The little lady in the dining room

Chapter 148
Sydney was not so courageous enough to go to see her alone knowing that the situation was strange.

She found an excuse to "need someone to help in the kitchen" and called out all the red bean paste, almonds, candied dates, and sesame seeds. The battle to go to the study was really not small.

In the study room, Concubine Hui was standing in front of the bookshelf and flipping through a book leisurely. When she heard the movement behind her, she turned her head, and Xue Li was bringing the maids who came with her to greet her: "Mrs. Concubine Hui, all blessings."

Concubine Hui saw the slightly stagnant expressions of the people behind her, she nodded abruptly and said, "Miss Ruan."

Xue Li smiled gently: "Ma'am, do you have something to do with your servant?"

Concubine Hui nodded, and then looked at the people behind her again: "Can you let them..."

"They are all trustworthy servants." Xueli lowered her head slightly, her smile undiminished, "Madam, you can just speak directly, they won't say anything."

Concubine Hui saw the unyielding look on her face, and knew that she couldn't trust her.Under the contradiction in his heart, his face turned pale.

"Miss Ruan..." She took a step forward and grabbed Xueli's hand. Before Xueli could dodge, she waited for the next sentence with her heart hanging, and then she stuttered when she heard her next sentence, "I haven't asked anyone much, nor I know how to beg for help. But I still have to come to beg my wife, I..."

Xue Li hurriedly avoided with a look of horror: "Ma'am?!"

How dare she continue to listen to Concubine Hui.Even if the emperor had plans to make her a queen, she was not a queen yet, and the word "begging" that Concubine Hui said was too heavy on her.

Her expression became more unnatural than that of Concubine Hui: "Madam, you...you have something to say!" Then, without Concubine Hui's persuasion, she didn't have the confidence to let Dousha and the others stay here.He turned his head and asked them to retreat outside to wait, and the four of them retired together, and Dou Sha pointedly added: "We are right outside the door, if the lady has orders, just call."

"I know." Sydney nodded, and glanced at them exiting the door from the corner of her eye.

As soon as the door was closed, she looked at Concubine Hui again with a heavy tone, and Concubine Hui's eyes turned red: "Miss Ruan, can you help me and let me see His Majesty once? I, I have something related to my family and life to ask him... ...But he refused to see me. I tried several times to no avail. Now the Lu family has been exiled, and the Yu family has almost been convicted. I... my family has also received the grace of the Queen Mother in the past. If I can't speak for my family Sentence..."

The Tan family is so inconspicuous, I am afraid that His Majesty will not bother with such a small soldier at all, so he will run it with the family without saying a word.But the aristocratic families still have some background, even if they are exiled, they can bribe the escort officials to take care of them more or less. The Tan family can't even do this!
Xueli was confused by Concubine Hui's appearance.

She had never seen Concubine Hui panic like this, even when the emperor was upset because of An Jin's affairs, Concubine Hui was never so helpless.

She remembered that not long ago Concubine Hui had sent someone to Liugeyuan to invite His Majesty on the grounds of being unwell... Was that why she was at that time?

Sydney panicked for a while.She clearly remembered that His Majesty did not go to Roujia Palace that day, even though she sincerely persuaded him, he still refused.She suddenly didn't know what to do now, Concubine Hui's pleading appearance made her want to help her this time, but she had to think, what if His Majesty didn't see her because he knew Concubine Hui was going to say this?

Then it would be wrong for her to help Concubine Hui!She is interfering with His Majesty's decision to punish the Tan family!

Xueli's heart was in a mess, and she didn't dare to raise her eyes, as soon as she raised her eyes, she would see Concubine Hui's urgent pleading.She could still pretend to be noble in front of the wives, but in front of the concubine Hui, she really didn't have the confidence at all.

Concubine Hui's majesty in the harem is too high!

Xueli was hesitating in front of her, and after a while, she raised her eyelids slightly: "That... Mrs. Concubine Hui, can you see if this is okay..."

Concubine Hui waited nervously for her words.

"I...I can't lie to Your Majesty that I want to see him, and then let you go to see him. Your Majesty must be unhappy, and I feel ashamed." She peeked at Concubine Hui's expression, "If you think it's okay, I asked Dou Sha to go to Qingliang Hall to answer, just, just said that you have something important to see His Majesty, and begged to come to me, I just ask His Majesty for you?"

She watched intently, and seeing Concubine Hui's eyes tremble, she immediately said: "If you think this is not good, then the servant will not be able to help you. The servant must not lie to His Majesty, not even a word."

Concubine Hui looked at her with a complicated expression, she could hear her unyielding attitude, and knew that it would be difficult for others to torture her on this.

After a long time, Concubine Hui nodded weakly: "Thank you."

