Shen Shixi used the serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of steamed chicken. "This is truly authentic. I've never tasted anything better. Your Majesty, please try it!"
Li Yuanke indeed hadn't eaten his fill, and he didn't want to go hungry either. He glanced at her and continued eating.
Shen Shixi stopped making a fuss.
After the meal, they each took a cup of tea and sipped slowly.
Both were Lapsang Souchong, yet Shen Shixi's tea was even better than that in the palace. He asked, "Where did this tea come from?"
"I bought it from a foreign merchant in Quanzhou. It cost nearly a thousand taels of gold per liang," Shen Shixi replied.
This was an indirect way of telling the emperor that the finest goods from below weren't being offered as tribute to the palace but were instead being sold off. As for who was selling them, the emperor could investigate that himself.
"I hadn't heard you mention this before," Li Yuanke said.
Shen Shixi shot him a glance and said nothing.
Li Yuanke cleared his throat, realizing he had stepped on another of her sore points.
This tea was fresh; it must have been newly acquired by her. Before she could even trace its origins clearly, he had summoned her into the palace with an oral decree.
Li Yuanke pulled her onto his lap. "Speak. What favor do you want?"
Only then did Shen Shixi brighten up. She lifted her head and playfully bit his chin. "Your Majesty stays in the palace all year long, unable to see the world outside or taste its delicacies. This concubine truly feels heartbroken…"
"Speak plainly!" Li Yuanke sneered.
Shen Shixi rolled her eyes inwardly. "I want a small kitchen."
"Do you know your own rank?" Li Yuanke mocked. "You're not even a principal consort of a palace, and you dare ask for a small kitchen?"
Shen Shixi let out an "Oh." "This concubine is unworthy!"
Then she squirmed, trying to get down. Li Yuanke held her fast. "Even if I gave you a small kitchen, could you afford to maintain it?"
The Shen family was a prestigious but impoverished scholarly clan, full of pedantic scholars and as poor as church mice. When she entered the palace, her dowry was five hundred taels of silver—half of the Shen family's entire fortune.
But he knew she had money.
"A woman marries a man for clothing and food. This concubine has married the most noble and remarkable man in all the land, yet I still have to spend my own silver to support myself?" Shen Shixi's captivating peach-blossom eyes were filled with confusion, as if she couldn't believe it.
[I just want to eat your food, wear your clothes, and sleep with you!]
Li Yuanke was both angered and amused. Gnashing his teeth, he said, "If I don't give you a small kitchen, will you starve to death? Has the Imperial Kitchen not been preparing meals for Zhaoyang Palace?"
"This concubine has overstepped. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
She offered a perfunctory apology and stopped making a fuss, leaning lazily against Li Yuanke's chest without getting down.
[If you won't give it, then don't. How stingy!]
There was past affection between her and Li Yuanke, but she had never intended to use that affection to seek advantages for herself. There was a distinction between ruler and subject; a little fussing was playful, but too much would be challenging imperial authority. If she failed to grasp the sense of proportion, she would be inviting her own doom.
Li Yuanke was still waiting to see how she would make her move, but she had already retreated.
Clearly, there was distance between them now!
He felt somewhat stifled inside.
He looked down at Shen Shixi. Her skin was like ice and jade, her eyes clear and captivating, shy and languid. No matter how many women he had encountered in his life, he had to admit that the one in his arms was a peerless beauty, unmatched by anyone.
"Li Fude, convey my decree: grant Zhaoyang Palace a small kitchen. Select the personnel from Qianyuan Palace."
The small kitchen is unlike other places; what goes into one's mouth is most crucial. Li Yuanke's move was to prevent anyone from reaching into Zhaoyang Palace.
Li Fude couldn't help but be astonished—the Emperor could actually go this far for Cairen Shen.
The palace was rife with constant strife, and no one knew how many imperial heirs had been lost. The Emperor had never paid much attention to these matters.
It wasn't that he didn't know; he simply couldn't be bothered.
As long as it didn't harm him, it was fine.
As for imperial heirs, he was still young and didn't take it too seriously.
"Not going to thank me for my grace?" Li Yuanke looked at the person in his arms who remained silent.
Shen Shixi rolled her eyes at him and said nothing.
Li Yuanke glanced at her and pinched her in her softest, plumpest spot. "You little brat, are you secretly cursing me in your heart?"
Shen Shixi's heart skipped a beat, but then she thought, he doesn't have mind-reading powers, so how could he possibly know she was cursing him? This scoundrel must just be paranoid.
Paranoia was practically an occupational hazard for emperors.
She planted a firm kiss on Li Yuanke's lips. "Your Majesty is joking. How would I dare? And I wouldn't have the heart to!"
