Chapter 19: Winemaking

As soon as Jiang Wanqiu entered Noble Consort Dowager Wei’s palace, she saw Song Zhi dragging a servant out.

Jiang Wanqiu didn’t like Song Zhi very much.

Because Song Zhi is a fox. After knowing that Noble Consort Dowager Wei did not like her, she did not show any respect when she faced Jiang Wanqiu, and every word she spoke to her was to mock her. Jiang Wanqiu had no doubt that Song Zhi talked bad about her in front of Noble Consort Dowager Wei.

But even if she didn’t like her, she was the closest person to Noble Consort Dowager Wei, so Jiang Wanqiu has to greet her and call her aunt.

But Song Zhi just ignored Jiang Wanqiu. She dragged the maidservant to the front yard and made her kneel in the sun.

Noble Consort Dowager Wei felt that the punishment was not enough, so she asked someone to bring a tray for the maid to hold.

Jiang Wanqiu frowned.

Such punishment is too heavy. She doesn’t know what this maidservant did to deserve this punishment.

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Lsczl Usdpsav Psoytla Elk eke dsv nyzz psxlsdl vs rknj kv wr kxxlekyvlzu, cwv pyke pzsozu: “Rq usw yal alyzzu osaakle ycswv xu blyeynbl, usw pbswze byhl nsxl vs vbl ryzynl lyazkla. Tso nyd usw sdzu ts dso? Tso wdqkzkyz! Zsw xwpv oydv xl vs ekl ps vbyv usw okzz byhl vbl qkdyz pyu kd Vakdnl Ww’p xydpksd, aktbv?”

Noble Consort Dowager Wei had said such a remark, and Jiang Wanqiu did not dare to agree with her statement.

She knelt down and whispered: “This daughter-in-law does not dare.”

“I think you dare!”

Noble Consort Dowager Wei stroked her fingers and asked, “Last time I asked you to choose two maids for my son, what happened?”

She didn’t tell Jiang Wanqiu she could get up, so Jiang Wanqiu had to kneel down while holding the Tianma.

“Replying to mother-in-law, this daughter-in-law is already looking into it. This daughter-in-law has already chosen a bunch of maids, but wangye²王爷 (wáng ye)- How to address a prince. Lit. means ‘Your Highness’. has gone out to hunt so this daughter-in-law is waiting…..”

Before she could finish what she was saying, Noble Consort Dowager Wei interrupted her.

“Excuses! The truth is that you don’t regard me in your heart as a mother-in-law!”

With a cold snort, Noble Consort Dowager Wei looked at Jiang Wanqiu contemptuously, “I know what you are thinking. You are thinking that if others give birth to children for my son, your position as Fu Wangfei will be shaken. Isn’t this true?”

Jiang Wanqiu was about to say that she’s never had this thought, but Noble Consort Dowager Wei did not give her a chance to speak and called Song Zhi who had just entered the door.

“Bring over the two maids I picked out yesterday.”

Song Zhi nodded and left the room. After a short while, she turned back, and behind her were two charming maidservants.

“I know you won’t do what I said, so I took it upon myself to do the job for you.”

“These two are called Yan Hong and Rou Lu. Although the two of them don’t have exceptional talent or beauty, they are very healthy which is good for bearing children.”

Noble Consort Dowager Wei looked at Jiang Wanqiu with a disgusted gaze.

“What’s the use of being talented and beautiful? If a woman can’t give birth to a child, she is useless!”

She turned her head and looked at Yan Hong and Rou Lu: “Take care of my son when you enter the mansion. If you give birth to a son, I will allow you to be promoted as a concubine.”

Yan Hong and Rou Lu kneeled down and thanked Noble Consort Dowager Wei.

Noble Consort Dowager Wei looked at Jiang Wanqiu again, and asked, “Fu Wangfei, do you agree to this?”

Jiang Wanqiu felt humiliated in her heart, but she had no choice but to say yes.

Noble Consort Dowager Wei snorted and finally allowed Jiang Wanqiu to stand up. Song Zhi took the bag of tianma from her and gave it to Noble Consort Dowager Wei.

After that, she kept looking for Jiang Wanqiu’s faults. Jiang Wanqiu only bowed her head throughout the whole ordeal and said nothing.

It was almost evening when Noble Consort Dowager Wei allowed Jiang Wanqiu to leave.

Walking out of the palace gate, Jiang Wanqiu felt tired all over. If it weren’t for a maidservant who helped her walk, she was afraid that she would have fainted.

But when the maid whispered to her that Noble Consort Dowager Wei was not doing well, Jiang Wanqiu immediately raised her hand to stop her.

Behind her followed Yan Hong and Rou Lu. These two people were not only given by Noble Consort Dowager Wei to serve Fu Wang, but they were also there to watch her every movement in Fu Wang’s Mansion.

Jiang Wanqiu was afraid that in the future, she wouldn’t feel comfortable in Fu Wang’s mansion.

