“If I endure any longer, I am a dog!”
Jiang Wangnan’s eyelids became too heavy to support. He waved his hand casually and said, “That is fine. Just call me when it is time. Thank you.”
With that, he lay back down and performed a three-second fall into sleep.
Qiu Ruo and Luo Jing retreated on tiptoe and closed the door behind them.
At noon, without anyone needing to call him, Jiang Wangnan woke up right on time.
Qiu Ruo brought out the midday meal: three dishes and one soup.
A plate of plain boiled vegetables, a plate of stir-fried bamboo shoots with pork, a small dish of pickled radishes, and a bowl of tofu soup.
Jiang Wangnan barely managed to sit down before a strange odor drifted into his nostrils. “Why do these dishes smell so weird?”
He picked up the only sliced piece of pork in the bamboo shoots and brought it closer for a look. There was actually some greenish fuzz on it.
The hearts of the vegetables were still yellow, the leaves were pitted and full of holes, and a green caterpillar corpse was even hanging off one of them.
The surface of the dried radishes was coated in a layer of sticky, transparent gunk, looking remarkably like spit coughed out of a foul mouth.
As for the tofu soup, it went without saying that a layer of mottled pot ash floated on top. Who knew what kind of dishwater had been scooped up to make it?
What kind of nonsense is this? They are bullying people!
Jiang Wangnan slammed down his chopsticks. “Do you all eat this too?”
Qiu Ruo pressed her lips together and remained silent.
Luo Jing was young, could not hold back his thoughts, and blurted out bluntly, “Replying to your ladyship, the imperial kitchen gives us dry, hard mantou. This servant considers his teeth to be extremely good, but I cannot bite through even a single bite. Everyone just washes them down with plain water and forces them down.”
Having gone without food for half a day, Jiang Wangnan’s stomach rumbled noisily, and his eyes suddenly lit up. “Do I not have a monthly stipend? Can I gather up some silver and trade it for some food?”
Qiu Ruo fell silent for a moment before saying, “For over a year now, the Imperial Household Department has still been delaying your ladyship’s share. This servant has looked for them several times, but did not get a single coin, and they even cursed us out extremely harshly.”
Jiang Wangnan clenched his fists in secret and asked, “What did they say?”
“They said that your ladyship is a national disaster, a base and worthless wretch, and extremely bad luck. They also said they would rather feed food to dogs than use it to raise the son of an enemy state. They are certain that your ladyship will never attain the emperor’s favor in eight lifetimes.”
Jiang Wangnan understood. His current situation was worse than a dog’s.
Luo Jing said, “This servant will speak out of turn, but I heard that His Majesty has never deducted your ladyship’s monthly stipend. The finance department releases funds on time and in full amount, so your ladyship’s share was obviously swallowed by someone.”
Skimping on meals was one thing, but to actually embezzle his money? This was tolerable; what was intolerable?!
He was super angry!
He asked, “Outrageous! Who took it?”
Qiu Ruo pondered and said, “Looking across the harem, only that person dares to do such a thing: Noble Consort Gao.”
Noble Consort Gao was the daughter of the current prime minister. She held great power and status, possessed an arrogant and overbearing aura, and had a heart like a snake and a scorpion. The original host had suffered plenty of schemes at her hands.
This woman is super fierce! QAQ
Before this flood-dragon monster, Jiang Wangnan was like an ant that could be pinched to death with a flick.
How annoying.
He did not really want to cross paths with the most formidable woman in the harem right upon transmigrating because he simply did not have the brains for it. By then, he would not even know how he died.
Should he think of another way?
Looking disheartened, Jiang Wangnan supported his face with both hands, squishing the flesh of his cheeks into two round balls. Suddenly, Luo Jing gasped in alarm, “Sister Qiu Ruo!”
“What is going on? Come, sit down first.”
Only now did Jiang Wangnan notice that Qiu Ruo’s lips were pale, her cheeks lacked even a shred of rosy color, and she looked wilted, just like frost-bitten vegetation.
Luo Jing sighed, “Who could endure gnawing on hard mantou for over a year? There are few servants in the palace, and Sister Qiu Ruo still has to worry about everything from top to bottom, so her physical strength has long been depleted. If she does not eat some other nourishing food, I am afraid…”
Jiang Wangnan bit his lip. “You take good care of her first. I will go to the imperial kitchen to find some food.”
Qiu Ruo grabbed his wrist and said weakly, “Your ladyship’s kindness to this servant is deeply engraved in my heart, but your ladyship must absolutely not break the rules. The meals in the imperial kitchen are strictly accounted for. If your ladyship takes anything without authorization, it will definitely give others something to use against you. Just endure it and it will pass.”
This would not do, and that would not do either. Jiang Wangnan was worried to death, feeling both angry and anxious. “Damn it! If I endure any longer, I am a dog!”
