When Li Zhu woke again, it was already Chen Shi.
She pulled the bell by her bed, and five or six palace maids filed in.
"When did His Majesty leave?"
"His Majesty left at Mao Shi."
"Oh."
Zhi Zi beamed with joy. "Congratulations, Your Highness. His Majesty has bestowed upon you so many gifts."
"Rewards? What rewards?"
"So many! This servant remembers there are ivory-carved fans, jadeite ornaments, three large boxes of pearls, various gemstones…"
With each item Zhi Zi mentioned, Li Zhu's heart leaped violently.
After washing her face, Li Zhu eagerly went to the outer chamber.
Zhi Zi hadn't been wrong—the rewards were truly abundant, covering the entire table, with less valuable items placed directly on the floor.
As Li Zhu touched each item one by one, only two words remained in her mind—struck gold!
A long procession of palace attendants entered Huaqing Palace, all carrying items in their hands, making it impossible to ignore.
Su Jieyu watched until her teeth ached with envy.
"This Noble Consort Li is truly favored. Look at these rewards flowing in like water."
An Zhaoyi elegantly sipped her tea. "It's actually a good thing."
Su Jieyu acted as if she had heard a joke. "Have you gone mad? How is this good?"
"At least His Majesty is willing to visit the rear palace now. Noble Consort Li has set a precedent, which means we might have opportunities too."
Su Jieyu thought it over and found this reasoning sound.
"Sister An, do you know if His Majesty actually… favored Noble Consort Li last night?"
"I heard no water was called for."
Su Jieyu straightened her expression. "Impossible! With Noble Consort Li's stunning beauty, how could His Majesty remain unmoved? Is he some sort of Liu Xiahui?"
An Zhaoyi was also quite concerned about this.
Not receiving the Emperor's favor was one matter, but the Emperor being incapable was another.
"His Majesty appears mighty and vigorous—he doesn't seem incapable. Could it be that His Majesty prefers… men?"
An Zhaoyi didn't know the answer either.
She only knew that the Emperor had never favored any woman.
An Zhaoyi would rather hope that the Emperor preferred men—at least then he might grant her a child.
~~
Back in Huaqing Palace, after Li Zhu had admired her rewards to her heart's content, she reluctantly asked Gu Gu Qi to store these items away.
"Your Highness, since His Majesty has bestowed so many gifts, shouldn't you go express your gratitude?"
Li Zhu nodded—that made sense.
But she couldn't go empty-handed to thank him.
After much consideration, Li Zhu decided to make milk tea to present to the Emperor!
Truth be told, Li Zhu simply wanted to drink some herself.
Making milk tea was a popular activity among time-traveling women, and Li Zhu wanted to join the trend.
Knowing Li Zhu loved food, Li Shengyuan had specially set up a kitchen in Huaqing Palace.
Although the kitchen wasn't fully equipped yet, it did have sugar and milk.
Li Zhu insisted on making it herself, but Gu Gu Qi was the first to object.
After much persuasion and Li Zhu's promise not to use any knives, Gu Gu Qi finally relented.
This being her first time making milk tea, Li Zhu wasn't entirely confident.
Fortunately, with the cooks' assistance, they managed to create delicious milk tea by the third attempt.
The sweet aroma wafted through the air, intoxicating everyone present.
"Gu Gu Qi, Zhi Zi, Fo Shou—all of you, try some."
"This… might not be appropriate."
Zhi Zi's feigned reluctance was truly amusing.
"This consort commands you—you must drink!"
Zhi Zi and Fo Shou glanced at Gu Gu Qi, who smiled and nodded.
Not only did they get to taste it, but everyone in Huaqing Palace received a share.
For the palace staff, being able to enjoy a few sips of sweet milk tea while working was pure bliss.
"Zhi Zi, Fo Shou, get ready. We're going to the Hall of Governance!"
"Yes!"
Zhi Zi and Fo Shou each carried a food box as they walked along the palace corridor. Only then did Li Zhu realize that Li Shengyuan might not even agree to see her.
After all, she had witnessed his cold and merciless demeanor with her own eyes.
Li Zhu instantly felt relieved. If it really came to that, she'd just have to let Xiuyu benefit instead.
Indeed, among the two bowls of milk tea Fo Shou carried, one was for Ji An and the other for Hong Yu.
As for Xiuyu, Li Zhu felt it would be somewhat wasteful to give her any.
Huaqing Palace wasn't far from Qinzheng Palace – Li Zhu arrived just as her meal was settling.
