Quick Transmigration: Leisure

Chapter 649 The Mad Daily Life of a Deposed Concubine in the Cold Palace (Part 21)

Night fell as the noise subsided.

After thoroughly checking for risks several times, the guards retreated another circle. They could barely hear any normal conversations inside, but they could still respond to loud calls.

The melon seeds and peanuts also left first, leaving only Nian Nian to stay by Xia Youmi's side.

Afternoon snacks are just extra meals; they eat three to five proper meals a day in their little courtyard.

Feng Chengyuan was clearly just trying to freeload, but she wasn't stingy enough to ask him to cook separately. After all, the gold, silver, food, and supplies all came from his warehouse, so she didn't want to ruin her future life in front of this spendthrift.

At least,

Min De was very generous. He not only gave her a lot of food, but also made offerings to Niannian. It was not surprising that Niannian actually took it back to her den and hid it. Instead, he had the smile of an elder who was pleased with himself.

The pot was crackling and popping, and the air was filled with the aroma of chili peppers, making people's mouths water.

Every year, Xia Youmi would wrap her face in a small cloth, but she wouldn't go too far away, and she couldn't be stimulated by the spicy smell, so this was the only compromise.

The opera troupe that Xia Youmi's parents belonged to originally came from a town far southwest of Beijing, and their cuisine was quite unique. Over the years, living in Beijing, they gradually changed their ways, but they never forgot their traditional stir-frying skills.

Normally, with limited ingredients, Xia Youmi would never be able to cook so lavishly, but today is different. The inner court specially upgraded her equipment, replacing the stove and providing various inspected ingredients and seasonings.

Furthermore, Min De was also very perceptive of the emperor. He realized that His Majesty wanted to dine with Lady Yuan in person and experience her actual life. Naturally, he did not want to be interfered with too much, so it would be best if the tastes were more from the southwest, closer to Lady Yuan's hometown.

Even if the other person didn't learn this skill from their parents, they can still make a dish with ingredients closer to that region, and it will still have a certain degree of flavor.

Faced with raw materials from her hometown accounting for more than 70%, Xia Youmi did not disappoint them. She did not use anything from her own courtyard and arranged everything according to what Min Dexin sent.

At least, her recent bland diet has nourished her stomach, so she should satisfy her cravings.

"Cough cough..."

"Master, today's flavor is completely different!" The little eunuch who should have been guarding the door was now squeezed into a secluded corner by the emperor's personal guards, with an old eunuch by his side. After worrying for a while, he finally had the right to speak when the spicy smell wafted over.

"Idiot, shut up!"

"But, with such a spicy dish, will the peanuts be able to eat it...?" The little eunuch was worried, unaware that the peanuts and melon seeds had already gone back to be replaced and wouldn't be ready for this hot meal.

"Bang—" The old eunuch didn't say anything, but just gave him a whack on the head, then cautiously looked around.

Seeing this, the little eunuch also stopped talking, feeling wronged.

However, his casual conversation was overheard by someone who scrutinized the master and apprentice several times before reporting it to a familiar eunuch. It was a rare opportunity, but he could only be assigned to guard outside. This wouldn't do; he had to seize the chance to do Min De a favor.

"Clang, clang—"

Food and flames danced in the air. Whether it was Feng Chengyuan's imagination or not, he did not perceive the collision sounds as noisy. Instead, he could detect a unique rhythmic quality.

With the ever-increasing vibrant colors and rich aromas, coupled with Yuan's focused and joyful cooking mood, Feng Chengyuan had never before had such high expectations for food.

He wasn't worried about whether he could handle the spiciness; on the contrary, he was vaguely afraid that he wouldn't be qualified to taste it.

then,

While waiting, he kept directing Min De to sprinkle silver. In addition to the portion for Xuan Mao, he also put a few in the flowers, grass, and wooden basins by the well.

Later, Min De became worried that his purse was not enough, so he instructed his apprentice to go to the warehouse to withdraw some.

Fortunately, this guy is susceptible to bribery.

The vibrant dishes slid smoothly into the golden-yellow, clearly imperial-grade special plates, the movements were light and precise with no spillage, and the portions were perfectly balanced, ensuring no one was short a bite.

Xia Youmi had no intention of sharing the same dish with the other person. As usual, she went inside to get bowls and plates, intending to eat separately. Feng Chengyuan was slightly disappointed when he saw this, but he was quickly persuaded by the idea of ​​letting things take their course.

If you take one step and you reach the top...

He also doubted whether the road in front of him led to a cliff.

