Chapter 189: Night Visit to the Kitchen, Red Silk Revealed
It was barely dawn, the dew still barely drying on the palace walls, when the lights in Shufangzhai were already on. Little Swallow, dressed in a lake-blue outfit with a red silk ribbon tied around her waist, was stretching her legs facing the crabapple tree in the courtyard. The morning light filtered through the gaps in the leaves, and her sleeves fluttered with agility.
"Princess, Guard Zhou is waiting outside. He said Guard Wu found out that Steward Liu had entered the imperial kitchen at four o'clock in the morning and hasn't come out yet." Mingyue came out of the room carrying a copper basin. Seeing that she was doing leg stretches seriously, she placed the basin on the stone table in the corridor. "There's lotus seed soup warming up in the kitchen. Remember to drink it after you finish practicing."
Xiaoyanzi spun and landed on the ground, sweat beading on her forehead. She picked up a handkerchief draped over a tree branch and wiped it. "Got it! Have Guard Zhou keep a close eye on me. I'll go for a stroll in the imperial kitchen after breakfast." She raised an eyebrow and smiled, a sly glint in her eyes. "It's a good time to see what Steward Liu is up to."
Yongqi walked in carrying a food box filled with some freshly bought pastries from a time-honored Beijing brand. He handed the box to Caixia and walked quickly to Xiaoyanzi: "I just came from the Twelfth Prince. He said that Eunuch E went to Chuxiu Palace early in the morning and whispered with Concubine Gao for a long time. He didn't look very well when he came out." He reached out to tidy up her hair that was messed up by the wind, and his fingertips accidentally touched her earlobe. They both paused, their cheeks flushed slightly.
"No doubt Concubine Gao is dissatisfied with Nanny Li's inadequacy and has sent Eunuch E to urge her to come again." Xiaoyanzi turned and walked briskly back into the house. "Have we prepared all the 'red silk thread'? Did the small table replace the iron needles last night?" Yongqi followed her and nodded. "They have been replaced. Each embroidery needle has been tied with red silk thread and placed in its original black cloth bag in the secret compartment behind the stage pillar, waiting for them to come and take it."
Ziwei was sitting by the window embroidering. The morning light fell on her plain dress, highlighting her features with an especially gentle expression. Seeing them enter, she put down her embroidery frame and picked up the sachet on the table. "This is for the Twelfth Prince's study companion. It's stuffed with mint and mugwort. It's both refreshing and can mask the sound of the whistle he hides in his sleeve." The sachet was embroidered with a few branches of green bamboo, the stitching meticulous. "He said he was afraid his cough signal might be overheard, so using a whistle would be safer."
Erkang came in from outside, holding a slip of paper with a diagram of the imperial kitchen's layout. "There's an unassuming little firewood room next to the water tank in the imperial kitchen. Guard Wu said that Manager Liu went in three times, and when he came out, the oil-paper bag in his hand was much lighter." He pointed to the location of the firewood room on the blueprint. "I had the guard pretend to add firewood, and I took a sneak peek. There were some sacks piled inside, with a little white powder peeking out from the seams. It looked like itching powder."
Xiaoyanzi picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and stuffed it into her mouth, mumbling, "The woodshed is closest to the corridor where the food is served. They must be trying to sprinkle the powder into our soup while the food is being served." She slammed the table and said, "Tell the kitchen to make more soupy dishes today. We'll deliberately spill the soup in the corridor. Then, when the guards 'clean up,' they can search the woodshed and find the powder!"
Ziwei gently held her hand and said softly, "Don't be too impatient, let's follow the plan." She looked at Erkang with trust in her eyes and said, "Have the guards secretly mark the sacks in the firewood room. When they are searched, they will be proved to be Manager Liu's belongings." Erkang held her hand and nodded. "Everything is arranged. The guards have small plum blossoms embroidered on their cuffs. They will know what to do when they see the mark."
As he was speaking, Little Mosquito ran in from outside, holding a newly bought sugar painting in his hand, and shouted breathlessly: "Wow, boom, dong, it's so lively outside! The chefs from the imperial kitchen are pushing food boxes towards Changyin Pavilion. Manager Liu is following behind with his eyes as big as copper bells, staring at the food boxes like a hungry wolf staring at fat meat!" The little bug followed behind him, imitating the wolf's howl: "Awooo - fat meat!" which made everyone laugh.
Xiaodengzi came over with Journey to the West and cleared his throat. "In my opinion, this Manager Liu is the rat demon who stole the oil. He thought he was hiding well, but he didn't know that Sun Wukong's flaming eyes had been keeping an eye on him for a long time!" He slammed the book on the table and said, "I'll be the storyteller later. I'll stand in the corner of the stage opposite the woodshed. If he makes any noise, I'll say 'The demon is trying to steal the oil,' and the guards will attack!"
The little table came in carrying a toolbox filled with turpentine, soft cloth and several small porcelain bottles: "Don't worry, Gege, the pillars and chair legs of Changyin Pavilion have been wiped three times. Not to mention wax, there's not even a speck of dust! I also put some anti-slip powder on the pillars. Even if someone wants to tamper with the carpet, they won't be able to slip!" He patted his chest, and the muscles on his arms bulged.
It was just past the hour of Si, and Changyin Pavilion was already bustling with activity. Palace maids were bustling around, setting up tables and chairs, while eunuchs were flitting back and forth carrying food boxes. The air was thick with the aroma of delicious food. Xiaoyanzi and Ziwei, dressed in formal attire, sat in the third row of the guest seats. They seemed to be watching the maids arrange the flowers, but their eyes were focused on the surroundings. Ziwei toyed with the half jade pendant, her fingertips gently rubbing the lines on it, silently admonishing herself to remain calm.
Yongqi and Erkang pretended to chat casually as they stood by the pillars beside the stage, their eyes occasionally glancing towards the woodshed. Guards Zhou and Wu, dressed in casual clothes, blended in with the eunuchs moving things, their eyes fixed on Steward Liu. He was standing at the door of the woodshed, whispering something to a younger eunuch, the oil-paper bag in his hand having vanished without a trace.
Suddenly, Xiaodiaozi spoke from a corner of the stage, clapping his wake-up stick: "It's said that the Monkey King escorted Tang Sanzang on his quest for Buddhist scriptures. Passing by a demon cave, he saw sacks piled at the entrance, hidden with harmful powder..." He deliberately dragged out his words, glancing toward the woodshed. Xiaoyanzi's heart stirred, knowing something was afoot. She quietly touched Ziwei's hand, and they exchanged glances, both sitting up straight.
Steward Liu sneaked into the woodshed and emerged a moment later, clutching a sack and heading toward the side stage—the very path through which the dishes were served. Guard Zhou followed him quietly, pretending to adjust his belt while making a secret gesture behind his back. Guard Wu, understanding immediately, quietly circled behind the side stage, preparing to block the escape route.
Xiaoyanzi gazed at Manager Liu's back, a sneer curling her lips. Sunlight streamed through the carved windows of Changyin Pavilion, illuminating the red silk of the guest seats. The warmth was cozy, but it couldn't mask the quietly tense tension in the air. A tit-for-tat contest was about to quietly begin before this lively birthday banquet.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
