Xiao Dezi: "You have won the favor of the young ladies. I will credit you for your credit. Come back and receive the reward from Lady Xin!"

Xiao Dezi seemed very flattered: "Thank you, Madam, for the reward!"

"Tell the maids and eunuchs to follow carefully, and don't let the ladies fall, otherwise, I won't let you go!" After the reward, I didn't forget to cast a magic spell, which was vaguely about my niece and daughter.

Xiao Dezi solemnly agreed, and took Shui Lingyue and Shui Lingqing to play on the swings in the front yard. Shui Linglong accompanied Concubine Yu for a walk back and forth in the yard full of lilies of the valley, and did not let the palace people follow: "Yes It’s fine for the eldest lady to accompany me, and you all go your own way.”

Having said that, there were still four court ladies standing in the hallway.

Concubine Yu took it for granted, her beautiful eyes were no longer entangled, but she pulled Shui Linglong a little further away.

Shui Linglong secretly sighed, no matter how favored she is, she can only be a concubine, isn't she always restricted by the empress?Now she seems to be able to understand why Shui Lingxi, who is so honored and favored, puts so much effort into becoming a queen.

Concubine Yu rubbed her stomach, sighed faintly, Shui Linglong's eyes flickered slightly and said: "Your Majesty didn't eat much just now, but the food is not appetizing?"

Concubine Yu's eyes inadvertently showed a hint of approval, she picked a peach tree leaf, causing the branches and leaves to tremble, some of the flower bones fell off, Concubine Yu bowed to pick it up, Shui Linglong took her place: "I'll do it."

Shui Linglong picked up a flower bone and handed it to Concubine Yu, Concubine Yu frowned slightly and said, "It's not that it's not to your liking, but it's just that you have a bit of a mouth after pregnancy, and what you want to eat is often not what you see."

Shui Linglong followed Concubine Yu's words and asked, "What would you like to eat?"

Concubine Yu touched the flower bone and said thoughtfully: "Recently, I really want to eat the cumin beef and mutton made by my sister-in-law, but the ones made in the imperial dining room and the small kitchen don't have that kind of taste. I can cook by myself , and can't smell the oily smoke!"

When it came to this point, Shui Linglong couldn't be too hypocritical, smiled lightly, and said: "If your mother really wants to eat, I will make one later. My craftsmanship is not as good as my mother's, but I have learned it." Three, four points."

Concubine Yu was stunned for a while: "This...how dare you let me go to the kitchen?" In her eyes, the light of yearning clearly flashed.

Shui Linglong saw it in her eyes, and felt that half of the goodwill she had built up for this girl all afternoon disappeared in an instant, but she still smiled softly: "I'll go and make it for your mother."

Concubine Yu suddenly grabbed Shui Linglong's hand, lowered her eyes lightly, blinked, and said, "Let's take a walk for a while, I'm not hungry for the time being. Mother Tan usually doesn't allow me to eat, saying that these things get angry, it's harmful to the fetus Not good. In fact, what’s wrong with eating once or twice? I don’t want to pressure her with my status. After all, she served the emperor in the early years, and the emperor can assign her to me. Not a great favor to me."

Nanny Tan has no bad intentions towards Concubine Yu, which Shui Linglong can see, but Nanny Tan ultimately obeys the emperor, there is no doubt about it.Shui Linglong felt strange in her heart, she always felt that Concubine Yu was deliberately getting close to her, for example, she told her all the complicated things like Tan Momo.If the relationship between Concubine Yu and Concubine Dong is so good that they cherish each other, why has she never heard a word from Concubine Yu from Dong Jiaxue?

At night, the crescent moon hangs high, and the night breeze is cool.

The third princess threw herself into Guo Yan's arms with a face full of surprise, and laughed so loudly: "Guo Yan, you finally came to see me!"

Guo Yan raised his hands high, neither hugging nor not hugging, just froze in the air. He didn't hate or like the three princesses at first, but the emperor inexplicably proposed marriage to them. He has been in constant contact with her. The last time he was drunk, he woke up and found her lying in his arms, and somehow his hand reached into her blouse...

This is a very embarrassing thing!Fortunately, she was in a deep sleep and didn't notice it.But when he faced her again, he couldn't help but feel guilty: "Third Princess, you... let go of me first, and talk carefully."

The third princess hugged her even tighter: "I let it go, can you still run away?"

Guo Yan took a deep breath: "Don't run." I really won't run today.

The third princess smiled and let go, tilting her head and smiling: "Why did you come to see me? Guo Yan, you like me, don't you? Don't you?"

There are many reserved women in the world, and it is rare to see them as straightforward and unrestrained as her, although Guo Yan thinks that she actually thinks too much.Guo Yan also thought of asking her for something later, so it's okay to flatter her: "The princess is beautiful, generous, gentle and kind, and everyone loves her."

"Hehe..." The third princess burst into joy.

Guo Yan changed the topic: "By the way, princess, I heard that the daughter of the Shui family has entered the palace to visit the concubine Yu, who is it?"

"Shui Linglong, the Fourth Miss of the Shui family, and the Fifth Miss of the Shui family." After answering, the third princess became vigilant, "Why are you asking this?"

Guo Yan spoke quickly: "I want to see Shui Linglong."

The third princess immediately frowned: "Ah? Guo Yan! How can you see other women?"

Thanks to Shui Lingxi's persecution of Shui Linglong in his previous life, Guo Yan is well aware of how terrifying a woman's jealousy is. He thought about it, his face darkened, and he leaned close to the ear of the third princess, and whispered: "It's like this, last time My grandmother's [-]th birthday, didn't she go to the banquet?"

