Chen Jing and Feng Yin entered one after the other, both holding trays with desserts and fruits on them.
"Empress Dowager, these are newly made desserts from the Imperial Kitchen."
While saying this, Chen Jing glanced towards Li Yuyu.
Then, she placed the lotus cakes and lotus pastries on the table and added two plates of fruits.
"So this is the lotus cake?" The Empress Dowager picked up the dessert in her hand and took a look, realizing it was indeed made of lotus. She hadn’t eaten this before; she had only heard Chen Jing mention that Lady Li loved it.
The Empress Dowager’s eyes glanced at Li Yuyu’s face from the corner of her eye.
Sure enough, Li Yuyu was eyeing the lotus cake eagerly, with a look that suggested she wanted to eat it but dared not snatch it.
The Empress Dowager originally didn’t intend to eat these sweet treats, but for some reason, she just wanted to tease her.
So, she took the lotus cake and put it in her mouth.
"Hmm, very nice, sweet but not cloying, it melts in the mouth. I don’t usually like overly sweet things, but this lotus cake suits my taste."
The Empress Dowager praised warmly with a gentle smile.
Chen Jing: ?
Is this lotus cake truly that delicious?
The Empress Dowager picked up another piece to eat and seemed to only then notice Li Yuyu’s slightly closer face. She raised her eyebrows in feigned confusion and said, "Does Lady Li also want to eat this?"
Li Yuyu: "... Please enjoy, Empress Dowager. I was just about to ask if you wanted any fruit, so I could peel it for you."
Chen Jing: ...
Understood.
The lotus cake isn’t that delicious, it’s just fun to tease Lady Li.
It seems the Empress Dowager also likes Lady Li, even if she might not realize it herself.
"Is that so? I thought Lady Li liked lotus cakes too, and was going to leave some for you. Since you don’t like them," the Empress Dowager paused and then smiled at Chen Jing, "please put them away for me, and kindly inform the Imperial Kitchen to send their lotus cakes here to Cining Palace in the future."
How could this be!
Her lotus cakes!
Ah ah ah!
Li Yuyu pouted in disappointment, her small face looked undeniably cute.
Yan Xiu watched Li Yuyu, who was like a little kitten ready to explode but not daring to show her claws. He found the sight extremely endearing and couldn’t help but serve himself another bowl of soup.
Chen Jing went out to prepare a box.
"Empress Dowager is just teasing Lady Li, isn’t she?" Shen Quan heard the conversation clearly and said with a laughing smile.
Chen Jing shook her head helplessly, "I don’t know why, when I see Lady Li, I want to spoil her, and the Empress Dowager just wants to tease her? Seeing Lady Li’s little sorrowful expression just now, I don’t know whether to feel sorry or to laugh."
Too cute.
Shen Quan chuckled, "Now you know why the Emperor only favors her, right?"
Chen Jing glared at him, "Whether the Emperor favors or not, we servants dare not speak it out!"
"Oh, my mouth," Shen Quan mockingly slapped his lip corner lightly and chuckled while scolding himself, "Deserves a smack!"
Chen Jing shook her head, received the food box from a young maid, and turned back into the room.
Meanwhile, Feng Yin, who was standing outside, kept her head bowed and did not join in the conversation at any point.
"You, girl, are great at everything, just a little too composed. It was such a good opportunity just now, why didn’t you speak up for your Concubine?" Shen Quan gently chided.
Feng Yin lifted her gaze and smiled at Shen Quan, "Mr. Shen, you already said so much, if I speak more, wouldn’t I just be annoying? I understand one thing well: too much will overturn a balance, and overfilled water will spill."