Light Dance Jiajing

After this day, everyone in the palace knew what was going on. Not to mention the snob Zhu Fuyuan, even the unwilling Zhu Lu'ai came eagerly. But this child really couldn't act, and it was difficult for her to act at the age of seven. Concubine Cao Duan was not a smooth talker either. She pulled Zhu Lu'ai to Meng'er and told her to learn more from her sister and listen to her sister in everything. Concubine Cao Duan was very beautiful. She was in her twenties and should have been in the prime of her life, but she was... A feeling of melancholy enveloped her. How could Meng'er not understand what she was thinking, it was fine if she herself was not favored, but she didn't want her daughter to be bullied. Looking at this honest and timid mother and daughter, Meng'er was deeply touched. She must have had a hard time in their lives. Meng'er held Zhu Lu's hand and said sincerely: "Sister, come to me when you are free. I like you very much." Meng'er smiled and pinched Zhu Lu's little face. Zhu Lu looked at her and smiled timidly.

Zaihou entered the Shangshufang, and the emperor personally selected three Hanlin scholars to teach Zaihou, saying that it was to give him extra lessons. However, those three were not ordinary scholars, all of them had a virtuous and prestigious background. This arrangement showed good intentions. For a while, the rumor that the emperor wanted to establish a crown prince was rampant. When Mei'er learned about it, she didn't say anything. Since she had been pushed to the forefront, it was naturally impossible for Zaihou to keep a low profile. As for the position of the crown prince, how could she not have selfish motives with such a great temptation? So when the emperor came to ask her if this arrangement was okay, Mei'er rarely gave him a smile.

There was only one person who was forgotten in the corner. Zai Ji and Zai Hou returned to the palace at the same time. Zai Hou entered the upper study and was taught by a famous teacher, but he was thrown aside. It seemed that no one remembered him. Not only did he live in a remote palace, but he was almost a laughing stock. The eunuchs and palace maids, whether they were respectable or not, were too lazy to pay attention to him. It was not known who spread the rumor that Princess Mian hated him very much. As a result, not wanting to pay attention to him became a plague. He simply locked himself in the room. He hated everyone here, but he didn't understand what tricks that girl Mian had used. He could see his father's every move at the banquet that day as clearly as anyone else. Such love and indulgence were all from the heart, but why did all this happen?

Zaihou went to study, and Meng'er was lonely on weekdays. She often asked Zhu Lu'er to go to the Imperial Garden. Zhu Fuyuan, this follower, was basically impossible to get rid of. When she saw Meng'er taking care of Zhu Lu'er, she also became warmer to her. The three sisters often appeared together, and everyone thought that the three of them were very good friends.

At lunch time, the little eunuch came to the imperial garden again. Zhu Fuyuan said with a smile, "Sister, go quickly. The emperor is waiting for you to have dinner." Meng'er looked at Zhu Fuyuan's happy expression and knew that she was already very jealous. These days, at lunch time, the emperor would always find Meng'er to eat together, because Meng'er had to accompany Zaihou and Concubine Kang for dinner, so he could only be free at noon. So every time at this time, the little eunuch would come to invite her. Over time, Meng'er got used to it.

Watching Meng'er's figure going away, Zhu Fuyuan had a complicated look in her eyes. They had the same fate but different destiny. They were both princesses. Look at Meng'er's demeanor. It was such a great blessing for her to have a meal with her father. She would be flattered and grateful. But Meng'er was different. She was unwilling to go after being invited many times. Sometimes, her father was afraid that she would not go, so he specially asked Feng Shun to persuade her. She was so envious. Why didn't she have such a good life?

When Meng'er stepped into the East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, the eunuch behind her closed the door as usual. The food was already served, and the emperor sat at the table and greeted her with a smile: "Hurry up, it won't taste good if it gets cold."

Mei'er sat down and looked at the eight dishes on the table, a combination of meat and vegetables, all of them exquisite. There was an unknown thing in the middle covered by a huge portion. Every day he would prepare such a hard dish for Mei'er, which must have been something she had never eaten before. These dishes were simplified at her suggestion. The standards of the emperor's royal meal were at least forty dishes, and each dish could not be eaten with more than three chopsticks. It was such a waste. Mei'er said it once, and he actually listened. At the same time, he changed the small table, so that he and Mei'er could sit around and eat.

As soon as she entered the room, she could already smell the aroma of food. She sat down and picked up her chopsticks, taking a bite of the fried chicken slices with elm mushrooms in front of her without hesitation. She had eaten all the imperial meals in the palace these days. They were delicious, but they lacked novelty. She had already eaten this dish. The emperor smiled and said, "Don't be in a hurry to eat. The main course hasn't come out yet." As he spoke, he lifted the lid of the middle dish and served a bowl to Mei'er. "Apple stewed lamb, a new dish developed by the imperial chef. Try it." Mei'er picked up a piece of chopsticks and tasted it carefully. Sure enough, the freshness of the lamb was not only retained, but also less smelly. In particular, the soup tasted slightly sweet. Mei'er nodded and said, "It's delicious. The imperial chef must have racked his brains to come up with it."

The imperial meals in the palace were naturally delicious. Meng'er often found fault and just didn't want to eat with him, but he always had a way to make the imperial chef cook something she had never eaten before. Meng'er was sometimes really greedy, and he promised that she could take the leftovers back home. How could her mother's meals be so elaborate? They were all made with great care by the imperial chef. If her mother couldn't finish them, there were still Zhao Mama, Luluo and the others. Luluo was as greedy as she was, and she treasured the delicacies she brought back every day. The pot of mutton soup in front of them was enough for each of them to have a bowl. Meng'er finished her meal happily and planned to ask someone to pack it up as usual, but the emperor stopped her and said, "Don't worry about these things. I'll ask someone to pack it up and send it over. Can you sit with me for a while?"

Meng'er looked away, avoiding his gaze. They only saw each other at lunch every day. After lunch, she would run away faster than a rabbit. When they sat together, apart from talking about which dish was delicious, they had almost no communication. The emperor said with some repression: "Xiaonan, please don't hide from me." Meng'er said nothing, and he continued: "I have never changed. I will always be the same to you."