Tired from kneading dough, Yanwan simply called several young maids over to help, and everyone merrily made a good amount together.
She was making sweet red bean shortbread pastries, wrapped in layers of flaky crust that encased rich, sweet red bean paste—taking a single bite would leave one’s mouth filled with aroma.
The oven inside the small kitchen wafted a mouthwatering scent, making these young maids gaze at Yanwan with wide, eager eyes, which tickled her to no end.
“Alright, it’s time to take them out of the oven. You girls can eat from this batch first, and later I’ll wrap some up for each of you to take back.”
Hearing this, the maids’ eyes lit up with pleasant surprise. Exchanging glances, they thanked Yanwan in unison.
“Thank you, Sister Yanwan! You are so beautiful and kind-hearted. If there are any chores in the future, please feel free to order us around.”
Yanwan was their direct superior; she managed things fairly and systematically, never beating or scolding the servants below her. Thus, not a single person in the Palace of Earthly Honor disliked her.
Having received benefits, the young maids worked with great enthusiasm, and two large baskets of shortbread pastries were quickly pulled out of the oven.
Once the young maids departed, Yanwan brought out oiled paper and neatly stacked the shortbread layer by layer. She packed thirty pieces to a bundle, tying them up with a pink ribbon into a nice bow—the packaging was complete.
Looking at the neatly wrapped pastry parcels, Yanwan nodded with satisfaction. The remaining ones could be distributed to the other servants in the Palace of Earthly Honor.
According to her plan, she would be staying in the Palace of Earthly Honor for quite a while, so building good relations with these “colleagues” was necessary; having one more friend meant having one more path open to her.
When Ruyi returned from paying her respects, she had just changed her attire and sat down when Yanwan’s shortbread was served on the table.
Upon learning that Yanwan had personally made them this morning, Ruyi grew rather interested. The shortbread pastries arranged on the porcelain plate were delicate in size, with flaky layers baked to a golden crisp.
Ruyi looked up at Yanwan, a smile gracing her fair face as she teased, “It smells sweet and fragrant. I didn’t expect you to have such good culinary skills, Yanwan. I truly haven’t tasted this kind of shortbread before.”
Smelling the sweet scent, Ruyi could not help but swallow her saliva. She had been sitting in the Empress’s palace all morning and had only drunk a little tea. She did not dare touch any of the pastries served in the Empress’s palace, and only now did she feel a sense of hunger in her stomach.
Raising her hand with her fingernail guards held high, she pinched a piece and put it into her mouth to taste, finding the flavor even better than expected.
Seeing that Ruyi enjoyed it, a sparkle of amusement flashed in Yanwan’s eyes. Loving it so much, could it make her recall her days with her youthful lover as well?
Turning to look at Suoxin beside her, Yanwan nudged her and whispered in a low voice, “I set aside plenty for you. Take them to your room later so you can have them as a late-night snack when you get hungry.”
Suoxin’s face lit up with delight, and she whispered back, “Thank you so much! They smell wonderful. I’ll eat a few more when I get back.”
Yanwan bore no real malice toward Suoxin, who had also been harmed quite terribly by Ruyi in the original storyline.
She discovered that Suoxin was not foolishly loyal as portrayed in the story; after enduring the stint in the Cold Palace, Suoxin had already developed the desire to leave the Imperial Palace. She did not hide this from Yanwan, having made her intentions subtle yet clear through her words.
Because of this, the tacit understanding between the two grew stronger and stronger.
Suoxin did not resent Yanwan; on the contrary, she hoped Yanwan could take over her position so that she would have a chance to be released from the palace by Ruyi.
Ruyi ate two shortbread pastries in one go. Seeing Yanwan and Suoxin looking at her, she picked up a handkerchief with a touch of embarrassment and wiped the corners of her mouth.
“Yanwan’s craft is truly wonderful. Were it not for mealtime approaching, I would have to eat two more.”
Yanwan smiled softly, stepping forward to pour a cup of tea for Ruyi, and said respectfully, “It is rare for Your Ladyship to enjoy them. The recipe for these shortbread pastries is simple; if Your Ladyship wishes to eat them again in the future, just give the order. I made a generous amount this morning and was thinking of sending some to my elder cousin. It is all thanks to Your Ladyship’s promotion that he became an Imperial Guard before the Imperial Presence. I truly do not know how to repay Your Ladyship’s kindness.”
