After sitting in Zhongcui Palace for a while, everyone took their leave. Lanqin pulled Xinyi along, intending to go to Consort Yi's place, but saw Ninth Princess turn around alone, seemingly not planning to leave with Eighth Princess.
"This concubine greets Ninth Prince Consort!" Lanqin saw Ninth Prince Consort Dong'e walking towards her and quickly greeted her.
“My two sisters, there’s no need for such formalities. You’re planning to go to Yikun Palace, aren’t you?” said Ninth Princess Consort.
"Yes, we'll go and pay our respects to Consort Yi for the New Year. Is Ninth Prince Consort going back to Consort Yi's place?" Lanqin had a feeling that Ninth Prince Consort was not as mean as Third Prince Consort, nor as scheming as Fourth Prince Consort, nor as domineering as Eighth Prince Consort.
“Then let’s go together. Yikun Palace is in the west, quite far from here. Since you two are not familiar with this palace, you should come with me.” Ninth Princess spoke gently.
Wanyan stayed in Zhongcui Palace with the Eighth Prince's wife, and Lanqin didn't bother to ask her if she wanted to come along. Personal affinity can't be forced.
Along the way, Ninth Prince Consort did not act like the First Prince Consort and looked down on people. She chatted with Lanqin and Xinyi about the weather and flowers. What was originally a long palace road was quickly shortened because the person talking was not annoying.
Lanqin and the others followed the Ninth Prince's wife inside. Before they even reached the main hall, they heard Consort Yi's laughter. It turned out that the First Prince's wife and the Tenth Prince's wife were with her.
Ninth Prince Consort led Lanqin and Xinyi to Consort Yi and bowed. After asking them questions, she asked them to sit down for a while, have some tea, and chat.
Actually, because Consort De and Consort Yi had always had a bad relationship, Lanqin originally planned to come in to pay her respects for the New Year and then take her leave. However, she couldn't resist Consort Yi's enthusiastic invitation to stay, so she had no choice but to sit down with the help of the palace maids.
When Lanqin saw the way the Tenth Prince's wife glared at her, she knew she had stepped on a series of landmines. Because of Shuhui, who knew how hostile this second young lady from the Guo Luoluo family would be towards her? The Tenth Prince's wife was the Eighth Prince's wife's younger sister, and the Yi Consort's cousin. Just now, the Yi Consort was laughing so happily; it was because of something she said that made the Yi Consort laugh so heartily.
"You mischievous girl!" Consort Yi, still pointing at Guo Luoluo Mingyue with her handkerchief, laughed. Lanqin took the opportunity to take a good look at the Tenth Prince's wife. Her appearance was no less than that of the Eighth Prince's wife, but she lacked in temperament. This Mingyue, at first glance, did not have the composure of the Eighth Prince's wife; her joy and anger were readily apparent.
"Aunt! Anyway, Ninth Cousin is bullying me, you can't just ignore it," Mingyue said with a charming smile.
"That boy, you can have your Ninth Sister-in-law take care of him. Once a son grows up, he's no longer under his mother's control. I rarely even get to see him," Consort Yi said with a smile.
So, Mingyue started to act coquettishly towards Ninth Prince's wife again. Lanqin looked at the cute and lively Tenth Prince's wife and thought that a straightforward person like Tenth Prince should like a wife like this. Why does he seem to be spoiling Shuhui so much now?
Consort Yi indeed manages many affairs of the harem. For example, tonight's family banquet seems to have been held at the waterside pavilion in the Imperial Garden. Consort Yi is in charge of arranging the meals, while Consort De is in charge of the utensils. Old Kang really knows how to assign tasks to his concubines; one is in charge of the meals, and the other is in charge of the utensils. Cooking is inseparable from plates and bowls, so Consort De and Consort Yi check and balance each other.
Every now and then, a head maid would come in to ask Consort Yi for instructions. Lanqin had also seen this with Consort De, so it seemed that this family banquet would be co-hosted by the two of them.
"What? How could those things die? We need them tonight, and now they're dead. What about the banquet tonight?" Consort Yi's expression changed immediately upon hearing the steward's report.
The previously harmonious atmosphere immediately fell silent because of Consort Yi's rebuke.
"This servant doesn't know why the fish in that pot died. Please punish me, Your Highness!" The steward immediately knelt down.
"What's the use of punishing you? Even if I beat you to death, that pot of fish still won't come back to life. But there are only two hours left until the banquet. Where are we going to get so many fresh, live salmon?" Consort Yi said angrily. She had always been in charge of purchasing ingredients for the imperial kitchen, which was a very lucrative position.
The servant kneeling on the ground was so frightened that he kept kowtowing, but even if he kowtowed until his head bled, it was to no avail.
"Your Majesty, don't upset yourself. There must be a way." It was the First Princess Consort, who hadn't said much until now, who spoke up.
Lanqin sized up Prince Zhi's primary wife. She looked very dignified and poised, and her face didn't show any signs of age. It seemed she was very much favored by Prince Zhi. She was probably one of the few primary wives among the princes who were relatively well-loved by their husbands.
"These servants are truly unfilial! Now that the salmon is dead, what are we going to do with the steamed salmon for tonight? A dead fish can't compare to a live one. His Majesty loves this dish the most; he can tell the freshness of the fish just by tasting it. How am I supposed to save face in front of His Majesty then!" Consort Yi was furious, but she knew this wasn't the time to lose her temper, so she held back, only pressing the person kneeling on the ground for advice.
“Your Majesty,” said the First Princess, “steaming salmon best brings out its original flavor. How about we try a different method to mask some of the taste? This salmon hasn’t been dead long, so we can gut it now, marinate it with seasonings, and make braised salmon for dinner. After all, on evenings like this, Father Emperor is entertaining the wives of all the civil and military officials; they might not even notice this dish. The most important thing is not to let the imperial family lose face in front of the officials.”
Consort Yi's eyes lit up, and she felt that what the First Princess Consort said made sense. So she immediately said to the people on the ground, "Hurry up and do as the First Princess Consort says, have the chefs in the Imperial Kitchen quickly gut all the salmon, wash them, and marinate them with seasonings."
The kneeling servant immediately got up and repeatedly said yes, then ran out with his back bowed.
“Alright, Aunt, my sister-in-law has the best ideas. We’re all too young and can’t handle things. When that servant said that, I was so anxious, but I couldn’t think of a suitable solution,” Mingyue said quickly.
"Sister-in-law, you flatter me. I've only been eating for a few more years than you," the First Princess said modestly with a smile.
"The First Consort entered the palace earlier than all of you, so naturally she has more experience. I am very grateful to you today, otherwise I would have been quite at a loss," Consort Yi said appreciatively to the First Consort.
Lanqin and Xinyi could only listen to what the Consort Yi was saying. The aura she exuded when she reprimanded people was truly impressive, while the composure and calmness of the First Consort, Lady Jueluo, also left a deep impression on Lanqin.
After this little incident, Consort Yi's mood was not as good as before, and Lanqin and Xinyi felt they should say goodbye and leave.
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