Chapter 40 The food that dreams and reality fight over—that's what makes it truly delicious…
The east was turning white, and the first rays of dawn were breaking.
The outlines of the dragon towers and phoenix pavilions gradually became clear in the morning mist, and the layers of glazed tiles were coated with a hazy golden light. The gilded dragon-head ornaments at both ends of the main ridge of the palace stood majestically against the blue sky and white clouds.
Along the imperial road, palace servants were quietly sweeping up fallen leaves. A strong wind last night had blown away the struggling yellow leaves from the branches, but it had also brought good weather.
Jin Tong walked to the dormitory door, gently knocked on the door frame, and waited for a long time, but still did not hear an echo from inside.
She slowly pushed open the carved rosewood partition door a finger's width. The room was dimly lit, with gold-flecked bamboo blinds blocking out the sunlight. Only through the silk gauze curtains could she vaguely see the slender figure of a woman curled up on a sandalwood phoenix couch.
She gently closed the partition door, strode quickly to the front hall, and bowed slightly to Eunuch Wang, who had finished three cups of tea.
"Eunuch Wang, the Empress Dowager has not yet risen. His Highness coughed several times last night, perhaps from the cool breeze on his way back. Please trouble Eunuch Wang to inform the Regent that the Empress Dowager will likely be unable to attend court for the next few days."
Eunuch Wang quickly stood up, flicked his whisk in return, and said with concern, "The Empress Dowager is ill. We should immediately summon the imperial physician to take a look."
After saying that, he immediately instructed Xiao Shunzi to go to the Imperial Hospital to find Headmaster Qiu.
Jin Tong smiled slightly: "There's no need to trouble you, Eunuch. Imperial Physician Zhao is waiting in the side hall. He will take Your Highness's pulse as soon as the Empress Dowager gets up."
Eunuch Wang smiled broadly: "Aunt Jin is indeed very thoughtful. Then I will report to the Regent and ask the Empress Dowager to rest and recuperate."
After saying this, he bowed in the direction of the dormitory, and then called for the imperial carriage, which had been waiting outside the palace for a long time, to return home.
After seeing off Eunuch Wang and his entourage, Jin Tong finally breathed a sigh of relief. She went back into her bedroom and whispered through the carved mahogany door:
"Your Highness, Eunuch Wang and the others have already left."
A woman's slightly hoarse voice drifted from inside the silken canopy: "I understand. Go and take lunch to Imperial Physician Zhao. I want to sleep a little longer."
"Yes, ma'am."
The footsteps outside the door gradually faded away, and Chu Yueyuan turned over, clutching the silk quilt.
She did not catch a cold. Although the night wind was cool, she was covered in sweat in the man's warm embrace.
After the third kiss, the man gently rested his chin on her neck and held her tightly. His embrace was devoid of lust and other thoughts, like a lion that had lost its claws and fangs, seeking only warmth and comfort from its own kind.
Chu Yueyuan let him hold her, not daring to move, feeling his gentle breath on her neck, his warm chest like a furnace, the heat spreading from her back to her limbs, her bones almost melting from his heat.
"Your Highness, I have put away the Buddhist prayer beads bracelet you gave me."
"Um..."
"Your Majesty is afraid of soiling it."
"Um..."
“When I was a child, my mother also tied a longevity lock on my clothes with her own hands.”
"Um..."
"I threw the lock into the furnace and burned it."
"....Um?"
The man buried his chin even deeper, his thin lips almost touching her skin. She heard him chuckle softly, as if drunk, his tone both forlorn and mocking: "The surname engraved on that longevity lock is Xiao, Xiao—Mu—Wei."
"My surname isn't Xiao..."
"I can't possibly have the surname Xiao..."
Under the moonlight, the swing and rattan couch swayed gently in the wind. Chu Yueyuan listened to the man's dreamlike whispers, and in that instant, she seemed to feel his pain.
Her eyes flickered slightly, and she said softly, "I'm quite the opposite of Pei Qing. When I was little, I wanted everyone to know that my surname was Chu..."
Although Madam Hu was Chu Shuheng's lawfully wedded first wife, she was soft-hearted and had no relatives in the capital who could support her. Moreover, all the servants in her household were Madam Du's people, so they made things difficult for the mother and daughter in every way.
When she was young, Chu Yueyuan almost never heard anyone call her Miss Chu. There was only one Miss Chu in the family, and that was Chu Wanxi.
