Chapter 65 - The pastry made by yam and jujube paste

On the way to Tai Chu Palace, Princess Minghui introduced her two sisters to Yun Fenghuang. The girl in light green palace costume was Princess Jinyun, Gongxiang Xing, whose mother was Great-Concubine Wu, who was Concubine Wu in the last generation; and the one who hadn’t spoken all the way in light yellow palace costume was Princess Penglai, Gongxiang Zao, whose mother was Great-Concubine Shen, who used to be Mei Ren Shen in the last generation.

Because they two were not qualified to raise the princesses, Jinyun and Penglai were both brought up by Queen Mother Ji.

In accordance with the rules of the palace, they moved to Yao Yu Palace where the unmarried princesses lived when they were ten years old. As the birth daughter of Queen Mother Ji, Princess Minghui still lived in Mian Fu Palace, but she often went to visit them.

Because they three shared similar age and grew up together, they had very deep affections. At the moment, seeing that Princess Minghui was embarrassed to say that, Princess Jinyun did it for her.

She deliberately fell behind a few steps and whispered to Yun Fenghuang, “Cousin Ji always says poisonous words. If he says something that would embarrass my eldest sister, please help her.”

“… Childe Ji comes from a big family anyway.” Yun Fenghuang tentatively asked with a smile, “How couldn’t he know how honorable the princess is?”

Princess Jinyun frowned and said, “Ji Minggan has that temper… My aunt and others have advised him several times, but he can’t change it.”

He must be spoiled. If they whipped him three times a day, wouldn’t he change it?

Yun Fenghuang thought that in her mind and then said, “I will try my best.”

At this time, they arrived at the gate of a palace. The guards obviously knew the three princesses. Seeing them, they saluted instantly.

Their gazes fell on Yun Fenghuang for a while. After they realized that she was a concubine from her dress, they hesitated for a while but finally did not stop her.

Outside the palace gate, it was the place for discussing politics. Perhaps because Chunjia had not taken over the throne so far, the place was very quiet. Although it was well-built and clean, it was clod and cheerless.

The princesses were familiar with the route, and followed the meandering palace road into a side hall quickly. The maids inside immediately came to salute and then served tea.

Jinyun said, “Our maids can serve us well. You should report to His Majesty that we want to ask for his advice about readings.”

She added, “Tell him that Gui Ren Yun of Hu Zhu Palace is also here for taking some pastries for him.”

Yun Fenghuang added, “Because of my carelessness, I made too much. I’m afraid that His Majesty wouldn’t be able to eat all of them.”

Jinyun immediately showed an admiring look at her.

Then they enjoyed the tea and pastries. About half an hour later, a eunuch came outside, saying that Emperor Chunjia together with the youngest legitimate son of Marquess Haixi and the third son of General-in-chief of the Cavalry would come soon.

“All of you are free today to come here?” As soon as they four tided up their dresses and was about to salute, the Emperor had come in with a smile. While waving his hand to prevent them from salutation, he said, “I’ve thought that you have to rest for a few days to start reading, for you’ve taken care of our mother these two days.”

Seeing Yun Fenghuang, he was stunned slightly, and then chuckled, “Gui Ren is here, too? Did you meet my sisters on the way accidently?”

Yun Fenghuang saluted, saying, “Right, I met three princesses on the way. Thanks for their appreciation, we came here together.”

As she was speaking, the Emperor seated at the top of room, and then ordered others to sit down. Glancing at the two who dared not to step in and always lowered their head because of the presence of the princesses and the concubine, Emperor Chunjia nodded slightly, saying, “Tingzhao and Zihuan, please sit down. Since we are families, don’t be so polite.”

Yun Fenghuang seized the chance to have a careful peer. The one on the left was about 17 years old, just like Gongxiang Xiao. He was tall, fair-skinned, and shared similar facial features with Queen Mother Ji and Empress Ji. With his slimed eyes, sword-liked eyebrows, straight nose, thin lips and the deep dimple on his left cheek, which could be seen even when he didn’t smile, he looked a little evil.

He wore a purple robe embroidered with begonia flowers, with a thin belt inlaid with gold treasures. A delicate horn and a white jade with cloud-shaped patterns were embroidered in his waist. He also wore a hat with cloud-liked patterns and decorated with agates. With such an elegant and poised dress, he behaved in a proper and relaxed way.

