The Emperor glanced sideways at Qin Jinzhi's rice bowl, a sneer playing on his lips. He grumbled to himself, 'This old woman, her favoritism is consistent as ever, piling all the good stuff into that scoundrel's bowl, completely disregarding my feelings.'
As the meal was nearing its end, the Emperor finally couldn't hold back and slowly spoke, 'You, do you truly wish to marry that Pei family boy?'
Qin Jinzhi heard this and nodded with a grin, 'Who doesn't like a handsome face?'
Pei Jinnian, the legitimate son of the Pei family from Hedong, was renowned far and wide. His talent and appearance were praised by all, and countless noble young ladies secretly harbored affection for him.
It was only natural for Qin Jinzhi to admire him.
The Emperor 'tsk'ed, 'Look at your shallow self. What good is being handsome?'
Qin Jinzhi raised an eyebrow, 'Being handsome can get you a wife! Didn't Grandfather Emperor rely on his exceptionally handsome face to make Imperial Grandmother devoted to him?'
She had just heard that Grandfather Emperor was a commoner back then, as poor as could be.
Yet, he managed to win over Imperial Grandmother with just a handsome face.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor's face showed a small, proud expression, 'That's true. Your Grandfather Emperor was a famous handsome man in ten li and eight villages back then. Your Imperial Grandmother should be secretly happy to have married me.'
The Empress disdainfully turned her head away from him, and Qin Jinzhi finally finished the rice in her bowl.
The Emperor looked at the angry Empress and said helplessly, 'If you truly like that boy, then a bestowed marriage is not out of the question.'
The Empress gave him an approving look, 'That's more like it.'
'However, there are so many good young men in the capital. That Pei family boy might not be the best. Next month, I'll have Imperial Grandmother prepare a polo match. Let all the young masters and ladies participate. You can also look at other young men. If you still don't find anyone you like, I'll issue the imperial decree for the bestowed marriage. How about that?'
Qin Jinzhi nodded after hearing this, 'Alright, I'll listen to you.'
After the meal, the Emperor and Empress were to take a nap.
Qin Jinzhi looked at the two with their eager gazes and said helplessly, 'Grandfather Emperor, Imperial Grandmother, I'm already eighteen. You two aren't going to hug me to sleep like when I was little, are you?'
Little Qin Jinzhi was quite impressive.
The Empress would sing lullabies, and His Majesty would fan her and catch mosquitoes.
But that was when she was five years old! How old was she now!
The Emperor immediately felt like hitting her again, 'Go to your own palace. Stop being an eyesore here. Don't run around.'
Qin Jinzhi said with a grin, 'I'll take Feiyan for a walk to digest.'
Feiyan immediately stamped her foot, 'Princess, I only ate one bowl of rice at noon!'
Claiming to go for a walk to digest, Qin Jinzhi instead led Feiyan to the Royal Kitchen.
Feiyan asked, looking puzzled, 'Princess, you ate so much at noon, aren't you full yet?'
Qin Jinzhi pretended to say, 'I remember someone really liked the Peony Linglong Cakes made by the master chef in the Royal Kitchen. I wonder if she can still eat them.'
Feiyan's eyes lit up like stars upon hearing this, and she nodded vigorously!
Those Peony Linglong Cakes were refreshing and incredibly delicious.
When Qin Jinzhi was little, she didn't like to eat, consuming barely more than a bird at each meal.
The Empress was anxious, and a master chef from the Royal Kitchen brought these Peony Linglong Cakes.
After eating them, Qin Jinzhi's appetite indeed improved significantly.
Since Qin Jinzhi left the capital, she had never eaten them again!
Qin Jinzhi smiled, 'Today, I'll let you eat your fill.'
Feiyan froze in place, 'Really!'
'If you don't keep up, it'll be fake!'
Feiyan immediately broke into a joyful smile, 'Coming, coming!'
It was so good that Princess was back!
Qin Jinzhi walked into a corner of the Royal Kitchen.
Inside, there was a rocking chair, and on the rocking chair, a chef resembling a Maitreya Buddha was sleeping.
Qin Jinzhi kicked the stool, 'Don't sleep.'
Suddenly, everyone in the Royal Kitchen seemed to have been put on pause.
The surrounding air pressure was extremely low.
This master chef was a legendary figure in the Royal Kitchen; even the head steward would speak to him deferentially.
He usually didn't cook, only occasionally making a few dishes personally ordered by His Majesty, spending the rest of his time sleeping in the corner.
The fat man instantly opened his eyes, his facial scar looking very frightening.
His big head and ears made him look like a man-eating demon!
Feiyan, a little scared, hid behind Qin Jinzhi.
Why was this master chef still so scary?
The first time she came to the Royal Kitchen with Qin Jinzhi, eight-year-old Feiyan was so scared she cried.
She still had a shadow over her from that.
Qin Jinzhi squatted down, leveling her gaze with the fat man.
'You knew I was back and still hid here to be lazy.'
Pang Ye recognized the person, and his fierce face suddenly broke into a wide grin.
