The items you buy are not recorded by the Imperial Household Department, just like if you buy them outside. However, once items enter the palace, it's best to keep a record of what you bought and how you used them.

"Yes, I'll go after you finish eating, Your Highness." Tianxiang didn't know what her mistress wanted to do, but she just knew to obey.

Has Consort Wuya not contacted you again?

"Not yet," Wanyi asked Tianxiang, who answered honestly.

Chuxiu Palace

"Your Majesty, a messenger just reported that Consort Tong has made a move." Xiao Rongzi rushed back to report to Consort Niohuru as soon as she received the news.

"Consort Tong, what is she planning to do?"

Consort Zhao thought to herself, "Finally, they're going to make a move." Her people had been keeping an eye on Consort Tong. She had already lost her position as Empress, and the Empress must be Niohuru Daiya. Otherwise, what was the point of the Niohuru family going to the Three Feudatories battlefield? Wouldn't that be a waste of their efforts?

"Your Majesty, Consort Tong is planning to target the Imperial Kitchen."

"The Imperial Kitchen, why would she target the Imperial Kitchen?" Consort Zhao muttered to herself, her mind racing.

"Does she want to put her own person in the position of head of the imperial kitchen?" Consort Zhao didn't quite understand what Consort Tong was thinking either; if she had to say what the benefits were, that would be the only thing that mattered.

Who is the current head of the imperial kitchen?

"Your Majesty, it is Uya Esen, the grandfather of Consort Uya of Yonghe Palace."

"So that's how it is. His Majesty personally promised Consort Tong that Consort Wuya's first child would definitely be given to Consort Tong to raise. If Consort Tong wants to take down the Wuya clan, she must eliminate all of the Wuya clan's connections in the harem." Upon hearing this, Consort Zhao immediately connected all the dots.

"Give the order to help Consort Tong, and then help our people get the position of head of the Imperial Kitchen. Afterwards, send some information to Uya. Consort Tong did all of this. Be careful not to give out too much information, or it will be too easy."

Consort Zhao originally wanted to expose Consort Tong, but then she thought that even if Emperor Kangxi found out, he wouldn't punish Consort Tong severely because of Empress Xiaokangzhang. She might as well plan something more.

"Master Steward, why aren't you off duty yet?" A eunuch walked into the head chef's area and saw Uya Esen watching the pot, seemingly stewing something.

"What are you doing here so late?" Ersen looked at the little eunuch with dangerous eyes. He recognized him; he was a errand boy from the Imperial Kitchen.

"This servant didn't have time to eat tonight and got hungry, so I came in to see if there were any steamed buns or leftovers to fill my stomach." The little eunuch smiled ingratiatingly and touched his stomach sheepishly.

"Over there, take what you need and go back. I'll be leaving in a bit, and it's time to lock the door here." Ersen pointed to the remaining steamed buns on a plate. He was quite lenient with his subordinates, but he was known for being strict when it came to work.

"Yes, yes, thank you, Steward. I'll be leaving now." The little eunuch said, picking up two steamed buns, bowing again before departing.

Seeing the eunuch leave, E Shen guessed that the food in front of him was ready. It was a nourishing dish, stewed for his granddaughter, Consort Wuya, to be prepared once a month to help her body get into the best state for conception.

After packing up his things, he left. As he walked out, Ersen didn't see the little eunuch hiding behind the wall, watching Ersen leave.

Then the little eunuch went out and called out to a cat a few times. Then a few people appeared, and the little eunuch nodded to them.

"My lady, Xiao Dengzi just received news that Consort Tong seems to be making some moves, but our people dare not get too close, so we don't know what it is. However, we are certain it's not directed at us," Hongxiu reported while helping Wanyi remove her hairpins.

"Tell our people to sink first. There might be some big commotion. Anyway, don't act on your own these next few days, or even I won't be able to save them if something happens." Wan Yi had a bad feeling about this, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"This servant will give the order immediately." Wanyi waved for her to go, and Hongxiu gave a curtsy and left.

At midnight, thick smoke billowed from the imperial kitchen, but the fire was not large. It had snowed heavily the day before yesterday, but the snow had stopped today. There was still a lot of snow piled up on the road. Behind the imperial kitchen was the South Third Palace. If the fire had not been extinguished, the South Third Palace would have been burned down as well.

"Fire! Help! Fire!" The eunuch who was getting up in the middle of the night saw thick smoke billowing from the direction of the imperial kitchen and quickly shouted.

All the eunuchs and palace maids in the side rooms were called up to put out the fire, and others went to inform Emperor Kangxi and Consort Zhao and Consort Tong in the harem.

"What happened? How could there be a fire? Liang Jiugong, go and investigate."

Emperor Kangxi was already exhausted from discussing the strategy for dealing with the Three Feudatories with Mingzhu and Suoertu. Now that something like this has happened in the palace, how could he not be angry!

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Liang Jiugong, seeing the Emperor's obviously displeased expression, tightened his skin and hurried to investigate.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects and wish you good health." Consort Tong rushed over as soon as she received the news. In fact, she hadn't slept and had been waiting for news. Now that she had received the news, she had no choice but to come over immediately.

"Get up! Why are you here so late, cousin?" Kangxi looked at Consort Tong with a puzzled expression and a hint of something deeper in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, it was a eunuch from the Imperial Kitchen who informed me that there was a fire in the Imperial Kitchen, so I rushed over to check," Consort Tong quickly explained, knowing that Kangxi might have misunderstood something.

"How is it now? Is the fire out?" Consort Tong looked at the imperial kitchen billowing black smoke in front of her, feeling quite pleased with herself.

"Your Highness Consort Tong, all the eunuchs from the Imperial Kitchen have come out to put out the fire, and from the outside, the fire doesn't seem to be very big," another eunuch beside Emperor Kangxi reported to Consort Tong.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" At this moment, Consort Zhao also arrived, and Consort Tong naturally gave Consort Zhao a curtsy.

No need for formalities.

"Why did you arrive so late, Consort Zhao? I rushed over as soon as I heard the news."

Consort Tong meant that Consort Zhao, who was in charge of the harem, arrived so late in the face of such a big matter, showing no concern whatsoever.

"I reside in the Western Six Palaces, while the Imperial Kitchen belongs to the Eastern Six Palaces. It's normal that the eunuchs who report to me travel a bit further, so I arrive a bit later." Consort Zhao directly cited the location, and indeed it was true. It would be abnormal for someone from the Western Six Palaces to arrive earlier than Consort Tong, who resided in the Eastern Six Palaces.

"Your Majesty, the fire has been extinguished. It did not reach the South Three Palaces, only the head chef of the Imperial Kitchen and the small storeroom were burned. The large storeroom was not burned." Liang Jiugong returned and reported.

"That's good. Where did the fire start?" This was what Consort Tong was concerned about, so she asked first.

“It has been found out that the fire started inside. One eunuch said that after he left, only the head of the imperial kitchen, Uya Esen, was cooking. I have also asked other people and confirmed that Uya Esen was the last one to leave.”