As they talked, half of the bowl of spicy hot pot had been eaten. Empress Dowager Lu picked up a fried dough stick with her left hand, tore off a small piece, and dipped it into the soup. Despite the thirty-year gap, her actions were still somewhat clumsy and lacked the boldness of the patrons in a hot pot restaurant. However, the desire of a food lover made it all seem natural and fluid.
As she ate, she suddenly lifted her head from the bowl, looking around with a faintly puzzled expression on her face.
Ella leaned closer, "What are you looking for?"
Empress Dowager Lu frowned in thought, "It feels like something is missing."
Ella paused for a moment, "Beer?"
"That's it!"
The Empress Dowager clapped her hands.
Although spicy hot pot was delicious, its strong flavor required a drink to complement it.
Ella quickly turned around and brought over a large glass of drink from a tray placed on a side cabinet.
"Beer is not feasible at the moment. This is winter melon juice, freshly squeezed with a bit of honey and mint. It's quite refreshing. Whenever I eat hot pot or spicy crayfish, I always make a couple of glasses to quench my thirst. Please give it a try."
The winter melon juice, with a hint of green, was served in a glass cup with a fresh mint sprig adorning the rim, looking as lovely as spring.
Empress Dowager Lu took a sniff and then a small sip, which led to a second, third, and fourth sip.
Seeing her content and relaxed, Ella couldn't help but feel that her service had been well-received. She cautiously brought up the topic of survival again: "Empress Dowager, do you think my performance today was satisfactory?"
The Empress Dowager dipped a fried dough stick into the spicy soup, pretending not to hear.
Ella, a bit bolder, said, "You know how tough it is for us time travelers, unfamiliar with the place and struggling to survive. With my limited abilities, I can't make much of an impact. Could you perhaps spare me?"
The Empress Dowager finished the last bite of her oil-soaked fried dough stick and some bamboo shoots in chicken oil.
"Sparing your life is possible, but as the founding Empress of the Great Liang and now the Empress Dowager, if I let you off without any punishment, my supporters wouldn't let you go either."
Having spent two years in the workplace and been mercilessly ground down by her superiors, Ella had gained a bit of experience. She knew that when a superior's attitude was this ambiguous, there was usually something else at play. She thought for a moment and said, "If you have any tasks for me, please feel free to assign them."
The Empress Dowager sipped her winter melon juice, admiring the mint sprig, and with the demeanor of an interviewer, asked, "Which school did you graduate from?"
"... Z University."
She glanced over, "No wonder you ended up in sales."
Fine, Ella pretended not to hear.
The Empress Dowager continued, "With my Q University master's degree, I wouldn't typically do such work."
Ella coughed lightly.
Q University was one of the top institutions in the country, producing many high-level researchers and political leaders. Her predecessor, Lu Ta, had been a team director in a multinational company and had now become a political leader of an era—an outcome that wasn't surprising.
"How old are you?" the Empress Dowager asked while eating cabbage, "What's your name?"
"... Twenty-four. My surname is Tan, and my name is Ella."
"Where do you work?"
"A food company."
"Really no future."
Ella felt thoroughly defeated, "Isn't that why I ended up here to work for you!"
Acknowledging her greatness wasn't enough?
Of course, she only dared to complain inwardly. Given the Empress Dowager's capabilities and business acumen, she knew that in the modern workplace, she wouldn't even catch her attention.
The Empress Dowager said, "You said you wanted to pledge your loyalty to me. In what circumstances would that apply?"
"In all circumstances, I will unconditionally be loyal to you!"
Hierarchy is paramount; there was no choice in the matter.
Finishing the last piece of kelp, the Empress Dowager set down her chopsticks and leisurely wiped her mouth.
Then she looked at Ella, her eyes shining like a fox who had just devoured two chickens, "Although you are a bit useless, you are quick and capable. So, sparing you is possible, but you must do something for me."
"Please, tell me!"
The Empress Dowager squinted at the window, "You arrived so suddenly and know nothing about this era. Even if I wanted to explain, it would take a long time.
"And frankly, I don't feel like it.
"It's getting late. You should go back and get used to things. Come back to the palace at this time tomorrow, and I will give you instructions."
Her cryptic words made Ella uneasy, "Wouldn't you kindly give me a heads-up so I can be mentally prepared?"
"No need to prepare." The Empress Dowager looked at the last sip of winter melon juice in her cup, "After you go back, you will surely see and hear things. That can be considered part of the task I assign to you.
"If you succeed, I will let you go. If I'm not satisfied, even if I don't kill you, there will be consequences."
"... Like what?"
The Empress Dowager gave her a sidelong glance, "Like locking you up somewhere or decreeing that you become a nun in a temple. If you can't be of use to me, I certainly can't let you become a liability."
Ella shivered on the spot!
Is that even human speech...
After all the hard work of cooking for her, she turns around and threatens her? Eating clean and then refusing to acknowledge her?
Scoundrel!
Isn't she afraid that Ella might rebel and rise to power?
However, given her own lack of strength, this ambition could be postponed.
As for now—Lu Ling, in the original text, was partly characterized as a foodie, but her main trait was being a highly ambitious protagonist, a master of power struggles who would take advantage of any opportunity. Encountering someone as unlucky as Ella, it was only logical for her to exploit her fully.
Saying she'd give tasks tomorrow was probably because she hadn't figured out how to use Ella yet.
—Fine, what other use could Ella have?
Besides having the advantage of knowing the plot and some characters' backgrounds, she could only cook. With Lu Ta's landlord-like disposition, the tasks would likely involve making her work like a servant, providing information while serving her food and drinks.
Summoning a noble's daughter to the palace for service wasn't unusual. It was often considered an honor, akin to being the prince's study companion. Generally, people didn't get such opportunities. In reality, who wanted to lower themselves and serve others?
In the face of adversity, one must bow their head. Serving the landlord seemed like the only viable path for now.