Empress in her second playthrough: Something's not right with this plot!

Wei Xiang nodded and said the name of the dish.

"Steamed mutton in a bowl".

Little Taro's throat bobbed, and he couldn't hold back any longer.

Picking up his chopsticks, Little Taro, with his cheeks puffed out, squinted his eyes contentedly at the plate of mutton he had been eyeing for a while.

So this is what it feels like to eat meat.

As her cheeks puffed out, tears involuntarily streamed down her face.

Wei Xiang remained silent to the side.

She knew that feeling because she had experienced it herself.

Li Yunsheng had just finished eating a dumpling when he looked up and saw that Little Taro was already in tears.

"what happened?"

Upon hearing the question, Little Taro turned his head, first wiping away his tears with his sleeve, and then swallowing the meat in his mouth.

She forced a smile, her voice still trembling with tears.

"This is the first time I've ever eaten meat."

Upon hearing this, Li Yunsheng was somewhat moved.

Whether in the modern world or in this world in the book, he has never known what hunger feels like.

Therefore, it's impossible to truly empathize with a child who cries because it's the first time they've ever eaten meat.

Old Zhang looked somewhat ashamed.

Before meeting Prime Minister Li, he and Little Taro barely had enough to eat, let alone meat.

My income has actually increased a bit in the period leading up to the Lunar New Year.

So I also bought a piece of meat, planning to stew it with taro for the Chinese New Year.

Who would have thought that the New Year's Eve dinner would be eaten at the Li residence?

Li Yunsheng picked up a piece of roasted chicken and put it into Xiaoyutou's bowl.

"From now on, I won't have to worry about not being able to eat meat."

"Mmm." Little Taro nodded emphatically.

Li Yunsheng looked at Wei Xiang, recalling the first time she came to the mansion for a meal.

Li Yunsheng found the wild girl that his father had brought back intriguing, so he paid her a lot of attention.

At that time, she was like a little wildcat that hadn't eaten for who knows how long.

They devoured the four dishes and three large bowls of rice prepared for her in a whirlwind.

With an extra bowl of soup, her belly was so full it was round.

Li Yunsheng was genuinely worried that her stomach might explode at any moment.

Wei Xiang's stomach didn't explode, but she vomited as soon as she stepped out the door.

Looking at the filth all over the ground, Li Yunsheng only saw heartache in Wei Xiang's eyes.

At that time, Li Yunsheng had no idea why Wei Xiang felt sorry for him.

Just like Wei Xiang's past, Li Yunsheng never asked about it.

He didn't ask what Little Taro had gone through.

The past doesn't matter; what matters is the future, when we will never go hungry again.

aside.

Wei Xiang didn't even look at Li Yunsheng, but calmly picked up a slice of steamed mutton.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

Just when Li Yunsheng thought that the New Year's Eve was over, the gatekeeper led the palace eunuchs in.

"Prime Minister Li, His Majesty summons you to the palace."

Chapter 77 I've been completely controlled by this kid since I was little.

Weiyang Palace.

Jiang Qingying faced a table full of dishes, but had no appetite whatsoever.

At this time of year, she misses her father and mother even more.

Now, sitting on this throne, she is truly all alone.

Eating New Year's Eve dinner alone is bittersweet, no matter what you eat.

The old eunuch Gao Zhan, who had served two emperors, bowed and asked.

"Your Majesty, is the food not to your liking?"

Jiang Qingying came to her senses.

"No, it's just..."

Gao Zhan offered words of comfort.

"Your Majesty still has many things to do, so please have something to eat."

In this cold weather, it's easy to catch a cold if you're hungry.

Jiang Qingying picked up her chopsticks again.

"Yes, I still have many things to do."

She was just about to pick up her chopsticks when she suddenly remembered someone.

"Xuanran, summon Li Yunsheng to the palace."

……

Inside the palace, Li Yunsheng, following behind the eunuch, looked up at the starry sky.

To be honest, this was the first New Year he had spent alone away from home.

I really miss my family. I wonder how they are doing?

I wonder what my body would be like in the modern world, maybe I'd become a vegetable?

Or perhaps, it has already turned into ashes in the cemetery.

Looking at the palace before him, Li Yunsheng suddenly remembered that the Empress was just like him.

Living in the palace, he had no relatives.

This New Year's Eve dinner will probably be even more lonely than his.

"Why has His Majesty summoned me to the palace?"

The eunuch apologized.

"His Majesty didn't say, so Prime Minister Li should ask His Majesty himself later."

The eunuch did not take Li Yunsheng to Fenglin Hall, but instead took him to Fengxian Hall.

Fengxian Hall.

The Empress was inside the hall worshipping her ancestors, but Li Yunsheng did not go in; instead, he stood outside the hall and waited.

The wind was biting cold; if he hadn't already reached the ninth rank, his previous small frame might not have been able to withstand it.

Li Yunsheng, a man of upright character, waited for half an hour before the Empress finally emerged from the Fengxian Hall.

"His Majesty."

The Empress glanced at him.

Have you had your New Year's Eve dinner yet?

"Your Majesty, we have already eaten."

After a while, seeing that the Empress remained silent, Li Yunsheng asked.

"I wonder what business Your Majesty has summoned me for?"

“Raise your head.”

Upon hearing this, Li Yunsheng raised his head and saw the Empress pointing to the Fengxian Hall.

"Your father's memorial tablet is inside. Do you still remember what he instructed you?"

Li Yunsheng glanced at Fengxian Hall, then looked away.

"The late emperor asked me to support and protect the Great Chu empire."

Jiang Qingying's phoenix eyes widened as she questioned him.

"You didn't mention a word about Father's instruction to assist me properly, did you?"

"Oh—right!" Li Yunsheng seemed to have just remembered, "The late emperor instructed me to assist Your Majesty well."

Jiang Qingying snorted coldly.

"Do you remember what you said?"

Li Yunsheng said solemnly.

"I swore before the late Emperor that I would loyally assist Your Majesty, and that I would not form factions or seek personal gain. If I have any selfish intentions, may I be punished by Heaven."

"What a fine claim of being a loyal and devoted advisor, not forming cliques or seeking personal gain! But how did you actually do it?"

Jiang Qingying paced back and forth in front of the Fengxian Hall, as if she were complaining to an elder, listing all of Li Yunsheng's crimes.

"Over the years, you have controlled the government, formed cliques for personal gain, eliminated dissidents, sold official titles and ranks privately, and accepted bribes."

"Is there anything I've wronged you about?"

Hey!