Palace Fighting Naive Concubines’ Ascent to Power

43: Chapter 43: Fire?

43: Chapter 43: Fire?

He discovered upon inspection that it was indeed thoroughly crushed, becoming a clump of crumbs.

Lian Hua cleared her throat awkwardly and glanced at Xiao Qing, then at Xiao Jizi.

Hmm, it was better to give it to Xiao Jizi.

So she said to him with a natural demeanor, “Xiao Jizi, I’m very pleased with your good work.

I’ll bestow this Golden Silk Ruyi Cake upon you and hope you’ll continue to excel.

There will be rewards from the master if you do your future tasks well.”

Xiao Jizi took it and was dumbfounded upon seeing it.

This clump was the Golden Silk Ruyi Cake?

Could it even be eaten in this state?

He hesitated several times, not daring to stuff it into his mouth.

Looking up, he noticed both the Young Master and Xiao Qing staring at him, which made him somewhat panicked.

“Hmm?

Why aren’t you eating?” Lian Hua asked, arms crossed, fixating on him.

Xiao Qing was stifling her laughter on the side.

Xiao Jizi lowered his head to look again.

The crushed Golden Silk Ruyi Cake, with its outer layer of yellow cake mixed with the filling, looked quite unappetizing.

He really couldn’t bring himself to eat it.

Lifting his head, he tentatively asked, “Young Master, this…

The cake you bestowed is so precious, I would like to admire it a little longer.

May I eat it later?”

Lian Hua became stern, speaking with an intimidating tone, “Humph, what do you think!”

Hearing that, she knew he was evading.

A crushed cake was still cake, after all.

It couldn’t be wasted, and she had to watch him eat it.

Seeing his troubled face yet again and glancing at the unsightly cake, she added, “Don’t judge it by its appearance, it’s very tasty.

It’s the most delicious cake I’ve ever had at a banquet.”

Xiao Jizi was still hesitant; the clump looked somewhat nauseating.

“What, you always proclaim willingness to go through fire and water for the Young Master, and yet you refuse to eat the cake he bestowed?

Could it be that all you say is false?” Lian Hua said with a chilly undertone.

Xiao Jizi realized he couldn’t avoid eating it in front of the Young Master.

So, with a resolve akin to facing death, he steeled his heart and crammed the entire crumbled mess into his mouth.

Chewing, a sweet flavor exploded in his mouth, proving the Young Master right; as disgusting as it looked, it was indeed delicious to eat.

“How is it, how is it, is it tasty?” Lian Hua eagerly awaited his reaction.

Xiao Qing’s eyes were fixed on him without blinking.

Xiao Jizi nodded, his words muffled, “Mmm mmm, good…”

It was too big a mouthful; he couldn’t speak clearly.

If he’d known it was this tasty, he would have savored it more.

Xiao Qing had intended to laugh at him but, hearing him say it was delicious and seeing how much he seemed to enjoy it, she felt regretful.

She should have had some, especially since she’d seen the Golden Silk Ruyi Cake at the flower-viewing banquet and remembered it being very attractive and tempting.

With Xiao Jizi’s approval, Lian Hua was beaming with joy, her eight neat and tidy teeth on display as she smiled.

She knew it!

Although the crushed Golden Silk Ruyi Cake looked ugly, its flavor was definitely unchanged.

After some laughter and mirth, they had a simple lunch, and in the afternoon, they began to prepare Dew Tea.

The Emperor had lunch with the Noble Consort and returned to the Star Palace in the afternoon.

After reviewing several memorials, he thought of Little Concubine, and couldn’t concentrate anymore; his heart was filled with worry.

She was so stubborn that she normally wouldn’t share her troubles with him.

This time, she must have been very upset; she had cried like that and still stubbornly knelt down again.

As for the concubine who had mocked her, if the Noble Consort didn’t discipline her, he didn’t mind bypassing the Noble Consort and taking matters into his own hands.

Thinking of this, the Emperor sighed.

