Feng Bailing had the best understanding of her own daughter, and Feng Xiaoli was simply a little foodie, with the least resistance to culinary temptations.
When she was in the Imperial Palace before, she was favored with various delicious treats and fun items by the Empress Dowager, her nannies, and even Emperor Yongye himself because of her adorable appearance.
Each ti she left the Imperial Palace, she would be stuffed full, insisting on coming back only when her little belly was rounded out from all the eating and carrying treats.
"Her Majesty, I won’t eat the Palace’s food anymore. You and Brother Xiaojin should avoid it too; nobody should eat it."
Feng Xiaoli pouted her lips.
Feng Bailing couldn’t help but laugh in spite of herself, clueless as to how the delicacies of the Palace could have possibly offended Feng Xiaoli.
Under Feng Xiaoli’s own influence, by the ti she arrived at the Imperial Palace, her little belly was already bulging, and feeling too lazy to walk, she simply put out her hands for Dugu Xiaojin to carry her.
Since returning from Qinghe City, Dugu Xiaojin’s body had grown a lot taller.
Speaking of which, although he and Feng Xiaoli were twins, their heights and body shapes were quite different.
Dugu Xiaojin’s figure resembled a sturdy sprout, but Feng Xiaoli was like a little potato.
Now Dugu Xiaojin stood a full head taller than Feng Xiaoli, and the plump-looking Feng Xiaoli was easily lifted up by Dugu Xiaojin as the siblings entered the Imperial Palace amidst laughter and chatter.
Dongfang Lianhua, with her two children, went to the Empress Dowager Palace to pay a visit to the Empress Dowager.
Upon reaching the gate of the Empress Dowager’s palace, they saw Mr. Li Qing, the eunuch, also waiting outside the palace gate. It seed the Emperor was also inside the Empress Dowager Palace.
Upon seeing Feng Bailing and the others, Li Qing hurriedly ca forward to greet them.
"It’s really lively in the Empress Dowager Palace today. Noble Consort Dugu is cooking herself tonight, hosting a banquet to treat everyone. The Empress Dowager was just ntioning inviting over your whole family, and you’ve co at just the right ti."
Li Qing said with a smile that not only Feng Bailing’s family was invited, but also the families of several Princes had been invited as well.
There hadn’t been this much excitent in the palace since the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet. Being able to invite the concubines of various palaces and several Princes, in the past this was sothing only the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and Nalan Yan’er could manage. Surprisingly, Noble Consort Dugu had such prowess after being in the palace for just a month or so.
Feng Bailing beca even more curious about this Noble Consort Dugu.
Upon hearing this, Feng Xiaoli also secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, she was clever enough to eat her fill along the way, which ant she wouldn’t have to touch that woman’s cooking.
Feng Xiaoli gently shook Feng Bailing’s hand, and Feng Bailing picked up her daughter, only to hear Feng Xiaoli whisper in her ear.
"Her Majesty, you and your mother-in-law must not eat the food she cooks later."
Feng Bailing raised an eyebrow; it wasn’t the first ti today that she heard her daughter complaining about the palace fare, especially the als prepared by Noble Consort Dugu?
Feng Bailing tuned in her vigilance as the family entered the Empress Dowager Palace, where they were greeted by laughter, with Emperor Yongye, the Empress Dowager, Noble Consort Guo, and Noble Princess Consort Xiao all present.
Princess Consort Mu sat to the side with no apparent happiness on her face. Recently, sothing sinister had occurred in Prince Mu’s Mansion: Prince Mu got involved in the Empress’s affair, her brother Heir An had died, and not much later, her sister Princess Anyang also died.
Princess Consort Mu’s expression changed montarily as she saw Feng Bailing enter. Though Prince Mu’s Mansion and Prince Shun’s Mansion were nominally in-laws, Princess Consort Mu harbored a strong dislike for Feng Bailing, particularly after hearing that Princess Anyang’s death in the Red Scorpion Desert was allegedly due to Feng Bailing’s failure to lend a helping hand.
