Chapter Fifteen: QQ Nani's Delightful Sip of Meipu Tea
Just as she was about to enter the small kitchen, Chunyu suddenly wrapped her arms tightly around her waist.
“Your Majesty, the little kitchen has just been renovated. Please don’t blow it up again.”
“Come on, think about the last hotpot incident. Do I look like the type to blow up a kitchen?” Jiang Daiyin was determined to clear her name.
“No! It’s different!”
“Have you forgotten last time? You said you wanted to make longevity noodles for His Majesty, but ended up covering the whole kitchen in flour. Then you even lit a fire — you nearly blew up Fengyi Palace.”
How could someone cause such a disaster?
A dust explosion—this was reckless beyond belief.
No wonder Chunyu was so alarmed.
“Your Majesty, something’s wrong!” Xia Mo hurried back, breathless. “We’ve run out of the recipe for Eight Treasures Tea. What are we to do now?”
“What happened?” Jiang Daiyin frowned.
“I went to the imperial kitchen and found out that Consort Xin took all the Eight Treasures Tea. There’s none left for us.”
Xia Mo was nearly in tears, terrified that if she couldn’t present it to His Majesty, she’d be blamed.
“Consort Xin?” It seemed deliberate.
Jiang Daiyin pursed her lips. She did no harm, yet these people were always scheming against her. Why couldn’t they just let things be? Why the constant fight for favor—it was so tiresome.
“What shall we do now? That eunuch has probably already gone back to report to His Majesty!” Chunyu said solemnly.
“Why don’t we just ask Consort Xin for some?”
“No need. She did this on purpose.” Jiang Daiyin rejected Xia Mo’s suggestion.
“What now?”
Everyone was suddenly flustered and at a loss.
“I have a plan.” Jiang Daiyin rolled up her sleeves and stepped into the kitchen.
Chunyu’s face fell even further. It was over—the kitchen was doomed.
“Let’s not let the Empress handle anything dangerous!” Xia Mo hurried after her.
“Tenth Prince, please don’t come in.” Chunyu spoke seriously to Feng Wuchen, her expression resolute, as if ready to face death.
“But...” Feng Wuchen swallowed hard and glanced at Dongqing.
“Tenth Prince, it’s really dangerous. We should stay back!” Dongqing nodded solemnly.
It was clear the previous accident had left a deep psychological scar on them.
“Your Majesty, Consort Xin requests an audience.” Fu Linhai bowed low, avoiding Feng Yu’s gaze.
“Let her in.”
Feng Yu’s voice was low and hoarse, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
“Your Majesty, I pay respects.”
“Rise.” Feng Yu remained expressionless.
“Your Majesty, I’ve brought you some Eight Treasures Tea to taste.”
Consort Xin smiled shyly and timidly. If she pleased His Majesty today, perhaps she would be favored.
Feng Yu raised an eyebrow at her words, while Fu Linhai’s heart skipped a beat.
Consort Xin eagerly offered the tea cup. Feng Yu took a sip and immediately frowned.
“What a waste!”
Suddenly, he slammed the cup down hard on the floor.
“Pardon me, Your Majesty!” Consort Xin knelt in panic, not understanding what had angered him. Could there be something wrong with the tea?
“I despise anything sweet. And you put sugar in it?”
Feng Yu’s expression darkened, his cold eyes fixed on Consort Xin.
Consort Xin trembled, “Your Majesty, I thought the tea was bitter, so I added a little sugar...”
“I only did it for Your Majesty’s sake!”
Feng Yu sneered, “Are you saying I am wrongly accusing you?”
“I dare not!” Consort Xin was too afraid to even lift her head.
“Leave!” Feng Yu snorted coldly.
Consort Xin gritted her teeth, filled with resentment.
“Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived.”
“Let her in.”
Feng Yu regained his composed demeanor, though the tea had left him feeling slightly warm inside. He dismissed it as a feverish sensation and paid it no mind.
Consort Xin deliberately walked slowly, eager to see how the Empress would explain the missing Eight Treasures Tea.
“Your Majesty, I pay respects. Blessings upon Your Majesty.”
“Rise.”
Jiang Daiyin stood and, upon seeing Consort Xin, merely raised an eyebrow before approaching Feng Yu with something in her hands.
“Your Majesty, I’ve recently developed a new tea. Please have a taste.”
Feng Yu frowned when he saw the liquid resembling buttered tea. He picked it up and took a sip.
“Sweet?”
“Yes.” Jiang Daiyin nodded.
Consort Xin sneered coldly inside. The Empress was clearly asking for trouble; she wanted to see how His Majesty would deal with her.
“Hm, it’s quite unique—rich and creamy, sweet but not cloying. What are these?” Feng Yu noticed small black pearl-like things at the bottom of the cup.
“Those are pearls.”
“Pearls?”
Black edible pearls were unheard of and unseen.
Feng Yu tried one; it was chewy and soft, surprisingly pleasant.
He took another spoonful and couldn’t help but sigh.
“Empress, what is this?”
Jiang Daiyin smiled gently. “This is QQ Nainai Haohou Da Miepu Tea.”
Feng Yu: ……
What kind of name was that for an Empress’s concoction?
“Ahem, this tea is indeed quite delicious.”
“Your Majesty, this is QQ Nainai Haohou Da Miepu Tea.”
Jiang Daiyin forced herself not to laugh out loud, recalling the most heartbreaking and painful moments of her life just to hold it in.
“Mm, QQ Nainai Haohou… Miepu Tea is indeed quite tasty.”
Feng Yu repeated the awkward name expressionlessly, feeling oddly embarrassed.
Why!?
Consort Xin’s teeth clenched in anger.
The Empress also brought sweet tea, yet His Majesty praised hers.
“Your Majesty may not know, but Consort Xin gathered all the Eight Treasures Tea to win Your Majesty’s favor. I wonder how His Majesty found it?”
Though Jiang Daiyin avoided trouble, she was never afraid of it. Since they had provoked her, they had truly met their match.
“Hmph, what a waste!”
Feng Yu harshly criticized.
“Fu Linhai, don’t serve any tea from Consort Xin to me again.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Consort Xin’s eyes reddened with anger. “Your Majesty, Empress, I take my leave.”
It was a humiliation beyond bearing.
“By the way, inform the Internal Affairs Department that the Eight Treasures Tea is to be reserved exclusively for the Empress’s palace.”
Consort Xin staggered slightly.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Jiang Daiyin bowed.
Feng Yu suddenly grabbed her hand and gently pulled her down onto his lap.
Her cheeks flushed deeply.
Seeing her charming and lively appearance, Feng Yu felt a stirring in his heart. Somehow, the Empress seemed especially beautiful today.
As he leaned in close, Jiang Daiyin slapped his face.
Feng Yu was stunned.
“Your Majesty, I must return to supervise Chen’er’s studies. I take my leave.”
Jiang Daiyin quickly stood and almost fled without lingering.
[Feng Yu’s Favorability +1]
“He really just wants to sleep with me!” Jiang Daiyin nearly cursed out loud.