Jiang Wanqiu sighed in her heart.

After returning to Fu Wang Mansion, she ordered people to let Yan Hong and Rou Lu rest.

As for herself, she wasn’t in the mood to eat and went to bed unhappily.

She had a good dream.

Li Chengxuan unexpectedly appeared in this dream.

Although Li Chengxuan has not met Jiang Wanqiu personally, Jiang Wanqiu has seen him from afar.

Li Chengxuan was someone dazzling and handsome, which would make one not forget about him.

In this dream, Jiang Wanqiu seemed to have seen her future.

She was oppressed by Noble Consort Dowager Wei, and she and Fu Wang had a strained relationship, which made her depressed all day long. At a palace banquet, Li Chengxuan and her met and they fell in love.

After that, they went behind other’s backs, before Li Chengxuan finally decided to make her the empress. He put Empress Dowager Song in house arrest, and deposed Empress Song, before finally making her the Empress.

As for Fu Wang and Noble Consort Dowager Wei, they went crazy from the humiliation they suffered.

Her natal family also rose up and became prosperous again.

Then she gave birth to a son and a daughter. Her son was named the Crown Prince as soon as he was born, while her daughter was immediately named a Princess. The dream ended when Jiang Wanqiu saw Li Chengxuan hugging and playing with their children.

When Jiang Wanqiu woke up, she was stunned for a while.

Is this just a dream, or a sign from heaven?

If this is just a dream, how come the details were so clear?

If it’s not a dream, then she and Li Chengxuan…

Thinking of the way Noble Consort Dowager Wei was crawling in front of her when she became the aloof empress in her dream, Jiang Wanqiu felt very happy in her heart.

No, this is definitely not a dream! This is her future!

And even if this is just a dream, she will have to make it into reality.

With clenched fists, Jiang Wanqiu secretly made up her mind.

Song Jinning didn’t know that Jiang Wanqiu had already learned about the plot. Currently, she was looking through various ancient recipes of winemaking with great interest.

To know why Song Jinning was doing this, we need to go back a few days.

When Song Jinning went to Shoukang Palace a few days ago to greet Empress Dowager Song, she saw a blue and white porcelain jar placed in front of her.

Seeing Song Jinning, Empress Dowager Song allowed her to enter.

After sitting down, Empress Dowager Song explained that the jar was filled with an ancient wine called Chun Feng Xue, which was made 50 years ago.

While talking, the Empress Dowager also ordered people to open the jar.

Even though they were sitting at a distance from the jar, a mellow and winey smell soon reached Song Jinning’s nose. Nevermind drinking, the smell of this wine can already make you drunk!

Empress Dowager Song was a good drinker. She ordered someone to pour two cups of wine for herself and Song Jinning, then ate the snacks that Song Jinning had brought over.

It was boring to drink alone. So Empress Dowager Song asked Song Jinning to drink with her.

Although Song Jinning likes to eat, she doesn’t have much interest in wine. But she couldn’t stand the invitation of Empress Dowager Song and took the bait.

Song Jinning drank two cups of wine, but then forgot how many she drank after that.

For the first time in her life, Song Jinning was drunk, and she felt that the feeling was quite good.

She now understands why ancient people think wine is magical. Wine can really make you feel airy, making you forget all your worries. Wine is so strong that it can even make you forget your name.

Song Jinning is someone who does things when she realizes she likes it. After realizing that she had an interest in wine, when she returned to Weiyang Palace, she not only ordered people to look for various books on wine, but also asked people to find ancient wine recipes.

After learning more about wine, she started brewing wine enthusiastically.

So Li Chengxuan always smelled the scent of wine when he came to Weiyang Palace.

After asking Song Jinning why she was doing this, Li Chengxuan was silent.

He has seen women who are addicted to gold and jewelries, but he has never seen a woman who is addicted to wine.

But not only does Song Jinning make wine, she also forces Li Chengxuan to make it with her.

“Your Majesty, you deal with national affairs every day. Doing something else will help you calm your mind.”

Li Chengxuan felt that he had a problem. How come he is so moved by Song Jinning?

The two started brewing wines according to the recipes found in the ancient books.

Li Chengxuan personally buried one of the pear blossoms under the pear blossom tree in the outer courtyard. Song Jinning smiled at Li Chengxuan and said, “When the pear blossoms bloom next year, the pear blossoms can be dug out. Then you can sit under the tree while drinking and enjoying the flowers.”

It was currently late spring, and the trees were full of thick green leaves.

Sunlight passed through the gaps in the leaves, making the sunlight fall on Song Jinning in spots. She wore a light green dress, and her face was smiling, with a look of triumph in her face.

Li Chengxuan didn’t know why, but Song Jinning reminded him of a little fox.

The little fox suddenly remembered something, and she clapped her hands, and her smile turned narrow.

“Last time you said you would eat fermented tofu with me!”

[TOC] For Advanced Chapters- TEWD