She was merely the daughter of the Hu family.
The more this happened, the more eager Chu Yueyuan became to prove herself. From playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting to writing poetry and songs, she naively believed that as long as she could outshine Chu Wanxi, she would become Miss Chu in the eyes of the world.
It wasn't until she entered the palace under the name of the Chu family that she realized what she had once valued more than the heavens was now as worthless as weeds.
Nothing is more important than living a happy life.
Surnames only came into use after Fuxi. At that time, some ancient people took their surnames from place names, some took their surnames from their means of making a living, and some tribes even took their surnames from animals, such as dragon, phoenix, ox, and horse.
If we really trace her origins, her ancestors might have even had the surname "Pig" or "Dog".
Chu Yueyuan shared her insights, only to be met with silence. The man behind her breathed evenly and calmly, his arm around her waist never loosening its grip.
She quietly turned her head and saw the man's face so close to hers.
The moonlight shone on his face, clearly outlining the contours of his profile: thick eyebrows, a straight nose, and slightly pursed thin lips. Even in his sleep, a shallow furrow remained between his brows.
Chu Yueyuan couldn't help but slow her breathing and gently moved the hand that was resting on her waist. Every movement was extremely careful, for fear of waking the sleeping beast beside her.
Before leaving, she turned to look at the man sleeping peacefully, frowned and hesitated for a moment, then picked up the gold-embroidered peony cloak from the ground and gently covered him with it.
In the dimly lit bedchamber, Chu Yueyuan hugged the silk quilt and rolled around on the sandalwood phoenix couch again.
———
Early morning, in the study of the Hall of Diligent Governance.
More than ten ministers stood bowing, looking at each other, none daring to speak first.
Bright sunlight streamed through the carved window, illuminating one side of the rosewood dragon-patterned desk. Behind the desk sat the regent, his black hair gleaming, wearing a golden crown and a crisp, smooth crimson brocade robe with dragon patterns and a matching gold spider-patterned belt. The light and shadow accentuated the cold, hard lines of his handsome profile, making him appear like an ethereal celestial being untouched by worldly concerns.
However, there were several obvious scratch marks on the Immortal Lord's face. Judging from the angle and depth of the scratches, he was probably scratched by a female fox demon who was not very strong.
The officials present were secretly shocked, but at the same time sincerely admired this audacious female fox demon.
Although the Regent's appearance was marred by the brunt of the fall, he was in a truly good mood today. Even when he discovered a few flaws in the water conservancy accounts presented by the Minister of Agriculture, he pointed them out with a gentle and pleasant expression.
Si Nongqing wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and sighed inwardly that this female fox demon was not a monster at all, but clearly an auspicious omen for him!
As the ministers were preoccupied with their own thoughts, Eunuch Wang entered the study, holding a whisk and bowing respectfully: "Your Majesty the Regent, the Empress Dowager caught a cold last night and is not feeling well. I'm afraid she will not be able to attend court sessions at the Hall of Diligent Governance in the coming days."
Pei Muwei put down the memorial and raised an eyebrow slightly: "Has the imperial physician been summoned?"
"It has been announced; it is Imperial Physician Zhao from the Imperial Hospital."
Pei Muwei responded indifferently, his lowered dark eyes revealing no emotion. His slender fingers quickly circled the memorial with a pen, his tone flat: "Imperial Physician Zhao is still inexperienced. It would be better to have Headmaster Qiu go to Fengqi Palace to examine the Empress Dowager."
"This servant understands, I will go to the Imperial Hospital to inform them immediately."
Not long after Eunuch Wang left, the sky outside the carved window was clearly clear, but the temperature inside the study inexplicably dropped.
Pei Muwei closed the memorial, his dark eyes calmly sweeping over the crowd. The imposing aura of a superior was subtly revealed, and though his tone was indifferent, it was as sharp as a sword aimed at the throat.
"The Grand Canal from Zhongzhou to Yuzhou has been under construction for twelve years, and the progress of its excavation is less than halfway complete. Why don't you gentlemen guess how much of the three million taels of silver allocated by the national treasury has flowed into the pockets of local officials?"
"If no one in the capital tipped them off, how could the imperial inspectors sent to the central prefectures have failed to understand the accounts every time?"
The regent asked a series of questions, making the ministers present feel uneasy and their backs involuntarily hunch over.