Li Yuanke sneered and pressed her down for another kiss.
I'll show you who's in charge!
That night, the Emperor once again stayed overnight at Zhaoyang Palace.
For the Emperor to stay two consecutive nights in one place was unprecedented.
The Emperor was capricious, and no one could fathom his thoughts.
The key point was that Shen Shixi had even removed the jade plaque, yet the Emperor still went to Zhaoyang Palace.
The account book before the Empress remained unturned for a long time. Even Consort De had never made her feel such a sense of crisis. She couldn't help but laugh bitterly. "The Emperor is indeed different toward this Young Madam Shen. I wonder what Elder Madam Shen would think if she were still alive?"
Shen Shiyan had loved the Emperor to the point of life and death. Rather than saying she was killed by others, it would be more accurate to say she brought about her own demise.
In her pursuit of favor, she had practically thrown caution to the wind.
Qu Mama served the Empress a cup of tea. "Your Majesty need not worry. She is merely a Cairen. No matter how much the Emperor dotes on her, he must still heed the ancestral laws. Your Majesty is already the Empress; there is no need to contend with these consorts. Tomorrow is the fifteenth; Your Majesty should rest early, as you must lead the consorts to pay respects to the Empress Dowager."
The Empress took a deep breath. In the past, she had always enjoyed the process of reviewing the account books—it was a pleasure brought by her authority over the palace. But today, she found she simply couldn't focus.
In Baoci Palace, Consort De had just lulled the First Princess to sleep. When Yinxing mentioned that the Emperor had stayed overnight at Zhaoyang Palace again, she was momentarily stunned, then smiled.
"No rush. She's just a mere Cairen—someone will surely deal with her. At the very least, there's still the Empress. Our Empress, for all her apparent virtue and grace, who knows what she's really thinking inside?"
Yinxing said, "The Empress is best at playing the good person and has always deferred to the Emperor. I'm just afraid the Empress might not dare. The Emperor refuses to follow convention, and once this Cairen Shen is elevated, might the Empress pit her against Your Highness?"
Consort De replied, "Let's wait until she becomes pregnant. For now, we must keep an eye on the Empress. As for Cairen Shen, she must be dealt with, but there's no need for us to take action."
After all, she was a high-ranking consort. To rashly move against a low-ranking new consort simply wasn't worth it.
"Send someone to tell Chen Cainü that the Emperor detests Consort Qiong and visits Shouxian Palace no more than twice a year. If she resides in Shouxian Palace, she may suffer due to Consort Qiong’s influence. Help her find a way to move to Zhaoyang Palace—her elder sister died back then because she was implicated by Elder Madam Shen."
"Yes!"
In the side hall of Shouxian Palace, a foul odor wafted through the air, making Chen Cainü dizzy.
"Where is this stench coming from?" Chen Cainü ordered the windows opened, but the smell only grew stronger.
Her personal palace maid, Caiqin, hurried in and shut all the windows. "Cainü, it’s Consort Qiong making stinky tofu. I heard she ferments the tofu in a jar with amaranth leaves until it turns foul, then fries it in oil—the stinkier, the tastier."
She hesitated, holding back more words.
Chen Cainü was utterly speechless.
Another palace maid assigned by the Imperial Household Department, Shanhu, stepped forward. "Cainü, I have something to say, but I’m not sure if I should speak."
Chen Cainü replied, "Just say it. Since you’ve been assigned to me, I naturally hope for success. If I do well, you’ll benefit too."
Shanhu quickly said, "I am loyal to you, Cainü, and naturally hope you gain the Emperor’s favor so we can all share in the glory. However, being assigned to Shouxian Palace may make it difficult for you to even serve the Emperor."
Chen Cainü glanced toward the small kitchen, knowing Shanhu spoke the truth. If she were the Emperor, she wouldn’t want to come to Shouxian Palace either.
This earthly, pungent atmosphere was not something ordinary people could endure.
Jingfu Palace and Shouxian Palace faced each other from front to back. When the south wind blew, the odors from here drifted straight over. At that moment, Consort Rong stood in the wind, shedding tears.
"If I had known the Shen woman would come today, I never should have come myself. Then, now that she’s here, he wouldn’t have forgotten all our past affection, and I wouldn’t have become superfluous in this palace!"
Feihua racked her brains to console her. "Your Highness is overthinking again. You and His Majesty share years of affection. That Young Madam Shen has only just entered the palace—what affection could His Majesty possibly have for her? It’s merely a passing novelty."
"Don’t try to comfort me with such words! I’ve read many ancient histories of talented and sentimental women, and most ended in tragic, lamentable fates. My future will likely be the same—gradually, he’ll stop coming, and eventually forget me entirely! Wuwu!"
