The banquet began, accompanied by the beating of drums and the playing of music, in a scene of peace and celebration.
But in Yi Yi’s eyes this little glutton there was nothing but the endless stream of delicious dishes being set upon the tables.
Since it was a state banquet, the spread was exceptionally lavish.
There were creatures that flew in the sky, walked upon the earth, and swam in the waters. Hot dishes and cold platters, flavors ranging from sour and sweet to bitter and spicy, all were laid out in abundance.
The little dumpling ate to her heart’s content, her cheeks stuffed full, and even a few smudges of grease lingered at the corners of her mouth.
Seeing how happily she ate, Pei Xue pushed the dishes from her own place toward Yi Yi.
Regardless of whether it was Yi Yi who had saved Lu Jingchuan, she genuinely adored this sweet, adorable little one.
Lu Jingchuan followed suit and moved his own portion over to Yi Yi as well.
Then came Jiang Wantang’s share, too meaning Yi Yi was devouring four servings all by herself.
Her hearty appetite drew the notice of many noble ladies nearby, who began whispering among themselves.
“…She eats as if she has never had a proper meal before.”
“What an unseemly sight…”
Noble Consort Shen, who had long found Yi Yi insufferable, seized upon the murmurs and spoke up loudly: “Your Royal Highness, this is a state banquet today. If foreign envoys see you behaving as though you are starved, will they not think our Great Xia cannot even feed its own people?”
Before Jiang Wantang could reply, Pei Xue shot back: “Dishes are prepared precisely so they may be eaten. To hear you speak, Consort Shen are we to believe that wasting the food the common folk have worked so hard to grow is the only way to demonstrate the dignity of Great Xia?”
Her words left Noble Consort Shen speechless. She slammed her chopsticks down hard and snapped, “Born hungry as a ghost!”
Pei Xue paid her no further attention and continued placing food onto Yi Yi’s plate. “For a child, a healthy appetite is a blessing. Our Princess may eat as much as she wishes.”
Yi Yi beamed a sweet smile, her voice soft and warm. “Thank you, pretty sister~”
Hearing her still called “sister,” Jiang Wantang quickly corrected her: “Yi Yi, you should address her as the Prime Minister’s Lady.”
But Pei Xue shook her head, clearly pleased. “No need at all. I quite like being called ‘sister’ it makes me feel younger, now that I am getting on in years.”
Seeing this, Jiang Wantang did not insist further.
Yi Yi was delighted; she had found the other title far too awkward to say anyway. She lowered her head again and went right back to eating.
Pei Xue pulled Lu Jingchuan closer, set one plate of vegetables and one of meat before him, and insisted he finish his meal.
With such slender arms and legs, he looked as though he needed every bit of nourishment. Who would not want a plump, healthy son?
The two little ones sat side by side and focused on their food though one ate with pure joy, while the other struggled through it with great reluctance.
Before long, Yi Yi had cleared every last grain of rice and scrap of food from her portions.
Ah, still not enough…
She would have to go find that delicious little bug again.
Yi Yi thought for a moment, then clutched her stomach and began to whimper. “Mother, my tummy hurts.”
Her eyes glistened like dewdrops, looking utterly pitiful.
At once, the two adults and the young boy all grew concerned.
Jiang Wantang wiped her mouth gently and asked, “Do you need to use the restroom?”
Yi Yi nodded quickly.
As soon as she heard Yi Yi needed to go, Lu Jingchuan hastily swallowed his remaining food and volunteered, “Princess Sister, I shall go with you.”
Pei Xue tapped his small head lightly, half-amused and half-scolding. “It is improper for a girl to visit the restroom with a boy tagging along.”
“It is quite all right,” Jiang Wantang said. “They are just children, and have taken to each other so quickly. Let Jingchuan go along.”
She called out, “Qinghe.”
When her maid arrived, Jiang Wantang instructed her to escort both children.
Yi Yi and Lu Jingchuan walked ahead, while Qinghe followed close behind.
Soon they reached the latrine.