Xue Li opened the door and told Dou Sha to go to Qingliang Hall to deliver the message.Afterwards, she asked Concubine Hui to wait in the study, and went back to the backyard to entertain people from the palaces. During this time, she seemed a little out of sorts, Yi Shi looked at her and asked her what was wrong.

She replied, "Maybe it's because the heat is too heavy", and everyone became more careful, not daring to disturb her anymore, and after drinking half a cup of tea, they left one after another.

"Mother, drink some sour plum soup to relieve the heat!" A Yao came over with a cup of sour plum soup, very worried.

Xueli took a sip in cooperation, and smiled: "Ayao, take your younger brother back to the room to have some snacks first. Mother has something to do later, so I will have dinner with you in the evening."

A Yao obediently agreed, but A Yuan was also very worried about her mother, so she ran over and stretched out her little hand to ask her to hug her. Fortunately, A Yao would persuade her and took A Yuan away with Qingxi Tinghan.

Xue Li waited for a while before going forward again, and seeing Dou Sha had come back, she asked her how she was doing.

Dou Sha bowed her knees and said, "Your Majesty will come over after the discussion. I have already told Mrs. Hui."

"Thank you." Xue Li nodded, walked into the study, and saw the uneasiness on Concubine Hui's face.

"Ma'am, please relax." She stepped forward to persuade her, but her words froze, and she couldn't continue.

She wanted to persuade Concubine Hui that "Your Majesty is not a heartless person", but after all, Concubine Hui had been by his side much longer than her, so she felt somewhat defiant when she said this.

So she quietly poked at the side, and she would not sit if Concubine Hui didn't sit. After waiting for two full minutes, the emperor finally came.

Both of them gave a blessing together: "Your Majesty, Sheng An."

"No." The emperor frowned slightly and nodded, let the two sit down casually, and the three sat together by the desk, and no one spoke for a long time.

"I...I haven't fed Yuxiang yet!" Xue Li was embarrassed by this embarrassment, and ran away happily after thinking of the reason.

The emperor glanced at her back and then looked at Concubine Hui, heaved a sigh of relief: "Madam, what's the matter?"

This time, he didn't think she was trying to win favor, and the fight for favor couldn't be through Xue Li - if she lied to her, then Dali would cry to death in front of him afterwards, and he would definitely not be happy.

But if you want to say something for the Queen Mother...

Xie Zhao refused to make it difficult to end, and warned first: "Don't intercede for the Queen Mother, that is between us mother and son."

"The concubine understands." Concubine Hui immediately responded, and the emperor's face paled.

Her heart tightened, she held her breath, and left the table to kneel down: "Your Majesty, this concubine knows that you...are running those noble families who are dependent on the queen mother. The concubine's family has also received the grace of the queen mother, The concubine wants to ask His Majesty to spare the life of the concubine's family!"

She couldn't help choking up in fear: "The concubine's parents are no longer young, they, they can't bear the severe punishment like exile, if you, Your Majesty..."

"That's why you wanted me to stay in Roujia Palace that day?" The emperor's flat voice cut off her words.

Concubine Hui trembled all over.

He looked at her condescendingly: "You are also cooking and serving my meals, and this is also for this reason?"

She didn't even dare to answer.If she doesn't admit it, she can't explain what she did that day; but if she admits it...that is to admit that she deliberately tried to plot against him that day.

"Your Majesty..." She knelt at his feet pale, and he laughed hoarsely.

He should have known that if it wasn't for such a big event, Concubine Hui would never beg him or make such an effort.

Many things are like this, although no one said it clearly, but the feelings in the bottom of my heart are clear to each other.Just as he clearly dislikes Concubine Hui, he can feel that she also doesn't care much about him, so over the years, the two of them have always respected and treated each other more like a monarch and his ministers. mutual affection"……

Basically none.

"Get up." He stretched out his hand to help her, Concubine Hui held back her tears and refused to get up, he sighed a little, "I didn't intend to touch the Tan family. It's for your sake that I won't move, don't make things difficult for me."

Concubine Hui was surprised, her face full of disbelief.If he wasn't the emperor, she probably really felt that he was cheating on her.

"It's not easy for you in the palace these years, I know." The emperor smiled bitterly, "The Tan family didn't make any big mistakes, so I will keep it for you. When this storm passes, I will give your father a free job for him You can rest assured."

Concubine Hui looked at him in astonishment.After watching for a while, even she herself clearly felt how alienated they were.

At most, he was just politely arranging her family members in this way, and after hearing this, she only had the feeling of "thank you for the emperor's kindness".

All these years, she came here like this, neither liked by him nor liked her, as time passed, she felt that this kind of life became more and more boring.So much so that after reading so many scripts... She is such an adult, and occasionally she can't help but imagine that the "jianghu" mentioned in the script is real, and the kind of happy love and hatred are real.

