Chapter 23: Matters of Importance
byChapter 23: Matters of Importance
The list of court ladies and eunuchs remaining in the Treasure Pavilion was promptly compiled and delivered.
Rong Bi examined it carefully and noticed that there was also a list of those who had been dismissed. She couldn't help but feel a little admiration for Yan Xin's meticulousness. He must have realized that the Crown Prince would not only be interested in who stayed behind but also in who left, where they went, and whether they could have been pawns planted by others within the Treasure Pavilion.
What she didn't know was that Yan Xin's attentiveness this time was actually a result of her morning display, where she skillfully combined favor with authority to reclaim control over the Crown Prince's meals and generously shared them with her subordinates. Although they were just desserts, it was remarkable for someone as dignified and aloof as the Crown Prince to usually show such kindness, albeit sparingly.
Even a punished Crown Prince was still the heir to the throne, and any gift from him held great significance. Regardless of the circumstances, it was worth their loyalty to stay with His Highness in the Treasure Pavilion.
She studied the list attentively and discovered that the four senior palace maids, Pei Qiu, Pei Lan, Pei Zhu, and Pei Xiang, who had been left behind by the late Empress when she was the Queen Consort and had remained loyal to the Crown Prince, had all been dismissed. The excuse given for Pei Qiu and Pei Lan's departure was their advanced age, which necessitated their return to their hometowns, while Pei Zhu and Pei Xiang were removed under the pretense of downsizing. These four maids had held significant influence over the Crown Prince's personal affairs, and with their departure, his surroundings suddenly felt emptier.
No wonder Han Suyin had left; with Yan Xin in such a foul mood, she was the last remaining senior court lady with official duties. Her departure would leave the crown prince's quarters with only young attendants capable of simple tasks like laundry and sewing.
Of course, this was the work of Empress Luo, who had consistently allowed these four court ladies to remain steadfast by the Crown Prince's side, controlling all matters pertaining to him. Through her arrangement of the Imperial Bedchamber, she created an illusion that the people around the Crown Prince would never change. Their unyielding presence meant that no new and more capable individuals could approach the Crown Prince. The four court ladies chosen by Empress Shen, including Pei Qiu, firmly held their positions, believing they could maintain their grip on the Crown Prince's affairs indefinitely.
Rong Bi gazed fixatedly at the characters "Rong Bi," with a notation following: Presented to Princess Yi Yang as a companion in her dowry. Below, a date was inscribed, yet her entry in the imperial concubine registry remained unchanged.
Rong Bi's heart pounded wildly. She realized that, as the Crown Prince now, even if she were to be punished by the Emperor, it would still be relatively simple for her to release a palace servant. All he needed to do was give an order to the Office of Ladies and issue her a pass to leave the palace as a free citizen...
Soon, she calmed down. The Office of Ladies was still under Empress Luo's control. Of course, the Crown Prince would release her, but what would happen after that was still in Empress Luo's hands. And how long would she remain in this body? Was it all just a dream? Would she switch back at any moment? If so, would the Crown Prince immediately order someone to kill "Rong Bi" to eliminate any potential threats? After all, the Crown Prince was the one who had suffered in their body swap.
But this was an opportunity. Rong Bi regained her composure and quickly assessed the remaining attendants. The Precious Scroll Palace was now isolated, guarded by soldiers who didn't allow anyone to enter or leave freely. The Crown Prince was essentially being held captive. She needed to gain his trust; if he truly believed she was Rong Bi, it would benefit him as well.
She had to win the trust of the Crown Prince and the princess. Rong Bi's life as a lowly palace maid was now intertwined with these two fallen nobles. There was no turning back for her; she could only seek survival through risk.
Only twenty-six people remained in the Precious Scroll Palace, mostly servants and attendants. It was indeed meager for a prince, but for Rong Bi, serving the Crown Prince alone with that number was a piece of cake.
Having spent years in the palace, she understood each attendant's responsibilities. In no time, she divided the group into three shifts: one for the day and one for the night, rotating every day, so everyone had a chance to rest during the day after their night shift. She assigned specific tasks to each person: cleaning, laundry, sewing, kitchen duties, lighting candles, and patrolling.
