There were four or five standard plates scattered on the wide round table. There were six people sitting around the table. In Yu Shu's eyes, these dishes were really simple. Noble Zhan had just sent a servant to bring them over.
"When I left, my father told me that we would sleep on an empty stomach the night before. With our status in Huazhen Garden, it would be hard for us to have a hot meal even if we wanted to. Fortunately, Xueyuan is here. I propose that we use tea instead of wine to toast her."
Cui Yun picked up the teacup in front of her and raised it to Zhan Xueyuan with a smile. Then she looked around at the others and signaled them to toast with her.
"Yes, yes, to Miss Zhan."
Feng Jun and another young man quickly echoed. Wen Shao 'an looked at them and frowned slightly. He also picked up the teacup and placed it on his chest.
However, Zhan Xueyuan pressed the teacup on the table and didn't move. Her eyes fell on Yu Shu, who didn't move at all. It seemed that she was competing with her patience. If Yu Shu didn't move, she wouldn't move either.
Seeing this, the others all turned their eyes to Yu Shu.
Yu Shu lazily picked up the cup. Before Zhan Xueyuan could raise the corner of her mouth, she brought it to her mouth and took a sip. Seeing Zhan Xueyuan's face turn sour, she laughed inwardly: You want to drink tea from me with just a few dishes? Dream on.
Zhan Xueyuan was a little annoyed with Yu Shu's behavior of not giving him face. He lightly snorted.
Cui Yun looked at this and that. She smiled and picked up the chopsticks to smooth things over: "Let's eat quickly. I've been hungry for a long time. Hey, this tofu is really good. Xueyuan, try it first."
Zhan Xueyuan was really hungry. Looking at the food Cui Yun put into her bowl, he then glanced at Yu Shu, who was slowly drinking tea, and lowered his head to take a sip. Pretending to be enjoying it, he called out to the others, "Oh, although it's not as exquisite as the food at home, there's a special taste in the mountains. Yunyun, Young Master Sun, Young Master Wen, Young Master Zhou, please eat your chopsticks. Don't wait for the food to get cold. There's no fire in this courtyard, and if you're hungry in the middle of the night, no one will make supper for you."
She greeted everyone but left out Yu Shu. She thought that if Yu Shu also picked up her chopsticks at this time, people would inevitably look down on her. But if she had the guts to leave, she would have to wait until dawn to starve.
What she didn't expect was that Yu Shu didn't eat the dishes, nor did she leave angrily. Instead, she just sat there casually, refilling her cup after she finished her tea, and calmly watched them eat.
“.....”
Being stared at by her like this, it was the few of them who felt uncomfortable eating. Zhan Xueyuan had never met such a shameless person before. Gritting his teeth, he was about to say something —
"Gurgle, gurgle."
A rhythmic rumble of hunger sounded. Everyone who was eating was stunned. They raised their heads and looked at each other. Finally, they all looked at Yu Shu strangely.
What are they looking at? So what if it's her stomach rumbling? Yu Shu cursed in her heart. She couldn't maintain her composure.
Zhan Xueyuan sneered and said, "I thought Yu Suanzi wasn't hungry."
At this moment, someone came in from outside the door.
"He's here. Eh, why is he already eating?"
A few people at the table turned their heads, only to see a eunuch wearing a round crown on his head and embroidered silk armor mumbling to himself as he walked in. Behind him was a young eunuch carrying a food container of myriad treasures.
"Young Masters and Young Ladies, Her Ladyship has ordered this servant to bring some food over." The eunuch smiled as he looked at the six young people at the table. After recognizing their faces, he called the little eunuch to bring the food container to the table. He opened the lid and took it out layer by layer. At the same time, he announced the names of the dishes —
"Marinated Golden Eel, Crispy Sliced Goose, Three Delicacies, Stewed Pig Skin, Jade Tofu Pudding, Lotus Flower Cashew Nuts, and finally, this White Spirit Fresh Fish Soup."
The various delicacies were placed on a blue-and-white porcelain plate. There was a pot of soup with a silver spoon and a tray of snow-white steamed buns. The dishes were arranged in a circle around the table. The aroma of the steaming hot food pushed the original four dishes and one soup to the center. It was a pitiful sight.
"Gulp." It was unknown how many people swallowed their saliva. Water. Yu Shu was no exception. She was so hungry that she wanted to scratch the wall.
Cui Yun used her elbow to nudge Cui Xueyuan. She winked at her and said, "Her Ladyship really treats you well. She quickly added a few more hot dishes. How can we finish them?"
When that flower-clothed eunuch had entered, he had said "niang niang", and everyone present had heard it. With Cui Yun's words, they all thought that Zhan guiren had added more food for them, and their gazes towards Zhan Xueyuan immediately became a bit warmer.
This caused Zhan Xueyuan, who had been a bit puzzled earlier, to become proud again. She raised her eyes and glanced at Yu Shu. She smiled and politely said to the eunuch, "I've troubled this eunuch to make this trip. Please help my daughter thank Her Ladyship for her concern."
The eunuch glanced at her and didn't pay her any attention. He took out the silver tin wine jug from the last layer of the food container in the little eunuch's hands. He took out a small plum blossom shaped wine cup and placed it next to one person. He bent over and kindly said, "This is Her Ladyship's hundred-year-old wine. It clears the heart and moistens the lungs. Miss Yu should drink less. Rest early tonight and don't delay tomorrow's official business."
Her Ladyship!?
