WK Chapter 7

The Imperial Kitchen.

 

This place combined the Imperial Food Service and the Precious Food Department, responsible for almost all palace meals. Ever since the previous emperor established the rule of three meals a day, it had become increasingly busy.

 

A massive palace stood in the center, with “Imperial Kitchen” written above, also meaning “Great Benevolence.”

 

At this time, all windows were wide open. Despite the cold winter weather, the aroma and steam from steamed buns rushed out, mixed with various food smells.

 

Maids and eunuchs from other palaces had already lined up at the food distribution windows.

 

Those serving higher-ranking masters could enter through the main door to collect their palace’s meals.

 

In theory, among the eastern and western twelve palaces, following ancestral rules, there should be eleven main consorts presiding over the main palaces, excluding the empress. However, in the current emperor’s harem, there were only seven, and one of those was practically in name only, not favored.

 

The most prominent was still Noble Consort Lan. Originally gentle in nature and favored by the emperor, after giving birth to the sixth prince, her status rose even higher due to her son, with her family also benefiting from the imperial favor.

 

Eunuch Fu, still bearing the wound on his head from Noble Consort Lan, was bustling about.

 

“Be careful, all of you! These are extra pastries prepared for the Sixth Prince, made with the best ingredients. If you ruin them, I won’t let you off!”

 

Despite being hit on the head by Noble Consort Lan, he didn’t resent her but instead tried even harder to curry favor. He had selected many good things from his own savings, racking his brains to please the Sixth Prince and appease Noble Consort Lan.

 

When Qu Dubian entered, he immediately spotted this plump eunuch with bandages on his head.

 

It was hard to miss him, given how conspicuously fat he was.

 

Carried by Ye Xiaoyuan, he crossed into the hall. Many inside recognized Ye Xiaoyuan and vaguely guessed his identity. The palace servants exchanged glances, hesitating, unsure whether to come forward and pay respects.

 

A young palace maid came forward, hesitantly curtsying.

 

“Is this the young prince?”

 

Qu Dubian nodded, “Mm.”

 

Young maid: “Why has Your Highness come to such a place? Ye Gonggong, quickly take the prince out.”

 

Over there, Eunuch Fu hadn’t turned around and hadn’t noticed their arrival. He was still shouting, “What are you all doing? Hurry up and get moving!”

 

Qu Dubian glanced around and saw a basket of leftover hard steamed buns. “Xiaochun, get me one.”

 

Wen Xiaochun handed him a hard bun.

 

Qu Dubian weighed the bun in his hand, mentally apologized to it, then aimed at the back of Eunuch Fu’s head and threw it hard.

 

The bun precisely and passionately kissed the back of Eunuch Fu’s head.

 

“Ouch! Which blind wretch dares to—” Eunuch Fu turned around red-eyed, his fury suddenly halting when he saw the child in Ye Xiaoyuan’s arms.

 

Wen Xiaochun’s face suddenly darkened, his mouth flattening, his slightly sinister gaze fixed on Eunuch Fu.

 

Qu Dubian had come today to cause trouble and wasn’t afraid at all.

 

He fully acted like a child, puffing up angrily: “It’s you who bullied people from my palace and didn’t give me food to eat.”

 

You’ve been hit, so what? Hit back if you dare!

 

“Seventh Prince?”

 

Eunuch Fu had a fire burning in his chest. But no matter how much face he had in the Imperial Kitchen, he was still a servant, and Qu Dubian, no matter how disregarded, was still a master.

 

Given the master-servant hierarchy, in front of everyone, even if he was hit, he had to put on a smile and say his head was ugly and deserved to be hit.

 

He walked over, suppressing his anger, not bowing but coldly rebuking Ye Xiaoyuan, “You dog, daring to bring the prince to such a place. You should be beaten to death.”

 

Qu Dubian slapped off his hat.

 

“Don’t talk to Ye Banban like that.”

 

Carried by Ye Xiaoyuan, he was half a head taller than Eunuch Fu. Under Eunuch Fu’s shocked gaze, he grabbed the fat eunuch’s hair and began rhythmically shaking it left and right.

 

This looked like a child throwing a tantrum. Others might think, how much strength could a child have? Just endure it and it will pass. Only Qu Dubian himself knew how much force he was using.

