Consort Yun was posthumously honored as the Virtuous and Serene Empress, and the ceremony for her posthumous conferment came to a close.
After it concluded, Emperor Chongzhao directly summoned the Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, who was also Qu Dubian's second granduncle.
Xu Jianyan had already heard about the issue with the Seventh Prince's ceremonial feast. As soon as he entered, he knelt and pleaded for punishment: "Your Majesty! This subject failed to manage his subordinates strictly. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"
Emperor Chongzhao: "Are you saying you were unaware of this matter, that it was done by people under your command?"
Xu Jianyan: "Your Majesty is sagely and discerning."
Emperor Chongzhao smiled, "Yet, this emperor was unaware that besides the Xu family, who else knows how to make the Xu family's Salty Wheat Porridge?"
Xu Jianyan was stunned on the spot.
What? Salty Wheat Porridge??
Hadn't he just instructed his subordinates to be more generous with the premium ingredients in the Seventh Prince's ceremonial feast?
Actually, when he was summoned, he hadn't been too concerned. Their Xu family was considered maternal relatives of the Seventh Prince! Having some personal bias, even if not entirely proper, His Majesty likely wouldn't make a big issue of it.
He hurriedly clarified: "Your Majesty, this subject truly had no knowledge!"
Emperor Chongzhao raised an eyebrow and nodded, "Nowadays, Old Madam Hou lives secluded within the mansion, seldom going out. Only your household still holds an official post at court. If you say it wasn't you, then it must be your son working under you? It certainly couldn't be anyone else. Failing in one's duties, leading to issues with a prince's ceremonial feast—how should this crime be judged?"
Xu Jianyan: "Your Majesty—"
He looked up and met the emperor's profound gaze. Instantly, his heart sank, and the words of defense he had prepared died in his throat. "Your Majesty, this matter has nothing to do with my worthless son. It was this subject... this subject missed the taste of that porridge and made a bowl. Perhaps in the rush, the servants made a mistake."
The excuse was utterly flimsy.
Emperor Chongzhao did not press further, merely saying, "The Salty Wheat Porridge that only children of the Xu family get to eat—you had my son eat it during the Moon Purity ceremonial feast. Were you trying to imply that even a prince is also a son of your Xu family?"
Xu Jianyan felt his hands and feet turn cold. "Your Majesty! This old subject would never dare!!"
Emperor Chongzhao crouched down and patted his shoulder. "Don't be nervous. I was just joking with you. I have great trust in you. When Little Seven grows up, he will inevitably have dealings with your family as well."
Xu Jianyan dared not look up. "This subject has never harbored any other intentions."
"Alright, rise. However, an error did occur after all. Memorials impeaching you from the Ministry of Rites and the Censorate will probably arrive tomorrow. I cannot pretend not to see them. You are fined half a year's salary. Any objections?"
"This subject thanks Your Majesty for your gracious mercy!"
Only then did Xu Jianyan retreat from the Western Warm Pavilion.
-
At the Marquis Mansion of the Sword-Holding Marquis.
Old Madam Hou burned a small slip of paper, utterly delighted.
"Tingfeng actually switched in the Salty Wheat Porridge."
"But isn't that also a violation of the ceremonial feast regulations?" Mother Fang asked, puzzled.
Old Madam Hou explained, "There's a great deal of nuance here. Originally, according to what Xu Jianyan submitted, the feast would have exceeded regulations. Even though my grandson is very young, his image in the eyes of other external officials would inevitably suffer.
Switching to Salty Wheat Porridge has two benefits. First, its appearance is traditionally poor, looking far below the ceremonial feast standards, so external officials won't comment much and will only fault the Court of Imperial Entertainments. Second, while a feast exceeding regulations wouldn't necessarily anger the emperor, the Salty Wheat Porridge can make him angry. It serves as a lesson for Xu Jianyan, telling them not to bother my grandson."
Mother Fang: "Why would the Salty Wheat Porridge anger His Majesty?"
Old Madam Hou: "The Salty Wheat Porridge represents the blessings of Xu family elders for their juniors. His Majesty is about to choose a foster mother for the Seventh Prince. For Xu Jianyan to present Salty Wheat Porridge at this juncture implies they want the Seventh Prince to remember their familial connection. On a deeper level, it expresses dissatisfaction with His Majesty's decision to choose a foster mother for the prince."
"It would be strange if His Majesty didn't punish him. Moreover, with the Xu family divided, as long as the Marquis Mansion does not adopt a son from the second branch for succession, then the second branch's selfish motives won't implicate the Marquis Mansion or the third branch."
