"So it was that child." Consort Zhao smiled softly, her deep gaze tinged with sorrow as she sighed, her eyes complex. "Third Prince, you truly are mischievous. Why drag unrelated people into this for no reason, putting your Mama Xu in such a difficult position?"
Having risen from servitude herself, how could she not understand a servant's hardships?
Madam Xu served as his wet nurse—her entire family's honor and disgrace were tied to the Third Prince alone. How could she dare defy her master's orders? Even if she had to swallow her grievances, she would still praise him for doing right.
"How could it be difficult? I discussed it with her." Third Young Master never lacked excuses. "Mama has always doted on me. When I learned you had lost your appetite and were frowning all day, she became so anxious she was pacing in circles. After I proposed the idea, Mama Xu agreed immediately. Besides, without your help, those two young maidservants would never have entered the wangfu. They would have long been mistreated to death by their father and stepmother. You are their benefactor; this is their way of repaying your kindness."
A mother knows her son best. Consort Zhao could not scold him openly in front of Madam Xu, so she only said tactfully, "All twisted logic. Don't think I don't know you've planted spies in my quarters. Your abilities truly grow—your reach now extends into your own mother's courtyard. Madam Xu, you must keep a tighter rein on him, or else this mischievous monkey might someday do something utterly outrageous that could bring the sky crashing down."
"Mother…" He sat by the footstool, tugging at Consort Zhao's skirt hem and swaying it, playing the part of an ignorant child. "Why expose me like that?"
"Madam Xu is no outsider. If you hide things from her recklessly, who will dare to work for you in the future?" Consort Zhao spoke with measured gravity. "And do you truly believe those you've sought out are loyal to you? They're merely swayed by money. If someone richer than you comes along, they'll switch sides immediately. Third Prince, I understand you want to grow up quickly to protect me and your younger sister, but rushing things will only lead to excess."
In the Lateral Courts, classes were held where Female Academicians taught Palace Attendants music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Though Consort Zhao was merely a lowly sweeping maid at the time, she often sneaked in to listen and learned quite a bit.
She did not particularly enjoy reading, but she loved painting immensely. She had originally planned to take the nüguan examination in a few years and spend her life in the palace painting for the imperial consorts. Who could have predicted she would encounter Prince Chu, who had come to the palace to pay his respects to Empress Xue? At that time, Prince Chu was dissatisfied with his mother forcing a niece from their clan to become his concubine. In a fit of anger, he personally requested a sweeping Palace Maid to return with him as his concubine, showering her with endless affection.
As for the wishes of the sweeping Palace Maid Zhao Fen—they were unimportant.
Third Young Master grew even more evasive: "I was merely so concerned that I acted rashly. Besides, Mama Xu wasn't completely unaware."
"That's right, Third Prince did mention it to this servant, but I only know how to care for children. How could I remember who is whose spy? The more I listened, the more confused I became—I couldn't tell them apart." Madam Xu replied without batting an eyelid.
"Mother, you're too gentle. I worry you'll be bullied by those cunning old servants." Though Third Young Master was full of excuses, his concern for his birth mother was genuine. "Take Nanny Qu from earlier, for example—putting on airs, wielding a chicken feather as a command arrow, constantly invoking the princess consort's name. Why don't I report this cunning servant to the princess consort early for disrespecting her superiors, lest she tarnish the reputation of my virtuous and kind official mother?"
Consort Zhao gently smoothed her son's collar: "It's better to avoid trouble than invite it. We've endured for so many years, a little longer won't hurt. Besides, there really was a Nanny Qu in the palace before. She served one of His Majesty's Jieyu, who passed away from illness last month. Coinciding with Her Majesty the Empress dismissing older Palace Attendants to accumulate blessings for His Majesty, she was released from the palace."
Nanny Qu originally didn't serve in the inner palace. She once served as her teaching senior maid, instructing newly entered Palace Maids in Palace Regulations and etiquette. Skilled at flattery, she sought patronage from imperial consorts, acted recklessly, and her methods of discipline and torment were severe.
"When I was still in the palace, I met her a few times. Her temperament hasn't changed." Her tone was calm, her expression indifferent, as if recalling a past that didn't belong to her, like an onlooker.
"Times are different now. You are the master now, she is the servant. How dare she show off her authority in front of you?" Third Young Master grasped her hand, his eyes narrowing slightly, flashing a hint of childish ferocity. "Mama Xu really hit her too lightly. If it were me, I'd make her half-paralyzed."
"Enough, such words are too arrogant." Consort Zhao softly stopped him. "As the saying goes, when beating a dog, one must consider its master. Nanny Qu's backing is the princess consort. Only the princess consort can deal with her."
Third Young Master reluctantly cupped his hands: "Your son understands. Very well, Mother, let's just talk about these foods. Do you like them?"
"They do suit my taste." Consort Zhao nodded.
"If they can be of use to the Consort, it is my Ah Hui's fortune. This servant will order her to write more recipes for you." At this point, avoiding the topic was worse than speaking up proactively. Madam Xu said with a smile, "Ah Hui grew up on a manor estate since childhood. All the foods she knows come from traveling merchants she hosted, common street snacks that aren't troublesome to make."
"Street snacks?" Consort Zhao asked casually, "Among those snacks, are there any vegetarian dishes?"
"Naturally there are." Madam Xu understood her meaning and picked a few easily obtainable ones to mention. "Not to mention the recipes Ah Hui knows, even this servant can name a few: pickled cucumbers, pickled ginger, and eggplant mixed with garlic sauce."
