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Like flowing water, dish after dish consisting of lychees were sent to the banquet.
There were stir-fried lychee and shrimp balls, fried egg and lychee, roast duck with fresh lychee salad, red lychee rolls, pork and lychee balls, and so on. The empress scooped a spoonful of clear soup. Within sat a snow-white lychee, as well as a few scarlet wolfberries. White at the center with rosy surroundings. As though a couple of red plum blossoms fluttered among the snow, lovely to the max.
“Your Majesty the empress, this is the dish called White Snow Red Plum Blossom that the imperial kitchens specially made.” Erqing noticed her inquisitive expression, and so explained at the side, “It’s easy for one to suffer from excessive internal heat from eating lychees. Thus, they must be soaked in warm salt water, and then paired with wolfberries.”
“There has been much attention and consideration put into the tea and meals. Simply the outward appearance of this is elegant to an immense degree.” The empress smiled. “Emperor, have a taste.”
Hongli cut an absent-minded figure, gaze wandering everywhere. What he was searching for in the crowd proved anyone’s guess. It wasn’t until the White Snow Red Plum Blossom was sent before him that he smiled faintly at the empress. “Empress is considerate.”
A sliver of envy flashed through Noble Consort Hui’s eyes. She stroked her tortoiseshell nail guards, a smile blossoming on her lips. “Lychee dishes are very common. After all, there are dried lychees sent here every year, and condiments can be added to them. But they won’t taste like this! People who truly want to eat lychees are most interested in the fresh sort. Your Majesty the empress, aren’t you supposed to personally pick the lychees today? Why haven’t the servants brought out the lychee tree yet?”
The empress found it strange as well. According to the plan, the lychee tree should have already been brought out. But for some reason, there hadn’t been any sign of activity regarding that.
“Speaking of which, who’s in charge of this
?” Noble Consort Hui smiled profoundly. “This concubine remembers now. It’s a palace maid named Wei Yingluo.”
All of a sudden, the hand Hongli was using to hold a lychee paused.
The empress did not become aware of it, but because of Noble Consort Hui’s smile, she wrinkled her brows. They had fought against each other for so many years, and had been enemies for so long. The empress could be considered the person who understood Noble Consort Hui the most in the world. This smile obviously carried ill intentions. What does she want to do? What can she do?
All of a sudden, Hongli said, “It’s getting late. Have the palace maid named
 Wei Yingluo bring the lychee tree out.”
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Alarm struck the empress’ heart. Although she felt uneasy, since the emperor had already spoken, there was no way she could reject his decision in public. She could only say, “Where’s Yingluo? Have her bring the lychee tree over.”
The order was issued, but said person still did not appear.
After a while, Noble Consort Hui said, voice springing from all around, “Oh, that Wei Yingluo is truly bold, actually daring to make His Majesty, the empress, and so many imperial concubines wait for a servant like her.” The implications behind Noble Consort Hui’s smile grew deeper. “The empress’ palace was able to teach and train such a servant. Hehe.”
The empress furrowed her brows. From her understanding of Wei Yingluo, she would not make such a mistake without rhyme or reason, slighting so many noble personages of the imperial palace. What good would that do for her? Something must have happened.
She swept her peripheral vision at Noble Consort Hui. And she caught sight of her appearance, one of waiting for a good show to start. The empress’ heart grew cold. “Perhaps this matter has something to do with her
”
The empress wanted to dodge the matter altogether, but the arrow had already been plucked and must be released. The emperor, Noble Consort Hui, Imperial Concubine Jia
 So many pairs of eyes stared at her, their owners waiting for her to reply.
How should she answer
?
Just when the empress was hard-pressed, her ears caught Erqing saying, “Your Majesty! It’s Wei Yingluo! She’s come!”
Wei Yingluo came?
Everyone turned to look at her, wanting to see how this presumptuous palace maid appeared.
At first glance, one could tell that her uniform did not seem any different from those of other palace maids.
At second glance, one felt she was different from the other palace maids, however.
Such an appearance
 was too beautiful.
Her breath resembled the fragrance of orchids. Her looks clear as a lotus core. Even among the candidates for the Selection, who went through layer upon layer of inspection, there were few as beautiful as her. The empress had a large heart, actually allowing such a beauty to serve by her side. Was she not afraid this beauty would attract the emperor’s attention?
Compared to Wei Yingluo, the woman whom she was supporting was overshadowed. Thin and pallid like a wilting flower. Perhaps the only thing surpassing Wei Yingluo were the clothes she wore, those belonging to a master.
“Noble Lady Yu, why are you here?” asked the empress, shocked.
The woman Wei Yingluo was supporting was supposed to be in Yonghe Palace for her pregnancy. Noble Lady Yu.
She smiled at the empress. “Since Your Majesty the empress has hosted this banquet, this concubine ought to be present. Your Majesty shows solicitude for me, so this concubine must not be lazy.”
Hongli slowly shifted his gaze from Wei Yingluo’s face to Noble Lady Yu’s. “Has Noble Lady Yu’s condition improved?”
Noble Lady Yu rushed to perform a curtsy. “Many thanks, Your Majesty, for the concern. This concubine’s condition has already improved by quite a lot.”
“Then that’s good. You need to pay more attention to your body. Don’t have Empress worry over you.” Hongli nodded. “Sit.”
Noble Lady Yu took a seat in her usual position. As she sat, she exchanged a thoroughly-understanding gaze with Wei Yingluo.
At almost the same time, Noble Consort Hui and Imperial Concubine Jia shared an equivalent gaze. Imperial Concubine Jia said, “Your Majesty the empress, when will the lychees be plucked from the tree? This concubine is gluttonous, and is waiting for a taste of those fragrant, delicious, and fresh lychees!”
Such words startled the empress. Then she looked at Wei Yingluo, worried.
“We have let the masters wait for too long,” replied Wei Yingluo with a relaxed smile. Following that, she shouted, “Bring it over!”