That familiar sense of oppression has finally returned.
"Minister Cui, I heard that at your mother's birthday banquet, Vice Minister Zheng, who is in charge of the waterways in Zhongzhou, presented her with a pure gold longevity mountain, which is worth three years of Vice Minister Zheng's salary."
When his name was called, Minister Cui of the Ministry of Works turned pale instantly, and he stammered an explanation:
"Reporting to Your Highness, Zheng Fangyi is my mother's nephew. He came to the manor to offer his congratulations on my mother's seventieth birthday. As for... such trivial matters as gifts, they were all handled by my humble servant, and I am unaware of them..."
Pei Muwei casually twirled the sandalwood prayer beads on his wrist. Although his tone was gentle, his unspoken meaning was cold: "No wonder Minister Zheng presented your mother with such a generous gift. It turns out she is related to Minister Cui."
Minister Cui's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately knelt down and kowtowed: "Although I am related to Zheng Fangyi, we have no personal relationship. If he is using my position to line his own pockets on the river, I will not tolerate it. I beg Your Highness to send someone to investigate thoroughly!"
"Very well, then Lord Shen will be in charge of the river supervision."
Shen Zizhan took a step forward, his gaze sweeping over the thin scratch marks on the man's cheek, before quickly lowering his eyelashes and saying in a composed and respectful tone:
"Your subject obeys."
———
Even while Chu Yueyuan was feigning illness, she didn't have any free time.
She had previously taken over the administration of state affairs in place of the regent, and was so busy that she had no time to write her stories, thus owing Moxiangju a considerable amount of manuscripts.
Hengting Si asked Xiaoyanzi to deliver a fragrant letter. In the letter, she asked in a sarcastic tone whether she had injured her wrist and was unable to write because she had personally beheaded the rebels during the Seqiu Rebellion.
Chu Yueyuan skimmed the letter, secretly cursing the vixen in her heart.
Despite the scolding, having accepted the money from her employer, she, even as the most esteemed Empress Dowager of the Great Qi, had to keep her promise.
Judging from the current public opinion, among the three male protagonists in the story, Prime Minister Pei is the most popular, far surpassing the top scholar and the young general.
To entice onlookers to spend lavishly, she should have made Consort Chu and Prime Minister Pei go through hardships so that they could eventually become a couple.
But as she wrote, Chu Yueyuan felt more and more uneasy.
There are so many constraints and restrictions imposed on women in the world, so why should she, the creator of this world with her pen, still follow these rigid rules and regulations?
After chewing the two pen barrels until they were worn down, she decided to break up the couple.
Why did Prime Minister Pei seize the throne and also gain a beautiful woman? He got all the good things in the world.
Either the female lead is the only one who is beautiful, or all three of them are desirable.
When the latest volume of Jade Steps Immortal's storybook was published, the noble ladies in the capital were immediately in an uproar. Those who liked Prime Minister Pei were disappointed but gritted their teeth and kept up with the updates, while those who bet on the top scholar and the young general were secretly delighted.
Heng Tingsi soon sent her another letter with an overpoweringly fragrant scent. The letter contained only two words: "Add more manuscript!"
Chu Yueyuan wrote a lengthy reply, which also contained only two words: "Shady merchant!"
After recovering from her "cold," she used the excuse of a relapse of her "headache" to stay in the Phoenix Palace to recuperate.
At first, the Regent would occasionally send Chief Physician Qiu to check on her condition. However, headaches are a rather subtle ailment. Whenever she learned that Chief Physician Qiu was coming to consult her, Chu Yueyuan would put on her headband and lie down in advance, pretending to be sickly.
Unable to discern the truth, Chief Physician Qiu could only prescribe some calming medicines to take back and report.
After this happened several times, although it was unclear whether the Regent had seen through her little trick, he stopped sending people to urge her to attend court in the Hall of Diligent Governance.
Time flies, and the Frost's Descent solar term has arrived in the blink of an eye.
The flower shop carefully selected more than twenty kinds of precious chrysanthemum potted plants and personally delivered them to the Phoenix Perch Hall, where they were arranged in a pleasing and orderly manner in the courtyard.
Beside the carved window, Chu Yueyuan held silver scissors, leisurely tending to a pot of Jade Phoenix.
