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

The Empress Dowager preferred quiet, and in recent years she had stayed in the Baoxiang Tower to devote herself to Buddhist worship.

She ignored everything, whether it was matters of the court or matters of the palace.

The whole thing is about being pure of heart and free from desires, cultivating oneself in tranquility.

Today, she worshipped Buddha at Baoxiang Tower as usual.

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! A huge disaster has occurred!!" A shout came from outside the door.

The Empress Dowager acted as if she hadn't heard, continuing to fiddle with the prayer beads in her hands.

The old woman next to him quickly made a shushing gesture.

The Empress Dowager is in seclusion and should not be disturbed.

Besides, what big deal could possibly happen in the palace?

"His Majesty beat the Empress to death for the sake of a mere cook." The messenger's voice was softer, but his tone still carried a hint of fear.

The old woman's pupils dilated, clearly startled.

The Empress is dead?

How...how is this possible?

"For a mere cook?" The Empress Dowager suddenly opened her eyes, her tone authoritative.

"Yes, a young cook named Shen Qing recently came to the palace..." The servant recounted everything that had happened since Shen Qing entered the palace.

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes: "So, the Emperor went mad just to eat Shen Qing's food?"

The servants didn't dare to answer.

Although the Empress Dowager's summary was very accurate.

This is a mix of street vending, markets, and murder; it's practically insane.

"Hmph, the emperor is becoming more and more outrageous."

"Go, find someone to deal with that little cook." The Empress Dowager's voice was indifferent, devoid of emotion.

The servant stammered, and after a long pause, finally replied, "Madam Shen's martial arts are superb..."

Empress Dowager: "??"

"...We can't handle it," the servant added, trembling.

"A cook with superb martial arts skills?" The Empress Dowager frowned, a hint of curiosity rising in her heart.

After all, cooking and martial arts are two completely unrelated things.

Not to mention that she was a woman.

"Bring that cook to see me."

Servant: "...Madam Shen will be setting up her stall early tomorrow morning. His Majesty has said that no one is allowed to disturb Madam Shen's rest."

"Insolence!" The Empress Dowager's voice held a hint of anger. "Who dares to stop me from seeing the person I desire?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a commotion, not too loud or too soft, arose at the doorway:

"Based on the pattern, there's a high probability that Madam Shen will set up her stall at the entrance of Baoxiang Tower."

"That's right, the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, the Empress's Kunning Palace, and next should be the Empress Dowager's Baoxiang Tower."

"I can't miss setting up a stall first thing tomorrow morning, there might be some new products."

"Shh, keep your voice down, don't disturb the Empress Dowager~"

"..."

Most of the voices were the shrill voices of eunuchs, but the emperor's voice was also mixed in.

The Empress Dowager heard it very clearly.

It turns out that Zhao Gou, fearing something might go wrong, had asked Shen Qing about the location and time of his stall well in advance, and then gradually guided the emperor to guess correctly.

The emperor couldn't sleep at all and just wanted to come to the entrance of Baoxiang Tower early to wait.

Rolling cold noodles is a regret he will never forget, and he will not allow such a regret to happen again, so waiting in the shadows is a must.

"In that case, even if we guess wrong, we can quickly change the location," the emperor said cheerfully.

He loves to sleep in and finds it very difficult to get up.

But as long as he doesn't sleep, he can play for a long time, and there's no problem with him having trouble getting up.

He would wait at the entrance of Baoxiang Tower tonight. Since the Empress Dowager was focused on worshipping Buddha and didn't concern herself with other matters, he could keep his voice down without disturbing her.

Just as I was thinking this, the Empress Dowager's voice rang out:

"Has the Emperor come to my humble abode, the Baoxiang Tower?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the Empress Dowager walked out of Baoxiang Tower, surrounded by a large group of palace maids and nannies.

emperor:"......"

Well, I still disturbed the Empress Dowager.

"It's not really about playing around, it's just that Madam Shen's food is so delicious. Mother, let's eat together tomorrow. I guarantee you'll want to eat it again and again."

The emperor decided to make the difficult decision to give one portion to the Empress Dowager.

Once the Empress Dowager has finished eating, she will surely fall in love with Lady Shen's cooking.

"I've heard that the Emperor killed the Empress for that cook?"

The Empress Dowager had no desire to discuss food. Over the years, she had lived a simple and abstinent life and had lost her appetite for food.

The Empress's death is the real issue; she must get to the bottom of it.

Mentioning the Empress, the Emperor's face showed a hint of anger again: "The Empress poisoned my food, shouldn't she die?"

"Poisoning?" The Empress Dowager was taken aback.