Hearing Chunjia’s words, he lowered his head and said, “Thanks.” He kept his eyes down and sat down nonchalantly. He took the tea presented by the maids just now and sipped, acting in an extremely clam manner.

The man on the right was slightly older, and was around in his 20s from his appearance. He was masculine, having flashing eyes and eyebrows, taller than Ji Minggan. Although he wore red robe and jade-decorated hat, dressed as a noble childe, he looked more like a soldier, showing a temperament of offensive and indifference.

Yun Fenghuang couldn’t help but glance at him more.

This man looked like Qi Jiulu in terms of temperament.

Probably because he was just a foster son of General-in-chief of the Cavalry, unlike Ji Minggan who was born in the family of imperial relatives, General Zheng Fengchen just sat on a third of the chair surface after he thanked the Emperor. He made his back straight, slightly lowered his head, and looked at a short distance away from his foot, being respectful and restrained.

After the Emperor asked them to sit down, he didn’t pay any attention to them more, but smiled and asked what the three princesses did not understand.

As the most active one, Princess Jinyun took the lead to open the paper she brought over, “This is the text that the tutor taught us two days ago. At that time, we were asked to be tested the next day, but our mother fell ill the next day, right? We were too busy to remember it for taking care of our mother. Tomorrow we will go back to the class. If the tutor asks us, we will have no idea how to answer! So, could you please…”

When she was speaking, Zheng Fengchen lowered his head and kept silence, but Ji Minggan couldn’t help raising his head and stretched his neck to look at it. He laughed, “You ask His Majesty for such simple context? Don’t you listen to the tutor at school?”

“None of your business!” Princess Jinyun frowned. After she took a glance at Princess Minghui, she said, “Furthermore, only Penglai and I don’t understand this. What my eldest sister wants to ask is not so simple!”

Ji Minggan laughed and said, “If Minghui knows the answer, why don’t you ask her? Why do you still come here?”

Before Jinyun refuted him, he turned to ask Princess Minghui, “Do you know the meaning of this, Minghui? How to understand this sentence?”

Princess Minghui was originally a little afraid to talk with him. Being asked abruptly at this moment, with a trace of blush appeared in her fair-skinned face, she rubbed the corner of her clothes for a while and was speechless.

Seeing this, Jinyun quickly gave Yun Fenghuang a glance.

“The princesses are born in the purple, unlike you who accompanies His Majesty all the time and have learnt many extraordinary skills.” Yun Fenghuang said calmly, “As everyone has his shortcomings, something mastered by you is hard for them; on the contrary, something they know well may be difficult for you, and you even never heard of… After all, different people have different skills, don’t they?”

Ji Minggan didn’t seem to expect that she would interject, and he got unhappy after a short surprise. He didn’t answer this directly but said to Emperor Chunjia, “Your Majesty never likes to be disturbed by concubines in Tai Chu Palace. Even Consort Yue has only been here a few times before, and she hasn’t come in recent years. I have been confused why this Gui Ren is an exception. Since you are clever and articulate, no wonder my cousin favors you especially.”

This remark obviously was for accusing Yun Fenghuang of being unruly and arrogant.

However, Emperor Chunjia just smiled and said, “She is so young that she acts imprudently. You should not care about that.”

He seemed to admit the so-called “favor her specially” and have no intention to blame Yun Fenghuang for him.

Ji Minggan was stunned for a moment, and became unpleasant… He had intended that Emperor Chunjia would rebuke Yun Fenghuang for few words in public, but the Emperor not only did not do this, but said the above, showing the meaning “Gui Ren is always like that and you should bear with her”. As the youngest legitimate son in his family, Ji Minggan had always let others bear with him. If he was ordered to bear with others, he would not bear it even if it was not a big deal!

At this moment, he rolled his eyes and said, “What you said is right… Although I dare not to say that I know everything, I don’t think there is anything mastered by Minghui but has never known by me?”

Yun Fenghuang thought secretly that he was really annoying. Didn’t his behavior show that he underestimated the three princesses and thought that they have no other skills except their noble identity?