Endure for a moment of calm, take a step back and the ocean and sky open up!
Meals must be eaten fully every single day! Opportunities are reserved for those preparing to run away. When the time comes, he did not want to die in the deep palace first.
Putting aside whether he could defeat Noble Consort Gao, Jiang Wangnan was already so hungry that his chest was pressed against his back and his limbs felt weak.
If he wanted to live comfortably in this harem, he first had to learn how to vie for favor. Those who obtained the emperor’s grace obtained the world. He understood at least that much.
The moment he thought about vying for favor, his train of thought tangled into a dead-locked ball of yarn.
Vying for favor means eating and drinking well, having money, and sleeping with the emperor and losing his virginity. QAQ
Yet he did not even love Xiao Quanchuan. Was he really going to sink so low as to sell his chastity for wealth and glory?
He had sworn upon turning eighteen that his very first time must be given to his true destined love! If he went to bed with Xiao Quanchuan against his conscience, his future beloved husband would probably hold a grudge in his heart, right?
Jiang Wangnan wanted this and yet did not want that, feeling like an unsolvable puzzle. After thinking this through, his brain almost exploded. “No matter what, I have to go out and look around. I refuse to believe that in such a huge imperial palace, only the imperial kitchen has food.”
After settling Qiu Ruo down, Jiang Wangnan instructed Luo Jing to accompany him outside. After all, since he was unfamiliar with the place, he always needed to bring along a vocal navigation system.
April’s weather was neither cold nor hot, very comfortable. A gentle breeze blew, while in the distance dark clouds gathered into a clump, threatening a heavy downpour.
Successive waves of delicious food aromas drifted over.
Jiang Wangnan flared his nostrils, stopped in his tracks, and said with a hint of excitement, “It smells so good! Did you smell that?”
Luo Jing giggled and said, “Your ladyship forgot, ahead is the Hall of Mental Cultivation. At this hour, His Majesty is probably preparing to have his midday meal.”
Before his voice faded, a neat procession walked toward them. Everyone kept their heads lowered, moving forward with quick, small steps, steadily carrying exquisite dishes in their hands that flashed past Jiang Wangnan’s eyes one by one.
Steamed fresh fish, sweet and sour pork ribs, braised pig trotters, five-spice beef jerky, open-oven roast goose, crystal dumplings, osmanthus fermented rice wine, sea cucumber and shark fin soup, jujube paste rose pastries, milk cakes, lean meat porridge, and more than twenty other items.
Gurgle. Rumble.
Jiang Wangnan’s stomach growled even louder.
Rumble!
A mighty thunderclap rang out in the heavens, followed closely by a purple-blue flash of lightning that frightened Jiang Wangnan into shrinking back against the corner of a wall, accidentally knocking over a pot of azaleas at the base of the red wall.
With a crash, black mud scattered everywhere, and crimson petals fluttered down.
I am dead, what should I do!
The original book mentioned that Xiao Quanchuan cherished these flowers the most and specifically ordered people to grow a ring of them here. Yet he just happened to break the most brilliantly blooming pot of all.
Hearing the commotion, Sun Nianhai poked his head out and happened to spot the master and servant duo in the act of scratching their heads and pacing in circles, looking rather sneaky.
Remembering how Xiao Quanchuan had specifically instructed the Heavenly Secret Pavilion’s Bai Tan to keep an eye on them last night, his heart suddenly leapt into his throat. He hurried over with hurried, short steps to report, “Your Majesty, Changzai Jiang and Luo Jing knocked over a pot of azaleas at the entrance. Who knows what they were trying to do.”
Xiao Quanchuan’s brow did not even twitch. His misty gaze lifted as he closed his memorial folder. “They received the wind so quickly?”
At Mao hour this morning, a remnant rebel from the Yue State had disguised themselves and sneaked into the palace, either to rescue their crown prince or to seek revenge against Xiao Quanchuan. Fortunately, the palace guards had sharp eyes and captured them in time.
Presumably, Jiang Wangnan coming here now must be on account of this matter.
Xiao Quanchuan rested his chin on his hand, raising one eyebrow. “I want to see how he plans to save them this time. Bring him in.”
Jiang Wangnan pulled at his hair, feeling flustered and helpless. Seeing Sun Nianhai heading straight toward him, he instinctively felt a guilty urge to run, as he had no money to pay for it!
“Changzai Jiang, please stay. By His Majesty’s imperial decree, you are invited into the Hall of Mental Cultivation to take shelter from the rain.”
Jiang Wangnan’s apricot eyes widened in stunned silence. He was not being punished after all? Instead, the emperor’s benevolence suddenly flared up?
“No need, no need, Eunuch Sun. Please thank His Majesty on my behalf, but I had better not disturb him!”
No matter how hard Jiang Wangnan racked his brain, he could not guess Xiao Quanchuan’s intention. Regardless, he had done something wrong, so how could he dare face his creditor?
