Chapter 490: Chapter 277 Annoying_2

The eunuchs watched as Huang Bing discarded the beautiful flower and were perplexed. “Master, isn’t the new Junior Attendant Shu quite pretty? Why has she fallen out of favor with Your Majesty so?”

Huang Bing, admiring the brilliantly blooming peach blossom in his hand, shook his head with unfathomable depth. “Just remember, you need to treat Junior Attendant Shu as a master, regardless of her status.”

Having served the longest by Qi Yuan’s side, when had he ever seen Qi Yuan swayed by someone’s feelings? This irritation, too, was an emotion.

Meanwhile, upon learning that her flowers had been thrown away, Shu Wan showed no reaction. She sat on the steps, grinding mung beans with a pestle.

Ning Yuan squatted beside her, inquisitively asking, “Ziruo, what are you doing?”

“I’m preparing something to eat for His Majesty,” Shu Wan did not conceal her intentions.

Ning Yuan’s eyes widened. “I heard that none of the nine contestants got to attend the emperor’s chamber. When will you be able to get His Majesty to eat what you’ve made?”

“Soon.”

Although Ning Yuan didn’t believe that Qi Yuan would come to their quarters, she always felt that Shu Wan had the capability. If Shu Wan said Qi Yuan would come, then he would definitely come.

Just as Ning Yuan was about to say something, Shu Wan turned her head and stared at her straight on, “I intend to become the Favored Consort. When that time comes, I can lend you a hand, but until then, if you do anything to hinder me, I won’t show mercy.”

Ever since Shu Wan had come to this era, Ning Yuan had been the one constantly by her side. Thus, she gave Ning Yuan a preemptive warning to avoid a fallout in the future.

Shu Wan was usually gentle and soft-spoken, but now as she spoke, there was an overpowering aura about her that left Ning Yuan not daring to breathe for a moment.

It took a while before Ning Yuan could respond, “Ziruo, you were a bit scary just now.”

“I’m not a good person.”

“Don’t worry, I know my limits,” Ning Yuan assured, patting her chest. “Instead of competing for favor myself, I might as well wait for you to lead me.”

Perhaps when Ning Yuan had first become a contestant, she too had an unrealistic dream for a while, but once she truly understood how strict and hierarchical the inner palace was, she realized how ordinary she was.

In this palace, there were women with backgrounds, beauty, and talent as common as carps crossing the river, and she felt if it weren’t for Shu Wan teaching her to wear the Mulan hairpin, she might not have even been able to enter the palace gate.

Now facing Shu Wan’s warning, Ning Yuan accepted it calmly.

As the sun set behind the western hills, Qi Yuan indeed visited Changning Palace again.

Stepping through the palace gate, Qi Yuan couldn’t help but think of Shu Wan, guessing that the woman must be waiting to flit about before him again.

With this thought, a restlessness stirred within him again.

He wanted to leave but leaving just because of Shu Wan would mean admitting her influence on him. After a moment’s thought, Qi Yuan entered the palace gate anyway.

To his surprise, Shu Wan was not there.

Xu Yinjia, accompanied by a group of Palace Attendants, came forward to greet him. Qi Yuan glanced around and, for some reason, felt an inexplicable emptiness.

“All rise.”

Qi Yuan gave the command and then entered the hall directly.

Xu Yinjia followed, “Your Majesty, I had some new pastries prepared for you. Please try them.”

As she spoke, she signaled the Palace Attendants to bring forward the pastries.

Qi Yuan scanned the selection, his eyes settling on a bowl of crystal-clear ice jelly.

The ice jelly was transparent, its nature unknown, but peach blossoms were artfully arranged underneath, like colorful fallen petals, a clever design indeed.

Qi Yuan unconsciously recalled the peach blossom he had discarded.

Xu Yinjia was always attentive to Qi Yuan’s expressions and noticing his interest, quickly presented the dessert to him, “Your Majesty, please try this. It is a new creation from the small kitchen, refreshing and cool.”

Qi Yuan took a spoon and had a taste; indeed, it was cool and refreshing.

Before he could even respond, he had already helped himself to a second spoonful.

Xu Yinjia was overjoyed to see Qi Yuan actually eating the pastries, and not just one bite. In her presence, he rarely even drank water, so this was a significant change. “Your Majesty, please have some more.”

“Did you make this?”

Qi Yuan didn’t continue eating but instead looked up at Xu Yinjia.

Eager for Qi Yuan’s approval, Xu Yinjia truly wanted to claim she had made it, but under Qi Yuan’s cool gaze, she felt a chill as if she was completely seen through, her eyes flickering, “Your Majesty, it was made by the newly promoted Junior Attendant Shu. She has quite the skillful hands.”

Hearing Xu Yinjia’s words, Qi Yuan was somewhat taken aback.

He knew Xu Yinjia’s temperament well. She had always been petty and jealous, never willing to share even a bit of glory with anyone else, and yet this time, she was quite generous in giving credit.