Dali Temple Small Dining Room

  After lunch, Wen Mingtang lay on the bed and looked up at the curtain above her head. The bedding under her body was soft and warm, which formed a stark contrast with the cold and hard bed in her backyard.

  Looking at the charcoal basin not far away, Wen Mingtang pursed his lips, and there was still some sour and sweet taste in his mouth. Lunch was brought over by the palace servants, each dish was a small dish, a total of one or two bites, the main course, appetizers and after-dinner snacks added up to a total of fifteen dishes. Looking at the set of auspicious and wishful dishes, one can tell that it is the handwriting of several chefs in the imperial dining room. Due to the cooking rules of the imperial dining room, the "free play" of several chefs is limited, and it is not uncommon to make one or two bites of dishes. It is naturally difficult for Wen Mingtang to identify which chef's handwriting it is. But after the meal, Wen Mingtang tasted the jade rabbit rice cake stuffed with sweet and sour peach sauce, which was made by Zhao Sishan.

It's embarrassing to say, although she and Zhao Sishan are close friends, she has never eaten dim sum made by Zhao Sishan in private, but it is the first time to eat dim sum made by Zhao Sishan on a plate of auspicious wishes like today. back.

  The corners of her lips curled up, Wen Mingtang lowered her eyes, and turned over. She didn't have the habit of taking a nap, so... close your eyes and rest!

   After noon, I got up and taught the maids in charge of the queen's small kitchen to make snacks.

  Although she vaguely guessed the meaning of what the empress empress said in favor of Wen Xuance's many times today... Once the emperor and courtiers, the Sacred Heart may be different, but...some things, she must not be the one who starts the conversation. As for her, she is just an honest, well-behaved servant girl in the palace making snacks.

  Close your eyes and meditate... Oh no, after taking a nap, Wen Mingtang left the house, was lured into the small kitchen by the palace servants, brought a few palace maids, poured rice flour and started kneading the dough.

   The New Year’s Day dessert box that was specifically mentioned by the empress would come with a set. Wen Mingtang did not hide his secrets. After explaining it in detail and demonstrating it, he wrote down the recipe.

  After writing the prescription, it's time to eat evening food. Still like lunch, the same set of Ruyi auspicious small dishes, more than a dozen dishes filled the entire food table. Holding the chopsticks, Wen Mingtang went from the appetizers to the main dishes, and when he picked up the last snack, the Jade Rabbit Rice Cake, and felt that the whole day was going well today, the palace maid hurried over.

   "Master Wen!"

  Wen Mingtang raised his head and looked at the servant girl who came in a hurry, subconsciously put down the jade rabbit rice cake in his hand, supported the soft couch under him with both hands, and was about to get up, but asked, "What's wrong?"

The palace servant said: "Is Zhao Sishan from the imperial dining room an old acquaintance of Master Wen?" As he spoke, he glanced at the jade rabbit rice cake on the case, and did not forget to remind Wen Mingtang, "This jade rabbit rice cake is her specialty. I wonder if Master Wen still has an impression?"

  Wen Mingtang's memory has always been good, let alone Zhao Sishan? Hearing this, he couldn't help but smiled wryly and said: "I know it, of course," he said, without waiting for the maid to pass the words, he asked himself, "I don't know what happened to Zhao Sishan?"

The palace servant said: "I heard that the concubine is not feeling well after eating the snacks she made tonight. At present, Mr. Zhao Sishan has been taken away by the concubine's people. Dao suspects that she murdered the concubine. He must be severely punished." The investigation is coming!"

  Wen Mingtang's face turned pale when he heard this. After the new emperor ascends the throne, is there any other concubine in this palace who will make a big splash? Today is the 11th day of the first lunar month, less than four days before Zhao Sishan leaves the palace, unexpectedly, the concubine would step in at this time... No way! Zhao Sishan cannot be detained by Concubine Jing, if this time passes, it will be difficult for Zhao Sishan to leave the palace again.

  Wen Mingtang's face was extremely ugly. After thinking about it, he hurriedly asked the palace servant: "Dare to ask where the empress is?"

  The palace servants in the queen's palace who were able to rush over to report the news had been ordered by the queen. Hearing this, he immediately said: "Master Wen, please come with your maidservant!"

  Wen Mingtang got up, and hurriedly followed the maid who came to report the news. Before leaving, he did not forget to put the unfinished jade rabbit rice cake snacks into his sleeve pocket. From time to time in the palace, someone would put them on a table. Being hungry or something was commonplace, so that Wen Mingtang developed a habit of always putting snacks, rice cakes, dumplings and other things in his sleeve pockets casually, just in case from time to time. necessary habits.

When the servants in the palace met the empress, Wen Mingtang learned what had happened from the empress: that Concubine Jing had some diarrhea after eating the evening meal, so she summoned the imperial physician, and at the same time asked someone to make the evening meal Zhao Si Shan took it over and waited for it.

"Right now, people are kneeling in front of the palace," the empress's face no longer had the smile she had when she was summoned earlier today, and her expression was a little serious. She raised her hand to support her forehead, and this time, her eyes were no longer the same as she said in the morning. The look was really tired, and before Wen Mingtang could open his mouth, he continued, "I heard that this Zhao Sishan will leave the palace in a few days? I think it's a temper that doesn't want to cause trouble. Previously, the concubine She didn't handle even the food in the evening, today it was the concubine who hand-picked her, and the clinker was hand-picked before, but something happened in the back!"

   This sentence "Handpicked by the front foot, something happens to the back foot" is really intriguing. Wen Mingtang is not stupid, and he immediately understood the meaning of the queen's words.

  Concubine Jing's move was obviously deliberate, and she was blatantly planting blame: the purpose was to prevent Zhao Sishan from leaving the palace.

  Wen Mingtang only felt that at this moment, his heart felt as if he had been hit hard by a sap, and his heart throbbed violently.

  Why did Concubine Jing want to harm Zhao Sishan? Zhao Sishan is a cautious person, the closer the day of leaving the palace, the more careful he is, not to offend others easily. As for her background, besides Zhao Dalang, who is fighting for family wealth outside the palace, who else wants to harm Zhao Sishan?

  Thinking of the one who was inexplicably transferred to Concubine Jing's Palace and "suddenly" favored, the answer is self-evident: it's because of her.

  Thinking of what the dowager concubine who was so high in the palace, bossing her around and arbitrarily deciding her life and death had done these days, Wen Mingtang gritted her teeth subconsciously.

   Power has truly become a sharp weapon in the hands of Concubine Jing: unscrupulous, indiscriminate killing of innocents.

  Wen Mingtang took a deep breath, took a step back, and knelt down in front of the queen: "My daughter begged the queen to save Zhao Sishan's life!"

  She knew very well that if the queen was not sure about resolving the matter, people around her would not bring this to her ears.

Seeing this, the queen quickly reached out to help her up, patted her hand, and said: "I have also eaten a lot of dim sum made by Zhao Sishan on weekdays. It is very handy. I didn't expect it... Hey, Ben Let's try it for now, it's hard to say if it will work!"

  Wen Mingtang's eyes were red, and he kowtowed to the queen again: "The empress is willing to extend her hand, and the daughter of the people is already grateful, so how can you expect too much?"

The queen nodded, and after a moment's pause, she looked at her and said, "Wait a minute. I didn't choose another day, but I chose to hand-pick Zhao Sishan today. I will wait and see for a while, and someone will come to look for you." , you might take this opportunity to see what the other party wants to do."