allonlinenovel Chapter 332 Summoned Back to the Palace by the Empress Dowager
Chapter 332 Summoned Back to the Palace by the Empress Dowager
Before long, the corn snack was ready. Su Nuannuan looked at the boiled corn in front of her and couldn't wait any longer. She picked up a corn cob and, completely disregarding her image, started to eat it like a child.
Although this corn didn't taste as sweet and soft as the glutinous corn from her previous life, it was better than nothing for Su Nuannuan at this moment.
However, for Jinse and others who were trying boiled corn for the first time, it was undoubtedly a completely new taste experience. As they chewed the corn, savoring its unique aroma and texture, they all praised it highly, saying that the corn was absolutely delicious.
Of course, Su Nuannuan did not forget Manager Song. She specially prepared a portion of corn for him so that he could also taste what this not-yet-fully-ripe corn tasted like.
Besides boiled corn, Su Nuannuan also made fresh corn pancakes. The pancakes were equally amazing. Zhixiang and Li Desheng preferred the sweet version, while Jinse and Tingxue preferred the savory version. Su Nuannuan herself loved both sweet and savory flavors.
Not only that, Su Nuannuan didn't forget to save a portion for Yu Wei, who was hiding in the shadows. After all, in Su Nuannuan's heart, no one on her side should be missing, and everyone should be taken care of.
"Tingxue, after you finish eating, go to the cornfield and pick about twenty ears of corn. Then take them to the palace for the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to try. Boiled corn is very simple and not difficult at all. Also, take the recipe for making fresh corn pancakes back to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor." Su Nuannuan swallowed the fresh corn pancake in her mouth with satisfaction and turned to Tingxue to instruct her.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Tingxue mumbled, still chewing on a corncob.
Seeing this, Jinse laughed and teased, "Your Majesty, you've just taken away twenty ears of corn. I bet Steward Song is heartbroken and crying."
Su Nuannuan smiled nonchalantly and said, "I left him a portion of everything, so he shouldn't be crying."
However, when Steward Song learned that his master had ruthlessly taken away twenty ears of corn again, he felt incredibly bitter and wanted to cry. But then he thought about how he had also eaten the delicious corn, and suddenly he didn't feel so bad. In the end, he could only sigh helplessly and instruct his subordinates, "Never mind, never mind. From now on, let the master take whatever he wants. We don't depend on this corn to make a living anyway."
But Steward Song never expected that his master was such a master at squandering things.
The corn had only been eaten for two days, and now their master had already set his sights on soybeans and peanuts! Keep in mind, the soybeans were still just green pods, and the peanuts wouldn't be ready for harvest for a while longer. Even so, these vibrant crops couldn't escape their master's "poisonous hands."
Now, Manager Song had become somewhat numb to it all. Especially after tasting the boiled peanuts and edamame, he was speechless. After all, these foods were simply too delicious to resist.
Of course, Su Nuannuan did not forget the Empress Dowager and the Emperor in the palace. She specially ordered people to send a basket of each kind of food back to the palace as a token of her gratitude.
However, that wasn't all. Su Nuannuan then turned her attention to the peas. Originally, she planned to grind these peas into pea flour after they matured. But now, her mistress ruthlessly picked the green peas and not only made boiled spiced peas, but also ingeniously created green pea cakes, and even steamed a pot of pea and cured meat rice with cured meat and other vegetables.
In short, Su Nuannuan "ruined" every single plant in the vegetable garden that could be "ruined".
Finally, when Su Nuannuan was summoned back to the palace by the Empress Dowager, Steward Song felt an immense sense of relief. He was so grateful that he almost cried – finally, he had gotten rid of this troublesome mistress!
Previously, when those two young masters were still by the Empress's side, she could restrain herself somewhat and not be too unrestrained. But who knew that as soon as those two young masters left, the Empress became like a wild horse, and began to let herself go completely.
Meanwhile, Su Nuannuan left the manor with a face full of reluctance, turning back every few steps, as if there was some treasure in the manor that she couldn't bear to part with. However, despite her deep reluctance, she eventually returned to the palace.
As soon as Su Nuannuan stepped through the gates of Cuiwei Palace, her gaze was drawn to the vines laden with grapes. The bunches of purple, green, and juicy grapes, like agate, shimmered alluringly in the sunlight. Seeing this, Su Nuannuan's mood instantly brightened.
No corn? No problem. No peanuts or edamame? No problem. No peas? No problem at all. She still has a grape trellis.
However, she did not immediately pick the grapes. Instead, she remembered that she had an important matter to attend to—paying her respects to the Empress Dowager. So, she turned to Li Desheng and said, "Li Desheng, go and cut a bunch of grapes and put them in the food box. I will take them with me to Cixi Palace later."
Upon hearing this, Li Desheng quickly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty." After saying this, he hurriedly found scissors and a wooden ladder, and then carefully selected a bunch of grapes with relatively high ripeness under the grape trellis. After selecting them, Li Desheng nimbly climbed the wooden ladder, and with a swift movement, he cut the bunch of grapes off with a "snip."
At the same time, Su Nuannuan had quickly changed her clothes and came out of the inner room. She was dressed in a light purple palace gown, her clothes fluttering, and she looked graceful and charming. After everything was ready, Su Nuannuan, accompanied by Eunuch Li and Jinse, rode in a sedan chair and slowly made her way towards Cining Palace.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." Su Nuannuan bowed respectfully to the Empress Dowager with a standard courtly salute, her movements elegant and graceful, her manners impeccable.
Seeing this, the Empress Dowager raised the corners of her mouth slightly, revealing a faint smile. Her gaze fell on Su Nuannuan, and she said with a half-smile, "So you've finally decided to come back?" Although the words seemed casual, they contained a hint of teasing.
Su Nuannuan understood the deeper meaning in the Empress Dowager's words, and she quickly smiled apologetically, "Your Majesty, I was just missing you!"
Immediately afterwards, Su Nuannuan turned to look at Li Desheng standing to the side and said with a smile, "Li Desheng, hand the food box to me." Li Desheng quickly responded and carefully handed the food box to Su Nuannuan.
After receiving the food box, Su Nuannuan turned to face the Empress Dowager, presented it with both hands, and said softly, "Empress Dowager, these are grapes that I picked in my palace. I brought them here especially for you to try. You are the first person to taste them!" Her tone was full of flattery and ingratiation, which made people feel happy.