The stewardess wandered around the kitchen for a while before realizing that Yun Kui intended to make pastries herself.
Who could she be making them for? There was no need to guess—it must be for the Crown Prince.
Since this woman served by His Highness’s side, she naturally had a better grasp of his preferences than the stewardess did. Glancing at her own unfinished warming soup, the stewardess decided to abandon it for now. Seizing an unnoticed moment, she quietly pocketed a few water chestnuts, washed and peeled them, then swiftly set them to boil.
While Yun Kui was still pressing the shaped water chestnut cakes into the steamer, the stewardess had already hurriedly poured the boiled water chestnut soup into a tureen, sprinkling dried osmanthus blossoms on top for garnish. A bowl of osmanthus water chestnut soup was now ready.
In the Chongming Hall of the Eastern Palace, where political matters were discussed, the Crown Prince summoned the Junior Tutor, Junior Preceptor, and officials from the Household Administration to deliberate.
The Crown Prince gained a general understanding of the court’s personnel changes over the past few years. The Assistant Director of the Household Administration and the Left Admonisher had both been demoted and exiled from the capital due to their own mistakes. Junior Tutor Pei Zhi and Junior Preceptor Cai Heng were trusted ministers appointed by the late Emperor and Empress Dowager on their deathbeds. Though Emperor Chunming dared not openly suppress them, he focused solely on promoting his own favored ministers and relatives, leaving Pei Zhi and Cai Heng sidelined.
Both were outspoken advisors who neither blindly shielded the Crown Prince nor hesitated to offer candid advice. Still, they remained wholly devoted to assisting the bloodline of Emperor Jingyou, guiding him toward virtue and correcting his faults with unwavering loyalty.
After the discussions, the Crown Prince returned to Chengguang Hall and spotted the stewardess waiting in the corridor, holding a tray.
Seeing him approach, she hurriedly bowed. "Your Highness, may you be at peace."
The Crown Prince frowned, pondering for a moment before finally recalling who she was. "Why are you still here?"
In his memory, of the four concubines presented to him, he had only kept that one girl. Today, he had returned one to the Marquis of Ningde, while the other two should have been sent back to the Imperial Household Department.
The stewardess was bewildered. This was her first time coming to Chengguang Hall to deliver soup to the Crown Prince—why would he say she was "still here"?
Deshun whispered a reminder: "That day, Your Highness gave no instructions, so this servant kept her along with Miss Yun Kui."
The stewardess: "…"
So the Crown Prince had simply forgotten about her, assuming she was no longer in the Eastern Palace!
"Your Highness, this servant wishes to serve you. Please don’t send me away!" She tightened her grip on the tray, forcing a smile. "This servant is skilled in cooking. This osmanthus water chestnut soup was made by my own hands. Would Your Highness care to try it?"
The Crown Prince detected nothing suspicious in her thoughts—only a genuine desire to win his favor. Yet the next moment, he overheard her calculating:
"The Crown Prince probably doesn’t favor her much either, or else why would he punish her by making her stand at the palace gates? Today, she went out of her way to make pastries, surely just to curry favor."
"Once His Highness tastes my soup, he won’t touch hers…"
As these thoughts faded, footsteps echoed from the other end of the corridor, and the Crown Prince saw Yun Kui approaching with her own tray.
Yun Kui and the stewardess exchanged glances, their unspoken rivalry palpable.
Yun Kui: "Rushing to deliver food before me, only to end up waiting in the cold for half an hour longer."
Stewardess: "Of course she made it for the Crown Prince, yet she claims it was for herself. With skills like hers, those lumpy cakes—how could His Highness even bring himself to take a bite?"
The Crown Prince’s gaze swept over the plump, white pastries in Yun Kui’s hands, but his dark eyes inadvertently lifted to her rosy, jade-like cheeks and the soft fullness beneath her delicate collarbones.
She was just like the pastries she made—soft, sweet, and inviting.
Hearing the Crown Prince scoff, Yun Kui glanced down at her own pastries. The water chestnuts were white, the milk was creamy, so the steamed milk-and-water-chestnut cakes turned out snowy and tender. She had cut them into large pieces, making them look less refined than intricately carved, colorful pastries—but they melted in the mouth, fragrant and subtly sweet, far from unpalatable.
The stewardess pressed on: "Your Highness, please try this servant’s osmanthus water chestnut soup to warm yourself."
Yun Kui muttered under her breath: "On such a cold day, the soup must have gone cold by now."
The stewardess shot her a glare before turning back to the Crown Prince with desperation. "This servant can reheat it for Your Highness."
