0p0 Chapter 458 Flower Appreciation Banquet
Chapter 458 Flower Appreciation Banquet
A few days later, Zhen Huan held a flower-viewing banquet in Yongshou Palace and invited concubines from all palaces to come and enjoy the spring scenery.
Since taking charge of the harem, Zhen Huan has adopted a "free-range" management method for everyone. As long as they don't cause trouble, she lets them do whatever they want.
After a few months, mahjong had become popular in the harem. The rules were simple and easy to learn, but with endless variations, and soon attracted everyone's interest. The concubines had nothing to do all day, so they gathered in groups of three or four, set up a game of mahjong, and had a lot of fun. This small square card table became a great place for them to have fun.
In the palaces, the sounds of "gang" and "hu" echoed, resounding through the air. At the mahjong table, they would occasionally argue fiercely over a single card, only to reconcile and move on to the next round. Mahjong not only provided them with a way to relax, but also fostered a harmonious relationship between them.
The concubines were all focused on the card game, so naturally they had less time to intrigue.
Occasionally, Zhen Huan would be invited to join the poker game and play a few rounds with the others. Her poker skills were superb, but she never deliberately showed off. She always gave everyone a reasonable amount of money, which earned her even more respect from the concubines.
The emergence of mahjong brought a touch of life to the harem, making it less lonely and desolate. The concubines were no longer solely focused on vying for favor, but instead showed a bit more humanity.
When everyone received Zhen Huan's invitation, although they were surprised, they all put down their mahjong and dressed up.
Spring is in full swing, flowers of all colors are blooming, and even the air is filled with the faint fragrance of flowers.
The courtyard of Yongshou Palace is filled with various potted plants, and the flowers are trying hard to bloom in the sun.
Everyone walked around with Zhen Huan for a while and then started to do their own things.
Qi Yuebin walked to a peony flower, reached out and gently touched the bright red petals, his eyes gentle and focused.
Seeing this, Sun Heyin walked forward with a smile and asked, "Your Majesty, do you like peonies?"
Qi Yuebin smiled faintly, his gaze still fixed on the peony: "Sister Sun, do you know that the peony flower has another name?"
"Please enlighten me, Madam."
"Jiang Li."
"Jiang Li?"
Qi Yuebin nodded. "Peony usually blooms at the beginning of summer, when spring has already ended, hence the name."
And this is just one of the reasons. There is another most important reason that she didn't say.
When the ancients said goodbye, they had thousands of words to say but could not utter a single word, so they could only give a peony as a token of reluctance. All the deep and shallow affections and the endless thoughts were expressed by a flower.
However, in the Book of Songs, peony is said to be a flower of love, so its flower language is "I only love you, stubbornly and loyally."
Seeing that she was looking at it seriously, Sun Heyin wanted to reach out and pick one.
Qi Yuebin quickly stopped her action: "Sister, those who love flowers are the ones who cherish them the most, so let it bloom!"
Sun Heyin was stunned for a moment, then withdrew her hand: "Your Majesty is right, it was I who was rude."
Qi Yuebin smiled slightly, his eyes turning to the peony pot beside him. He casually plucked a flower and handed it to Sun Heyin: "This peony is elegant and noble. If you like it, you can take this peony and enjoy it."
Sun Heyin took the peony and looked down at the flower in her hand, but she felt speechless. You always say that you love and cherish flowers and don't let me pick peonies, but why do you pick peonies without mercy?
On the other side of the corridor, An Lingrong was lying lazily in a rocking chair. The warm sunshine sprinkled on her body, but it could not hide the listlessness on her face.
The capital city is rich and prosperous, and they can enjoy flowers and drink tea, but the people at the border are in dire straits.
When I looked at these flowers again, I felt even more irritated.
Shen Meizhuang came over with a cup of tea. Seeing her like this, she knew what was on her mind and comforted her, "Well, it's spring today, let's enjoy the flowers first. Huan'er has already arranged the rest of the matter, so just wait and see!"
An Lingrong sighed, still looking up at the sky, her tone tinged with complaint, "Alas, the whole yard is filled with peonies and roses. I'm dazzled by the sight, but there's nothing that I like."
Upon hearing this, Shen Meizhuang shook her head helplessly, handed her the teacup, and said softly, "Then who made you like green bamboo? You can't just dig up green bamboo, plant it in a pot, and serve it to her, right? How about you try something else?"
An Lingrong took the teacup and took a sip. "I'd rather eat without meat than live without bamboo. No meat makes you thin, no bamboo makes you vulgar. I'm an elegant person, so naturally I like elegant things!"
Hearing this, Shen Meizhuang couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Okay, okay, you are a refined person, and we are all vulgar people. But you, a refined person, are really wronged to accompany us to appreciate the flowers today!"
An Lingrong sighed in mock resignation, but her tone held a hint of laughter. "Alas, who made me your good sister? I have no choice but to humble myself and accompany you 'vulgar people' to appreciate these 'vulgar flowers'."
Shen Meizhuang smiled and took her hand, saying gently, "Let's go, my sister Yaren."
When she came to Zhen Huan, she was facing a crabapple tree with Shunpin, discussing the classification and habits of crabapples recorded in "Qunfangpu".
What a boring conversation.
Then he came to the side of Concubine Jing and Concubine Xin. They were facing a pot of peonies in full bloom, discussing the "inevitable connection between raising flowers and raising daughters."
More boring topics.
She came to the other two little servants, who were playing the game of flying flowers with "flower" as the keyword.
An Lingrong was so scared that she ran away.
Looking at Concubine Zhen and Noble Lady Kang again, they were just like butterflies, flying happily.
It seems that except for myself, they all had a great time at this flower viewing party.
However, when she saw several pots of roses in full bloom, she immediately thought of something interesting.
"Juqing, go find Liuzhu."
A moment later, Liu Zhu came to her side.
An Lingrong smiled and said, "Let's make flower cakes."
Liu Zhu naturally agreed, then called a few maids and started picking roses.
However, An Lingrong did not spoil the others' enthusiasm for flower viewing. She told them to leave the best roses on the branches and only pick the second-rate flowers.
This was a good job, and the maids were very enthusiastic. They soon brought back a basket full of fruits.
Zhen Huan was talking to others and noticed the movement over there, but she didn't stop them and let them go.
Not to mention just picking a few flowers, even if Rong'er blew off the roof of Yongshou Palace, she would stand by and applaud.
Back in the small kitchen, the flowers are picked, their stems and cores removed. They are then cleaned and gently rubbed with an equal amount of sugar. Honey is added to season the mixture, preserving the floral fragrance and removing any bitterness. The prepared filling is then rolled into balls of equal size.
Mix flour, sugar, and lard to make the dough. Place the dough on the outside and the pastry on the inside. Roll the dough into strips and cut into equal-sized pieces. Wrap the filling inside the strips and place them in a printing mold. Pour the dough out, brush it with egg yolk, and bake it in the oven.
In a short while, the golden, crispy and fragrant flower cakes were ready.
Since there were many maids helping her, she made a lot, putting four pieces in each plate and placing them on various other flower petals. Regardless of the taste, the appearance alone is enough to make people's eyes light up.