In the Imperial Kitchen, chaotic pleas for mercy intermingled with crisp slapping sounds.
Xiao Chengzi and Xiao Dezi kept casting worshipful and excited glances in this direction, but Qi Chengming merely curled his lips leisurely, not immediately permitting the kneeling, begging crowd to rise.
Venting anger, of course, had to be thoroughly done to release all the resentment accumulated over these years.
Whether for Xiao Chengzi or for the original body.
As for how to handle and conclude this matter…
Qi Chengming’s thoughts drifted back to when he was eating.
As a modern person who had read numerous transmigration novels, while fiercely chewing his mantou, he had been contemplating how to reclaim his dignity. His first instinct was to consider causing a scene in the Imperial Kitchen—the reasoning was straightforward: as a failure about to leave Jingcheng to Establish a Fiefdom, couldn’t he just let everything go to ruin?
But Qi Chengming knew his limits.
He understood that reality wouldn’t unfold as smoothly and satisfyingly as in novels, so he had another layer of concern:
What if causing a scene still didn’t lead to successful revenge? In a place like the palace that fawns on the powerful and bullies the weak, would it really change because of a failure’s tantrum? Would the Emperor care about his son’s dignity, or would he impatiently view it as him venting dissatisfaction? If causing a scene still didn’t achieve revenge, the Second Prince would become a complete laughingstock.
Even if he went to Liuzhou to start anew, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t be looked down upon by his subordinates, becoming a classic example of “servants bullying their master.” Even far from Jingcheng, everything wouldn’t just restart.
All this was because the pitiful Second Prince had no backing, making his tragic future foreseeable.
So…
Now that Qi Chengming wanted revenge, he held a handful of disadvantageous cards. Where were his advantages? After much deliberation, Qi Chengming could only think of his sole supporter—the Director of the Imperial Clan Court, his granduncle. This granduncle had no jurisdiction over palace affairs and could only oversee the division of the Prince of Commandery Manor for the Second Prince’s fiefdom, aside from being the current Emperor’s uncle.
Thus, Qi Chengming’s available means became clear.
Not only did Qian Taijian lead a group in fearfully begging for mercy and punishing themselves, but until he left the palace to Establish a Fiefdom, his meal issues would be completely resolved. However, on this basis, Qi Chengming, heading to Liuzhou, truly needed a capable chef.
So, the youth currently standing in the Imperial Kitchen enjoying his “venting” casually scanned the onlookers.
He ignored the senior eunuchs sweating profusely as they prepared meals for the nobles and couldn’t stop, disregarded the junior eunuchs and maids solely doing chores, and paid no mind to the curious bystanders uninvolved in the affair. He also overlooked those who had offended him.
Qi Chengming wasn’t foolish—he could use these conditions to pressure Qian Taijian, but that didn’t mean he actually intended to bring Qian Taijian to Liuzhou. That would be an unsatisfactory last resort for both parties.
“…” Qi Chengming’s gaze finally settled on a man and woman at a marginal stove.
The man appeared to be a senior eunuch who hadn’t fared well, wearing the same supervisory eunuch robes as Qian Taijian, though his were faded from washing. During this busy period, he held no tasks and sat far away at the very edge. His attention wasn’t fixed on the commotion in the Imperial Kitchen either; instead, he was murmuring listlessly to his apprentice beside him, his expression gloomy and discontented.
—From his appearance, this cook actually lacked the round face and belly fat typically gained from good eating!
Perhaps it was this “unfortunate appearance” that made him disliked by the nobility?
The other elder palace maid—ah, she should be addressed as Guniang—was focused entirely on cooking. Her fair, rosy hands lifted the pot lid to add ingredients. Yet, despite the abundant variety of ingredients in her tray and the numerous miscellaneous tasks requiring attention, she had no junior maid or eunuch assisting her. All these trivial chores, including tending the fire, she handled alone.
This scene was even more peculiar than the sullen, thin cook—after all, how would a lowly apprentice dare to find fault with a Guniang?
Qi Chengming watched with curiosity, guessing that this Guniang must have offended someone.
He made a mental note, planning to discreetly approach these two later. Even if their skills were lacking, anyone assigned to the Imperial Kitchen could at least produce edible food—they could be trained further in time.
“This humble one deserves punishment… it’s all my fault…” Qian Taijian continued slapping his own face, his cheeks swollen and speech slurred. Kneeling on the ground, he wept uncontrollably, trembling but not daring to stop.
“Enough.” Qi Chengming finally raised a hand, his light tone sounding like heavenly music. “Regarding the list, I can still discuss it with my grand-uncle for some time. As for Eunuch Qian’s sincerity…”
“This humble one will never dare again!” Qian Taijian blurted out urgently. Still kneeling unsteadily, he pointed toward the pots simmering under his charge and eagerly offered, “What would Your Highness like for the evening meal? This humble one will fetch it for you!”
