Shen Quan: ...
Lady Xiu, aren’t you too carefree?
Didn’t you notice that the Emperor rushed here because the Empress Dowager punished you?
How can you still have the mood to drink soup!
It’s like when the lady is unhurried, the eunuch is anxious. Shen Quan wants to be left alone.
Zhou Wanying, feeling wronged because the Emperor ignored her, her eyes brightened up immediately after hearing Li Yuyu’s words.
"Emperor, this soup is personally cooked by me in the kitchen."
She personally oversaw the selection of ingredients and spices, though she had someone to replace her watch over it at the final stage of the brewing, it was still made by her personally.
In this harem, how many concubines like her personally go to the kitchen to do things themselves?
The Emperor will surely be moved by her sincerity.
Zhou Wanying looked at Yan Xiu with hopeful eyes, hoping that after drinking the soup she made, he would pay attention to her again.
But Yan Xiu didn’t even glance at her and instead stared at the spoon in Li Yuyu’s hand.
Seeing the little concubine before him with her eyes curved in a playful challenge, he directly pulled Li Yuyu’s hand over and drank the soup with the spoon.
"The taste is not bad." Yan Xiu said blandly: "No wonder Li Xiurong likes it so much."
Li Yuyu’s eyes flickered, and her smile faded.
Actually, when Yan Xiu appeared, she was no longer angry.
She could see that Yan Xiu genuinely cared for her, even though last night she angered him and knew he was waiting for her while injured, yet she deliberately stayed away out of spite. But upon hearing she was punished, Yan Xiu still dropped everything immediately and came over.
This concern, how could it not soften her heart?
But Zhou Wanying openly saying she was going to deliver soup to Yan Xiu in front of her, still trying to provoke her, she couldn’t tolerate that.
Whenever she thought about Zhou Wanying bringing that bowl of soup to Yan Xiu, and him saying "The taste is not bad" in the same tone, her chest burned with anger, wanting to ignite.
So much so that she forgot that Yan Xiu drank the soup with the spoon she used, while being watched by all.
"What I like can’t compare to what the Emperor likes," Li Yuyu said with a hint of a smile: "Hua Yin, we mustn’t waste Beauty Zhou’s good intentions, find a place for the Emperor to drink it comfortably."
Hua Yin: ...
Zhou Wanying immediately stood up from the ground and approached Yan Xiu coquettishly: "Emperor, let’s go to my Purple Cloud Pavilion, it’s nearby, and I can prepare some hometown dishes for the Emperor to critique."
Yan Xiu turned his head to look at Zhou Wanying.
Hearing her mention her hometown reminded him that Beauty Zhou was not a native of the Capital City, but the number one beauty and talented lady of Jiang City. Her father, the Jiangzhou Governor Zhou Hong, was willing to send this precious jewel all the way to the palace, showing he might not be as harmless as he looks on the surface.
He needs to investigate thoroughly.
Zhou Wanying has no idea that her actions have aroused the Emperor’s suspicion toward her father.
She was still basking in the Emperor’s compliment, hoping he would dine at the Purple Cloud Pavilion.
"Nearby?" Yan Xiu expressionless: "Could it be nearer than Yao Hua Palace?"
Zhou Wanying chuckled lightly and said: "If the Emperor wishes to dine at Yao Hua Palace, please allow me to serve here."
Li Yuyu listened to their conversation, feeling extremely annoyed.
"Yao Hua Palace is where Li Xiurong resides; why is there a need for others to serve?" Yan Xiu coldly glanced at Li Yuyu: "Why are you still standing? Didn’t you say you’d serve me for dining?"
After saying this, Yan Xiu turned and entered Yao Hua Palace.
Li Yuyu was slightly surprised.
Zhou Wanying took two steps forward, feeling wronged: "Emperor, the Empress Dowager ordered Li Xiurong to kneel on the palace road. Doing this, the Empress Dowager will be hurt."
Yan Xiu paused at the entrance of Yao Hua Palace, turned to look at Zhou Wanying, and said in a deep voice: "Beauty Zhou is quite right..."