The flower is pure white, like jade from a fairyland, with a golden center and long, curled petals that resemble phoenix feathers, presenting a magnificent appearance.
Seeing that she had finished tidying up, Chu Yueyuan rinsed her hands with clean water.
Jin Tong poured a cup of chrysanthemum tea and brought over a plate of golden persimmon cakes, saying with a smile, "The Imperial Kitchen knows that His Highness likes sweets, so look, the persimmon cakes sent today are already covered in frost."
Chu Yueyuan picked up a persimmon cake covered in white frost, broke it open, and found a honey-like sweet filling flowing out. She took a bite, and the sweetness made her quickly drink some tea.
"It's almost noon. I reckon His Majesty will be back from his get out of class at Zishan Hall soon. Pick out a few soft ones to save for His Majesty."
As soon as she finished speaking, a series of hurried footsteps sounded, and a bright yellow figure rushed in and threw himself into her arms.
"Look at all that white sweat on His Majesty's head, did he run all the way back?"
Chu Yueyuan smiled and wiped the sweat from Xiao Yun's head with a pat, then took off the dragon-embroidered gold satin cloak from his shoulder.
Xiao Yun nodded, keeping a silly smile on his face, but didn't say a word.
Just as Chu Yueyuan was feeling puzzled, Xu Mama, who came in after her, explained, "His Majesty has some good news to tell the Empress Dowager. That's why he came here without even riding in the imperial carriage after leaving Zishan Hall."
Chu Yueyuan smiled and blinked her bright eyes in response, asking curiously, "Oh, does Yun'er have any good news?"
When Xiao Yun saw her pressing for answers, he grinned contentedly, pointing to a small hole inside, his excitement barely concealed: "Mother, your son has lost a tooth!"
Chu Yueyuan's face lit up with surprise: "Oh dear, Yun'er has lost her first baby tooth! Let me take a closer look."
Xiao Yun held up her tiny baby tooth above her head like a precious treasure, excitedly recounting how it had fallen out.
Chu Yueyuan smiled lovingly and said approvingly, "Yun'er has grown up."
The sun shone brightly outside the window, while laughter and conversation filled the hall.
Xiao Yun took a big bite of the persimmon cake, his cheeks bulging. He blinked and said in a serious tone, "I have heard that when children in the common people lose their teeth, they throw their lower teeth onto the roof and bury their upper teeth in the ground so that their new teeth can grow quickly and well!"
This saying does indeed circulate among the people of Daqi.
Our bodies and hair are given to us by our parents. The first baby tooth a child loses is a big deal. Usually, the parents will arrange it properly to ensure that their child grows a good set of teeth and stays healthy and free from illness and disaster.
Thinking of Xiao Yun's parents, Chu Yueyuan's smile faded slightly.
Xiao Yun was still immersed in the joy of losing his first tooth and excitedly said, "Mother, shall we throw this tooth onto the roof together?"
Looking into Xiao Yun's expectant eyes, Chu Yueyuan raised her hand to gently stroke the hair bun on his head, and couldn't help but smile: "Alright, Mother will go with Yun'er."
Xiao Yanzi, standing nearby, quickly offered a suggestion: "Your Majesty, I recall there's a Pine and Cypress Pavilion opposite the Hall of Diligent Governance. The pines and cypresses nearby grow exceptionally well. Pine and cypress symbolize health, longevity, and resilience. Your Highness, why don't you leave the Emperor's tooth there?"
Upon hearing the words "Hall of Diligent Governance," Chu Yueyuan's eyes flickered slightly, and she hesitated for a moment.
She casually asked, "What day is it today?"
Xiao Yanzi replied, "Your Highness, today is the fourteenth."
Chu Yueyuan's worries lessened somewhat. There was a court assembly on every odd-numbered day of the month, and the Regent usually didn't enter the palace on those days. Even though the Pine and Cypress Pavilion and the Hall of Diligent Governance were directly opposite each other, they shouldn't... bump into each other, right...?
Xiao Yun didn't want to wait a moment longer, so he immediately tugged at Chu Yue's sleeve and walked out: "Great, Mother, let's go now!"
———
The midday sun shines brightly, making it the perfect time for a short rest.
There were no palace servants in the imperial study. It was so quiet that only the soft rustling of paper could be heard. A wisp of bluish-white smoke rose from the peony and green leaf incense burner on the desk, and the air was filled with the calming scent of sandalwood.
