Border Cook

Chapter 683: Resignation
When they arrived at the palace gate, the guard saw Xia Mingyue coming and greeted her respectfully and warmly, checked her badge, sent someone to pass on the message, and arranged for a sedan chair to take Xia Mingyue to the Empress Dowager's palace.

The Queen Mother had just finished her breakfast.

They ate dandan noodles, a folk delicacy that Xia Mingyue had taught the palace chef to prepare.

Saozi is made by stir-frying minced pork and bean sprouts with peppercorns, chili oil, etc. It is spicy and fragrant, with a rich flavor. The noodles are chewy and delicious, and it is very tasty.

The unique fragrance of sprouts makes the whole bowl of noodles taste even better. Even after eating it, if you drink a bowl of noodle soup, you can still smell the fragrance lingering in your mouth, which is very memorable.

The Queen Mother enjoyed the meal very much and even wanted another half bowl.

The aunt beside her tried to stop her, "Although this dandan noodles is delicious, it is too spicy. You should eat something light in the morning. It's fine if you are greedy and eat one bowl, but if you eat more..."

"I am really a little scared."

"What are you afraid of?" The Queen Mother said, "Doctor Yin came to see me a few days ago and said that I am in good health and there is nothing wrong with me. I just need to go out for a walk and get some sun every day."

"In addition, Doctor Yin also said that the health of the body is largely determined by one's mood. Eat whatever you want, drink whatever you want, and go wherever you want. Only in this way can one have a healthy body and live a long life."

"Why is that old woman so much older than me and looks much healthier than me? Isn't it because she lives more casually than me? So, I want to eat this dandan noodles today, so just let me eat it. Otherwise, it would be inappropriate to be in a bad mood because of it. Don't you think so?"

I feel like the Queen Mother is right...

Seems to make some sense?

The aunt felt helpless, especially when she saw the empress dowager's obviously pouting mouth, so she had to order her servants to quickly serve some more.

There was plenty of dandan noodles prepared, and since the Queen Mother wanted to eat more, it was natural for them to serve it quickly.

The Queen Mother ate another half bowl as she wished, feeling quite happy. Just as she put down her bowl and chopsticks, she learned that Xia Mingyue had come to the palace to ask for an audience, and her smile spread even wider. "Hurry up and pass it on, hurry up and pass it on."

"Yes." The aunt responded, and went out to greet them personally, while instructing the servants to prepare tea, fruit and other things so that the Queen Mother and Xia Mingyue could eat while they talked.

Xia Mingyue quickly came to the Queen Mother and bowed respectfully, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you, Queen Mother."

"Get up quickly, get up quickly." The Queen Mother raised her hand and beckoned, "Come and sit next to me."

"Thank you, Queen Mother." Xia Mingyue smiled and stood up, sitting on the soft stool next to the Queen Mother. "I hope I didn't disturb you by coming here so hastily today."

"No." The Queen Mother took Xia Mingyue's hand and said with a smile, "I am usually very bored in the palace. I am so happy that you can come to the palace to talk to me. How can you say that you are disturbing me?"

"It is my blessing that the Queen Mother does not despise me, but..." Xia Mingyue paused, looking embarrassed, "I probably won't be able to come to the palace often to accompany you in the future."

The Queen Mother was a little surprised, but also very concerned. "Is there something you need to do? I heard the Emperor mention it before, saying that you helped Yu'er cultivate cotton seedlings. If the cotton seedlings are planted in the fields in the future, the yield can be increased by at least 30%. This is a great thing for the people. Do you need to be busy with this matter during this period of time?"

Xia Mingyue shook her head slightly and said with a smile, "I came here today to ask for my leave from the Queen Mother."

Resign?

The Queen Mother was startled, but soon smiled again, "To be honest, I want you to stay in the capital for a while longer, so that you can accompany me and relieve my boredom. I can also chat with you more and learn about the new things outside. But I know that you can't stay in the capital."

"Well, since you've asked, I won't try to keep you. But you have to go back, and the journey of a thousand miles is not easy. I'll give you some gifts and send a few reliable people to follow you. Don't refuse. It's my little token of my appreciation."

The Queen Mother's words were so frank that Xia Mingyue had no room or reason to refuse. She smiled and thanked her, "Thank you for the reward, Queen Mother."

