Chapter 313: Dessert and sweet treats
While Mama Chi had made her escape, the old madam suggested that they all leave the parlor and go out for fresh air and stretch their legs.
Because the husbands usually followed their wives, the older crowd moved their party to the dining room. Even Minister Su and the emperor followed. The emperor was planning to leave because he had stayed for food and he was satisfied.
"Don’t you want to taste the cake?" minister Su asked.
The emperor contemplated for a while and then he said, "Well, maybe a little bit. I am only staying because you are insisting."
Minister Su would have laughed if it were anyone but the emperor. To preserve his life he said, "Yes I insist your majesty, please have some cake before leaving."
When the butler noticed that the older guests had moved to the living room, he hurried to ask the maids to come and cater to them.
Quickly fresh juice, wine, cakes, almond jellies, snow fungus soup with pears and other snacks were delivered.
"So many snacks!" the grand dowager commented, "and a note, what’s this?"
On each tray was a piece of paper with five other snacks which could be prepared on demand in the kitchen if one wanted.
"Wow, the Chi’s are going all out." One of the older women who were invited by the old madam commented. "I want glutinous rice balls."
"The food here is top notch; I wonder where they sourced their ingredients from." Another woman commented. She was none other than old master Tao’s tigress wife.