The group from the Yun Wangfu1Prince’s Residence or like Royal Residence settled like this. The spacious courtyard was tidied up and cleaned, almost ready for moving in. Throughout the day, Yin Minglu only needed to eat and drink without much else to do.
On this day, the moment he had been looking forward to the most, the lunchtime, arrived again. The palace maid who came from the imperial kitchen waved her hand, and immediately, she opened the food box and displayed a variety of exquisite and sumptuous dishes.
Seven or eight main dishes, three or four side dishes, plus two bowls of stewed soup were placed on the table, making it a dazzling sight. Seeing this, Yin Minglu, who had been eating plain tofu for three years, immediately brightened his eyes. He picked up his chopsticks and started eating, thinking to himself that he hadn’t had meat in a long time. If he was going to be monitored in the palace, then holding onto the emperor’s thigh was the real deal.
Seeing the master happy, Xiao Man and the other Yun Wangfu attendants handed over a purse as a token of appreciation.
The palace maid accepted it with both hands, discreetly pinched the thickness, and then smiled and thanked them. However, secretly, she was muttering to herself, thinking that the Yun Wangye was quite stingy. For rewarding a servant, he only gave three or four copper coins. It was unheard of, and she wondered how he had gained the favor of the Emperor.
Yin Minglu didn’t know what the palace maid was thinking, Otherwise he would probably have taken out his own and pitifully said, “Look at my pouch; it’s flat and poor. Shaking it won’t even drop three or four copper coins.”
After finishing lunch, Xiao Man wanted to assist Yin Minglu in changing clothes and resting. He knew that the young master had limited energy and often felt drowsy after a satisfying meal, wanting to take a short nap. At such times, he would stand by and fan the young master, creating a natural breeze to make his sleep more comfortable.
As for occasionally dozing off while fanning, it was a common occurrence, but the young master never punished him. The bond between the two of them was extremely deep. Moreover, living in the palace now, everything was more luxurious than it had been at the Yun Wangfu. They had fewer restrictions, the work was easier, and Emperor Jing didn’t restrain them. They could freely leave the palace. These heavenly days had made Xiao Man joyful for several days already, and he wished to settle down here with the young master.
Today was no different. After Yin Minglu let out a satisfying burp and a small yawn, it seemed he was getting sleepy. However, he raised his little hand slightly, stopping Xiao Man from helping him change clothes, and said, “Let’s not rush. We’ll go greet His Majesty and then come back for a nap.”
Even just to say “good afternoon” would be good.
They didn’t forget the people who had helped them along the way. Enjoying their good days, they naturally needed to show their appreciation (butter up) from time to time.
Under the scorching sun, the master and servant walked a distance and were quickly summoned by Emperor Jing in front of the Yangxin Palace.2“Yangxin” (养心) in Chinese can be translated to mean “nourish the heart” or “care for the heart.”; I guess Yangxin Palace is where Xie Yan dines or do some activities or rest
As they entered, they noticed the food spread out in the warm pavilion, and the little one realized something was amiss. How come it had taken so long, and Emperor Jing hadn’t started eating yet?
The table was filled with exquisite dishes, each dish beautifully arranged on golden and silver plates or white porcelain bowls, looking exceptionally tempting. They had thought their own meals were already quite good, but when compared to the Emperor’s, there was a noticeable difference. It was like heaven and earth, not to mention the various snacks, porridge, and fruits on the side. It seemed like everyone in the common folk would wish to be born into a royal family just to enjoy delicacies like these every day.
Clearly, the food had been set out for some time, but Emperor Jing showed no interest and hadn’t touched a single chopstick. The problem was, even though he didn’t eat, the palace attendants were still there, along with some kitchen staff waiting for his approval, all hoping that the Emperor would take a bite.
Initially, Emperor Jing had been wondering about Yin Minglu’s intentions, his dark phoenix-like eyes showing a hint of inquiry. However, he soon got his answer amidst the young boy’s flattery.
As a matter of courtesy, Emperor Jing set aside the memorial in his hand and turned to the young prince. “Minglu, have you been well these days?”
