In the scattered rays of sunlight, a beautiful and charming young lady appeared, dressed in a pink gown, gracefully walking into the bright light.
"This concubine pays respects to the Empress Mother. Last night, this concubine was frightened and fell ill, causing my tardiness. I beg the Empress Mother's forgiveness," she said humbly, giving Consort Jiang a slap in the face while greatly flattering Empress Zhu.
Empress Zhu was pleased to return the favor, "Noble Consort Zhen need not be so formal. Rise and be seated. Although Concubine Chu acted outrageously last night, the Emperor favors you. Now that you are well, I shall have the Imperial Household Department help you move into the Hexi Palace."
"Move into the palace?" Everyone except for Consort Liang and Consort De, who already knew of this matter and remained expressionless, were surprised.
Although Concubine Li did not show it, she was also very astonished in her heart. The Emperor had not visited the Xihan Palace for seven days and had instead favored Noble Consort Su, who resided in Consort De's quarters. She had thought the Emperor's new infatuation had passed.
How did this matter of moving into the palace happen without her knowledge?
Concubine Li tapped her fingernail guards, "The Empress Mother shows great kindness to Noble Consort Zhen, which is her fortune. However, for such a significant matter as moving into the palace, should the Empress Mother not consult the Emperor's wishes first?"
Jiang Xinyue thought that while Concubine Li could keep her composure, she was no match for Empress Zhu.
Concubine Li's question was exactly what Empress Zhu wanted to hear.
The Empress Mother smiled slightly, in a pleasant mood, "Although I am the Empress, as Concubine Li said, for such a significant matter as moving into the palace, how could I make the decision alone? Noble Consort Zhen's move into the Hexi Palace is by the Emperor's direct imperial decree."
The long fingernail guards pierced Concubine Li's palm, yet she did not feel pain. She smiled coldly, "Then congratulations to Noble Consort Zhen. The Hexi Palace is merely a stone's throw away from the Chengqian Palace. The Emperor truly dotes on you."
All the concubines in the room looked at Jiang Xinyue with envy and jealousy.
Jiang Xinyue thought to herself, the Empress Mother had brought up Concubine Chu's attempt to harm her, yet everyone in the Hexi Palace was focused on the Emperor's decision to let her move into the Hexi Palace.
She could only sigh and feign a startled demeanor, acting overly dramatic, "Concubine Li is unaware that last night, the Emperor visited the Xihan Palace with a lantern and saw that this concubine was so terrified by Concubine Chu's actions that she had lost her wits. He was furious, saying that there were those in the palace practicing witchcraft without any regard for the Emperor. This concubine has been fortunate in my misfortune, and I must thank Concubine Chu... oh no, I mean I must thank the criminal servant Chu!"
Concubine Chu? Everyone then realized that Concubine Chu had not come to pay respects to the Empress Mother.
Empress Zhu took this opportunity to announce that the Emperor had demoted Concubine Chu to a lowly maid and banished her to the Criminal Servants' Prison as a slave.
She did not forget to warn the other consorts, "I have repeatedly reminded you all to live in harmony and not engage in any unsavory schemes behind each other's backs. Chu did not listen, and this is her fate. Do not think that only you are clever and view others as fools. Our wise and martial Emperor does not tolerate any impurities."
This veiled reprimand was highly sophisticated.
Jiang Xinyue gently bowed, "This concubine shall abide by the Empress Mother's teachings."
With her leading the way, whether willingly or not, all the other women had to follow and bow in submission.
Empress Zhu was extremely satisfied with the result, and when the Imperial Household Department came to assist Jiang Xinyue in moving into the Hexi Palace, they were exceptionally attentive and diligent.
As long as Jiang Xinyue's requests were reasonable, they fulfilled them all.
Of course, Jiang Xinyue herself was not one to take advantage of the situation. All her requests were aimed at winning the Xuanwu Emperor's favor.
The Hexi Palace was not as austerely elegant as the Yikun Palace nor as exquisitely luxurious as the Changxin Palace, but it exuded a warmth and childlike charm throughout.
A beautiful swing was set up under the wisteria trellis, and beside the swing was a small wooden house from which the sound of puppy whimpering could be heard.
In the front courtyard garden, the beautiful flowers were planted together on one side, blooming closely packed. On the other side, the soil had been freshly turned, and a few eunuchs and palace maids were watering the ground.
The head eunuch, Wang Dequan, was supervising the work, "Be careful, everyone. Our lord has said that whoever is responsible for the vegetables and fruits ripening first in autumn will be greatly rewarded."
Just as everyone thought that the Emperor would surely visit Noble Consort Zhen's residence that night since she had just moved into the Hexi Palace, unexpectedly, the one favored was Noble Consort Su from the side palace of the Yanqing Palace.
Xi Que and Shuang Jiang were afraid their mistress would be displeased, so they specially had the Imperial Kitchen prepare many of Jiang Xinyue's favorite dishes.
Looking at the table full of various meat dishes, all prepared in the same style, she shook her head and had a sudden idea, "Have the Imperial Household Department send two baskets of charcoal and a bronze brazier, as well as any iron mesh they have."
She wanted to grill some barbecue.
Although life in the Great Yan Dynasty was good, with all needs for food, clothing, and shelter taken care of, and all she had to do was be a pampered lady, Jiang Xinyue was very particular about her food.
The cuisine of this era lacked the variety of later times, with everything either steamed or stir-fried, and not even any chili peppers. No matter how delicious, eating the same food day after day would eventually become tiresome.
Jiang Xinyue, who came from a later era, was a Xiang girl who loved spicy food. These past few months, her mouth had become so bland it was practically bird-like.
She remembered that the Imperial Kitchen did have chili peppers before, but the imperial chefs did not seem to know how to cook with them. They felt that chili peppers were unbearably spicy when eaten alone, and thus unsuitable for dishes, so they had always used them to feed pigs, dogs, sheep, and the like...
Jiang Chuan did not know what his mistress intended to do, but he obediently went to the Imperial Household Department to request the items she wanted.
The eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department were not as eager to help as before, but they still did not dare to disregard the status of the Hexi Palace.
After all, this Noble Consort Zhen was not only favored by the Emperor but also held a respected position in the eyes of the Empress Mother.
As for the Imperial Kitchen, Jiang Xinyue went there herself.
The ingredients for grilling were quite complex, and she was afraid that Xi Que and the others might not explain clearly, so she decided to prepare them herself.
The Imperial Kitchen was vast, and it was the time for preparing the evening meal, so all kinds of ingredients were readily available.
Jiang Xinyue had the imperial chefs slice five plates of beef, three plates of mutton, five plates of streaky pork, two plates of potato slices, two baskets of lettuce, sliced garlic, rings of green and small chili peppers, one plate each, as well as salt, oil, cumin, five-spice powder...
The imperial chefs all wondered if Noble Consort Zhen had gone mad, taking so much raw meat back with her.
There was no small kitchen in the Hexi Palace, how could this meat be cooked?
In the Hexi Palace, everything was prepared and ready, and in the Chengqian Palace they had already begun the evening meal.
The Xuanwu Emperor frowned as he looked at the obviously reduced amount of meat on the table: "Has there been a famine somewhere recently?"
Wang Dequan was also puzzled and shook his head blankly: "I have not heard of any!"
The Xuanwu Emperor's voice was calm and emotionless: "Then why am I being treated so harshly?"
He questioned himself, his appetite for food and meat was not particularly strong, but the few meat dishes on this table were so meager in portion that how could he, a meat-eater, even pick up his chopsticks?