"Ji An, I've prepared a sweet soup. Could you trouble yourself to present it to His Majesty on my behalf?"
"Wouldn't Your Ladyship prefer to present it to His Majesty personally?"
"No need. His Majesty is busy with state affairs, and I don't wish to disturb him. Also, I've brought portions for you and Hong Yu as well."
"Oh, even for this humble servant?" Ji An expressed surprise.
"You showed me considerable kindness during my previous visit to Qinzheng Palace, for which I'm truly grateful," Li Zhu said with genuine sincerity.
Ji An's eyes crinkled with a smile as he repeatedly murmured polite refusals.
"Your Ladyship, if you would wait a moment, let this old servant announce your presence. Perhaps His Majesty will grant you an audience."
Though she feared she might only humiliate herself, Li Zhu didn't refuse Ji An's well-intentioned suggestion.
"Your Majesty, Noble Consort Li has presented a sweet soup."
"Noble Consort Li? Where is she now?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Her Ladyship is currently waiting outside the hall."
"Have her enter."
Ji An acknowledged the order, feeling reassured – indeed, His Majesty treated Noble Consort Li differently from the others!
Li Zhu hadn't expected Li Shengyuan to actually agree to see her either, having assumed it would just be a formality.
"Greetings to Your Majesty."
"Rise. Ji An mentioned you made a sweet soup. Did you prepare it yourself?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Since you've bestowed so many gifts upon this concubine, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude."
"Do you like all those gifts?"
"Yes! This concubine likes them very much!"
Seeing the vibrant excitement on Li Zhu's face, Li Shengyuan couldn't help but curve the corners of his mouth upward.
Ahem, where is this sweet soup? Present it," Li Shengyuan said.
Li Zhu stepped forward, opened the food box, and took out a bowl of milk tea.
"Your Majesty, this sweet soup is called milk tea. It's made from tea leaves and milk."
Li Shengyuan took a sip – quite fragrant and sweet, though somewhat overly sweet.
But thinking that Li Zhu had made it herself, he took two more sips.
"Not bad. It's commendable that you put such careful thought into this."
"As long as Your Majesty likes it." Then Li Zhu pretended to be shy and hesitant as she said, "Will Your Majesty be visiting this concubine's Huaqing Palace tonight?"
Li Zhu thought that by putting on such a coquettish act to seek favor, the dog emperor would surely be disgusted and ignore her for at least a month.
[I heard the palace procurement brought in a batch of northwestern mutton. Tonight I'll have mutton hot pot!]
Li Shengyuan heard every word clearly. This woman actually wanted to enjoy delicacies alone while putting on such an act, making him genuinely think just moments ago that…
"I'll go."
"Eh?" Li Zhu was caught completely off guard.
"Why is the Noble Consort surprised? Could it be that my beloved consort spoke falsely and actually doesn't want me to visit Huaqing Palace at all?"
"Of course not, this concubine… very much hopes Your Majesty will come."
Ultimately unable to give up the mutton hot pot, Li Zhu added, "This concubine was thinking of having mutton hot pot today. I wonder if Your Majesty…"
"My beloved consort enjoys good food and knows how to eat well. Shall I join you for meals from now on?"
Join her for every meal from now on? Li Zhu suddenly felt short of breath.
[Wouldn't this dog emperor eat me into poverty? A noble consort's allowance isn't that substantial…]
Li Shengyuan's face darkened. After all the gifts he had bestowed, Li Zhu actually begrudged him even some food!
Moreover, as the Son of Heaven, he would never stoop so low as to compete with a consort for food!
"It is my honor to dine with Your Majesty."
"Beloved Consort, rest assured, I will visit you often when I have time."
[Wuwuwu, that damned emperor! Not only does he eat my food, but he also wants to make me the target of all the imperial concubines in the palace! I'm so pitiful…]
Li Shengyuan also realized that his special treatment of Li Zhu could become a weapon to harm her.
"Are you accustomed to living in Huaqing Palace?"
"Yes, Huaqing Palace is very comfortable."
"Good. Has any of the imperial concubines given you trouble?"
"No, all the sisters are easy to get along with."
[Well, except for a few sarcastic remarks from Consort An, but that's nothing. Though whether things will remain peaceful in the future is hard to say.]
Li Shengyuan lowered his gaze, lost in thought.
Seeing that Li Shengyuan remained silent for a long time, Li Zhu tentatively called out, "Your Majesty?"
Hearing her voice, Li Shengyuan looked up.
"Then I shall not disturb Your Majesty further. I take my leave."
"Wait."