She glanced at Minghui and the rest two, finding that only Princess Jinyun showed obvious anger, Princess Minghui was still in her loss with her head lowered and her lips closed, and Princess Penglai who was as silent as ever showed no obvious anger or happiness in her face.

“That’s quite normal.” Yun Fenghuang said, “For example, the pastries brought by me.”

She said, beckoning Princess Minghui’s maid to take the food container and open it. She took a glance at it and found herself confused… Why did they make so many kinds of pastries?

She only recognized the top ones of the food container at a glance. As for the rest, if she didn’t take a bite, she would really not know its materials.

“For example, this one made by yam and jujube.” Yun Fenghuang calmly said, “Childe Ji, do you know…”

Ji Minggan interrupted, “From its name, it certainly made by yam and jujube paste. Although I am a poor cook, I know this pastry is a kind of medicinal food. I’ve seen the specific production process in medicine books. Roughly, peel the yam first, then add… sugar… lard… jujube paste… Am I right?”

This guy didn’t seem to be a playboy as she expected?

Yun Fenghuang was silent for a while, because she didn’t really know how to make it…

“Don’t get me wrong, Childe Ji. Do you know who can and who can’t eat it in the palace?” She changed the question decisively, “It is indeed easy to be digested, good for our spleen and stomach and can nourish qi and blood, but it should be stressed that some people will be covered in a rash and even die after eating it!”

Ji Minggan looked at her directly with a sullen face, disregarding the rules.

… This was not because he really didn’t know who in the palace could not eat it.

Instead, he was not extremely stupid!

As a man coming to his twenty, even if the Emperor treated him as “a family member”, he was an imperial relative eventually. If others heard that he knew well the dietary habit of the people in the palace, people would believe the news that Ji’s Family had spies in the Imperial Harem and spread the secrets of the imperial family!

Ji’s Family had extreme power over those years and didn’t mind this kind of accusations, but they had to consider the cost.

If the benefits were huge, some bad reputation would be ignored by them.

The key point was that they just got a little angry at this moment and didn’t even quarrel with each other. Even if he won the impulsive quarrel, what was waiting for him ahead?

He dared do such an unreasonable thing, but as soon as he went back home, he would be punished by the domestic disciplines immediately!

Ji Minggan took a deep breath and decided to distract the subject. Therefore, he turned away and continued to talk to Jinyun, “Didn’t you say that Minghui has more difficult context? Take it out.”

“The princesses brought many reading contexts. Why are you so anxious Childe Ji? Take it easy.” It turned out that he wanted to end the topic like this. Yun Fenghuang did not intend to let him go. She smilingly said, “You haven’t answered my question yet, Childe Ji. What do you think about what I said just now?”

“…” Ji Minggan stubbornly turned away to ignore her, and asked Jinyun again, “Where is the context? I’ll help you figure it out. Don’t bother His Majesty with such issues.”

He wanted to see what Yun Fenghuang would do if he ignored her!

However, after Yun Fenghuang saw this, she simply circled Emperor Chunjia’s arm and asked coquettishly, “Your Majesty, what do you think? Am I right?”

Emperor Chunjia coaxed, “You are clever and lovable. Everything you said is right.”

Hearing that, Ji Minggan got extremely angry, but Yun Fenghuang was unwilling to stop it and pretended to be wronged, “But Why didn’t Childe Ji answer me? Did he feel that I am too humble to explain it to the three princesses?”

“How could he be that kind of person?” Emperor Chunjia said softly, “He must be… Um… Tingzhao must agree with you in his heart, but as a young man, he didn’t want to lose his face in front of three younger sisters. You are always considerate, so don’t embarrass him.”

Yun Fenghuang then turned to be happy, “Your Majesty is right. I will not mention it anymore.”

Ji Minggan, “…”

“Thanks for the consideration of your shameless couple!” Ji Minggan thought inwardly.

As he was depressed, Yun Fenghuang who kept saying that she would not mention this, asked a maid to serve the plate of pastry made by yam and jujube paste to Ji Minggan, “I am so young and ignorant. Childe Ji, please forgive me… Please, take this pastry as my apology!”

Ji Minggan stared at the pastry in front of him, wanting to turn it upside down on her head very much!