Chapter 4, the fourth chapter: Two sentences made him kneel and beg for mercy.
"Your Highness, perhaps... we shouldn't eat for now." Xiao Chengzi stood there awkwardly, his face slightly flushed.
The food box was carried to the main hall of the Second Prince's residence, to the table by the window behind a lifelike lotus-themed screen. However, when he opened it, he saw that because of his earlier jogging, a lot of the thin porridge had spilled out. Although the remaining half-cup was enough, its appearance elsewhere... would be considered substandard food, unfit for the nobleman's eyes, and absolutely unacceptable to be presented, let alone eaten.
"Alright." Qi Chengming didn't care at all, gesturing for them to take his portion and eat quickly. "I don't even care that it's thin porridge, so why should I care about its appearance? It's just that a lot of it has spilled."
The perceptive Xiao Dezi had already brought over a coarse cloth to wipe it clean, and carefully carried away the two eunuchs' dinner, looking somewhat ashamed.
If I had to say something... the prince and the eunuch shouldn't have taken their meals together. But the Second Prince is in such a special situation right now, at such a critical juncture, that he can't be bothered with too many formalities.
Xiao Chengzi, holding the tray, gritted his teeth and went to eat at the low table set up outside the screen.
He could only swallow the humiliation. Although he couldn't think of what else he could do in the future, he kept every single incident in his heart, deeply etched in it. Sooner or later... he would seize the opportunity to get revenge. But, could he really get it back? They were all going to Liuzhou.
When Xiao Chengzi thought of this, he was at a loss.
"Hmm..." Qi Chengming ate his food with a furrowed brow, not quite used to it.
He had been curious about what the food in the palace would be like, but it turned out to be just tender stewed vegetable leaves with some smoked ham. There was no strong ginger or garlic, nor any particularly flavorful stir-fries; the stewing was just average, and it tasted bland.
Greatly disappointed.
I really miss modern bibimbap sauce.
...Mushroom sauce and soybean paste, or even fermented bean curd, will do! Just wrap the sauce inside a steamed bun, add a few bites of simple scrambled eggs with scallions, and slurp up a few mouthfuls of porridge, and this dinner will make him drool with delight.
Qi Chengming held the bowl, lost in thought, but quickly suppressed his emotions.
Going back was out of the question, so he might as well focus on getting everything ready to go to Liuzhou as soon as possible. Once he had the most say, it would be easier to tell the kitchen what to cook—he didn't need any delicacies or fancy meals. He just liked simple home-style dishes and wanted to recreate them; was that too much to ask?
Being suddenly transported into a book is already devastating enough; if there's no hope at all, life will be even more unbearable.
Thinking of this, Qi Chengming ate faster—a full stomach gives him the energy to fuss over.
He can't stand being uncomfortable; he needs to make others feel even more uncomfortable so they can vent their frustrations!
...
Fifteen minutes later.
The imperial kitchen was still bustling with people, steam rising from the stoves, a lively scene filled with enticing aromas. Despite the chaos, the eunuchs and maids were orderly and methodical in their work, the sounds of chopping vegetables and bubbling fires filling the air. Stewing and boiling were underway on the stoves, while maids waited by, chatting and laughing.
Xiao Chengzi deliberately went to fetch the meal earlier than usual. In fact, it was only now that most of the empresses were about to have their meals, and the main kitchen was nearing the end of its busy period.
A commotion arose in the distance.
The chief eunuch, Qian Hai, was personally preparing a dish of mountain delicacies noodles for Consort Shu. His brows furrowed, and he turned to his apprentice with displeasure, gesturing with his chin: "What happened?"
The apprentice, Xiao Buzi, was very arrogant in front of others, but in front of his master, he smiled broadly and said, "I'll go take a look right away."
Before the words were even finished, Qi Chengming, the owner of the commotion, arrived with his arrogant Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi, stopping right in front of the Grand Eunuch Qian Hai.
"Xiao Chengzi said that you were the one who led the way in making things difficult for him just now?" The young prince asked coldly, his hands behind his back.