On the expansive landscape ink painting screen, the figure of a man, upright as a pine tree, is reflected.
A crack opened in the long, vermilion-lacquered window, and first a gentle breeze blew in, causing the sheer silk curtains to sway softly. Then, a burst of joyful laughter slipped in through the crack:
"You guys need to hold on tight!"
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I'm holding on very firmly."
"...What I worry about most is the Emperor."
"Your Majesty, watch your step!"
"Phew... finally made it up there, wait a minute... where are the baby teeth? Your Majesty, did you forget to give me the baby teeth?"
"Mother, you didn't ask me for anything when you went up..."
"Snap..." The wolf-hair brush hovered in mid-air for too long, and a drop of vermilion ink gradually gathered at the tip of the brush. Suddenly, it dripped down, and a blinding crimson stain appeared between the smooth strokes of the brush.
Pei Muwei's dark eyes darkened slightly. He put down the wolf-hair brush, leaned heavily against the back of the armchair, closed his eyes, and pressed his long fingers firmly against his brow.
The sounds of laughter and play outside the window were like sparrows chirping on the branches.
It disturbs one's thoughts and annoys one's mind.
That dreamlike scene reappeared before my eyes: the hazy moonlight, the petals falling like rain, and the fragrant, soft body of the woman in my arms.
She looked at him pitifully, her watery eyes rippling, her red lips slightly parted, revealing her white teeth and a bit of her pink tongue.
In his dream, he was greedy and unrestrained, bringing his lips close to her rosy and full lips, like a wild beast seizing its prey, watching as the spring water gradually filled her eyes, the blush spreading across her snow-white skin, and the heart-stirring meows like a cat.
Pei Muwei released her hand from her brow, and her eyes, which she opened, showed fine blood vessels.
Dreams are ethereal and unpredictable, allowing him to act with impunity.
But what is the reality?
He got up and walked to the window, pushed open the half-open window frame, and his deep gaze followed the laughter and chatter not far away, quietly landing on that blushing figure.
Under the pine and cypress pavilion,
Chu Yueyuan tapped Xiao Yunlong on the head, picked up the wrapped baby tooth, and climbed the long ladder again.
Jin Tong and Xiao Yanzi stood at the bottom of the ladder, each holding it firmly, while Granny Xu pulled Xiao Yun, who only caused trouble, aside to watch.
The four of them looked up in unison, holding their breath as they watched Chu Yueyuan climb the long ladder onto the roof, take out the baby tooth from her pouch at her waist, and successfully insert it into the groove on the roof ridge.
"Long live the Empress Dowager!" "The Empress Dowager is mighty!"
Chu Yueyuan felt elated amidst the cheers, when she suddenly heard a familiar voice:
"The Empress Dowager was heroic and valiant, a woman who was no less capable than any man."
She looked down and saw Shen Zizhan smiling at her from outside the pavilion.
The man wore a black gauze hat, a purple official robe with a circular pattern, and a gold fish-shaped pouch at his waist. When he looked up at her, the midday sun shone in his bright eyes, making him appear as gentle and refined as a piece of jade.
Chu Yueyuan, holding the upturned corner of the bluestone, replied gracefully, "I heard that Lord Shen recently went to Zhongzhou. Did you have the chance to try the famous local spicy soup? I wonder if it tastes better than the spicy soup at Wanfulou?"
The woman's cheeks revealed shallow dimples, and when she smiled, even the sunlight on the horizon seemed to shine brighter.
Shen Zizhan first bowed to the young emperor, and then answered her question.
"To my shame, I spend my days in the government office reviewing documents and accounts, and my meals are delivered by the government office. I have not been able to experience the local customs and culture. As for the spicy soup Your Highness asked about..."
He shook his head and said with a wry smile, "I am like Pigsy eating ginseng fruit, I know nothing of the taste."
Chu Yueyuan was amused by these words. How could a gentleman as upright and gentle as Shen Zizhan be a fat and big-eared pig? If he were Tang Sanzang, whom demons would fight tooth and nail for, that would be more accurate.
"Lord Shen is diligent and honest in his duties, so the matter of the Central Plains waterway should be resolved soon. By the way, today is the fifteenth, why have you come to the palace, sir?"
Shen Zizhan raised his sword-like eyebrows slightly and replied gently, "Tomorrow is the court assembly. I must report the situation of Zhongzhou to the Regent before the assembly."
