The water snakes turned into dragons, cloud-riding in the fire and water, carrying the intense, sour, spicy aroma that silently roared and spread wildly through the palace.
The Crown Prince, drawn by the sour and spicy smell, eagerly summoned someone to urge the Imperial Kitchen to make such food.
But the Imperial Kitchen could only cry in response.
The little eunuch who reported came with a runny nose and tears.
“Your Highness, no matter how many heads we had, we couldn’t serve you well. The Golden Grain that can make such delicacies is only available in Yanxi Palace, Shoukang Palace, and Qianqing Palace…”
Yinreng wanted to cry out loud.
In the past, whenever good things came into the palace, even if Father kept little for himself, they would be sent to Yuqing Palace.
But now, after smelling that aroma for days, he couldn’t eat well or sleep soundly, yet Yuqing Palace remained silent.
Was Father really giving up on him?
Originally, Yinreng did not think much of the incident where Heshili’s spies targeted Noble Consort Zhaoyuan.
Born and raised in the palace, both masters and servants understood one truth:
Many matters had no right or wrong, only pros and cons.
He was only trying to keep his position as Crown Prince unshaken.
Whether forced to admit fault, cry before Kangxi, or be punished behind closed doors in Yuqing Palace, it was just a matter of winning or losing.
Because the Imperial Household Department and Ling Pu were there, no one dared neglect him; on the contrary, they served him even more attentively, fearing to bring bad luck to the Crown Prince.
But now, finding Yuqing Palace excluded by Kangxi, Yinreng suddenly panicked.
He couldn’t even pay attention to his grumbling belly, his heartbeat so fast that his vision darkened.
‘Was Noble Consort Zhaoyuan really that important to Father?’
Why didn’t Kangxi consider the Crown Prince’s difficulties?
Was the Crown prince really no longer the most important person in Kangxi’s heart?
With Third Prince disgraced, what would he do next?
Countless questions roared through Yinreng’s mind, keeping him awake at night.
That night, Yinreng fell ill.
Kangxi was originally carefully reading war reports sent back by Fuquan from Beimeng, but upon hearing Yuqing Palace had called the imperial doctors, he immediately put down the memorial and rushed to Yuqing Palace out of concern for the son he had raised from infancy.
The doctor sent to see Yinreng was Lu Wuning, who had already reported to Kangxi after treating him.
“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince’s spleen and stomach are weak, with insufficient qi and blood. Coupled with excessive worry, he caught a cold wind causing a wind-cold infection. With more easily digestible foods and several courses of medicine, he should recover quickly.”
In other words, this illness was purely caused by hunger?
Kangxi: “…..”
His expression immediately turned furious.
“How are the servants in Yuqing Palace attending to him? Does the Crown Prince not even get proper meals?”
“Guards! Immediately send those incompetent servants to the Office Of Punishment and Investigation, and replace them with those who know how to serve—”
“Father!” Yinreng called out in a sob, cutting off Kangxi’s words.
“Father, don’t blame them; your son was willful, wah wah~”
Kangxi entered the bedchamber with a displeased look, “You know you’re willful yet reckless, not taking care of your body. How would people see you as the heir if word got out?”
Yinreng, hearing Kangxi still scolded him, burst into tears, burying his face in the pillow, sobbing uncontrollably.
“I don’t want this either, wah wah~ but every day such delicious smells come from Yanxi Palace, I can’t eat the kitchen’s food, wah wah~”
“Before it was tolerable, but these days I wake up to the smell, and even when I close my eyes, it’s still there. I can’t eat it, so what meaning does being Crown Prince have, wah wah~”
Kangxi: “…..”
‘Such spirit!’
Jiujiu was too young to eat sour and spicy noodles and had already cried several times in Yanxi Palace, forcing Fang He to go eat at Qianqing Palace.
This had stirred many ministers to stretch their necks, asking around discreetly.
Kangxi, planning for the new year, was holding off, thinking to reveal the delicacies at the New Year’s Eve palace banquet to surprise the princes and ministers.
Unexpectedly, with more than ten days left before the new year, someone else had already pined and cried over it here.
Jiujiu was only two years old—how old was Yinreng?
Kangxi couldn’t bear to watch, turning to Lu Wuning, “When can the Crown Prince’s illness improve enough to eat spicy food?”