To avoid suspicion, she wrote out the schedule herself but didn't give it to Yan Xin. Instead, she called Yan Xin over, repeated the details, and had him write it down and distribute the assignments. As a reward for the servants who stayed, each received a small sum of money – a hundred cash coins, though meager, it was a token of appreciation for their loyalty.
Servants were meant to work hard, but when their efforts and loyalty were acknowledged by their master, it carried a different meaning. They would feel that staying and being loyal was commendable, and their master's recognition, even if they couldn't leave due to lack of options, gave them a sense of superiority – they were faithful servants.
After Yan Xin completed the schedule based on the Crown Prince's instructions, he was thoroughly convinced. He had thought the Crown Prince only studied classics and governance, never imagining that he could handle affairs so meticulously and considerately. With the Crown Prince personally overseeing the arrangements, the vacancies left by those who had departed were now filled, and every task was assigned to a specific person, leaving no room for evasion. The rest periods were also arranged thoughtfully, as if the Crown Prince had been observing everything. The thought that his actions might have been under the Crown Prince's watchful eye made Yan Xin slightly fearful, prompting him to be more diligent.
Unfortunately, there were hardly any personal attendants left to serve the Crown Prince closely. Rong Bi glanced at Yan Xin and simply said, "In times like these, it's better to have fewer people around."
Yan Xin felt a chill run down his spine, once again acknowledging the Crown Prince's wisdom. He hastily took the orders and arranged everything promptly, including the assignment for kitchen repairs.
In the afternoon, Rong Bi personally supervised the repair of the kitchen stoves, giving precise instructions on where to place the large stove for boiling water and simmering broths, a task that required constant attention to keep the fire burning. She also designated the smaller stoves for stir-frying dishes, which needed excellent ventilation for intense heat to quickly cook delicious meals, and the stove for steaming dishes, offering detailed guidance.
The imperial kitchen sent over ingredients along with a brand new set of cooking utensils, attributing it to Lord Tang Xi's orders.
Satisfied, Rong Bi selected three attendants from the remaining staff to manage the kitchen. One of them, an eunuch named Cai Fan, who had previous experience in the imperial kitchen, was assigned to oversee meal preparations without any other duties. Under his supervision were two eunuchs responsible for tending the fires and a palace maid in charge of boiling water, washing vegetables, and miscellaneous tasks.
That evening, she instructed Cai Fan to prepare fish soup, diced meat with fruit sauce, and chicken and pork stomach soup. These dishes finally soothed the delicate stomach of the crown prince.
As night fell, she tidied up and went to bed with a premonition. As expected, when she woke up again in a daze, she found herself at the relay station, among the other maidservants. They would have to rise early to attend to the princess immediately. Rong Bi realized she was already en route to Yi Yang Princess's wedding.
Mei Xiang, noticing her submissive demeanor, teased her, "Yesterday you cried like a child in the princess's arms, tugging at her heartstrings. That's why she allowed you a day off. Today, you'd better be on your toes."
Rong Bi was speechless.
Princess Yi Yang saw her and chuckled. "Are you feeling better today? The food at the relay station is not satisfactory. Seeing you unwell yesterday, I didn't let you work. Was the carriage ride uncomfortable? You can sit with me again today if you like."
Rong Bi's face flushed red as she retreated to the carriage with the other maidservants.
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Yuan Jun was also lost in thought while staring at the breakfast spread.
A creamy white soup made with mandarin fish slices was served to accompany the noodles, which were cooked to a tender softness, melting in the mouth with an exquisite flavor. The portion was delicately small, and it was soon finished after just a few bites, leaving a lingering aroma in the palate.
A modest bowl of swallow's nest and shark fin soup, its texture smooth and delicately sweet, with just the right amount of rock sugar, not too overpowering.
There were also delicate steamed pork buns, small enough to be devoured in one bite. The dough was soft, while the meat filling was succulent and flavorful. Paired with a slightly sour sauce, they were incredibly delicious.
