High-class Spring Joy

Qingyuan got up early the next day, borrowed the kitchen, and made some food. She thought that since she always sent sweets, it was time to come up with something new.

I wonder if the Third Young Master can avoid spicy food, or perhaps he prefers a milder taste?

Unsure, and needing to ask for a favor, she simply prepared four dishes, including a light-flavored bamboo shoot and old duck soup. Although it looked bland, it tasted very delicious. Her older sister used to love this, and it even had a poetic name – "Old and Young Together".

A dish of grilled beef is made by first marinating the beef with various spices until it is tender and flavorful, then mixing it with her own seasonings. The most important part is her homemade chili oil, which is the most essential ingredient; otherwise, the aroma and appearance will be greatly diminished.

There's also a vegetarian dish called "Three Delicacies," where eggs are scrambled in hot oil, paired with crisp and tender fresh wood ear mushrooms and sliced ​​lettuce. After stir-frying, it's seasoned and has a moderate flavor.

Finally, there was a plate of red date and longan cake.

Qingyuan carried the food box to Chixia Garden. As soon as she entered, Chensha was in the courtyard.

Upon seeing Qingyuan arrive, Chensha quickly sheathed his weapon and jogged towards her, saying, "Miss Qingyuan, what brings you here?"

"Last time, the young master saved me and said he really liked the candy I made, so I made some food and brought it over today when I had some free time. Also... I have something I'd like to ask the young master."

As Qingyuan spoke, her gaze couldn't help but drift inside: "I wonder if the young master is in?"

"Young Master? That is indeed a bit unfortunate. Young Master and Zheji went to inspect the city. Last time, there was a snobbish manager at Jinxiu Manor, so Young Master made a point of checking on all the shops to prevent such a thing from happening again."

As Chen Sha spoke, noticing that Qing Yuan seemed to have something on her mind, she explained, "If you have something urgent, then go back and wait. At the latest, the young master will be back by evening. When the young master returns, I will send someone to inform you."

"That's the only way. Thank you very much, Guard Chensha."

Qingyuan brought the food box, and there was no reason for her to take it back just because the Third Young Master wasn't there. She handed it to Chensha and said, "This is a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it on behalf of the Third Young Master. I didn't know the Third Young Master's specific taste preferences, so I made a little extra. Guards Chensha and Zheji can also try some."

After saying that, Qingyuan didn't linger, but kept thinking about what other solutions she could find.

You need to have been to the palace, know a lot about the Empress Dowager, and be willing to answer her questions.

Wait, someone who's been to the palace?

Qingyuan immediately realized that Mingan was someone who had been thrown out of the palace.

Although she didn't know his status and position in the palace, he knew more than she did.

Qingyuan didn't hesitate and found an excuse to switch with the purchasing servant. Although she wasn't familiar with the purchasing servant, she knew Hongdou very well.

Qingyuan went straight to the clinic from yesterday, and sure enough, after she paid the medical bills, Jie Mingan lay in the clinic feeling completely at ease.

Upon seeing Qingyuan, Jie Ming'an, who had been lying around nonchalantly, immediately sat up and looked at her: "Miss Qingyuan, here to ask for payment again? Don't worry, if I rise to power, I will definitely make you empress."

"..." Qingyuan looked at the person in front of her, who had washed away the blood and filth, and was speechless. Although his face was not as good as the Third Young Master's, it was still quite outstanding. How could he have gone mad?

She retorted irritably, "I don't want to be empress."

"Don't want to? Fine, that's easy. How about the Imperial Concubine? The Crown Princess? The Lady of a Marquis? The General's wife? Or perhaps you'd like to be my Prime Minister's wife? Anything is fine, I'll make sure you rise above everyone else!"

Jie Ming has an extremely handsome face, but he always smiles with a cynical and irresponsible air, looking carefree and unreliable: "Besides, I'm only telling you these things, I don't tell anyone else."

He was talking while cracking sunflower seeds; he didn't look like a future prime minister at all.