Yun Kui curved her lips slightly. "This servant also made milk-and-water-chestnut cakes. Your Highness—"
Displeased by her fawning demeanor, the Crown Prince said coolly, "I’m not hungry. Both of you, leave." With that, he turned and entered the hall.
Yun Kui felt a pang of frustration.
"Does the Crown Prince not eat sweets anymore? Did he only have a sweet tooth as a child but outgrew it?"
Hearing this, the Crown Prince paused mid-step.
Since when did he have a sweet tooth? Had Nanny Yan told her that?
His brow furrowed.
Nanny Yan had never been one to gossip. Had this girl charmed her into revealing stories from his childhood?
Outside the hall, the stewardess stamped her foot in anger.
But on second thought, if the Crown Prince wouldn’t even touch Yun Kui’s pastries, then rejecting hers wasn’t so hard to bear.
Yun Kui snapped out of her thoughts and glared. "Copycat!"
The stewardess rolled her eyes. "What copycat? Just because you made water chestnut cakes, I can’t? Since when was that the rule?"
Yun Kui retorted, "But you didn’t report to Chief Steward Zhang. That counts as theft. Either confess, or wait until Chief Steward reports to Eunuch Cao—then the whole Eastern Palace will know the stewardess stole water chestnuts from the kitchen!"
"You—!" The stewardess flushed crimson, too furious to speak.
Deshun followed the Crown Prince inside, cautiously studying his expression. "This Lian Rui seems quite devoted to Your Highness. Since you’ve kept her, perhaps she and Yun Kui could take turns serving you, so as not to overwork Miss Yun Kui."
Overwork? The Crown Prince smirked.
She feasted daily in Chengguang Hall, slept soundly by his pillow at night, and still had the energy to chatter at him upon waking—how was that overwork?
The only time she exerted herself was when he kissed her.
His expression darkened. He had been far too indulgent with this girl—it was time to teach her a lesson, lest she grow too arrogant.
Unable to decipher his thoughts, Deshun ventured, "Your Highness, what about the stewardess…?"
Without stopping, the Crown Prince replied, "Didn’t you hear her stealing from the kitchen?"
Deshun was baffled—he truly hadn’t.
Trained in martial arts, the Crown Prince’s hearing was sharp enough to catch even whispered conversations several yards away.
"Hand her over to the Imperial Household Department for punishment."
He had no impression of this stewardess to begin with. One woman in his quarters was already enough to turn his world upside down—did he really need more, watching them bicker and scheme in jealousy?
Besides, he wasn’t like Emperor Chunming, who took pleasure in siring children with anyone who caught his eye.
Deshun accepted the order and dispatched two men to the side hall to carry it out.
The stewardess wept pitifully, fearing both the beating and the disgrace of being expelled from the Eastern Palace. Without a proper placement, she might end up in the laundry bureau, doing menial labor. In her panic, she tried slipping Deshun a bribe, begging for an audience with the Crown Prince.
Deshun wouldn’t dare accept it and immediately had her dragged away.
Back in Chengguang Hall, Qin Ge and Cao Yuanlu arrived to report that they had uncovered leads regarding the livestock that had died before the New Year’s sacrifices.
The sacrificial livestock had all been selected and transported by Cao Yuanlu from the Qingfeng Office under the Imperial Household Department. The officials who handled the matter initially, along with the stable masters and laborers who tended to the animals, had already been punished for their crimes. Qin Ge had no choice but to investigate meticulously, starting with the feed used at the Qian Yuan Terrace, the veterinary officials who treated the animals, and the details of the transportation route.
Upon learning that the veterinary official who had diagnosed the livestock illness on that day had left the capital and was now running a livestock breeding business in Henan, Qin Ge immediately sensed something amiss. He swiftly dispatched covert guards to Henan to apprehend the man for interrogation.
"The veterinary official insisted that the feed had been contaminated with feces from diseased rats. However, both the Qingfeng Office and Qian Yuan Terrace enforce extremely strict standards for the feeding of sacrificial livestock. How could cattle, sheep, chickens, and dogs be fed the same type of feed? After rigorous interrogation under torture, the official finally confessed the truth. The diseased rat feces were merely a cover. While they did have some effect, they weren’t enough to cause death in such a short time. The real cause of death was a snake venom called 'Hundred Herbs' Darkness.' The livestock had all consumed grass soaked in this poison, leading to their sudden deaths overnight."
Cao Yuanlu added, "The veterinary official has already revealed the mastermind behind this—none other than Prince Chen’s trusted eunuch, Deng Kang."