"Everything has been prepared as Your Highness instructed last night. It's Cai Fan's first time, and I'm quite anxious. I instructed my servant to make sure to ask Your Highness if this is the desired flavor. If it is, we shall use the same degree of heat for future preparations."
Yan Xin's face was filled with remorse as he said, "It is all this servant's fault for not being aware that Your Highness has been suffering from stomach discomfort. Cai Fan mentioned that when Your Highness's stomach acts up, it is uncomfortable with cold food, hot food, hard or oily dishes. The meals indeed need to be carefully prepared, ensuring they are neither too much nor too little to avoid overeating or starvation. Hence, there's no need to adhere strictly to the former sixteen-course meals each day; it suffices to have just enough. The kitchen will keep soup warm at all times, and it can be sent immediately upon Your Highness's request. Additionally, this study will be stocked with snacks like Poria cakes to nurture Your Highness's health. With such attentiveness, Your Highness's stomach ailment is sure to improve."
Yuan Jun lifted his gaze slightly. "What I... instructed yesterday?"
Yan Xin hastened to say, "Your Highness has so meticulously arranged the kitchen matters and personally instructed Cai Fan in cooking with such care. It's evident that Your Highness is truly unwell. We, your servants, are filled with remorse for having made you endure this for so long."
Yuan Jun asked slowly, "Has the... small kitchen been arranged?" Would the palace rules permit it?
Yan Xindao replied with certainty, "Indeed, His Highness oversaw it himself yesterday, and it was put to use for the evening meal. Thanks to His Highness's grace, everyone enjoyed a hearty, hot meal last night. Today, everyone's spirits are exceptionally high. I've made rounds both last night and this morning to ensure everything is in order, following the duty roster as arranged by Your Highness. Despite having fewer people, tasks are being attended to promptly. It seems Your Highness's arrangements are most efficacious; you may rest assured."
Yuan Jun's expression remained composed as he said firmly, "Has Your Highness finished your meal? Was the ointment from yesterday effective? Since your knee isn't fully recovered, would you like to rest in the study as you did yesterday?"
Rising to his feet, Yuan Jun felt the two plasters on his knee, explaining the warmth he was experiencing. He slowly walked into the study and, with his heightened awareness, quickly noticed the changes within. On one side of the study, a luxurious chaise lounge now held soft cushions and a small table, allowing him to read comfortably while reclining.
The cushions and bedding were scentless, just as he preferred, yet exceptionally clean.
Standing by the bookshelf, Yuan Jun knew that studies often concealed the most secrets, especially for those of high rank. Valuable papers, even those with writing, were meticulously managed.
He was intimately familiar with this study and immediately noticed that a few books had been disturbed, all rare volumes not found elsewhere. After examining them for a moment, he picked up a copy of 'Scholarly Notes on the Sea of Politics.' It was an old statesman's diary from the previous dynasty, which he collected in hopes of learning something from the past court. However, it seemed now that his own position as crown prince might be in jeopardy, rendering governance and court affairs irrelevant to him.
To his surprise, the inconspicuous palace maid had also chosen this book. Flipping through its pages, he discovered a green slip of paper tucked inside. Stunned, he removed it and read the words written on it: "The Old Chronicles."
After pondering for a moment, he moved to the bookshelf at the back. In an unassuming corner, he found a deep blue-bound notebook. The craftsmanship was exquisite, with neat stitches securing the spine tightly.
Opening the first page, he saw the date written—yesterday's date—and then brief notes about a few events. The first was sending away Han Suyin, followed by relocating the crown prince's meals from the Inner Kitchen to the Baohuan Palace, where he would personally oversee his diet. Lastly, there was the allocation of tasks for the remaining eunuchs and palace attendants in the Baohuan Palace, detailing their specific duties and resumes.
This was a concise record, which an outsider might perceive as the crown prince's daily journal. Although the handwriting didn't resemble the prince's, it could easily have been written by a court official or eunuch on his behalf.
Yuan Jun caressed the deep blue cloth-bound book, falling into a prolonged silence.
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