"Alright, it's getting late. You all may leave first," Hua Yueye waved his hand, motioning for all the idle people to leave.
Of course, Li Ruhua was among them. Standing in the crowd, her face suddenly turned extremely ugly. She slowly tightened her fists, feeling truly angry. Hua Yueye's partiality was simply too obvious.
Leaving reluctantly, Li Ruhua's face became rather stiff.
After seeing everyone leave, Hua Yueye stared at Su Qingwen with a half - smile and asked, "I've helped you again this time. How are you going to repay me?"
"This..." This question really stumped Su Qingwen. She rubbed her chin. "You're the emperor! What good things do you not have? What could I give that would catch your eye?"
"You decide for yourself. But it must come from the heart," Hua Yueye lowered his eyes. There seemed to be a hint of dejection in his eyes. Then, he lowered his head and coughed softly twice, looking somewhat haggard.
"What's wrong with you?" Su Qingwen was taken aback. She immediately stepped forward to support his shoulders. Her worried look couldn't be hidden no matter what.
"Maybe my injuries haven't fully healed. These days, you must be extra careful when you go out. Gao Quan is a petty man. If he knows that you made a voodoo doll to curse him, he will surely take revenge," Hua Yueye frowned and reminded.
"I know," Su Qingwen nodded. She quickly helped Hua Yueye to the bed. "Since you're not feeling well, why did you come out? Did you come here specifically for me?"
"How did you know?" Hua Yueye forced a smile.
Su Qingwen's face blushed a little. She clenched her fists and then glanced at Hua Yueye shyly. She got up and walked out of the room.
[System: Honey, I can feel that your heart is beating very fast now. Could this be a sign of love?]
"Absolutely not. I'm just a bit excited. Hua Yueye is so warm. He's simply the representative of ancient warm - hearted men," Su Qingwen propped up her head, with a hint of a smile in her eyes.
[System: Didn't he just say that he wants you to repay him? So now you can use all your skills and show yourself well.]
"But I don't know what to give him," Su Qingwen blinked her eyes, feeling extremely depressed.
[System: Didn't he say it should be something with heart? Think about what you can do that shows your heart. By the way, didn't you make a cake for Hua Yueye last time? You can do something similar this time.]
"Cook again?" Su Qingwen lifted her chin in confusion, not knowing what to make.
[System: Exactly. Put all your feelings for Hua Yueye into that delicious food. Doesn't it sound exciting just thinking about it? Hua Yueye will surely feel your tenderness from it. I can already imagine that beautiful scene.]
Su Qingwen seemed to be touched. She even imagined in her mind that Hua Yueye would show a happy smile when he ate the food she made.
It seemed pretty good.
Clapping her hands, Su Qingwen nodded firmly. "Okay, I've decided. I'll follow your suggestion and make a loving meal for Hua Yueye. Off to the imperial kitchen!"
After saying that, she rushed to the imperial kitchen in grand style. Along the way, she was thinking about what to make for Hua Yueye. Finally, she had an idea: making preserved egg and lean pork congee for him.
Her cooking skills were limited, and Hua Yueye was still a patient. He couldn't eat greasy food, so preserved egg and lean pork congee was the best choice.
When the idle imperial concubine arrived at the imperial kitchen, all the cooks were stunned. They immediately bowed to her and said, "Your Majesty, if you have something you want to eat, just say the word. You don't need to come here in person."
"No, I want to make a congee myself and send it to Hua Yueye. You don't need to worry about me. Just treat me as air," Su Qingwen said with a kind smile.
"How could that be? You're the emperor's favorite concubine! You mustn't do such menial work!" A sycophantic eunuch stepped forward and said.
"No..." Su Qingwen was speechless. Why didn't these people understand what she was saying? She had already said she didn't need their help. Why were they still so insistent?
"Quickly call the best chefs in the imperial kitchen and ask them to help the idle imperial concubine make the congee," the eunuch waved his hand. Immediately, two master chefs came over.
"Really, I don't need your help. You're just making it more troublesome for me," Su Qingwen said despairingly. Her delicate eyebrows knitted together. Then she waved her hand. "Now all of you get out. I'm commandeering this place. You can come back after I've made the preserved egg and lean pork congee."
"But..." The eunuch looked at her nervously, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Just listen to me!" Su Qingwen suddenly became domineering.
Seeing this, the people in the imperial kitchen didn't dare to say anything more. They could only retreat one by one, looking confused.
Hua Xue'er happened to pass by. Seeing a group of cooks come out, she couldn't help but step forward curiously and ask, "What's going on? What's wrong with all of you? Aren't you supposed to be cooking?"
"Princess, the idle imperial concubine said she wants to make preserved egg and lean pork congee by herself and has driven us all out. We're really helpless," the little eunuch shrugged, looking helpless.
"Make congee?" Hua Xue'er widened her eyes. She couldn't believe that Su Qingwen had such a leisurely mood.
"What is she up to?" Hua Xue'er lowered her head and thought. Suddenly, she clapped her hands and said, "Ah, I know. Brother Emperor has been injured these days. Sister - in - law must be worried about him, so she's making something delicious for him. She's so virtuous. All of you, guard this place well. Don't disturb her unless necessary. Do you understand?"
Hearing this, the people looked at each other and could only quickly nod.
Hua Xue'er skipped away.
Li Ruhua was walking on the road, feeling extremely frustrated. She had finally managed to scheme against Su Qingwen, but it had ended up in vain. No, she had to tell Gao Quan this news. Thinking of this, she hurried forward.
Unexpectedly, she bumped straight into a figure. This time, Li Ruhua was hit hard. She rubbed her forehead helplessly and looked up. She found Hua Xue'er standing there with a wronged look on her face, pouting as if she had been hurt in the collision.
"Are you okay?" Since she was Hua Yueye's sister, Li Ruhua naturally didn't dare to be negligent. She quickly stepped forward and asked.
"I'm fine," Hua Xue'er shook her head and murmured to herself, "It's my fault for walking too fast. I was going to the imperial kitchen to see Sister - in - law."