Chapter 13: The Qing Dynasty Intrigue (13)

The gentle and beautiful elder sister still had a bit too much of an impact on the little boy.

Xuan Ye left with a flushed face.

From a distance, Wen Yao could still hear Liang Jiugong’s slightly anxious voice: “Your Majesty, you should put on your cloak. Don’t catch a cold.”

“No matter, the clothes have been warming by the stove all along; it feels too hot to wear them now,” Xuan Ye waved his hand, refusing Liang Jiugong’s offer of the cloak.

Standing in the courtyard, he glanced around and pointed to an empty spot in the corner. “Spring is approaching. Keep an eye on the flower house and send over some flowers in full bloom—any kind, as long as they form a lush cluster. My cousin’s health isn’t good, and Chengqian Palace is quite far from the Imperial Garden. This way, she can stroll through a garden without leaving the palace gates.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Liang Jiugong promptly noted down the new order from his great boss.

Back in Qianqing Palace, after the emperor resumed his studies with the Grand Tutor, he summoned another deputy steward, Li Jinchao, sending him on a trip to the flower house.

Liu Jin’s loyalty hadn’t yet returned from the Four Treasuries, and Li Jinchao was already sent out again. Now, only Liang Jiugong remained as the chief steward in Qianqing Palace. The warm chamber in Chengqian Palace was so hot that even standing at the doorway behind the curtain made one drowsy. Only after stepping outside to feel the cold breeze did he regain his alertness.

Over at Chengqian Palace, as soon as the emperor issued instructions to open a small kitchen for Wen Yao, the Imperial Household Department’s Construction Division immediately dispatched personnel there. Leading them was a eunuch surnamed Wang, who, by rank, should be addressed as Director Wang, though within the inner palace, all were simply called “Eunuch Wang.”

“Please, Eunuch Wang, rest your feet and have some tea,” Zhao Defang greeted warmly.

Eunuch Wang quickly clasped his hands in a flattering smile but spoke quietly, “May I be so fortunate as to pay respects to Mistress Tong?”

“Oh, how unfortunate. Our mistress is weak. The emperor, out of care, has just arranged a small kitchen for her. She was busy with palace affairs before dawn and then received the emperor’s visit. She’s already asleep now.” Zhao Defang smiled and pulled out a dark blue pouch from his sleeve, drawing close to Eunuch Wang and slipping it into his hand. “But the mistress instructed me to make sure you are well received.”

With a flick of his wrist, Eunuch Wang tucked the pouch into his sleeve. “Thank you, thank you. Mistress Tong is deeply favored by the emperor. We will meet often in the future.”

Only imperial rewards could prompt the Construction Division to visit so frequently—and not ordinary gifts, but grand rewards.

“Thank you for your kind words.”

Zhao Defang laughed heartily at such flattery. “I apologize for the modest reception today. The small kitchen isn’t fully arranged yet. Next time, we’ll definitely serve you Chengqian Palace’s specialty pastries.”

Eunuch Wang bowed again, then accepted the tea presented by a young palace maid, sipping it gently.

Currently, Wen Yao was the sole secondary consort at Chengqian Palace, specially granted residence in the front and rear main halls, enjoying the treatment of a primary consort. Naturally, the small kitchen wasn’t just two stoves heating simple meals; it was a proper cooking stove, with monthly supplies of raw meat and vegetables delivered directly.

Such preparations naturally took some time.

Thus, Eunuch Wang watched as Eunuch Dong from the flower house entered Chengqian Palace’s main gate, followed by a dozen or so little eunuchs, each carrying a pot of flowers.

Zhao Defang hurried forward to welcome them.

After some pleasantries, Eunuch Dong placed his hands on his hips and directed the little eunuchs to transform the previously empty corner into a small garden.

So the emperor not only granted a small kitchen but also a small garden.

Eunuch Wang looked at Zhao Defang with some envy.

No matter how good the Imperial Household Department’s work was, it could not compare to the favor enjoyed by a senior eunuch close to a favored consort.

The entire afternoon was lively at Chengqian Palace.

Wen Yao rested in the rear sleeping chamber. No noise came from the main hall. Dong Rui stood guard at the door, Chun Ling busily arranged the room for her mistress, and Song Qin, along with several reserve palace maids, tidied the storeroom, cataloging and recording. After all, the emperor had promised that Mistress Tong’s thirty percent dowry had long been moved into Chengqian Palace. To avoid any oversight, early inventory was essential.

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After a refreshing nap, Wen Yao woke feeling rejuvenated.

In the Qing dynasty, there were typically two meals a day. The emperor had said he would accompany her for dinner, so when Wen Yao grew hungry, she sent someone to fetch two plates of snacks from the imperial kitchen. Eating the dry buns that scratched her throat, her previously indifferent attitude toward the small kitchen changed to eager anticipation.

Damn the two meals!

She was still growing—how could she develop well without enough to eat?

After swallowing two buns with honey water, Wen Yao stretched her neck, whispering a complaint to Dong Rui, “I thought the palace’s official pastries would be a rare delicacy, but now I see they’re not even as good as the sheep’s milk cream from Shunfu Zhai.”

Since Wen Yao’s arrival, having gained favor with Tong Guogang and his wife, her treatment had improved dramatically. Not only did the kitchen provide all sorts of pastries daily, but Tong Guogang would also buy local specialties from the market after his duty.

Especially since Lady Jueluo became pregnant, Tong Guogang had practically turned into a food explorer.

“Shunfu Zhai has been around since the previous dynasty. Their recipe is a treasured family secret,” Dong Rui sympathized. “If the mistress doesn’t like it, she needn’t eat it. Dinner will be soon, and the emperor will dine with you using the Qianqing Palace kitchen’s fare. I hear there are chefs from all over the empire.”