He's really acting strangely.

Qingyuan: "...Hold on, I just want to ask, how much do you know about the Empress Dowager? For example, her preferences, her Buddhist beliefs, and which type of Buddhism she mainly believes in?"

-

When Qingyuan came out of the clinic, it was already afternoon. She was thinking about the information Jie Ming'an had just said:

The Empress Dowager was a Buddhist, though she didn't understand the specifics. However, the place she visited most often was not Xiangguo Temple, which was closest to Bianjing City, but Lingtai Temple on Fangcun Mountain. The only difference between Lingtai Temple and ordinary temples was that Lingtai Temple only enshrined Amitabha Buddha, also known as the Buddha of Infinite Life, whose full name is Amitabha Buddha.

This was the first time Qingyuan had ever heard of this. If she hadn't been asked about the mystery, she probably would have just embroidered the image of Guanyin like any other person.

Qingyuan had just returned to the manor and hadn't even reached her residence when she was encountered by someone sent by Chensha, who said that the Third Young Master had returned.

As soon as Qingyuan entered, she saw a dozen guards wielding long sticks frantically attacking Chensha in the middle of the huge Crimson Cloud Garden. Their moves looked ruthless.

Zheji, standing nearby, made no move to stop them. Qingyuan asked, "Zheji, what mistake has Chensha made?"

"Miss Qingyuan is intelligent. He, on the other hand, committed an unforgivable crime and deserved it."

As he spoke, Zheji led Qingyuan toward the study.

He wasn't wrong. Shen Sha was really cunning. He almost ate all the food that Qing Yuan brought him because he was so greedy.

In the end, all that was left was an old duck leg and half a bowl of soup. The young master's face immediately darkened. Didn't he deserve it?

"puff…"

The long stick struck Chen Sha solidly. Hearing the sound, Qing Yuan shook her head inwardly, wondering what he had committed to make the Third Young Master, with his saintly temper, so angry.

As soon as Qingyuan went inside, Zheji stood guard outside the door.

"Third Young Master."

Qingyuan had just called out and was bowing when she heard the person in front of her say:

"From now on, there's no need to bow in private. I won't see it anyway, so whether we bow or not is irrelevant."

That's true, but Qingyuan felt that people shouldn't be disrespected just because of their flaws.

Qingyuan still bowed, but much more relaxed: "Young master, there just happened to be one piece of fabric left over from the last gift you gave me, so I... took the liberty of embroidering a purse. My embroidery skills are so-so, I don't know if you'll like it. If you think it's acceptable, you can keep it and make do with it."

As she spoke, Qingyuan handed him the purse and placed it beside him.

"Pouch?" Chu Jingxian tilted his head towards her, his emotions unusually fluctuating.

purse…

When a woman gives a man a purse she embroidered herself, what does it mean...?

Qingyuan, her?

Qingyuan nodded: "Yes, this servant asked the two guards last time, and Guard Zheji said that Young Master is short one..."

Chu Jingxian held the purse in his hand, his fingertips gently caressing its surface. He silently put the purse away, his initial emotion quickly turning into disappointment, which he then suppressed.

He then asked, "I heard from Chen Sha that you have something you want to ask me?"

"Exactly."

Upon hearing this, Qingyuan quickly told Chu Jingxian about her desire to embroider a Buddha statue for the Empress Dowager: "So... this servant would like to know what the Empress Dowager likes, or if she has any taboos in this regard?"

Chu Jingxian replied, "Indeed, it would be a great pity if you didn't give it a try."

"Huh?" Qingyuan didn't understand.

Chu Jingxian didn't explain, but instead asked, "So what are your own thoughts now?"

Qingyuan pursed her lips: "A friend told me that the Empress Dowager seems to visit Lingtai Temple the most, so... I'm thinking of embroidering Amitabha Buddha for now."

The next moment, Chu Jingxian shook his head: "Amitabha Buddha may be outstanding, but he is by no means amazing."