Chapter 24 The Imperial Kitchen, Chapter Seventeen
Upon hearing the news, Shinju wanted to rush to the Imperial Hospital to find out the truth. However, these past two days, Kotsuki had gotten used to following him everywhere, and this time he insisted on following him all the way. It wasn't until they were almost inside the gates of the Imperial Hospital that Shinju realized something was wrong.
"Don't follow me, I have important business at the Imperial Hospital," Shinju said, turning to Kodun.
Xiao Dunzi said, feeling wronged, "Can't I go?"
"Go back and find Uncle Wu. He left me a piece of rice cake. Go and eat it for me." Shinju intended for Uncle Wu to look after Xiaodunzi as well, because he always felt that the job of serving food was not something that could last long. Without him, this stubborn guy would probably have a hard time surviving.
Seeing that Shinju was staring intently at him, Xiaodunzi dared not pester him any longer and turned away dejectedly.
No sooner had Xiaodunzi left than Masakatsu ran into Zhao Kelin, who was just coming out of the Imperial Hospital. Zhao Kelin had been busy for so many days and finally had some free time, so he had been planning to visit Masakatsu. Thus, Masakatsu was invited to a gathering at the Pear Pavilion.
Not wanting to appear too eager, Shinjuku sat down to drink tea and chat with him.
Today, Zhao Kelin wore a pale yellow round-necked robe embroidered with beige water-drop lotus flowers. The stand-up collar and gauze sleeves seemed to glow in the sunlight slanting into the pavilion, making him appear bright and elegant.
His tea-making movements were so fluid and gentle, yet not sluggish, as the fresh tea aroma gradually pushed aside the layers of pear blossom fragrance, covering the surface of the tea stone.
"Please." Zhao Kelin filled the cup in front of Shinju with his hand and gestured for him to enter.
Shinjuku picked up the cup and took a sip. It was astringent at first, but after a couple of breaths, it became sweet. The astringency was subtle, while the sweetness permeated the tea, making it both smooth and layered. Although Shinjuku didn't know much about ordinary tea, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Good tea!"
A smile spread across Zhao Kelin's eyes. "I'm glad you like it."
Masakatsu nodded, and after a moment, asked, "The Imperial Hospital seems more noisy than usual today. Is it because of the arrest of that food doctor?"
Zhao Kelin paused for a moment, then said more seriously, "I didn't expect the news to spread so quickly. I only heard about it during roll call today. To be honest, earlier... on the day of the banquet for the Feng Kingdom envoy, three people were poisoned, and coincidentally, the Imperial Hospital's detoxification pills were stolen..."
"Could it be that the physician stole the elixir?" Shinju asked.
"I don't know either, but he should be suspected, which is why Guan Shiyi was taken away by the Ministry of Justice."
"Speaking of which... Aqing, you asked me about Guan Shiyi before. Do you know him?" Zhao Kelin's tone suddenly became somewhat strange.
Knowing that he had just inquired about this person and that the person had been arrested, he seemed somewhat suspicious. So he downplayed the issue and said, "Didn't you say that we could ask Doctor Guan about diet? I haven't had a chance to ask him yet. I didn't expect that Lord Guan would be arrested. It's a real pity."
Zhao Kelin took a sip of tea and said lightly, "Hmm, it's a real pity."
Then he added, "However, I have recently read many books on medicinal cuisine and have gained some insights into it. Why don't I answer Aqing's questions?"
Since learning that food poisoning is unlikely to cause poisoning, Shinju had lost interest in this subject. Besides, the amount of poison required to reach the intermediate level of poisoning was so large that it was like throwing a piece of arsenic into the sea. However, now that Physician Zhao had mentioned it, Shinju had no choice but to listen to Zhao Kelin's explanation in order to cover up his previous statement.
The cup was filled and emptied again and again. Zhen Su seemed to be listening, but his mind had actually wandered dozens of feet away. Zhao Kelin's voice was like pearls falling on a jade plate, rhythmic and making Zhen Su drowsy.
Just as Shinjuku was about to fall asleep with his eyes open, a barely audible splashing sound came from a corner of the Imperial Garden next door.
"..." Shinju pointed to Zhao Kelin's mouth, signaling him not to speak and to listen carefully. Then, under Zhao Kelin's questioning gaze, he suddenly stood up and ran towards the Imperial Garden.
Why do I always run into trouble every time I come here?
Shinjuku frowned as he rushed to the location of the splashing sound. It was a well in a corner of the Imperial Garden. It was very deep and the water level was very low, otherwise the sound of the water would not have been so faint and could hardly be heard outside.
If it weren't for Shinjuku's sharp hearing, probably no one would have noticed that someone had fallen into the well.
The cries for help were extremely weak and were frequently interrupted by water choking. Majutsu stepped on the incredibly slippery wall of the well with both feet, and without using his hands to hold onto the wall, he slid straight down and in an instant reached the head of the person in the water.
