Wang Dequan truly lived up to his role as the emperor's close confidant. Even with blood still flowing from his own head, he didn't pursue the culprit first. Instead, as if nothing had happened, he calmly returned to Hexi Palace to arrange the Xuanwu Emperor's meal.
As Magpie entered the inner chamber, Jiang Xinyue looked up and asked casually, "Where did Eunuch Wang go?"
Tang Shiliang was Wang Dequan's adopted son. Logically, he should have been the angriest about his adoptive father being hit.
But his face showed no emotion as he ladled a small bowl of savory broth for the emperor and said with a smile, "He accidentally bumped his head while going to the imperial kitchen. Magpie and Little Xuan applied some medicine. Master said he was worried the smell of the medicine might affect Your Majesty and Consort Zhen's appetite, so he sent me to serve instead."
Palace rules were strict, forbidding eunuchs from having adopted parents or forming cliques. So Tang Shiliang called Wang Dequan "master" in public.
In truth, the emperor was somewhat aware of high-ranking eunuchs adopting children. But eunuchs were castrated, so even if they left the palace when they got older, they couldn't have descendants.
Wang Dequan had been serving by his side since he was six years old, for over twenty years now. Even if he adopted seven or eight sons, the emperor would turn a blind eye.
The Xuanwu Emperor raised his eyes to look at Tang Shiliang, doubtful in his heart. Wang Dequan wasn't so careless, and it was impossible for him to bump his head.
Such an obvious excuse, the Xuanwu Emperor couldn't miss it. But considering he was still dining with Consort Zhen, if his old friend was really injured, it wouldn't be appropriate to appear before Consort Zhen. So he let it go for now.
Imperial Chef Gao cooked on the spot, allowing Jiang Xinyue to taste the phoenix-tail fish she had been craving, instantly opening up her appetite.
Magpie hinted to the Xuanwu Emperor from the side: "Your Highness, you've eaten about two more ounces of rice today than in the past two days. It seems Imperial Chef Gao's culinary skills have improved again."
Jiang Xinyue's face flushed, and she quickly put down her silver chopsticks, glaring at Magpie with puffed cheeks: "You also think I'm eating too much, don't you?"
Magpie immediately picked up the silver chopsticks and placed them back in her hand: "How dare I, Your Highness? I'm praising your good appetite. When the little prince or princess is born in the future, they'll surely be very healthy."
Easily pleased, Jiang Xinyue shook her little head proudly: "Of course! They'll be as healthy as their father."
Tang Shiliang, remembering what his adoptive father had told him earlier about how he was injured, suddenly spoke up: "This Imperial Chef Gao, isn't he the one who made the roast meat and fried chicken that impressed the foreign envoys at the New Year's banquet?"
Jiang Xinyue had finished eating and moved to the Xuanwu Emperor's lap, finding a comfortable position to lie in: "Eunuch Tang, that's right. He learned those two dishes very diligently."
The Xuanwu Emperor finally remembered that such an incident had occurred, and Wang Dequan had mentioned it to him. The previous manager of the imperial kitchen had grown old and was released from the palace as per custom. The position of chief steward had been vacant for a long time.
"I heard from Wang Dequan that the previous chief steward of the imperial kitchen has been released from the palace. Why hasn't the Internal Affairs Department recommended someone yet? I think this Imperial Chef Gao is very..."
"Her Majesty the Empress arrives—"
With Jiang Chuan's announcement, a figure in vermilion entered, bringing with her a cowering silhouette.
That silhouette fell to his knees, crawling: "This slave... this slave Li Guitian from the imperial kitchen, begs Your Majesty and Eunuch Wang for forgiveness!"
Jiang Xinyue didn't even raise her eyes. She took the napkin Magpie handed her, wiped her mouth, and then drank some lemon water with the emperor to rinse her mouth.
After gracefully letting the palace servants clean up the dining table, she finally rose to greet the Empress.
Empress Zhu was annoyed with her at this moment. This morning, her brother had gone to Yikun Palace and said that Jiang Xinyue hadn't actually accused the Jin family's eldest son, rendering their careful arrangements futile.
Just as she was about to have lunch, that fool Li Guitian came begging to her, saying he had accidentally injured Wang Dequan while arguing with Imperial Chef Gao.
Because the dispute involved both the Empress and Consort Zhen, she had to skip her meal and personally bring Li Guitian to Hexi Palace.
She thought Jiang Xinyue's palace maids had already reported the incident, so she hurriedly stepped forward: "Your Majesty, this dog of a slave used my name to throw his weight around in the imperial kitchen and even injured Wang Dequan. I truly had no idea. Wang..."
"What did you say?"
The emperor stood up abruptly, his eyes filled with anger and shock: "Wang Dequan was injured by him?"
The Empress was still in disbelief, her gaze turning to Jiang Xinyue. Jiang Xinyue, meeting her eyes, shook her head, indicating she hadn't said anything.
What did she need to say?
Wang Dequan's head had been split open, and there was still some blood on Magpie's sleeve. It must have been a serious injury.
The emperor had his own eyes, and Wang Dequan had his own mouth. Rather than having it come from her lips, which might seem like she was sowing discord, it was better to let Wang Dequan speak for himself. This also avoided the emperor suspecting that her relationship with Wang Dequan was too close.
Who was Wang Dequan?
He was a wolf-killer who had overcome many obstacles and eliminated all those who coveted the position of chief eunuch by the emperor's side. How could he swallow this insult without retaliation?
What was Li Guitian thinking?
"You dog of a slave, get out of the way!"
The Xuanwu Emperor kicked Li Guitian aside and strode out, with Empress Zhu, Jiang Xinyue, and others following behind.
"Tang Shiliang, where is your master? Tell him to come out!"
He, the mighty emperor of Great Yan, how could his own man be bullied and then hide from him? What kind of logic was that?
Wang Dequan had already heard the emperor's angry shout. Enduring the pain in his head, he walked out from the side hall. He hadn't had time to change his blood-stained clothes, which combined with the unprofessionally wrapped white bandage on his head.
His eyes avoided contact, his hands hanging at his sides clutching his eunuch's robe. His entire being looked weathered and dejected, like a delicate white flower ravaged by the cold wind.
Jiang Xinyue inwardly applauded Wang Dequan. At forty years old, he could still pull off this fragile, pure white flower act—truly remarkable.
So she widened her eyes and carefully observed him from head to toe, left to right, mentally rehearsing how she would perform it herself.
Eunuch Wang's hands acted the best, with fingers clutching his robe hem in panic, evoking sympathy.
She would try that next time.
But her expression, in Empress Zhu's eyes, looked like shock—meaning Jiang Xinyue truly didn't know Wang Dequan had been injured and hadn't reported it to the emperor.
In her haste, she had once again shot herself in the foot.
It seems that next time she shouldn't judge a gentleman's heart with a petty person's mindset. Zhen Consort was indeed on her side and wouldn't do anything behind her back to harm her.
Jiang Xinyue: You're rejoicing too soon!
The imperial physician was summoned to re-bandage the wound on Wang Dequan's forehead. The Xuanwu Emperor felt pained seeing the half-inch long wound.
When he felt the pain, others would lose half their lives.
Li Guitian had all his gold and silver confiscated and was demoted to a commoner, expelled from the palace. Moreover, the Xuanwu Emperor explicitly forbade him from using the culinary techniques he learned in the palace to open restaurants or taverns, or to seek employment as a chef. In short, he was cut off from any future career as a cook.
If he dared to disobey, his head would be chopped off.
