“Your Highness, perhaps… we shouldn’t eat this after all.” Xiao Chengzi stood awkwardly, his face flushed with embarrassment.
The food container had been brought to the main hall of the Second Prince’s Residence, placed near the window behind an exquisitely crafted lotus emerging from water screen. But when he opened it, he discovered that due to the earlier jogging, much of the congee had spilled from its compartment. While the remaining half-bowl was sufficient in quantity, its appearance… anywhere else, this would be considered inferior fare too unsightly for noble eyes, completely unfit to be served, let alone consumed.
“It’s fine.” Qi Chengming didn’t mind at all, signaling them to take their portions and eat quickly. “I’ve already accepted that this is thin congee, why should I care about its appearance? It’s just spilled a bit.”
The observant Xiao Dezi had already brought a coarse cloth to wipe up the mess, carefully carrying away the two eunuchs’ dinner with a similarly ashamed expression.
If one had to say… a prince’s meals shouldn’t be collected together with eunuchs’. But given the Second Prince’s Residence’s current special circumstances, standing at this precarious juncture, there was no room for excessive ceremony.
Xiao Chengzi clutched the tray, gritting his teeth as he went to eat at the low table set up outside the screen.
He could only swallow this temporary humiliation. Though he couldn’t imagine what the future might hold, he engraved each and every one of these incidents deeply in his heart. Sooner or later… when the opportunity arose, he would repay them. But could he really repay them? They were all going to Liuzhou.
At this thought, Xiao Chengzi felt lost.
“Hmm…” Qi Chengming frowned as he ate the dishes with difficulty.
He had been quite curious about how the imperial palace’s cuisine would taste, only to find stewed soft vegetable leaves paired with some smoked ham. There were no strong flavors like ginger or garlic, nor the more delicious stir-fried dishes. The stewing was merely average, making everything taste bland.
Extremely disappointing.
How he missed modern bibimbap sauce.
…Mushroom sauce and soybean paste, or even fermented bean curd would do! Wrapping the sauce in mantou, adding a few simple stir-fried eggs with scallions, then gulping down some congee – such a dinner would have delighted him to no end.
Holding his bowl, Qi Chengming pondered wistfully before quickly suppressing his thoughts.
There was no going back. He’d be better off focusing on preparing for Liuzhou. Once he became the one with the most authority there, he could have the kitchen make whatever he wanted – he didn’t need rare delicacies or extravagant dishes. He just wanted some ordinary home-style cooking, was it too much to ask to recreate those flavors?
Suddenly transmigrating into this book world was already depressing enough. If he didn’t even have something to look forward to, life would become even more unbearable.
Thinking this, Qi Chengming quickened his eating pace – a full stomach would give him energy to handle things.
If he wasn’t feeling comfortable, he needed to make others even more uncomfortable to vent his frustration!
…
Two quarters of an hour later.
The main kitchen of the Imperial Kitchen remained bustling with activity. Steam swirled above the stoves in a lively scene, the entire room filled with aromatic scents. Though eunuchs and palace maids moved about in apparent chaos, they worked with organized efficiency. The rhythmic “thump thump thump” of vegetable chopping mingled with the “bubble bubble” of simmering pots. At each stove, dishes were being stewed or boiled, while palace maids waited nearby, chatting and laughing idly.
Xiao Chengzi had deliberately gone to fetch the meal earlier than usual. Now was actually the time when most consorts’ palaces were about to send for their meals, and the main kitchen was approaching the end of its busiest period.
A commotion arose in the distance.
The chief eunuch Qian Hai was personally preparing a bowl of mountain delicacy noodles for Shu Fei Niangniang, his brow furrowed with deep wrinkles. He turned his head discontentedly and jerked his chin at his disciple. “What’s all that noise about?”
Xiao Buzi, who carried an air of arrogance before others, wore an ingratiating smile in front of his master. “I’ll go check right away.”
Before his words faded, the source of the commotion—Qi Chengming—had already arrived with the haughty Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi in tow, stopping directly in front of Chief Eunuch Qian Hai.
“Xiao Chengzi says you were the one leading the harassment against him earlier?” The young prince asked coolly, his hands clasped behind his back.
Before setting out, he had instructed his two trusted eunuchs to act as ostentatiously as possible and truthfully identify everyone who had bullied them. This visit was precisely to stand up for Xiao Chengzi—and by extension, for his former self—so he wanted them to adopt the same contemptuous demeanor they’d seen from those vile servants who bullied others with borrowed authority.
