Secrets of Yuqing Palace

Chapter 156 The Taste of Longevity Noodles

On the third day of May, the entire Forbidden City was shrouded in a depressing and indescribable atmosphere.

Even the usually warm and loving Yuqing Palace fell into silence today.

All the palace people acted very cautiously and didn't even dare to breathe!

Even when it comes to clothing, everyone has a tacit understanding and wears plain clothes.

After breakfast, Wanyu sent Yinreng to Xiangxu's door.

Looking at the man who was very gloomy and taciturn today, Wanyu felt a flash of heartache.

She walked over and gave him a gentle hug, then gave him a warm smile.

"Go home early today. I'll wait for you at home."

When Yinreng heard her say she was going home, he felt a little warm in his heart and became more expectant.

He nodded seriously, then said in a hoarse voice, "Okay."

After Yinreng walked out of Yuqing Palace, he went directly to Qianqing Palace.

After accompanying Kangxi to deal with memorials for two hours, Kangxi finally put down the red brush in his hand.

Afterwards, Kangxi returned to the inner room, changed into plain clothes, and took Yinreng, who had a solemn face, out of the Qianqing Palace and walked slowly to the Fengxian Hall.

The hall was filled with curling incense and flickering candlelight.

They first lit a stick of incense for their ancestors, and then walked into the inner room.

The seat of Empress Renxiao Hesheli was standing there quietly, with her portrait hanging on the wall behind her.

Kangxi placed the tributes with his own hands and looked at the tablet of his empress, memories of the past flooding back like a tide.

After sighing in his heart, he began to recite scriptures in a low voice, praying for his deceased wife.

Yinreng knelt on the cushion beside Kangxi, feeling mixed emotions.

I miss my biological mother deeply, but I also feel indescribable guilt and heartache on this special day of my birthday.

The father and son stayed in Fengxian Hall for nearly three hours. After the memorial service, they were silent, each with a heavy burden and full of sorrow, and walked out of Fengxian Hall.

At this time, it was completely dark outside.

They walked through the long palace corridor and returned to their respective palaces.

Kangxi did not summon any concubines that day, but slept alone in his own Qianqing Palace.

The concubines in the harem have become accustomed to this and never dare to go to the emperor on this day to flatter him and win his favor.

Otherwise it’s not vying for favor, but seeking death!

With a heavy heart, Yinreng returned to Yuqing Palace in silence.

Although the spring night view was beautiful, it could not soothe Yinreng's turbulent heart at this time.

He walked straight into the main hall of Dunben Palace and sat on a chair, looking at the empty hall.

A sense of loss flashed through his heart, and he asked Zhang Xi in a hoarse voice, "Where is the Crown Princess?"

Zhang Xi bowed and said, "I heard from the people below that the Crown Princess seems to have gone to the kitchen."

Yinreng's eyes were somewhat empty, as if he was still immersed in sadness.

I don't know whether he heard the servant's report clearly or not. He just responded lightly and nothing else happened.

Zhang Xi carefully looked up at his master, then lowered his head and continued to stand by silently.

At this time, Wanyu was busy in the kitchen of Yuqing Palace.

Her face was full of piety and seriousness.

She knew that today was a special and sensitive day for Yinreng.

It is both his birthday and his mother's death anniversary.

Although it was his birthday, he was never happy at all.

He even never celebrated his birthday because his biological mother died during childbirth.

Although the emperor loved Yinreng, on this day every year, he would only take Yinreng to Fengxian Hall to pay tribute to Empress Renxiao.

Although Wanyu understood the emperor's love for the empress, she found it difficult to agree with his behavior.

Because this seems to remind Yinreng all the time that it's all because of you. Your biological mother died because she gave birth to you. Your biological mother died because of you!

This approach deepened Yinreng's guilt and loneliness, and even a good person would become depressed.

Thinking about the fact that Kangxi himself pointed out in history that Yinreng was born to kill his mother, the long-term repression and the accusations from his most trusted father, Wanyu felt that the prince's madness in his later years was not completely without reason.

His biological mother was killed by him, his brothers were eyeing him covetously, and his beloved father also became hostile to him. How could he not go crazy and collapse after losing everything?

I think after the second prince was appointed, he must have realized his situation, so he just wanted to vent his anger without hesitation, right?

Wanyu felt very sorry for Yinreng.

So she wanted to bring him some comfort in her own way.

Reduce the heavy guilt and pressure in his heart.

Today is his birthday and also Empress Yuan's death anniversary. Although we can't hold a big birthday for him, Wanyu still wants to have a simple birthday for him.

She thought, he should be looking forward to a simple bowl of longevity noodles, right?

In the kitchen, she carefully selected the best flour, added clean water and kneaded it slowly.

Until the dough becomes smooth and fine.

Then, under the chef's guidance, she carefully cut the noodles, rolled the dough into thin sheets, and cut them into thin noodles.

The fire in the stove crackled, illuminating her serious face.

After the noodles were ready, she prepared some fresh green vegetables and an egg.

Although it is not as rich and delicious as what the chef makes, this small bowl of noodles was made by her own hands without any help from anyone.

This bowl of noodles carries her blessings to Yinreng.

When the longevity noodles were ready, Wanyu held the bowl and walked carefully towards Dunben Hall.

Although it was already dark, the hall was brightly lit.

So after entering the hall, she saw the loneliness and desolation on Yinreng's face at a glance.

Her heart tightened and she felt a little uncomfortable.

She held the bowl, walked up to Yinreng, and carefully placed the bowl on the table beside her.

Then she walked forward gently and hugged him lovingly, as he was feeling so lonely at this moment.

The sudden hug brought Yinreng back to his senses.

Feeling her gentle and careful embrace, Yinreng reached out to hug her back, then chuckled and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Has our Crown Princess suffered any injustice?"

Wanyu shook her head and said sullenly, "No."

Then she stood up and said to Yinreng with a smile, "Hasn't dinner yet?"

"I specially prepared dinner for you. I made it myself."

Yinreng was surprised and asked, "Did you make this yourself?"

Wanyu nodded.

Then he gestured for him to look at the table next to him.

Yinreng turned around and saw a bowl of plain noodles on the table that didn't look particularly good.

White noodles with a few green vegetables and a white, tender and smooth egg on top.

Wanyu sat down opposite him, pushed the bowl in front of Yinreng, and placed her hands folded on the table.

With a sweet smile on her face, she sincerely wished: "This is the longevity noodles I made myself. Happy birthday, Baocheng. May you live a long life."

Yinreng was stunned at first, then a warm feeling surged in his heart.

This warm current quickly heated up and ignited a raging fire.

Burn away all his loneliness and pain.

The young lady's kindness was like a ray of sunshine in the darkness, dispelling the darkness in his heart.

Looking at the expectant smile on the young lady's face, he also smiled.

With a slightly hoarse voice, he said, "Xiao Yu'er, thank you."

He took the bowl and took a mouthful of noodles.

Although it was not as good as the chef in the kitchen, he felt that it was the best noodles he had ever eaten in his life.

【So this is what longevity noodles taste like. 】

His eyes were a little moist. This was the first time someone celebrated his birthday, and it was also the first time he ate longevity noodles.

【The longevity noodles are really delicious.】

Wanyu saw that he didn't say a word and ate voraciously, without any of his usual dining etiquette.