It seemed he was becoming increasingly influenced by her.

The Harem Consorts never used to occupy such a large part of his heart.

Having witnessed the state of the Late Emperor’s harem, he had always believed that showering too much favor on one concubine could lead to arrogance due to favoritism.

Therefore, he was more inclined towards evenly spread favors.

One should only advance with meritorious deeds or accrue service years, which, fundamentally, helped reduce strife within the harem.

Lately, his visits to Canglan Court had been increasing.

Whether this was a good or bad thing, he wasn’t sure.

He shook his head, knowing that for now, if he was willing, that’s all that mattered; he’d just see how things went.

Zhang Qing was summoned, and he was asked to arrange for the memorials to be sorted and carried to Canglan Court, while he himself set out first with his entourage.

When the Emperor and a few eunuchs entered Canglan Court, they saw thick smoke rising from a spot in the courtyard from afar.

His heart sank.

It wasn’t mealtime, nor was it time to start a fire.

Why was there smoke?

Could it be that there was a fire somewhere?

The Emperor was greatly alarmed.

Without taking time to speak to the people around him, he hurried towards the source of the fire.

He had to make sure that the Little Concubine was safe.

Zhang Qing panicked.

The dragon’s physique was precious, and if anything went wrong, ten lives wouldn’t be enough to compensate.

He hurriedly called people to catch up with the Emperor while shouting, “Your Majesty, it’s dangerous over there.

Wait for your servant, quick, someone, protect the Emperor!”

But the Emperor paid no attention to him.

With regular exercise, he was much fitter than the eunuchs around him and soon ran out of sight.

By the time the Emperor was close to the source of the fire, the scene that met his eyes left even him—a man who wouldn’t flinch if Mount Tai were collapsing before him—somewhat stunned.

He saw Lian Hua and her two servants busily tending a clay stove, one palace maid adding firewood, another servant fanning the flames, while a mistress went back and forth giving instructions, occasionally lending a hand.

None of them had noticed his arrival.

The Emperor stopped to catch his breath, having run too urgently to regain it properly.

He couldn’t show the Little Concubine such a flustered state.

Zhang Qing and several eunuchs were also quickly closing in.

From a distance, Zhang Qing was shouting, “Quickly protect the Emperor, quick, put out the fire!”

Lian Hua and the others, hearing the noise, turned their heads in unison to look in their direction, equally baffled.

The small group exchanged glances, unsure of the situation.

Xiao Qing was the first to speak, “That looks like…

His Majesty?”

Xiao Jizi had a sudden realization, “Oh my goodness, that really is His Majesty,” quickly looking to Lian Hua after speaking.

Lian Hua was still confused.

Wasn’t he supposed to be having a meal at the Noble Consort’s place, and wouldn’t he stay there for a while?

How come he appeared in Canglan Court?

Considering the shichen, it seemed like it hadn’t even been one shichen since lunch.

How could…

Seeing Lian Hua was still in a daze, Xiao Jizi quickly and gently called out, “Young Master, it’s time to greet His Majesty.”

Lian Hua snapped back to reality and hurriedly led her people towards His Majesty.

When the Emperor saw he was discovered, he turned back to glare at Zhang Qing, signaling for him to shut up and not make a spectacle.

He straightened his robe and crown, and with an air of leisure, he walked toward Lian Hua.

Zhang Qing felt bitter.

How could he have known that the Young Master of Canglan Court was so unpredictable, starting a fire in the middle of the afternoon with such thick smoke?

He had thought there was a fire—how could anyone have expected this?

Inside, the Emperor breathed a sigh of relief while a fire of anger ignited within him, feeling like hitting someone.

What was this mess in the middle of the afternoon, making him lose his composure!

Upon seeing the thick smoke, many thoughts had flashed through his mind about what he would do if the Little Concubine had been in an accident.

All kinds of bad thoughts flew through his mind, and the short distance seemed torturous, like being on the rack.

He had forgotten how long it had been since he had been so panicked and so out of sorts.