After listening, Mother Fang sighed with emotion. A single bowl of Salty Wheat Porridge held so many intricate calculations behind it.
Not only did it neutralize the potential harm to the Seventh Prince from the feast exceeding regulations, but it also used the emperor's hand to teach Xu Jianyan a lesson for his social climbing.
Young Master Tingfeng is quite skillful.
-
After the ceremonial day, Qu Dubian's life temporarily returned to calm. He was rather wary of the consorts who came to the Purple Palace Hall under the guise of paying respects to the emperor but were actually there to see him.
He was a practical person. Smiling at those consorts harboring their own little schemes might lead his cheap father to casually hand him over to one of them to raise.
Ancient times emphasized filial piety. Choosing a foster mother meant he would be tied to that person, and even their family, for life. It was not something to be taken lightly.
He had asked his cheap father about this matter, even pouring him a cup of tea, inquiring about who his foster mother might be.
Emperor Chongzhao replied thus: "Tell me which one you like. I will screen them. If unsuitable, we'll need to pick again. And also—I don't drink hot tea."
With a push of his finger, he moved the teacup away.
A strong dad with domineering behavior and a domineering answer.
You can choose, but your dad holds veto power.
Qu Dubian could only pay more attention to which consort his imperial father showed interest in. He actually really wanted to go to Imperial Consort Xuan's palace, but even if he was willing, Imperial Consort Xuan might not be.
Such matters concerned one's entire life; it had to be a mutual choice.
The next day.
After finishing a set of Tai Chi, a broadcast sounded in his mind.
[Check-in completed for 15 days. Drawing reward.]
[Reward drawn.]
[Wuxia Novel x1 (includes protagonist's internal energy cultivation manual · First Part) has been placed in the host's backpack.]
Qu Dubian: "?"
There really was mental nourishment!
A Wuxia novel—essentially an e-book in his mind.
He quickly used the cotton towel handed by Ye Banban to wipe the thin sweat from his forehead and began flipping through it in his mind. The Wuxia novel was 150,000 words. The included internal energy manual was called "Longevity Softening Art · First Part," roughly 600 words.
"Is the cultivation manual real? Can I learn it?"
Simulator: [This cultivation method is suitable for the host's constitution to learn.]
After browsing roughly, a pop-up window appeared showing "Remaining reading materials 1/0. Purchase new book?" Clicking into the window, he saw various other types of novels, as well as the second part of the included internal energy manual—
Price: Three years of lifespan value.
"..."
This was practically robbery!
Not to mention the cultivation manual, just the various types of novels alone.
How infuriating.
Was the simulator, seeing he had saved over thirty days' worth of lifespan value without spending it, trying to tempt him to spend his lifespan in different ways?
Well, it really had...
Him figured out.
Qu Dubian: "This isn't reasonable! Spending lifespan value to purchase is way too expensive. It's clearly intentional!"
Simulator: [Any purchased books are owned outright by the host and can be disposed of freely.]
Oh, meaning he could copy the book for others to read or even sell it. But leaving aside that he currently had no means, even if he did, a thousand pieces of gold couldn't buy a quarter of an hour of lifespan.
He wheedled and pleaded for a good while, but the simulator remained stubbornly silent, responding only with silence when questioned.
Qu Dubian: "Did you write the novel? Are there any cheaper cultivation techniques?"
Simulator: [The vast world, with its multitude of beings, naturally forms the stories within books. Cheaper techniques exist. This one is the most suitable for the host. You were very fortunate to draw the first part in the lottery. Bundled sale price for the complete set: Ten years.]
Qu Dubian fell silent. What could he say? He was just a little pauper right now.
In this vast world... perhaps his own experiences are, in the eyes of others, merely stories from a book.
The six-hundred-word internal energy cultivation manual was full of specialized terminology he didn't understand. Reading it would be futile for now, so he set it aside, planning to read this martial arts novel first in the evening.
He swore to himself he would only read ten thousand words before bed each night, absolutely no more.
If he read any extra, he would punish himself by eating an extra bowl of rice the next day.
-
After finishing his morning meal and rinsing his mouth with tea, Qu Dubian once again recalled his cheap father's remark, 'This emperor does not drink hot tea,' and immediately felt his teeth itch with irritation.
He asked, "Eunuch Bao, where are His Majesty's teas kept?"
Eunuch Bao: "Does Your Highness wish for tea?"
Qu Dubian: "I want to choose for myself."