After this spectacle—never mind whether the meal retrieval was delayed—the senior maids and eunuchs waiting outside had already witnessed the entire drama. Since the situation couldn’t be concealed any further, Qian Taijian could only hope to satisfy this young master first and placate him; other matters could wait.
“Not necessary tonight.” Qi Chengming beckoned Xiao Chengzi over, then cast a glance toward Xiao Buzi. “But henceforth…”
Xiao Buzi paled, gritted his teeth, and suddenly forced an awkward, ingratiating smile—as affectionate as if Xiao Chengzi were his own master. “Eunuch Cheng still lacks an errand runner, doesn’t he? In the future, how could such trivial tasks trouble you to come personally? I’ll handle them all!”
As Xiao Buzi spoke, his smile looked even more pitiful than tears.
He knew this wasn’t merely about doing chores—Xiao Chengzi would surely torment and order him around, retaliating for every past transgression. But Xiao Buzi didn’t want to be sent to Liuzhou; he could only agree through gritted teeth.
Better to endure temporary hardship than a lifetime of suffering!
…
Thus concluded this highly satisfying trip to stir up trouble in the Imperial Kitchen.
Qi Chengming led his two personal eunuchs back, the atmosphere among the three unusually relaxed, completely different from before. Xiao Dezi wore a smile on his face: “Your Highness is truly remarkable!”
“This is only effective against those without real backing.” Qi Chengming wasn’t overly proud.
The people from the Imperial Kitchen were nothing—they retreated in fear of being included on the list for Liuzhou. His other grievances wouldn’t be so easily settled—for instance, the princely brothers who had schemed against his original self and spread rumors.
He still lacked the ability to retaliate now; everything would have to wait until he established a foothold in Liuzhou first.
“Keep an eye on those two I mentioned when you visit the Imperial Kitchen recently,” Qi Chengming instructed. “Also, when we go out, act arrogantly, but when we return to the Imperial Son’s Residence, we must do the opposite.”
“Your Highness plans to…?” Xiao Chengzi, already calculating, tentatively asked. From the moment his lord had unusually instructed them to act like petty men swollen with pride, he had sensed something amiss. After pondering it all the way back and combining it with his lord’s current words, he had an inkling of the plan.
“Uncle Grandfather has asked me to submit the list of belongings and palace staff I wish to take to Liuzhou,” Qi Chengming said unhurriedly as he walked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
He had spent the afternoon hastily observing.
The Second Prince’s Residence was restless, with many wanting to leave due to the rumors.
Moreover, over the years, this struggling and disgraced Second Prince had neither the ability nor the foundation to weed out the spies in his residence. Whether it was winning people over or completely eliminating informants, he couldn’t manage it. Fortunately, he still had Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi, who remained loyal.
The Director of the Imperial Clan Court held significant authority over the imperial clan, but even that power didn’t extend into the palace. Uncle Grandfather could only subtly hint that he could use the opportunity of establishing a fiefdom to clean up his forces.
Now was the perfect chance.
Those palace staff who looked down on the Second Prince’s downfall and wanted to leave, the informants who deemed him useless, and those who were overly cunning—none of them needed to be taken to Liuzhou. The Second Prince’s Residence was in the most remote and isolated area, and before the details of Qi Chengming’s display of power were exposed or had spread over… tonight was the time to purge the ranks.
Thus.
The palace staff left guarding the entrance of the Second Prince’s Residence anxiously witnessed the return of a stone-faced Second Prince.
“Your Highness, what…?” she asked nervously, unable to read any reaction from her lord’s face, then shifted her gaze to the two eunuchs. Both Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi hung their heads like defeated roosters.
Without a word spoken, the situation was already clear.
Their lord had gone out angrily to pick a fight… and it seemed he had failed once again.
Bi Shu’s brows and eyes drooped with sorrow. After a pause, she swallowed the rest of her half-asked question and awkwardly tried to change the subject, forcing a smile: “The beans I’ve been tending in the rear hall have sprouted. Would Your Highness like to have some Cold Mixed Ruyi Vegetable tomorrow morning?”
Since the Imperial Kitchen couldn’t be relied on, and they didn’t have a small kitchen to freely use fire, they had to use their wits to try and prepare some improved meals for His Highness.
“Alright,” Qi Chengming replied, somewhat surprised, and took an extra glance at this palace maid.
Although the Imperial Kitchen later delivered delicacies from land and sea, there should be no need for the Second Prince’s Residence to exhaust all their ingenuity with these petty tricks. But Qi Chengming had no intention of rejecting her kindness.
—He still wanted to check on the beans she had planted in the rear hall after screening the palace staff.
Qi Chengming silently opened the Infrastructure System panel, his gaze lingering on it briefly.
He actually felt quite confident about how to quickly screen the palace staff.
…Below the talent list, aside from Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi, there were other names. However, based on Qi Chengming’s observations that afternoon, these names were far fewer than the actual number of palace staff in his residence.
Wasn’t this equivalent to a loyalty screening device?!
Qi Chengming sincerely thanked his golden finger.