As they approached the entrance of Qingsi Palace, Yao Yupan's legs trembled within her skirt, her fingertips became stiff, and the heavy food box almost slipped from her hands.
She should not have been greedy for that mouthful of fish soup mixed with dogwood oil and pepper. It felt good when she drank it, but afterwards her stomach started to feel upset. Fortunately, it was just that her menstruation had come early this month. If there had been stomach problems, not only would she have had to spend money on medicine, she would also have had to be scolded by the female official.
As for why she came to Qingsi Palace, it was because Xie Wangzhi went to Lizheng Palace on her behalf. Qingsi Palace did not have the same rules as the Eastern Palace, but Xie Wangzhi took the risk after all, so to be fair, she had to go on his behalf.
Yao Yupan was still shaking, her steps were frozen, and Chang Zu at the door couldn't bear to watch, so he looked at her from a distance: "What's wrong?"
Chang Zu was wearing the clothes of a young eunuch, which made Yao Yupan even more frightened. She shivered for a long time, and in a panic, she actually told the truth: "…I am afraid."
Chang Zu was stunned, thinking that this was an honest man. Yao Yupan had a petite appearance, and was thin and small. She was trembling as she carried such a large food box, and looked really pitiful.
"What are you afraid of? Our Highness doesn't eat people." Chang Zu sighed and said kindly, "Go in, put your things down, and don't say anything. His Highness won't embarrass you."
After he said that, it was obvious that he couldn't escape, so Yao Yupan forced himself to calm down and walked towards the main hall.
Just as she stepped over the threshold and walked a few steps inside, she suddenly heard a voice: "Is it someone from the Shangshi Bureau?"
The voice was a little hoarse, different from the hoarseness of the eunuchs. It sounded like the natural change of a boy growing up, rustling, not unpleasant. Yao Yupan was stunned, forgetting the etiquette taught by the Shangyi Bureau, and looked up blankly.
When she looked up, she really saw a young man with a handsome face, a cold and beautiful appearance, and light amber eyes, like a cat.
In winter, people wear a lot of clothes, which always make them look bulky. Ladies who love beauty can do nothing about it, and can only tighten their waists. But this young man doesn't need to do that. His winter clothes are not thin, but his figure is still slender and straight, like a bamboo pole facing the wind, with a beautiful waist that makes people want to hug him.
Yao Yupan was stunned, and Chang Zu, who followed him into the room, was anxious: "His Highness is asking you a question, are you from the Imperial Food Bureau?"
Yao Yupan came back to her senses, uttered a small "ah", and nodded hurriedly: "Your Highness, I am from the Imperial Food Bureau, and I am here to deliver the meal."
"It wasn't you who did it?" Li Qishen said in a calm tone, but he was feeling depressed.
Normally, if the Imperial Food Bureau sent someone to deliver a meal, whoever cooked it would deliver it. He specifically asked someone to name the person. If Xie Wangzhi was so bold as to grab a palace maid to fool him, he would...
…It seems that there is nothing we can do.
Li Qishen thought for a while and thought that he might as well send Meiqiao. This broken cat doesn't know how to do anything else but is good at making people angry and will torture them to death.
He was thinking about other things. Yao Yupan was unsure what he meant, and her voice trembled: "No, it was done by the palace maid in my room. I served her food."
"Put it down."
Yao Yupan responded, put the food box on the table, and took out the food layer by layer. On the top were two steamed and mixed vegetarian dishes; the second layer was cherry cake and flatbread; at the bottom was a jar of mutton soup. When the lid was opened, hot steam escaped, a strong meaty aroma, pepper floating on the surface of the soup, and chunks of meat were vaguely visible in the soup.
After finishing playing one by one, Yao Yupan suddenly had an idea in her mind, prompting her to steal a glance at Li Qishen. She was timid after all, and did not dare to really look up. Li Qishen was standing again. This time she did not see his face, but only the soft ends of his hair, a few strands fell on his shoulders, mixed with the thin braids.
For some reason, Yao Yupan felt inexplicably disappointed: "I have finished the arrangement."
Li Qishen had no idea what she was thinking. He glanced at her and suddenly smiled when he saw the cherry blossom cake. He casually took off the jade pendant on his waist, handed it to Yao Yupan, and said calmly, "Give it to the palace maid who lives with you."
Yao Yupan was shocked: "This..."
"I like what she makes," Li Qishen said. "That's it."
“…Yes.” Yao Yupan took the jade pendant, carefully wrapped it in a handkerchief and put it in his arms, bowed, and walked out.
When she was about to leave the palace, she looked back in confusion. It was a very short glance and she only saw a patch of indigo behind the table.
"Don't look at it." The eunuch who came out with her handed over a reward silver, "You have one too."
Yao Yupan was shocked when the reward fell into her hands. She wanted to turn around and go into the palace to express her gratitude, but the eunuch grabbed her elbow and said, "Don't turn around and bother His Highness. Go quickly."
Yao Yupan responded, held the reward silver, saluted to the eunuch, turned around and walked towards the palace road.
This reward was a lot of silver, at least one ounce, which was equal to a little palace maid's monthly salary. There were still two months until the New Year, and with this silver, she could buy herself a lot of things. She should have been happy, but when she felt the jade pendant in her arms, she suddenly felt sad.
The jade pendant was untied from Li Qishen's waist, and the hand that was handed to her had well-proportioned bones and flesh, and was as white as a jade carving.
… are different.
