Chapter 6: Persuasion

Obviously, no one believed her.

Seeing the Empress had eaten half a bowl of rice, Nanny Zhou’s face bloomed with delight, her eyes crinkling with joy. Looking at Wan Anran, she no longer harbored any of her earlier disdain. Instead, she was filled with pure, heartfelt joy. If it weren’t for the constraints of palace etiquette, Nanny Zhou would have wished for Second Class Attendant Wan to dine with the Empress in Kunning Palace every single day!

Though regretful in her heart, Nanny Zhou’s hands moved even faster.

Braised lion’s head, ham stewed with deer tendons, fish intestines baked with eggs, fresh mushroom and shrimp tofu soup…

Wan Anran: …

What else could she do? Keep eating, of course!

Despite her anxiety, the moment she tasted the dishes, all her earlier concerns vanished. Wan Anran narrowed her eyes slightly, as if little red flowers were blooming behind her.

It was clearly just an ordinary braised lion’s head!

Yet as she cupped her cheeks and let out a satisfied hum, the perfectly minced pork, meticulously refined, provided an excellent elasticity. Her teeth gently bit through the slightly crispy exterior, unleashing a flood of rich, savory juices that invaded her mouth without mercy.

Even more surprising was the faint, refreshing fragrance… could it be? Wan Anran chewed carefully, then looked up in astonishment, her eyes sparkling. “There’s a refreshing taste in here… is that green tea?”

The Empress was intrigued.

She signaled a palace maid to bring her one as well. Tasting it carefully, the Empress was amazed to find there was indeed a hint of tea in the flavor. Unable to suppress her curiosity, she immediately summoned the chef responsible for this dish.

The chef’s surname was Zhao.

He bowed deeply and respectfully. “This humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty.”

The Empress smiled with great interest.

Pointing to the lion’s head meatball in front of her, she asked with a grin, “Did you add tea leaves to this dish?”

Chef Zhao raised his head slightly for a glance, then cautiously nodded. “To report to Your Majesty, in order to reduce greasiness and enhance the flavor, this lion’s head dish does indeed contain green tea.”

Wan Anran had guessed correctly.

The Empress clicked her tongue in amazement and laughed. “You truly have a gourmand’s tongue!”

After saying this, she rewarded Chef Zhao with a smile.

The Empress, of the Niohuru clan, had never been one to indulge in culinary pleasures. Since her elevation to Empress, this was the first time she had ever rewarded a chef like him! Overjoyed yet somewhat puzzled, Chef Zhao couldn’t help but whisper a question to the young eunuch as he carried his reward out of the hall, “What brought this about?”

This wasn’t a secret.

Though Chef Zhao had to bow and scrape in front of the Empress, back in the imperial kitchens, even the eunuchs had to defer to him. The young eunuch quickly figured it out and replied with a grin, “It was Second Class Attendant Wan from Xianfu Palace. She mentioned the refreshing green tea flavor while eating the lion’s head, which intrigued Her Majesty and prompted her to summon you for an explanation.”

Chef Zhao’s eyes widened. “Second Class Attendant Wan… from Xianfu Palace?”

This was an unexpected name. Chef Zhao mulled it over, clicking his tongue in thought as he returned to the kitchen, already considering whether to forge a good connection with her.

---

By the time Wan Anran finished her second bowl of rice, the Empress had, unusually, eaten until she was seventy to eighty percent full. She even felt a rare sense of fullness in her stomach. After the dishes were cleared away, she rinsed her mouth with tea, then leaned back in her chair with a rare moment of peace, lazily stifling a yawn.

Taking advantage of the moment, Wan Anran stole a glance at the Empress.

At that instant, she was struck dumb.

The Niohuru Empress before her looked no older than seventeen or eighteen—features delicate, skin fair and flawless. Yet despite being of an age where, in her previous life, one would still be a high school student, she radiated a natural authority, an undeniable presence that demanded respect.

Wan Anran secretly clicked her tongue in amazement.

A small detail suddenly caught her attention—beneath the vivid red palace robe embroidered with pomegranate blossoms and clusters of blessings, the Empress’ slender wrists were shockingly thin, with protruding blue veins starkly visible against her skin.

Wan Anran glanced down at the back of her own hand.

She herself had been ill for over two months, yet the Empress looked even more emaciated than she did.

At that moment, Consort Xuan, noticing the Empress growing drowsy, stood to take her leave. The Empress, who had initially intended to continue the conversation, nodded and said softly, “Then accompany me for a chat next time.”

Her gaze then turned to Second Class Attendant Wan, her tone gentle. “Second Class Attendant Wan, you’ve worked hard today as well.”

Worked hard doing what? Eating?

Wan Anran’s face flushed crimson. Under Consort Xuan’s subtle cue, she quickly performed a formal curtsey, respectfully replying, “To serve Your Majesty during a meal is this concubine’s greatest honor.”

And she truly meant it.