Qin Ge nodded. "From questioning the official’s elder brother and sister-in-law, we learned that he had received a large sum of money at the beginning of the year and immediately resigned from his post as a veterinary official. He then purchased several estates in his hometown in Henan to start his breeding business. His elder brother and sister-in-law had a falling out with him over the uneven distribution of the money, and with a little pressure, his elder brother revealed everything."
The Crown Prince’s expression was icy as he asked, "Where is the veterinary official now?"
Qin Ge replied, "In the interrogation chamber, barely clinging to life."
"That’s enough," the Crown Prince said, rising to his feet. "Take him to Yongyan Hall."
Yongyan Hall was Prince Chen’s residence.
Though Prince Chen had established his own residence outside the palace after coming of age, he frequently entered and exited the palace for studies, discussions, court assemblies, and daily visits to Empress’s Kunning Palace to pay his respects. As a result, he often stayed overnight in Yongyan Hall within the palace.
Now that Cao Yuanlu’s name had been cleared, and the Crown Prince himself was going to demand an explanation, the old eunuch was moved to tears, following closely behind his master.
As the Crown Prince reached the corridor, he spotted Yun Kui on duty outside the hall. After a brief silence, he said, "You come too."
He didn’t expect her to use her dream foresight to predict Prince Chen’s next move, but bringing her along to witness the scene would serve to intimidate her. He wanted her to understand that as the heir to the throne, he wielded absolute power—crushing anyone who defied him was as easy as lifting a finger. In the future, before acting recklessly, she should consider how many lives she had to spare.
Sure enough, the moment the bloodied body of the veterinary official was dragged out, Yun Kui turned pale with fright, her entire body stiffening.
The Crown Prince withdrew his gaze, satisfied.
His personal appearance, accompanied by guards escorting a heavily tortured official, left a long trail of blood along the palace path, drawing countless stares.
Though the palace servants were curious, none dared to look directly. Only after the Crown Prince’s entourage had passed did they dare to glance back and whisper among themselves.
The servants of Yongyan Hall naturally didn’t dare to obstruct the Crown Prince. While respectfully ushering him inside, they secretly sent someone to alert Prince Chen.
As the Crown Prince stepped into the hall, he was surprised to find the Sixth Prince there, playing chess with Prince Chen.
Remembering how the Sixth Prince had coveted his bedchamber maid in Yun Kui’s dream—and how that foolish girl had seriously considered the possibility of being gifted to him—the Crown Prince’s expression darkened further.
When Yun Kui saw the Sixth Prince, an awkward feeling washed over her, as if they had once been deeply in love but were forcibly separated. The shameful scene at the cliff’s edge resurfaced in her mind, sending shivers down her spine.
She didn’t dare lift her head, afraid of meeting the Sixth Prince’s affectionate gaze from the dream.
The Sixth Prince also noticed Yun Kui hiding far behind the Crown Prince. His gaze lingered briefly before the Crown Prince’s cold voice cut in, "Since the Sixth Prince is here as well, he may as well listen."
Snapping out of his thoughts, the Sixth Prince quickly bowed to the Crown Prince before following Prince Chen to examine the bloodied man at the entrance.
Prince Chen didn’t recognize the veterinary official. Forcing a smile, he asked, "Elder Brother Crown Prince, what is the meaning of this?"
"The case of the sacrificial livestock deaths at Qian Yuan Terrace seemed suspicious to me. Sure enough, I’ve uncovered the mastermind behind it."
The Crown Prince smiled faintly, his gaze shifting to Deng Kang behind Prince Chen. "This is the veterinary official from that day. Does Chief Steward Deng still remember him?"
Deng Kang, who had been scrutinizing the official’s face, stiffened at these words, his face turning deathly pale.
How did he find him? The Crown Prince actually traced it back to him…
If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve silenced him for good!
Unaware that his thoughts had already betrayed him, Deng Kang suppressed his panic and said, "Wasn’t it already determined that the feed had been contaminated with diseased rat feces, causing the livestock to fall ill and die? Why has Your Highness subjected him to torture again? What is the meaning of this?"
Qin Ge then presented the official’s signed confession and the testimony of his elder brother and sister-in-law. "A mere trace of rat feces couldn’t have killed dozens of livestock. Under severe interrogation, this man confessed everything—that he conspired with Chief Steward Deng to frame Eunuch Cao and drive him out of the Eastern Palace."
Deng Kang’s entire body turned cold. Just as he was about to refute the claim, Prince Chen spoke up, "Commander Qin must be joking. Eunuch Cao was merely borrowed by this prince to assist with the preparations. Why would this prince go to such lengths to frame a mere eunuch in Elder Brother’s household?"
