Chapter 37: Dining Together

Chapter 37: Dining Together

Yunshan stared at Song Zhao for a long while,

She always felt that her mistress had changed significantly from the time they were in the mansion.

More beautiful, and more composed,

“What are you looking at?” Song Zhao asked.

“I just realized that the silver hairpin you usually wear hasn't been seen for several days,” Yunshan remarked.

Gently touching her hair bun, Song Zhao replied indifferently, “Maybe I lost it somewhere.”

Yunshan hurriedly said, “Then I shall have someone search for it thoroughly. That hairpin was a gift from your father, and you specifically wore it to the palace as a keepsake. It can’t be lost.”

“No need,” Song Zhao shook her head, “Searching for a hairpin in this vast palace is like finding a needle in a haystack. With the mourning in the palace, it’s not appropriate to draw attention. Let it be.”

“Oh,” Yunshan pouted, “That’s a pity... But the Emperor has given you so many gifts, you wear a different one every day and still can't wear them all~”

Song Zhao smiled but did not respond to her comment.

The reason she brought that silver hairpin into the palace was not because it was a gift from Song Shicheng, nor to keep a memento of him.

Her father would be better off dead; how could she spare any affection to miss him?

She brought the hairpin into the palace because its head was hollow, able to conceal things.

Before entering the palace, Song Zhao had hidden a small amount of arsenic in the hairpin,

She had already planned to poison herself once she gained favor and incurred jealousy, to evoke Xiao Jingheng's pity.

Li Changzai's unwitting involvement in her plan had, in a way, served Song Zhao's purposes.

The day after paying respects to the Empress, Song Zhao, accompanied by Yaopin, went to visit Consort Shu.

Consort Shu was still deeply depressed, barely acknowledging their presence, lying on her bed clutching a small bellyband embroidered with a qilin.

It was something she had personally made for her unborn son; now the bellyband remained, but the child was gone.

Yaopin tried to console Consort Shu, but any mention of the little prince triggered endless tears.

As they left Consort Shu’s palace, Yaopin whispered to Song Zhao,

“It's no wonder Consort Shu is so heartbroken. A healthy child of seven months gone just like that; who could bear such a blow?”

Song Zhao responded with a melancholy tone, then asked, “I heard that Chenfei also miscarried at six months. It was said she accidentally fell?”

A sneer crossed Yaopin’s lips, “That was her own doing.”

Noticing Song Zhao’s gaze on her, Yaopin quickly changed her expression and topic,

“The Emperor's birthday is in a few days, and I need to practice the Yaoqin with the music master. You go back to your palace.”

Song Zhao respectfully bid farewell to Yaopin and was on her way back to her palace when she ran into Yunshan and Xiao Fuzi at the palace gate.

Xiao Fuzi was covered in dust, limping as if supported by Yunshan.

Song Zhao quickly inquired, “What happened?”

As they walked back to the palace, Yunshan recounted with lingering fear,

“A rock loosened and fell from the artificial mountain in the southeast corner of the Royal Garden. It nearly hit me. Thankfully, Xiao Fuzi was quick to pull me away. I'm fine, but he sprained his ankle.”

Song Zhao looked at Xiao Fuzi with concern, “How are you? Are you alright?”

Xiao Fuzi waved his hand, smiling, “Compared to the hardships in the Xinze House, this is nothing. I’ll just apply some safflower oil. But we should report this incident to the Internal Affairs Department so they can repair the artificial mountain to prevent accidents.”

Xiao Fuzi and Yunshan discussed reporting the incident as soon as possible.

Song Zhao pondered and then advised, “The Empress has delegated all internal affairs of the harem to Yingfei. If you report directly to the Internal Affairs Department, it might seem like we are overstepping our bounds and offend Yingfei. The staff of the Internal Affairs Department patrol the palace daily; they will eventually discover the issue. Let's pretend we are unaware of it.”

That evening, Xiao Jingheng again favored Chenfei.

However, later at night, Zhang Jiugui from the Office of Attendance personally visited Yaohua Palace.

He came to Song Zhao with a smile, bearing good news, “Miss Song, His Majesty has decreed that he invites you to join him for lunch at Chaoyang Palace tomorrow.”

Song Zhao smiled in response, “Thank you for making this trip, Eunuch Zhang. I am informed.”

After Zhang Jiugui left, Song Zhao began to prepare for the lunch.

Last time Xiao Jingheng dined with her, he seemed to enjoy a dish of bamboo shoots and ham soup, so she asked Yunshan to prepare the ingredients in advance, planning to cook it herself and personally deliver it to Xiao Jingheng the next day.

She specifically instructed, “Use fresh mushrooms, tea tree mushrooms, and cordyceps to enhance the broth’s flavor. Pre-cook the mushroom broth, then soak some sweet potato vermicelli in it to absorb the taste.”

Yunshan was somewhat puzzled, “Soup is usually served after the main course to refresh the palate. Sweet potato vermicelli is quite filling; why include it?”

Song Zhao explained, “Its translucent appearance floating on top is just for decoration. Whether His Majesty eats it or not is his choice; just prepare as I said.”

When the time for the lunch arrived the next day, Song Zhao brought the bamboo shoots and ham soup to Chaoyang Palace,

As expected, Xiao Jingheng enjoyed the dish.

After finishing the meal, he even asked for two more bowls of the soup. The delicious broth and well-flavored vermicelli were so appetizing that one could never have enough.

There was an ancient imperial rule about not eating more than three servings of the same dish. It was said that if the Emperor showed a preference for a particular dish, eating it often or in large quantities, it could become a target for those with malicious intentions to exploit for poisoning.

Therefore, under normal circumstances, the consorts would usually advise the Emperor to restrain himself at this point.

Xiao Jingheng, often cautioned by others, instinctively raised his eyebrows at Song Zhao when the servants were about to serve him the third bowl.

However, he noticed that this naive girl was propping her chin and watching him with a sweet smile.

Xiao Jingheng lightly tapped her delicate nose and asked, “Why are you staring and smiling at me?”

Song Zhao replied, “I am happy to see His Majesty enjoying the dish I prepared.”

Hearing this, Xiao Jingheng laughed heartily, “I like having you by my side. You don't have as many rules as the Empress, nor are you as talkative as Chenfei. Just quietly sharing a meal like this is perfect.”

How could it not be? Others dining with him would either be overly concerned about his health or try too hard to please him,

But Song Zhao was simple in her approach.

She simply wanted Xiao Jingheng to eat more.

After finishing most of the soup and the swelling sweet potato vermicelli, Xiao Jingheng felt quite full.

Song Zhao helped him rinse his mouth, “Why don’t you rest for a while, Your Majesty? You have documents to review in the afternoon.”

How could Xiao Jingheng sleep feeling so full?

He smiled and suggested, “I was a bit greedy just now. Would you accompany me for a walk to aid digestion?”

Song Zhao nodded in agreement, and Jiang Deshun suggested, "The chrysanthemums in the Imperial Garden are blooming splendidly now. Perhaps His Majesty would like to see them?"

In autumn, all flowers wither, save for the chrysanthemums that cling to their fragrance on the branches.

With little choice, Jiang Deshun could only suggest Emperor Xiao Jingheng admire the chrysanthemums – what else to see? The wilted flowers and faded willows covering the ground?

And the best place in the palace to enjoy the chrysanthemums,

Is just behind the artificial hill in the southeastern corner of the Imperial Garden.