He immediately realized that he had asked a redundant question. After all, Yin Minglu, Yun Wang’s heir who is ten years old this year, had spent some time in the palace, and his originally slender face had visibly filled out, making him look even fairer and more adorable. Clearly, he had been living quite comfortably, enjoying good food and accommodations.
“Why isn’t Your Majesty dining? Don’t you have an appetite? You’re usually so busy with state affairs, but your health is important. You mustn’t neglect your stomach!” After bowing respectfully, the young prince asked with concern, as all this food would go to waste if not eaten!
Upon hearing the mention of dining, Xie Yan’s smile, which had been lingering at the corner of his mouth, faded slightly. His lack of appetite was not a recent development, and facing the abundant palace dishes, he felt a sense of aversion and weariness. However, as he looked down from his high position and saw the expression in Yun Wangye’s eyes, he couldn’t help but find it somewhat amusing.
After the young prince’s words, he thought he was being discreet with his gaze, but he couldn’t help but steal a few glances at the dishes. Before he knew it, he almost let saliva flow uncontrollably, and his wide eyes betrayed a hint of longing.
To his surprise, he suddenly developed an appetite despite his initial lack of one.
The Chief Eunuch, Wang Gonggong, didn’t pay much attention to the Emperor’s expression. He thought to himself, “Yun Wangye always talks nonsense. These kind words, who among us serving the Emperor hasn’t said them? But His Majesty just didn’t have an appetite, what could we do! I guess in half an hour, this table will have to be removed completely undisturbed.”
However, unexpectedly, Emperor Jing went against his usual behavior and said, “Someone, attend to me for a meal.”
???
This was completely unexpected. Wang Gonggong was slow to react for a moment, then quickly called for the palace attendants who had been waiting for the Emperor to come and help clean the Emperor’s hands and serve the meal. After a series of orderly arrangements, Wang Gonggong still couldn’t understand why the Emperor suddenly wanted to eat, so he could only attribute it to Yun Wangye. He thought, “This young prince is something else, he knows how to flatter even at such a young age, and it seems to be working. It’s probably because of his young age, he naturally has an advantage in flattering.”
When the Emperor wanted to dine, everyone in the room immediately gathered to serve, including Yin Minglu.
Emperor Jing made a symbolic gesture with his chopsticks and politely inquired, “Minglu, did you have a meal before coming here?”
Minglu’s face was filled with longing, as if as long as the Emperor allowed him to dine with the Emperor, he could devour the entire table in one breath. But facing the Emperor’s question, he nodded reluctantly. In truth, he wasn’t hungry, but seeing the sumptuous palace delicacies laid out on the table and smelling the enticing aroma in the air had made him a bit hungry.
Emperor Jing coughed a few times, pretending to be regretful, and said, “That’s truly unfortunate; I can’t let you dine now.”
The young boy shook his head again with apparent difficulty, as if he truly didn’t mind. However, his chopsticks remained in place, and Yun Wangye’s gaze inadvertently followed suit, touching a plate of cold dishes on the left. Emperor Jing couldn’t help but smile inwardly, finding it amusing to tease a child.
He signaled to the people around him with his eyes. As an experienced servant to the emperor, Wang Gonggong was skilled at deciphering the emperor’s intentions. Upon receiving the signal, he instantly understood and began his performance, saying, “Your Majesty, this dish of crispy duck was prepared by the Imperial Kitchen, following a traditional recipe passed down through generations. Its crispy and tender texture is truly a masterpiece of the capital.”
Crispy duck, crispy, fragrant – it seemed as if he hadn’t been tempted at all. The young prince stared at the duck with a serious expression, but there was a suspicious glint in the corner of his mouth when no one was looking.
The Emperor nodded, and his chopsticks moved on to the next dish.
Wang Gonggong continued, “Your Majesty has a discerning eye. This golden dish is called ‘Fried Buddha’s Hand.’ The ingredients are carefully selected, using the well-fed and strong-bodied mountain boars from Mount Xiaoshan, using the finest portions extracted from their muscles and bones, prepared in a ratio of four fat to six lean. Please taste it; you’ll find it both crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a delightful chewiness.”
The Emperor took a bite and confirmed, “Indeed, it is.”