She knew the Empress had done many shameful things in the palace, but poisoning the Emperor...

"Dog, you speak!" The emperor pushed Zhao Gou forward.

Zhao Gou hurriedly reported: "Your Majesty, the Empress knows that His Majesty and the Third Princess have a deep father-daughter bond, and she also learned in advance that His Majesty would be dining with the Third Princess. Therefore, she sent someone to poison the Third Princess's food, with the aim of killing His Majesty, intending to commit treason..."

The Empress Dowager was startled upon hearing this.

After all that, she became the Empress Dowager in no time.

"This has absolutely nothing to do with Madam Shen. She just cooked a meal," Zhao Gou added boldly.

"Is that really true?" The Empress Dowager still found it hard to believe.

The emperor only has one son, the crown prince, so why should the empress be in such a hurry?

"Indeed, the wicked Empress even threatened me with her own family. She has long coveted the position of Empress Dowager. I have already dispatched the Black Hawk Guards to the border overnight, determined to exterminate the Empress's family."

The emperor said with a hint of smugness.

This tactic of striking first was taught to him by Pei Yuan.

As long as we take the initiative and control the Empress's family, no one will rebel.

He can still have fun comfortably.

The Empress Dowager frowned, still feeling that the Emperor's act of killing the Empress was too reckless.

The worst-case scenario is that if the Empress's family learns of the situation beforehand and makes preparations, it could lead to a fierce battle.

But things have come to this point, and all we can do is hope that the Black Hawk Guards will arrive at the border before the Queen's maternal family receives the news and subdue the troops on the border.

The Empress Dowager sighed softly, "The Emperor has been too reckless this time."

"Don't worry, Mother, there will be absolutely no problem."

"I suspect that Lady Shen will set up a stall at the entrance of Baoxiang Tower tomorrow. Your Majesty is in for a treat. I will not eat the first serving tomorrow; I will give it to you. Once you taste it, you will know what true delicacy is."

The emperor's mind was filled with nothing but food.

Moreover, he felt that Pei Yuan's advice was excellent, and he was very reassured.

"The emperor should focus more on state affairs; war is no joke."

"As for food and such, I am not interested."

The Empress Dowager flicked her sleeves and turned back to Baoxiang Tower.

I initially thought it was the cook who was causing trouble for the country and spreading rumors, but it turns out it was the empress who poisoned the woman and deliberately sought death.

She knew that the son she gave birth to, and the market stalls and such, were definitely just gimmicks that the emperor came up with for fun.

Fine, fine, if that's how it is, then let's just not see the cook.

Those who worship Buddha should not commit too many acts of killing.

The main reason is that she committed too many sins in the past, from concubine to empress, and from empress to empress dowager. In recent years, she has been a devout Buddhist and finally sleeps soundly at night, no longer wanting to kill anyone.

She's just a cook; the emperor will probably get tired of this stall game after a while.

let it go.

The Empress Dowager returned to Baoxiang Tower and began copying scriptures again.

This time, she prayed in her heart that the Black Hawk Guard would achieve great success.

......

News of the Empress's death reached the Eastern Palace.

Crown Prince Nangong Jing was shocked, confused, and frightened, completely unable to believe it was real.

"Mother...Mother..."

"How could this happen? How could this happen?!"

"I also want Mother Empress to try Lady Shen's cooking..."

Nangong Jing stamped his feet and beat his chest, tears streaming down his face, completely heartbroken.

The young eunuch who was relaying the message said timidly, "Your Highness, at least the Empress did get to eat Lady Shen's durian mille-feuille before she died..."

"Durian mille-feuille?" Nangong Jing wiped away her tears. "Does it taste like durian pizza?"

Little eunuch: "???"

Is that right? Isn't the focus a bit off?

The Empress's body is still warm.

"Tell me quickly, describe it to me," Nangong Jing urged.

It's really hard to eat just steamed buns, especially now that there aren't even any pickled vegetables left.

His stomach is growling non-stop, but he just can't eat any steamed buns.

It's so bitter, it's unbearable.

The young eunuch was slightly speechless, but still described it based on the rumors circulating in the palace: "I heard that the durian mille-feuille is ice-cold..."

"Mmm... the cream is smooth and creamy, the durian is sweet, and the crust is thin, with a hint of egg and milk flavor..."

Nangong Jing tried desperately to imagine it, tears and saliva streaming down his face.

"Waaaaah, Mother..."

"Your subject is so hungry..."

"If you can have a bite before you die, you will have no regrets."

"Mother, you are dead, but I am still alive. I am so sad. I long to eat Lady Shen's delicious food. There will be no one to stand up for me in the future."

