Chapter 222: Can’t eat, there’s something wrong with the cake

There was a pot of wine and two sets of cups and chopsticks on the table.

Li Hu and Jia She sat on the guest chairs respectively.

Jia She said to Wang Shanbao who was standing nearby, “You personally take people to wait outside your Second Master’s courtyard. As soon as Wang’er’s wife comes out, tie her up immediately and lock her up in the stable until your Second Master comes back to deal with her.”

Wang Shanbao: “Yes.” He answered and walked out.

Mrs. Xing asked several maids to come in with food boxes, and placed dishes of exquisite home-cooked dishes on the table.

Mrs. Xing looked at Li Hu and said with a smile: “You accompany the master to drink first, I will ask them to cook two more good dishes.”

Li Hu had already stood up and replied with a smile: “You’re welcome. This is enough.”

Mrs. Xing waved her hand and said, “Sit down. It’s not good to eat cold food in this weather.”

Jia She spoke: “Okay, go and do your thing.”

Mrs. Xing quickly shut up, smiled at Li Hu, turned around and walked out.

To be honest, Li Hu really didn’t want to drink with Jia She. Jia She was too much of a drinker, and he was the type who would drink slowly until you admitted defeat, so people secretly gave him the nickname “Outlast”.

Li Hu poured the wine from the thermos for Jia She and said with a smile, “I heard that you have been practicing calligraphy recently. Are you planning to quit drinking?”

Jia She smiled and said, “It is unspeakable.”

Li Hu smiled and said, “This method is not to be passed on to others.”

Jia She looked at him, smiled, and said, “You are the third person.”

Li Hu rolled his eyes and picked up the wine glass.

Jia She also picked up the wine glass and they both drank.

Li Hu filled Jia She’s glass with wine, and then filled his own glass. He then asked, “Why did the East Palace Master go to see Qiguan?”

Jia She paused while holding the wine glass: “Is that actor also your chess piece?”

Li Hu: “I guess so.”

Jia She put down his wine glass and said sternly, “That actor is a spy planted by Shui Rong beside Prince Zhongshun. You must not take it lightly.”

Li Hu smiled and said, “I just plan to use him to catch Shui Rong.”

Jia She: “You know that too?”

Li Hu smiled slightly and said, “I know much more than you think.”

Jia She was stunned at first, then he smiled bitterly and said, “Forget it, since you have been keeping an eye on that actor, you will know sooner or later.” Having said that, he waved his hand.

Li Hu leaned his head forward.

Jia She whispered something in his ear.

Li Hu was really shocked. These two old guys were so bold! They actually wanted to use Prince Zhongshun to kill the Fourth Prince! Hey, how did Jia Jing know that it was the Fourth Prince who spread the rumor? ! Everyone who knew about this was dead!

At this time, Wang Shanbao’s voice came from outside the door: “Master, the Second Mistress was called to Rongxi Hall by the Second Madam.”

Jia She stopped the wine glass that was about to reach his mouth and said, “Come in.”

Wang Shanbao came in in response.

Jia She: “Didn’t the second son’s wife go to the palace?”

Wang Shanbao: “I asked, and they said that the queen has been feeling unwell these past few days and needs to rest for a while.”

Jia She nodded.

Wang Shanbao retreated.

Li Hu: “Do you think the queen will give birth to a prince?”

Jia She picked up the wine glass and drank it in one gulp, “What does it have to do with me?”

Li Hu smiled and said, “The prince has a chance to fight for that chair!”

Jia She smiled coldly: “Daydreaming.”

Li Hu smiled and refilled his glass: “Are you not moved at all?”

Jia She sneered and drank the wine in one gulp.

At this moment, Jia Lian rushed in like a gust of wind and threw an account book on the table in frustration: “This is so audacious! It’s appalling!”

Jia She glanced at the account book and asked in a low voice, “Is everything settled?”

Jia Lian nodded and replied, “It’s all taken care of.”

Only then did Jia She pick up the account book and start looking through it.

“She is so bold!” Jia Lian was so angry that his eyes turned red. “If someone catches her, not only will my official hat be lost, but the whole family will be implicated. This is also a detrimental thing. No wonder she slipped twice before giving birth.”

Seeing that he had gone off the track, Jia She quickly stopped him, “That’s enough!”

“In addition to several families being forced to sell their children, there was also a family where someone was murdered. She used all the money to subsidize her brothers from her mother’s side.”

Jia She put down the account book and said calmly, “This matter was done by Wang’er and his wife. It has nothing to do with your wife.”