"Enjoy your meal!" Xia Youmi finally lifted the lid of the steamed rice bowl, her face obscured by the thin mist.

Before the emperor could react, the eunuch beside him had already taken his portion from the middle and placed it to the side to test for poison.

A person and a cat carried food into the house. The door was not closed, and half of their bodies could be seen sitting upright with satisfied smiles. They did not say a word to the person outside.

Min De naturally could not have imagined that even if the emperor's food, clothing and daily necessities were adapted to the environment, they would not be too embarrassing.

therefore,

Feng Chengyuan was able to enjoy authentic spicy food before the aroma and heat had dissipated.

He suppressed his cough, focused on what was in front of him, and after a few bites, he didn't want to be served anymore. He took the bowl himself and began to swallow his food in large gulps.

"hiss--"

"Youmi, this time I'm really drooling." Niannian stared longingly, not only because of the tantalizing smell, but also because it felt genuinely happy to see Xia Youmi enjoying her meal.

"Once you become human, I will definitely cook all eighteen cuisines for you," Xia Youmi promised the system in her mind while hissing.

"It's a deal!" Nian Nian excitedly spun around, using her cat form to spin, and even stretched out the tip of her tail to hook her finger with Xia Youmi's.

The long-awaited spicy and stimulating flavor made her feel both dizzy and alert. After finishing her meal, Xia Youmi slumped on the spot, unwilling to get up or interact with anyone.

At this moment,

Feng Chengyuan didn't have time to pay attention to anyone's stares.

He was completely captivated and disoriented by the surging spiciness.

He finally understood why he was eating faster and faster without realizing it. He thought it was because he was enjoying himself, and he couldn't stop eating. The spiciness became more and more intense, and he could hardly stand it.

Min De was not in a panic. He had already instructed the imperial physicians to prepare when he saw Xia Youmi skillfully adding spice without holding back or asking His Majesty's taste. The clear water and herbal tea were already in place, and the medicinal food after it was too spicy was already being brewed.

Fortunately, His Majesty was not dissatisfied with this. Apart from a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, slightly red eyes, and bright red lips, he was still able to keep his body steady.

then,

In the eyes of the unsuspecting concubines, the time they spent waiting for the spiciness to subside became evidence of Lady Yuan's shameless and skillful methods of seducing the emperor.

While others enjoyed the cool breeze outside, Xia Youmi was playing with her kitten inside. The moonlight slowly enveloped them, creating a serene and beautiful atmosphere that made them reluctant to leave.

but,

Feng Chengyuan understood the importance of steady progress, and he did not intend to delve any deeper.

Simple conversations and sharing spicy delicacies served as confirmations of his inner thoughts, proving that he had not made the wrong choice and that he was chosen by Heaven, able to secure his throne and also gain a rare and genuine affection.

With a sense of satisfaction and lingering enjoyment, Feng Chengyuan got up to take his leave, but he did not go into the house himself. He only gave a signal, and Min De naturally began to urge everyone to pack up their things.

The orderly movements suggested she couldn't pretend to be stupid; she had to come out.

But even as he was about to step out of the courtyard, it seemed he never saw anyone.

When Feng Chengyuan turned back, a faint sense of loss and melancholy still lingered on his face.

"Hey, Niannian! Slow down! My legs are a little numb!" Just as the hem of her clothes was about to disappear from sight, Xia Youmi chased after Niannian outside, intending to check on the kitten's toys and whether the trampled traps had been repaired.

"Meow!"

Every year, he would look back at Xia Youmi, who was leaning against the door with a bowl and chopsticks in her hand, and deliberately try to make her laugh.

"Ha ha!"

"Every year."

Feng Chengyuan, who was about to leave, stopped abruptly. He suddenly felt his whole body lose its temperature. The pungent, ghostly poison he had just tasted was only temporarily used to bewitch his mind and lure him into a trap.

It's ridiculous.

If he weren't surrounded by a crowd of people, he would have loved to go back and hold that person's head and shake it.

Remembering someone from the same year?

All her arrangements were related to the roots and opera, even the strange kitten. There should be no oversights, especially the cat next to her, which couldn't possibly be anything but special!

My steps suddenly became heavy.

But Feng Chengyuan did not choose to turn back, nor did he choose to shout in public in an undignified manner; at least, he did not want people to see his unspeakable jealousy.

In a sense, this emotion was very well concealed. At this moment, Xia Youmi, Niannian, and even the Ninth Prince Feng Chengnian had never thought of this.