AWB Chapter 112 Osmanthus Pastry
Chapter 112 Osmanthus Pastry
Inside Chen'an Palace, Lu Zhiheng was reporting to Pei Yuanling on the final steps of the Yinduan Mountain flash flood incident.
"Your Majesty, all the refugees have been settled, and the local government is currently arranging reconstruction."
Pei Yuanling looked up at him, his phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and said in a deep voice, "What do you think of Qin Shaoan's offer of amnesty?"
Lu Zhiheng calmly replied, "Your Majesty has read the report sent by the local prefect Luo Zhinian. The conditions proposed by Qin Shaoan are reasonable."
"So, you think I should agree?"
Pei Yuanling spoke slowly and deliberately, his words carrying an ambiguous meaning.
Lu Zhiheng looked up at him and, seeing that his expression was normal, replied, "Qin Shaoan has been a bandit for a long time and his influence is deep. If we want to resolve this matter peacefully without causing hardship to the people and the country, the only way is to offer him amnesty."
The idea of recruiting the bandits of Hua'an Mountain to a government position was first proposed by Lu Zhiheng. His reasoning was impeccable and received the approval of most officials.
Pei Yuanling had initially agreed with his suggestion, but the sudden flash flood at Yinduan Mountain inexplicably aroused his suspicion.
Thinking of the message Shen Ran had sent, a dark light flashed in Lu Zhiheng's lowered eyes.
He used the same excuse as that day, then quietly bowed his head and said nothing more.
Pei Yuanling stared intently at him for a long while before waving his hand and saying, "Let me think about this matter some more. You may leave now."
As Lu Zhiheng emerged from Chen'an Palace, his expression grew increasingly grave.
Pei Yuanling's subtle probing just now suggests that he already suspects Qin Shaoan, but has not yet found any concrete evidence.
Lu Zhiheng's thin lips curled slightly. He had been secretly planning and deploying for many years, how could he allow Pei Yuanling to find clues overnight?
However, this matter is of great importance, and he must personally meet with Qin Shaoan to discuss countermeasures.
Lu Zhiheng flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.
Chu Qingyin came from Xingyue Palace and just saw his departing figure.
Although they were far apart, Chu Qingyin recognized Lu Zhiheng at a glance.
Even though she disliked Lu Zhiheng very much, she had to admit that the man's appearance was impeccable.
Her exceptional temperament, like that of a green bamboo, was in no way inferior even when standing next to Pei Yuanling, the emperor.
Wait, wasn't she here to bring food to Pei Yuanling? Why is she suddenly thinking so many random things while looking at Lu Zhiheng's back...?
Chu Qingyin paused slightly, then continued straight ahead.
Chen Zhongliang was guarding the door. When he saw it was her, his eyes lit up with a smile. He was about to say something when Chu Qingyin put her index finger to her lips and made a "shh" gesture. Then she pointed behind her.
Chu Qingyin did not come alone; Yu Yan followed behind her, carrying a food box.
Chen Zhongliang immediately understood and stepped aside. Chu Qingyin nodded slightly to him, then took the food box from Yu Yan and entered the hall alone.
Since it was a temporary palace, it wasn't as restrictive as the palace. Pei Yuanling was only wearing a dark-colored robe with python patterns. He sat at the desk with his thick eyebrows slightly furrowed, exuding the aura of a superior who didn't need to be angry.
He was very different from the man Chu Qingyin usually saw.
Hearing the noise, Pei Yuanling's brows furrowed even deeper, his tone revealing a hint of impatience: "Didn't I say, no one is to be disturbed unless absolutely necessary..."
Before she could finish speaking, Chu Qingyin gently said, "Your Majesty, it is I..."
Pei Yuanling was slightly taken aback. When he looked up and saw the person who had come, his furrowed brows instantly relaxed. "Yinyin, what brings you here?"
Chu Qingyin waved the food box in her hand at him and said with a smile, "Naturally, it's a surprise for His Majesty."
The mention of surprises inevitably reminded Pei Yuanling of her dance performance at the palace banquet last time.
Today, carrying a food box and smiling slightly, she seemed even more radiant and breathtaking than she was at the palace banquet.
Pei Yuanling was lost in thought for a moment, his deep, hawk-like eyes fixed on her. "Oh? What surprise has Yinyin prepared for me this time?"
Chu Qingyin quickly stepped forward and placed the small food box on the table in front of Pei Yuanling. "Your Majesty will know once you take a look."