"Ah Ling, you’re here, along with Xiaojin and Xiao Li."
The Empress Dowager’s face lit up with a smile that crinkled her eyes as soon as she saw the two little ones. Feng Bailing, however, did not notice Noble Consort Dugu.
It was said that Noble Consort Dugu was currently in the Imperial Kitchen; her culinary skills were quite remarkable, so she was in charge of cooking for this evening’s banquet.
Emperor Yongye sat to the side, and it seed his complexion had improved quite a bit compared to before.
Feng Bailing stepped forward and paid respects to everyone in turn. Emperor Yongye had also not seen the Feng Bailing family for a long ti. Except for Feng Xiaoli who was still the sa as always, both Dugu Xiaojin and Feng Bailing had undergone noticeable changes.
The Emperor had been fully inford about everything that happened during their trip to Qinghe City by his Hidden Guard.
Feng Bailing had perford admirably; all mbers of Great Chu Team B, except for Princess Anyang, had survived. On the other hand, Great Chu Team A, though claiming to have concentrated mbers with 5 Wenhua Seals and Wuji Seals, had less than half that returned alive.
The thought caused Emperor Yongye’s brow to furrow slightly.
He couldn’t help but rember so things Noble Consort Dugu had told him. She said that the vice president of Yuxiu Academy had co to the palace in tears, claiming that she had taken over the presidency of the academy following the Emperor’s decree.
Yet who would have known that as soon as Feng Bailing returned to Chu City, Lady Nan Xiu handed over the land deed to Yuxiu Academy, making Feng Bailing the new owner.
The vice president was also driven out by Feng Bailing from Yuxiu Academy. This kind of action by Feng Bailing was too domineering, leaving the female teachers and students of Yuxiu Academy deeply dissatisfied.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongye felt sowhat displeased. He had never been particularly fond of Feng Bailing, only treating him differently after learning that Feng Bailing was a disciple of the dical Buddha, and because he had so health issues himself. He catered to the dical Buddha and aid to control Dugu Wu through Feng Bailing.
But if Feng Bailing beca arrogant because of favoritism, Emperor Yongye would not be pleased.
"Grandpa."
While Emperor Yongye was pondering how to deal with the situation, Feng Xiaoli ran over to him.
The little one didn’t care for her own heavy body and climbed up onto Emperor Yongye. His displeasure faded upon seeing the chubby child in front of him, and a smile unwittingly spread across his face.
For so reason, he just had a special fondness for little Feng Xiaoli. He had consented to Noble Consort Guo’s pregnancy with the hope that she might bear him a daughter as adorable as Feng Xiaoli.
Yes, she would definitely give birth to a daughter as cute as Feng Xiaoli; after all, the bloodline he shared with Noble Consort Guo would surely not be inferior to that of the Feng Bailing couple.
"Empress Dowager, Xiaojin brought so local specialties back from Qinghe City."
Feng Bailing smiled as he presented the local specialties Xiaojin brought, one by one to each palace, as well as to the Empress Dowager and Emperor Yongye.
Noble Princess Consort Xiao received the specialties with disdain, saying with a forced smile.
"Xiaojin does have so filial piety. It’s a pity, though, that both the Emperor and Empress Dowager are now following Noble Consort Dugu’s advice, only eating her dicinal als for nourishnt. These trinkets can only be given away to the palace maids and eunuchs."
dicinal als, nourishnt?
Feng Bailing couldn’t help but think of the conversation had with Feng Xiaoli earlier.
Hearing Noble Princess Consort Xiao speak up, Princess Consort Mu hastily agreed.
"While that’s true, one can eventually get tired of good things if they have too much. I’ve heard that Princess Consort Wu has a unique set of brilliant culinary skills. Why doesn’t Noble Consort Dugu join her tonight, and cook for everyone? We could relish sothing new, and see whose culinary skills are superior."
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