Lu Wuning thought for a moment and bowed, “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince was beaten earlier and had some fever. It will take about ten days…”
Yinreng’s cries stopped for a moment.
The beatings were because of Noble Consort Zhaoyuan, and the cravings too, as well as Father’s favoritism…
Why did he have to oppose Noble Consort Zhaoyuan?!!
He cried even harder, mumbling to Kangxi, “Father, I know I was wrong. I won’t disrespect Noble Consort Zhaoyuan anymore, wah wah~”
Kangxi: “…”
It seems the Golden Grain works better than the stick.
They say that when the twelfth lunar month arrives, the New Year is near—this is true.
Fang He took Jiujiu to eat and drink, sometimes playing with her.
When Jiujiu went to Shoukang Palace, Fang He enjoyed delicious food herself.
Before she finished all the dishes that impressed her the most, the New Year’s Eve palace banquet arrived.
This time Fang He no longer had to lament or feel melancholic.
Noble Consort Wenxi had quieted down in Yongshou Palace, and the other consorts, especially Consort Hui and Consort Rong, whose families had nearly begged Kangxi to strip them bare, had become even more obedient.
Fang He didn’t wear her big ceremonial robes this time.
Her noble consort palace dresses didn’t fit her pregnant belly anyway.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t afford suitable palace clothes for pregnancy, but after giving birth to this child, she didn’t plan to have another for a while.
Even if it wasn’t a boy, she would need to nurse for two or three years and sort out the issue of leaving the palace first.
So she just wore the light blue plain robe Xinzi made for her and went to Shoukang Palace to speak with the Empress Dowager.
“With that silver, it’s better to disperse it in Shuntian Prefecture and give a few bowls of porridge sturdy enough to hold chopsticks to those affected by the snow disaster. At least the homeless can have a good New Year.”
“I heard from Yin Tang that a few days ago, the Emperor took them out to visit the people. Some couldn’t even afford shoes, their feet were frozen.”
“The houses collapsed under the snow; they can only live in shacks, their lives are impossible.”
The Empress Dowager listened with an expression full of sympathy, mumbling a few words in Mongolian, praying for Eternal Heaven’s protection.
“Tomorrow, I will ask Chang Mao to send some silver to the Emperor so he can help rebuild the houses for these people. Otherwise, when the snow falls again, more will freeze to death.”
Fang He sighed, “It’s so cold; building houses is hard. Even with work-for-relief programs, it has to wait for warmer weather.”
“Thinking of them going hungry and cold outside, I want to eat two bowls less myself.”
Empress Dowager: “…”
How many bowls do you eat at one time now?
She reminded Wuyunzhu to take extra care of Fang He, “You’re due in three months; don’t eat too much or the delivery will be difficult.”
“As for the disaster victims, the Emperor surely has plans. Don’t worry too much.”
Fang He obediently agreed, then quietly asked the Empress Dowager.
“I really can’t bear to see it. The Emperor gave me quite a few estates before; I was thinking of planting more grain there. Why not have the people work on the estates first and call them back when it gets warmer?”
“But I’m worried about the more vicious ones causing trouble. Could you issue an order to send some eunuchs to guard the estates?”
The Empress Dowager found nothing wrong with this and nodded with a smile:
“I will inform the Emperor. After the fifth day of the new year, I will issue an edict, and this matter will be entrusted to you.”
Having tested Kangxi earlier, Fang He had decided to cooperate with Concubine Jing.
But solving the problem of selecting palace maids and the consorts’ issues wasn’t simple; many things had to be handled outside the palace.
Concubine Jing said she could be responsible for this part, but couldn’t openly move people in and out of the palace.
That was why Fang He came to the Empress Dowager to seek the imperial decree.
With the most critical issue of leaving the palace resolved, Fang He breathed a sigh of relief and immediately showered the Empress Dowager with flattering words.
Jiujiu, unwilling to be outdone, covered her little chest, her heartbeat loud, and dribbled saliva, presenting her own damp filial piety to the Empress Dowager.
This made the Empress Dowager beam with joy.
Just as she thought the time was right, Kangxi arrived from Hongde Hall.
When everyone greeted the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Noble Consort Zhaoyuan, they found this time the Emperor was standing in the middle, supporting both the Empress Dowager and Noble Consort Zhaoyuan by the arms.
