Chapter 17: Disfigured Palace Maid vs. Cold-blooded Emperor
Yaohua Palace.

Imperial Concubine Zhao also heard about it. She half leaned on the couch and cursed with disdain: "That bitch of Imperial Concubine Rou is just a poor woman from Jiangnan. She is so lowly that she is not even worthy of carrying my shoes. But the emperor likes her and is willing to pamper her. I am so angry."

Jinse stood aside respectfully and said at the right time: "Your Majesty, the emperor is in a bad mood at the moment and needs comfort. Your Majesty, why don't you send him some warm soup to comfort his heart."

Ever since Hongyu became a concubine, the queen's favor has visibly declined. Jinse saw it and was worried, so she couldn't help but offer some advice.

Concubine Zhao was moved and said, "Okay, go and prepare a bowl of nourishing soup, and I will send it to the Imperial Study for His Majesty to drink."

"Yes, madam!"

Jinse retreated with a happy look on her face and quickly went back to work.

Soon, she came in carrying a brocade box.

"Your Majesty, it's turtle, wolfberry and lily soup. I personally supervised the kitchen staff to make it."

Jinse stepped forward and said.

Concubine Zhao opened the brocade box and took a look. She thought there was no problem. "Okay, let's go!"

After saying that, he took Jinse and left Yaohua Palace, heading to the imperial study to deliver soup to Ye Beichen.

Concubine Mei and Concubine Wan also brought soup to Ye Beichen.

Her plan was similar to that of Concubine Zhao. They both wanted to take advantage of the emperor's bad mood to win his favor.

Although it is risky for the emperor to come here when he is angry, risk and favor coexist.

If I can gain a place in the emperor's heart, a few risks won't matter.

imperial study room

Ye Beichen felt even worse when he looked at the three servings of nourishing and health-preserving soup that were placed on the imperial desk.

"Your Majesty, this is the turtle, wolfberry and lily soup that I made myself. Both the ingredients and materials are top-quality and fresh, and extremely nutritious. May I serve you a bowl to try?"

Today, Concubine Zhao was wearing a pink brocade palace dress, which was embroidered with large peonies, which was very bright. She had her hair combed high on her head and wore a set of pomegranate red agate and gold step-shaking jewelry. Her pair of phoenix eyes were full of light and she was very beautiful.

Mei Fei was unwilling to be left behind, and stepped forward with a smile and said, "Your Majesty, I made chicken and duck tongue soup. If it doesn't taste good, please don't blame me."

She wore a black snail-shaped eyebrow hairstyle and discarded the pearl tassels. Her three thousand black hair was tied up with a delicate plum blossom hairpin. She was lightly made up, and her dark eyebrows were as delicate as distant mountains, and her green hair was thickly dyed with spring smoke. She had a spiritual beauty like the clouds and mist of Wushan.

Concubine Wan glanced at Concubine Zhao and Concubine Mei without leaving a trace, and there was a flash of displeasure in her eyes, but she still smiled and stepped forward and said:
"Your Majesty is very busy with official duties and is very tired. Drinking this Eucommia and Codonopsis pigeon soup can relieve soreness in the waist and knees, fatigue and sleepiness. Your Majesty, please try what I made."

She was dressed in a light blue palace dress, her skin was whiter than snow, her face was delicate and beautiful, her eyebrows were curved, her brows were lightly drawn, her figure was graceful, and she was gentle and dignified.

Faced with the three beauties showing their courtesy to him, Ye Beichen not only did not feel happy, but rather very annoyed.

"Okay, I'm busy now. I'll drink it later. Let's go down!"

Ye Beichen said coldly with a cold face.

Anyone could tell from his unhappy look that he was unhappy.

Concubine Zhao, Concubine Mei, and Concubine Wan naturally saw that the emperor was in a bad mood, and they did not dare to stay any longer, so they tactfully retreated.

Ye Beichen sent away Concubine Zhao and others, and then saw three servings of soup in front of the imperial table.

After thinking for a while, he said to Eunuch Fu who was standing beside him, "Send all the soup to Yu Yao, and tell her to finish drinking it and come over here quickly."

He hadn't slept all night and was exhausted, but she slept soundly. He suddenly felt a little unhappy and wanted to call her over.