 

He was putting all his energy from the half hard bun and pickles he ate this morning into this.

 

Eunuch Fu screamed, instinctively starting to struggle.

 

“Your Highness!” Ye Xiaoyuan hurriedly held him tight. “Your Highness, don’t be angry. Be good, don’t move around. What if you fall?”

 

Wen Xiaochun was also very nervous, stretching out his arms to block on both sides.

 

Qu Dubian was determined to make the incident as big as possible, the bigger the better.

 

He leaned out half his body, mischievously tore off the bandage on Eunuch Fu’s forehead, ‘accidentally’ poked the wound underneath, then poked again! And again! And again! Poke poke poke!

 

Eunuch Fu cried out in pain and jerked violently, the wooden handle of his duster hitting Qu Dubian’s hand.

 

Eunuch Fu: “Damn it, let go quickly!!”

 

Good, so you’ve struck back, have you?

 

Qu Dubian’s eyes filled with tears, just about to burst into loud cries, when out of the corner of his eye he spotted a purple-robed eunuch in python robes flashing past him like a blur.

 

He paused, swallowing the loud cry he had prepared to attract more attention.

 

Head Eunuch Yu, having come on imperial orders, had just reached the entrance of the Imperial Kitchen when he heard the Seventh Prince causing a commotion inside.

 

He immediately rushed in, seeing that a fight had broken out. His heart sank, and just as he was about to intervene, he saw that servant strike the Seventh Prince’s hand.

 

His mind let out a sharp alarm, and he sprinted in, kicking Eunuch Fu flying.

 

“You’re the one who should die! You lowly slave, do you know who you just hit?!”

 

Head Eunuch Yu turned anxiously to look at the Seventh Prince being held. “Your Highness, are you alright?” Good heavens, the task assigned by His Majesty was this intense from the very first step.

 

The child still looked dazed, as if frightened. A red mark had appeared on the back of his hand where he had been struck.

 

Judging by the clothes, this must be the Head Eunuch. His nominal father’s man?

 

Qu Dubian blinked, and his eyes immediately reddened silently, tears welling up but not falling.

 

He turned his head, burying himself in Ye Xiaoyuan’s embrace, clutching a bit of Ye Xiaoyuan’s clothes to wipe his tears.

 

His cry was soft, choked with grievance.

 

“…I was just hungry and came here to find food. Why did he hit me?”

 

With someone in charge now, a small cry was more effective than a loud one.

 

Qu Dubian had truly inherited his parents’ good looks.

 

At the very least, Head Eunuch Yu’s heart melted at the sight. This was actually his first time seeing the Seventh Prince, but he could recognize him at a glance.

 

The Seventh Prince looked remarkably like both his mother and father.

 

His features were especially reminiscent of Consort Yun. If His Majesty could see the Seventh Prince with his own eyes, he would likely show more tolerance and affection.

 

Head Eunuch Yu: “It’s that lowly slave’s fault for frightening Your Highness.”

 

Ye Xiaoyuan tenderly rubbed the back of Qu Dubian’s hand where he had been struck.

 

The young prince’s tears acted like a catalyst, instantly igniting the emotions that had been building up in his heart.

 

Ye Xiaoyuan set Qu Dubian down and bowed to Head Eunuch Yu, “Ju’an Hall is cold and neglected. The Imperial Kitchen has been withholding His Highness’s meals. His Highness is at an age of growth, yet he hasn’t even smelled milk all year. Today, there wasn’t even porridge, forcing a young child to gnaw on hard buns. Even in some wealthy commoner households, there’s no such practice! I beg the Gonggong to deal with this insolent servant who has wronged his master!”

 

Head Eunuch Yu was shocked, not expecting Ju’an Hall to be in such a state, even worse than he had imagined.

 

“You!”

 

Eunuch Fu hadn’t expected the usually gentle and submissive bootlicker to bite him today, and his face became even more ferocious.

 

He crawled on his knees to Head Eunuch Yu, “Yu Gonggong! I didn’t! This servant didn’t! I’ve been in the Imperial Kitchen for so many years, always loyal and dutiful. How could I mistreat the Seventh Prince? It must be this Ye Xiaoyuan who’s been withholding the Seventh Prince’s food and blaming it on me.”