Feihua sighed sorrowfully and draped a cloak over her mistress. "Your Highness is overthinking again. How could His Majesty forget you? Everyone in the palace knows how much the Emperor dotes on you. All the flowers and plants here were arranged by the Gardening Bureau according to Your Highness’s preferences, by His Majesty’s order!"
"That’s the only kindness he shows me. Now that new beauties have entered the palace, how could he still remember me? Besides, his kindness to me isn’t unique. Such kindness… I’d rather not have it!"
"Your Highness, it’s late, and your health is frail. Perhaps you should retire for the night?"
Feihua stifled a yawn. She rose earlier than the roosters and slept later than the dogs each day, earning only a meager monthly stipend. Her mistress lived on dew and flowers, never thinking to reward her servants, and Feihua truly didn’t want to work any harder.
But just then, a wave of foul odor drifted over. Seeing her mistress’s almond-shaped eyes widen in fury, Feihua’s heart sank. Sure enough, the Consort began sobbing again.
"If he truly cared for me, he wouldn’t make me live alongside this butcher’s wife. He’s clearly using this method to humiliate me. What have I done to displease him?"
He even gave her the honorific title "Rong"—she wished she could return it.
Feihua thought to herself, back when the palace assignments were being arranged, the Emperor was so busy he couldn't spare a moment. It was all handled directly by the Imperial Household Department. The Emperor probably didn't even glance at the arrangements.
But she couldn't say that. Saying it would just stir up another hornet's nest.
She was truly fed up. What on earth was Consort Qiong cooking today that smelled so foul?
"Your Highness, perhaps we should go inside. If we close all the doors and windows, we won't be able to smell it," Feihua advised.
"Why should I avoid her? There's no need for you to persuade me. If I get suffocated by her stench and die early, so be it. At least I won't have to endure this torment day after day. The only hateful thing is that even if I die, I'll be tainted by this butcher's stench, and I won't be able to get a good rebirth in the next life."
Feihua felt a headache coming on. Sure enough, the next moment, she heard her mistress say,
"Light the candles, grind the ink, and bring out the first half of the poem I wrote the day before yesterday. I'll finish the second half today. Replace the Goose Pear Incense with Spring Message in Snow. I also want to read for a while." Li Yuanke sneered, pressing her down to kiss her.
I'll show you who's boss!
That night, the Emperor once again stayed overnight at Zhaoyang Palace.
For the Emperor to stay two consecutive nights in the same place was unprecedented.
The Emperor was capricious; no one could fathom his thoughts.
The key point was that Shen Shixi had even withdrawn the jade plaque, yet the Emperor still went to Zhaoyang Palace.
The account book before the Empress remained unturned for a long time. Even Consort De had never made her feel such a sense of crisis. She couldn't help but laugh bitterly, "The Emperor is indeed different toward this Young Madam Shen. I wonder what Elder Madam Shen would think if she were still alive?"
Shen Shiyan had loved the Emperor to the point of life and death. Rather than saying she was killed by someone else, it would be more accurate to say she brought about her own demise.
In her quest to win favor, she practically threw her life away.
Qu Mama served the Empress a cup of tea. "Your Majesty need not worry. She is merely a Cairen. No matter how much the Emperor dotes on her, he must still consider the ancestral laws. Your Majesty is already the Empress; there's no need to bother with these consorts. Tomorrow is the fifteenth. Your Majesty should rest early, as you must lead the consorts to pay respects to the Empress Dowager."
The Empress took a deep breath. In the past, she had always enjoyed the process of reviewing the account books—it was a pleasure brought by her authority over the palace. But today, she found she simply couldn't focus.
In Baoci Palace, Consort De had just coaxed the First Princess to sleep. When Yinxing mentioned that the Emperor had stayed overnight at Zhaoyang Palace again, she was momentarily taken aback, then smiled.
"No rush. She's just a mere Cairen. Someone will surely deal with her. At the very least, there's still the Empress. Our Empress, for all her apparent virtue and grace, who knows what she's really thinking inside?"
Yinxing said, "The Empress is best at playing the good person and has always gone along with the Emperor. I'm afraid she might not dare to act. The Emperor refuses to follow convention. Once this Shen Cairen is elevated, might the Empress pit her against you, Your Highness?"
Consort De replied, "We'll talk after she becomes pregnant. For now, we need to keep an eye on the Empress. As for Shen Cairen, she does need to be dealt with, but we don't have to be the ones to do it."
After all, she was a high-ranking consort. Taking action against a low-ranking new consort rashly wasn't worth it.
