“Master, perhaps you should eat something before paying respects from now on,” Hansu said, tucking a cushion behind Kan’er’s lower back.
Kan’er shifted to find a more comfortable sitting position, her waist finally feeling better after Hansu’s massage.
“That would require waking up even earlier,” Tiao Zhu remarked as she brought over the kang table.
Hansu brought over some red date tea: “Then have some pastries to tide you over. Something is better than nothing.”
Kan’er took a sip of tea, “We’ll see. I’ll eat if there’s time.”
Wangqing and Xiyu entered to set up the morning meal.
Kan’er’s meals had been quite good these past few days, but there was definitely a difference between before and after serving in bed.
Today’s breakfast was noticeably more lavish compared to the previous two days.
There was a bowl of red date and blood bird’s nest with black chicken soup, twice-fried small fish, water chestnut and duck breast, lotus flower cakes and rose chess piece cakes for pastries, accompanied by three appetizers: mixed termitomyces, green sauce matsutake, and shrimp oil dried tofu.
The main dish was coix seed and lotus seed congee.
The portions weren’t large, but they excelled in color, aroma, and taste.
Xiyu mentioned that when they went to fetch the meal, someone had approached them right after they left the Western Six Courtyards, indirectly inquiring about last night’s events.
Of course, they hadn’t said anything.
When they reached the Imperial Kitchen, two young eunuchs were waiting outside with food boxes. Before Xiyu and the others could speak, the eunuchs handed the boxes to them.
At that time, the servants fetching meals for Jin Chenghui and Qin Zhaoxun were also present.
The Eastern Palace didn’t permit servants to disrespect their masters or withhold their rightful provisions, so the lower staff didn’t dare look down on these two consorts of the Crown Prince.
But without having served in bed, the attitude of the lower staff was much worse, with daily food and provisions limited strictly to the standard allotment.
Take the meals, for example.
What Xiyu and the others received were two large, fully packed food boxes handed to them by the Imperial Kitchen staff.
Besides what Kan’er was entitled to by standard, this naturally included extras the Imperial Kitchen decided to offer her as a favor.
In contrast, the servants fetching meals for Jin Chenghui and Qin Zhaoxun had to pack the boxes themselves, taking only exactly what their masters were allotted.
This amount was certainly enough for Jin Chenghui and Qin Zhaoxun to eat.
Often, there would even be leftovers.
Because both women needed to maintain their figures and avoided overeating.
But whether one eats or not is different from whether others are willing to offer more, especially since this was tied to whether one was favored or not.
So the servants fetching meals for Jin Chenghui and Qin Zhaoxun had looked very displeased and made some sharp remarks to Xiyu and the others.
But Wangqing and Xiyu, having been previously instructed by Kan’er and Ying Gugu, simply ignored their comments.
Xiyu had served in Kan’er’s courtyard in her previous life.
Seeing her bright-eyed expression, Kan’er nodded and said, “Well done. When others flatter and please you, accept it as it comes—no need to put on false airs. Just remember that water has no constant form, and people have no fixed state. Don’t get so carried away with good fortune that you lose your bearings. I hope you can maintain a calm heart in all situations, neither arrogant nor impatient, so that we can all go far together.”
Xiyu nodded repeatedly, while Wangqing lowered her eyes in agreement.
After the meal, they spent some time digesting for about half an hour.
Then Kan’er returned to her room to wash up and began catching up on sleep.
But whether it was because today’s interactions with Cao Liangyuan and the others had stirred up many old memories, or for some other reason,
Kan’er’s sleep was restless.
As soon as her consciousness began to blur, scenes she thought she had long forgotten spontaneously surfaced in her mind.
Inside were Cao Liangyuan, Qin Zhaoxun, and the newly selected palace ladies who had entered the Eastern Palace years later, as well as the children born in the Eastern Palace one after another after Yao Ge’er’s death.
When Kan’er opened her eyes, she could still hear the innocent questions of her youngest son Xi Ge’er and daughter Tang Jie’er echoing in her ears.
They had asked: “Second sister, third brother said we stole their father, but isn’t the Emperor our father too?”
“Mother, why can’t the Emperor just be our father? If we want him to come spend every night only with us, does that make us bad children?”
How had she answered the children back then?
Kan’er couldn’t remember.
She only remembered the great upheaval in the Eastern Palace – the Crown Prince being placed under house arrest, finally being released only to face Yao Ge’er’s death.
The Crown Prince, who had already changed drastically due to the confinement and Empress Pei’s passing, became completely like eternal, unmelting ice after experiencing Yao Ge’er’s death.
In this lifetime, Kan’er acknowledged she couldn’t prevent the Crown Prince from having other children, but she would protect Yao Ge’er, and she would help the Crown Prince avoid that catastrophe in the Eastern Palace.
Only then could she and her children escape disaster.
Only then would her children not have to feel so cautious and guilty just for wanting their father’s company!
As she was thinking this, Ying Gugu entered from outside.
She said the Crown Princess had sent rewards.
Kan’er rose from her bed, tidied herself slightly, and went out with Ying Gugu.
The visitor was Shuangyun.
Shuangyun was a servant born into the Zheng family.
Having served beside Zheng Shi since childhood and being flattered by lower servants, she had naturally developed an arrogant disposition.
When Kan’er came out of her room, she saw the other woman standing in the courtyard with her nose in the air, boldly surveying her surroundings.
