Chapter 50: Jieyu Ning’s Favorite Sweet Treats

“Would you be willing to copy the recipe and give it to the Imperial Kitchen?” Helian Qi looked at Wei Yingya.

Wei Yingya was startled and quickly replied, “This concubine is honored…”

The Emperor asked if you were willing, which meant he wanted you to offer the recipe, how could you say no.

“Wang Degui, copy a copy for the Empress Dowager’s palace. Pass the decree, the Imperial Kitchen will provide it to all the palaces every day. Also, reward the third-rank officials of the court with a copy.” Helian Qi instructed.

Wang Degui quickly flattered him, “The weather is hot, Your Majesty is filial, you think of the Empress Dowager above and the people below, it is truly a blessing for Dayan!”

It wasn’t that the Emperor wanted to curry favor with Empress Dowager Xue.

It was that Dayan ruled by filial piety, as a son, if he got delicious food, he should show filial piety to his parents, otherwise, it would be unfilial.

Helian Qi could secure his position on the throne, he had always been impeccable in all aspects.

Whether it was taking care of the Empress Dowager or rewarding the court officials.

He was always generous in unimportant matters. But when it came to real power, he fought tooth and nail.

“Right, Jieyu Ning loves sweet treats. Wang Degui, send a copy to Lingsxue Pavilion as well.” Helian Qi instructed again.

Wang Degui accepted the order.

Wei Yingya was confused: ???

Wait, this is my golden finger for vying for favor!

Now the whole palace can eat it, including your favorite concubine’s kitchen…

How am I supposed to attract the Emperor to my palace?

Don’t palace intrigue stories always use food to hook the Emperor’s appetite, so that he would come and choose you whenever he wants to eat?

But the truth was, the Emperor’s favorite food would definitely be arranged for the Imperial Kitchen. Would he need to rely on a concubine’s face to eat what he wanted?

Wei Yingya suddenly felt that in the Emperor’s eyes, she was probably no different from the cooks in the Imperial Kitchen.

Helian Qi finished making all the arrangements, then looked at Wei Yingya with a pleasant expression, “I didn’t know you had such ingenuity in the culinary arts. The weather has been hot recently, you have developed something refreshing and heat-clearing, it’s also a merit. Wang Degui, pass my decree, reward her generously.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Wei Yingya could only bow and accept the reward.

Wei Yingya returned to her own palace with a pile of generous rewards.

The palace maids were overjoyed.

Only she wasn’t satisfied, this wasn’t what she expected.

However, Wei Yingya wasn’t discouraged by the difficulties, she quickly regrouped.

If the mountain won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain.

If the Emperor didn’t choose her, she could completely take the initiative to find him.

Who could have more tricks for vying for favor than her?

She could occasionally brush up on her favorability, and in time, the Emperor would fall in love with her, it was only a matter of time.

Her position as Empress Dowager was within reach!

…

After recuperating for half a month, the wound on Ning Wanyin’s forehead finally healed, leaving no scar.

During her recovery, she went to Changchun Palace every three or five days, never slacking off.

Although the Emperor hadn’t summoned her, he often came to Lingsxue Pavilion to have meals with Ning Wanyin during the day, and his rewards never stopped, her favor didn’t seem to be affected.

Besides Ning Wanyin, the concubine the Emperor saw the most was Wei Yingya.

The concubines originally thought that Jieyu Song and Concubine Wen were the most likely to rise to the top, but unexpectedly, Wei Yingya emerged from nowhere and surpassed everyone.

The concubines were envious and jealous, their resentment towards her was even greater than towards Ning Wanyin.

Because Ning Wanyin, whether before or now, had been staying in Lingsxue Pavilion, not going out much, except for going to Changchun Palace.

She rarely went to Qianxin Palace unless the Emperor summoned her.

But Wei…

Wei Yingya was very diligent in going to Qianxin Palace.

One moment she would present the Emperor with a few love poems, earning his praise and a pile of rare antiques and calligraphy as rewards.

