Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 33 Choice, Consort Ning

Song Yi felt somewhat at a loss as she watched the eunuchs from the imperial kitchen bow to her.

She hadn't stepped into the imperial kitchen in a long time. Actually, her cooking skills weren't very good; it was just that three years ago she could still manage to cook some porridge to satisfy Jiang Lanye.

However, just thinking about his picky palate gives Song Yi a headache.

She regretted her boast earlier, but now that she was already here, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and do it.

Two eunuchs watched her movements nervously as she chopped vegetables with a knife.

In the past, many concubines would come to the imperial kitchen to get knives and cook, saying they were going to cook for His Majesty. But each one was more delicate than the last, and they made a lot of mistakes, either cutting their fingers or getting their faces scalded by hot oil.

The imperial kitchen was in complete chaos, but they couldn't be ignored.

Fortunately, Song Yi was quite skilled at chopping vegetables.

However, she accidentally added too much salt when cooking the porridge.

Later, the porridge almost burned, but the eunuch helped put out the fire. She quickly ladled out the porridge, which looked extremely unappetizing.

However, she didn't have the patience to cook a second pot of porridge right now, and Jiang Lanye should be leaving court soon.

Feeling somewhat guilty, Song Yi carried the food box back to the Golden Palace.

She thought that if Jiang Lanye forgot about this after the morning court session and didn't mention it, she would pretend that the bowl of porridge didn't exist and cook him a drinkable one another day.

After Jiang Lanye finished the morning court session and changed into his dragon robe, he saw Song Yi sitting by the window, looking quite content, playing with the chessboard on the table.

He raised an eyebrow, about to speak.

Outside the palace, Eunuch Cao entered and said, "Your Majesty, Consort Ning has arrived."

Song Yi was taken aback.

Consort Ning?

She knew there was such a person in the palace, but she had never seen her in so long.

Jiang Lanye frowned, glanced at Song Yi again, and said, "Let her in."

Song Yi let out a breath and hid the food box behind her back.

Consort Ning walked in with light steps, her voice gentle: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Then, she caught a glimpse of Song Yi out of the corner of her eye.

As if she hadn't expected there to be a woman in the Golden Palace, Consort Ning's expression froze for a moment, but she quickly covered it up.

"Is this Lady Song?"

Song Yi stood up and was about to curtsy when Jiang Lanye said indifferently, "No need to curtsy, your knee is still not healed."

"Yes."

Sensing Jiang Lanye's concern for her, Consort Ning concealed the strange look in her eyes.

She was always gentle and kind, with a refined temperament, and spoke softly, so Jiang Lanye rarely found her annoying.

Because she knows best how to know when to advance and when to retreat.

"Your Majesty, what brings Consort Song to your palace? What a coincidence, I am here today as well."

Jiang Lanye didn't care about her thoughts at all and said directly, "She was here last night."

Is that so?

Consort Ning blinked, forcing herself not to look at Song Yi, and turned to take the food box handed to her by a palace maid.

"Your Majesty, I cooked shrimp porridge early this morning, which is your favorite."

After saying that, she took a few light steps and placed the porridge on the table, her voice still exceptionally gentle.

"Your Majesty, drink it while it's hot. You must be hungry after the morning court session."

Song Yi's lips twitched.

She had just glanced at the bowl of porridge; it looked quite appetizing, and she hadn't seen Consort Ning at all this morning.

The porridge was clearly made by the imperial kitchen staff; Consort Ning remained remarkably calm and didn't even blink when she lied.

Consort Ning then tidied up the messy books and brushes on his table, smiling as she said, "Your Majesty, I haven't seen you in a long time. You look to be in good spirits, which puts my mind at ease." Jiang Lanye gave a faint "hmm" and looked at Song Yi again.

Song Yi's heart skipped a beat, and she silently prayed that Jiang Lanye would not bring up the matter of porridge.

But he seemed oblivious to Consort Ning's thoughts, and asked directly, "Didn't you say you were going to please me? Where's your porridge?"

Song Yi choked slightly and said, "I did cook porridge, but..."

Before she could finish speaking, Jiang Lanye said directly, "Bring it over."

Consort Ning was taken aback, not expecting that she had actually thought the same thing as Song Yi.

However, she didn't cook the porridge herself; I wonder if Song Yi...
Helpless, Song Yi had no choice but to open the food box and bring out a bowl of porridge that was obviously too thick.

Upon seeing this, Consort Ning couldn't help but laugh. She quickly picked up her handkerchief and covered her mouth, feeling quite pleased with herself.

His Majesty is always picky, how dare they bring something like this into the Golden Palace?

When Song Yi presented the dish with a stiff face, she noticed that the person accompanying Consort Ning was actually Qiu Chan.

Qiu Chan had been trying to please Consort Ning for a long time, but she was suddenly assigned to serve Song Yi and then sent to the flower room by Song Yi. After all the twists and turns, she finally got what she wanted.

Song Yi couldn't help but chuckle.

Qiu Chan felt a little guilty when she saw her, but then she thought that her mistress was a concubine and Song Yi was just a concubine, so there was nothing to be afraid of. She straightened her back a bit.

Song Yi placed the porridge on the table, then looked at Consort Ning's porridge and couldn't bear to look at it anymore. He said, "Your Majesty, perhaps..."

Jiang Lanye sat down, and Consort Ning stared straight at him.

Jiang Lanye glanced at Song Yi, seemingly somewhat helpless.

Then, in front of the two of them, he took Song Yi's porridge.

Consort Ning's expression changed, but she still pretended to be calm and said, "My sister has gotten ahead of me. If His Majesty doesn't drink my sister's porridge soon, it will probably become too thick."

She said that on purpose, but in reality the porridge was already thick.

Song Yi smiled and said, "Your Highness, Consort Ning, you are too kind. My cooking skills are not as good as Your Highness's. I did not even enter the Imperial Kitchen, yet I conjured up this bowl of porridge out of thin air."

"you"

Consort Ning hadn't expected Song Yi to be so unafraid of her, actually uttering these words directly in front of His Majesty, and her smile became awkward.

"What are you saying, sister? I clearly went to the Imperial Kitchen today, perhaps I just missed it."

Song Yi smiled but remained silent.

Jiang Lanye didn't care at all whether Consort Ning's porridge was made by her own hands.

Right now, I'm just curious about what the porridge that Song Yi cooked by hand will taste like.

He drank a spoonful in front of the two of them.

Jiang Lanye:
He always had a blank expression, making it difficult for others to guess what he was thinking.

He swallowed the porridge and looked at Consort Ning, saying, "Take the porridge back. One bowl is enough for me."

Consort Ning was somewhat displeased, but still said gently, "This was specially made for Your Majesty. If Your Majesty does not wish to drink it, you may leave it as is, or have someone else pour it away. I will not take it back."

Jiang Lanye nodded casually and said, "Okay, you can go back now."

Consort Ning did not expect that Jiang Lanye would be in such a hurry to send her away.

She felt she had lost face, but still tried to maintain a calm and composed demeanor.

"Chen and concubine retire."

Qiu Chan stared blankly at Song Yi, never expecting that she had received favor again.
After Consort Ning left, she came to her senses and quickly followed after her.

As soon as the others left, Jiang Lanye put down the porridge and pinched his brow, feeling a bit of a headache.

Song Yi suppressed a laugh, "Your Majesty, how is the porridge?"

Jiang Lanye chuckled, "Today, I punish you by making you finish this entire bowl of porridge."

(End of this chapter)