 

“Please investigate clearly!”

 

Qu Dubian timidly stepped back, completely unlike his earlier aggressive behavior, “He’s so scary…”

 

Everyone present, except for Eunuch Fu, saw nothing amiss. How old was the young prince? Two and a half! Mood swings were natural for most children.

 

Wen Xiaochun came to Qu Dubian’s side, bending down to gently protect him.

 

“Don’t be afraid, Your Highness.”

 

Qu Dubian hid behind him, peeking out from behind his legs to say to Eunuch Fu: “Liar, you’re the fat one, Ye Banban is so thin.” Who’s really the greedy one!

 

Eunuch Fu was filled with resentment.

 

Damn little sickly child, why didn’t that high fever kill him last time!

 

“This old servant isn’t senile yet,” Head Eunuch Yu glanced at the fat eunuch on the ground, thinking to himself that this man was truly useless. If His Majesty knew of the Seventh Prince’s situation, he would surely be angry. This man had walked right into the blade.

 

He squatted down and said gently, “How does Your Highness think this servant should be punished?”

 

The young prince hesitated, then gritted his teeth and said fiercely: “Punish… punish him by making him go hungry too!”

 

Head Eunuch Yu smiled inwardly, his gaze growing even gentler. This was probably the greatest revenge a child living in a cold, secluded place could think of, but the matter certainly couldn’t be resolved so easily.

 

He just nodded and said, “Alright, we’ll punish him by making him go hungry for a while.”

 

He waved his hand, and immediately two young eunuchs dragged away Eunuch Fu, who had collapsed on the ground. They even gagged him to avoid frightening the child, which was very thoughtful.

 

Head Eunuch Yu took out a clean handkerchief and wrapped it around Qu Dubian’s hand.

 

“We’ll call a royal physician for the Seventh Prince later, to prevent bruising.”

 

He was being kind to the young prince in accordance with His Majesty’s wishes, but as soon as he tied the handkerchief, the squatting Head Eunuch Yu received a big, warm hug.

 

The soft, fragrant scent of a child filled his arms.

 

Head Eunuch Yu was stunned.

 

Qu Dubian’s eyes sparkled, generously releasing his enthusiasm, almost worshipfully: “Thank you, Gonggong. You’re so kind, punishing the big bad guy. You’re really amazing!”

 

Head Eunuch Yu instinctively wanted to say this was His Majesty’s intention, but remembering the emperor’s instructions, he swallowed his words and reluctantly accepted this admiration.

 

He smiled and said: “This servant thanks Your Highness for the praise.”

 

“Can I get today’s food now?” Qu Dubian looked towards the other Imperial Kitchen servants.

 

The others hurriedly said.

 

“Of course!”

 

“Your Highness, please help yourself.”

 

But after searching for a long time, they couldn’t find the lunch portion for Ju’an Hall. The reason was that Ju’an Hall was neglected, and the Imperial Kitchen had stopped preparing meals separately for it at some point, only allocating some from other places daily.

 

It was fine at first, but became increasingly perfunctory over time.

 

Even if neglected, the Seventh Prince was still His Majesty’s child. To be mistreated like this was far worse than he had imagined.

 

Head Eunuch Yu’s face turned cold.

 

Glancing at the surrounding servants with lowered heads, he felt that not only Eunuch Fu but the entire management of the Imperial Kitchen seemed to think they had lived too long.

 

“Your Highness, please choose for yourself. Today, all the food in the Imperial Kitchen, whatever you like, take it all,” he said.

 

The child nodded bewilderedly.

 

He happily tugged at the sleeve of a nearby young eunuch, selecting various steamed buns, porridge, and eggs. After choosing for a while, all were very simple foods.

 

Head Eunuch Yu couldn’t help but say: “Doesn’t Your Highness want to choose something else? Like roast chicken, roast duck, or milk?”

 

Hearing “roast chicken,” the young prince’s eyes lit up, clearly wanting it, but he hesitantly said: “But these are already the best things I usually eat. The others… someone said that Father Emperor doesn’t like me and won’t let me eat them.”

 

He then looked up innocently, beginning to twist the knife.

 

“Gonggong, if I keep not eating these things, will Father Emperor like me then?”

 

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