Chu Yueyuan's gaze fell on the bright yellow folding paper in Shen Zizhan's hand, and her expression clearly became flustered.
So, does that mean the Regent is... in the palace right now?
Her heart skipped a beat, and the absurd scene of that night flashed through her mind. She turned her head and subconsciously looked towards the Hall of Diligent Governance opposite her.
In that fleeting glance, she seemed to see some bloodthirsty demon or monster. In an instant, her delicate body trembled, her legs gave way, and she plummeted straight down the long ladder.
"Mother!"
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!"
Jin Tong and Xiao Yanzi reached out to catch it at the same time, and the two bumped into each other in their panic, seeing stars.
Granny Xu was too far away to help in the immediate crisis. At the critical moment, Shen Zizhan rushed forward and caught Chu Yueyuan as she fell.
"Yuan'er, are you alright?" In his haste, he blurted out her nickname.
Chu Yueyuan hurriedly raised her head, her gaze sweeping over the tightly closed vermilion windows of the Qin Zheng Hall, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.
Could it be... that she misread it just now?
"Is Your Highness injured?"
Chu Yueyuan came to her senses and found herself being held in Shen Zizhan's arms. He looked nervous, his amber eyes filled with concern.
She shook her head, her tone calm: "I am fine, Lord Shen, you may put me down now."
The woman's soft breathing, her delicate fragrance, and the faint blush rising from her skin all caused Shen Zizhan's thoughts to drift for a moment, until she softly called out again:
"Lord Shen."
Shen Zizhan's ears turned bright red, his heart pounded, and his breathing became erratic. He put Chu Yueyuan down, bowed, and said in a low, hoarse voice, "Your subject has been presumptuous. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
"It was my fault for being flustered, not Lord Shen's fault."
Chu Yueyuan picked up the scattered documents from the ground, handed them to the other party, and smiled slightly: "Since Lord Shen has important matters to attend to, then I will not chat with you any longer."
A sense of loss welled up in Shen Zizhan's heart. He lowered his eyes, concealing the desolation in them, and reached out to take the folded document.
"Please take care, Your Highness. I shall take my leave now."
"Lord Shen, please wait!"
Chu Yueyuan gave Jin Tong a look, and Jin Tong understood and handed over the ivory food box.
"During the Frost's Descent season, it is appropriate to eat warm and nourishing foods. The persimmon cakes and persimmon jelly in the food box were made fresh this morning. Lord Shen works tirelessly to solve the people's livelihood problems. After you finish your business, you may wish to return to your residence and have some of these tea snacks."
She originally planned to celebrate in the Pine and Cypress Pavilion after Xiao Yun's baby teeth were properly placed, but upon learning that the Regent was in the Hall of Diligent Governance, she decided to keep a low profile.
Before the Seqiu Rebellion, with Shen Zizhan's dedicated assistance, she naturally managed the affairs of the court for a period of time. This led the imperial relatives in the court to have other ideas, hoping that she could support the emperor against the regent and the new noble forces.
But Chu Yueyuan did not want to get involved in court politics.
It is obvious that, no matter who controls them, the mother and son are puppets on strings.
Upon hearing this, Shen Zizhan was taken aback at first, then smiled faintly, his amber eyes overflowing with tender light.
"Your Majesty, I am very grateful for your reward. I will be loyal to Your Highness to the utmost and will remain so until death."
The laughter outside the window gradually faded away, and the room fell silent once more.
Wang Gonggong strode into the study and stared in astonishment at the empty desk, his beady eyes widening in surprise.
"What is it?"
Following the man's cool and aloof voice, Eunuch Wang finally noticed the Regent standing behind the window.
A ray of clear sunlight shone through the window crack, falling on Pei Muwei's straight nose and illuminating the lower half of his face, making him look incomparably handsome. His dark eyes, hidden in the shadows, were intently staring out the window, like a wild beast quietly lurking by a lake, silently watching its prey.
Eunuch Wang, having regained some of his terrified composure, hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Highness, Imperial Censor Shen Zizhan has come to see you."
Pei Muwei strolled back to his desk and sat down. He picked up a wolf-hair brush from the crystal brush holder, dipped it in the vermilion ink from the inkstone, and continued reviewing documents, his tone calm:
"Summon him in."
