Chapter 15: What a Bloodbath of a Scene

Chapter 15: What a Minefield

For lunch, Yun Ran made a big batch of braised pork and twice-cooked pork. After each eunuch received two pieces of meat, Yun Ran wolfed down a big bowl herself.

The rest was divided into portions and handed out to the imperial consorts in the harem.

"Yuanbao, I'm stuffed. The rest is yours."

Perhaps because the body she'd inherited had gone hungry for too long, her stomach wasn't used to such greasy, heavy braised pork, and it was struggling.

Yun Ran felt her stomach gurgling and made a dash for the toilet.

Yuanbao was thrilled. He'd just heaped a full bowl of braised pork for His Majesty, and even though the emperor could pack it away, he'd left this much behind!

A tasty treat for lunch today!

Under Fugui'er's jealous, twisted gaze, Yuanbao cheerfully called over his godson to carry away the emperor's braised pork and leftover rice.

Then he scurried after the emperor, who was already speed-walking away.

"Your Majesty, wait for this servant! I'll come assist you!"

Yun Ran broke into a cold sweat as she ran.

"Don't come after me! Just wait outside!"

This bathroom absolutely had to be built!

Back in the harem,

"My Lady, lunch has arrived!"

In each consort's palace, the eunuchs who had gone to fetch the meals returned, all grinning from ear to ear.

"Today's meal has two dishes from the emperor. I heard he cooked them himself!"

For real?

Shen Shining covered her mouth, thrilled.

Then she ducked her head, a blush creeping up her cheeks.

So the emperor still remembered her. Even though he had eaten the only pearl chicken, he had personally cooked for her—and he was the greatest man in the world...

With that thought, she couldn't bring herself to eat it.

Xiao Lan, the senior palace maid, saw her mistress clearly smitten and didn't have the heart to tell her that the other palaces had received the same dishes. She just opened the lid and started serving.

"At least taste a little, My Lady, so you don't waste the emperor's kindness."

"I guess so."

Actually, the moment the lid opened and she smelled the aroma, Shen Shining's mouth started watering.

She'd honestly never seen anything like these dishes.

They smelled amazing, nothing like the usual bland pork dishes. It was something else entirely.

"Mmm!"

Just as Shen Shining popped a bite into her mouth, she heard a commotion outside.

"Shen, dear, are you there? Hahahahaha~"

After a burst of triumphant laughter, Yu Guiwan, dressed in all her finery, swept in with her senior maid.

The young eunuch at the door didn't dare stop her, and he couldn't have stopped her even if he tried...

She called out as she walked.

"Today the emperor gave me some dishes, sis. I remembered I mooched a meal off you last time, so I came to invite you to share. Such good stuff—how... how do you have it too?!"

Shen Shining was just as stunned.

"You got them too, Sister Yu?"

They both felt awkward. This was...

"Ha, ha, well then, let's eat together. I haven't tried it yet."

Yu Guiwan, always haughty, adjusted the pink gemstone kingfisher gold hairpin in her hair, clenching her jaw in frustration.

She had always held the highest rank in the palace. As Chief of the Four Consorts, anything good should've come to her first. Yet the emperor's first gift had been spread around to everyone equally.

Ugh, so annoying!

The two stared at each other, the tension thick enough to cut. Just as they were about to pick up their chopsticks,

"Hahaha, Shen, dear, are you there? The emperor gave me two dishes today..."

From outside the door came the voice of Consort Qin, Song Wanqin, sounding just as frail as always.

But today, her voice carried a vibrant energy, as if she'd had a shot of adrenaline.

Shen Shining...

Yu Guiwan...

Shen Shining clenched her fists.

One after another, relying on their higher rank, they all came to bully me, didn't they! We're all Four Consorts—do I owe you something?!

"Oh, Sister Yu, you're here too."

Song Wanqin, wearing a moon-white embroidered long dress, had just stepped inside when she saw two identical brightly colored dishes on the table. Her expression instantly soured.

"Ha, Sister Qin's here too. Well, let's all eat together."

Yu Guiwan could only manage a stiff smile.

Shen Shining's smile was about to crack. Her little round table was about to be completely covered.

What do you think this is, a soup kitchen?! Coming to mooch off me every day, even squeezing in for lunch!

AAAHHHH!!!!!

Shen Shining screamed inside her head, her expression twisting.

The three sat together, and the small table could barely hold all the plates. The maidservants were all sweating bullets.

"I should've talked Her Ladyship out of coming... What a mess this is..."

"Alright, everyone, dig in."

Yu Guiwan had just picked up her chopsticks again when—

"HAHAHAHAHA, Sister Shen, you there? Your little sis brought something awesome~"

Shen Shining: ...

Yu Guiwan: ...

Song Wanqin: ?

"My Lady, Consort Yi has arrived."

This time, the eunuch at the door actually managed to stop her, stepping in to report in a low voice.

It was actually Huang Shuyi!

Shen Shining's temple throbbed.

Now even a mere concubine can come flaunt in front of me? Am I too soft-hearted or what...

I'm done. Let it all burn.

Shen Shining said, her voice drained,

"Since you're here, come join us for a meal."

Huang Shuyi sashayed in, looking pleased with herself. Her family were famous wealthy merchants—though her rank wasn't high, she only had the three of them to answer to. Wealthy and carefree, she had the cushiest life of all.

Today, Huang Shuyi wore a vibrant pea-green orchid-patterned gauze dress,

A pair of jingling bracelets in a cool shade on her wrists, and a sparkling gem-studded hairpin in her hair.

She looked crisp and clean, still a bit girlish at fifteen.

The moment the four of them laid eyes on each other, the scene turned into an absolute minefield.

It was so tense that every maid and eunuch in the room wanted to bolt.

...

Yun Ran had no idea her careless actions had already set the harem ablaze with conflict.

"How is it? The dishes granted to us are all the same."

"Yes, the Emperor must really dote on us sisters."

"Let's eat."

"..."

They were so cramped they could barely move their arms, but they stubbornly sat at the same table and dug in.

"Wow, Brother Jun actually made this himself! He's amazing."

The fragile beauty Song Wanqin took a bite and covered her mouth in surprise.

The other three all rolled their eyes.

Wasn't it just that they played together as kids? "Brother Jun,"

Does the Emperor know how shameless you are? What a fake!

Still, the taste was genuinely amazing.

The four of them normally ate very little. Though the Emperor had never visited the harem, now that the Regent was gone, who knew if he might come in the future—they still had to keep their figures in check.

But today, they all broke their own rules...

The braised pork was soft and glutinous, unexpectedly sweet, with the skin stewed until it melted in the mouth.

The lean meat was tender and flaky, the sauce thick and rich—paired with a bite of white rice, it was to die for!

The twice-cooked pork was also fiery and spicy, paired with sweet, crisp garlic sprouts. The bold flavors really got their appetites going,

And they all started eating much faster.

...

"Burp—"

Huang Shuyi ate the most. On top of the braised pork and twice-cooked pork, she even used the sauce to finish off that bland plate of boiled bamboo shoots.

The other three also wolfed down about seventy or eighty percent of the Emperor's meat, only stopping when they were truly stuffed, setting down their chopsticks to savor the flavor.

"This is so good. I wish I could eat this every day."

Shen Shining remarked, and her maid Xiaolian immediately leaned over and said,

"Steward Fu from the imperial kitchen said the Emperor taught them this dish, so we can order it separately from now on."