Though Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi felt uncertain inwardly and didn’t fully understand the purpose of such theatrics, their hearts pounded with worry that things might ultimately humiliate their master again… But since His Highness was doing this for their Second Prince’s Residence, even if they suffered retaliation later, they must put on a bold front now with full commitment.
Whatever venting His Highness desired, they would match his intensity!
Thus, steeling his courage, Xiao Chengzi pointed unceremoniously at each person in turn, making identifications: “Yes, it was him. And him… her, that apprentice too, these several people, and him as well.”
Xiao Chengzi’s gaze finally settled on Chief Eunuch Qian Hai’s disciple, Xiao Buzi.
—It was Xiao Buzi who had chased him to the gate of the Imperial Son’s Residence, overturned his bowl of Eight Treasure Rice, and mocked him!
When enemies meet, their eyes blaze with hatred. Xiao Buzi stood behind Qian Hai, not speaking, merely curling the corner of his mouth upward before lowering his head to continue kneading dough. He completely disregarded the Second Prince who had come to pick a fight.
In truth, the master and disciple had just been discussing the Second Prince:
—This effectively exiled and thoroughly sidelined prince might very well adopt a “broken jar” mentality, seeing how the Imperial Kitchen still mistreated him and bursting out in a furious scene. After all, he was about to Establish a Fiefdom—who could say if he’d ever return? With such a bleak future ahead, if he didn’t make trouble now, then when? Why endure any more humiliation?
Xiao Buzi had expressed such concerns.
Shouldn’t they be lulling the Second Prince into complacency during this period? Even mere pretense would suffice. If a real disturbance occurred, their main kitchen would bear severe consequences.
“Speaking so lightly, why don’t you clear another stove specially to cook for him then?” Master Qian Hai had sneered at the time, shooting him a sidelong glance as he lectured,
“What are we eunuchs anyway? Just lowly castrates, fit only for laborious tasks like tending fires and cooking. The prince is noble—he should sit back and wait for his meals without troubling to come here personally. However… whatever His Highness says, we cannot talk back. Endure this period, or else we’d be incompetent servants.”
“Most importantly… my skills have earned recognition in Shu Fei Niangniang’s quarters.” After a pause, Qian Hai added with considerable self-satisfaction the primary reason.
Xiao Buzi immediately understood.
If the Second Prince were to resort to brute force, they had the excuse of “acting in his best interest” to stop him from storming into the Imperial Kitchen and snatching dishes by force. Even if they failed to stop him, they could still go back and complain to the consorts in the rear palace. If the Second Prince recklessly escalated the situation, they could still hide behind the shield of the prince’s allocated provisions, and most importantly, they had the backing of Shu Fei Niangniang.
No matter how much of a fuss was made… wouldn’t the Second Prince still have to eat the meals prepared by their Imperial Kitchen every day?
The Imperial Kitchen had endless tricks up its sleeve. Yes, they wouldn’t change—they would only intensify their actions. After enduring such invisible, soft knives for a while, anyone would lose their temper. That’s why the consorts in the rear palace saw things most clearly—even the most willful among them dared not offend the cooks.
Eunuchs were experts at judging people and acting accordingly. Xiao Buzi didn’t have the nerve to think about others, and they would never dare to offend those in favor. But as for the Second Prince, who posed absolutely no threat, even though he was of imperial blood…
Once freed from restraint, he could even take some pleasure in tormenting him.
…
So now, Xiao Buzi kneaded the dough without even looking up, embodying sheer audacity.
“What brings the Second Prince to a place like this?” The senior eunuch Qian Hai paused his work as a sign of respect. He asked politely, a smile plastered on his face, though it didn’t reach his eyes.
Qi Chengming didn’t speak immediately. Instead, he carefully scanned the surroundings.
Though all the formalities were observed, he could clearly sense the contempt emanating from this senior eunuch, as if he wasn’t the least bit afraid of Qi Chengming causing trouble. It was as if he were quietly waiting for him to make a scene.
This silent, smiling disdain and audacity… was utterly infuriating. It even carried a hint of indulgent resignation, as if to say, “Look, it’s the Second Prince causing trouble for no reason.”
