Rong Fei is not honored

Ji Nai knew that the Empress Dowager was not actually ill, and she was unwilling to use the elixir to nourish the Empress Dowager's body and make her healthier. Even though she knew that the elixir could not change her destiny and lifespan, she was still unwilling.

She hated the Empress Dowager intensely, but refrained from taking action. It was already difficult enough to wait for time to take the Empress Dowager away, so how could she miss the opportunity to let the Empress Dowager suffer from her own underlying illness?

However, rumors are circulating in the palace that Consort Rong's cooking skills are quite good, even making sick people who are unwell have a good appetite. In fact, Ji Nai's cooking skills are not that good. If he doesn't want to arouse the suspicion of the shrewd Empress Dowager, he can't leave out any of the elixir.

Therefore, even if Ji Nai was unwilling, the little bit of spiritual liquid that improved the taste was enough to benefit the Empress Dowager.

Perhaps it was because the Empress Dowager's illness was fake, or perhaps it was because a dying person, after receiving a little nourishment, could show great difference. On the day the Empress Dowager paid her first respects after recovering from her illness, everyone could see the change in her.

"The Empress Dowager's complexion is rosy today, which shows that she is in much better health."

The Empress was recuperating in Kunning Palace, and the one leading her was Consort Tongjia.

But whether it was the death of Empress Dowager Cihe or the Empress Dowager publicly exposing Tong Jia's feigned illness on the day she entered the palace, the entanglement between the Empress Dowager and the Tong family was just a matter of time before it was exposed. Naturally, she didn't have a good attitude towards the Tong family's concubine at this time.

"We also owe a great deal to Consort Rong's care."

Upon hearing this, many of the concubines' expressions changed.

Thanks to Consort Rong's care? Besides the few plates of pastries and porridge sent every day, what else did Consort Rong do? Yes, she had two good sons who could make the Empress Dowager happy.

They didn't have Consort Rong's good fortune, but they still made real contributions. Although the servants of Cining Palace didn't allow them to do anything to serve the Empress Dowager, since they were there to care for her, they couldn't just do nothing.

Putting everything else aside, just keeping a smiling face and paying attention to the Empress Dowager's mood at all times is no easy task.

But now, why is it that only Consort Rong is being praised?

"Besides preparing a few breakfast dishes, I did nothing else, so I dare not take credit."

"No need to be modest, your cooking skills are indeed excellent. If I hadn't whetted your appetite, it wouldn't have been able to recover so quickly."

This is the truth. While the Empress Dowager's illness was fabricated, her loss of appetite was real. As people age, they need to be constantly mindful of their health; if they can't eat or drink for an extended period, it will definitely lead to serious problems.

Therefore, the food sent from Zhongcui Palace truly benefited the Empress Dowager.

In addition, with Cheng Rui and Saiyinchahun's "entertaining their parents in colorful clothes," the Empress Dowager naturally remembered Consort Rong's good intentions.

With a wave of his hand, Consort Rong and all the concubines who were attending to her illness received rewards, with Consort Rong receiving the heaviest reward of all.

The Empress Dowager was no fool; she knew very well that the others who came to attend to her were not doing so out of genuine concern. She guessed that the Emperor was worried about unrest in the harem because the Empress was ill, so he gave them things to do.

Since that's the case, having already ascended to the position of Empress Dowager, she certainly wouldn't wrong herself, and even when bestowing rewards, she would carefully consider the consequences.

Ignored by the Empress Dowager, Consort Tongjia clenched her handkerchief in her sleeve, but her face remained unchanged, still smiling, as if she was truly happy for the Empress Dowager's recovery.

After everyone received the Empress Dowager's rewards, she jokingly said, "Sister Rongfei has received such a generous reward today. When Her Majesty the Empress recovers, she will be the one to receive the most merit. I wonder how many good things she will get then."

"Is Your Highness joking? I am not an imperial physician, how could I be credited with the greatest merit?"

“Sister, your cooking skills are praised even by the Empress Dowager. Why be so modest? Her Majesty the Empress’s spleen and stomach are damaged. If she recovers, the food you sent will definitely be of great help.”

"If you keep praising me, I'll get carried away. Why don't you just send all the officials in the Imperial Hospital home? Their salaries will all go to me. In the future, if anyone in the palace falls ill, they won't need to be examined or given medicine; they can just eat the meals I cook myself."

Consort Hui couldn't help but laugh.

Once this opening was made, everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter.

What Consort Rong said was completely unrealistic, so everyone just thought she was joking, but Consort Tongjia had no intention of joking.

She deliberately praised Consort Rong's cooking to an extreme degree, exaggerating its effects to leave a deep impression on everyone.

With so many masters in the palace, surely someone must fall ill, right? It's alright for you, but there aren't many in the palace who can have Consort Rong personally cook and serve them meals.

But what about the imperial heirs? Children are prone to illness, and imperial heirs are precious. Even if their birth mother is of low rank, they are still sons and grandsons of the emperor. Why can't Consort Rong go to the trouble of caring for them?

With the impression deliberately etched by Consort Tongjia in the past, and a few more words of provocation, it's hard to believe that the mother, who loves her son dearly, wouldn't muster the courage to fight for her child.

The existence of imperial offspring always means trouble, and regardless of whether they are ultimately saved, Consort Rong, who is involved, will be plagued by problems.

Wasn't she injured? It would be best if she were simply worn down by the troubles and never woke up again. Or perhaps, with her attention diverted, Consort Rong wouldn't be able to care for her child, and some other accident might happen…

Consort Tongjia didn't think there was anything wrong with her scheme. Look, those women with children, haven't their eyes changed? Especially Nara, who gave birth to a sickly prince and was almost unable to survive.

Consort Rong did indeed refute it with a joke, and any normal person would understand that something that even the imperial physicians were helpless to do could not be accomplished with just a few dishes.

But how could someone who is almost desperate possibly give up on this last straw?

Consort Tongjia stopped pressing the issue and waited for time to allow her thoughts to ferment before watching Consort Rong's performance unfold.

Ji Nai naturally knew what Consort Tongjia wanted to do, but she wasn't worried at all.

As early as the first episode, when Ji Nai sent the baby food he had made to Zhang's eldest daughter, he had already anticipated that someone would use this as an excuse to cause trouble.

Therefore, she had already given Kangxi a heads-up from the very beginning. So much time has passed, perhaps Kangxi has forgotten, but as long as someone makes a request, Kangxi, with his excellent memory, will naturally recall what he said that day.

Ji Nai glanced at the ill-intentioned Consort Tongjia and complained to Yuan Xu, who was following the Empress Dowager:

This person is really going to great lengths to sabotage me; they're such an eyesore.

Yuan Xu was already annoyed, and now that Ji Nai said this, she was even more eager to try, "How about we just make her disappear?"

[…What about the Uya clan? And what about Yinzhen? Even disregarding the will of Heaven, I don't intend to change anything.]

"why?"