Eunuch Fu's mouth twitched, and he said respectfully: "Yes, Your Majesty!"

So he turned around and left with the soup.

Here, Yu Yao was sleeping in a daze, and was awakened by the voice of Eunuch Fu outside the door.

When she went out to take a look, she found that it was Eunuch Fu who brought her soup on the emperor's order.

If you want to give soup, just give it as a gift. Why three servings?

Turtle, wolfberry and lily soup, chicken mince and duck tongue soup, Eucommia ulmoides and Codonopsis pilosula pigeon soup.

No matter which one it was, it was extremely nutritious and not something a little palace maid like her could drink.

Even ordinary concubines could not drink such delicious soup.

At least she has to be a concubine.

She remembered that the concubines in the harem liked to bring soup to the emperor, and she suddenly understood the reason.

I just don't know which three concubines sent it. "Eunuch Fu, I can't drink so much by myself, how about you drink with me?"

Yu Yao pushed the turtle, wolfberry and lily soup in front of Eunuch Fu and said with a smile.

"Oh, Miss Yu is so polite. This is a gift from the Emperor. How can I drink it?"

Eunuch Fu smiled and refused.

Although most of the soup given to the emperor by the concubines in the harem went into their stomachs, as long as it was a reward from the emperor, it was a grace.

But if you drink too much, you will inevitably feel sick of it.

"It's okay. If you give it to me, it's mine. Besides, there's no one else in this room. Drink it, sir. Otherwise, if I drink three servings by myself, I'm afraid I'll get sick."

Yu Yao smiled and pushed the turtle, wolfberry and lily soup over.

Eunuch Fu knew that she couldn't drink so much by herself, so he didn't refuse. After a few polite words, he picked up the glass and drank it.

Although it feels a bit greasy, it is indeed good stuff.

If it weren't for the emperor's reward, they would not have the right to drink such good soup.

Yu Yao also drank the bowl of Eucommia ulmoides, Codonopsis pilosula and pigeon soup.

As for the chicken and duck tongue soup, she planned to save it for drinking in the evening. There was a stove in the compartment of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, so she could just warm it up when the time came.

They each drank a bowl and were in a good mood.

"Miss Yu, let's go. The emperor is still waiting in the imperial study."

Eunuch Fu put down the bowl, wiped his mouth, and said to Yu Yao.

Yu Yao nodded, packed up a little, and followed Eunuch Fu.

……

"The emperor is in a bad mood today, so please be careful when serving him, young lady."

On the way to the imperial study, Eunuch Fu whispered to Yu Yao.

When Yu Yao heard this, she knew that Eunuch Fu was giving her some advice, and she looked at him gratefully, "Thank you for your advice, Eunuch. I understand."

It can be seen that the turtle, wolfberry and lily soup does have some effect. Eunuch Fu is a favorite of the emperor and he cannot be offended.

I don’t know why Ye Beichen is in a bad mood. He was in a good mood when he left in the morning.

"Does the father-in-law know what it is about?"

Yu Yao looked at Eunuch Fu and couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

Eunuch Fu looked around and then replied in a low voice, "The Emperor went to Yongfu Palace after the morning court session."

Anyway, this matter has spread throughout the harem, so there is nothing that cannot be said.

Only Miss Yu was sleeping in the room and didn't know about it.

When Yu Yao heard this, she knew that Concubine Rou was making trouble again, and she also knew why Ye Beichen was unhappy.

So he didn't continue asking.

Soon, Yu Yao and Eunuch Fu appeared at the door of the imperial study.

Eunuch Fu did not go in, but waited at the door.

Yu Yao went in by herself and bowed to Ye Beichen, "This servant greets His Majesty. May His Majesty be blessed with good health."

Ye Beichen looked up and glanced at her, then asked coldly, "Can you grind ink?"

His voice was cold and his attitude was also cold, completely different from the good mood he was in when he left in the morning.

Seeing him like this, Yu Yao did not dare to tease him and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I will."

"Then come over and grind the ink."

Ye Beichen said this coldly, then lowered his head to continue handling official business.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Yu Yao did not dare to delay and walked quickly to the imperial desk. She first dripped clean water onto the inkstone, then pushed the ground ink into the inkstone pool, grinding it repeatedly at a uniform speed.

(End of this chapter)