Chapter 48 Dining

But Chen Mo could only endure for now.

Firstly, Wang Ying was also a martial artist; his exact ranking was still unknown.

Secondly, he was a close confidant of the Empress.

Not to mention whether I could defeat him or not.

Even if I could win, killing Wang Ying would certainly attract the Empress’s attention, and if the Inner Court’s guards investigate, it’s uncertain whether I could avoid the investigation.

After all, I haven’t killed anyone yet, and I haven’t mastered the skills of murder and corpse disposal.

Moreover, if I get into a fight with Wang Ying and cause a disturbance, it would be difficult for me to retreat.

My real identity is something that can’t be exposed.

...

"Eunuch Wang, please." Chen Mo did not reveal his murderous intent.

The eunuch behind Wang Ying stepped forward, took the meal box from Chen Mo’s hand, opened it, and then Wang Ying picked up the chopsticks, tasted it, but quickly spit it out:

"Little Chen, what have you made here? This is so awful. How can you give this to the Empress? Take it back and redo it."

The little eunuch beside them closed the meal box and was about to hand it back to Chen Mo.

"Awful? Could it be? When I just finished, I gave it to Little Mirror and the others to taste, and they all said it was delicious." Chen Mo said with his head lowered.

"Are you questioning me?" Wang Ying squinted his eyes, a hint of coldness appearing on his face that seemed to have been smeared with white powder.

Meanwhile, Cai’Er, who was waiting in the outer hall, heard this and immediately lifted the beaded curtain and walked into the inner hall. Looking at Xiao Yunxi, who was handling the Empress’s affairs, she respectfully bowed and said:

"Empress, it’s getting late. You should stop and have your meal. Chen Hong has prepared your lunch and is waiting outside."

"Oh, let him in then." Xiao Yunxi raised her phoenix-like eyes, put down the White Jade pen in her hand, and got up to walk to the desk beside her.

On the desk was a copper basin.

Inside the copper basin was warm water that Cai’Er had prepared earlier, with a dry towel hanging beside it.

"Understood." Cai’Er retreated outside.

On the other side.

Chen Mo had just turned around with the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall dish when a soft voice called out: "Wait."

Chen Mo stopped.

"The Empress wants you to go in," Cai’Er said.

"Cai’Er, tell the Empress that today’s lunch made by Little Chen tastes poor and doesn’t suit the Empress’s palate. I’ll have him redo it." Upon hearing this, Wang Ying flicked his duster, frowning slightly.

Cai’Er immediately put on a troubled expression and said, "But it’s already late, the Empress should eat."

"That’s easy to solve; lunch isn’t just one dish made by Little Chen," Wang Ying finished, then waved, and each of the eunuchs who came with Chen Mo was holding a wooden box.

Then just as Wang Ying was about to urge Chen Mo to leave.

Xiao Yunxi’s voice came from the inner hall: "It’s rare for dishes made by Little Hong to fall below standard; I’m quite curious and have to try it. Wang Ying, let him in."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ying’s expression changed. He looked suspiciously at Cai’Er, who appeared innocent, feeling a bit of anger, but he dared not disobey the Empress’s order. So he respectfully agreed and allowed Chen Mo and the others to enter.

When entering the outer hall, Cai’Er whispered to Chen Mo: "Brother Hong, are you alright?"

Chen Mo was stunned, realizing Cai’Er had helped him, so he quietly said thank you while others weren’t paying attention.

A smile appeared on Cai’Er’s face as she lifted the beaded curtain and said inside: "Empress, the meal is served."

Hearing a response from inside, Cai’Er allowed Chen Mo and the others to enter.

Chen Mo skillfully arranged the dishes on the long table, then placed the bowls and chopsticks neatly in front of Xiao Yunxi, and said, "Empress, please enjoy your meal."

He then stepped to the side and didn’t leave.

The other eunuchs left after setting down the dishes.

In the inner hall, only Xiao Yunxi, Cai’Er, and Chen Mo remained.

Xiao Yunxi had already gotten up from the bed, wearing formal attire: a golden silk phoenix dress inlaid with pearls, with a phoenix crown on her head and a light makeup on her face, making her appear a few years younger, exuding a noble and graceful aura.

Xiao Yunxi took off her phoenix crown and sat down. From her movements, it was evident that she had mostly recovered. She first inspected the dish made by Chen Mo.

When she discovered that abalone, sea cucumber, reishi, and other ingredients were mixed together in the bowl, her eyebrows raised slightly, and she said: "Little Hong, what is this dish called?"

"Reporting to the Empress, this dish is called Fortune and Longevity, made with... blah blah blah..."

Chen Mo recited the ingredients used for Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, then said: "This servant wishes Your Majesty and the Empress both fortune and longevity."

Upon hearing Chen Mo’s words, Xiao Yunxi’s eyebrows relaxed significantly, and a smile appeared on her lips. Nobody dislikes hearing good words, especially when the person speaking them is someone she doesn’t dislike.

She said, "Is this dish really called Fortune and Longevity? Or did you make it up to please me?"

"Reporting to the Empress, this servant wouldn’t dare to deceive you; this dish is indeed called Fortune and Longevity. All the ingredients used are supplements, making people feel fortunate after eating it, hence the name," Chen Mo said.

Of course, he had made this part up.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunxi chuckled lightly and then said, "Seeing as you’ve said so much, even if it doesn’t taste great, I will finish it."

"That would be my honor."

Actually, Chen Mo didn’t prepare a lot, and given Xiao Yunxi’s small appetite, he didn’t serve all of it.

As usual, the leftovers were basically for himself.

Being the cook meant having plenty of benefits.

Xiao Yunxi first used a spoon to sip some of the soup.

Before drinking, she slightly frowned, having heard from Wang Ying that the dish’s taste was not very good.

But after drinking it, her brows immediately relaxed, and she raised them in surprise, saying: "The taste is quite nice, so why did Wang Ying say it was bad?"

"Perhaps it doesn’t suit Eunuch Wang’s taste. After all, he didn’t say that a few days ago..." Chen Mo said.

But Xiao Yunxi sensed something else from Chen Mo’s words; her previously relaxed brows furrowed again, and she tacitly picked up some sea cucumber to taste.

After satisfying her taste buds, she chewed slowly and murmured, "Maybe it really doesn’t suit Wang Ying’s taste."

Chen Mo nodded, secretly sighing, and continued, "Then the Empress should eat more. There are more in the kitchen, and this Fortune and Longevity also have beauty and skincare effects."

These words weren’t made up by Chen Mo. Back when he first tried it, the owner had told him the same thing.

"Oh." Xiao Yunxi exclaimed in surprise and continued eating.

While eating, she said to Cai’Er: "Going to Saint Emperor Mountain tomorrow, the journey by carriage is tiring, so I don’t want to take too many things. Just bring some of my usual items."

"Understood." Cai’Er replied.

PS: Big brothers, killing Wang Ying requires a plan; he’s not an ordinary eunuch.

However, his boxed lunch is being prepared...