Consort Yu, vexed by the incident at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, had unleashed a storm of temper within Jin Hua Palace.
Cui Ying, fearing Consort Yu might harm herself in her rage, coaxed and persuaded until she agreed to stroll in the imperial garden for solace.
Unfortunately, they had barely taken a few steps when they encountered Consort Li.
Not only did she fail to find peace, but she also attracted ill fortune.
Cui Ying was filled with regret and anxiety, but Consort Li was already approaching slowly, supported by her maid’s hand.
A gold-inlaid jade hairpin swayed gently with her movements, casting a harsh light on her plain and unremarkable face, making it appear even more spiteful.
Consort Li glanced sideways at Consort Yu, who was being assisted by Cui Ying, and deliberately raised her voice, "Oh, if it isn’t Sister Consort Yu from Jin Hua Palace?"
"I heard you couldn’t even stand straight outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation yesterday, yet today you have the energy to stroll around?"
Consort Yu’s face instantly turned ashen.
There were no secrets in the palace—this wretched woman must have caught wind of the incident and was deliberately trying to humiliate her.
Consort Li was the Empress Dowager’s protege. Though she lacked both favor and beauty, she had relied on the Empress Dowager’s backing to dominate the rear palace for years.
But so what? Consort Li had the Empress Dowager, while she had Imperial Concubine Jia.
Refusing to be outdone, Consort Yu immediately shook off Cui Ying’s hand, straightened her back, and let out a cold laugh, her words dripping with unmistakable sarcasm.
"Sister Consort Li is quite well-informed! Spending all day eavesdropping at the palace gates—be careful lest a gust of wind twists your face out of shape!"
"If you’re so idle, why not copy a few more volumes of Buddhist sutras to honor the Empress Dowager? That would save you from constantly eyeing others. People might think you’re jealous of the favor I receive!"
Consort Li, who had been locked in a decade-long rivalry with Imperial Concubine Jia, detested nothing more than mentions of "imperial favor."
Years ago, Imperial Concubine Jia’s remark—"Sister Consort Li’s looks certainly save the Emperor the trouble of bestowing cosmetics"—had made her the laughingstock of the six palaces.
And now this lowly Consort Yu dared to step on her sore spot!
Consort Li snapped her round fan shut, her eyes darkening with gloom.
"Little sister’s tongue is even more pungent than Sweet and Sour Ribs."
She had heard that Consort Yu had buried herself in the kitchen, fussing over dishes, only to serve one that angered the Emperor.
"Perhaps it wasn’t the dish that repelled the Emperor, but you, wasn’t it?"
Consort Yu stiffened, her ears ringing.
To please the Emperor, she had secretly drenched the ribs in half a pot of locust blossom honey, never expecting the Emperor to dislike the flavor…
She had intended to bury this humiliation, but today she had run into Consort Li.
Now all her secrets were being dragged out into the open!
"Watch your words, Sister!" Consort Yu’s nails dug sharply into her palms, yet her smile grew even more beguiling, though her voice carried a chill.
"However lacking I may be, I’m still better off than you, who scarcely gets to see the Emperor’s face. The green head plaques sent by the Internal Affairs Bureau to your place must be gathering dust. I have some fine feather dusters here—would you like to borrow one to sweep them clean?"
Consort Li’s face also darkened. How dare Consort Yu gossip about her lack of favor!
She took a deep breath, reminding herself to stay composed.
"No need. Though I may not be favored, I’m still better than some hopping sparrow who thinks she’s become a phoenix by fluttering onto a high branch."
Consort Yu finally lost her composure.
Who was she calling a sparrow? She should take a look at her own face!
Her voice sharpened abruptly, "I acted with sincere intentions, yet Sister always twists my words—no wonder you’re so disliked!"
Seeing her discourtesy, Consort Li refused to back down and retorted immediately.
"Sincere intentions? If your intentions were truly sincere, you wouldn’t have caused such a commotion last night. Sister Consort Yu, were you troubling the Emperor or bringing trouble upon yourself?"
Consort Yu was so enraged by Consort Li's words she could barely speak.
But last night's incident had indeed been a humiliation for her, making it difficult to refute with any clever retort.
Unwilling to endure further insult here, she gritted her teeth and turned to leave, only to be stopped by Consort Li's voice.
"Sister Consort Yu, don't be in such a hurry to leave. This consort still wishes to ask—when the Emperor drove you out last night, was it true you lost one of your shoes?"
"If elder sister is so curious, why not go search for it yourself at the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation?"
Consort Yu snorted coldly.
"You!" Consort Li trembled with rage, her fingertips shaking. "What a sharp tongue! This consort will see how long you can remain this arrogant once Imperial Concubine Jia can no longer protect you!"
"There's no need for elder sister to trouble herself with that."
Consort Yu adjusted her temple hair and swept past Consort Li, her skirt stirring a chill breeze as she passed.
Their parting was acrimonious. Consort Yu returned to Jin Hua Palace with Cui Ying.
Her heart choked with resentment, she smashed half a room's worth of porcelain until her anger had literally killed her appetite.
Meanwhile, in the West Side Hall.
Jiang Huan crouched before the stove, pinching the last dusting of grayish flour at the bottom of the flour sack, feeling utterly despondent.
She could endure being out of favor. She could endure beatings and scoldings.
But going hungry? That was beyond endurance!
"Miss, the rice jar is empty too…" Xiao Zhao approached hesitantly holding the empty container, her face full of distress.
"Xiao Zhao, heaven has abandoned me."
Jiang Huan sighed dramatically toward the ceiling, then resignedly rolled up her sleeves. She lifted the ceramic urn in the corner and retrieved half a piece of salted meat wrapped in lotus leaves, casually grabbing a few spring onions from the small pot she'd been growing.
This would have to do for now. Without a full stomach, she wouldn't have the energy to devise solutions anyway.
Surveying the meager ingredients she'd painstakingly gathered, Jiang Huan wore an expression of profound suffering as she picked up the wok and began cooking.
When the sizzling meat patties came out of the pan, Xiao Zhao kept swallowing saliva at the irresistible aroma.
"So fragrant! Even more aromatic than the dishes I used to smell from the Imperial Kitchen!"
Jiang Huan gave a wry smile, recalling the Imperial Kitchen meals served at Huo Lin's table.
Compared to those, how could this not smell better?
Pity her ingredients were exhausted, limiting what she could prepare.
"Let's eat!" Jiang Huan sighed and placed the plate of patties on the table.
In her previous life, she would have at least arranged an artistic presentation. Now?
Jiang Huan glanced at the drafty window frame and laughed inwardly. Forget it.
She wasn't in the mood.
Master and servant washed their hands before sitting at the low table to eat.
The crispy pastry shattered between their teeth, instantly flooding their mouths with savory, oily meat juices.
Xiao Zhao kept blowing hurried breaths from the heat but couldn't bear to spit out the pastry in her mouth.
Yet the moment she remembered their ingredients were completely depleted, her face immediately fell.
"Ah, what a shame. If only we could purchase ingredients directly, bypassing Consort Yu."
"Who knows when we'll get to taste your cooking again, miss."
Xiao Zhao's words sparked an idea in Jiang Huan.
A flash of inspiration, and a plan began forming in her mind.
"Who says we can't buy them."