If not for the Empress allowing her to dine in Kunning Palace, where else could she have enjoyed such a feast? Otherwise, she’d be stuck staring at bowls of bitter vegetable soup and plain tofu again.

The Empress smiled faintly, waving them off.

Wan Anran quietly followed behind Consort Xuan toward the exit. Yet just as they reached the doorway, she couldn’t resist the urge to look back.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a glow on the Empress’ pale cheeks, making her complexion appear almost translucent. Her thin figure seemed so delicate, as if she might dissolve into a butterfly and disappear at any moment.

All three of Emperor Kangxi’s Empresses died young.

This sudden thought struck Wan Anran like a bolt of lightning. Her heart pounded violently, like a drum, as an inner voice whispered urgently:

—If you don’t speak up now, you might never get the chance again.

Wan Anran abruptly stopped in her tracks.

She took a deep breath and suddenly turned around under the surprised gazes of Consort Xuan and Noble Lady Nara. “Your Majesty the Empress, if your health is not well, you must eat properly and rest well. Your body is the most important foundation of all!”

The Niohuru Empress’s eyes widened slightly.

Then, she revealed a radiant smile. “I understand.”

Her smile was like the melting of spring snow, like dead trees sprouting anew. The sight made Wan Anran’s heart involuntarily quicken its pace. She couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smile as she lightheartedly stepped out of the hall, completely missing the strange look Consort Xuan gave her.

Upon returning to Xianfu Palace, after watching Consort Xuan enter the main hall, Wan Anran also turned and went back to the east wing room. Haitao greeted her cheerfully, “Mistress, you’re back? This servant will go prepare some tea right away.”

Cradling the warm tea, Wan Anran felt her heavy mood lift somewhat. What she wanted to say had been said; the rest depended on the Empress herself. She took a sip of tea, then looked up at Haitao. “Haitao, what are you doing over there?”

Haitao was tidying up fabrics and furs as she respectfully replied, “The New Year’s banquet is coming up in a few days. This servant must hurry to finish your clothes. Mistress, you should go sit and read for now.”

Due to her predecessor’s prolonged illness, the Household Department hadn’t even bothered to arrange for new winter clothes, the neglect was obvious. Wan Anran pouted. “As a Second Class Attendant, I won’t even be attending the New Year’s banquet, so why bother making new clothes? Just wear last year’s.”

Haitao couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time.

She folded the fabric on her lap while muttering, “New Year, new clothes, new fortune—how can you wear last year’s material? Besides, even if you can’t attend the grand banquet, there’s still the family feast in Qianqing Palace. Who knows, maybe the Emperor will take notice of you there?”

That kind of attention is for the heroine, not me!

Wan Anran had zero interest in the Emperor, but she was quite intrigued by the pile of fur materials in front of her. Her eyes gleamed as she sneakily pulled out a piece of gray fur from the basket. “I know how to do this too.”

Haitao allowed Wan Anran to fiddle as she pleased.

While she focused on studying the pattern and busily sewing, after a long while without hearing any sound, she looked up at her mistress.

Wan Anran was engrossed in working with the fur.

Since the fur materials for a Second Class Attendant were of inferior quality, most were mixed with discolored wild rabbit fur. Wan Anran carefully trimmed the edges, added a lining, and sewed the seams together. When Haitao looked over, she proudly raised the fluffy glove in her hand. “Finished!”

Haitao’s mouth twitched.

With such uneven stitches and stray threads sticking out everywhere, could this really be called finished? But under her mistress’s proud gaze, she could only accept the glove and offer false praise while discreetly fixing the flaws.

At the very least, she had to make it presentable.

As for Wan Anran, she was quite satisfied with her work. Her gaze shifted back to the pile of fur, which immediately alarmed Haitao. She hurriedly hid the basket behind her. “Mistress, my good Mistress, these are all useful pieces. You mustn’t… um.”

Wan Anran: (￣︶￣)

Her cheeks puffed up in indignation. “You were about to say ‘ruin,’ weren’t you?”

Haitao’s eyes darted evasively, clearly guilty.

Seeing her mistress say so, though still heartbroken over the materials, she moved the basket aside. “How would this servant dare?”

You dare plenty, don’t you?

Wan Anran sneakily glanced at Haitao from the corner of her eye. Whenever her hand reached toward those few intact fur pieces, Haitao would immediately purse her lips, hold her breath, and stare without blinking until she withdrew her hand.

After teasing her a few more times, Haitao caught on.

Her face flushed red. “Mistress!!!”

Wan Anran stuck out her tongue.

She didn’t choose the few remaining intact furs but instead picked a piece of wild rabbit fur with damaged edges. Using a ruler to measure carefully, she picked up the scissors and began to meticulously trim along the edges.

Haitao let out a long sigh of relief.

Seizing the moment while her mistress’s attention was fully absorbed in her handiwork, Haitao quickly moved the entire basket of fur to her side.