"You have already thought about leaving. I guess you can't stay here any longer. It will take several days to pack up your things, and you don't have that much free time to go back to the palace. Since you are here today, just chat with me. I will also invite the Queen to come, and call Lan'er and Xiaowu to have a lively lunch. This can be regarded as an advance practice for you."

"Everything is up to the Queen Mother to arrange." Xia Mingyue thanked her again, "Thank you Queen Mother for your careful consideration for me."

"You are a good child. I feel kind to you, so I naturally treat you as my granddaughter, just like Lan'er and Xiaowu."

The Queen Mother chuckled and told the aunts and palace maids around her to invite the Queen, Fan Jinglan and the Fifth Princess to come over. She also instructed the servants to prepare a sumptuous lunch.

The Queen Mother was so fond of Xia Mingyue that the people below her knew her clearly. Naturally, they did not dare to neglect her in the slightest and hurriedly went about their business.

Xia Mingyue chatted with the Queen Mother, and the Queen, the Fifth Princess and Fan Jinglan soon arrived at the Queen Mother's palace.

On the way, the three of them learned from the messenger that Xia Mingyue was leaving the capital and returning to Jinqiu County.

The Queen and the Fifth Princess were naturally quite regretful, with faces full of reluctance. Fan Jinglan, on the other hand, was filled with excitement, with a smile on her face that was almost overflowing.

Even when it walks, it jumps and skips, just like a lively and energetic little rabbit.

Seeing this, the Queen Mother pretended to be angry and said, "Well, looking at Lan'er's expression, I know what she is going to say next."

"Really?" Fan Jinglan tilted her head. "Then, Queen Mother, please guess what I am going to say?"

"You."

The Queen Mother reached out and touched Fan Jinglan's forehead lovingly, and joked, "Your first sentence must be to confirm with Anle Township Lord whether she really wants to go back to Jinqiu County. Your second sentence is to ask if she can go with you. Your third sentence is to ask for your resignation from me and the Queen."

"Tell me, is it the same as what I said?"

Fan Jinglan felt a little embarrassed that her thoughts were completely guessed, but she also gave the Queen Mother a thumbs up, "It turns out that the Queen Mother understands me the best!"

"It's because I understand you too well. I know that if I don't allow you to go with the Lord of Anle, you will keep complaining to me all day long, and maybe even sneak out."

The Queen Mother said unhappily, "If that's the case, I'd rather sell you out. I'll grant your consent. If Lord Anle wants to go back, you can act as his guard and accompany him all the way."

Rather than being criticized behind Fan Jinglan's back for being too pushy and not caring about her girl's dignity because of Xia Yunji because of her carefree nature, it would be better to agree generously and give her a reasonable excuse to shut up those talkative people.

This person has to worry about too many things in life, even if she is the queen mother.

"The Queen Mother ordered, I obey!" Fan Jinglan bowed to the Queen Mother and said to her with a playful smile, "But the Queen Mother has given me such an important task, shouldn't I be rewarded? You can't use people to work for nothing." "See, what does it mean to take advantage of others and still act cute? I have really seen it today." The Queen Mother first joked, and then patted the back of Fan Jinglan's hand affectionately, "Now that you have said this, how can I not agree? But you don't like gold or jade, and you don't like rouge, powder, cloth, or hair ornaments. I don't know what to give you."

"That's easy. I've already had what I want." Fan Jinglan said, "I saw the emperor take a bow of excellent quality when he went hunting in the royal garden. I want that bow. This way I can use it on the road. It means that the reward from the Queen Mother is well spent. What do you think?"

"Okay." The Queen Mother responded with a smile and ordered the people around her to ask the Emperor for the bow that Fan Jinglan mentioned.

After deciding on the reward for Fan Jinglan, the empress dowager began to order people to prepare rewards for Xia Mingyue.

Cloth, medicinal materials, jewelry, gold and silver...

"They are all common things, but they are also things that we can use every day. You can take them back and give them to others to make the place more festive and lively."

The Queen Mother smiled and said, "Besides this, I will give you another two hundred acres of land, which you can manage together with your own farm."

Most of this kind of land is rented out to tenant farmers. The tenant farmers have little land of their own and it is not enough for food, so they rely on renting land for farming to increase their food and improve their income.

Xia Mingyue obviously has a lot of experience in farming. The fields she takes care of will definitely increase the harvest of the tenants. This is extremely good for both Xia Mingyue herself and the tenants.

"Your Majesty, you are very considerate. I thank you very much." Xia Mingyue thanked her again.

