Chapter 20: Countermeasures for the Plum Blossom Banquet
Chapter Twenty: Countermeasures for the Plum Blossom Appreciation Banquet
Su Su felt a wave of intense fatigue wash over her, as if the brief exchange had exhausted all her energy.
She no longer wanted to speculate on Li Qianche's unfathomable attitude, nor did she care about dealing with Mu Hanyan's probing gaze. All she wanted now was to escape this place of trouble, return to her remote but safe Changxin Palace, return to her cushioned rocking chair, and not think about anything, just quietly curl up and let her tense nerves completely relax.
She stood up, her movements even carrying a hint of barely perceptible urgency, and gave a proper curtsy towards Li Qianche and Mu Hanyan. Her voice was deliberately kept steady, but it couldn't hide the distance between them: "Your Majesty, Consort Wan, if there are no other instructions, I will take my leave."
Li Qianche felt a nameless fire burning inside him, but he couldn't find a reason to vent it. In the end, he could only squeeze out a cold word from his throat: "Hmm."
Having received permission, Su Su felt as if she had been granted a pardon. Without lingering or even glancing at anyone, she turned and quickly left along the cobblestone path with Chunlan and Qiuju.
Returning to Changxin Palace from the suffocating Qinfang Pavilion in the Imperial Garden, Su Su felt completely drained. The short half-hour of maneuvering was more exhausting than walking back and forth in the palace, not only physically but also mentally.
Consort Zhuang's veiled provocations, Li Qianche's cold silence, Mu Hanyan's unexpected rescue, and the guillotine hanging over her head, about to fall at the plum blossom banquet... all these things intertwined into an invisible net, tightly binding her, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
Back at Changxin Palace, she dismissed the new palace maids who came forward to help her change, leaving only Chunlan and Qiuju with her. As soon as she entered the inner room, she collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut, onto the rocking chair with thick cushions by the window, closed her eyes, and didn't want to move a finger.
"Your Majesty..." Chunlan looked at her pale face and the lingering weariness between her brows, and called out in a worried voice. She exchanged a worried look with Qiuju. They both knew how provocative and vicious Consort Zhuang's words had been in the Imperial Garden today, and that the Emperor had even condoned Consort Zhuang's treatment of Her Majesty. Her Majesty must be very sad at this moment.
Su Su didn't open her eyes, but simply waved her hand gently to indicate that she was alright. She needed some time to calm down and think things through.
At the plum blossom viewing banquet, Consort Zhuang specifically requested that the Empress Dowager be present, requiring both Consort Zhuang and Mu Hanyan to attend. Her malicious intentions were obvious. The taste of that poisoned wine from her past life seemed to rise to her throat again, cold and burning. She absolutely could not sit idly by and wait for her death!
But how should she deal with it? Consort Zhuang operates in the shadows, while she operates in the open. Consort Zhuang wields great power in the palace, and if she were to plot against her, it would be impossible to defend against her.
Amidst her chaotic thoughts, she suddenly remembered the matter she had asked Chunlan to inquire about through her brother. She abruptly opened her eyes, looked at Chunlan, and asked in a tired, hoarse voice, "Chunlan, have you heard back about the matter I asked you to ask your brother to inquire about the relationship between Consort Zhuang and Princess Ning's family?"
Chunlan quickly stepped forward and whispered, "Your Highness, the young master just sent someone in today to deliver a message. It has been investigated and found out that Princess Ning, Zhuang, is indeed the half-sister of Consort Zhuang. Her birth mother was originally a singing girl in the household of Grand Tutor Zhuang. She came from a humble background. Princess Ning was raised under the care of Consort Zhuang's legal mother since childhood. On the surface, she was raised by her legal mother, but her relationship with her legal sister, Consort Zhuang, is said to be quite ordinary."
"A half-sister? Raised under the name of the legal mother?" Su Su murmured repeatedly, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.
Consort Zhuang was arrogant and domineering; she even dared to deal with her, the Empress Dowager's niece and a former Imperial Concubine, with deadly cruelty. How could she possibly treat a concubine's half-sister with genuine kindness? Furthermore, the image of Consort Zhuang grabbing her hair and shoving her to the ground, her狰狞 (zhengning, meaning ferocious/hideous) appearance demanding retribution for her nephew's death, was still vivid in her mind. Such insane hatred, if attributed to a child born to a half-sister she utterly despised, was truly hard to believe.
There's definitely something fishy going on here! Consort Zhuang's reaction to the death of the Prince of Ning's heir was far too intense, even somewhat irrational. Unless, the child's death was actually related to her? Was she crying wolf, trying to completely ruin her reputation?
This thought sent a chill down Su Su's spine. If that were true, then Consort Zhuang's heart was simply so vicious that it was outrageous!
But right now, she has no evidence and can't use this speculation to refute it. Her immediate priority is to protect herself at the plum blossom banquet and avoid being framed again.