Seeing Kan’er, Shuangyun didn’t bother with courtesy.
Haughtily, she relayed the Crown Princess’s message.
Essentially, Song Zhaoxun had performed well serving in bed last night, so she was being praised and encouraged to serve His Highness diligently in the future and soon bear children for him.
It was all the usual empty talk common in the inner quarters.
Without waiting for Kan’er’s response, she signaled for her attendants to hand the items to Xiao Fuzi and Xiao Xizi.
Then she snorted and left with her people without even a farewell.
Because of Shuangyun’s attitude, what should have been a happy occasion turned sour. Though receiving rewards was supposed to be good, Xiao Fuzi and the others couldn’t bring themselves to smile.
Still unfamiliar with Kan’er, they feared Song Zhaoxun would be angered by this and didn’t dare approach to avoid her wrath.
Little did they know that this Kan’er was not the same person – in this lifetime, Kan’er paid no mind to Shuangyun’s attitude.
When a mistress received rewards, she typically rewarded her servants.
Though Kan’er was short on funds, she wasn’t stingy in this regard.
Often, whether those around you remain loyal depends not on affection, but on how much those above give.
Fine words alone are impractical – only tangible benefits that can be held in hand count as true advantages.
So regardless of what Xiao Fuzi and the others were thinking, Kan’er turned and had Ying Gugu bring out silver to reward them.
Seeing this, everyone finally felt relieved.
Zheng Mingzhi’s rewards mainly consisted of fabric for clothing, jewelry, and two types of medicinal ingredients suitable for women’s health.
All appropriate for her rank and status.
After storing the items, it was still early before noon.
Suddenly there was commotion in the courtyard, and Xiao Fuzi rushed in excitedly: “Mistress! Hai Gonggong has come with rewards!”
Then he added: “So many!”
Tiao Zhu, who had been about to scold Xiao Fuzi for his unruly haste, nearly popped her eyes out at this.
“Really?!”
Xiao Fuzi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “My dear sister, how could this be false? Eunuch Hai has already arrived in the courtyard!”
Tiao Zhu’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Kan’er.
No one could blame her for such an intense reaction.
During their few days in the Eastern Palace, they had already gathered considerable information about the Back Palace.
Previously, when Cao Liangyuan, Jin Chenghui, and Qin Zhaoxun had their first night serving in bed, they only received rewards from the Crown Princess!
Of course, this wasn’t because the Crown Prince was stingy.
Or unwilling to give gifts to his concubines.
It was simply the rule.
The Back Palace was under the Crown Princess’s management.
Bestowing rewards naturally fell under the Crown Princess’s jurisdiction, while the Crown Prince only gave substantial gifts during festivals.
Cao Liangyuan had indeed received numerous rewards from the Crown Prince, but that was only after she had gained considerable favor, and the person delivering the rewards wasn’t Chief Eunuch Hai Shun!
Not to mention Tiao Zhu, even Ying Gugu couldn’t suppress her smile.
Since Chief Eunuch Hai had already arrived in the courtyard, Kan’er didn’t delay any longer and immediately led her people out to greet him.
Wow!
It truly matched what Xiao Fuzi had said—there were so many!
Behind Hai Shun stood eight or nine young eunuchs holding trays covered with red cloth, making it impossible to see what was inside.
“Congratulations to Song Zhaoxun.”
Hai Shun said with a beaming smile. After exchanging a few brief pleasantries with Kan’er, he glanced at the items the young eunuchs were carrying.
“By order of the Crown Prince: Song Zhaoxun, gentle and virtuous, graceful and principled, is specially awarded two bolts of golden moonbeam brocade, two bolts of peony woven satin, one bolt of layered lotus silk, one bolt of gold-woven gauze, one set of gold filigree inlaid with ruby sparrow head ornaments…”
Listening to Chief Eunuch Hai’s recitation.
The kneeling Tiao Zhu, Xiao Fuzi, and the others had to clench their teeth desperately to keep themselves from laughing out loud on the spot.
After Hai Shun finished reading the reward list.
He said to Kan’er with a smile, “His Highness specifically instructed this servant to select these items from his personal treasury, choosing what best suits you, Mistress Zhaoxun.”
Specially instructed, from the Crown Prince’s personal treasury, and most importantly, selected to suit Mistress Zhaoxun.
Anyone unaware might think Kan’er was highly favored, yet last night was actually her first time serving in bed.
Tiao Zhu and the others secretly exchanged glances, their eyes red with excitement.
As for Kan’er.
She believed the items came from the Crown Prince’s treasury—after all, several were tributes—but specially instructed to select what suited her?
Forget it.
That man wasn’t so considerate.
She wasn’t so lacking in self-awareness as to think that one night serving in bed had won over the Crown Prince.
Nevertheless, in front of Hai Shun, Kan’er naturally appeared completely convinced, shyly expressing her gratitude toward the direction of Yuan Chun Palace.
The more Hai Shun thought about how Song Zhaoxun had enabled their Crown Prince to perform his duties normally, the more pleased he felt looking at the young lady.
He believed he needed to prepare early for the arrival of a young master—given how vigorously their Crown Prince had carried on last night.
Perhaps the young master was already on his way.
Wait!
A lightning bolt flashed through Hai Shun’s mind.
Didn’t that mean…
Their Crown Prince, who had just started eating meat, was about to return to a vegetarian diet??