"Emperor, my Hundred Flowers Painting is halfway done, but I feel there are some areas where I can’t quite capture the essence. I was hoping Your Majesty could take a look." Concubine Mei gave a gentle smile and extended the invitation to the Emperor.
"Certainly. I will come to help you with it tonight." The Emperor agreed with a smile.
Concubine Xian lowered her head, her eyes burning with anger. That detestable woman, always opposing her!
"It’s a bit noisy." Tianmiao suddenly spoke softly.
"What?" The Emperor was taken aback.
"The fish have been scared away." Tianmiao turned slightly, glancing at the few people standing in the pavilion, her gaze filled with discontent.
Only then did Concubine Xian and Concubine Mei realize that the Empress was fishing, and was she blaming them and the Emperor for disturbing her fishing with their conversation? Where did the Empress get the audacity to say that?
The two awaited the Emperor’s anger, yet the scolding they anticipated did not come.
"You should go back first." The Emperor said to Concubine Xian and Concubine Mei.
Concubine Xian and Concubine Mei exchanged a doubtful look but still bowed and retreated.
After Concubine Xian and Concubine Mei had walked away, the Emperor turned to Tianmiao: "Empress, fishing in the Imperial Garden is really improper. In the future, don’t fish here."
"Then where should I fish?" Tianmiao asked lazily.
Huh? This question? The Emperor thought for a moment and said, "Go fish at the Summer Palace. In the next few days, prepare a list. I’ll take you there for the summer retreat, and you can celebrate your birthday there as well."
"Oh. Okay, thank you." Tianmiao smiled appreciatively. The royal Summer Palace seemed to have beautiful scenery, and most importantly, there was more fun to be had there than here.
The Emperor was a little taken aback. The Empress thanked him? Why did it feel a bit unfamiliar?
"Will you come for dinner tonight?" Tianmiao stood up and asked.
"Ah, what’s for dinner?" The Emperor instinctively asked.
"Something delicious." Tianmiao smiled, "If you come, I’ll have them prepare an extra portion."
"I’ll come!" The Emperor agreed without hesitation, then curiously asked, "Has your small kitchen developed many new dishes?"
"There’s a new palace maid who’s really good at these. Next time, I’ll invite you to have hotpot." Tianmiao said.
"Hotpot? Is it like a hot pot?" The Emperor asked curiously.
"A little different. Hot pot is mostly eaten in winter, and usually with a clear broth." Tianmiao explained. In the Great Zhou Country, hot pot is a winter dish, using a copper pot to cook a rich broth and dip things to eat, mainly vegetarian.
"So, can’t we have it today?" The Emperor asked.
"Need to prepare the ingredients, tomorrow night then." Tianmiao said.
"Alright." The Emperor nodded, "Then I will come over tonight."
After the Emperor left, the palace maids in the pavilion secretly admired. The Empress’s change had progressed from shocking them initially to now being accustomed. To the Empress’s words and actions just now, they held an unbounded admiration. She simply and easily got the Emperor to decide to come over for the evening. Zhaoyang Palace, it’s truly going to rise!
The Emperor had Peking duck that evening. He was amazed that duck could be so delicious?
Then, accidentally ate too much, feeling uncomfortably full.
He walked all the way back to digest, but still felt stuffed, so he strolled in his Lingxin Palace garden for a long time before feeling a bit better, then washed up and went to sleep.
As for the promise to visit Concubine Mei in the evening, the Emperor had completely forgotten about that.
...
The next day, word spread about the Emperor going to the Summer Palace for summer retreat. As usual, the Empress prepared the list. But this time, it was different from the previous two years.
How was it different? Word from the Empress’s palace was that everyone had an opportunity.