Jia Lian opened his mouth and finally let out a long sigh.

Li Hu shook his head. This was still considered good. In the original novel, Wang Xifeng did so many evil things and directly or indirectly killed several lives.

Suddenly, there was a cry from outside the door: “Second Master! Second Master!”

Immediately afterwards, Jia Lian’s servant Zhao’er rushed in crying.

Jia Lian was in a bad mood, his face darkened: “Weeping for a funeral!”

Zhao’er knelt down and said, “Second Master, please go back and take a look. Second Madam, Second Madam is dying!”

Jia Lian’s expression changed drastically: “What did you say?!”

Jia She and Li Hu also stood up suddenly.

Zhao Er swallowed a breath and said, “I heard from Aunt Zhao that Second Madam ate a few freshly made cakes at Second Madam’s place and came back with a stomachache. She bled a lot.”

Before he could finish his words, Jia Lian ran out like the wind.

Jia She spoke up: “Have you called the imperial physician?”

Zhao’er: “Master, housekeeper Lin has already taken the invitation from the Second Master.”

Jia She nodded and said, “Go ahead. Report back immediately if you have any news.”

Zhao’er: “Yes.” He answered, got up and walked out.

Li Hu hesitated for a moment and said, “How about we go to the backyard and take a look?”

Jia She thought for a moment and said, “Let’s go.” Then he strode out.

Li Hu followed him out.

Just as Li Hu was refilling Jia She’s glass of wine, the old empress dowager was also having dinner in her palace.

There were dozens of bowls of various dishes, large and small, on the long dining table.

The old empress dowager sat at the top, and the emperor sat beside her.

The old concubine looked at the retired emperor lovingly and said, “It’s rare that you come to have a meal with me. If you have anything to say, please talk slowly while we eat.” As she spoke, she began to cough.

The emperor stood up and gently massaged her back, saying softly, “I have sent people to Liaodong to find thousand-year-old mountain ginseng. As long as you eat it, your illness will improve. I recite scriptures and pray for you every day.”

The old concubine said: “It’s hard for you to be so filial. You know your own illness very well. You have always been sleeping restlessly at night and wake up in less than two hours. You can’t eat much. Oh, let’s not talk about it. I am worried about two things now. One is the Zhen family. But with the emperor here, I am not too worried.

What I am really worried about is the relationship between you and the emperor. I am not saying anything bad about you, but you have many children and grandchildren now, so you should take care of yourself and enjoy your life!” He coughed twice.

The retired emperor did not say anything, but just gently massaged the old concubine’s back.

The old concubine said: “I know you think I am meddling in other people’s affairs, but my days are numbered and there is no such thing as an overnight grudge between father and son. Try to change your temper. I will try to reconcile you two. Please make peace with me.”

The emperor responded absentmindedly, his eyes fixed on the palace door, wondering why there was no news yet.
At this moment, Xia Shouzhong walked in with a strange look on his face.

Behind him, the chief eunuch on duty in the Hall of Mental Cultivation was carrying a food box.

The chief eunuch knelt down and said, “Your servant kowtows to the old concubine and the emperor.”

The old concubine coughed and said, “Get up.”

The chief eunuch said, “Yes.” He kowtowed and then stood up.

The old concubine said: “The emperor asked you to come?”

The chief eunuch said: “Replying to the old concubine, the emperor asked me to bring cakes to the old concubine and the emperor.” As he said this, he opened the lid of the box, took out a plate of exquisite cakes and placed it on the dining table.

The old concubine said: “Is this the new cake made by the imperial kitchen?”

The chief eunuch said, “These are cakes sent from Rongguo Mansion. The emperor heard that the emperor was also with the old concubine, so he asked the servants to bring them over.”

Looking at the cakes in front of him, the emperor remained silent on the surface, but was shocked in his heart: “Could it be that the evil creature already knows?! Is he testing me?!”

The old concubine said: “Oh? Rongguo Mansion’s cakes, let me try some.” She picked up a piece and brought it to her mouth, took a small bite, chewed it carefully, and then said to the emperor: “It tastes good, but it’s a little cold. You can try it too.”

The retired emperor smiled and replied, “Yes.” He also picked up a piece and started eating.

The old concubine was old and didn’t want to eat anymore after eating only half a piece. However, the emperor had a good appetite and ate two pieces in a row.

At this moment, Dai Quan rushed in, sweating profusely, and shouted: “You can’t eat it, there’s something wrong with the cakes!”

(End of this chapter)