“Now, Your Majesty, please try this eggplant dish. Although it’s a vegetarian dish, it has been stewed personally by the kitchen staff with thirty kinds of chicken broth. I’m sure the flavor is so delicious that one might not even be able to tell whether the taste comes from the chicken broth or the eggplant itself.”
Upon hearing this, the young prince’s face completely fell, and he began fidgeting with his clothing corners, regretting that he had chosen to come during the Emperor’s mealtime.
While looking at his expression, Xie Yan found that he was actually feeling quite hungry. Normally, he had a very small appetite, but today, unexpectedly, he had a hearty appetite. He ate two large bowls of food and even rewarded the kitchen staff, leaving those around him pleasantly surprised.
Wang Gonggong noticed this and specifically instructed those attending to him to invite Yun Wangye for observation during future lunch times.
On the other side, at the poetry banquet, a young maiden with a charming updo and captivating beauty made her entrance. Everyone couldn’t help but be drawn to her and were captivated by her outstanding grace and charm, thinking to themselves, “Miss Qin3Qin Manman’s older sister is indeed exceptionally beautiful, like a hidden beauty revealed under the moonlight.”
Miss Qin became the center of attention in the entire hall.
Seeing this, Qin Manman raised her eyebrows as if in thought, and casually uttered, “Ah, time passes quickly, and beauty can be fleeting, like cherries turning red and bananas ripening.”
Immediately, she redirected everyone’s attention away from herself. The poets, after pondering her words, became excited and refocused their admiration on Second Miss Qin, who possessed both beauty and talent.
After all, beautiful appearances could be found everywhere, but a soul with true talent was truly unique.
Among these people, the son of the Minister, Li Gongzi4Young Master, had the most complex and conflicted feelings. It was true that he had grown up with Miss Qin since childhood, and their families had a longstanding verbal engagement. He was also deeply enamored by Miss Qin’s unparalleled beauty. However, emotionally, he had gradually been drawn to Miss Qin’s younger sister.
Especially since the younger sister had once sent him a letter in private, which read, “The sea of human emotions is deep, incomparable to the depth of longing. The sea has its limits, but longing knows no bounds.” He had immediately become infatuated and lost in thought, thinking of the melancholic glances Miss Qin’s younger sister often cast at him from the corridor. While her appearance might not be as stunning as her older sister’s, she possessed a charming and lively allure that was quite endearing.
That night, he stood by a banana tree5at first I thought I made a mistake but nope it really was a banana tree lol, lost in thought for a long time, contemplating how to decline the marriage arranged by his parents. He had wronged Miss Qin, and he acknowledged that, but in his life, he should have the courage to pursue the woman he desired and admired.
Next to Miss Qin’s younger sister, he could feel a deep emotional connection, as if their souls were colliding. Her gaze towards him was filled with admiration. They shared common interests and hobbies, such as savoring literature, playing musical instruments, singing songs, and appreciating flowers and birds together.
Everyone surrounded the young maiden, including Miss Qin’s fiancé. In front of the young maiden, all the other young ladies who couldn’t compose poetry seemed ordinary and awkward, possessing beauty without spirit.
The maidservant watched her silent mistress and felt sorry for her. Miss Qin’s younger sister knew that Li Gongzi was her older sister’s beloved, yet she flirted with him so openly. Wasn’t this intentional? She was well aware that she would be entering the palace for selection next year, so how could she act so immodestly? She didn’t display even a hint of a young lady’s reserve.
“Could it be that my sister is trying to push me into the palace?”
If the Li family did indeed cancel this marriage arrangement, then she would only have one option left—to enter the palace for selection. Thinking about her younger sister’s dramatic change in temperament after the incident by the river, Qin Shanshan sighed, lightly twisting her handkerchief, her eyes revealing a trace of worry. To make matters worse, her sister seemed to believe that she was the one who had pushed her into the water and had been antagonistic towards her ever since she woke up.
Little did she know that her own younger sister was indeed trying to force her into the palace. And it didn’t stop at just getting her into the palace; she also wanted her older sister to witness how she thrived and enjoyed the favor within the palace.
Author’s note: I’m sorry for the late update! I went to my sister’s house for dinner and didn’t have time to update. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!
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