Zhongcui Palace.
Concubine Ning Han, draped in white mink fur, quietly looked at the branches of cold plum blossoms in the corner. She sighed and chanted slowly: "Every year in the snow, I often plant plum blossoms to get drunk. I remove all the plum blossoms without any good intentions, and I get tears all over my clothes." This year, everywhere in the world, Xiao Xiao’s temples are blooming…”
"Mother, it's cold and windy outside, so you'd better go back inside."
The maid on the side said with concern.
Concubine Ning shook her head slightly, raised her hand, pointed at the plum blossoms, and said, "The plum blossoms still bloom, but where is this concubine?"
From the death of Taizu in May to Jianwen of the Yuan Dynasty, in more than half a year, I could only see the emperor a few times, and the emperor never stayed in Zhongcui Palace, or even visited.
My heart has turned to gray, as cold as snow.
"Concubine Ning, your Majesty invites you."
A eunuch hurried over.
Concubine Ning's eyes lit up, she quickly straightened her clothes, took two steps and asked, "Where is the Emperor?"
"I'm going to talk to Concubine Ning in Shangshan Prison."
The eunuch replied respectfully.
"Shangshan Supervisor..."
Concubine Ning's expression was a little unnatural. After all, Shang Shan Jian was a place to eat, so no other stories could happen.
"I would like to ask my father-in-law to inform the emperor that I am not feeling well today and will not go."
Concubine Ning raised her hand, raised her brow, and said softly.
The eunuch looked at Concubine Ning, bowed and then left.
Seeing the eunuch leaving, the maid on the side asked anxiously: "Your Majesty, the Emperor has invited you, why do you..."
Concubine Ning glanced at the maid, she frowned slightly, and said sadly: "So what if I go?"
In the backyard of this deep palace, without the emperor's favor, he is like the weeds on the roadside. No one cares about the withering and prosperity, and no one cares about life and death.
See you, so what? It was just a casual encounter, a passing by, and no further connection.
He would not ask himself whether he was warm or not, nor would he accompany him in love. He gave all his love to the queen. I can only stay in Zhongcui Palace, my beauty changes secretly, one spring and autumn, another winter and summer.
Shang Shanjian.
Zhu Yunwen always wanted to laugh when he looked at Ma Enhui pouring water into the flour.
After a while, there was too much water, and flour was added. After a while, there was too much flour, and more water was added. After a while, a large pot could no longer hold it.
The anxious Ma Enhui didn't dare to look at Zhu Yunwen. She blushed and smashed the dough with her small fists. She had just said that she would be able to reconcile the dough.
"Oh, Queen, isn't this basin a little too small?"
Zhu Yunwen suppressed a smile, came to Ma Enhui's side and said.
Ma Enhui's brows were covered with fine sweat, she snorted and said without giving up: "No, who asked the internal prison to make such a small basin, how to make noodles!"
The people in Shangshan Supervisor almost fainted after hearing this.
My Lady Queen, no matter how big this basin is, it will become a vat...
"How about we share three pots? Maybe Concubine Ning and Concubine Xian will come too."
Zhu Yunwen suggested.
Ma Enhui blushed even more, nodded repeatedly, and with Zhu Yunwen's help, divided the dough into three parts.
"The Concubine Xian has met the Emperor and the Queen."
After the concubine Zhang saw the ceremony, she also came over and was not surprised when she saw the emperor and queen wearing aprons. These two couples had always been more unrestrained in the inner palace and did not care about the palace rules.
Originally, Ma Enhui attached great importance to etiquette, but for some reason, she was led astray by the emperor.
As expected, those who are close to Zhu are red, and those who are close to the Emperor are unruly.
"The Concubine Xian is here, just in time, please help me - uh, let the Queen teach you how to make dough..." Zhu Yunwen felt Ma Enhui's resentful eyes and quickly changed his words.
Concubine Xian chuckled, took the apron from the maid, tied it around her waist, cleaned her hands, and said, "The queen must teach me well..."
"Come on, sister, take this bowl of noodles first, and I'll let you take a look."
