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Shen Chuwei pointed at the three sunflowers in front of her and said, "Your Highness, this is it."

Although the seeds she ate were stocked from her own space, she also planted sunflower seeds, but not for eating, rather for fun.

Having never seen sunflowers before, Xiao Jinyan naturally did not recognize the flowers in front of him as the original form of seeds.

He pointed at a sunflower and asked, "This is the seed?"

"Of course." Shen Chuwei walked up to the sunflower and pointed to the dense seeds in the midst of the yellow petals, "Your Highness, these are all seeds.

Once they mature, wash them and dry them, add some ginger slices, peppercorn, star anise, fennel, cinnamon, salt, and then stir-fry them until cooked. "

Xiao Jinyan, not understanding cooking or how to process seeds, just listened to Shen Chuwei’s clear explanation and came to understand how seeds were produced.

"You know quite a bit, this palace believes that you would manage the affairs of the East Palace very effectively as a concubine."

Shen Chuwei looked at the earnest face of Xiao Jinyan and wanted to say, you’ve really got the wrong impression this time; in our place, many people know this, especially in the countryside, even small children understand~

"Your Highness, you are so kind to Lady Chang."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan suddenly remembered that Shen Chuwei liked to fantasize about the love and hate entanglement between her and Lady Chang, which gave him somewhat of a headache.

"Do you have a misunderstanding about this palace?"

Shen Chuwei spoke earnestly, "Concubine understands all."

Xiao Jinyan expressed some doubt, "Do you really understand?"

Shen Chuwei nodded, isn’t it just being stubborn like a duck at death’s door? I get it!

Xiao Jinyan looked at Shen Chuwei’s frustrated face and wondered if she really did understand.

"You should rest well these days."

After advising, Xiao Jinyan left with a few small dishes from Xiyun Pavilion.

The next day at breakfast, Xiao Jinyan looked at the few small dishes in front of him and instructed, "Liu Xi, the Empress has a poor appetite. Take some to Fengyi Palace for the Empress to try."

"Yes." Liu Xi prepared some small dishes and left some behind, knowing his master also quite enjoyed the dishes from Xiyun Pavilion.

He placed the small dishes into a food box and carried it off to Fengyi Palace.

At that moment, the Empress was having breakfast, looking at the exquisite dishes in front of her without any appetite.

Although as the Empress, her monthly stipend was the highest and the dishes she had far surpassed those of other palaces, with a different menu each day, her appetite was nevertheless absent.

"Eating poorly and sleeping poorly every day, what pleasure is there in being the Empress?"

Qing Ying was startled, grateful that there were no outsiders in the palace to overhear—what would become of it if they did?

"Empress, please do not speak such disheartening words. This servant will call the Imperial Doctor to see you. With an appetite, everything will taste good."

As soon as the Empress heard of the Imperial Doctor, she thought of nothing but prescriptions—those medicines were even more bitter than coptis, which made her even more disinterested.

"These Imperial Doctors are no better than the last, it’s pointless even if they come."

The eunuch Ren entered from outside to report, "Empress, Liu Xi from the East Palace has brought some small dishes."

The Empress replied tiredly, "Let him come in."

"Yes." Eunuch Ren went out, and after a moment, Liu Xi came in following behind and approached to give his salutations.

"This servant pays respect to the Empress, wishing the Empress peace and health."

The Empress glanced at the food box in Liu Xi’s hand, knowing it contained some small dishes, but she didn’t hold much hope.

"Rise. What did the Crown Prince have you bring?"

"Thank you, Empress." Carrying the food box, Liu Xi came to the table, opened the box, and laid out the pickled long beans and chili fried beef dice one by one before the Empress.

"Your Highness, learning that the Empress’s appetite was poor, has sent this servant to deliver some appetizing dishes for Your Majesty to try and see if they suit your taste,"

The Empress glanced at the small dishes laid out before her, expecting to see common fare, only to realize that none of the dishes were familiar to her.

After a brief inspection, she picked up her chopsticks, curious to try, and sampled the pickled long beans. They were slightly sour and spicy—not exceptionally delicious, but they did whet her appetite somewhat.

She then tried a piece of the chili fried beef dice, which were even spicier than the sour pickled long beans. The Empress enjoyed spicy food, so she ate a bit more of it, pairing it with some porridge.

In no time at all, she had finished a bowl of porridge, "Qing Ying, serve another bowl for me,"

Seeing the Empress eating with relish, Qing Ying could not help but smile, "This servant will serve it right away," and she soon brought another bowl to the Empress.

Liu Xi, seeing this, also smiled, "Your Majesty, this servant shall return and report."

"Mhm, you may go," the Empress said, continuing her breakfast after receiving the bowl.

When Liu Xi returned to the East Palace, Xiao Jinyan asked, "How was it? Did the Empress like it?"

With a smile on her face, Liu Xi replied, "Your Highness, though Her Majesty did not verbally express her fondness, this servant witnessed Her Majesty eat one bowl of porridge and then asked for a second."

Xiao Jinyan nodded, "That’s good."

Liu Xi said, "Your Highness, this opportunity could be used to ease the relationship between Your Highness and the Empress."

Xiao Jinyan then instructed, "Have the dishes sent over the day after tomorrow, and then, each subsequent delivery should be postponed by two more days. If we run out, get them from Xiyun Pavilion."

The meaning was clear: deliver today, then three days later, deliver again and continue in this pattern.

Liu Xi nodded in understanding, "This servant comprehends."

Two days later, Liu Xi, with a food box in hand, made it to the Fengyi Palace at breakfast time.

The Empress was just having breakfast but found herself craving the dishes sent by the Crown Prince and felt a pang of hunger.

Noticing the Empress’s lack of motion with her chopsticks, Qing Ying inquired, "Why does Your Majesty not eat?"

The Empress replied weakly, "I have no appetite."

Eunuch Ren hurried in to announce, "Your Majesty, Liu Xi, an attendant from the Crown Prince’s side, has arrived."

The Empress’s spirits immediately lifted upon hearing this, "Let him enter quickly."

When Liu Xi entered, seeing the Empress having breakfast, he greeted her with a smile, "Wishing long life and prosperity to Your Majesty."

"Rise. What have you brought today?"

"Dried radish and sour and spicy potato shreds," Liu Xi answered while arranging the dishes in front of the Empress.

The sour and spicy potato shreds had been taught to the chefs in the small kitchen by Chun Xi, on Xiao Jinyan’s order, and were freshly prepared that morning.

With eager anticipation, the Empress picked up a piece of radish with her chopsticks and chewed on it. It was spicy and crunchy, pairing nicely with porridge.

She also tried some sour and spicy shredded potatoes and found herself unable to stop eating.

"Your Majesty, this servant will take her leave," Liu Xi said with a smile, and left the Fengyi Palace.

After two deliveries, the dishes were finished, and Liu Xi arrived at Xiyun Pavilion to pick up more.

Chun Xi greeted her warmly, "Eunuch Liu, you’ve arrived."

Liu Xi smiled amiably, "His Highness has sent this servant to collect some small dishes."

Chun Xi responded, "Alright, Eunuch Liu, please wait a moment." She took a food box, filled some dishes into glass jars, and then placed them in the food box to hand over to Liu Xi.

Holding the food box, Liu Xi instructed, "Chun Xi, let Lady Shen know that His Highness will come to Xiyun Pavilion for dinner tonight, so prepare a little earlier."

"This servant understands, Eunuch Liu, please make your departure at ease," Chun Xi said as she saw Liu Xi off, then happily went into the inner room, approached the couch, and exclaimed excitedly, "My master, I am utterly convinced by you now; I was short-sighted before."