"Yeah, what's the matter? Didn't you fall in love with her?"

"Where can it be?" Guo Yan pretended to look sideways at the three princesses, with a sullen look of "I am your fiancé but you don't believe me, my fragile little heart can't stand blows and doubts", the three princesses immediately put down With a gesture, he said with a smile, "Then tell me, why do you want to see her?"

Guo Yan vaguely recounted the information he pried from Guo Rong: "To be honest, Guo Rong offended her, and I always wanted to apologize to her, but I sent her several posts and didn't see her reply. No, as soon as I told Guo Rong that I would come to see you in the palace, she asked me to find an opportunity to convey her apology to Miss Shui."

The third princess saw that his expression was frank and did not seem to be lying, and said with relief: "Okay, I will help you."

Guo Yan patted her head, good boy, it's so coaxing!

In the small kitchen of Guanju Palace, Shui Linglong asked Shang Shui Lingqing to help her to make cumin beef for Concubine Yu. Since she made it herself, there was no reason to ask the maids to help. Taking a rest, Zhi Fan was worried, he just removed the ribs from the beef and chopped it before leaving the small kitchen.

Shui Linglong marinated the beef with salt, cooking wine, ginger, and green onions for a quarter of an hour, then poured the oil into the pot, and when it was five minutes hot, put in the beef slices, deep-fried until it was crispy, and then took it out.

Shui Lingqing brought a plate of dried chilies and Chinese prickly ash according to Shui Linglong's instructions: "Sister, why did we do this?"

Shui Linglong glanced at the plate, scooped up the excess oil and slammed it into the bowl, leaving only a layer at the bottom of the pot: "Please Yu Fei! Put the dried chili and peppercorns in."

"Ah?" Shui Lingqing poured the things into the pot as she said, but she was so surprised that she couldn't close her mouth from ear to ear.

Shui Linglong kept her eyes fixed, and was frying the Chinese prickly ash and dried chili in the pot: "You, it's really belatedly. The sisters' marriages are almost settled, and you are the only one left. Now I have a safe curry favor." Concubine Yu's opportunity, you have to grasp it carefully, and Concubine Yu will praise you in front of grandma and father later, and grandma and father will be happy when they hear it, so they will be more interested in your marriage."

Shui Lingqing smacked her mouth in doubt: "It's all settled? How come? It's just you and the second sister's deal!"

The aroma of peppercorns and dried chilies was all fried, and Shui Linglong poured the beef in again: "Third sister and fourth sister are already talking about it, but they haven't announced it yet."

"Oh." The eldest sister walks frequently in the Fushouyuan, so it's normal to know the news she doesn't know, "But I'm still young, so I didn't discuss marriage so early!"

You don't want to discuss marriage so early, what if Shui Lingyue doesn't want to marry and pushes you into Governor Jiang's sedan chair?Aunt Zhou can completely tear herself apart from Qin Fangyi in order to obstruct this marriage, so what else can Aunt Zhou not do?Remembering that the person who married Governor Jiang in her previous life was indeed Shui Lingqing, Shui Linglong felt that she should not take it lightly, and since Shui Lingyue had been trying her best to please Concubine Yu from the moment she entered the Guanju Palace, it is hard to guarantee that she was moved and let Concubine Yu come forward to change her. In short, the year of choosing a relative must not be sloppy.

Stir-fry is almost done, Shui Linglong puts the seasoning fried with broth, five-spice powder, cumin, and sugar into the pot: "You cut the boiled carrots into the shape of small flowers, like this."

Shui Linglong turned around and quickly cut a petalless shape with a knife, which is simple and beautiful, "Will this work?"

Shui Lingqing nodded, and learned how to make rouge with Shui Lingyu for a while, her wrists were much more flexible than before, Shui Lingqing went to stir-fry, and Shui Lingqing began to cut radishes.

Not long after, Xiao Dezi walked over with his waist bent, twisting two jugs of milk wine in his hands, he was taken aback when he saw Shui Lingqing, then his eyes flashed, and he said with a smile: "This servant is here to warm a jug of wine Miss Fifth is here too! Concubine Yu asked about Miss Fifth just now, she was afraid that Miss Fifth would not be able to sleep well when she arrived here for the first time."

Shui Lingqing smiled shyly, but didn't answer.

Xiao Dezi poured boiling water into the basin, put the jug in it to warm it up, and lifted the lid of the jug. Suddenly, a strong aroma of milk and wine permeated the room.Shui Linglong raised her eyebrows, vaguely feeling a little strange, but she couldn't tell what was wrong, she just continued to stir-fry the beef in the pot.

Xiao Dezi said with a smile on his face: "It smells so good! All the gluttons in the servant's stomach have been hooked up, I beg the eldest lady to do more, the mother can't finish eating later, maybe I can reward the servant to relieve it." Quenching!"

Shui Linglong smiled shallowly: "I'll make an extra plate and simmer it in the pot for Eunuch De, Eunuch De will remember to come and eat later."

Xiao Dezi's smile froze, and soon, he smiled brighter than before: "Missy is really a bodhisattva!"

After saying that, he looked at Shui Lingqing again, "I just remembered, my mother ordered my servant to bring a new box of golden sore medicine to Fifth Miss, can Miss Fifth follow this servant to get it when I'm free? I'm just being lazy and finished delivering things to my mother I won't come here any more."

(End of this chapter)