Daily Meal Delivery
The crisp autumn wind carried the scent of grass and trees, rustling the wild chrysanthemums beneath the palace walls. As Ya Huan and I stepped out carrying the food box, a pale orange hue had just appeared on the horizon, and the frost on the bluestone path hadn't yet dissipated, leaving a slight chill in the air. Ya Huan wrapped the food box's handle twice around her wrist, then used one hand to adjust her collar: "Sister Zhao, I heard from Granny Li yesterday that the imperial kitchen is making pumpkin porridge today. We need to hurry, or the hot porridge will get cold."
I smiled and responded, my gaze sweeping over the sycamore trees lining the road—most of the leaves had fallen, the bare branches pointing towards the sky, possessing a certain serene charm. Just as I reached the outside of the Empress Dowager's courtyard, I saw her sitting in a wicker chair under the eaves, holding a hand warmer in her hands, a plain-colored velvet blanket draped over her knees. Hearing footsteps, she looked up, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes curving into a gentle arc: "Is it Tian Zhao and Ya Huan? Come in quickly, I just warmed a pot of jujube tea, have a few sips to warm yourselves up."
Ya Huan's eyes lit up. She quickly walked up the corridor steps, took the celadon cup handed to her by the Consort Xian, took a small sip, and sighed contentedly, "The Consort's jujube tea is so delicious, even warmer than the sweet soup from the Imperial Kitchen." The Consort Xian smiled and reached out to pat Ya Huan's head, "You silly child, you always know how to say nice things. Hurry up and open the food box; this old body of mine is craving the porridge you brought."
I ladled the pumpkin porridge from the food box. The golden porridge steamed, carrying the sweet aroma of pumpkin. The Dowager Consort Xian stirred it gently with a silver spoon, then suddenly looked at me: "I heard you say a few days ago that Qin Lan was transferred to Consort Hui's palace? Is she doing well now?" I nodded and briefly recounted how Consort Hui protected Qin Lan and prevented her from doing rough work. Upon hearing this, the Dowager Consort Xian put down the silver spoon and lightly tapped the table with her fingertips: "Consort Hui has always been like this—soft-hearted, but her words are always like ice. Back when she met Consort Li outside the palace, she was the same way. She was clearly afraid Consort Li would be bullied, but she deliberately put on a fierce demeanor."
As they were talking, Ya Huan suddenly pointed to the bamboo trellis in the corner of the courtyard: "Your Highness, the broad beans you planted are growing so well! They're so green and pleasing to the eye." The Empress Dowager Xian followed her gaze, her smile deepening: "These broad beans were planted in the spring. I thought they would wither by autumn, but unexpectedly, some tender pods have formed. When you leave later, pick some to take back with you so that Consort Li can also have a taste."
When I left Consort Xian's residence, there was half a basket of tender green beans in my bamboo basket, so green they looked like they could be squeezed for water. Ya Huan kept talking about making green bean rice for Consort Li, and I listened with a smile, my steps quickening unconsciously—Consort Li always loved soft and sticky foods, and green bean rice would definitely suit her taste.
As we approached Consort Li's courtyard, we saw Granny Zhang standing under the old locust tree, clutching a gilded lacquer box in her hand. Seeing us arrive, she hurried over and said, "We've been waiting for you." She shoved the box into my hand, her voice barely audible, "This was just sent from Consort Hui's palace. She said it was a 'punishment' for Consort Li and asked me to give it to you. She specifically instructed me to tell her to use it properly and not to waste my things."
The moment I lifted the lacquer box, Ya Huan let out a soft "Ah!"—Inside lay a layer of soft satin, containing a light purple padded jacket with delicate orchid embroidery on the collar, and a white porcelain bottle with a small note attached to it that read, "Frostbite ointment, apply twice daily." The handwriting was still delicate, but less forceful than the previous plain note, and a small, crooked orchid was drawn at the end, which was rather cute.
"Consort Hui said she was punishing her, but she was probably just worried Consort Li would get cold, right?" Ya Huan muttered softly, reaching out to touch the fabric of her padded jacket. "This fabric is so soft, much more comfortable than the coarse cloth we wear." Zhang Mama smiled and patted the back of my hand: "Hurry and take it in, don't keep Consort Li waiting. Remember, don't forget that Consort Hui sent it specially; just say it's a 'punishment gift from the palace.'"
As I carried the food box and lacquer box into Consort Li's quarters, she was sitting by the window flipping through an old book, its pages yellowed and edges worn. Hearing the noise, she looked up, her gaze falling on the lacquer box in my hand, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes. "Your Majesty," I said, placing the lacquer box on the table, deliberately emphasizing the words "punishment." "Today the Imperial Kitchen made pumpkin porridge and also sent some 'punishment items,' saying that you should use them carefully."
