Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard Chapter 74.2

A Girl's Worry (2)

Coming to the first floor dining hall, the surface of the table was already set full of dishes. Seeing that it was all light dishes, Meng Jiang Zhuo said, "Xiao Li, how could today's lunch is all this kind of dish? Is there not spicy dishes?"

"Spicy food will also stimulate the gu, letting it become excited, so in the next few days, we all can only eat this kind of light food." Du Xiao Li explained.

"Ah?" Meng Jiang Zhuo looked to Du Xiao Li with a disappointed look, "Then can't you separately make one spicy dish? I've been turned like this because of you, you have to take responsibility for me!"

In the past, her taste had always been rather light, but after getting spoiled by those good things Du Xiao Li made, she slowly also got used to eating spicy food, then afterwards, addicted.

"That won't do." Du Xiao Li shook her head, "Just wait a few days!"

"Alright." Meng Jiang Zhuo look to these dishes that she's never had before and very quickly had her attention all shifted onto them. 

Meng Gu was attending to the Grand Empress Dowager to the side. Du Xiao Li, seeing that she was already that elderly in year, went and took her place. While she was at it, she can also learn what food will be relatively beneficial to the Grand Empress Dowager's body. Thus Meng Gu was ordered to sit down and eat by the Grand Empress Dowager.

Du Xiao Li first asked about some things that the Grand Empress Dowager didn't eat and then helped pick dishes for her. Many of the dishes were all stewed using medical ingredients, but were handled very well by her that the faint medicinal aroma mixed with the original ingredient's scent made the usually somewhat picky Grand Empress Dowager eat her fill, and moreover, didn't throw it back up.

After lunch passed, Han Ming Yi left under the scorching sun. Du Xiao Li waited until everyone all went to nap, before returning to her own room to train for the whole afternoon. When they woke up, she then took them for a stroll around the fruit orchard.

The Grand Empress Dowager and Meng Old Madam stood in the orchard, looking at the ripened fruits inside. In the grape vineyard, Meng Old Madam even personally picked a few strings of grapes. Because the people on the estate all didn't know the Grand Empress Dowager's identity, they all chatted happily with them.

This was their first time coming in contact with these farmers. This made Meng Old Madam and them have a different kind of feeling.

Eventually, Grand Empress Dowager learned that this grape was precisely the raw material for fermenting grape wine. Previously, she'd also drank some before, and felt it was pretty good, but because her body was unwell and can't drink a lot of alcohol, she didn't pay too much attention to it.

After strolling around the orchard for a while, everyone all returned. An elder's stamina wasn't that good, getting tired after strolling for just a while.

When they got back, Du Xiao Li began preparing tonight's dinner. Because the fire-control (controlling the cooking temperature) and whatnot for tonight's dishes were all rather particular, she could only personally go into battle herself. But before she could finish the entire meal, she was interrupted by a big figure. 

(T/N: The ultimate golden thigh has descended------tho I still think Grand Empress Dowager the shiniest one.)

"Greetings your Majesty." Du Xiao Li got called into the guest hall by Meng Jiang Zhuo, and seeing the person sitting in the main seat, she quickly bowed.

To the side, Steward Xie almost bit off his own tongue. He was just thinking this morning whether it'll be the Emperor showing up next time, and the person just shows up in the evening. His own miss always said, this place of hers was a small temple, but what kind of buddhas was this small temple attracting!?

(T/N: This poor Steward Xie, the guy can't take too much shock in one day lmaoo.)

"Quickly get up." Han Ming Ze looked to Du Xiao Li who was still wearing an apron, "You were cooking just now?"

"Replying to your Majesty, yes." Du Xiao Li replied.

"Imperial grandmother's meals are taken care of by you?" Han Ming Ze asked.

"Yes." Du Xiao Li nodded, "Grandma Han's body needs to be nursed back, and using medicinal cuisine is the best way."

"You understand medicine?"

Du Xiao Li nodded.

"Never thought that the no talent no virtue Du family third miss in everyone's eyes, not only can sing and dance, but even possess excellent medical skills." Han Ming Ze looked to Du Xiao Li, his face once again carrying a 'like a smile but not a smile' kind of expression, making one unable to guess what he was thinking.

Du Xiao Li was too lazy to guess and also too lazy to reply.

"Tonight, this emperor will be dining here, so will be troubling you. Heard your cooking is very delicious. This makes this emperor somewhat look forward to it." Han Ming Ze said.

"Then this subject will head to the kitchen to continue cooking." Du Xiao Li curtsied at Han Ming Ze and the Grand Empress Dowager, before retreating out of the room.

"Eh, I'll also go help Xiao Li." Meng Jiang Zhuo said, and then followed behind Du Xiao Li to the kitchen.

After Du Xiao Li returned to the kitchen, she lifted the lid of the simmering soup for a look, and then closed the lid again, continuing to add some firewood into the little stove. Then, picking up the knife again to cut the vegetables, she saw Meng Jiang Zhuo coming over, "Why did you come over?"

"With that big figure present, how can I still dare to stay there, how uncomfortable." Meng Jiang Zhuo moved a short block and sat down next to Du Xiao Li, her two hands at her chin, "Why did he come here?"

"Possibly because he's worried." Du Xiao Li said as she chopped, "I think in the morning, when grandma Han came out, she didn't tell him. Afterwards, big brother Yi went back and finally told him about this matter. Or perhaps, in the morning, he'd already known, but because of various reasons, he only came to check the situation now. Who knows!"

"He won't stay here right?" Meng Jiang Zhuo suddenly thought of this problem and cried out in surprise. 

"Probably won't. He still needs to attend morning court tomorrow morning. If he rushes back tomorrow, he definitely won't make it on time." Du Xiao Li confidently said.

According to rumors, ever since Han Ming Ze ascended the throne, there has not been a single day without morning court. Even on the last day of the lunar year, he'll only release the officials for the holiday after morning court. Although the Grand Empress Dowager's matter is somewhat problematic, he still won't because of this delay morning court.

Speaking of which, he's also considered a cautious and conscientious good Emperor.  

Once dinner was all prepared, Du Xiao Li let Xia Yuan and them carry it to the dining room. Just like at noon, Du Xiao Li attended to the Grand Empress Dowager during the meal, but because Han Ming Ze was present, there was only the Grand Empress Dowager, Meng Old Madam, Meng Jiang Zhuo, as well as Han Ming Yi, who just rushed over before the meal started, at the table. Everyone else were all ordered out, and all the way until the Grand Empress Dowager finished eating did Du Xiao Li finally began eating.

This was Han Ming Ze's first time eating this kind of medicinal cuisine, feeling the taste was somewhat strange, but after eating a few more bites, felt the taste was also not bad.

After eating dinner, Han Ming Yi and Han Ming Ze stayed with the Grand Empress Dowager in the guest hall to chat. Han Ming Yi, after seeing Du Xiao Li come out, found an excuse to go out as well. 

"Li'er."

"Big brother Yi, do you need something?" Du Xiao Li puzzlingly looked to Han Ming Yi.

"Nothing, where are you going right now?" Getting asked that by Du Xiao Li, Han Ming Yi felt somewhat unnatural. 

"I'm going to mix medical ingredients, planning to give Grandma Han a medicinal bath later." Du Xiao Li replied.

"How about this, I'll go together with you then."

"Okay." Du Xiao Li nodded and took him with her to the estate's medicine room. 

T/N: The Emperor is a good Emperor in this story, which is always a good thing. He's a good older brother to HMY. It's just a tragic that he has that as a mother and Ren Wang is his full-blooded brother. Thank god he didn't inherit any of their personalities.

Chapter end