Cao Yuanlu clasped his hands together, his tone unyielding. "This servant truly cannot fathom Prince Chen’s motives. But what this servant does know is that in the half-year since my absence from the Eastern Palace, countless spies have been planted within. During His Highness’s unconsciousness, how many attempts were made to poison or assassinate him? Had this servant remained in the Eastern Palace, none of this would have happened."
Prince Chen’s face paled, his back teeth clenched tightly.
Back then, he and the Empress had discussed how to infiltrate the Eastern Palace with their own people. However, the Eastern Palace was like an impenetrable fortress, especially with Cao Yuanlu—a shrewd and meticulous man who prioritized the Crown Prince above all—overseeing everything. It had been nearly impossible to plant their own agents. That was why they had orchestrated this scheme—not to kill Cao Yuanlu outright and invite suspicion, but to have him removed far away, eliminating an obstacle.
Now, with the Crown Prince personally confronting him, armed with irrefutable evidence, Prince Chen was being forced to punish Deng Kang himself.
Deng Kang collapsed to the ground, trembling. "Your Highness…"
Prince Chen glanced at him, his expression calm. "This prince ordered you to seek assistance, not to act on your own and bring disgrace upon me. Do you admit your guilt?"
Seeing Prince Chen disavow all involvement, Deng Kang knew there was no way out. Though resentment burned in his heart, he could only do his best to protect his master.
"It is true that this servant colluded with the physician to fabricate the story, but my intention was never to frame Eunuch Cao, nor to plant spies in the Eastern Palace. The truth is, I had a longstanding grudge against the stablemaster of Qingfeng Stable… We were originally from the same hometown and both secured decent positions after entering the palace. His post was lucrative, and he became addicted to gambling. He dragged me into it and ended up owing me a hundred taels of silver, which he refused to repay. I was furious but dared not confront him openly, fearing the consequences. So, in a moment of madness, I poisoned the sacrificial animals under his care, inadvertently implicating Eunuch Cao…"
The Crown Prince smiled indifferently. "Save your words for the interrogation chamber. If you can still speak so boldly under torture, I’ll grant you the mercy of a whole corpse. How does that sound?"
Deng Kang trembled violently, his eyes darting to a spot nearby. Gritting his teeth, he suddenly lunged toward Qin Ge’s sword, intent on impaling himself.
What did it matter if the evidence was irrefutable? If he died by his own hand, the Crown Prince would be accused of extracting a forced confession through torture, driving him to suicide to prove his innocence!
Just as his neck was about to meet the blade, the Crown Prince kicked him squarely in the chest. Deng Kang flew several yards away, tumbling down the palace steps in a bloody heap.
Prince Chen’s gaze followed intently, his body trembling slightly at the sight.
He hadn’t taken Cao Yuanlu’s life, but now he was about to lose one of his own most trusted men.
The Crown Prince’s expression remained impassive. "Take him away."
Prince Chen clenched his fists, forcing himself to shut his eyes against the rage simmering within him.
Yun Kui watched the scene in horror. She knew Eunuch Cao had been framed and transferred elsewhere, but she never expected the Crown Prince to personally intervene to seek justice for him.
Noticing her dazed expression, the Crown Prince gestured toward the two men being dragged off and asked, "The outside world claims my methods are cruel and tyrannical. What do you think?"
Snapping out of her thoughts, Yun Kui reflexively flattered, "This humble servant believes Your Highness is wise and mighty, exuding unparalleled authority."
The Crown Prince: "…"
But Eunuch Cao was a loyal servant who attended to His Highness for over twenty years—how could someone like me, who just arrived, compare?
His Highness protecting me is probably just about maintaining his dignity as the Crown Prince.
As for giving me the antidote to the Seven-Day Powder… that was merely a test of my loyalty. Only at the last moment, when I passed, did he reveal I wouldn’t die. Otherwise, if I’d harbored any disloyal thoughts or failed to interpret Nanny Qin’s dream correctly, blindly feeding him the poison… I’d have long been dead.
At this realization, Yun Kui sighed inwardly.
Oh, little sunflower, life isn’t easy for you!
Hearing her thoughts, the Crown Prince’s expression darkened.
Ungrateful little wretch. How many times had he saved her now? Not to mention her countless audacious acts—under any other master, she’d have been reincarnated long ago.
After a long silence, he chuckled darkly. "I’ve noticed the Sixth Prince is rather pure-hearted and benevolent. If he were to ask me for you, would you agree?"
Little Sunflower: Are you testing my loyalty with this??
