Chapter 14 – Shen Liangren Is a Picky Eater

It really seemed she didn’t like carrots.

Xuan Yuanling, feeling rather benevolent, didn’t give her any more.

If she didn’t like it, so be it—there were plenty of other dishes. It wasn’t a big deal for one day. Besides, the pitiful look on her face when she was forced to eat carrots was quite something.

Xuan Yuanling stayed at Zhaohua Palace again that night. Last time, he’d made Shen Qing lie face down all night. This time, Shen Qing truly felt hot.

The weather was visibly heating up. After just finishing their activities, even after bathing and covering herself with a quilt, she still felt warm.

Last time, Xuan Yuanling had sensed some attachment. But this time, he noticed Shen Qing keeping her distance. When she saw him looking over, she smiled awkwardly and said, “It’s hot.”

So, the affection she showed a few days ago was all an act?

“You dare dislike being near me now?” he said.

Shen Qing replied, “I don’t dislike Your Majesty. It’s just really hot.”

That expression of hers clearly wasn’t fake.

Xuan Yuanling could tell she genuinely felt hot and didn’t make things difficult for her. Still, she had been clinging to him all sweet and cuddly before, and now she was staying far away, saying it was hot. It didn’t feel quite right.

“If it gets hotter, I’ll have the Household Department send you some ice.”

Shen Qing lit up. “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

To live comfortably in the palace, three things were essential: good food, enough money to spend, and ice in the summer and charcoal in the winter. How else could one enjoy life? Xuan Yuanling was really great—serve him well, and he rewards you with ice.

“Hmph. Shameless.”

Though he said that, her gleeful little expression made her look utterly adorable.

The next morning, Xuan Yuanling still attended court as usual. Shen Qing, still half-asleep, got up to help him into his morning court robes. Seeing her like that, Xuan Yuanling thought she was truly pampered and delicate. Once she finished helping him get dressed and sent him off, she returned to bed for a nap.

As he exited Zhaohua Palace, Xuan Yuanling said to Zhao Hai, “Tell the Imperial Kitchen to pay more attention to Zhaohua Palace.”

Zhao Hai was genuinely surprised.

All this just because Shen Liangren didn’t like eating carrots last night? And the Emperor gave orders over that?

Still, he didn’t dare slack off. Zhao Hai sent Xiao Xiazi to deliver the message to the Imperial Kitchen.

Shen Qing woke up from her second sleep, just in time to see someone arrive from the Imperial Kitchen. Chunhua was surprised, “Today the delivery eunuch from the kitchen is the chief steward himself.”

Shang Dexi greeted Shen Qing with a broad smile. “Greetings, Liangren.”

Shen Qing quickly replied, “Too polite, Eunuch.”

Shang Dexi appreciated her attitude. He didn’t waste time and got straight to the point. “Today, Xiao Xiazi came to deliver a message. His Majesty instructed the kitchen to be more mindful. It seems we have been remiss. We’re here to ask Liangren what your usual preferences and dietary restrictions are. From now on, anything you dislike will never be served again.”

Shen Qing was stunned for a moment, then her face turned bashful. “Why would His Majesty go to such lengths…” She shot Chunhua a look and then said to Shang Dexi, “I’m truly sorry for the trouble. I’ve never eaten carrots. Yesterday, His Majesty happened to see me avoiding them while we were dining together. I did eat it in the end… who would have thought…”

Chunhua brought out a sachet, and Shen Qing personally stuffed it into Shang Dexi’s hands. “Really, it’s too much trouble for you to come all this way.”

Shang Dexi weighed the sachet in his hand and paused—it contained quite a generous amount of silver.

He had seen all kinds of people in the palace. If someone had tried to stir up trouble behind the scenes, he would’ve seen through it. When he received the Emperor’s command, he’d suspected Shen Liangren was getting arrogant after receiving favor and was trying to use pillow talk to intimidate the Imperial Kitchen. But hearing all this, could it be that the Emperor really did see her being picky and gave the order himself?

When Shang Dexi returned to the kitchen and relayed the message, even the head chef was surprised. “This Shen Liangren is quite favored.”

Now the two of them understood. Going forward, the meals delivered to Zhaohua Palace would all be top-quality.