In her previous life, Heng Yue became an executive, working overtime until midnight every day. She had no life beyond work. After an accident, she transmigrated into the Qing dynasty as the younger daughter of a relatively well-off family of bondservants in the Imperial Household Department. Seeing that her parents doted on her and her siblings got along, Heng Yue secretly resolved to live differently. So she decided to take it easy and, when she came of age, marry the son of a neighborhood banner officer and spend the rest of her life in quiet contentment.
But she still couldn't escape the Imperial Household Department's selection of young palace maids. After several twists and turns, her parents slipped some silver to the matron in charge, and Heng Yue was assigned to the Imperial Kitchen, the place best suited to her.
The Imperial Kitchen was free of trouble, but the work was exhausting! Every day, Heng Yue would look up at the sky, praying she could keep her head down safely until she turned twenty-five and was allowed to leave the palace.
Heng Yue kept quietly working in the Imperial Kitchen until one day, the young master of the prestigious Qianqing Palace, Yinreng, tried one of her pastries and specifically requested that she take charge of his meals. After much deliberation, Kangxi, who doted on his son, approved. Heng Yue was delighted to receive a promotion.
From then on, in the Qianqing Palace's small kitchen, Heng Yue would often turn around after a spell of busy work to find little Yinreng peeking in.
Whenever that happened, Heng Yue would smile and hand him a snack, and Yinreng would obediently take it and start eating. The two of them got along wonderfully.
Until one day, when she turned to offer him a pastry, she saw a figure in a yellow robe standing silently behind the little dumpling.
Kangxi lowered his gaze to the fragrant, milky pastry and said mildly, "I'll have a taste too."
Heng Yue: "..."
So much for keeping my head down and enjoying a quiet retirement?!
Reader's guide:
Not a meticulously researched historical novel / Yinreng may succeed to the throne
Theme: Loving life is where everything begins
Miscellaneous Ramblings
Moonset in the Jade Courtyard
After the Strongest Alpha Is Reborn as an Omega
Half of My Shaved Ice Is Yours
Consort Nian Is Taking It Easy (Qing Dynasty)
Waiting for Su Zhe to Rise to the Pinnacle of Power
Livestreaming Su Shi's Life in Exile to the Entire Court [Historical Livestream]