Chapter 221 Pastry
Since the emperor issued a decree that on the 2nd and 6th of every month, concubines and their families could enter the palace to wait for visits, the palace has become much more lively.

Of course, the harem was not open to anyone. At most, only four female relatives were allowed to come in to inquire, and each was allowed to bring a maid. Male relatives were only allowed to hand in their titles and pay respects outside the palace gate, and were not allowed to enter without permission. There were also time regulations, and people were allowed to enter during the Chensi period and come out during the Shenyou period.

In the past, Mrs. Wang would go out after washing up at the beginning of the morning, and enter the palace on time at the exact time of the morning to have breakfast with Jia Yuanchun.

Freshly made cakes are delicious. Mrs. Wang got up before dawn, washed up, and went to the small kitchen to watch the cook busying herself. Perhaps she was too nervous, or perhaps her cooking skills were not good enough, so she made three baskets of cake in a row, but none of them were very good. Either the heat was not good enough or it was overcooked. Mrs. Wang was so angry that she smashed the tea bowl.

Seeing that it was almost past the hour of Mao, Mrs. Wang had no choice but to go back for breakfast.

It was not until the end of the morning hour that Mrs. Wang entered the sedan chair carrying a food box.

Mrs. Wang was considered a frequent visitor, and the maids and servants of the second room also knew the rules. They went straight to the gate of the outer west wall and stopped to wait.

After a while, two eunuchs came out and led Madam Wang’s sedan chair into the imperial city.

The maid Jin Chuan’er supported the sedan chair and followed the young eunuch towards the palace gate.

As we approached the palace gate, we saw a long line of sedan chairs parked there. It was the end of the month, and all the women from different families had entered the palace.

The sedan chair stopped at the palace gate. Jin Chuan’er quickly opened the curtain and Mrs. Wang came out carrying a food box.

The head eunuch on duty at the palace gate checked the food box, picked out a piece of cake for the young eunuch behind him to eat, and waited for a while before letting the young eunuch from Fengzao Palace who was waiting here lead Madam Wang in.

The young eunuch from Fengzao Palace led the way in front, and Mrs. Wang followed behind carrying the food box herself, with Jin Chuan’er holding Mrs. Wang’s other arm.

From afar, one could see the brilliant walls and shining glazed tiles of Fengzao Palace.

Baoqin was already waiting with two young palace maidens at the stone steps outside the palace.

When Mrs. Wang saw this, she quickened her pace and came over with her zither in her arms.

“Wait!”

A eunuch’s shrill cry stopped everyone in their tracks, and everyone looked in the direction of the sound.

The eunuch on duty in the Yangxin Palace came running over like the wind.

Seeing the chief eunuch on duty coming, Baoqin and the eunuchs and palace maids all stepped forward and paid their respects according to the proper etiquette.

After all, she was Jia Yuanchun’s biological mother, so the eunuch on duty was very polite and gave Mrs. Wang a half-bow. Then he smiled and said, “Madam, please go back.”

Mrs. Wang was surprised and stood there, staring at the eunuch on duty.

The chief eunuch on duty said: “The Imperial Hospital just reported that Concubine De needs to rest for a while. Madam, please come back next month.”

Mrs. Wang was startled at first, then turned her gaze to Baoqin.

Baoqin stood there in a daze.

The eunuch on duty said: “Please come in.”

Mrs. Wang hesitated for a moment and said, “I won’t go in. I will just talk to the queen outside the palace gate.”

“Madam, please go back.” The eunuch on duty was still smiling.

Mrs. Wang was about to say something, but Baoqin spoke up: “Your Highness has been feeling unwell these past few days, feeling sleepy, nauseous, and vomiting. She needs to rest for a while. Madam, please go back first.”

Mrs. Wang had nothing else to say, so she nodded and said, “These are the cakes that the Queen likes to eat.” Then she handed over the food box.

Baoqin, however, looked at the eunuch on duty.

“Have you tried it?” The eunuch on duty was obviously asking the young eunuch in Fengzao Palace.

The young eunuch replied, “In reply to the steward, we tried it.”

The eunuch on duty nodded.

Baoqin then took the food box.

Madam Wang smiled again and told Baoqin, “Eat this snack while it’s hot. It won’t taste good if it gets cold.”

Baoqin replied, “Yes.”

Mrs. Wang looked at Fengzao Palace before turning and leaving.

After watching Mrs. Wang’s back disappear, the eunuch on duty turned around and walked towards the Yangxin Palace.