Consort Li put down her book, reached for the lacquer box, and paused as her fingertips touched the lotus-root-colored padded jacket—the color, the orchid pattern, were clearly the style she often wore before entering the palace. She picked up the jacket, brought it to her nose, and gently sniffed it, a warmth gradually spreading in her eyes: "This fabric... it seems to be from the cloth shop in the west of the city." As she spoke, she saw the bottle of frostbite ointment. As she picked up the porcelain bottle, her fingertips inadvertently brushed against the paper strip on the bottle, and her movements suddenly slowed.
Ya Huan helped set the table, deliberately saying, "Your Highness, this padded jacket is so beautiful. You'll definitely be warm wearing it. I heard Granny Li say the other day that this winter will be particularly cold, so a thick padded jacket is perfect." Consort Li didn't say anything, but simply folded the padded jacket neatly, put it back in the lacquer box, picked up the pumpkin porridge, and sipped it, a faint smile subtly curving her lips.
After delivering Consort Li's breakfast, we carried the food box towards Consort Su's residence. Passing Consort Rong's courtyard, we saw the door ajar, and heard the soft rustling of pages turning inside. Ya Huan paused, took a grasshopper from her sleeve, and gently placed it on the stone steps by the door—she had woven it last night, saving the finest one for Consort Rong. Just as she placed it, a very soft "thank you" came from inside, a hoarse voice carrying a hint of warmth. Ya Huan's eyes lit up, and she grabbed my hand, quickly leaving, whispering, "Sister Zhao, Consort Rong spoke to us!"
When we arrived at Consort Su's residence, she was squatting in the courtyard, drying herbs. A bamboo basket held dried perilla and mugwort leaves. Seeing us, she straightened up, dusting her hands. "You've come early today. Did you bring anything delicious?" I smiled and ladled out the remaining pumpkin porridge from the food box, while Ya Huan handed me the half-basket of tender broad beans. "Your Highness Consort Su, these are broad beans that the Dowager Consort Xian asked us to bring you. They said they were just picked and very fresh."
Consort Su took the broad beans, her fingertips tracing the tender pods, a smile appearing in her eyes. "The Dowager Consort is so thoughtful. I just brewed some perilla tea these past few days; take some back with you. It'll help ward off the chill in the autumn." As she spoke, she brought out two rough porcelain jars from the house, their mouths sealed with cotton paper, the words "Perilla Tea" written on them. I took the jars, feeling their warmth on my fingertips, a warmth spreading through my heart—the warmth in the Cold Palace was always hidden in these small, everyday exchanges.
When I delivered lunch in the afternoon, I specially brought Consort Li some perilla tea that Consort Su had given me, and also put the grasshoppers that Ya Huan had woven in the food box. When Consort Li saw the grasshoppers, she paused for a moment, then picked them up and gently placed them on the bookshelf by the window—there were already several grass insects woven by Ya Huan there, some grasshoppers and some dragonflies, which had become a unique sight on the bookshelf. "That girl is so skillful," she said softly, the warmth in her eyes gentler than the morning light.
As evening fell, Ya Huan and I sat in the courtyard shelling broad beans, the bamboo tray piled high with emerald-like beans. We had planned long ago to prepare a special meal for Consort Li before the lamps were lit—since she was punished, the food from the imperial kitchen had become increasingly bland, and this pot of broad bean rice fried in lard would surely brighten her mood. The setting sun painted the sky orange-red, casting long shadows on the bluestone slabs. As Ya Huan shelled the beans, she hummed an unknown tune, then suddenly looked up at me: "Sister Zhao, do you think we can build a snowman with Consort Xian and Consort Su when winter comes?" I smiled and nodded, about to speak, when Zhang Mama hurried over, carrying a cloth bag: "Tian Zhao, Consort Hui's palace has sent something again, saying it's Consort Li's 'punishment'—this time it's a jar of candied fruit, and they said, 'Tell her to think less about useless things and eat more sweets.'"
I took the cloth bag, and could smell the honey fragrance emanating from it. Ya Huan leaned closer and whispered, "Consort Hui is really... tough on the outside, but she cares about Consort Li more than anyone else." I smiled and opened the cloth bag. Inside was a blue and white porcelain jar, its mouth sealed with red cloth. A note was pasted on it, the handwriting still carrying a hint of firmness, but warmer than before: "The jar contains your favorite golden thread dates. Eat two every day, don't deprive yourself."
A gentle evening breeze carried the sweet scent of jujubes. Looking at the blue-and-white porcelain vase in my hand, I suddenly felt that this chilly autumn day was made exceptionally warm by the sentiment hidden within these "punishment gifts." Perhaps it won't be long before those separated by misunderstandings can untangle their knots and, like before, drink jujube tea and eat candied fruit together, transforming their days in the cold palace into one filled with warmth.
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