Shocking! The entire court was drooling with envy because of me.

Setting up a stall at a market?

Consort Li was stunned and blurted out instinctively, "His Majesty and Consort Shen have left the palace??"

"No, His Majesty specially set up a market in the palace."

"A palace market?" Consort Li stood up abruptly, a hint of anxiety in her eyes. "Why was no one told me about this?"

"Preparations for the market only began yesterday, and it's already taken shape today. The servants didn't even receive any news about it."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lan quickly urged, "It must have been that woman Shen Qing who instigated His Majesty to do it. If this continues, she will steal all your favor. Your Majesty, you must strike first!"

"Come, let's go to the market and have a look!"

Consort Li raised her head and walked out of the palace.

The favor must be hers, and she will take back the peacock feather gauze.

Xiao Lan glanced at her and a smug smile instantly appeared on her lips. She quickly followed behind Consort Li.

A group of palace maids followed behind, heading towards the palace market in a large, bustling procession.

Consort Li was holding her breath, wanting to outshine Shen Qing in front of the Emperor.

As she walked, her nose suddenly twitched.

I smelled a very faint but very familiar fragrance.

It seems to be yesterday's braised pork intestine noodles.

In an instant, Consort Li's mouth began to secrete saliva.

No, I have to hold back.

She kept mentally preparing herself.

I took a few more steps forward, and wow, I felt a wetness at the corner of my mouth.

"Your Highness," Xiao Lan, who was walking beside Consort Li, quickly slipped a handkerchief into her hand and whispered, "Please accept this!"

"Remember, we're here to deal with Lady Shen from His Majesty's side, not to eat braised pork intestines noodles."

Consort Li quickly wiped her mouth and nodded repeatedly, "Yes."

"We went to eat braised pork intestine noodles."

After saying that, he seemed to realize something was wrong and quickly shook his head: "It wasn't about disciplining Lady Shen..."

"No, it's braised pork intestine noodles..."

Xiaolan was so angry that air was coming out of her nostrils.

She smelled it too, and she was tempted, but she kept her business at heart.

Well, actually, she was concerned about her own life. If she failed to complete the Empress's orders, she would also lose her life.

The key point is that Consort Li is incredibly greedy. She doesn't look like a consort at all; she's more like the big glutton next door!

"Your Majesty, we are almost there. Please be careful and don't forget your favor and the peacock feather gauze."

At this moment, Consort Li regained a little bit of consciousness.

Yes, that's right, her doting affection.

However, when she sees His Majesty and Lady Shen later, she should be fine eating some braised pork intestine noodles, right?

Otherwise... eat a little before dealing with Lady Shen.

Yes, let's eat a little first.

"Come on, hurry up!" Consort Li was overjoyed. She now put food first, her eyes full of anticipation, and she looked absolutely radiant.

Soon, they saw a densely populated area where people were dressed in the clothes of ordinary people outside the palace.

However, they were all very relaxed, some sitting and some standing, seemingly chatting.

Consort Li craned her neck to look, but saw neither the Emperor nor Shen Qing.

Perhaps there were too many people blocking the way. She wondered to herself.

After walking a few more steps, the sound of casual conversation could be heard.

"Oh dear, His Majesty has finally left. Acting is really tiring. I was so nervous, afraid of making a mistake."

"That's right. I thought I would just say the same few sentences, but I didn't expect Madam Shen to come and buy mung bean soup."

"However, to be fair, the braised pork intestine noodles smell really good, but I don't know what they taste like."

"That stuff is not something we slaves can afford to eat. Let's pray that His Majesty doesn't come to the market tomorrow."

"..."

Consort Li was not stupid. Upon hearing these words, she instantly realized that all the people she was looking for had left.

The crucial thing is, the braised pork intestine noodles are gone too!!

She quickened her pace and rushed to the market in a few strides.

"Where did Lady Shen and His Majesty go?"

The eunuchs and palace maids were startled. They looked at each other and immediately sprang into action.

"Tofu—tofu for sale—"

"My wife, let me buy you some rouge first."

"Buy meat for my husband."

"Father, five coins is too expensive!"

Very busy, very serious, and extremely dedicated.

The imperial concubine must also be here to experience the market, and they shouldn't spoil her experience.

Even though they really wanted to kneel down, they managed to control themselves.

His Majesty was unhappy just now because they knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" This time, we must make the Imperial Concubine happy and completely immerse ourselves in the role!

Consort Li was dumbfounded. These servants didn't kneel before her, and they didn't even respond to her words!

What exactly is going on in the palace?

"How dare you!!" Consort Li glared with her phoenix eyes and shouted.

The eunuchs and palace maids were all unsure whether to act or not.

A quick-witted person nearby cautiously asked, "Are you... in the palace or among the common people?"

"How dare you! Of course I am in the palace!" Consort Li said angrily, putting her hands on her hips.

In an instant, everyone's legs went weak.

thump--

thump--

They all knelt down on the ground.

"This humble servant greets Your Highness, the Noble Consort. May Your Highness be well!"

Consort Li, disregarding any sense of unease, immediately asked, "Where are Lady Shen and His Majesty?"

"After His Majesty finished eating the braised pork intestine noodles, he set off for Chenghua Palace. As for Lady Shen, she pushed her food stall cart towards the Imperial Kitchen."

Upon hearing this, Consort Li frowned.

Chenghua Palace and the Imperial Kitchen, His Majesty and Lady Shen, favoritism and braised pork intestine noodles—it's a bit of a dilemma.

Xiao Lan whispered, "Your Highness, this is a good opportunity. His Majesty is in Chenghua Palace. You can go to the Imperial Kitchen to deal with Shen Qing."

The smell of braised pork intestine noodles still lingered in the air, quite noticeable.

Consort Li sniffed, and after a long while, gritted her teeth and said, "Let's go to the Imperial Kitchen!"

Xiao Lan was instantly overjoyed, thinking her encouragement had worked, and quickly shouted, "Her Majesty said, prepare the imperial kitchen!"

He then whispered to Consort Li, "Your Highness, this time we must strike with absolute certainty!"

"I know what I'm doing!" Consort Li waved her hand and strode towards the Imperial Kitchen, her steps quick.

The group then headed towards the imperial kitchen in a large throng.

The eunuchs and palace maids behind them were dumbfounded.

The Imperial Concubine was always slow and leisurely; she had never been in such a hurry before.

Nine times out of ten, it's for the braised pork intestine noodles.

"I seem to remember Madam Shen saying that there are only five servings of braised pork intestine noodles today."

"I remember that too, wouldn't that mean that the Imperial Concubine..."

"Do you think we should go and remind them now?"

"The less you do, the less mistakes you make. We're just market vendors and customers; there's no need for us to do thankless tasks. The main thing is not to lose our heads."

"..."