'So, you little imp are back!'
Qin Jinzhi also smiled, 'Pang Ye, do you have Peony Linglong Cakes?'
Pang Ye laughed heartily. His body, seemingly heavy, rose from the rocking chair with surprising lightness.
'Others don't, but you get as much as you want!'
With that, he walked to a separate cutting board and began kneading dough.
Qin Jinzhi, seeing this, lay down on the rocking chair where Pang Ye had been lying.
Feiyan poured her tea and then sat on a small stool beside her, fanning her.
She leaned in close to Qin Jinzhi's ear like a thief and asked, 'Princess, this master chef still looks so scary.'
Qin Jinzhi put her hands behind her head, 'Be careful he doesn't hear you, or he won't give you Linglong Cakes.'
Feiyan immediately shut her little mouth.
Qin Jinzhi asked with her eyes closed, 'What's the deal with the new palace maid?'
Feiyan blinked, 'You mean Sister Liuying? I heard there was a flood in Jiangnan, and her family had no money for food, so she sold herself into the palace.'
'Then how did she come to serve Imperial Grandmother?'
'Because of you, Princess!'
Qin Jinzhi opened her eyes and looked at her, 'Because of me?'
Feiyan nodded, 'One year, on the Empress's birthday, didn't you personally make a hair ornament and give it to the Empress? After you left the capital, the Empress often missed you and frequently wore that hair ornament. But one day, it went missing. It was Sister Liuying who found it in the pond in the Empress's small garden. The Empress saw her loyalty and dignified demeanor, so she transferred her to serve by her side.'
Qin Jinzhi frowned, 'Are you sure it was the pond in the small garden?'
Feiyan nodded, 'I'm sure. When Sister Liuying found the hair ornament, she was soaked through, and her face was purple from the cold!'
Qin Jinzhi, lost in thought, chuckled lightly, 'Loyalty is good.'
The Peony Linglong Cakes had intricate steps, but Pang Ye's hands were incredibly fast.
In half an hour, the steaming hot Peony Linglong Cakes were ready.
Qin Jinzhi sniffed the aroma. So fragrant! She hadn't eaten them in three years, and she truly missed them.
She casually tossed a fist-sized wine gourd to Pang Ye.
'Let's go, don't disturb Pang Ye's sleep anymore.'
After saying that, the two left with the pastries without looking back.
Pang Ye opened the lid of the gourd, and a rich aroma of wine immediately filled the air, permeating the entire Royal Kitchen.
Legend had it that in Jin, there was a Wine Immortal who only brewed one type of wine, Xiaoyao Zui, and only two liang could be obtained every ten years.
It went to the highest bidder.
This gourd of wine was worth a hundred thousand gold!
Pang Ye grinned, 'This little imp has a conscience.'
He sniffed it hard, reluctant to drink it, and carefully put it away.
The last time he drank this Xiaoyao Zui was twenty years ago.
He wondered if that old ghost would still be alive when he wanted to drink it again.
On the way back, Feiyan's mouth was full of Linglong Cakes. She ate and said, 'Princess, the Linglong Cakes are so delicious, I'm so happy I could cry!'
Qin Jinzhi laughed aloud, 'Such little ambition.'
When they arrived at the palace, His Majesty and the Empress were already awake.
Liuying was helping His Majesty change.
Looking closely, the palace maid seemed to have changed into a lighter, thinner dress, exposing her beautiful neck to the man's eyes.
His Majesty took a light breath, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, 'The fragrance on you is quite pleasant.'
Liuying curtsied slightly, a gentle smile gracing her lips, 'Replying to His Majesty, this servant has carried a faint natural fragrance since childhood. My family members often praised its pleasant scent.'
Upon hearing this, His Majesty's eyes showed a hint of curiosity, and he was about to ask further when he saw Qin Jinzhi stepping lightly into the hall.
'Grandfather Emperor, look what good things I've brought you.' Qin Jinzhi's voice was clear and sweet, instantly drawing His Majesty's attention.
At this moment, Feiyan appropriately placed the already prepared Peony Linglong Cakes on the table, the exquisite pastries emitting an enticing glow.
'The Princess was worried that His Majesty and the Empress might eat too much and suffer indigestion, so she specially went to the Royal Kitchen and personally selected these pastries for you.'
The Empress also emerged from the bedchamber at this time.
'So you went to Pang Ye. Only you have such good fortune with food.'
Liuying then said, 'Your Majesty, allow this servant to comb your hair first.'
Her hand had just touched His Majesty's head when Qin Jinzhi grabbed her wrist.
'This elder sister can step down. I'll do it.'
Liuying's expression showed some restraint. Qin Jinzhi's grip wasn't strong, but when she released it, the palace maid's wrist was already red.
She said, 'The Princess is of noble birth. How can we trouble the Princess? This servant should do it.'
Unexpectedly, His Majesty said, 'Let this scoundrel do it. It's rare for her to be so filial.'
So, she had no choice but to retreat, somewhat unwillingly.
Qin Jinzhi narrowed her eyes, watching Liuying's retreating figure.