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Nanny Qi was a person of utmost rigidity and seriousness, something he was well aware of. When he had paid his respects to Nanny Qi just now, he dared not even glance in the wrong direction, and currying favor with Master Lian under her watchful eye was a risk he had taken.

Little did he expect Nanny Qi to treat Master Lian so well, which further solidified his intentions...

As he was pondering this, a roast chicken was suddenly handed to him by a Young Eunuch, "Eunuch, please eat."

The Young Eunuch walked away while eating.

He lowered his head to look at the roast chicken, and observing the Little Palace Maids and Young Eunuchs around him eating heartily, a strange feeling surged in his heart. So this was the legendary Master Lian, different from all other masters in the palace.

Even the servants here were unlike others, much more relaxed than those in other parts of the palace.

Little Doggie, seeing that Eunuch Liu had not yet eaten and dared not start, swallowed his saliva, "Eunuch, shall we eat?"

Eunuch Liu nodded slightly and immediately took a big bite of the roast chicken. The skin was crispy and fragrant, the meat inside tender. As he bit into it, rich juices burst in his mouth. Good heavens, how was this roast chicken made, it was so delicious!

He could not help but chew voraciously. This was the most delicious chicken he had ever eaten in his life. At that moment, he cast aside all his schemes and ate heartily along with everyone else...

Inside the Star Palace.

The Emperor was very surprised. Lian Mu really had some skills, even impressing Minister Qin.

What kind of person was this exactly?

He became even more interested.

Waving his hand to dismiss the reporting Young Eunuch, he pondered for a moment, then decided he could no longer wait, and set out incognito to see for himself.

He immediately stood up and commanded, "Zhang Qing, prepare, we are leaving the palace now.

If we wait any longer, the discussion between Minister Qin and Lian Mu on the Doctrine of the Mean will be over.

Zhang Qing was greatly startled, "Your Majesty, this, this, your servant had preparations made for three days from now, it might be too late."

The Emperor paused, then decided, "Move it up. Have Hu Miaomiao find a way."

Having said that, he headed toward his quarters to change his clothes.

Zhang Qing, in great hurry, hastily gave instructions to someone, then rushed out of the palace and saw Da Zhuang carrying a meal box approaching, his eyes suddenly brightening. He ran back to follow the Emperor and report, "Your Majesty, Master Lian has sent lunch."

The Emperor immediately slowed his steps, looking at the sky, noting it was the usual time for a meal.

He sighed deeply, "Never mind, no need to go now. Set the meal."

Going now wouldn’t make any difference from going three days later. If he wanted to hear the two discuss, he could always summon them later. There was no need to rush.

His Little Concubine was what mattered, after all. If she knew he had missed lunch, she would definitely be upset.

Zhang Qing breathed a great sigh of relief, inwardly moved by how Master Lian had again acted as his savior, saving his neck again and again. If he had rushed and the preparations had been inadequate, causing problems, he could not have borne the consequences; he was deeply anxious.

In three days, there would still be time to prepare adequately.

Fortunately, Master Lian’s lunch wiped away His Majesty’s intentions.

While waiting for the meal to be set, the Emperor, as usual, asked Da Zhuang, "What did she do this morning?"

Da Zhuang respectfully replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Master Lian hosted a roast chicken banquet in the courtyard today.

She should be dining in the pavilion with Nanny Qi right now.

The lunch she prepared for you, Your Majesty, includes this roast chicken, the first chicken that was roasted.

Master Lian personally supervised its roasting, which was the best done, hoping you would enjoy it. "

The Emperor was inwardly pleased and very much comforted; his Little Concubine always made him her priority—a very good thing indeed.

Amused and comforted by this, he found it funny that his Little Concubine really loved to eat. While others admired flowers, she ate cakes; when others held banquets, she too held a banquet, but it was a roast chicken banquet, very down-to-earth.

However, his person knew how to enjoy life. The weather today was fine, and dining in the pavilion always promised a lovely view. Plus, fussing over roasting chicken in the courtyard must have been particularly delightful.

He smiled with the corners of his mouth and asked again, "Do you have any message for Us?"

Either he brought a note or a message, always something for him, today there was no note, so it was a message.

Da Zhuang said, "Master Lian wants you to eat faster—"

"What?" The Emperor frowned, was that it?

What kind of message was this, telling him to eat faster?!

Zhang Qing’s hand paused while setting a meal, and he hastily made eye contact with Da Zhuang, reminding him to be careful with his words.

Da Zhuang had not finished his words when he was interrupted and hurriedly continued explaining, "Your Majesty, Master Lian’s roast chicken feast today was originally planned with Consort De and Consort Fang Pin in mind, but for various reasons, it couldn’t take place.

Master Lian then planned to send some roast chicken to both courts, but there are only two insulated food boxes in the Canglan Court. .."

Da Zhuang said, glancing towards a nearby food box, indicating that it was one of them.

The Emperor understood and felt uncomfortable inside, quite vexed, this ungrateful wretch, rushing him to send roast chicken to Consort De and Consort Fang Pin!

Couldn’t he weigh the importance?

Neither of them was any significant figure, and both were not favored by him; sending or not sending made no difference.

The Emperor turned dark, almost gnashing his teeth in hatred, wishing she were right before him to show her what ’husbandly authority’ meant.

Zhang Qing glared harshly at Da Zhuang. This lad brought up the least appropriate things at the least appropriate times. Could Master Lian’s straightforward manner also be spoken so plainly by this boy, didn’t he know better?

Couldn’t he relay the message more subtly? Just conveying the idea would suffice!

Everything he learned from following him, had it all gone to the dogs?

Da Zhuang immediately became nervous, yet his words were still unfinished, wanting to speak but stopping, he boldly began, "Your Majesty... "

"Speak!"

The Emperor felt blocked inside, thinking about how to severely deal with that ungrateful wretch once he returned and to keep her away from those two, only to spit out a single word, not even bothering to glance at Da Zhuang.

Da Zhuang felt a tingling scalp, knowing too well how dreadful His Majesty could be when displeased.

Enduring his panic, he quickly said, "Your Majesty, those were Master Lian’s initial words, but afterward, she felt pity for Your Majesty and changed her mind, fearing that eating quickly might harm your health."

He spoke in one breath, without any pause.

The Emperor’s mood immediately thawed like ice and snow, his heart blooming again in springtime. Not bad, his pain for her was not in vain, the ungrateful wretch did know how to care for him, and that was enough.

Zhang Qing gave him an approving look.

Da Zhuang secretly sighed in relief.

The Emperor thought again, something felt off, and he had missed something, "What about Consort De and Consort Fang Pin, how had she planned to send theirs?"

Knowing her as he did, she would never handle things carelessly.

Indeed, he then heard something he least wanted to hear:

"In reply to your question, Master Lian mentioned that if it gets late to send to Consort De and Consort Fang Pin, she would personally deliver and apologize later."

What?

This was even worse!

Upon hearing this, the Emperor thought, how could this be possible, this was even more troublesome.