The previous good mood had completely vanished.
The Xuanwu Emperor's smile faded, instructing Wang Dequan, "There's an odd smell about me. Go and prepare bath water."
The roasted dish from Consort Zhen was, in his 28 years of life, the most delicious food he'd ever eaten.
He was the Emperor, the first to possess all the best things under heaven. He'd never tasted such a delicacy, and hardly anyone else had.
It seems he wasn't indifferent to gastronomic indulgences; he just hadn't encountered a dish that truly tantalized his taste buds.
Thinking about how he had eaten most of Consort Zhen's roast today, and how she was so upset she didn't even pay him any mind when he left, brought a light chuckle to his lips.
Noble Consort Su, looking at the handsome Emperor laughing, couldn't help but blush and snuggle into the Xuanwu Emperor's arms, "Is Your Majesty laughing at your concubine's love for weeping?"
The Xuanwu Emperor lowered his head, "Did my beloved use osmanthus hair oil today?"
Noble Consort Su, dressed up from head to toe, twirled her hair, "Does Your Majesty like it?"
He even noticed she had changed her hair oil; surely he held her in his heart.
If it wasn't so, with so many women in the harem, how could he single out her changes?
The Xuanwu Emperor laid her down on the bed, "Beloved, you are naturally beautiful. Even without those things, you could captivate me."
Noble Consort Su shyly smiled, "Your concubine just wants to show you her best side, lest Your Majesty forget me when you find someone new."
The extinguished candle brought silence, Wang Dequan shook his head and closed the palace doors.
This Noble Consort Su really had no perception. The Emperor wasn't praising her at all!
He disliked the scent of hair oil, and disliked even more the taste of rouge and powder!
If anyone truly understood the Emperor, it was undoubtedly Consort Zhen. Even Concubine Li sometimes couldn't grasp the Emperor's intentions, but Consort Zhen understood him with just a glance.
Perhaps this was the difference between sincerity and pretense!
Poor Consort Zhen, so deeply in love with the Emperor. Who knows how long she can hold his affection?
Hopefully, it will be for a long time. Otherwise, it would be too pitiful.
The next day, the imperial edict promoting Noble Consort Su to the rank of Consort arrived. However, the usually ecstatic Consort Su was not as elated when she visited Yikun Palace to pay respects to the Empress. Another edict from the Emperor had promoted Consort Zhen to the rank of Concubine Zhenji.
Consort Su was promoted because she had served the Emperor in his bed. What merit did Jiang Xinyue have?
Once the edict was announced, the envious glances at Consort Su diminished greatly.
Wang Dequan almost doubted if the Emperor's real intention wasn't to promote Consort Su, but to elevate Concubine Zhenji's rank. He feared promoting her alone would draw too much attention and lead to schemes against her, hence he included Consort Su as well.
This dangerous thought made Wang Dequan shake his head.
How could that be?
He had served the Emperor for over twenty years, and he had never seen him so invested in a woman before.
Concubine Li had once held a fraction of the Emperor's affection. That small fraction allowed her to be the most favored in the harem for over a decade. How long has Concubine Zhenji been in the palace?
Impossible.
While everyone envied Jiang Xinyue for her rapid promotion within just three months of entering the palace, she herself didn't seem very happy.
Concubine Zhenji...
In the Sichuan and Chongqing regions, there's a first-class protected animal called... the Hazel Grouse.
It was rather a dull appearance.
Above Concubine Zhenji was a jewel of the sixth rank…
A precious chicken…
emm…
Had she known that a barbecue meal would lead to Zhenji's promotion, she would have preferred to skip that meal last night.
However…
Not long after she returned to the Hexi Palace, Wang Dequan arrived, stating that he would dine with Concubine Zhenji that evening and asked her to prepare well.
Jiang Xinyue looked at the two large pear wood tables set in the courtyard, laden with various meat skewers, slices of pork belly, and all sorts of vegetables.
There were even more side dishes than last night.
Even the royal kitchen's chef came over, stating he wanted to observe and learn, asking Concubine Zhenji not to withhold her culinary wisdom.
It turned out that Jiang Xinyue's cooking skills last night, and the Emperor's stay at the Hexi Palace, had already become the talk of the harem.
It was said that the Emperor wanted to stay with Concubine Zhenji last night, but she persuaded him to go to Concubine Su's place.
It seemed that aside from Concubine Li, Concubine Zhenji was the most favored.
It must be said, a beautiful misunderstanding.
Last night, Xuanwu Emperor had no intention of staying at the Hexi Palace, and Jiang Xinyue did not want to become the target of everyone's arrows. She didn't intentionally flirt with him, even becoming slightly upset because he ate all the meat.
Jiang Xinyue gazed at the sky, seemingly foreseeing her miserable fate of being treated as a royal chef by the dog emperor.
But on second thought, if she wanted to get rid of the title of Concubine Zhenji, she had to try her best to win over the Xuanwu Emperor.
As the saying goes, to capture a man's heart, capture his stomach first.
This phrase is universally applicable.
With a determined look in her eyes, she changed into a more efficient outfit, instructed Xi Que and Shuang Jiang to assist, and began marinating the meat.
Last night, she didn't have enough time, and the marinated meat wasn't flavorful enough. According to her taste, it wasn't delicious enough.
But today, there was plenty of time. Tonight's barbecue would be perfect.
Pour oil, sprinkle salt, add white wine, spring onions, ginger, bay leaves, five-spice powder, knead and mix, then let it rest. After a dizzying series of steps, the royal chefs were left dumbfounded.
Could something prepared this way be delicious?
They were uncertain, but continued to observe.
"Xi Que."
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Jiang Xinyue said, "Go to Yikun Palace, Yanqing Palace, and Shunan Palace. Invite the Empress, Consort Liang, and Consort De. Oh, and bring the eldest princess, the second princess, and the third prince to dine here this evening."
To convince the Empress that she truly had no ambition to fight for supremacy in the harem, mere flattery wouldn't suffice, her actions had to show sincerity too.
It was a hot summer day, and Jiang Xinyue was worried about the meat spoiling, so she had the Household Department bring ice again and again.
Although it was a bit troublesome, there was no other choice. Who could blame her? There was no electricity or refrigerators in ancient times!
Yikun Palace —
Consort Liang was combing the Empress's hair. Hearing Fen Yun's words, she was slightly surprised, "Did someone from Hexi Palace really say that?"
Fen Yun nodded, "Yes, they also said that the young masters could come along. The young palace maid said that Concubine Zhenji mentioned that a barbecue is more enjoyable with more people."
Consort Liang marvelled, "Most people would covet the Emperor's attention for themselves. What is she thinking, not taking advantage of the opportunity to be alone with the Emperor, yet inviting the Empress and us over?"
"She must have some sincerity."
Empress Zhu examined the ornamental hairpin on her flag in the copper mirror, switching for a more understated one, "Since she's asked us to dress simply, let's not be overly complicated. The eldest princess should also keep it minimalistic."
Seeing that Consort Liang was eager to leave, Empress Zhu did not hold her back, urging her to hurry back and guide the eldest princess on what to say and what not to say.
The opportunity was provided by Zhen Ji. Whether the eldest princess could seize it depended on herself.