She knew very well in her heart that it was not because she was looking forward to the life in Jianghu, it was just that the present day was too beautiful to look forward to.

Concubine Hui's terrified mood just now gradually calmed down in such desolation, she laughed at herself, and said, "I want to ask His Majesty one more thing."

The emperor nodded: "You say."

"The concubine knows that His Majesty already has a queen candidate in his heart." She bit her lip, her tone was extremely indifferent, "After returning to Luo'an after the summer vacation, Your Majesty will let the concubine go out of the palace to practice."

Xie Zhao was startled suddenly: "What did you say?!"

Concubine Hui looked up at him: "The concubine will not be able to fulfill her duties as a concubine if she stays in the palace. Your Majesty, just... just let the concubine go."

After Concubine Hui thanked her for her resignation, the emperor sat quietly in the study of the Hanbing Hall until the sunset, and finally he could only sigh.

No matter how much he comforted himself by saying that "Zhengyi Concubine Hui" was a seat above ten thousand people, he still had to admit that Concubine Hui was delayed for nothing.

Maybe it was too much wasted time, she thought so clearly now.She said that after having a queen, the power of the harem will always be handed over to the queen, and she will have nothing at that time. She is very afraid that she will become like Shi Shi when she has nothing to rely on. It ended up not even having a whole body.

She was obviously tired.With such a lack of brilliance in his eyes, Xie Zhao couldn't even say a word to keep her.I just feel that she said "The ancient Buddha with blue lanterns is better than being bored in the palace every day" is really not just talking, she really doesn't want to stay in the palace at all.

So he had no choice but to agree, letting her rest in peace these days.Liugong's morning sleep and evening routine are all free, let her do what she likes...

What's more, Xie Zhao didn't know what else to do.

He is also very helpless.He always felt powerless when facing Concubine Hui, especially when he wanted to help her.When he wants to treat Sydney well, he can obviously come up with various specific ways, such as taking her to ride a horse, letting her go to a hot spring, playing with her and so on...

If it was Concubine Hui, he would have no other options. He could only let her "do something she likes" in vain, but he couldn't do anything to help her think.

No wonder she has no attachment to him.

Finally realizing that it was getting dark, he calmed down and stepped out.Even the palace people including Chen Jijiang didn't dare to say a word, until they heard the laughter of Emperor Ping'an and the eldest son of the emperor, they were able to breathe a little bit of relief.

"Father!" A Yuan was sitting in the yard drinking almond dew. When he saw his father coming, he jumped off the stone bench, ran over and frowned, and wanted to complain, but he couldn't say anything, so he had to be told by his father. Start crying as soon as you hold it!

"What's the matter..." Xie Zhao, who was in a panic because of Concubine Hui's incident, was so overwhelmed by his son's crying that he couldn't be coaxed well, so he saw A Yuan crying and pointed at A Yao, "Sister is bad! Sister bad!"

ah?What's up?

Xie Zhao looked at A Yao in puzzlement, A Yao made a face at him and ran back to the house.

"Wow... my sister is bad!" A Yuan cried hard when she saw her sister running so fast, crying her teeth and claws in Xie Zhao's arms.Xie Zhao was afraid that he would not be able to hold him well, so he said that he would let the nanny hold him. As soon as the words came out, A Yuan cried even harder, "No!!!"

Xie Zhao: "..." This bad boy will trap him!

When he finally got A Yuan into the room carefully, A Yuan was basically half hung on his shoulder.Sitting on the side of the couch, Xue Li obviously wanted to go out to see why A Yuan was crying, but A Yao held her arm and refused to let her go, smiling happily.

Seeing his father carrying A Yuan in, A Yao let go of Sydney in the blink of an eye, stayed on the bed and wanted to run again.

Xie Zhao shouted, "Stop!"

Immediately, Ah Yao felt as if he had been cast a fixed spell, Xiaobu turned around and stuck out his tongue, saying, "Father."

Xie Zhao threw A Yuan to Xueli, strode up to A Yao, squatted down and asked, "Why are you bullying your brother?"

"I didn't!" Ah Yao stomped his feet.

A Yuan cried and fell on her mother: "Yes! My sister is bad!"

Then began a very long process of parents coaxing their children, but A Yuan couldn't say it, A Yao refused to say it. After coaxing for a long time, they still laughed and cried. In the end, Xie Zhao called A Yuan's nanny in with a cold face. Only then did Yin falter and falter and say the matter.

Almond dew is made from southern almonds, milk, rock sugar, and glutinous rice. It tastes sweet and white in color.A Yuan took a drink from the cup and got a white circle on his mouth. Suddenly, A Yao saw it and couldn't help laughing at him: "Hahahaha!"

Although A Yuan was young, she knew that her sister was laughing at him, so she glared at A Yao viciously.But the way he stared fiercely with a circle of white viciousness was too amusing, so A Yao laughed even harder, and then she laughed deliberately when he drank it, and refused to let him drink it, which made A Yuan very angry!

