325 Cinnamon Omelette
In the Justice Department, Yu Niaoniao did not think too much when she heard that Xiao Juan would only be back very late today.
She should still eat and sleep.
In the afternoon, she was bored and went to the backyard to hang around. She happened to see Pan Dafu instructing his disciples to move things. She walked over and saw them carrying baskets of vegetables.
As soon as Pan Dafu saw her, he immediately welcomed her warmly.
“Teacher, are you taking a walk here?”
Yu Niaoniao replied, “Yes.”
When she saw the fresh cinnamon in the basket, she remembered that it was time to eat it.
“How much is this cinnamon for a catty?”
Pan Dafu was stunned. “Are you talking about these wild vegetables? This is a gift from the vegetable farmers when they saw that we bought a lot. It’s free.”
Yu Niaoniao was very surprised. There was actually such a good thing in the world?!
Pan Dafu explained.
“These wild vegetables taste very strange. Usually, only poor families will pluck them and eat them. If they’re sold, it’s very difficult to sell them for a high price. That vegetable farmer won’t be able to sell them even if he keeps them. So he decided to give them to us as a favor.”
Yu Niaoniao reached out and picked up a piece to take a look.
She had picked the tender tip. Just by looking at it, she felt that it was fresh and juicy. It must be very crispy.
Seeing that she was very interested in these wild vegetables, Pan Dafu took the initiative to speak.
“Since Teacher likes it, these wild vegetables are for you.”
These wild vegetables were only a catty or two in total. It was not enough for everyone to share if they were used to cook. Moreover, most of the Eagle Guards did not like the taste of wild vegetables and felt that they tasted strange and astringent.
Yu Niaoniao smiled. “Then I’ll accept it.”
Whether the cinnamon was served cold or used to make fried eggs or pancakes, they would definitely taste good!
At night, Yu Niaoniao divided the washed cinnamon into two parts.
A portion of the cinnamon was chopped and mixed with the egg liquid. It was heated up and fried into a thin omelet.
The other portion of cinnamon was cooked in water. It was drizzled with specially concocted sauce, sprinkled with green onions, garlic, and spicy food, and finally doused with some hot oil.
The entire kitchen was filled with the unique fragrance of cinnamon.
Yu Niaoniao even stir-fried fragrant fish-flavored shredded pork with spring bamboo shoots, shredded fungus, carrots, shredded meat, and other ingredients.
She also cooked a pot of winter melon shrimp soup with sweet and sour pork ribs.
Dinner was settled!
Yu Niaoniao and Lo Pingsha waited for a long time, but Xiao Juan did not return.
Seeing that the food was about to turn cold, Yu Niaoniao could only invite Lo Pingsha to eat first.
Lo Pingsha asked, “Aren’t we going to wait for Duke Lang?”
Yu Niaoniao said, “Let’s not wait. I’ll just leave a portion of food for him.”
She found clean bowls and chopsticks, set out some food, and placed it on the stove. She warmed it with the remaining charcoal on the stove.
Lo Pingsha had eaten cinnamon before and did not like its taste very much. After tasting it today, it really changed his previous understanding of cinnamon.
The cold cinnamon was crispy and fresh in his mouth, and the omelet made him unable to stop eating.
When he was full, he couldn’t help but sigh.
“Cinnamon is too delicious!”
Yu Niaoniao said, “At this time, cinnamon will be tender and we can eat more of it. After a while, it will become old. If we want to eat again, we can only wait for early spring next year.”
Lo Pingsha hurriedly said, “I’ll get Pan Dafu to buy more cinnamon tomorrow.”
He would not get tired of eating such delicious food every meal!
Lo Pingsha stayed behind to wash the dishes, while Yu Niaoniao returned to the room to rest alone.
After washing up, she changed into her pajamas and spread her hair.
When she got into bed, Xiao Juan still did not return.
She could not help but be a little worried. What had happened in the palace? It was already so late. Why wasn’t Xiao Juan back yet?
Unknowingly, she fell asleep.
But because she was uneasy, she slept uneasily.
Half-awake, she felt someone move beside her.
She opened her eyes and saw Xiao Juan sitting on the edge of the bed.
Yu Niaoniao woke up immediately and sat up.
“Why are you back so late?”
Xiao Juan turned to look at her and saw that her hair was loose and there were a few strands on the top of her head. She was wearing a thin snow-green middle shirt. The blanket slid to her waist, and her eyes were round like a cute kitten.
He reached out and lifted the blanket for her.
“Something happened in the palace.”
Yu Niaoniao asked, “What happened?”
“Empress Wen committed suicide.”
Yu Niaoniao’s eyes widened even more. “Suicide? Why?”
Xiao Juan told her the whole story.
“Later, the Seventh Prince and Empress Dowager Deng rushed over when they heard the news. The matter had blown up. Empress Wen’s life was in danger and the emperor was in a bad mood. None of us dared to leave.”
“It was not until the imperial physicians said that Empress Wen’s life was no longer in danger that we could leave the palace.”
Yu Niaoniao did not expect so much to happen in the palace in just a day.
At this moment, she was completely awake and asked curiously.
“Does Imperial Concubine Yue’s death have anything to do with Empress Wen?”
Xiao Juan shook his head. “I’m not sure about this yet, but from Empress Wen’s reaction, I’m more inclined to think that she’s not the real culprit.”
Yu Niaoniao immediately said, “I told you back then that Empress Wen doesn’t look like the kind of person who would harm her sisters. She should have been framed.”
Xiao Juan analyzed calmly, “Wang Xue is Empress Wen’s palace maid. She’s considered Empress Wen’s trusted aide. No matter how you look at it, there’s no need for Wang Xue to frame Empress Wen.”
Yu Niaoniao tilted her head and thought for a moment, coming up with a possibility.
“Maybe someone has something on her and forced her to frame Empress Wen?”
Xiao Juan nodded slightly. “That’s a possibility, but these are just our guesses. We lack conclusive evidence.”
Yu Niaoniao said, “In that case, we still have to open the coffin and perform an autopsy.”
The testimony of the living might be fake, but the dead would not lie.
She was a little worried. “I’m just afraid that the emperor has already determined that Empress Wen is the real culprit and won’t let us open the coffin for an autopsy.”
Xiao Juan stroked her head and smoothed her hair.
“Don’t think about it. Go to sleep.”
Yu Niaoniao lay back.
She suddenly remembered about dinner and sat up again.
“Have you had dinner? I saved food for you. It’s on the kitchen stove. I’ll get it for you.”
She was about to lift the blanket and get out of bed when Xiao Juan pressed down on her shoulders.
Xiao Juan stuffed her arm back under the blanket and said.
“Go ahead and sleep. I’ll get it myself.”
Yu Niaoniao curled up under the blanket and watched Xiao Juan leave.
Because she had already seen Xiao Juan return safely, the heavy worry in her heart was lifted.
This time she fell asleep quickly and slept soundly. She did not dream again.
When Xiao Juan returned to the room after eating and saw her sleeping soundly, he could not help but relax.
He took off his coat and crept under the blanket to lay down beside her.