Before setting off, he instructed his two trusted eunuchs to act as flamboyantly as possible and to honestly tell him who had just bullied the man. This trip was for Xiao Chengzi—and for the original owner of this body to settle scores—so they had seen how despicable those arrogant and domineering servants were before, and the two of them would put on that kind of face later.
Although Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi were unsure of themselves and didn't quite understand why they were acting this way, they were also worried that things would end up embarrassing their prince again... But since their prince was doing this for them, the Second Prince, even if they were bullied later, they had to put on a good show for now.
They'll do whatever Your Highness wants to vent!
So now, Xiao Chengzi mustered his courage and, without any hesitation, pointed out everyone, recognizing them: "Yes, it's him. And him...she, that apprentice, and the others too, and him as well."
Xiao Chengzi's gaze finally fell on Xiao Buzi, the apprentice of the Grand Eunuch Qian Hai.
—The one who chased the prince to the gate of the prince's residence, knocked over the bowl of eight-treasure rice, and then mocked him was Xiao Buzi!
Enemies meeting are bound to be furious. Little Buzi stood behind Qian Hai, saying nothing, only twitching the corners of his mouth slightly as he continued kneading the dough. He completely disregarded the Second Prince who had come to cause trouble.
In fact, the master and disciple were just talking about the second prince:
—A prince who is essentially exiled and completely out of the game might just give up and cause a scene when he sees the imperial kitchen still mistreating him. He's going to his fiefdom anyway, and might never come back. His future is so bleak, when else would he make a scene if not now? Why put up with all this mistreatment?
Little Bu had that kind of worry.
Shouldn't they be keeping the Second Prince in the dark at a time like this? Even a perfunctory response would be fine. If things really escalate, their main kitchen will be in deep trouble.
"You make it sound so easy. Are you going to set up a separate stove for him to cook for?" Master Qian Hai sneered, giving him a sidelong glance before beginning his lecture.
"What are we eunuchs? We're just lowly castrated men, only fit to do tiring work like cooking and tending the fire. The prince is noble, he can just sit and wait for his meal, no need for him to come in person. But... we can't talk back to His Highness, we have to endure this period, otherwise we'll be considered ignorant servants."
"Most importantly... our family's culinary skills are well-known to Consort Shu." After a pause, Qian Hai proudly stated the main reason.
Xiao Buzi immediately realized what was going on.
If the Second Prince acts recklessly, they will have their own reasons, "for your own good," to stop him from storming into the imperial kitchen and forcibly taking food. If he fails, he can go back and complain to the concubines in the harem. If the Second Prince acts recklessly and makes a big scene, they can still use the prince's allowance as a fig leaf, and most importantly, they have Consort Shu backing them up.
No matter how much trouble they cause... in the end, the Second Prince will still have to eat the food prepared by their imperial kitchen every day.
The imperial kitchen had endless methods at their disposal. Yes, they wouldn't change; in fact, they'd escalate the situation. After a while, this invisible, subtle pressure would wear anyone down. That's why the concubines in the harem saw things most clearly; even the most willful wouldn't dare offend the cooks.
Eunuchs are masters of judging people by their status. Little Buzi didn't dare think of anyone else, and they wouldn't dare offend those favorites. But the Second Prince, who posed no threat whatsoever, even if he was of royal blood…
Without any worries, he could also excitedly tinker with it a bit.
...
So now, Xiaobuzi kneads the dough without even lifting his head, displaying an air of complete confidence.
"What brings His Highness the Second Prince to a place like this?" The head eunuch, Qian Hai, stopped what he was doing to show respect. He asked politely, a smile on his face, though the smile didn't reach his eyes.
Qi Chengming did not speak immediately, but carefully scanned and looked around.
Although he had observed all the proper etiquette, he could clearly sense the disdain from this senior eunuch, who seemed completely unafraid of him causing trouble and was simply waiting for him to make a scene.
This silent, mocking disdain and arrogance... it's infuriating, almost like a helpless indulgence: 'Look, it's all because of His Highness the Second Prince coming here to cause trouble for no reason.'
This is probably a hidden grievance that the original owner suffered for many years; it's truly miserable for a prince without anyone to back him up.
