Chapter 48 Crab Feast
She picked up the chopsticks, picked up a piece of food, and put it into her mouth mechanically. It tasted like chewing wax.
At the same time, in Hibiscus Garden.
Song Qingyuan was sitting by the window, holding a freshly embroidered sachet in her hand, examining it carefully. The sachet was embroidered with a cluster of orchids, the stitching fine and lifelike.
Her maid, Caiwei, who came with her as a dowry, was reporting in a low voice what had happened in the kitchen and Qingxin Cottage.
“…The prince went to Qingxin Cottage and, instead of blaming the princess, he praised her for her understanding of the greater good and reprimanded Concubine Wen for her pettiness.
I heard that Madam Wen was so angry that her face turned pale, and she only took a few bites of her dinner." Caiwei's tone was filled with a hint of gloating.
Song Qingyuan smiled faintly, put the sachet to his nose and sniffed it, and a fresh and elegant fragrance lingered.
"The princess's move was to make a show of force and frighten the tiger. She not only established her authority but also gained real power. She also made the prince think she was virtuous. It was really a brilliant move." She said softly, but there was no emotion in her eyes.
Caiwei was a little puzzled: "Your Majesty, now that the princess has stepped forward and suppressed Concubine Wen, isn't that a good thing for us? Why are you not happy at all?"
Song Qingyuan put down the sachet and looked up at her with a clear and profound gaze. "It's certainly a good thing that a wolf is locked in a cage. But don't forget, there's also a fierce tiger in this mansion. When wolves and tigers fight, those of us caught in the middle should be the most careful."
She paused, then changed the subject: "What did you say about Aunt Liu?"
Caiwei quickly replied, "I have already gone there as you instructed.
I told Madam Liu that while I must obey the princess's orders, her health wasn't great either, and I couldn't really give all the good things in her allotment to Qingxin Cottage. I told her to figure it out for herself, be more flexible, and consider the princess's health more.
If the princess asks, just say that I felt sorry for her and acted on my own."
Song Qingyuan nodded in satisfaction. This was her small test of Madam Liu's loyalty. Madam Liu was her dowry, so theoretically, she was the one who should listen to her.
But now in the palace, Cui Jingyue was the real master. If Liu Ma completely obeyed Cui Jingyue, it meant that her heart had changed; if she could compromise on this matter and favor herself, it meant that this thread was still firmly in her hands.
"Well done." Song Qingyuan picked up the sachet again, his fingertips gently stroking the orchid pattern on it. "This mansion will soon be bustling with activity. We can just watch the show."
The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and a crescent moon hung high above the sky, its cool light filling the entire Jing'an Palace. Beneath this radiance, some were happy, some were sad, and even more, there was an invisible undercurrent.
The days passed one by one.
Qingxin Cottage had become a completely isolated island, imprisoned by invisible walls. For each of the three meals a day, the eunuchs from the main courtyard arrived, their food boxes in hand, as if they were attending court. In front of the entire room, they would meticulously test each dish with a silver needle before respectfully inviting Madam Wen to eat.
This process is not so much a protection as it is a form of torture that goes deep into the bone marrow day after day.
Wen Yue's temper grew increasingly violent. At first, she'd throw things and curse the servants. Eventually, she lost even the energy to curse. It was as if her entire being had been drained of energy. She would often sit for long periods, staring blankly out the window. Her cheeks were visibly thinning, making her eyes grow larger and more resentful.
The child in her womb not only failed to bring her glory and stability, but instead became a shackle around her neck, preventing her from moving.
It was a hot afternoon that day, and Wen Yue slumped over on the couch, feeling a tightness in her stomach, and everything she ate nauseous. She suddenly remembered how the prince had taken her to a villa outside Beijing last autumn, where they had eaten hairy crabs from Yangcheng Lake. They had been so delicious, their roe so plump and golden, and incredibly fresh.
A strong desire suddenly surged in my heart, and I couldn't suppress it.
"Thrush," she called out weakly.
Huamei quickly stepped forward and said, "My Lady, what do you want me to do?"
"I want to eat crabs. I want the freshest ones, steamed." Wen Yue licked his cracked lips, and a glimmer of light finally appeared in his eyes.
Huamei's face instantly fell, and she said in embarrassment, "Your Majesty, this...this crab is cold in nature. You are pregnant now, and the imperial physician has repeatedly warned you not to touch it. Besides, this is not the season for eating crabs. The princess will definitely not approve."
"I don't care!" Wen Yue sat up suddenly and grabbed Huamei's wrist with astonishing strength. "I just want to eat! I can't eat anything else right now, I just want this! If you can't get it, I'll... I'll die!"
She became very emotional, her eyes were red, and she looked crazy.
Huamei was terrified. She knew that her master had been in a bad mood and mentally unstable for a while. If he did something stupid, she would not be able to bear the consequences.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I... I will find a solution right away!" Huamei kept comforting her, broke free from her hand, and ran out in a panic.
She didn't dare go directly to the kitchen to find Madam Liu, knowing she would be scolded. Her eyes rolled, and she remembered a kitchen servant named Xiao Dezi. He wasn't very clean, but he was a bit unscrupulous. He made a lot of money by secretly buying things for the servants of the various courtyards.
Huamei put the few taels of silver she had saved into her pocket and secretly found Xiao Dezi who was chopping firewood at the back door.
"Xiao Dezi, do me a favor." She stuffed the silver into Xiao Dezi's hand and said in a low voice, "Our queen wants to eat crabs, alive and fresh. Can you find a way to get two in from outside? The price is negotiable."
Xiao Dezi weighed the silver in his hand, his eyes lit up, and he chuckled, "Sister Huamei, this is a rare job. But don't worry, I'll take care of it. In the evening, you can just have a little girl wait at the corner gate behind Qingxin Cottage."
Huamei repeatedly warned him to make sure he did it secretly, and then he went back with a very anxious heart.
As soon as she left, Xiao Dezi's smile turned strange. He put the silver in his arms, but did not leave the house immediately. Instead, he walked around and strolled to the back wall of Furong Garden. He looked at a loose brick in the corner and imitated the cuckoo's call three times.
After a moment, the brick was pulled out and Caiwei's face was revealed.
Xiao Dezi told him everything about Huamei looking for him.
After hearing this, Caiwei calmly pulled out a small string of copper coins from her bosom and handed it over. "I see. You did a great job. Buy the crabs, but remember, you must let someone else in the kitchen see you bring the crabs in, besides Madam Liu."
Xiao Dezi took the money, nodded in understanding, and said with a flattering smile: "Don't worry, Sister Caiwei, I understand."
In Hibiscus Garden, Song Qingyuan was listening to Caiwei's report.
"Crab?" Song Qingyuan's lips curled up into a playful smile. "Is Wen Yue really stupid, or is he being pushed into a corner and starting to take a risky move?"
Caiwei said, "From my perspective, she's probably crazy. Everyone knows that pregnant women shouldn't eat crabs. Isn't she jumping into the fire? Your Majesty, what should we do now? Should we tell the princess about this?"
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