"Send someone to tell Chen Cainü that the Emperor detests Consort Qiong and visits Shouxian Palace less than twice a year. If she stays in Shouxian Palace, she might be implicated by Consort Qiong. Help her think of a way to move to Zhaoyang Palace. Her elder sister died back then because she was implicated by Elder Madam Shen."
"Yes!"
From the side hall of Shouxian Palace came waves of foul odor, making Chen Cainü dizzy.
“Where is this foul smell coming from?” Chen Cainü ordered the windows opened, only for the stench to grow stronger.
Her personal palace maid Caiqin hurried in and shut all the windows. “Cainü, it’s Consort Qiong making stinky tofu. I heard she puts tofu in a jar, pickles it with amaranth, waits until it turns foul, then fries it in oil. The smellier it is, the more fragrant it tastes.”
She hesitated, holding back more words.
Chen Cainü was utterly speechless.
Another palace maid assigned by the Imperial Household Department, Shanhu, stepped forward. “Cainü, this servant has something to say, but I’m not sure if I should speak.”
Chen Cainü replied, “Just say it. Since you’ve been assigned to me, I naturally hope for success. If I do well, you’ll benefit too.”
Shanhu quickly said, “This servant is loyal to Cainü and naturally hopes you gain the Emperor’s favor, so we may all share in the glory. But with Cainü assigned to Shouxian Palace, I fear even attending the Emperor at night will be difficult.”
Chen Cainü glanced toward the small kitchen, knowing Shanhu spoke the truth. If she were the Emperor, she wouldn’t want to come to Shouxian Palace either.
This worldly, pungent atmosphere was not something ordinary people could endure.
Jingfu Palace and Shouxian Palace faced each other from front to back. When the south wind blew, the smells from here drifted entirely over there. At this moment, Consort Rong was weeping in the breeze.
“Had I known Young Madam Shen would come today, I should never have come in the first place. Then, with her arrival now, he wouldn’t even remember our past affection. I’ve become nothing but an extra in this palace!”
Feihua racked her brains to comfort her. “Your Highness is overthinking again. How many years of affection do you and His Majesty share? Young Madam Shen has only just entered the palace—what affection could His Majesty possibly have with her? It’s merely a passing novelty.”
“Don’t try to console me with such words! I’ve read of many talented and sentimental women in ancient histories, most of whom ended in tragic, lamentable fates. My future will likely be the same—gradually, he’ll stop coming, until he forgets me entirely! Wuwuwu!”
Feihua sighed mournfully and draped a cloak over her mistress. “Your Highness is overthinking again. How could His Majesty forget you? Everyone in the palace knows how much the Emperor dotes on you. All the flowers and plants here were arranged by the Gardening Bureau according to Your Highness’s preferences, by His Majesty’s order!”
“That’s the only kindness he shows me. Now that a new favorite has entered, how could he still remember me? Besides, his kindness to me isn’t unique. This kind of favor… I’d rather not have it!”
“Your Highness, it’s late, and your health is not strong. Perhaps you should retire to sleep?”
Feihua stifled a yawn. She rose earlier than the roosters and slept later than the dogs each day, earning only a meager monthly stipend. Her mistress lived on dew and flowers, never thinking to reward her servants, and Feihua truly didn’t want to work any harder.
But just then, a wave of foul odor drifted over. Seeing her mistress’s almond-shaped eyes widen in outrage, Feihua’s heart sank. Sure enough, her mistress began sobbing again.
“If he truly cared for me, he wouldn’t have made me live alongside this butcher. He’s clearly using this method to humiliate me. What have I done to displease him?”
He even gave her the honorific title “Rong”—she wanted to return it.
Feihua thought to herself that when the palace assignments were made, the Emperor had been swamped with work. The Imperial Household Department handled everything directly; the Emperor probably hadn’t even glanced at the arrangements.
But she couldn’t say that—it would only stir up another hornet’s nest.
She was utterly exasperated. What on earth was Consort Qiong cooking today that stank so badly?
"Your Highness, perhaps we should go inside. If we close all the doors and windows, we won’t smell it anymore," Feihua advised.
"Why should I avoid her? There’s no need for you to persuade me. I’d rather stay here and be suffocated by her early, so I can be reborn sooner, rather than endure this torment day after day. The only pity is that even if I die, I’ll be tainted by the stench of that butcher’s work, and I won’t be reborn into a good life."
Feihua felt a headache coming on and swayed slightly. Sure enough, the next moment, Her Highness said,
"Light the candles, grind the ink, and bring out the first half of the poem I wrote the other day. Today, I’ll complete the second half. Replace the Goose Pear Incense with Spring Message in Snow. I also want to read for a while."