Qi Chengming felt nauseous and wanted to vomit.
If word gets out, it'll sound like you're spoiled and domineering, taking your anger out on your servants for no reason, yet no one can really pinpoint any faults. You're just a typical example of the palace's subtle, manipulative tactics, aren't you? Without a bit of cunning and shrewdness, you'd be driven to madness by this kind of environment every day, worn down and devoid of any spirit.
Qi Chengming sneered inwardly, but he remained unmoved.
The young prince stood calmly in the open space of the imperial kitchen, his expression neither restrained nor repressed, nor filled with anger or madness. He didn't intend to feign amiability, nor did he speak harshly; he simply stated a few points in a calm manner:
"Firstly, my uncle was the head of the Imperial Clan Court, and he was in charge of the division of my family property when I was enfeoffed."
Aside from the busy group of people in the large kitchen, the palace maids and eunuchs who were watching the commotion all showed a hint of doubt on their faces, and an indifferent silence floated above the noisy air.
What's wrong with the Imperial Clan Order? The Second Prince's enfeoffment has nothing to do with them.
"Secondly," Qi Chengming finally smiled faintly, but the smile was as terrifying as a raging beast, "...I've heard that Eunuch Qian's cooking skills are quite good. I wonder if Father will reject my uncle's opinion when the list is submitted?"
The eunuch's mind went blank for a moment, as if he had been hit by a heavy hammer, and his face turned deathly pale: "...!"
It's over.
How could I forget this! That damned ancestor is leaving soon, but if he takes everyone with him to Liuzhou... forget about Liuzhou, wouldn't the Second Prince be able to do whatever he wants with them on the way?!
Qian Hai was self-aware. He had powerful backers in the palace, but once outside the palace gates, who said he had to eat the food cooked by him? His life would be in the hands of the Second Prince, who could do whatever he wanted to him. Who could save him when he was far away? Would he even survive?
...Who can compare to the Emperor's own uncle?
And what is he? Something that can be easily crushed like an insect. Would Consort Shu really whisper sweet nothings in his ear for his sake?
Even Qian Haifa, in his wildest dreams, didn't have this kind of confidence.
So his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground, trembling.
The head eunuch, tears streaming down his face, slapped himself repeatedly on both hands: "Oh dear... Your Highness, Second Prince! I... I've always been in poor health. If I fall ill on the road and delay things, it will be terrible! I'm so unlucky, I'm so guilty!"
As he spoke, he slapped himself repeatedly, his cheeks quickly swelling up – he was putting in a lot of force. Everyone knew why Qian Hai was slapping himself so hard.
He dared not stop for a moment until the second prince spoke.
Qian Hai was terrified. He was almost old enough to have trained his apprentices and enjoy his retirement. He would rather die than go into exile with them!
Forget about him, Xiao Buzi's hand trembled, and the rolling pin fell to the ground. The other bystanders—those who had watched, mocked, gossiped, pushed, and even hit Xiao Chengzi, and the palace servants who had been rude—all panicked. Gone were their previous doubts and indifference; a cacophony of fearful explanations filled the air. The clever ones, like the head eunuch Qian Hai, knelt on the ground, desperately begging for forgiveness; the less clever ones were still in a state of panic.
Other things may be unclear, but isn't one thing obvious? The Second Prince was accompanied by about a hundred Imperial Guards along the way. It's impossible that he only sent Eunuch Qian! If it were a matter of retaliation, wouldn't those incompetent ones be even more unable to escape?
The Second Prince's two short sentences easily pinpointed their weaknesses.
The situation in the imperial kitchen has now completely reversed. Xiao Chengzi looked up at his prince in astonishment, his face filled with undisguised admiration, his cheeks flushed with excitement.
Wow, that's amazing!
A note from the author:
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Mini-theater:
The exchange of glances in the imperial kitchen.
Qian Hai (bowing with a forced smile): Your Highness, you've gone mad.
Qi Chengming (without changing his expression): Heh, watch me say two words and you'll be begging for mercy on your knees...
.
(—He's going crazy, but you can't handle the madness.)
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