met free Chapter 234 Offering the Sugar Recipe
Chapter 234 Offering the Sugar Recipe
"This journey must have been very exciting, Lady Huide, please tell me about it!"
And so, Song Jiaojiao stayed in Youxiang Garden for an hour until Lady Chengen could no longer wait and begged the Empress to send someone over.
"Your Majesty, Aunt Zhichun from the Empress's palace has arrived," Shuiyun said respectfully.
"Let her in!"
"Greetings to Consort Li, may Consort Li enjoy boundless blessings and peace." Zhichun gave Consort Li a deep bow.
"Get up! Aunt Zhichun, does the Empress have anything to tell you?"
"Reporting to Consort Li, Her Majesty the Empress knows that Lady Huide has entered the palace. She has some questions to ask Lady Huide, and hopes that Consort Li will be accommodating."
Zhichun bowed and spoke respectfully with her head down.
"Look, I haven't been talking for long and my sister has already come looking for me. Okay, Jiaojiao, let's talk again next time."
When the Empress came to demand the person, Consort Li dared not refuse. Now the Empress held the reins of power in the harem, and even she had to avoid her sharp edge.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I take my leave."
After Song Jiaojiao left, Consort Li's expression immediately changed. "Shuiyun, help me change my clothes."
Song Jiaojiao followed her aunt Zhichun to the Empress's Kunning Palace.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May Your Majesty live a thousand years!" Song Jiaojiao performed a grand salute with proper decorum.
"Rise, please take a seat." The Empress spoke only after Song Jiaojiao had taken her seat.
“Madam Cheng’en, I have already obtained the person for you.”
"Thank you very much, Your Majesty. I am deeply grateful." Lady Cheng'en quickly bowed.
"Alright, it's getting late, you may leave."
The Empress held her head, clearly indicating that she wanted to see the guests out. She had only just finished dealing with the New Year's Eve palace banquet, and the identity of the final culprit remained unknown.
However, she guessed that among those few people, Consort Li was the most suspicious. Apart from the Empress, she had the most power in the palace. Although it was her son who was involved in the incident, she could not escape suspicion, since the Second Prince was not injured at all.
If the Emperor were to believe this one-sided story, the Empress's power in the harem would likely be lost.
"Your Majesty, I have something to say." Song Jiaojiao stepped forward at this moment. Originally, she wanted Wang Chi to do it, but judging from Consort Li's attitude today, she was afraid that Consort Li would summon her to the palace later to give the prescription to the Empress and do her a favor. In case something really happened later, at least there would be some hope.
That's right, Song Jiaojiao plans to share her sugar-making recipe, not just sweet potato sugar, but also sugarcane, and most importantly, white sugar, a recipe that has never appeared in the Great Jin Kingdom.
"I wonder if Lady Huide has anything else to say?" The Empress then looked at Song Jiaojiao, and was surprised when she saw her face clearly! Why does this person look so familiar? It's as if I've seen her somewhere before.
"This humble woman knows how to make sugar!" As soon as Song Jiaojiao said this, the Empress no longer had the energy to think about how familiar she looked.
It's important to understand that the Great Jin Kingdom relies heavily on purchasing sugar from other countries, which incurs significant expenses. This is why the price of brown sugar in the Great Jin Kingdom remains high. If they could produce their own sugar, they could not only lower the price of sugar but also boost the national economy. Most importantly, they would no longer have to depend on other countries.
"Is this really true?!" the Empress asked seriously, this was no laughing matter.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, I own a sugar-making workshop. You are free to investigate."
Song Jiaojiao assured her that everyone in Yunshui Town knew about this. She suddenly remembered that Liu Xuewen seemed to be related to the Empress.
“Your Majesty, I have a business relationship with Liu Xuewen, and he is aware of this sugar-making matter.”
The Empress knew that her cousin was naturally averse to officialdom. In his younger years, he preferred traveling and enjoying delicious food, which led him to collect many tasty recipes. She had even heard that he opened a pastry shop, which was doing very well.
The Empress Dowager was happiest when he entered the palace. Whenever he did, he would bring her delicious food.
The Empress was the daughter of the Empress Dowager's younger sister, while Liu Xuewen was the son of the Empress Dowager's younger brother. The only non-royal prince in the court, a prince of equal rank, was Liu Xuewen's biological father.
The Prince of the First Rank has an older sister who married the late emperor and is now the Empress Dowager, and a younger sister who married the emperor's brother-in-law and is the current empress's mother. This shows the Prince of the First Rank's unshakeable position in the Great Jin Kingdom. The only thing that gives him a headache is Liu Xuewen. As the Prince of the First Rank's heir and the only male in the royal family, he is already thirty years old and still unmarried. If he gets a few more years older, he will be a prince.
"Zhichun, Zhichun, take the token and go to the Prince's Mansion to invite the young master." The Empress said urgently. This matter was extremely important. Sending someone to Qingshui Village to gather information would take at least seven days.
Liu Xuewen went to the palace yesterday; hopefully, Zhichun's trip won't be in vain.
"Lady Cheng'en, Lady Huide, it's getting late. Why don't you stay in the palace for a meal?" The Empress was determined to keep them there, but little did she know that her actions were interpreted differently by those with ulterior motives.
You should know that Song Jiaojiao's family has two generals. Although the General of Zhenbei has handed over his military power, everyone knows that soldiers are all single-minded guys who can always do unexpected things.
"Your Majesty, Lady Huide and Lady Chengen are having lunch in the Empress's palace."
Consort Li wore a large cloak, and the oversized brim of her hat completely covered her face.
She heard the news as soon as she got back, and in a fit of rage, she smashed a set of teacups.
"Why do you think the Empress kept the women of the General's Mansion here?" Consort An asked the maid beside her.
The palace maid did not answer; she knew that Consort An was just talking to herself.
Consort An is the birth mother of the Third Prince. To the outside world, she appears to be indifferent to worldly affairs, but only she knows what she is really thinking.
After noon, Zhichun invited Liu Xuewen in. Before he even saw Liu, his voice could be heard.
"Cousin, why did you call me in so urgently?" Liu Xuewen's impatient voice came from inside.
This shows how close he was to the Empress.
The Empress smiled apologetically at Song Jiaojiao and the others, "You better behave yourself!" the Empress warned Liu Xuewen in a low voice.
"Yes, Your Majesty...you...what are you doing here?!" Liu Xuewen's eyes widened as he pointed at Song Jiaojiao, clearly surprised.
Why is Song Jiaojiao, this village woman, here?
"Young Master Liu, it's been a long time." It's been almost a year since the two last met over hotpot.
"Tsk tsk, I didn't expect that after only a few months apart, Sister Song would be so distant. It really hurts Xuewen's feelings."
Liu Xuewen covered his chest with both hands, looking hurt.
At this moment, Song Jiaojiao wished she could dig a hole in the ground and disappear into it.
"It seems you know Lady Huide. That makes things easier." Seeing their interaction, the Queen knew her cousin wasn't a steady person, so she didn't think much of it.
"Wait, Mrs. Huide? Cousin, who are you talking about?" Liu Xuewen was so shocked that he didn't know how to describe it. He had only been gone for half a year, what exactly had he missed?