Chapter 130 - 128. Empress Dowager and Princess Yue I

Third person POV

Hong er went to the Empress Dowager's courtyard with Laojin guiding her the way. Noticed Hong er from far away, an eunuch quickly notified the Empress Dowager of Hong er's arrival.

Empress Dowager: " En. Tell her to come in."

Eunuch: " Yes, Your Majesty."

The eunuch bowed to her and quickly dashed outside to welcome Hong er in. Since Hong er had long legs, she arrived at the front gate of the Empress Dowager's palace at the same time as the eunuch.

Eunuch: " This servant heard that Miss Xu comes to visit Her Majesty, please come in."

Hong er: " En, thank you."

Hong er followed the eunuch and entered the palace, she walked into the hall and saw 2 women sitting on the highest seats. Hong er guessed that the woman in golden robe is the Empress Dowager and the girl in the pink dress is Princess Yue. She gracefully bent her knees and greeted the 2 women.

Hong er: " Greetings to Empress Dowager. Greetings to Princess Yue."

Empress Dowager: " Mian li." ( A/N: idk the English but it means stand up from superior to subordinates.)

Hong er straighten her body.

Empress Dowager: " Sit here."

Hong er: " Yes, Your Majesty."

The Empress Dowager patted the additional seat beside hers, since Hong er wasn't a royalty nor had married to Weisheng, she couldn't sit at the throne. Hong er obediently sat on the seat, she could clearly feel the stares from the 2 women beside her.

Empress Dowager: " If Ai Jia is not mistaken, your name is Xu Feihong right?" ( A/N: Ai Jia= self-referring by a widowed empress.)

Hong er: " Yes, Your Majesty."

Empress Dowager: " Are you fully aware of the name of your palace?"

Hong er: " Yes, Your Majesty. This lowly one really appreciate His Majesty's magnamity."

Empress Dowager: " En. His Majesty had taken a like on you therefore do your best to serve beside him. And do you know that it will be hard for you to take on that responsibility right?"

Hong er: " Yes, Your Majesty. This lowly one will do its best to support His Majesty. "

Hong er was fully aware that it would be hard for her to have a steady standing in the court especially she was from foreign country and didn't have any family backup in Da Qi. But Hong er had long learned this type of thing considering that her family was hated by the royal family and other noble families in Da Chu as her family had too much power in the court and military.

It was easy to take the heart of the commoners but not with the sly and scheming ministers that had worked in this field with full of tricks. The ministers in Da Qi would find many different ways to dethrone Hong er from her position and she was ready to repel all of their schemes and tricks. She had hardened her heart to be a merciless empress if it meant the commoner would have a happy life.

Empress Dowager: " Ai Jia likes your answer. Huff~ The weather had got hotter and hotter."

The Empress Dowager fanned herself with her circular fan.

Princess Yue: " Yeahh~ I'm dying, Imperial mother~"

Hong er: " Uumm, Your Majesty, Your Highness, this lowly one had made some cold dessert that can ease some of the heat from the body."

Princess Yue: " Oh! That's good! Ben Gong heard from Imperial brother that sister-in-law have a splendid cooking skill. I can't wait to test out sister-in-law's dishes~"

Princess Yue that had been silent the whole time leaped out from her seat all of a sudden and energetically jumped up and down.

Empress Dowager: " Yue er, Ai Jia know that you are excited but please conduct your behavior in front of our guest. And don't call your brother Imperial brother, call him His Majesty as he is the emperor now."

Princess Yue: " Uuhh~ No fun, even Imperial brother lets me call him Imperial Brother."

Empress Dowager: " Huff~ This naughty daughter of mine. Ah, please don't mind her childish behavior Miss Xu, she is spoiled by her brother and me that resulted in her to become like this."

Princess Yue: " Imperial Mother~ There is no need to be that cruel towards me~"

Empress Dowager: " You should be grateful that Ai Jia didn't compare you to your sister-in-law. Look, your sister-in-law is only a year older than you but her behavior is far better than yours."

Hong er: " Hahaha~ Mah~ It is fine for Princess Yue to behave a little bit childish as it makes her cuter."

Princess Yue: " Uuhh~ I LOVE YOU, SISTER-IN-LAW!"

Princess Yue jumped onto Hong er and hugged her. Hong er chuckled by Princess Yue's cuteness, the Yun sisters passed the tray to the Empress Dowager's personal maid to be checked with silver needle. They served the dessert to the Empress Dowager and Princess Yue after getting checked, they placed the jade pot on the table and opened the lid. The mother daughter pair were impressed by the moment the lid was opened, a surge of cold air immediately came out from the snow fungus soup.

(A/N: if you guys are wondering what snow fungus is, I posted a pic of it and the recipe. It tastes good as my mom occasionally cooks it and it really has kinda cooling sensation to body.)

Empress Dowager: " Ai Jia know that this is snow fungus soup but why does it emit cold air?"

Hong er: " This lowly one noticed that the summer in Da Qi is harsher than in Da Chu, for that reason, I thought to pour some ice magic's Qi to the soup therefore one's body will be cooled from inside after one eat this soup. Please forgive this lowly one for doing such an outrageous thing."

Hong er quickly get on her knees and begged for forgiveness, she was genuinely concerned about the Empress Dowager's health but she forgot that it could cause her to be accused of Qi poisoning towards the royalty.

Princess Yue: " What are you kneeling for, sister-in-law?! We are just curious about the cold air."

Empress Dowager: " En, what Yue er said is right. We are from royal family so we are strong too you know. Do you think we can't detect this kind of thing? How do you think we could survive this long in this cruel place if we were to be fooled by this?"

Hong er: " Please forgive my audacity."

Empress Dowager: " There is nothing to forgive. Join us to enjoy this delicious looking soup."

Princess Yue: " Uhm!"

The Yun sisters helped Hong er to stand up and sat back down. The mother daughter pair took the jade pot and their face instantly relaxed as they felt the coldness of the soup and jade pot cooling their palm. They spooned the soup and brought it to their mouth, their eyes widened in surprise after they tasted the soup.

They expected that the soup would be freezing cold considering the cold air it was emitting, rather, the soup had a perfect temperature, it wasn't too cold that they would get a brain freeze. And they could clearly feel their body instantly cooled off after they ate the first bite of the soup.

The girls were eating and chatting leisurely while on the other side, Weisheng sat on his study room reviewing all the important reports that Lu Ping brought for him. Then an eunuch came and reported that Hong er had cooked some cold dessert for him and his family which made him really happy. Even though she doesn't know about his true identity, she still cares about the people around her and that was one of a thousand reasons that he loves her. A gentle smile appeared on his face as he ate the soup.

Weisheng: ' It would be better if she is here with me.'