无翼乌工口里番无色无摭挡

Concubine Jin thought for a moment, and with her trust in those delicious dishes from the past, she reached out with her slender jade finger, picked up a melon seed—

From the moment her tongue touched the melon seed, her expression appeared somewhat moved.

She exclaimed in surprise, cracked open the melon seed, and ate the seed kernel.

It’s so fragrant and delicious.

Concubine Jin didn’t speak, but cracked seven or eight seeds in a row, then called over the palace maids: “Peel a hundred for me.”

Two palace maids started working together.

Concubine Jin happily asked Jiang Ning: “These melon seeds taste truly wonderful. I’ve never had them before.”

Jiang Ning smiled: “Your Highness usually eats original flavored melon seeds. Although they’re also delicious, they can be a bit monotonous.”

“What is this called?”

“These are five-spice melon seeds.”

“Five-spice?”

“Yes.” Jiang Ning smiled, “It’s very simple, yet this is my secret recipe. Would Your Highness like to know it?”

Concubine Jin raised her slender eyebrows: “As long as I have some to eat, I don’t need to know how to make them.”

“Of course.” Jiang Ning smiled amicably, “Your Highness, please enjoy them. I have to go to the East Palace now. If I’m late, the Princess Consort will have a lot of complaints.”

Concubine Jin spoke indifferently: “Why do you care about her?”

“When you’re under someone’s roof, you have to bow your head.”

“And when did you come under her?”

“Has Your Highness forgotten that she is already the Princess Consort? I am only the Princess Consort of Yu. I have to salute her when we meet.”

“Even if you don’t salute her, how can she do anything to you?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Jiang Ning laughed, “Your Highness has the Emperor’s protection, so you can do whatever you want. I don’t have Prince Yu to embolden me, and if I offend the Princess Consort, I’m afraid it will do me no good. Not to mention, Prince Yu himself is already in danger.”

“Am I not qualified enough to be your backer?”

“Of course you are. I just don’t want to bother you too much.”

Jiang Ning thought to herself, if I don’t want you to be my backer, would I specifically send you delicious food every now and then to please you, my cold and aloof mother-in-law?

Fortunately, pleasing a cold and aloof foodie mother-in-law is much easier and more relaxed than pleasing a malicious one.

Concubine Jin said: “Don’t go to the East Palace today, stay here with me to crack melon seeds.”

“Your Highness, you have plenty of palace maid sisters here, let them accompany you.”

“They don’t know how to make five-spice melon seeds.”

“…I really can’t do it this time, I have something to do in the East Palace.” Jiang Ning laughed, “Next time, I’ll bring you melon seeds with different flavors.”

“There are other flavors?”

“Even better than five-spice.”

“What flavor exactly?”

“Since Your Highness is so curious, I’ll give you a little spoiler: it’s plum flavor.”

“Plum flavor? It’s sour, I don’t like it.”

“There are also walnut, red date, green tea, cream, salt and pepper, salt-baked flavors…”

Concubine Jin was silent for a moment: “When are you coming back to the palace next time?”

“I’m not sure…”

“In three days, I want to try all the flavors you mentioned.”

“Then I’ll probably need a favor from you.”

“A fair trade, no problem.”

“Alright, Your Highness, please wait. I’ll take my leave now.”

With a smile on her face, Jiang Ning pushed the wheelchair out of the Splendid Palace.

Dongxie stepped forward to push the wheelchair and chuckled, “Your Highness, you always seem happy after meeting Concubine Jin.”

“It’s rare to see such a simple foodie like Concubine Jin.”

“What did Your Highness say?”

“Women usually get what they want through men, but I can control the men behind women by controlling women themselves. Isn’t that a beautiful feeling?”

“Your Highness, I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” Dongxie smiled with her lips pursed..