Baoqin looked in the direction where Madam Wang disappeared, then looked at the receding back of the eunuch on duty, and entered Fengzao Palace carrying the food box.

From afar, a young eunuch holding a broom said a few words to another young eunuch who was sweeping the floor, put the broom against the wall, and ran away holding his stomach.

It was still the eunuch from Fengzao Palace who led the way and escorted her to the palace gate. He watched Mrs. Wang’s sedan chair leave before he went back.

The eunuch on duty looked at Madam Wang’s sedan chair and said to himself, “She always left the palace on time in the past. Not only is she late today, but it’s strange that she left at this moment.” At this time, the young eunuch behind him spoke up, “Godfather, I have a stomachache.”

“A lazy ass grinds his shit and urinates a lot!”

The eunuch frowned and was about to get angry, but when he saw him holding his stomach with both hands and sweat on his face, he could only say, “Go quickly and come back soon.”

The young eunuch answered, “Yes.” His voice was trembling, and he covered his stomach and trotted towards the duty room.

Just as the senior eunuch was about to sit down, he heard a “thump” and the young eunuch fell to the ground.

The chief eunuch was startled: “Quick, go and see what’s going on?!”

Several young eunuchs ran over in response.

Daming Palace

The retired emperor was sitting cross-legged on the warm couch, counting beads in his hands and reciting Buddhist scriptures silently.

The door curtain was lifted, and Xia Shouzhong came in holding a bowl of medicine.

Walking up to him, Xia Shouzhong said softly, “Emperor, it’s time to take your medicine.”

The emperor slowly opened his eyes, put down his rosary, took the medicine bowl and drank it in one gulp. Seeing Xia Shouzhong handing him warm water again, he directly rinsed his mouth with a mouthful of warm water in his hand, handed him the medicine bowl, and wiped his mouth with the towel he was handed over: “Any news?”

Xia Shouzhong: “Reporting to the Emperor, Wang entered the palace and left again.”

The Emperor: “Oh? What happened?”

Xia Shouzhong: “It’s not clear yet. However, this matter should be related to the kid from the Kong family. Our people have been keeping an eye on the Yangxin Palace. During this period of time, he was the only one who entered the Yangxin Palace. After that, the eunuch on duty in the Yangxin Palace rushed to the Fengzao Palace and stopped Wang.”

The emperor frowned.

Xia Shouzhong: “Wang left, but the cakes were delivered.”

The emperor was silent for a moment: “Nothing will go wrong, right?”

Xia Shouzhong was also silent for a moment, and replied: “It shouldn’t be, after all, the cakes have been delivered.”

“There won’t be any problem with the pastries, right?”

“Her whole family is in our hands.”

The Emperor nodded and said, “I heard that the old concubine has not been in good health. I want to go and see her.”

Xia Shouzhong was stunned.

The retired emperor got down from the couch and said, “When we get to the old concubine dowager’s place, I’ll talk to her for a few words first, and then you can ask the eunuch in charge of the old concubine dowager’s place to summon all the chief physicians on duty at the Imperial Medical Bureau to take the old concubine dowager’s pulse. Do you understand?” After saying that, he walked out.

This is Kunning Palace. The queen is also sitting on the couch with the black robe spread on her knees, and she is embroidering the dragon pattern on it.

There was a sound of footsteps outside, and then a palace maid hurried in.

Palace maid: “My lady, Wang has entered the palace.”

The Queen did not look up: “Did you bring anything?”

Maid: “I brought some cakes.”

The queen nodded and continued to embroider the dragon pattern.

The maid then told the queen what happened outside Fengzao Palace, and then said: “.Empress Defei has been feeling unwell these past two days, and the cakes were sent to Yangxin Palace.”

The queen’s mind buzzed: “What. What did you say?”

The palace maid exclaimed: “My Lady, your hand.”

Only then did the queen feel the pain. The embroidery needle pierced her finger and a drop of blood fell on the black robe.

The queen didn’t care anymore, and hurriedly got off the couch and walked out in panic. When she reached the door of the warm room, she suddenly stopped. A trace of struggle flashed across her face, and then she closed her eyes, turned around and walked back to the couch and sat down.

The palace maid stood there in a daze, looking at the queen.

The Queen spoke: “Go and take the prince. Forget it, you can go out now.”

The palace maid said, “Yes.” and walked out.

The queen looked at the robe and murmured, “Is this a test?”

(End of this chapter)