A serene smile appeared on Ruyi’s face. Hearing Yanwan’s loyal words, her eyes flashed with satisfaction; the noble character of this brother and sister pair was precisely what was most precious.
An Imperial Guard position before the Imperial Presence could not be joined unless one was from the Eight Banners, yet the Emperor had actually taken her words to heart and made an exception to promote Ling Yunche to the Imperial Guard before the Imperial Presence.
At the thought of this, Ruyi’s heart was filled with yearning for her youthful lover. She urgently wanted to see him, yet even though the misunderstanding between them had just been resolved, the Emperor had not come to visit her either.
Gazing down at the remaining shortbread pastries on the plate, Ruyi’s dark eyes brightened, and she could not help asking, “Are there any more of these shortbread pastries? I find them delicious, and I think the Emperor should like them too. Yanwan, as you happen to be going to see Ling Yunche before the Imperial Presence, present a plate to the Emperor as well.”
“There are more; I made quite a few. I will go prepare them and bring along my cousin’s share as well. Going to the Hall of Mental Cultivation and handing the pastries to Chief Eunuch Li should be enough, right?”
Seeing how innocent she seemed, the smile on Ruyi’s face became even more pronounced. “Yes, once you arrive before the Imperial Presence, just say I ordered you to send them over. Li Yu will naturally present them to the Emperor.”
When the Emperor saw the items sent from the Palace of Earthly Honor, he would naturally think of her. The two shared a mutual understanding, so Hongli would certainly know that she missed him. Thinking of this, a trace of a pleased smile appeared on Ruyi’s face.
A smile glinted in Yanwan’s eyes. After bowing respectfully to Ruyi, she went to the small kitchen to prepare.
“Did you hatch this plan right from the start? First saying you wanted to see Ling Yunche, then stoking Ruyi’s longing for the Emperor, so you could logically meet the Emperor.”
The System watched the entire process of how Ruyi stepped into Yanwan’s trap step-by-step. It was truly surprising that making a few shortbread pastries could allow her to see the Emperor.
“Who said I wanted to see the Emperor? I merely wanted to use an errand as an excuse to handle some personal affairs. The Emperor and Ruyi are in a stage where absence makes the heart grow fonder—wouldn’t I be courting trouble by thrusting myself forward now?”
Returning to the small kitchen, she found an exquisite porcelain plate, arranged the shortbread into a floral pattern, and placed it inside a food box. A gift for the Emperor naturally could not look cheap, but it shouldn’t be too much either, lest the Emperor eat so much at once that he grew tired of it.
Yanwan retrieved the packaged parcels from the cupboard, took another food box, and put them all inside. She casually called over a young eunuch she was on good terms with to help her carry the food box, and walked toward the Imperial Presence.
The Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Li Yu stepped out of the hall, suddenly leaving the warm hall behind, and instantly felt a chill come over him.
Pacing over to Jinzhong’s side, he saw him standing before the hall, staring blankly into the courtyard. He patted Jinzhong’s shoulder and reminded him, “What are you staring off at? The Emperor wants to hold a grand celebration for the Beginning of Winter Banquet the day after tomorrow. When you’re free this afternoon, take a trip to the Imperial Household Department and have them prepare all the supplies.”
Jinzhong snapped back to his senses and hurriedly agreed, yet his eyes kept glancing outward.
Slightly puzzled, Li Yu followed his gaze and looked toward the courtyard. With just a single glance, he understood the reason—no wonder Jinzhong was acting so distracted; his soul had been stolen away by a enchantress!
He saw Yanwan standing beside a guard, the two of them engaged in conversation.
Today, she wore a pink palace maid uniform, her small two-handle hairstyle adorned simply with two velvet flowers. Though she had no fancy ornaments decorating her, she was tenderly beautiful and refined, unforgettable to anyone who saw her.
The radiant smile on her face as she spoke made the guard before her stare at her in a daze.
The other guards on duty nearby seemed stationary, but their eyes were actually fixed on her as well!
This enchantress was indeed extraordinary; without doing a thing, she had drawn the gazes of everyone in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Li Yu’s handsome face darkened. He could tell that the person talking to Yanwan was Ling Yunche, who had been transferred from the Cold Palace.
Hmph! Failing to mind her duties in the Palace of Earthly Honor, she actually ran to the Imperial Presence to meet her lover!