Yi Yi went inside, while Lu Jingchuan and Qinghe waited outside.
A moment later, Yi Yi came back out with a face twisted in displeasure. “It smells so bad in there I won’t go in!”
The place was far too foul for her liking, and she refused to set foot inside again.
Qinghe tried to persuade her for quite some time, but Yi Yi remained firm.
With no other choice, Qinghe agreed to take her back to the Palace of Long Peace.
The moment she heard they would return to her own quarters, Yi Yi’s spirits lifted instantly. She hopped forward merrily, calling for Lu Jingchuan to keep up.
As they walked, Qinghe began to feel uneasy.
This stretch of path was strangely quiet not a single guard was in sight.
A premonition of danger rose in her heart. Just as she was about to call out to the two children ahead, a hand clamped hard over her mouth and nose from behind, and she collapsed to the ground.
Yi Yi noticed nothing of what happened behind her, her mind fixed only on following the scent that had drawn her attention.
“Here we are!” Yi Yi pointed excitedly at a sweet-scented osmanthus tree, grinning broadly. “Brother, I have something delicious to share with you!”
Lu Jingchuan was thoroughly confused. Hadn’t Princess Sister just said she needed the restroom? Why was she talking about food again?
Before he could ask what she meant, he watched the little dumpling scramble up the trunk of the tree.
Alarmed that she might fall, Lu Jingchuan hurried underneath and held up his arms to catch her.
“Auntie Qinghe! Princess Sister is climbing a tree!” he called out, but received no answer.
He turned to look around, only to find Qinghe was nowhere to be seen.
Where had she gone? Lu Jingchuan wondered.
Unable to find her, he did not wander off in search; instead, he stayed beneath the tree, ready to help Yi Yi down.
The insect rested on a low branch, as if waiting for someone to come and take it.
Without a second thought, Yi Yi grabbed it, then leaped back down to the ground.
The sudden jump made Lu Jingchuan’s heart leap into his throat. He rushed forward to check if she was hurt and then spotted the plump little creature in her hand.
“Sister! There is a bug!” he said, pointing. Thinking she had accidentally picked it up, he gestured for her to throw it away.
Yi Yi’s eyes shone bright as stars, and she smiled sweetly at him. “Brother, would you like a bite of this tasty bug?”
It was truly a delicacy! If Lu Jingchuan had not earlier shared his meal with her, she would never have thought of offering it.
Lu Jingchuan stepped back, waving his hands, his expression a mix of disgust and fear. “Princess Sister, you cannot eat that! Please let it go.”
“Just try it, Brother.”
“Sister, I really do not want any.”
“But it is so good!”
“I am serious I will not eat it.”
“…”
Seeing Lu Jingchuan nearly on the verge of tears, Yi Yi finally gave up.
Her face fell, looking rather disappointed. Why was it that every time she offered this wonderful bug to others, no one would take it?
Her father would not eat it, nor her mother, nor Qinghe or Eunuch Li and now even this new brother she had met refused it.
Oh well, she thought. I suppose I will just have to enjoy it all by myself…
How delicious or rather, what a shame…
With a light squeeze of her tiny fingers, the bug dissolved into fine grey dust, and a thick stream of foul energy drifted straight into her small cherry-red mouth.
Burp. She let out a satisfied little belch.
Yi Yi’s eyelids began to droop. She felt that familiar urge to sleep again, and within seconds, the little dumpling slumped forward, fast asleep.
Seeing Yi Yi collapse right after eating the insect, Lu Jingchuan thought she had been poisoned. He rushed over and shook her gently. “Princess Sister! Wake up, please!”
“This is bad the Princess has been poisoned!”
But the surroundings remained silent, and no one came to help.
Standing alone, Lu Jingchuan began to sense that something was very wrong. This was far too strange. The palace guards were always strict, especially today of all days, when the state banquet was being held.
“Master, you were right indeed,” a voice said from the shadows. “As soon as the Princess of Great Xia consumed the Gu insect, she fell unconscious.”
“No,” another voice replied calmly. “She is merely asleep.”