Eunuch Wang let out a long sigh of relief, but before he could even lift his heels, he heard the Regent say indifferently, "Fifteen, find a way to keep that ivory food box that Imperial Censor Shen is holding."
Before he even entered the hall to announce his arrival, Eunuch Wang had already greeted Shen Zizhan at the entrance of the Hall of Diligent Governance. He could tell at a glance where the ivory food box with peony patterns that Lord Shen was carrying came from.
His eyes darted around a couple of times, and then Eunuch Wang gave a dry laugh: "This... please enlighten me, Your Highness, do you wish to keep the food box, or the tea and snacks inside?"
Pei Muwei continued writing, only lifting his eyelids to glance at it indifferently.
Wang Gonggong suddenly felt a chill run down his spine and nodded vigorously: "This old servant understands, this old servant will take care of it right away, and will make sure that the food box and tea are all left behind."
Bowing and scraping as he left the study, Eunuch Wang pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe the cold sweat from his brow, his heart filled with mixed emotions:
Alas, I never imagined that a dignified fourth-rank Imperial Steward would resort to petty theft.
They're really getting worse as they get older!
Half an hour later, Shen Zizhan walked out of the Hall of Diligent Governance.
Eunuch Wang greeted him with a smile as warmly as a chrysanthemum, saying, "Lord Shen, would you like to have a cup of tea in the side hall? The Imperial Tea Garden of Beiyuan has sent twenty cakes of Xiaolongfeng Tuan, the Inner Palace Service sent ten cakes to the Empress Dowager, and distributed five cakes to the members of the Imperial Clan. The Regent said that Lord Shen had done a good job in auditing the accounts in Zhongzhou, and specially instructed me to take two cakes back to your residence so that your family could have a taste."
Shen Zizhan smiled and said gently, "I have been away from the capital for over a month, and my mother is very worried about me. Therefore, I will not stay in the palace any longer. Please convey this message to the Prince. I would be extremely grateful."
Eunuch Wang hurriedly waved his whisk and said, "You're too kind, Lord Shen," before ordering the eunuch behind him to hand over a carved lacquer food box.
Shen Zizhan did not move. He frowned as he looked at the carved lacquer food box handed to him by the eunuch, and said, "This eunuch is probably mistaken. The food box I just gave you is made of ivory with peony patterns."
Upon hearing this, the eunuch's face immediately turned pale with panic. He knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly, wiping away tears as he begged for mercy.
"Lord Shen, I have failed in my duty and accidentally knocked over the food box you gave me. All the tea and snacks inside fell to the ground. I have no choice but to go to the Imperial Kitchen to get the exact same tea and snacks to make up for it."
Eunuch Wang's expression changed, and he kicked the young eunuch, angrily scolding, "You clumsy dog, you can't even do this simple task right now, get to the Department of Punishments and get your beating."
The young eunuch straightened his tobacco hat, scrambled to his feet, and scurried off to receive his punishment.
Shen Zizhan's expression was somewhat solemn. After a long silence, he slowly spoke: "Eunuch Wang, it's alright that the ivory food box was overturned. Please give the damaged food box and tea to me."
Eunuch Wang said with a fawning smile, "Lord Shen, we have already punished the servant who messed up the job, and we have also retrieved a replacement of the damaged tea and snacks from the Imperial Kitchen. If Lord Shen insists on having the original ivory food box, could you please specify where it came from? We can then go and fetch a brand new one for you!"
Shen Zizhan pressed his thin lips into a line, unable to utter a word.
If I tell her, it will get her into trouble.
He turned around, his gaze fixed on the three gleaming golden characters "Qinzheng Hall" on the plaque, a fleeting spark of light flashing in his amber eyes.
With his eyelashes lowered to conceal all his emotions, when he raised his eyes again, he still had the appearance of a handsome and gentle young man. Shen Zizhan said in a calm voice, "Since it is the tea and snacks from the Imperial Kitchen, then let it stay in the palace. I will take my leave."
"Oh... Lord Shen, you haven't taken the Little Dragon and Phoenix Troupe that the Regent Prince bestowed upon you yet!"
As he chased after him, shouting, he stopped after a while. The concerned look on his face slowly disappeared, replaced by a smug smile.
He calmly tucked the small dragon and phoenix ball into his sleeve, smacked his lips, and sighed:
"Hey, it just goes to show that old saying: food that people are fighting over is the most delicious!"
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