This was probably the kind of hidden suffering the original owner had endured for years. A prince without backing was truly pitiable.
Qi Chengming felt sick to his stomach.
To outsiders, it would seem as if he were being willful and unreasonable, targeting subordinates without cause, yet no concrete fault could be found. Was this the palace’s specialty—soft knives? Without some level of cunning and strategy, staying in such an environment day after day would suffocate a person, grinding away their spirit until nothing remained.
Qi Chengming sneered inwardly, but he showed no outward anger.
The young prince stood calmly in the open space of the Imperial Kitchen, neither restrained nor enraged. He made no attempt to feign superficial politeness, nor did he speak harshly. He simply stated a few points calmly:
“First—my grand-uncle is the Director of the Imperial Clan Court. He is responsible for allocating my assets for this establishment of my fiefdom.”
Aside from the busy group of workers, the palace maids and eunuchs watching the spectacle wore expressions of confusion. A detached silence hung over the previously noisy air.
What did the Director of the Imperial Clan Court matter? The Second Prince’s establishment of a fiefdom had nothing to do with them.
“Second.” Qi Chengming finally allowed a faint smile to curl at the corners of his lips, but it was a smile that struck fear into others, like a flood or a ferocious beast. “…I’ve heard that Eunuch Qian’s skills are quite exceptional. I wonder if, when the name list is submitted, His Majesty will overturn my grand-uncle’s opinion?”
Eunuch Qian’s mind went blank, as if struck by a heavy hammer, and his face turned deathly pale: “…!”
It’s over.
How could I have forgotten this aspect! This damned ancestor is about to leave, but if he takes people along to Liuzhou… Forget about reaching Liuzhou—wouldn’t they be completely at Second Prince’s mercy during the journey, to be molded and crushed as he pleases?!
Qian Hai knew his limits. While he had backing within the palace, once outside the palace gates, who guaranteed anyone would still need to eat his cooking? His pathetic life would then be entirely in Second Prince’s hands, to be tormented however he wished. So far away, who could possibly save him? Would he even survive?
…Who could compare to the Emperor’s own uncle?
And what was he? Just an insect that could be easily crushed. Would Shu Fei Niangniang even bother whispering in the Emperor’s ear for his sake?
Not even in his wildest dreams would Qian Hai have such confidence.
So his legs gave way, and he tremblingly collapsed to the ground.
The chief eunuch began tearfully slapping his own cheeks with both hands: “Oh heavens… Ancestor, Your Highness, Second Prince Your Highness! This lowly one… this lowly one has always had poor health. Wouldn’t it be terrible if I fell ill during the journey and delayed matters! It’s this lowly one’s lack of fortune, this lowly one deserves punishment!”
As he spoke, he kept “slap slap” hitting himself, his cheeks quickly swelling up high—he was using full force. Everyone knew exactly why Qian Hai was mercilessly slapping himself.
Without Second Prince speaking, he didn’t dare stop for even a moment—
Qian Hai was truly terrified. At his age, he should be training apprentices and gradually enjoying his retirement—he’d rather die than follow into exile!
Not just him—Xiao Buzi’s hand trembled, dropping his rolling pin. All the other onlookers who had mocked, gossiped about, shoved, beaten Xiao Chengzi, or been disrespectful were now panicked too. Their previous doubts and detachment completely vanished, replaced by a buzzing chorus of fearful explanations. The clever ones imitated Chief Eunuch Qian Hai by kneeling on the ground desperately begging for mercy, while the less clever were still flailing in panic.
They might not understand other things, but wasn’t one point perfectly clear? Second Prince’s entourage included nearly a hundred Imperial Guards. Surely they wouldn’t just take Eunuch Qian alone! If it was about revenge, wouldn’t useless people like them be even more unable to escape?
The Second Prince’s brief two sentences had effortlessly pinpointed their fatal weakness.
The atmosphere in the Imperial Kitchen had now completely reversed. Xiao Chengzi looked up at his master in surprise, unable to conceal his admiration, his face flushed with excitement:
…So impressive!!
Author’s note:
Mini Theater:
The exchange of glances in the Imperial Kitchen.
Qian Hai (bowing with a strained smile): Second Highness, here to cause trouble.
Qi Chengming (impassively): Heh, watch me make you kneel and beg with just two sentences…
.
(—Indeed here to cause trouble, but the kind of trouble you can’t handle.)
.
.