Jinwei joins hands in rebirth: villains can also eat at the table

In this harem, the emperor had always favored her. Her gentle smile immediately soothed the restlessness and depression in her heart.

"Alright, I'll go with you. It's been a while since I've paid my respects to the Empress Dowager."

Seeing that Yan Wan was also going to the Cining Palace, the emperor thought it would be better to go with her and go to the Cining Palace with Yan Wan to ease the relationship between mother and son.

Since returning from his southern tour, he has been avoiding seeing people under the pretext of being busy with government affairs. This is his first time setting foot in the Cining Palace.

Qi Ru's death was like a thorn in their throats, and the mother and son had not sat down to eat together for a long time.

"My son, please pay your respects to the emperor's mother."

"I pay my respects to the Queen Mother."

The two arrived just in time, and the Queen Mother had already washed up and was ready for dinner.

Seeing the emperor coming, the empress dowager's originally somewhat depressed mood instantly disappeared. She smiled gently and lovingly, and asked Fujia to serve soup to the emperor.

"How come the Emperor is free to come today? Ever since your southern tour, you've been completely absorbed in the Yangxin Palace. While government matters are important, you should also take care of your health. Fujia, serve the Emperor a bowl of lotus seeds and lily bulbs from the kitchen."

Seeing the emperor coming, the empress dowager couldn't help but say a few words of concern. Her words were mostly full of concern, and she restrained the disciplining attitude she always showed before.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I heard from Concubine Ling that your appetite hasn't been very good lately. Is it possible that the chefs in the imperial kitchen don't suit your taste? I remember bringing back a few chefs from Jiangnan during my southern tour. Hangzhou cuisine is fresh and crisp, and I think it will suit Your Highness's taste. I'll have Li Yu send one over to take charge of Your Highness' meals. Is that okay?"

The two of them tacitly agreed not to mention the past. Seeing the concern between the lines of the empress dowager's words, the emperor's originally tense body relaxed a lot, and he helped the empress dowager to the dining hall.

"You are so filial. Let's eat first. Concubine Ling has been researching some nourishing and medicinal dishes these days. Let's see what new dishes she has made today."

Hearing the Empress Dowager mention herself, Yanwan signaled Chunchan to hand the food box to Fujia, and she and the Emperor supported the Empress Dowager on both sides as they walked forward.

"Today, I made a five-red soup and a black chicken stewed with astragalus and codonopsis. This soup is the best for replenishing qi and strengthening the body. In the summer, people often crave coolness, so drinking this is the best way to nourish the body. I also made a few home-cooked stir-fries. Although they are not as good as the ones in the imperial kitchen, this summer is hot and unbearable, and home-cooked stir-fries are the best to eat..."

As a concubine, Yan Wan was not qualified to dine with the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, so she stood aside and served the two of them food.

She said this, but the emperor's eyes were always attracted by the lotus seed and lily soup on the dining table.

He vaguely remembered that he knelt outside the palace and begged to see the Emperor, who was then Concubine Wan and now the Empress Dowager, and asked the servants to send him a bowl of lotus seeds and lilies, which forged the mother-son bond between the two.

Unexpectedly, with the passage of time, he has grown from a wild child without a mother into an emperor.

Fortunately, he met the empress dowager who was then Concubine Wan. This allowed him to transform himself from a little prince who was not favored by the emperor to successfully inherit the throne and become the current emperor.

Back then, everyone looked down on her, but Empress Wan was the only one who said, "It is important for people to respect themselves."

How can I repay the kindness of being recognized and appreciated?

He sighed softly, feeling deeply moved. He lowered his head and took a sip, raising the corners of his mouth slightly. "It's been years since I last had the lotus seed and lily from Empress Empress's place. I didn't expect the taste to remain the same after all these years."

"The Empress Dowager knows that the Emperor loves to drink, and usually asks the servants to prepare it for him. It's a pity that the Emperor is busy with government affairs, so we servants often get the advantage."

Fujia helped Yan Wan to drink the soup and explained with lowered eyes.

"It seems that I have to come here more often in the future to live up to the Empress Dowager's kindness." The emperor felt touched as he looked at the clear soup in the spoon.

As he stirred, the lotus seeds inside also rolled over, creating ripples.

"You are busy with government affairs, and it is not easy for you to have this heart. I just hope you take care of yourself and don't get tired. If you like this soup, please have it sent to Yangxin Palace. The sun is so scorching, there is no need to rush here every day..."

The breakfast was harmonious, and the emperor felt much more refreshed when he came out of the Cining Palace. Could it be true, as Cao Yi said, that the empress dowager was his benefactor?

It is unknown now, but it was so in the past.

Yan Wan followed the emperor, and the two left the Cining Palace together. Yongshou Palace was closest to the Yangxin Palace, so the two of them walked along the same route.

The faint scent of jasmine from Yan Wan's body drifted through the air. The fragrance was elegant and fresh, sweeping away the dry and depressed air of summer.

"It's no exaggeration to say that Your Majesty is the benefactor destined for me..."

The emperor suddenly remembered what Yan Wan said by her pillow when she was serving him in bed that day, comparing him to a narcissus. Thinking about it this way, the two of them had quite similar circumstances in their early years. They both met noble people and achieved their current status.

He took Yan Wan's hand, looked into her clear eyes and said, "Ling Fei, thank you for taking care of Mei Fei's matter a few days ago. It's also thankful that you stayed by the Queen Mother's side for me. If all the concubines in the harem were like this, I would have no worries in the previous dynasty."

Thinking of the bloody scene that happened in the Yiku Palace that day, the emperor's eyes darkened. A small servant dared to murder his master. He didn't believe it without Concubine Jia's instruction.

It’s a pity that Li Xin committed suicide, taking all the blame and leaving no evidence, so he could only give her a severe punishment and a small warning.

"It is my honor to be able to relieve His Majesty's worries. This is what Empress Xiaoxian taught me when she was still alive. She said that the Emperor is concerned about the previous dynasty, and as concubines, we should be more obedient and serve the Emperor and the Empress Dowager well. The Empress Dowager is the Emperor's mother, so the concubines should treat the Empress Dowager as their own mother and show respect."

"only......"

Yan Wan stopped talking suddenly in the middle of her speech.

The emperor was thinking about the incident when the empress had offended the empress dowager for Princess Hejing during the eastern tour, and suddenly remembered that Yanwan was not in the palace during the eastern tour. This should be what Empress Xiaoxian had told her before the eastern tour.

Before the Eastern Tour, Empress Xiaoxian had indeed done a good job. When she was around, she always carefully comforted him, without the need for the Empress Dowager to intervene. At that time, she maintained the mother-son relationship between him and the Empress Dowager very well, and she always played a mediating role between the two.

"Just what?"

"It's just that Your Majesty, I don't understand what's going on. The Empress Dowager is always thinking about you in front of me, always saying sad things. The Empress Dowager says she doesn't need it, but in her heart she hopes Your Majesty will visit her more often. Although I want to accompany you, I can't compare to Your Majesty. Today, with Your Majesty by her side, the Empress Dowager even ate half an extra bowl of lunch."

The emperor nodded upon hearing this, and he also knew that some things should not be taken too seriously. Since Qi Ru's death, the empress dowager has also restrained herself and no longer interfered in state affairs. Instead, she has been enjoying her retirement.

Since the Queen Mother has let it go, he should also go with the flow so that he can continue to live a good life.