My sister just bullied him and couldn't speak!
After Yin finished speaking, A Yuan finally changed from "crying loudly" to "tearful eyes", her face fell on Xueli's lap, her little butt twisted and twisted like a little bug.

A Yao was still covering her mouth for fun by her father's side, Xie Zhao snapped his fingers on her forehead: "Bad girl, this is called 'bullying the small with the big', you know?"

"But mother also bullies me!" Ayao retorted confidently, pointing at Xue Li, "Mother also asked father to laugh at me together! It's not bullying the younger!"

Xie Zhao and Sydney: "..."

Isn't it just two days ago that everyone saw you sleeping messily?Little girl, you hold a grudge!
Xie Zhao glanced at Xue Li sadly, but Xue Li turned her face in grief and indignation and pretended not to see it.

A Yuan continued twisting and twisting on Xue Li's leg, muttering: "My sister is bad, my sister is bad!"

Afterwards, the family of four got into a tense atmosphere?not at all.

A Yao only made a small mistake when she was teased by A Yuan occasionally. After a long time, she felt that this was not good, so she took the initiative to run over to coax A Yuan: "A Yuan is not angry! My sister is not bullying you!"

A Yuan Lai looked at her with her mouth pouted on Xue Li's lap, with a look of disgust on her face, A Yao wiped his tears with a handkerchief with a smile on her face, and then climbed onto the couch to sleep with him. After a while, the two children fell asleep. They were all happy, and went out to look for Yuxiang.

Sydney heard A Yuan shout: "Almond dew!"

Immediately after that, I heard Ah Yao say: "I won't look at you! Drink it yourself!"

"Puchi." Both of them laughed, Xue Li got up from the couch, and asked Xie Zhao if he was hungry: "I haven't passed on the meal yet, I want to wait for you to eat together."

She deliberately didn't ask Concubine Hui what she said.He sighed briefly, and nodded: "Let's pass it on, I'll just eat some delicious food from you, so as not to have to go back to Qingliang Hall to make such a big battle."

Looking at so many dishes in Xia Tian, ​​it's hard to have any appetite, or the ones she got here casually to suit the taste.

Xue Li nodded, and immediately asked Dou Sha to pass on the meal, and the dinner was served after a while.

On the couch table, there are two small rectangular copper stoves, with a fire burning underneath, and a whole fish split into two pieces from the back is placed in a deep rectangular dish on top.The hot soup is bubbling under the fish, and the fish is covered with seasonings.

Xie Zhao raised his eyebrows when he saw it: "It's too hot to eat grilled fish in summer."

"Is there ice in the room?" Xue Li smiled, and pointed to the fish on the left. The seasoning on the fish was covered with pieces of dark green stalks and leaves. "This one is sauerkraut, it tastes refreshing. It’s not greasy, and it’s suitable for eating in summer, and it’s even better with some bayberry juice.”

She said that she had poured the chilled red bayberry juice to him, and called A Yao and A Yuan to come back for dinner.The two children were happy when they ran into the house and saw the grilled fish. A Yuan climbed onto the couch and stared at the fish on the right, pointing and saying "I want to eat it". Xie Zhao looked at it: "Is this spicy?" ?”

"It's not spicy, it's made with fermented soybeans." Xueli said, tearing off a piece of meat from the belly of the fish, checking it carefully on the plate to make sure there were no thorns, and then feeding it to A Yuan.

Ayao was even more satisfied with the meal. He tore a large piece of tender meat from the grilled fish with sauerkraut and put it on the rice. He took a spoonful of sour soup knowingly, added a small piece of sauerkraut leaf, and mixed it Serve with rice.

Xie Zhao looked at A Yao: "You guys often eat like this!" He hadn't even eaten it before!
"No!" Xueli immediately clarified, "It was the day I just arrived at the palace. The road was bumpy for a long time, and they didn't have any appetite. I just remembered this thing, and I ate it that time!"

This is actually not a delicate method, unless he asks for it by name, the Shangshi Bureau will never present it to his imperial dining table.But the palace people like it very much. From the year she entered the palace, she could see the palace people getting together in threes and fours to make a fish and eat comfortably and refreshingly!

And such a fish is more than just meat.All kinds of vegetables are pressed under the fish, and you can also put bean curds, vermicelli, etc., after being cooked in the thick hot soup underneath, you can absorb the taste of the soup.

The one with fermented soybeans will roast the outer layer of fish to be fragrant and tender, and the fish skin will be crispy and delicious.But Sydney prefers sauerkraut, because the taste is enough, and the fish and vegetables can be dyed delicious by the sour soup, which can always solve the problem of lack of appetite.

Whether it's because it's too hot or in a bad mood.

(End of this chapter)