She frowned in thought, her fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest of the rocking chair. Mu Hanyan's miscarriage was inevitable, and Consort Zhuang would definitely use it to make a big fuss and pin the blame on her. She couldn't stop it from happening, but perhaps... she could change the situation after it happened?
An idea gradually became clear in her mind.
She couldn't predict what specific methods Consort Zhuang would use, nor could she keep a close eye on Mu Hanyan at all times, but she could lay a piece in advance—the imperial physician!
What if we could arrange for a royal physician to be present on the day of the plum blossom banquet in case of any unforeseen circumstances? If Mu Hanyan were to fall ill, he could be immediately treated to ensure the safety of both mother and child. This move might break the deadlock, leaving Consort Zhuang unprepared and unable to frame her. The presence of a royal physician would be the strongest defense in itself. Why would someone plotting to harm the imperial heir prepare someone to treat him beforehand?
Thinking of this, Su Su felt a little more at ease. However, how to proceed with this matter still needed to be considered. Perhaps, when she went to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager, she could ask the imperial physician to check the Empress Dowager's pulse and then "coincidentally" stay nearby? This method was not perfect, but it was not without a chance of turning things around.
"Phew..." She let out a long sigh of relief, feeling her tense nerves finally relax a bit. Having a preliminary plan was better than being completely clueless.
Once my mind settled down a bit, the hunger pangs in my stomach became clear. After a whole afternoon of mental and physical exertion, I was completely exhausted. Of all things, eating is the most important thing. Even if the sky were to fall, I had to fill my stomach first.
"Chunlan, serve dinner." Su Su sat up straight, her tone regaining some of its vitality. "I'm a little hungry today, have them serve a few more dishes."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Upon hearing that the meal was to be served, Qiuju immediately beamed and answered first, then went out briskly to give the order.
Soon, the palace servants filed in carrying food boxes. As Su Su had specifically instructed, tonight's dinner was more lavish than usual.
The first dish served was braised deer tendon with wild mushrooms in golden broth. The thick, golden soup was served in a white porcelain bowl, emitting a rich and mellow aroma. The deer tendon was stewed until it was soft, chewy, and rich in collagen. Paired with the fresh and fragrant flavor of various wild mushrooms, one sip and warmth instantly spread from the stomach to every part of the body, greatly soothing the tired body and mind.
Next up was a dish of steamed pork belly wrapped in lotus leaves. The emerald green lotus leaves wrapped around the fatty and lean pork belly and the stir-fried rice flour, steaming it until tender. The moment the lotus leaves were lifted, a fragrant aroma of pork wafted out. The pork melted in your mouth, rich but not greasy. The freshness of the lotus leaves perfectly balanced the greasiness, and the rice flour absorbed the meat juices, becoming soft, sticky, and savory.
The main dish was braised sea cucumber with scallions. The large sea cucumbers were braised to a bright red color, soft and chewy with just the right amount of chewiness, and the rich aroma of scallions was fully infused into them. The sauce was savory and sweet, making it an excellent dish to eat with rice.
Another dish is braised crab meat lion's head meatballs. The large lion's head meatballs are slow-cooked in clear broth, and the meat is extremely tender and delicate. It hardly needs to be chewed. It will fall apart with a gentle press of a spoon, and the inside is wrapped with delicious crab meat. The soup is clear to the bottom, but it is incredibly delicious.
The vegetarian dish is a stir-fried asparagus with chanterelle mushrooms. The tender chanterelle mushrooms are stir-fried with chicken fat to bring out their aroma, and then stir-fried with crisp and refreshing asparagus. The dish is visually appealing and has a rich and layered taste.
In addition, there were several delicate side dishes and snacks: a plate of cucumbers with soy sauce, crisp and refreshing; a plate of lotus root with osmanthus, sweet, sticky and fragrant; and a small basket of shrimp and pork soup dumplings, with thin skin, large filling, and plenty of soup.
Finally, there was a bowl of stewed pigeon with red dates and longan. The soup was clear and bright, and it was good for replenishing qi and blood, calming the mind and nourishing the heart.
Looking at the table full of delicious-looking dishes, Su Su temporarily put all her worries aside. She picked up her silver chopsticks and first scooped up a spoonful of golden broth deer tendon. The rich flavor melted in her mouth, as if it had dispelled some of the pent-up frustration of the afternoon. She then picked up a piece of steamed pork with rice flour and enjoyed the soft, savory flavor spreading between her teeth.
"Don't stand there, sit down and eat with us," Su Su said to Chunlan and Qiuju. In this deep palace, only good food and people who truly cared for her could not be let down.
The three of them, master and servant, sat together, happily enjoying their dinner. They temporarily forgot about the sword fight in the pavilion that afternoon and also temporarily suppressed their worries about the plum blossom banquet in a few days. They focused on enjoying the warmth and satisfaction of this moment. Only when they were full could they have the strength to face the storms ahead.
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