"Your Majesty, I am suffering so much!"

"..."

Nangong Jing cried and wailed, feeling extremely sad.

I'm saddened by my mother's death, and I'm saddened by not being able to eat durian mille-feuille. It's a double sorrow!

He didn't know how long he howled, but he was so hungry that he couldn't stand it anymore, so he picked up the big steamed bun next to him and took a few bites.

Finally, clenching his fist, he made up his mind and said, "Mother, I will definitely avenge you!"

"My father is a scoundrel!"

"Wait a moment, let your son escort Father to the underworld to keep you company."

"In this way, I can become emperor, and once I'm emperor, I can eat Lady Shen's delicacies without restraint!"

"Braised pork intestine noodles, rolled cold skin noodles, durian mille-feuille, and Sichuan-style boiled chicken—one day I'm going to eat my fill of these!"

"..."

Meanwhile, inside Consort Li's palace.

While tidying up Su Jiao'er's jewelry, Xiao Lan pondered how to continue to urge Su Jiao'er to deal with Shen Qing.

She always kept the task the Empress had given her in mind.

Just then, several voices came:

"Her Majesty the Empress, the mistress of the harem, I never expected her to die like this."

"Who told her to be so vicious as to poison His Majesty!"

"Sigh, I really don't know what Her Majesty the Empress is thinking. If she just waits a little longer, she might become the Empress Dowager..."

"They're in a hurry, they're in a hurry to see the King of Hell."

"..."

Snapped--

The white jade hairpin in Xiaolan's hand suddenly fell to the ground and broke in two.

The Empress is dead??

Xiao Lan was completely shocked and didn't even notice the white jade hairpin that had fallen to the ground.

The Empress... is dead?

This was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue for Xiaolan. She never dreamed that the Empress, her true mistress, would die so quickly and cleanly, leaving nothing behind.

What should she do? What should she do now?

"Sister Xiaolan, the Imperial Concubine's hairpin..." The palace maid outside heard the noise and came into the room. She couldn't help but call out when she saw the white jade hairpin on the ground.

Xiao Lan was startled and immediately squatted down to pick it up, her hands trembling.

The hairpin, the stupid concubine's hairpin, what to do, what to do? The Empress is dead, her backer is gone.

The palace maid entered the room, completely oblivious to Xiaolan's unusual behavior, and went about picking up the broken hairpin from the floor.

"Fortunately, it was Sister Xiaolan; if it were anyone else, they would surely have been punished by the Imperial Concubine..."

"Sister Xiaolan, news has come from outside that the Empress is gone. Now our Lady is essentially the head of the harem. As the Lady's most trusted person, Sister Xiaolan, please take good care of us in the future..."

The palace maids chattered incessantly, all trying to please and flatter Xiaolan.

This flattery and fawning immediately put Xiaolan at ease.

Yes, she was the most trusted person by the Imperial Concubine's side.

Normally, no matter what mistakes she made, the Imperial Concubine would never punish her. The only time she was punished was to put on an act in front of Lady Shen.

The imperial concubine is foolish; as long as she keeps her past secrets to herself, nothing will happen.

She might even receive more flattery and praise.

For a moment, Xiao Lan felt a sense of relief, thankful that the Empress had assigned her to Consort Li's side.

In the future, the imperial harem will likely belong to Consort Li.

As someone close to Consort Li, her status and treatment in the palace naturally improved accordingly.

"Don't worry, I'll never forget you all, no matter what benefits you bring." Xiaolan smiled, her earlier tension completely gone.

Now that the Empress is dead, she is the Consort's person, and always has been!

Just then, a commotion arose outside, seemingly indicating that Consort Li, Su Jiao'er, had returned.

Xiao Lan, not bothering to tidy up the broken hairpin, hurriedly went out to greet Su Jiao'er, her face beaming with smiles upon seeing her:

"Your Majesty, you've finally returned! Congratulations, Your Majesty! You are now the mistress of the harem!"

When Su Jiao'er saw Xiao Lan, the smile on her face instantly disappeared.

He immediately shouted, "You lowly servant, spouting nonsense! Come here and slap me!"

Xiaolan: "???"

She was clearly saying nice things, so why was she slapped?

No, why should she? She doesn't want to turn into a pig's head again!

"Your Majesty..." Xiao Lan tried to speak up in defense.

"Why aren't you making a move!" Su Jiao'er sneered.

Instantly, two old women stepped forward. One subdued Xiaolan, while the other attacked from both sides.

clap clap clap-

The old woman had a strong hand and showed no mercy when she struck.

After only a few blows, Xiaolan's face swelled up high, looking like a pig's head.