After several busy days, the pre-New Year affairs were finally completely settled, and now discussions began regarding the matters of the first month.
Zhuang Yunlan once again saw her favorite department: the Shangshi Bureau!
However, there were no grand feasts to enjoy this time.
Because the banquet menus had already been finalized.
This time, the Shangshi Bureau came to seek the Crown Princess's approval for the Pepper Cypress Wine to be consumed in the Eastern Palace on Zhengdan, the Flat Food to be eaten, and the All Things Auspicious Box.
Since it wasn't as troublesome as determining banquet dishes, the female officials also prepared the Spring Pancakes and dishes to be eaten on the seventh day, as well as the Yuanxiao (glutinous rice balls) for Shangyuan Festival, and presented them together for the Crown Princess's decision.
The Crown Princess certainly couldn't drink the Pepper Cypress Wine now, so the task of tasting naturally fell to Zhuang Yunlan.
Before entering the palace, Zhuang Yunlan would drink a few small cups during festivals and believed she had a decent tolerance for alcohol. Without hesitation, she drank the Pepper Cypress Wine presented by the female officials.
After just two cups, she began to feel something was off.
This wine was more potent than what she had drunk at home!
Zhuang Yunlan tragically realized she was starting to feel tipsy.
Although not to the point of losing her senses or acting drunk before the Crown Princess, she clearly felt lightheaded and unsteady.
The Crown Princess also noticed her gaze becoming somewhat dazed and quickly instructed Ma Nao: "Quickly help Zhuang Cairen to rest in the side hall. Brew her a bowl of Awakening Wine Soup and send it over, otherwise she might have a headache when she sobers up."
Everything in the imperial family was of the finest quality, even the brewing techniques surpassed those outside.
The Crown Princess had been in the palace for several years. Before her pregnancy, she would also drink the internally brewed wine and had forgotten that its potency differed significantly from outside wines.
The female officials and palace maids were even more accustomed to it.
Ma Nao led the way, guiding Zhuang Yunlan toward the side hall.
As soon as she stepped through the side hall's door, Zhuang Yunlan could no longer hold on. Shaoyao and Shuixian half-supported, half-carried her to the Huanghuali frame bed.
Zhuang Yunlan collapsed onto the pillow and completely passed out.
Fortunately, she had good drinking manners—she wouldn't curse, hit anyone, boast while pulling people along, or insist on performing for others. She didn't even vomit; she simply slept.
She slept until dusk enveloped the sky.
When Zhuang Yunlan rubbed her eyes and sat up, palace lanterns had already been lit outside.
"Awake?" The Crown Prince stood before the frame bed, looking at the person on the bed with amusement.
"Your Highness?" Zhuang Yunlan's mind cleared instantly, and she quickly stood up to pay her respects to the Crown Prince.
"Hmm, still recognizes people. Seems you're fine," the Crown Prince supported her arm and settled her back onto the frame bed to sit. He himself sat beside Zhuang Yunlan, studying her face intently.
"You really are something. Don't you know your own alcohol tolerance? If you're told to drink, you just drink. It's fortunate this is in the palace. If it were outside, who knows where you'd have been sold off to by now."
Zhuang Yunlan thought to herself that she wasn't so reckless; who knew the palace wine would be so intoxicating?
Last year at Qionghua Palace, the food wasn't this potent either.
But she didn't dare argue with the Crown Prince.
Mainly because she had truly lost her composure today, and besides, she was still in the Crown Princess's palace.
Zhuang Yunlan secretly glanced at the Crown Prince sitting beside her, suddenly feeling a sense of guilt as if she were secretly meeting with the Crown Prince behind the Crown Princess's back, making her very uneasy.
"Your Highness, I know I was wrong…" Zhuang Yunlan knew when to yield and immediately admitted her fault. "It's just that I've never had such fine wine before, and I didn't expect it to be so strong. Honestly, I only drank a tiny bit…"
Zhuang Yunlan held up two fingers to demonstrate, earnestly indicating that she truly had only drunk that small amount.
The Crown Prince already knew how much she had drunk, and precisely because of this, he wasn't angry but rather amused. At this moment, he merely gave a light hum. "So now you know you can't handle alcohol?"
Zhuang Yunlan quickly nodded. "I know now. I'll definitely never drink again!"
The Crown Prince was satisfied with her attitude of admitting fault.
"…Then Your Highness isn't angry with me anymore?" Seeing the Crown Prince nod unhurriedly, Zhuang Yunlan timidly expressed her desire to withdraw. "Your Highness came to see the Crown Princess, right?"
Zhuang Yunlan tactfully said, "I behaved improperly today and must go apologize to the Crown Princess. After apologizing, I should return as well, so I won't delay Your Highness any longer."
After speaking, she stood with her head bowed to the side, ready to respectfully see the Crown Prince off.
Since she was going to apologize anyway, she certainly couldn't go with the Crown Prince. What would that look like? Others might think she was provoking the Crown Princess.
The Crown Prince clearly wasn't that unreasonable either.
He stood up, and Zhang Bao came to drape the cloak over him.
If not for the pitiful sight of that person standing there with her head bowed, the Crown Prince would have left.
But she looked far too pitiful, and the Crown Prince simply couldn't bear to leave her standing there alone.
He sighed, walked over to Zhuang Yunlan, paused, and spoke to her somewhat helplessly. "Alright, I truly am not angry with you. The Crown Princess won't punish you for this either. Go with peace of mind. When you return to Chenghua Hall, don't overthink things. I'll come see you tomorrow, alright?"
Zhuang Yunlan stared blankly at the Crown Prince's retreating back.
Just… what was he imagining? Had he misunderstood something?
When she went to apologize, Zhuang Yunlan didn't see the Crown Prince. It was only after leaving the Crown Princess's quarters that she learned he had already returned to the Front Hall.
Earlier, he must have heard about her embarrassing incident and stopped by to see her before leaving.
The Crown Princess cared for the consorts and concubines under her charge. Worried that Zhuang Yunlan might catch a chill from the cold wind at night, she even had someone bring her warm milk to drink. All the way back to the Western Side Hall, Zhuang Yunlan's stomach felt warm and comfortable. Because she had been promptly given Awakening Wine Soup when drunk, her head didn't hurt at all.
The only aftereffect of this unexpected hangover was that Zhuang Yunlan became a bit sentimental that night.
She propped open the window of the Chenghua Side Hall, leaned on the luohan bed, and gazed distantly at the bright moon in the sky. Thousands of miles away in Nanzhili, perhaps her parents were also admiring the moon.
And her parents in the modern era—she wondered if the moon they saw was the same one.
Lost in these thoughts, Zhuang Yunlan fell asleep.
Shaoyao walked over, closed the window, brought the brocade quilt from the canopy bed to cover Zhuang Yunlan, tucking the corners snugly. She then lifted the lid of the Warming Stove to check the charcoal inside before gesturing to Shuixian to be quiet. Pulling her along, she walked outside, extinguishing most of the candles in the inner chamber along the way.
Outside the hall, Shaoyao whispered to Shuixian, "Let our mistress sleep there tonight. She's tired today, and moving her around again wouldn't be good. We'll just keep a close eye on the charcoal fire to make sure she doesn't catch a chill."
Shuixian nodded and stayed there on night duty with Shaoyao until Haitang and Furong came to take over their shift, then they returned to the servants' quarters.
Zhuang Yunlan slept soundly through the night. After getting up and having a simple breakfast, she changed her clothes and went to the Crown Princess's place to clock in for work.