A slender, jade-white hand firmly grasped the frail hand struggling on the surface of the water, and with a slight lift, miraculously pulled the person away from the water.
In the midst of the panic, the person who fell into the water felt as if they were being carried on someone's shoulder. A cool breeze swept over their back, and sunlight refracted into their eyes. In just a few breaths, their feet touched the hard ground.
"Can you stand up?" Mayuki asked.
The woman in blue, who was brought back to the ground, was still somewhat shaken, but after regaining her composure, she immediately nodded.
Shinjuku released his grip and took a half-step back.
The woman in blue then realized that her clothes were completely wet, and she was immediately a little embarrassed. However, she noticed that the man was dressed as her father-in-law and looked quite young, so she didn't mind anymore and said excitedly, "...Thank you, thank you, my benefactor!"
After she finished speaking, the woman looked surprised, touched her throat, and murmured, "I...I can actually speak..."
At this moment, Zhao Kelin finally found his way over. He was taken aback when he saw that Zhen Su was standing with a familiar person. He then stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Greetings, Consort Shao."
Consort Shao quickly turned her back, her face looking somewhat unnatural, and replied, "Lord Zhao."
Is she Princess Shao? Shinju couldn't help but glance at the woman's face.
It turns out that she was Consort Shao, whom Uncle Wu had been worried about all along.
Shinju had a good impression of her, so he politely said, "Greetings, Consort Shao. I am a cook from the Imperial Kitchen, and my surname is Kei."
"I hope the meal is good." Consort Shao became much warmer towards Masakatsu and took the initiative to greet him.
"Why is Your Highness all wet? Although the sun is out, the wind will surely make you catch a cold. Where is Miss Luli?" Zhao Kelin asked.
Shinju then realized that there was indeed no one around Shaopin, but upon closer inspection of the well, he could see two sets of footprints belonging to different people, the marks very fresh. He himself had walked very lightly and had not left any footprints, so besides Shaopin and himself, there must have been a third person here.
Shaopin trembled slightly, "Someone, someone pushed me down the well."
Shinjuku asked, "Who is it?"
Zhao Kelin asked, "Fell into the well? How did Your Highness get out?"
Consort Shao looked at Master Zhensu and exclaimed excitedly, "It was this eunuch who served me meals who saved me!"
Shinju lowered his eyes, avoiding Shaopin's gaze, and rubbed his cheek on one side without saying a word.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Kelin's initial reaction was disbelief. He quickly walked to the well and examined it closely. However, after looking around, he was even more shocked. The well was both deep and narrow; it would be virtually impossible for one person to climb out, let alone bring someone up. There were no ropes or bamboo poles to use for support. Zhao Kelin breathed a few sighs before managing to regain his composure.
Seeing that Zhao Kelin didn't intend to investigate further, Zhen Su breathed a sigh of relief and then asked Consort Shao, "Do you know who pushed Your Highness down?"
"It's no use, no one will believe me even if I tell them," Consort Shao said, her voice breaking with tears.
She has half-Feng Kingdom blood, and in this palace, she has been framed and slandered countless times. What's the use of speaking out? Apart from Luli and Uncle Wu, no one has ever stood by her side.
“I want to know, Your Majesty, please tell me,” Shinju insisted.
Consort Shao was startled by Zhen Su's righteous expression and slowly said, "It was Consort Liang... She had her maid push me. She said I was faking my loss of voice to gain the Emperor's favor. I didn't! Not to mention that His Majesty would never pay attention to me, I had my voice damaged by poisoning before, and it became very hoarse. Gradually, I became unwilling to speak, until one day, I found that I wanted to speak, but I really couldn't make a sound."
Consort Shao hugged her arms tightly. "Consort Liang asked me if I could have endured not crying for help even if I were pushed down. She, she..."
Consort Shao did not speak directly about what happened next. Whether they initially only wanted to scare her but accidentally pushed her, or whether it was intentional, the fact remained that she had fallen into the well. Not to mention that the two of them escaped and never even considered saving her... How hateful.
Zhao Kelin remained silent. He knew Shaopin's situation well, and he knew that things would naturally develop as Shaopin had predicted.
"Anyway, I'm fine... I can still speak, which is a blessing in disguise." Consort Shao listened to her still hoarse voice and became less and less confident as she spoke, "It's just that my throat is really damaged."
Zhao Kelin glanced at Consort Shao's neck, but remained silent.
Just as Consort Shao was about to burst into tears in despair, she heard a voice unlike that of ordinary eunuchs—not effeminate, but clear and resolute—
"Your Majesty's voice is not damaged."
A note from the author:
----------------------
I'm such a lazybones, I've dragged it out until midnight again. I'll still be posting back-to-back tomorrow, as usual. Waaah.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