Upon hearing this, Wen Yao immediately pushed the buns aside.

Her voice brightened, “Give the rest to the children in the courtyard.”

She was waiting to eat the emperor’s meal!

“Yes, Mistress,” Dong Rui said, lifting the plate and lowering her head to hide a smile before leaving.

She didn’t call out in the courtyard but instead beckoned a few little eunuchs holding brooms and led them to the tea room, where several young palace maids were crouched by the stove learning to brew tea.

“Here, the mistress has sent this for you children, saying you get hungry easily. Share it among yourselves.”

After placing down the plate, Dong Rui returned to the rear chamber. The children in the tea room exchanged glances, then obediently each took two pieces. Though the buns were choking, their fragrance was full.

As they ate, the young palace attendants’ eyes reddened.

Since entering the palace, no one had treated them as children. Now, their mistress called them “children” so often, though some were older than her.

Wen Yao rinsed her mouth and lay back to continue reading the operatic scripts she had stashed before entering the palace. Though she had prepared for boredom, less than a day inside and she already felt stifled. At home, Lady Jueluo would chat with her from time to time, and Elundai came daily to greet her. How could she have been bored then?

Now she finally understood why those consorts in dramas went mad over a child.

Because, truly, aside from raising children, there was no other entertainment in the palace.

Though the front courtyard was busy, it was never noisy. Dong Rui had stationed a small palace maid at the second gate who was clever, occasionally reporting progress with a crisp, succinct, and amusing tone.

Wen Yao laughed several times, and Dong Rui’s gaze toward that maid softened considerably.

Eunuch Dong’s team finished first. Thanks to the generous rewards, the little eunuchs from the flower house left Chengqian Palace beaming with joy. Their happiness spread to the Construction Division, spurring them to work harder, and before nightfall, they too received their share of rewards.

Eunuch Wang and his group departed Chengqian Palace grandly.

Zhao Defang and the little eunuchs swept the courtyard again, ensuring every corner was spotless.

Because the emperor had long since ordered to dine at Chengqian Palace that evening, the Qianqing Palace kitchen was informed early and prepared in advance, awaiting the emperor’s command to serve. Also, since Chengqian Palace was nearby, news of the Construction Division building the small kitchen had reached the kitchen that afternoon.

The atmosphere in the kitchen was tense all afternoon.

Everyone knew that, given the emperor’s relationship with Consort Tong, most chefs for the small kitchen would be transferred from the imperial kitchen. Some avoided the task, while others yearned for it.

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Being a chef in a favored consort’s palace, receiving special treatment, was far better than being ignored in the imperial kitchen.

The kitchen’s supervisors were unaware of the details. A young eunuch delivering meals for Kunning Palace looked around nervously, feeling the unusually serious atmosphere squashing his original intention to buy some snacks with silver.

By late afternoon, around four o’clock, Xuan Ye arrived at Chengqian Palace.

Upon entering, he saw the small garden in the corner and nodded approvingly. “These flowers are quite good. But does Chengqian Palace have someone skilled in tending flowers? If not, assign one.”

“Your Majesty, Xiao Nanzi previously served in the Imperial Garden, learning flower tending for two years before being transferred to the Southern Fruit House. His skills remain sharp,” Zhao Defang promptly reported. The eunuchs at Chengqian Palace were all handpicked by him; no random person could enter lest it disrupt harmony.

“Good.”

Xuan Ye, having received a satisfactory reply, continued inside while asking, “Did the Construction Division and flower house workers disturb your mistress this afternoon?”

“She had just returned to the rear chamber for a short rest, so she was not disturbed.”

“Very well, I understand.”

Xuan Ye walked to the inner room and, leaving a remark behind, passed through the lifted curtain to enter.

Upon entering, he reached to remove his thick cloak.

Wen Yao, with Dong Rui, performed a crouching bow. “Your Majesty, greetings.”

Xuan Ye raised his hand briefly.

Wen Yao immediately stood and stepped forward to help undo his cloak, handing it to Dong Rui nearby. She then noticed that beneath the cloak, the emperor wore only a thin spring shirt. Once the cloak was off, he looked refreshingly comfortable.

“Looks like Your Majesty came well prepared,” Wen Yao smiled.

“It was quite hot this morning,” Xuan Ye said with a hint of complaint, glancing at her.

Although he had instructed the kitchen, it would still take some time to set the table, so Wen Yao leaned back on the kang. Xuan Ye took off his boots and nestled beside her to read a book together.

As they read, his attention was drawn to her wrist, adorned with a set of bracelets: the innermost was a gold band inlaid with agate, separated by a sandalwood ring, and the outermost was green jadeite—exceptionally beautiful.

Xuan Ye’s eyes lit up. “I always knew you looked best wearing this set.”

“I saw it on the registry and ordered Song Qin to find it especially,” Wen Yao lowered her gaze, gently stroking the bracelets with a face full of remembrance. “Aunt was thin and frail, her arms slender. Now, the bracelet fits me perfectly.”

“At that time, the Empress Dowager was ill and emaciated, which was normal,” Xuan Ye said.

Thinking of his own mother, Xuan Ye couldn’t help but reach out, taking Wen Yao’s hand and nestling close, pressing himself into her embrace. “Cousin, I miss Empress Dowager.”

Wen Yao sighed, setting the book on the small table, gently patting Xuan Ye’s back.

“Don’t be afraid, Xuan Ye. I will listen carefully to the imperial physicians, take my medicine, and nurture my body well. Besides, I promised Aunt I would stay by your side forever.”