Another moment she would sing two strange tunes he had never heard before, the Emperor found them novel and interesting, and rewarded her with a rare pipa.

Every few days she would send the Emperor new food recipes, he said that she often traveled back and forth to Qianxin Palace, which was tiring, so he specially rewarded her with half a colorful sedan chair…

All these favors made the other concubines envious and resentful, they wished they had such skills.

Currently, the most favored concubines in the palace were Ning Wanyin, first, and Wei Yingya, second.

“Mistress, you have to be careful of this Lady Ying. She’s always trying to curry favor with the Emperor, now everyone in the palace knows she’s best at seducing the Emperor!” Little Guizi said with hostility.

“She’s the Emperor’s concubine, it’s her duty to please the Emperor. I don’t care what others say, we can’t talk about her in Lingsxue Pavilion.” Ning Wanyin frowned.

Little Guizi quickly said, “This servant knows his mistake, this servant is just worried about the Jieyu, seeing her surpass you in everything…”

First, the small kitchen, then the colorful sedan chair, and various rare items.

Ning Wanyin had them, and Lady Ying had them too.

In the eyes of the people in the palace, Ning Wanyin must hate Lady Ying the most.

“What’s there to worry about, what does it matter to us if she’s doing well or not.” Ning Wanyin shook her head with a light laugh, “You should focus your attention on Changchun Palace. Protecting Consort Shun is the most important task for Lingsxue Pavilion.”

Little Guizi couldn’t help but say, “Mistress, you’re so concerned, the palace maids in Changchun Palace think you’re too involved.”

“What?” Ning Wanyin raised her eyebrows.

“Yesterday, this servant went to Changchun Palace to check as you ordered, and someone was talking about you behind your back.” Little Guizi quickly reported.

Changchun Palace had been peaceful recently.

Some palace maids were privately criticizing Ning Wanyin, complaining that she was too involved. They felt that without her, nothing would have happened in Changchun Palace, and they wouldn’t have been so restricted and worked so hard.

“When they were taking the reward money, they didn’t think it was too much. Now they think it’s hard work? If anything happens in Changchun Palace, will their heads be enough to pay for it?” Lianrui said angrily.

Ning Wanyin’s eyes flashed, she didn’t find it strange.

At first, everyone was afraid of something happening, so they were very careful. But nothing happened, and as time went on, people’s hearts became easily slack.

And the person behind it…

Was waiting for this opportunity.

“It’s normal to complain when work is hard.” Ning Wanyin said casually, “You all go down first, call Xia Yong over.”

“Yes.”

…

In the left wing of Yixiu Palace, Haitang Residence.

“You can always come up with new food, the Emperor likes you, and we get to enjoy something new too. The Emperor rewarded you with a small kitchen, and you’re really making good use of it.” Lady Fang held her handkerchief and chuckled, “Unlike some people, let alone making new food for the Emperor, even if the small kitchen was given to her, she hasn’t cooked personally a few times, she’s not as concerned about the Emperor as you are. No wonder the Emperor favors you so much.”

Wei Yingya smiled and replied, “Lady Fang, you flatter me, this concubine is just good at cooking, how can I compare to your deep affection for the Emperor.”

She understood that Lady Fang was trying to provoke her and Ning Wanyin to fight…

But Wei Yingya didn’t want to provoke someone who was destined to die.

So she pretended not to understand and flattered Lady Fang instead.

Lady Fang frowned slightly, then changed the topic, “I think you’re a clever and capable girl. Noble Consort Shu likes the suxue you made…”

Wei Yingya was now a hot commodity in the palace, both the Xue and Cen factions sent people to give her gifts and show their goodwill, vying to win her over.

Of the four great noble families, two of them were originally under the command of the two Dukes when they were conquering the world, and they had always followed the two Dukes’ lead.

The remaining Wei and Tang families had established their own families, and the Xue and Cen families had been trying to win them over.

But these two families hadn’t chosen to side with anyone, they didn’t offend either side, and they were considered to be playing both sides.