In the years of famine, I led a comfortable life with my husband

But unexpectedly, Wanpin was all smiles. Seeing Su Zhizhi kneeling, she quickly stood up and helped Su Zhizhi up. "This must be the new Director Su who has just entered the palace. It's amazing that a young girl can become the director of the imperial kitchen. I have great admiration for Director Su."

"Your Majesty, you are joking. I just know a little bit about cooking. It is thanks to Your Majesty's kindness that I was able to enter the palace and serve as a minister. I didn't expect to catch Your Majesty's eye. I am really flattered." Su Zhizhi sat on the stool that Concubine Wan had just brought in with fear and trepidation.

Wanpin was very pleased with Su Zhizhi's attitude, and her smile deepened. "Manager Su, there's no need to be so modest. I know that the Imperial Kitchen has been overwhelmed for a long time because of me. I didn't expect that I am so accustomed to Manager Su's cooking skills. How about..."

Wanpin continued speaking, with a calculating glint in her eyes. Su Zhizhi just kept silent, quietly waiting for Wanpin's next words.

"In my opinion, it would be better if Manager Su could be my personal chef from now on. I would feel more at ease if I could leave my meals to you."

It was very obvious that Wanpin wanted to win over Su Zhizhi. Su Zhizhi lowered her head slightly. She had no right to refuse such a thing. Naturally, facing Wanpin's proposal, Su Zhizhi did not want to refuse, but no matter what, if she agreed so easily, it might make Wanpin suspicious. The opportunity was hard to come by, and Su Zhizhi did not want to be careless.

She knelt before Wanpin and whispered, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your kindness. I also want to do my best for you, but Your Majesty..."

With the emperor acting as a shield in front of her, Concubine Wan did not dare to be dissatisfied with this. After all, everyone in the harem knew that the emperor valued Su Zhizhi. At this critical juncture, no one dared to make things too difficult for Su Zhizhi.

"Manager Su, please don't worry. I will naturally talk to His Majesty. For the sake of the child in my belly, His Majesty will not refuse me." Concubine Wan said confidently, and her hand naturally stroked her belly.

Seeing this, Su Zhizhi nodded in relief. "Your Majesty values ​​me so highly, I will definitely not let you down. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

"Go away. There's no need to bring lunch. I have to accompany His Majesty at noon." Before Su Zhizhi left, Wanpin suddenly thought of something and gave an order.

Su Zhizhi responded, then bowed and walked out. After leaving Yinxuan Hall, Su Zhizhi sighed deeply and wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead.

She was walking towards the imperial kitchen when she suddenly heard a palace maid's call from behind her, "Manager Su, Manager Su!"

Su Zhizhi subconsciously stopped and looked back, and saw the maidservant beside Concubine Wan walking towards her with a group of people.

"Manager Su, our queen said that these things are for you, I hope you will accept them." As the maid spoke, she gestured to the other palace maids following behind her to show the things on the tray. They were all gold, silver and jewelry, and looked extremely valuable.

Su Zhizhi's eyes glared, and then she quickly concealed the expression in her eyes, "Your Majesty, what are you doing..."

"Manager Su, you are only allowed to accept it. In the future, our queen will have to rely on Manager Su to take care of her food." The maid said it very obscurely.

Things had come to this point, and Su Zhizhi had no other reason but to accept the things. The maid then turned around with satisfaction and went back to Yinxuan Palace, leaving only the little palace maids holding the things to follow Su Zhizhi.

Seeing this, Su Zhizhi sighed slightly, glanced at the other palace servants not far away, and continued to walk towards the imperial kitchen.

Su Zhizhi knew very well what Wanpin was thinking. These things could obviously be given to her in Yinxuan Palace, but she chose to give them to her in the busy Imperial Garden. This was clearly a way of telling the other people in the harem that Su Zhizhi was already on Wanpin's side and that they should not try to take advantage of her anymore.

Furthermore, judging from the current situation, Su Zhizhi is essentially tied to Concubine Wan in the harem. If someone dislikes Concubine Wan, can they not take action against her, but also against Su Zhizhi?

Thinking of this, Su Zhizhi suddenly felt a headache. She had just entered the palace and had encountered such a big thing, which was really a headache.

After returning to the imperial kitchen, Su Zhizhi put away the things given by Wanpin properly, then lay on the bed, thinking about something. Fortunately, Su Zhizhi didn't have to worry about Wanpin's lunch, so she could free up time to think about her next plan.

The news that Su Zhizhi had taken refuge with Wanpin spread quickly in the harem, and Xu Wanqing also received news about Su Zhizhi and Wanpin.

After hearing the report from her subordinates, Xu Wanqing's face suddenly turned ashen. She thought Su Zhizhi would be more obedient in the harem, but what she didn't expect was that the matter of the imperial kitchen did not give Su Zhizhi a headache, but instead made Su Zhizhi come into contact with Concubine Wan. Xu Wanqing suddenly felt very uncomfortable.

But more and more people began to doubt Su Zhizhi. She took the trouble to send Su Zhizhi to the imperial kitchen, not to make Su Zhizhi stand on the same side with the concubines.

Xu Wanqing couldn't help but start to re-examine Su Zhizhi. She was now very worried that Su Zhizhi was a person who was very likely to betray. It had not been long since she entered the palace, and she was already involved with Concubine Wan.

After much deliberation, Xu Wanqing said to the spy she had planted in the palace, "You continue to keep an eye on Su Zhizhi for me in the palace. If anything unusual happens, report to me immediately."

In the imperial kitchen, Su Zhizhi was completely unaware of Xu Wanqing's thoughts. Her mind was now filled with thoughts on how to use Concubine Wan to achieve her own goals.

Although Wanpin is the daughter of the prime minister, she is also a concubine now. In this era, concubines are not required to leave the palace, so Su Zhizhi will definitely not be able to see the prime minister just by staying with Wanpin. She must do more.

Su Zhizhi thought that if she wanted to see the Prime Minister, she would have to let the Prime Minister choose to come to her on his own initiative. Then she would need to be of sufficient use so that Concubine Wan would mention her when communicating with the Prime Minister.

Su Zhizhi was just thinking about it when she saw the sky outside. It was already late. Calculating the time, it was almost time for dinner. However, Su Zhizhi had not yet prepared Wanpin's dinner.

Although time was a bit tight, Su Zhizhi had already planned the dishes in advance, and other people were helping her prepare the dishes. She only had to cook, which made things a lot easier.

But when Su Zhizhi was cooking, her mind couldn't help but wander. While she was distracted, Su Zhizhi suddenly felt a piercing pain at the tip of her finger.

She subconsciously looked down and saw that the fingertips that had been painful just now were now covered in blood, and the blade on her other hand was also stained with blood.

Su Zhizhi bit her lips and had to put down the work in her hands. She treated the wound, stopped the bleeding and bandaged it. Only then did Su Zhizhi return to the chopping board.