Gluttonous Crown Princess

In the picture scroll, a woman dressed in a brocade robe with purple and green leaves and cloud patterns was sitting against a railing. She had one hand supporting her chin and was catching a white acacia flower that was fluttering down with the other hand. There was a kind of casual tenderness in her beautiful eyes.

“You were the one who chose that Tao family’s maiden for Yan’er. Now, it seems like she’s passable, just barely worthy of our Yan’er…”

Emperor Zhaokang gently caressed the painting. His long and slender fingers rested at her temples. In those eyes of his, which have always been deep and unfathomable, was an intense infatuation, and a hint of imperceptible madness.

“If you were still alive, you would be very satisfied to see Yan’er and his wife treating each other with respect, right? But why were you so cruel in the first place… leaving me, and leaving Yan’er…”

With his hands clenched into fists on the table, Emperor Zhaokang’s deep eyes stared straight at the person in the picture, his expression becoming more and more demented. Finally, he closed the picture scroll and slumped down on the dragon throne.

Looking at the gorgeous but empty palace, he snorted a laugh and closed his eyes tiredly.

When he opened his eyes again, he had resumed the appearance of a majestic and powerful emperor, and commanded in a deep voice, “To Fengyi Palace.”

Elsewhere, upon knowing that Emperor Zhaokang had gone to Fengyi Palace again in the middle of the night, Empress Zhou’s beautiful face became somewhat savage.

“That bitch has been dead for so many years, and he’s still constantly longing for her?! He can’t even see me, a living person who’s right here… What does he take me for?”

“Your Majesty, don’t be angry. There’s no need to bother with a dead person,” persuade the head palace maid gently.

“Hah. I’ve been by his side for so many years, yet I can never compare to a dead person. Ridiculous, how truly ridiculous.” Empress Zhou’s eyes were full of ridicule.

The head palace maid was silent. Only after the Empress’s anger had subsided a little did she advise coaxingly, “Your Majesty, think about the bright side. Even if His Majesty misses her, what’s the use? The Gu family is far away in the bitter cold of the northwest, and her only son is a sickly child who will soon see the King of Hell… Endure it a little longer, for another year or two. Once the sickly child dies and our Third Prince ascends to the throne, you will come out on top!”

Hearing this, Empress Zhou’s face cleared up slightly. Reaching out to stroke the corners of her eyes lightly, a cold victorious light flashed in her eyes. “That’s true.”

Many years ago, she was able to replace Gu Yuan and sit on the Empress’s phoenix throne.
In another two years, her son will follow suit and replace Gu Yuan’s son to sit in the Crown Prince’s position.

She will become the supreme empress dowager who’s respected by tens of thousands. As for Gu Yuan and Pei Yan… Heh, let both mother and son become lone wandering souls!

……

The next morning, Tao Ti received a pile of gifts from the noble consort as an apology for last night’s disturbance as well as a thank you gift for the rose sauce.

Looking at the pile of generous gifts, Tao Ti was a little embarrassed. She thought to herself that the next time she makes other snacks, she would also send a portion to Mingyue Palace.

Two days later, led by a eunuch, Xu Wenchan came to Yaoguang Hall.

Tao Ti was a little stunned when she first saw Eldest Maiden Xu, let alone the palace attendants of the East Palace.

A purple-red tunic was paired with a light cerulean green fairy skirt. Her hair was in double-ring buns, and her ears, neck, and wrists were covered with golden accessories. Even the embroidered shoes she was wearing were inlaid with luminous pearls the size of a thumb. Her entire being exuded the two words, ‘I’m rich’.

“This subject pays respects to the Crown Princess. Peace and glory to the Crown Princess.”

“No need to be polite.” Seeing that Xu Wenchan clearly looked like she wanted to be close but was restraining herself, Tao Ti smiled lightly and said, “Come and sit.”

Xu Wencichuan was a little dazed when she saw that gentle and amiable smile. In the past, Ah Ti would also smile at her, but not like this… Well, how should she put it? Ah, this stupid head of hers, she couldn’t find the right words because she didn’t study. However, it was great that Ah Ti was treating her so kindly!

She walked over to Tao Ti, sat down opposite her, and smiled. “Ah— Crown Princess.”

Tao Ti studied the girl in front of her. She was not ugly— she had decent features, a pair of beautiful almond-shaped eyes, and two deep dimples. It’s just that her skin tone was dark, her body was chubby, and her dress sense was somewhat flashy, which pulled down her overall image.

She could tell that Xu Wenchan was a little nervous, so she dismissed the palace attendants and took on the friendly attitude of wanting to make friends, saying with her eyes curved in a smile, “You can still call me Ah Ti like you used to.”

“Can I still call you that?” Xu Wencichuan was a little excited, but thought of something, then said sullenly, “Before coming here, my mother told me many times to pay attention to etiquette, and that I cannot be as unruly as before…”

“We are friends. There is no need for such ceremony between friends.”

“Friends…” Xu Wenchan murmured dazedly. Suddenly, she raised her head and stared at Tao Ti with shining almond-shaped eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Tao Ti was a little puzzled by her staring.

Xu Wenchan’s smile was a little silly, but also somewhat cute. The dimples on either side of her cheeks showed deeply, “Ah Ti, this is the first time you’ve said we are friends… I— I’m so happy.”

Tao Ti was stunned, then also smiled, “I’m also very happy.”

No matter what the occasion, food is always a good way to open conversations and deepen feelings.

To welcome her friend’s arrival, Tao Ti had long prepared mochi salted yolk pasties, pork jerky, glutinous rice mochi, adzuki bean double-skinned milk custard, and some pastries made by the East Palace’s imperial kitchen, which filled up an entire table.