He rushed Zhang Qing and said, "Why are you hesitating? Serve the meal quickly, so I can send the food box back. We mustn’t be late!"
Having Little Concubine personally deliver it would be more unbearable for him than eating quickly. Between two evils, he chose the lesser, especially since he already knew Little Concubine cared deeply for him. For him to care a little for Little Concubine in return, wasn’t that only natural?
It would prevent someone from really going to deliver it, lingering and possibly learning something inappropriate!
Da Zhuang and Zhang Qing were both perplexed by how swiftly His Majesty had changed his mind; nonetheless, they dared not delay and hastily arranged all the items from the food box.
As soon as the chopsticks were presented, the Emperor snatched them up and began to eat at an unprecedented speed. A meal that usually took a quarter of an hour to consume was finished in less than fifteen minutes today.
After finishing, he hurried Da Zhuang to return the food box promptly and to relay a message to Lian Hua: the food box had arrived, and it would suffice to send roasted chicken—she must not overexert herself.
Da Zhuang grabbed the food box and started to run. After taking a couple of steps, the Emperor called out to stop him, adding one more sentence: "I would feel distressed."
At last, Da Zhuang proceeded to leave.
Without that last line, the Emperor was unsure; with it, he was certain that Little Concubine would not personally deliver again.
Down a path far from the Imperial Kitchen, Xiao Jizi bid farewell to the Chief steward of the Imperial Kitchen with a happy chuckle, repeatedly insisting that the steward need not accompany him any further; he would be overwhelmed, and any more would cause him panic.
It was then that the Chief steward of the Imperial Kitchen ceased to follow and merely watched with kindling enthusiasm, as if looking at a family member.
With a smile on his face, Xiao Jizi turned around, his smile vanishing and his face paling in sudden fear. Suppressing the urge to break out in goosebumps, he quickened his pace as if his feet were greased.
He could feel that gaze clinging to his back, sticking stubbornly, perceptible even after having walked far away. Only when he had gone quite a distance did he dare look back to ensure no one was following, sighing with palpable relief.
Ah, my goodness, what is wrong with the Chief steward of the Imperial Kitchen today? He was unusually zealous, to the point of being overly enthusiastic—enthusiasm Xiao Jizi could not cope with, reminding him of the past when excuses were made just to give him rice, flour, oil, and meat, forcefully pushed upon him even if unwanted, finding every reason to insist, leaving him terrified that it was meant to harm him, to harm Canglan Court, and utterly bewildered!
It was only much later that he came to understand the situation, having quietly inquired with Steward Zhang, who remained enigmatically silent, confirming that it was indeed His Majesty’s command.
But why was he so warm towards him? It was well-known that His Majesty spent his nights at Canglan Court, and those who were observant knew what to do without any special instructions from His Majesty, right?
Even if he had helped out a couple of times, it didn’t warrant such warmth towards him, did it?
Moreover, after he offered his help, the enthusiasm he received was merely a bit more than usual, not the overbearing excitement of today as if he were his own father, holding onto his hand and talking incessantly, which left him completely puzzled, though he could only play along with the flattering and complimenting.
As they exchanged compliments, a bolt of lightning struck Xiao Jizi’s mind, and he suddenly thought of a possibility: Could it be that this man had some strange preference and taken a fancy to him?!
At that thought, his heart panicked; although he was a eunuch, he was a normal eunuch who had severed his desires, focusing solely on serving his master and doing well in his career without any interest in pursuing other matters.
While talking, he became increasingly anxious, and the more he thought about it, the more it didn’t seem right. He quickly made an excuse and found an opportunity to take his leave.
He hadn’t expected that, though he managed to say farewell successfully and walked a few steps away, upon turning back, he saw Fatty Gao looking at him with a smile, following behind and insisting, with great reluctance, that he wanted to personally see Younger Brother Feng off.
Well, if you must see someone off, just a few steps outside the gate would suffice, wouldn’t it? But why on earth would he want to keep escorting him nearly all the way to the Imperial Garden?
If Feng hadn’t firmly refused, clenching his teeth, who knows, the eunuch might have even tried to accompany him right to Canglan Court, into his quarters!
Ack, how could he! That Fatty Gao scared him!
Considered quite knowledgeable himself, Feng saw such behavior as further confirmation of his suspicions; Fatty Gao was not normal and harbored sinister intentions towards him!
The mere thought of being fancied by a greasy-bellied eunuch made Xiao Jizi shudder with goosebumps and filled him with discomfort. Just now, Fatty Gao had kept touching his hand. Once he got back, he would wash it several times with soap berries; from now on, he would avoid the eunuch whenever possible.
Why had Xiao Jizi gone to the Imperial Kitchen? It was a long story.
Today, Lian Hua had suddenly decided to throw a roasted chicken feast. As it was called a feast, a mere one or two chickens would not do; all the people of Canglan Court and others who should be included needed to be accounted for to make it a proper banquet. So, of course, there must be plenty of chickens.
Thus, Xiao Jizi, who knew his way around, took some people to the Imperial Kitchen to discuss the matter. Steward Zhang of the Imperial Kitchen was very cooperative; upon hearing the request, he promptly slaughtered all the prepared chickens and sent them over, and in doing so, incurred a favor owed.
Later, when Xiao Jizi went to deliver a message to Lian Hua and was coming out of Concubine Fang Pin’s palace, he happened to overhear people from another palace complaining that there were no chickens to be found in the Imperial Kitchen that day, an event rarer than a blue moon. They speculated whether Steward Zhang had gobbled them all up in his greed, their tones replete with grievance.
Feeling guilty, Xiao Jizi’s mind raced, and he swiftly diverted his path towards the Imperial Kitchen, intending to thank Steward Zhang.
Speaking of Concubine Fang Pin, she was quite a complicated character.
This Consort had her palace maid announce that she was busy painting in seclusion, so who would’ve thought that by the time Xiao Jizi made his delivery, she would emerge?
It seemed that Concubine Fang Pin was lamenting the missed invitation to the roasted chicken feast from her mistress because of her seclusion; when he arrived, he found her bemoaning that bonds fade as easily as years pass by and spring turns to autumn.
Upon seeing him, Concubine Fang Pin’s eyes lit up, and with a handkerchief in hand and a tender gaze, she assumed he was sent once more by her mistress, unable to hide her joy.
He understood what she was thinking but pretended not to, stating only that the mistress knew of Consort Fang Pin’s seclusion and had sent her a letter.
Joking aside, he would prefer the mistress have less to do with Concubine Fang Pin to avoid being influenced by her affected ways.
After reading the mistress’s letter, Consort Fang Pin’s heart swelled with emotion, and she started shedding tears on the spot, prattling on about how deeply Sister Lian cared for her, and how she could not disappoint Sister Lian’s kind sentiments. As she went on, she began sobbing tenderly, overwhelmed by the thought that true affection still existed in the world.
He couldn’t very well just walk away, so he had to endure the difficulty and persuade her with a few words. But that only made things worse; Consort Fang Pin took out the letter and read it, sentence by sentence, interpreting the mistress’s words and pause after each sentence to look at him for approval. Only after his nod would she continue to the next.
She had only just started reading the opening lines, praising her, when she clutched at her chest, proclaiming the mistress to be her soulmate, truly understanding her. Holding the handkerchief, she declared that having such a confidant in this life meant she could die without regret.
Anxious, he hurried to reassure her, saying the mistress wished for the Consort to live a long and prosperous life, that the mistress would be grieved without her. Only then did Consort Fang Pin consider the matter closed and stopped proclaiming she’d die then and there.