"Third Prince, filial piety isn't only towards your birth mother; you should also be filial to your Father and your legal mother." Consort Zhao hinted without elaborating, then raised her hand again. "Xiangyun, send someone to the Beast House to request a parrot, and have that young maidservant named Ah Hui deliver it."
Young maidservants struggle to survive. Third Prince acts as he pleases, dragging others into it. If she didn't offer protection, that child would likely have a difficult time.
Even after entering Consort Zhao's courtyard, Shen Hui remained in a daze, unable to guess why she had summoned her. Her movements while bowing were stiff: "This servant pays respects to the Consort, Third Young Master."
"Was it you who presented the recipes?" Consort Zhao beckoned Shen Hui to the couch side, all amiability.
"Replying to the Consort, this servant did learn some street snacks from traveling merchants who lodged in various places, but only heard them mentioned briefly a few times. It's far from being able to write detailed recipes. That they could be fully presented is due to the guidance and additions of Nanny Zhang from the Servants' Kitchen. The credit does not lie entirely with this servant alone." She tried hard to recall the response Madam Xu had taught her.
"She is sincere and honest, not eager to grab credit—a good child." Consort Zhao ordered Xiangyun to open the jewelry box and take out a pair of silver rings and a pair of silver combs. The trinkets were small and delicate, just enough to fit into Shen Hui's pouch. "Don't be afraid. I understand your concerns. I am pregnant, so I can't get close to cats, dogs, or even small parrots. I can only watch them from afar to relieve my boredom, which is better than nothing. In the future, if I feel troubled, I'll have you bring the birdcage over and take it back."
She was not a beauty, but her fair skin gave her an advantage. Accustomed to being submissive, her every gesture carried a hint of sweetness. Though she had given birth twice, her figure remained unchanged, but her face had grown rounder, making her appear slightly dull, like a piece of cold sugar cake with a hardened outer shell, fearfully protecting its soft core—the child.
Even though Third Young Master was young and intelligent, there were times when he was not thorough. Born as a royal grandson, he was used to being high and mighty, lacking in the art of managing subordinates. Consort Zhao often cleaned up after her son.
"Yes, this servant obeys." Shen Hui accepted the reward properly and bowed.
The rewards were small, but they were still made of silver, heavy in her hand. A sense of satisfaction suddenly surged from her palm into her heart.
The money-grubbing Shen Hui was shameless, her mind filled with the thought, "I've struck it rich."
While his birth mother was kind, Third Young Master took the opposite approach: "Ajin is my milk brother, and you are Ajin's cousin, making you half a sister to me. My mother and I have treated you well, so you should be loyal."
"Of course." Shen Hui lowered her head. "If not for the mercy of the young master and the concubine, I would still be on the estate."
Third Young Master was young but ambitious. First, he put on a cold face to feign authority, then softened his voice: "Madam Xu and Ajin don't constantly refer to themselves as servants in front of me, so you can be casual too. I heard your teacher is now Aunt Duan. Study well under her, and there will be a time when you are entrusted with important tasks."
He employed the innate skill of those in power—making empty promises.
However, Consort Zhao and her son did intend to win over Shen Hui.
Consort Zhao hoped her son would firmly control the family of his wet nurse, gaining fiercely loyal confidants.
Third Young Master thought further ahead. He guessed that Madam Xu would likely arrange stable futures for her nieces. In that case, what path could be better than becoming a nüguan? By winning over the Shen sisters today, he could place people in the Liu Shang in the future, increasing his chances of contending with his legitimate mother.
Shen Hui was eager to latch onto a powerful patron. Considering herself a person of two lifetimes, she didn't bother arguing with a little brat, treating it as if she were still tutoring and playing along with a difficult, wealthy child in a game of make-believe. She obediently replied, "The young master is right. I understand."
After all, compared to the problematic students she encountered in her previous life as a tutor, she felt Third Young Master was quite reasonable and sensible.
Ningyuan Residence.
As the hour approached dusk, Third Young Master carried a carved lacquer food box, ignoring the hesitant looks of the maids Bihe and Chun Tao. Taking advantage of the fact that Prince Chu was still dining with the princess consort, he entered the main hall: "Your son greets Father and Mother."
"Third Prince, it's rare for you to come at this hour. Please, sit." Prince Chu excused him from formalities. "I heard you visited your birth mother at noon. How is she? Is she still unable to eat? Has she improved?"
Nothing escaped Prince Chu's eyes.
"Your son found some recipes for common street snacks outside and had the cooks prepare them for the concubine to try. Seeing the novelty of these foods, she actually ate a bit more than usual." Third Young Master did not take a seat, standing instead by the low table. "The concubine is deeply concerned for Father, so she specifically instructed me to purchase and prepare some new dishes to send to you. I hope you will not find these offerings crude or blame me for disregarding propriety."
"How could I?" With his wife and son present, even if Prince Chu disliked it, he would not show disdain for common dishes. "Although I am honored as an Imperial Prince, before His Majesty, I am no different from the common people—we are all subjects of the Son of Heaven. Since that is the case, if the people can eat it, why should I not?"
The evening meal was millet porridge, and pickled cucumbers paired perfectly with it. He praised it enthusiastically: "Excellent. Eating this way must surely be more frugal."
"The great prince speaks truly." Following her husband's lead, the Princess Consort of Chu also praised, "Third Young Master, you and your birth mother are truly thoughtful."
"It is all due to Mother's teachings. Mother often says that filial piety is the foremost of all virtues, and your son has kept this in mind." Third Young Master humbly demurred, playing along with his stepmother in this harmonious scene.