On the way back, Ye Jinyun quietly asked Qing’er what was going on with the shaved ice.
Qing’er pouted and whispered in her ear:
“Why should Third Miss want to compete for favor, and you, my lady, have to come up with ideas for her? The shaved ice method was originally created by you, but it was given away so cheaply to her. I wasn’t willing in my heart, so I held back a little and didn’t teach her everything.”
“You,” Ye Jinyun tapped her on the forehead helplessly and smiled. “You really are like a child.”
She didn’t blame Qing’er for it. In truth, Ye Jinyong was simply borrowing someone else’s work to gain favor. Ye Jinyun herself wasn’t pleased with that, so since Qing’er had held something back, she chose not to expose it. In any case, the simplified version of shaved ice still tasted fine, and it was enough for Ye Jinyong to make an impression in front of the Emperor.
Yinzhu, walking beside them, also couldn’t help but speak up for her mistress:
“Why did My Lady teach this shaved ice method to Miss Ye? If you wished, you could have personally presented it to His Majesty. It would surely have earned his favor. Why let someone else take your credit?”
Ye Jinyun patted her hand to calm her down.
After being by her side for so long, they should have understood that she had no interest in the Emperor’s favor and only wanted a peaceful life in the palace.
Besides, Ye Jinyong was her elder brother’s biological sister. Teaching her the method did not count as benefiting an outsider. For the sake of her brother, helping her was reasonable.
If Ye Jinyong truly managed to gain favor, it would also help her brother’s future official career. Of course, Ye Jinyun would never say this out loud—some things only Qing’er needed to know.
The three of them returned to Lingyue Pavilion, all already covered in sweat. The summer heat outside was truly unbearable, so she quickly ordered water to be prepared so she could bathe.
After bathing, it was almost time for dinner. Because she had gone out in the afternoon and gotten overheated, Ye Jinyun didn’t have much appetite. She instructed Qing’er to take people to the small kitchen to make cold noodles for them, briefly explaining how to prepare them, and then went to the courtyard to cool off.
Since Ye Qingtang and the other two had returned to their rooms after she left, they had been resting separately. Without Ye Jinyun around, the three different personalities felt a bit awkward together and didn’t have much to talk about.
Now that she was back, they all came out again. The rooms were too hot anyway, and they couldn’t stay inside for long. Her “cool retreat” in the courtyard was far more comfortable. If it weren’t improper, they would have even wanted to sleep there at night.
Seeing them come out, Ye Jinyun quickly called them over and sat down together. She brought out some dried melon seeds for them to crack and poured two cups of chrysanthemum tea.
Lin Qingtang sat on the stone stool, took the tea she handed over, and asked:
“I just saw Qing’er leading a group of palace maids toward the small kitchen in high spirits. What are they doing?”
“Oh, I sent them to make cold noodles,” Ye Jinyun replied while cracking melon seeds. “Have you two eaten dinner yet? If not, want to eat together?”
Both of them shook their heads in unison. “Not yet.”
Ye Jinyun smiled and instructed one of Yu Wan’er’s attendants to go to the kitchen and tell Qing’er to prepare more—both of them would be joining for dinner, and to bring the food directly here when it was ready.
The maid accepted the order and hurried off.
Summer days were long; it only got dark around 8 or 9 p.m. by modern standards, so eating in the courtyard was no problem at all. It was cool and comfortable.
The others didn’t object. They were used to snacking on pastries and fruit here anyway, so having a proper meal together was even better.
Besides, since entering the palace, they had mostly eaten alone. It had been a long time since they sat together like this, chatting while eating. At their age, how could they not enjoy a bit of lively company?
Even the cold-faced Lin Qingtang, though she disliked strangers, would show a more youthful side among close friends. She now considered Ye Jinyun a friend and naturally spoke more freely with her.
After a while, Qing’er arrived with the cold noodles.
The noodles were served in deep bowls, topped with chopped scallions and drizzled with fragrant sesame oil, looking extremely appetizing. The aroma alone made everyone hungry.
Ye Jinyun picked up her chopsticks and motioned for the others to follow her lead—mixing the noodles first would make them more flavorful.
The others copied her, mixing the golden noodles with shredded cucumber. There were also roasted peanuts inside, along with a touch of red chili oil and vinegar. The fragrance alone was enough to make one’s mouth water.
They quickly mixed and took their first bites. Both of them nodded in satisfaction.
The cold noodles were truly delicious—smooth, cool, and refreshing, with rich seasoning. Perfect for summer, and very appetizing.
Without much hesitation, all three of them lowered their heads and ate happily. With good food in front of them, no one felt like talking much.
After finishing a bowl, Yu Wan’er patted her stomach in satisfaction and said:
“Sister Ye, you’re amazing. You know so many new and interesting foods. Where did you learn them all?”
Lin Qingtang was also curious and looked at her seriously.
Ye Jinyun chuckled and casually made something up:
“I learned them from various books. Sometimes I come across strange and interesting things in texts, and I remember them and try making them myself. I didn’t expect them to turn out just like what was written.”
The two of them knew she liked reading and often held different kinds of books, so they believed her without doubt.
Seeing that they accepted her explanation, Ye Jinyun secretly sighed in relief. It seemed that passing her time reading books was a very useful excuse after all.