Ma Enhui knew that Concubine Xian was from Anhui and liked pasta, so she guessed that Concubine Xian knew how to make noodles. She didn't know how to make noodles and couldn't tell her, so she had to learn on the spot.
Concubine Xian was not simple. While kneading the noodles, she explained to Ma Enhui: "This noodle needs to be strong and needs to be kneaded more. The surface will be smooth until it is smooth. Start from the middle, then fold the two ends, and then knead repeatedly..."
Ma Enhui glanced at Concubine Xian gratefully and began to work on her dough.
Zhu Yunwen held a kitchen knife in both hands and chopped meat. A eunuch came over and reported: "Concubine Ning is not feeling well and will not come."
He used a kitchen knife to gather the meat stuffing again, and Zhu Yunwen asked the eunuch: "You are not feeling well? But you have caught a cold? Have you asked the imperial doctor to see you?"
The eunuch hesitated and said, "We don't know. It's just that when we arrived, Concubine Ning was admiring the plum blossoms."
Zhu Yunwen laughed, slammed the kitchen knife on the chopping board, wiped his hands, and said to Shuangxi: "Concubine Ning has a complaint in her heart, go and invite her."
Shuangxi agreed and left in a hurry.
Ma Enhui looked at Zhu Yunwen and said, "Concubine Ning has always been talented but aloof. Your Majesty, please don't take her to heart."
Zhu Yunwen picked up the brocade handkerchief on the palace maid's tray, wiped the sweat from Ma Enhui's brow, and said with a smile: "It's me who neglected Concubine Ning and Concubine Xian. I'm a little short-tempered, and that's right. Concubine Ning is as cold as a plum, and Concubine Xian is as warm as a plum. Wan Ruyue, both are excellent women, but this Ming Dynasty has so many affairs that I have no intention of caring about others. My dear concubine, don’t blame me."
"The emperor puts the country first, which is a blessing to all people. How can I be a woman who only cares about personal affairs? I only hope that the emperor will not be troubled by worries, and the Ming Dynasty will usher in a prosperous age as soon as possible."
The wise concubine saluted respectfully.
Zhu Yunwen helped Concubine Xian up, nodded slightly, and said: "The prosperous times will come. However, what I am most concerned about now is when you can live well, and our family can have a reunion meal of dumplings."
"That's good."
Concubine Xian responded with a smile, and together with Ma Enhui, they made peace with each other, and then placed them in the stove with only the remaining fire left.
Concubine Ning finally came.
Zhu Yunwen looked at Concubine Ning who was asking for forgiveness, cut vegetables and said: "Today, there are no emperors, queens, or concubines here, only our family. Come on, since Concubine Ning is late, she naturally needs to take on more tasks of rolling out the noodles. Leave it to you."
Concubine Ning has never done farm work, or even entered the kitchen.
Zhu Yunwen looked at Concubine Ning, who was sweating profusely because she couldn't roll noodles, and reluctantly asked her to make dumplings while he rolled the noodles himself.
The virtuous concubine has experience and is as good as a crescent moon.
Look at the dumplings made by Ma Enhui again. They look like lumps.
As for Concubine Ning, okay, are you putting so much meat stuffing in to overwhelm the dough?
If you can't wrap it up, you just want to pull the noodles, but you don't know if there is a little meat...
Ma Enhui and Ning Fei, who were originally anxious, suddenly laughed when they saw the white flour on Zhu Yunwen's face.
It was joyful and joyful.
Zhu Yunwen likes this kind of reunion. The whole family is with each other. A meal of dumplings is not a foreign country no matter how far away. Looking at the smiling woman in front of him, the rolling memories finally become a distant place that cannot be returned.
Finally, we have to say goodbye, look back, and move on.
What would the Ming Dynasty be like in its glory days?
Will my huge plans and blueprints become reality bit by bit?
Can you cope with the endless variables and problems?
Zhu Yunwen came out of his contemplation, raised his glass and said: "I hope that after a thousand years, future generations will say: The Han and Tang dynasties were not as good as the Ming Dynasty. That's enough!"