Everyone was shocked, recalling last year’s events, and looked at the Tong brothers, Tong Guogang and Tong Guowei.
Last year, they thought the Emperor treated Concubine Jing differently from others, but no matter how different, it was only a matter of trivial face.
Now the Emperor’s actions made everyone understand that he regarded the Empress Dowager and Noble Consort Zhaoyuan as equally important.
This was not mere face—it was respect.
Tong Guogang’s expression remained unchanged; Tong Guowei’s was slightly dark as he glanced at Concubine Jing, both maintaining composure.
After all these years, who didn’t know the Emperor’s favor for Noble Consort Zhaoyuan? Even after more time, no one would be surprised.
Now they could change nothing.
Earlier, the Emperor had severely punished Prince Yu and reprimanded many generals of the Eastern Route Army after Gualdan’s escape, even punishing a large group of officials who didn’t go along.
No one dared challenge the Emperor’s authority.
Since they could only keep quiet for now, everyone kept their temper, allowing the palace banquet to proceed lively and without incident.
What’s the rush?
Even if Noble Consort Zhaoyuan was favored now, could she remain so forever?
Next year was the selection of new palace maids; once newcomers arrived, who could guarantee no new Noble Consort Zhaoyuan would appear?
Just one year—they could wait.
Some people, listening to the silk and bamboo music, gazed half-dazed at the performers dancing inside the hall, scheming quietly, only to be brought back to reality by a domineering strong aroma of meat and spicy fragrance.
Eunuchs and maids carefully carried dishes, quietly entering the hall in neat rows.
But this time, they didn’t bring the usual pretty-looking steamed dishes.
The first dish was the main course—literally, a dish of Northeast-style mixed stew called “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” served in a silver bowl.
The Imperial Kitchen chefs had prepared beef shank meat in the shape of a dragon.
Beef, which didn’t fear slow cooking, was stewed with spices and chili oil with Zanthoxylum, becoming more fragrant with time.
Just before the banquet started, steamed golden beans carved into tiger shapes were added, guarding the dragon-shaped beef on both sides.
The golden beans and beef soaked in the brown, rich broth, steamed with rising vapor, creating an air of mystery.
Next, two silver platters were brought in.
One was the “Dragon and Phoenix Auspicious” version of corn cakes, a dish delicious whether hot or cold.
Corn kernels were embedded distinctly in the sticky rice cake base; they never changed shape without steaming.
Prepared beforehand, they were served cold as an appetizer.
The other was Kangxi’s favorite Wolf Fang Potato Chips, with the potato strips fried to be crispier once cooled.
Before the banquet began, spicy sauce was poured over and mixed, allowing the sauce to slowly soak into the crispy potato strips.
One bite, the crispiness and softness exploded in the mouth, enhanced by the numbing spiciness—so delicious it almost made one’s head soar.
Ailing’a clapped his thighs and shouted, “This is what people should eat! Why wasn’t it brought out earlier?”
His wife pinched him hard, still not drunk, warning him not to say whatever he liked.
“This is food for people. What was before?”
The dishes steamed before were eaten by the Emperor too.
If the Emperor took it seriously, Ailing’a would have been punished for great disrespect.
Ailing’a cried out and awkwardly got up to kneel before Kangxi.
“I spoke nonsense. Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I just think this food pairs so well with wine.”
He couldn’t help but ask, “May I ask Your Majesty, why didn’t the capital know of such delicacies before?”
The tingling spicy flavor combined with fiery wine sent chills down the spine, spreading comfort inside and out.
For a connoisseur like Ailing’a, it was priceless.
No matter where it came from, he had to get some.
Kangxi was not angry and smiled, calling Ailing’a to rise.
“I only just got these new grains; not only are they delicious, but their yield is at least five times that of rice.”
The ministers, who had been eating without raising their heads, all stiffened, many excitedly standing up.
Even the usually calm and self-controlled Nalan Mingzhu and the Crown Prince looked thrilled.
“Your Majesty/Father, is this true?”
Kangxi was not surprised by their astonishment.
He exchanged a glance with Fang He, both flashing a slight smile.
‘With this little scoundrel’s prank memorial sent to the front, they still had many moments to get excited about tonight.’