With those words, he prepared to lift his feet and slip away, but his stomach let out another loud rumble.
Jiang Wangnan: “…”
No matter what, Sun Nianhai had to bring in the person His Majesty summoned, so he smiled and said, “Changzai Jiang has always been content and never contended with others. The imperial kitchen treats people differently based on favor, so they have somewhat wronged you. Why might you not accompany this old servant inside? His Majesty is currently dining and will certainly invite you to join.”
“Really?! I can really eat?” Jiang Wangnan’s eyes sparkled.
The other nodded, whispering, “If Changzai Jiang does not mind, at worst this old servant can order someone to pack some up and send it to Xiying Palace.”
Jiang Wangnan nodded like a pounding pestle. “Hehe, alright then! I do not mind at all! Hurry up and take me inside.”
“Please.” Sun Nianhai smiled slightly and let out a sigh of relief. He had finally managed to handle this master.
Inside the room, the aroma of food was intoxicating, and the table was filled with delicacies from land and sea. Xiao Quanchuan sat upright in the seat of honor, dressed in a black dragon robe with golden threads, holding a white jade spoon in one hand and a blue-and-white porcelain bowl in the other. His dining posture was elegant and proper.
Jiang Wangnan stared intently at the plate of sweet and sour pork ribs, saliva continuously secreting until it almost drowned him.
“Upon seeing Me, why do you delay in offering greetings?” Xiao Quanchuan asked indifferently.
Jiang Wangnan’s survival instinct was instantly triggered by a ding, and he hurriedly knelt and kowtowed. “Uh… This consort greets Your Majesty.”
“Come here and keep Me company for a bit.” Xiao Quanchuan picked up a bright red, glossy piece of rib and placed it into his bowl, looking quite solicitous.
Jiang Wangnan beside him acted as if he had not heard at all, his eyes shining brightly as he looked at the emperor. “Wow! This looks great, can I really eat it?”
Xiao Quanchuan considered himself remarkably sharp and perceptive, yet he could not find a trace of acting on the other’s face. “Mn, eat up. Later on, when you see your beloved compatriots, you might not be able to eat anymore.”
Before the second half of the sentence finished, Jiang Wangnan picked up his chopsticks on his own accord, clamped onto the rib, and popped it into his mouth. Crunch crunch crunch. The acidity was just right, the meaty flavor burst forth, sweet without being greasy. He puffed out his cheeks and mumbled vaguely, “What did Your Majesty just say?”
Playing dumb?
Xiao Quanchuan picked up a yellow handkerchief to wipe his mouth. “Sun Nianhai, go bring that person up here so they can catch up with Changzai Jiang.”
Jiang Wangnan clutched his bowl of rice, shoveling it into his mouth in large bites. Every time he tasted a new dish, his pupils dilated wider, just like a little cat that had never tasted good food before. “The roast goose is so delicious! The crystal dumplings actually burst with juice! Fantastic, everything is so good!”
“Did you or did you not hear what I just said?” Xiao Quanchuan asked with slight displeasure.
“Your… Your Majesty, could you say it again?” Jiang Wangnan drooped his head, holding a broken piece of milk cake in his hands, looking pitiful as he begged.
Jiang Wangnan was naturally gorgeous to begin with, his loose hair as dark as ink, his skin like lard, his autumn-water eyes clear and deep, and his lips like stained rouge.
Xiao Quanchuan still remembered that first glance when they met, a fleeting glimpse that left him momentarily dazed, mistaking him for a beauty stepped out of a painting.
Keeping him confined to the harem, aside from using him as bait to root out all remaining threats, deep down in his heart he admitted to having one tiny selfish motive: he could not bear to kill him.
“What do you think, beloved consort?” Xiao Quanchuan did not answer, tapping his finger on the table.
The hall fell into a silence. The other person grew somewhat fidgety, obediently putting down his chopsticks, finishing up the food in his mouth in absolute silence so as not to disturb anyone, his round eyes fixed solely on that plate of snowy-white, soft milk cakes.
After tasting a full circle of dishes, this was the one that suited his palate the best. But he had only eaten a tiny piece. If Qiu Ruo and Luo Jing could taste it too, how wonderful that would be.
Xiao Quanchuan asked, “Why aren’t you eating?”
Jiang Wangnan said insincerely, “I am full.”
“Is that so?” Leaning in close, the emperor dropped a chilling remark, “Deceiving the sovereign is a grave crime punishable by death.”
Frightened to the point where his very soul shook, Jiang Wangnan confessed truthfully, “Your Majesty… Your Majesty is too scary, this consort doesn’t dare.”
At that moment, Sun Nianhai stepped inside. “Your Majesty, the people are all waiting outside.”
Xiao Quanchuan sat upright and stern. “Go lead five horses over here.”
Why lead horses over?