She raised her chin slightly, her expression joyful, much like a little snowball trying to get credit and acting cute.
She resembles more like the former owner of Little Snowball, Consort Chu Qingyin.
Yinyin, you're becoming more and more like the person you used to be...
This time, I will not let you suffer the slightest grievance, nor will I let you leave me again.
Thinking of this, he reached out his large hand, wrapped it around Chu Qingyin's waist, and held her firmly in his arms.
"His Majesty--"
Chu Qingyin's exclamation was drowned out. He lowered his head and gently kissed her lips, saying in a hoarse voice, "Yinyin, help me open it."
Chu Qingyin's cheeks flushed red as she turned around with difficulty in his arms and opened the food box.
It's a bowl of osmanthus-flavored crispy cheese.
Chu Qingyin used to love crispy cheese, and Pei Yuanling had eaten it with her many times. Since Chu Qingyin passed away, he had never touched it again.
Upon seeing her for the first time, Pei Yuanling was taken aback, but then he was overjoyed. Could it be that Yinyin remembered?
He looked down at Chu Qingyin, his voice as gentle as if afraid she would break: "Why did you suddenly send me this?"
It was just a bowl of cheese, and Chu Qingyin didn't understand why Pei Yuanling would react this way.
She had only heard from the kitchen staff that Pei Yuanling hadn't had a good appetite lately, so she thought of making him a bowl of chilled cheese as a way of repaying him for the favor he had shown her recently and for taking care of his brother in prison.
Who would have thought he would ask that?
Chu Qingyin's throat seemed to be blocked, and she couldn't answer a single word.
But Pei Yuanling was still staring intently at her.
Chu Qingyin lowered her eyes, and when she looked up again, she still had a gentle smile on her face: "I heard that the kitchen obtained some dried osmanthus flowers, so I made this osmanthus pastry on a whim. I came here to offer it to Your Majesty for a taste. Will Your Majesty find it unpalatable?"
Her answer was irrelevant, and Pei Yuanling was disappointed, but he didn't show it on his face. He simply said, "I didn't know Yinyin could cook."
Chu Qingyin scolded him, "All I can do is make cheese..."
Pei Yuanling then smiled.
Chu Qingyin thought it was over, but then she heard him murmur, "You only know how to make custard... then why did you only learn this, and why did you specially give it to me?"
Even if Chu Qingyin was slow to realize, she eventually understood why Pei Yuanling kept asking.
Why must we force her to admit that she is the same Chu Qingyin from before?
Her eyes darkened, and she lowered her head as if shyly saying, "Your Majesty, please don't laugh at me. Actually, I don't like to eat cheese."
Pei Yuanling didn't believe it: "If you don't like it, why would you learn it on purpose?"
"Because I couldn't eat it." Chu Qingyin's expression was a little aggrieved. "When I was young, I was weak and my wet nurse forbade me from eating anything cold, so I could only watch others eat it."
"Not only did the wet nurse forbid the concubine from eating, but she also forbade anyone else from making food for her. So the concubine had to make it herself and ate three bowls while the wet nurse was away."
"That very night, I fell ill and remained ill for a long time. From then on, I never dared to touch cheese again."
She spoke sincerely, her eyes glistening with tears. Pei Yuanling felt a pang of heartache and embraced her, saying, "I'm sorry, it's my fault. I won't ask anymore."
Chu Qingyin buried her head in his chest.
What she said did indeed happen, but not to her, but to Qiao Qingyin.
This body is really weak; Chen Yun also told her not to eat ice.
Consort Chu was utterly unskilled at housework; let alone cooking, she could barely even make tea. Yet, she loved to eat crispy cheese and loved to share it with Pei Yuanling.
Did Pei Yuanling think that she had specially learned a trick to indirectly admit that she was Chu Qingyin?
That's absurd.
Having already suffered one setback, she would never again give him any genuine affection.
In the end, Pei Yuanling ate the bowl of crispy cheese.
Chu Qingyin returned with an empty food box, far less happy than when she arrived.
**
"boom--"
Inside the Lanyue Palace, after hearing Lin Qing's words, Empress Wang smashed the teacup beside her.
Lin Qing immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
Empress Wang clutched her heaving chest, her voice somber: "What a fine Consort Qin! I had underestimated her before."
They dare to outwardly comply while inwardly defying them.