Hearing this, everyone was shocked. Zhan Xueyuan froze with a smile on his face. He stared at the wine jug next to Yu Shu. No matter how stupid he was, he understood that she was thinking too much. His face quickly turned red and he wanted to bury his head in his chest in embarrassment.
Yu Shu was stunned for a moment. Her eyes flickered and she understood the whole story. She immediately felt a burst of sourness and sweetness in her heart — —
In this world, she probably wouldn't be able to find a second considerate person who cared about her so much.
Among the four consorts in the Imperial Palace, who else but Noble Consort Xue could call her 'Noble Consort Niangniang'? She had nothing to do with Noble Consort Xue at all. If it wasn't for Xue Rui's mediation, how could she have such a big face?
"Thank you, Her Ladyship, for your kindness." Yu Shu moved her chair and stood up. She cupped her hands towards the eunuch in flowery robes, "I'll see you out."
Ignoring the people at the table who had become mute, Yu Shu saw them out the door. She walked into the courtyard and took the opportunity to ask, "May I know Eunuch Qiu's great name?"
"I don't dare. Miss Yu can just call me Eunuch Qiu."
"Miss, you don't need to trouble me to see you out. You can go back. This servant has already informed the kitchen that they will send food to you on time tomorrow. You don't need to share a table with others."
Yu Shu thanked him again. She reached into her sleeve and took out the one hundred taels banknote that she had prepared for emergencies. She stuffed it into the eunuch's hand.
"I'll have to trouble Eunuch Qiu to take care of me in the future."
Eunuch Qiu smiled but didn't refuse. He took the thin banknote. The young eunuch saw it with his sharp eyes and didn't say anything. When they reached the entrance of the courtyard and saw that Yu Shu had gone back, he asked in a low and puzzled voice, "Master, didn't you say that the biggest taboo for us internal officials is' a little chick lying on the doorstep and chattering '? Didn't Eldest Young Master already tip her? Why did you still accept her?"
Eunuch Qiu cast a sidelong glance at him and then stuffed the banknote that hadn't warmed in his hand to his young disciple. He snorted, "You're such an idiot. If I don't accept it, it means that I'm too lazy to deal with this person. If I accept her, it means that she's worth befriending. Take it and give it to your old mother for treatment. Don't say that I didn't take care of you. "
The young eunuch didn't quite understand, but he silently noted it down. Holding the banknote between his fingers, he glanced at the number on it and grinned. He tucked it away in his bosom, thinking, Whatever Master says is fine!
.....
When Yu Shu returned to the dining room, Zhan Xueyuan and Cui Yun were nowhere to be seen. They must have been embarrassed by what had just happened and had run back to their rooms.
The dishes on the table hadn't been touched. Yu Shu looked at the three youths sitting obediently at the table, waiting for her to return. She generously waved her hand and said, "You're welcome. Let's eat."
Other than the expressionless Wen Shao 'an, the other two sighed in relief. It was only after a whole day that they revealed a friendly smile to Yu Shu.
Because of someone's thoughtfulness, Yu Shu's appetite increased. She only felt full after eating two steamed buns. During the meal, there were inevitably people who tried to ask about her relationship with Imperial Consort Xue. Yu Shu pretended not to know anything. In the end, she couldn't eat anymore and returned to her room with the pot of wine.
After washing her face with water, Yu Shu took off her coat and lay on the bed. She held a small wine cup in her hand and looked at the crescent moon outside the window. She smiled and squinted her eyes. The mood that had been stifled because of the sudden appearance of the "Tenth Princess" a few days ago had been soothed by this meal.
No matter who Xue Rui used to have in his heart, from now on, she would do her best to make him only have her in his heart.
At the same time, in the North Court of Huazhen Garden, in a small building by Lake Li, Qiu Gonggong quietly walked into the middle room. He pushed aside the layers of beaded curtains and bowed his head. He respectfully half-knelt on a carpet and said in a low voice, "Replying to Your Ladyship, this servant has just delivered the food and the pot of wine."
Inside the tent, there was a figure lying on her side. The light reflected on the yellow silk curtains. Her elegant voice was like silk, making people's hearts tremble. "Did you see her?"
"I saw her. She's clean and delicate. Her appearance isn't shocking, but she speaks with propriety. She doesn't seem like someone who sticks to formalities."
"You devil's mind. Did ben gong ask you these things?"
"This servant was too talkative."
The voice behind the curtain let out a faint laugh and said, "Forget it, I am just curious. Cheng Bi is fine, he asked you to take care of a girl, and he did not deliberately hide it from me. I think he has some childish thoughts, that's why he deliberately let me know. Eldest Brother passed away a long time ago. Cheng Bi is sensible and much more capable than the other hedonistic sons. His Majesty is willing to put him in an important position. As his aunt, I feel proud. It's a pity that he left his mother at a young age. I only have one son, Xiao Jiu, so I love Cheng Bi like a son. Naturally, I have to worry about him. "
Qiu Gonggong hurriedly said, "Eldest Young Master is young and talented, skilled in both the pen and the sword. Which young master in Anling City can compare to him? Only our Prince can."
"Haha, don't try to make me happy. Although Xiao Jiu is smart, he isn't as flexible as Cheng Bi. After all, he stayed in the mountains for so many years …"
Noble Consort Xue's thoughts were unknown. She sighed and waved her hand. "You can leave. Ask about that girl. We'll talk later."
"Yes, this servant will leave."
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