"Grand Empress Dowager, didn’t my mother just enjoy so honey? She had sugar lotus root this morning. She even specially brought so for you to taste."
Little Xinzhuo seized the opportunity to speak.
Smiling, Shi Pin presented a small food box.
Inside the food box were a few small plates, each with neatly sliced sugar lotus root.
The Empress Dowager had lived a long life and had seen all kinds of delicacies and amusents.
But she had not quite seen such sugar lotus root before.
"Empress Dowager, you praised my good complexion lately. There isn’t any secret, really; I’ve just been eating this specially-made sugar lotus root. The honey nourishes, the glutinous rice detoxifies, and the lotus root itself is nurturing. I’ve indulged and eaten quite a lot, even gained so weight, so the Emperor teased about it."
Shi Pin laughed, covering her mouth.
Compared to Empress Feng, who had been overwheld sorting out the birthday banquet and likely stressing with more gray hair sprouting, Shi Pin’s days were undeniably better.
Little Xinzhuo was excelling at Qingtian Academy, and Shi Pin visited the Empress Dowager daily for chats, occasionally gifting the other concubines so small trinkets and snacks made by Xin Lin, making life in the Imperial Palace increasingly pleasant.
Emperor Longteng appreciated Shi Pin’s gentle grace. Coupled with Empress Dowager’s frequent praises, Emperor Longteng grew more fond of Shi Pin, favoring her more than when she first entered the palace.
As they say, a joyous spirit thrives—after indulging in sugar lotus root several tis, Shi Pin’s complexion blood like that of a blossoming young maiden.
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager picked up a piece of sugar lotus root and took a bite.
The sweet and sticky texture, combined with the fragrant glutinous rice, imdiately earned her praise.
"Which Imperial Chef created this dessert? It tastes splendid indeed. It’s far better than the desserts served at the birthday banquet these days."
The Empress Dowager repeatedly comnded.
The birthday banquet in the Imperial Palace was quite grand these days, with a plethora of dishes showcased.
The Empress Dowager, who preferred light flavors, however ended up with a lack of appetite after a few days.
"This wasn’t made by the Imperial Chef but by a Spiritual Delicacy Master from the common people—the sa little chef who made the vegetarian buns. Previously, I was worried you’d reprimand for bringing civilian desserts into the palace, so I didn’t ntion it."
Shi Pin cautiously explained.
"A Spiritual Delicacy Master from beyond the palace! Honestly, the palace Imperial Chefs cycle the sa dishes. In comparison, civilian snacks are much more interesting and flavorful. When I was your age, I’d sneak out of the palace and was admonished by the late Emperor several tis."
The Empress Dowager reminisced, unknowingly helping herself to more sugar lotus root.
"By the way, today, the grand banquet for the birthday celebration is about to begin. The Imperial Kitchen’s desserts have beco too stale. Can that Little Spirit Chef co to the palace? If possible, take my written permission and bring him in to prepare a few desserts and buns. I’ve been pondering on what birthday gift to give my son—perhaps have him make so birthday buns."
On this spontaneous decision, the Empress Dowager granted Shi Pin a written permission.
"I was thinking the sa, only afraid the Empress might perceive as overstepping."
Shi Pin, upon hearing this, felt secretly delighted.
This sugar lotus root trick was, of course, not Shi Pin’s own idea but orchestrated by Xin Lin for entry into the palace.
After receiving the written permission, Shi Pin promptly sought out Little Xinzhuo and asked him to deliver it out of the palace.
anwhile, Xin Lin had just stepped out from the School Clinic. After leaving the Huang family last night, she had ghost soldiers communicate with Little Xinzhuo and sent so sugar lotus root into the palace.
For this birthday banquet, she had prepared a considerable amount of ingredients. As for whether she could save Huang Xuerou’s father—it would all depend on luck.
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