**
After the hour of You, unless someone from any palace sent someone to serve meals, the food bureau would be closed, and would not prepare supper until the hour of Hai. The palace servants took advantage of this gap to eat. Xie Wangzhi made mutton soup at noon, and then went to Lizheng Palace again. He was blown by the cold wind all the way. At dinner, he couldn't help but stewed mutton soup for himself and ate it with bread.
Winter is the time to drink mutton soup. She is growing and her appetite has increased recently. She drank a little too much without noticing. After eating, she felt full and went out for a walk.
After all, it was night, so Xie Wangzhi did not dare to go far. He walked around the wall of the Shangshi Bureau, staring at the jade pendant in his hand as he walked.
This jade was brought back by Yao Yupan, who said it was a reward from His Highness the Seventh Prince. It was made of top-quality mutton-fat jade, shaped into a pendant with delicate lotus patterns. Xie Wangzhi was surprised when he got it. It wasn't because it was valuable, but it looked like a jade pendant worn close to the body. It was really strange to be rewarded for a meal.
Xie Wangzhi couldn't read minds, so the more he looked, the more worried he became. His brows were slightly furrowed, and he walked forward without paying attention and bumped into someone.
“… Sorry!” Her forehead hurt a little, she pressed it with one hand and apologized quickly, “It’s my fault, I didn’t see…”
"What are you looking at? You don't even look at the road?"
The voice sounded familiar. Xie Wang was stunned. He looked up and saw a familiar face. He had a natural coldness and tiny gold particles in the depths of his pupils.
She breathed a sigh of relief and handed the jade pendant in her hand to Changsheng: "I'm looking at this."
Changsheng took a look and asked knowingly: "Where did it come from?"
"It was given by the Seventh Prince of Qingsi Palace. Maybe he thought what I made suited his taste?" Xie Wangzhi took the jade pendant back and sighed, "But I still find it strange..."
"You don't like it?"
“… Not really. It’s always good to have a reward. I just think it’s a bit strange. My cooking skills are just average. Last time, I sent unripe cherry blossom cakes. I’m always worried that there is some other meaning…” Xie Wangzhi scratched his face, “After all, it’s very expensive.”
"Since I've given it to you, just keep it. Just think of it as a bargain." Changsheng smiled easily, "I'm out for a walk. Would you like to walk with me?"
Xie Wangzhi nodded, and then he found that Changsheng had the long handle of the lantern stuck in his arm. The palace lanterns were sparsely hung in this place, and he took out the lantern. There was an obvious halo in front of him, and the warm yellow light shone on his face, which was bright and dark, illuminating his thick eyelashes and amber pupils, and he seemed to be a little gentle in a trance.
Xie Wangzhi smiled for no reason, followed Changsheng through the palace wall, listened to the footsteps of the two people, and suddenly said: "In fact, I went to Lizheng Palace today."
Changsheng paused and asked casually, "Did you get the reward?"
"Yes, but it's not mine. I gave it to Yu Pan." Xie Wangzhi frowned, "Well, to be honest, I think Lizheng Hall is a bit strange."
"Compared to Qingsi Palace, which one is weirder?" Changsheng teased her deliberately.
"How can this be compared!" The Seventh Prince just gave a piece of jade for no apparent reason. Xie Wangzhi didn't dislike it, but Li Zhengdian really made her uncomfortable. She pursed her lips, "It's like this. I went there today, and the Crown Princess seemed to have severe morning sickness, and her face turned pale after vomiting. But the Crown Prince was not there, so I asked a eunuch, and the eunuch said that they never ate together."
This is an open secret, and Changsheng knew it early on: "What's wrong with this?"
"... They are husband and wife." Xie Wangzhi felt that Changsheng's reaction was too bland. "Although my mother passed away early, the lady who came in later and my father were still quite affectionate. For things like dining together, of course they should be together. Besides, the Crown Princess is still in such a bad mood, shouldn't I accompany her?"
"There are loving couples in the world, and there are also unloving couples." Changsheng looked ahead, "The Crown Princess is from the Lanling Xiao family. The Crown Prince married her just to help him. As for the Crown Princess..."
He suddenly smiled and said, "No choice."
Xie Wangzhi probably understood: "So the Crown Princess is also very pitiful."
"Not really. How many people want to marry into the Eastern Palace but fail to do so." Changsheng thought for a moment, "Oh, by the way, if you can avoid that place, don't go there. If you really can't avoid it, don't confront the Crown Prince."
"… Why?"
"The Crown Prince doesn't like the Crown Princess. Doesn't the Crown Princess know that? Since she married into the East Palace, she can only be tied to the Crown Prince. Think about it, what is she most afraid of?" Changsheng explained patiently, "She is pregnant, and if she gets suspicious, it will be very easy for her to torment you."
Xie Wangzhi swallowed, touched his face, and looked down at himself: "Not really... I'm just a palace maid, I don't think the prince can even see me."
"Two years ago, when the Crown Princess was pregnant with our eldest daughter, she beat a palace maid to death for no reason. She was only thirteen years old." Changsheng sneered, "She gave birth prematurely that night, and our eldest daughter has been in poor health ever since. People in the palace said it was karma."
Xie Wangzhi felt a little sorry for the young prince. He swallowed and asked tentatively, "Changsheng, why do you know so much?"
"There are no impenetrable walls in the palace. It's easy to find out what you want to know." Changsheng stopped and turned to look at the girl next to him. "Talk less and listen more. You will know everything you want to know."