The Queen Mother had already given the rewards, so there was no reason for the Queen to go empty-handed, so she also selected some things from her own warehouse as rewards.

Behind the full set of rubies, there was a large, round pearl necklace, a fine jade bracelet, and several pieces of the best brocade.

The quantity was large and the items were exquisite, but they did not steal the empress dowager's limelight. It could be said that the measure was just right.

The Fifth Princess gave Xia Mingyue two purses that she had embroidered herself, as well as some spices and tea that she had previously received from the Queen Mother.

The Emperor, on his part, learned from the Empress Dowager that Xia Mingyue wanted to return to Jinqiu County when she asked him about the bow and arrows he had asked Fan Jinglan for, so he rewarded her with some gold and silver for travel expenses.

In short, when Xia Mingyue entered the palace, she was alone in a carriage, and when she left the palace, she was alone in three carriages, carrying many things back to her home.

Fan Jinglan went back with her and discussed in detail the matter of returning to Jinqiu County.

Xia Mingyue was eager to return home, so she made an appointment with Fan Jinglan to set off early in the morning three days later.

Fan Jinglan naturally had no objection to this decision. After enjoying a big pot of braised lamb at Xia Mingyue's house, she hurried home.

Pack up your things happily.

Madam Fan and Duke Jingguo had already learned from the palace officials that Fan Jinglan was going to Jinqiu County with Xia Mingyue. Now seeing that Fan Jinglan was happier than during the Chinese New Year, they could only sigh.

Her own daughter knew that she was leaving not only because of Xia Yunji, but also because of Xia Mingyue.

Knowing that it was useless to try to stop her and that it would only alienate the relationship, the couple did not try to stop her and just helped Fan Jinglan pack her things.

And since Fan Jinglan was going to Jinqiu County, which was close to the Western Frontier Army's camp, she might as well pack up the clothes, shoes and other things that she had prepared for Fan Honghui and let Fan Jinglan take them with her so that she could deliver them when she had time.

"Don't worry, father and mother. I'll take care of it." Fan Jinglan agreed very straightforwardly, but when she glanced at those things, she raised her eyebrows, "Bringing so many things for my second brother?"

"It's much more than what they gave me. Aren't my parents too partial?" Fan Jinglan pretended to be dissatisfied.

"Of course I have to give more to your second brother. He hasn't been home for so long, and the money he has saved is enough."

Mrs. Fan added, "Besides, I deliberately gave you less to express my dissatisfaction."

It would be unpleasant for anyone to know that their daughter is not with them and her father, but is always running outside.

Mrs. Fan adhered to the principle that if she was dissatisfied, she must speak out, so she did not hide anything.

Fan Jinglan pursed her lips, reached out and hugged Madam Fan, and said in a soft and coquettish tone, "Mother, how many lifetimes do you think it took for me to gain this blessing?"

"What do you mean?" Mrs. Fan reached out to touch her thick, ink-black hair.

"To have a mother like you who is so sensible and considerate, isn't this a blessing earned through several lifetimes?" Fan Jinglan narrowed her eyes and smiled.

I don’t understand, and even feel sad, but I will respect it.

What fairy mother?
How could she be so worthy to have such a good mother?

"If you say so, then I am not a good father?" Duke Jingguo curled his lips.

"How could that be?" Fan Jinglan hurried to the front of Duke Jingguo and acted coquettishly and flatteringly as she did before.

"Then I..." Fan Hongyu took the opportunity to speak.

Based on the principle of treating everyone equally, Fan Jinglan comforted and consoled all three of them.

Fan Jinglan was packing her luggage here with great enthusiasm and saying goodbye to her family. Xia Mingyue was also busy packing her luggage and counting the accompanying personnel.

During this period, he even took time out to visit the He family and bid farewell to Old Madam He.

But unfortunately, Madam He and the Queen Mother went to the National Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings, which would take about ten days, so she was not at home during these days.

Xia Mingyue asked the steward to convey the matter, and also sent the butterfly cakes and mung bean cakes that she had made specially for Madam He.

The steward naturally agreed to the matter without hesitation. After seeing Xia Mingyue off, he hurriedly sent someone to deliver food and news to Madam He.

After a busy period, Xia Mingyue and his group met up with Fan Jinglan at the agreed time and set off.

Fan Hongyu came in person to deliver the goods, and also brought Xia Mingyue the soil mound-making tool that he had promised her before, which would be used to make soil mounds for cultivating cotton seedlings.