Emperor Chongzhao had instructed that as long as Qu Dubian didn't set fires or throw tantrums in the Purple Aurora Hall, he could use and eat whatever he liked. Eunuch Bao brought out all the tea cakes privately collected by Emperor Chongzhao.
Black tea, white tea, green tea—every variety was there. Anything deemed worthy of being privately hoarded by the emperor was undoubtedly precious.
Eunuch Bao: "Which one would Your Highness like to drink?"
Qu Dubian waved his small hand, "Bring them all!"
Eunuch Bao: ?!
Wen Xiaochun immediately took all the tea cakes from the wooden tray. Qu Dubian said, "To the main imperial kitchens. I'm going to make something delicious."
He excitedly led Ye Xiaoyuan and the other two towards the main kitchens. The kitchens now had a new head steward who naturally dared not neglect Qu Dubian. Upon hearing that the prince wished to personally instruct the cooks, he immediately allocated a large stove for his exclusive use.
Standing on a stool, Qu Dubian directed people to boil water and prepare some small bamboo tubes and bamboo straws. Tapioca pearls, red date powder, taro pounded into paste, mixed with sugar and a bit of oil, stirred into a muddy consistency.
It wasn't quite the same as the taro paste from his previous life, but it would do.
As the large pot of water came to a boil, Qu Dubian directly broke off about a quarter of a tea cake and threw it in.
Eunuch Bao clutched his heart in pain. The young prince's bold action formed a stark contrast with His Majesty's careful, meticulous way of breaking tea cakes.
When the tea was ready, a small bucket of cow's milk was added. The unique, fragrant aroma of milk tea instantly filled the main kitchen.
Qu Dubian didn't add too much sugar. Seeing it was about right, he had someone ladle a small spoonful, blew on it, and took a taste.
Truly worthy of being tribute tea cakes! The tea fragrance and milk aroma blended together, the flavor far more delicious than he had imagined. Nothing better than a cup of hot, brewed milk tea in winter.
He quickly had someone strain out the tea leaves, then poured the milk tea into the bamboo tube cups. The taro paste and tapioca pearls were mixed into the milk tea. Different bamboo cups contained different toppings; the ones with red date powder yielded a sweet, fragrant red date flavor after the tea was poured in.
Several prepared bamboo cups were filled, and the remainder was poured into bowls.
"Everyone, have a taste."
Qu Dubian gave a bowl to each of the palace attendants from the Purple Aurora Hall who were with him.
The sound of slurp-hiss—people sipping milk tea—rose in the main kitchen. In the heart of winter, few could refuse a bowl of fragrant, sweet, steaming hot drink.
"Delicious!" the head steward of the main kitchen praised sincerely. "How did Your Highness think of such a novel thing?"
Qu Dubian said offhandedly, "Dreamt it."
The kitchen steward then said eagerly, "Might this humble one then use the kitchen's tea leaves to make more, to present as a new dish to the esteemed masters and mistresses?"
"Not for three days," Qu Dubian said.
"Of course, of course, it's entirely up to you, Seventh Prince." Being able to put it on the menu was already a boon. The seventh prince was truly easy to talk to. The steward smiled, "Your Highness, these ones in the bamboo tubes, are they meant to be gifts?"
"Yes."
Qu Dubian pointed out several flavors. "These, send them to the Empress Mother and Imperial Consort Xuan. These, to the school, for my elder brothers. Grand Tutor Fang gets a portion too. Keep one portion for me. Distribute the rest among those who take care of me in the Purple Aurora Hall."
"The strained tea leaves can be brewed a second time. If anyone else wants to drink, you can make another pot."
The palace servants in the main kitchen were overjoyed, as many hadn't gotten a share earlier. "Thank you, Seventh Prince!"
Qu Dubian had the distribution of the milk tea all neatly arranged.
He even secretly set aside a portion for Yi Shier, planning to leave it in a discreet spot later to see if he would take it.
Yi Shier's distance from him lately was strange—sometimes very close, sometimes very far, even undetectable. It was like this every day, as regular as clocking in for work.
Logically, it shouldn't be like this. After all, he was already living in the Purple Aurora Hall. For his cheap father to send a shadow guard to spy on him here made no sense at all.
Although Eunuch Bao was touched that the young prince remembered him, he couldn't help but remind him, "Your Highness, have you perhaps forgotten someone?"
Qu Dubian: "Who?"
Eunuch Bao stamped his foot. "His Majesty! It's His Majesty."
How could you not let His Majesty taste this novel creation?
"Oh—"
Qu Dubian had a sudden realization and said, "He doesn't drink hot tea."
