Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 209 The Battle of the Green Plums

As the sun rose high in the sky, its warm rays poured down on the eaves of the East Palace, coating the glazed tiles with a layer of amber honey, and even the silhouettes of the mythical beast heads on the roof tiles exuded a languid air.

Inside the kitchen, the cook, Sister Wang, was holding a honey jar, looking worried.

"Three qian of locust honey, three qian of jujube honey, this recipe is correct... so why does it still not suit Your Highness's taste?"

The head maid knocked lightly on the door frame and came in.

"Are the candied plums ready yet? Stop dawdling!"

Aunt Wang sighed, "His Highness has been complaining that the honey water is bland lately, but this recipe for candied plums is clearly based on the one sent by Eunuch Laifu..."

Ah Shun, the servant who tends the fire, poked his head out and said with a smile, "I suppose Your Highness is feeling down and wants something sweet to ease your mind?"

"Shut up!" The old woman glared at him and slammed the small celadon urn down on the stove.

"Hurry up and pack it up, and get some fresh green plums."

Wang's wife was dumbfounded.

"Your Highness... you've finished the two jars of green plums that were sent earlier?"

The head maid's eyelids twitched; she was completely bewildered.

"Don't ask if you shouldn't ask."
-
A gentle autumn breeze was blowing.

The head maid carried a lacquered tray into the East Palace's warm pavilion. On the tray were not only green plums and candied green plums, but also freshly steamed glutinous rice balls mixed with pine nuts and acacia honey. The sweet aroma mingled with the fragrance of osmanthus under the eaves, wafting straight to one's nose.

however--

Li Zhao glanced at it, then picked up a green plum and put it in his mouth.

With one bite, the sweet and sour juice flowed between his teeth, and his tense brows relaxed a little.

Laifu watched from the sidelines, swallowing hard, his stomach churning with acidic reflux, making him feel utterly nauseous...

Plum wine, candied plums, and plum fruits...

We ate green plums in different ways.

What exactly is it that has set this man's heart ablaze, requiring this acidic substance to suppress it?

"Your Highness, a message has arrived from the Empress Dowager's Palace." The Crown Prince's tutor, E'xu, entered carrying an ebony box containing a jade ruyi scepter...

"Her Majesty the Empress said that during the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, if His Highness takes a fancy to any girl, he should give her the jade ruyi, and Her Majesty will make the decision for His Highness..."

Li Zhao chuckled and tossed the jade ruyi into the fishpond.

The koi in the pond vied for attention, nibbling and shoving, splashing water that shattered the mocking reflection of his lips.

Besides the jade ruyi that had just been submerged, there were also many copper coins at the bottom of the pool, densely covered with a layer of copper rust that shimmered with a dark green patina...

Laifu's eyelids twitched as he stared at them.

Lately, when His Highness has nothing to do, he tosses a coin to see which way it lands.

What is the front side?

What is the opposite?

No one knows what he's divining in his heart, or what he's asking for...

If things continue like this, the money koi in the fishpond will all become spirits.

After E Xu left, Guan Ya came in and also wiped a bead of sweat from his brow.

"Your Highness, a scout reports that an envoy from High Priest Amenlah of Siz will be visiting the palace tomorrow to meet His Majesty. It is said that he will present a 'rare and extraordinary gift' to His Majesty..."

Li Zhao paused, holding the green plum, and looked up.

"What is it? Can you find out?"

Guan Ya shook his head: "Further investigation is needed."

Li Zhao sneered.

Suddenly, a white light swept across the glazed tiles of the East Palace and fluttered down onto the window frame.

It was Lingyu who delivered the message.

Li Zhao's expression shifted between light and dark as he took down the secret letter and unfolded it.

The plain paper contained only a few words: "The envoy has brought Princess Sizi to the court."

He stared at the small skull drawn with ink dots on the paper, grinned at him, and suddenly threw the wolf-hair brush heavily, grazing Guan Ya's forehead—

"waste!"

Guan Ya shuddered inexplicably and covered his face with his hands, not understanding why.

On a square, thin face, there were originally only three ink splatters.

He smeared his palm on her face, and her face became a watercolor painting...

Laifu wanted to laugh but dared not, his face turning red as he held his breath.

Li Zhao glanced at it indifferently, then suddenly picked up a green plum and covered it with the line of small, flowery calligraphy, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Green plums need three coins' worth of honey, and the human heart is more than sour nine times... At least she has some conscience."
-
The main hall of the Xue mansion was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. In front of the Eight Immortals Screen, Madam Qian, the third wife, was wearing a newly made brocade long coat. She was waving a handkerchief and directing the servants to adjust the tables and chairs, constantly issuing orders and bustling about...

That bold and straightforward spirit has quite the air of a matriarch.

Upon hearing the news that the Sixth Miss had returned, she hurriedly went out to greet her with a beaming smile.

"My beloved concubine! We've been waiting for you for so long."

She was a playful person by nature, and she was close to Xue Sui. She didn't stand on ceremony and would tease her whenever they met.

Xue Sui curtsied and gestured for the maid to bring out the gift box.

"Third Aunt, please don't mind. These are homemade dried plums, lychee honey, pine nut candy, mushrooms picked from the mountain, and pickled fish caught from the river. They're all cheap local products, just for Xiao Shi and A Yi to try and cleanse their palates." "Why are you being so polite?" Although Qian Shi didn't lack these things, she still couldn't stop smiling at the filial piety of someone offering them, her eyes and brows full of goodwill.

"Hurry up and go to Shou'an Courtyard to pay your respects to the old lady. She's been talking about you several times. These days, she's been praising you to everyone she meets, saying that Sixth Miss is the lucky star of the Xue family..."

Xue Sui smiled slightly, his gaze falling on the character "福" (fortune/blessing) on ​​the screen wall.

Before I could respond, I heard a greeting coming from outside.

"Fourth Aunt is returning to the mansion—"

Before she could finish speaking, Xue Yueying had already stepped across the threshold.

She wore a pomegranate-red jacket and skirt, her embroidered shoes slightly dusty, indicating she had been traveling in a hurry. To avoid gossip, she didn't bring her child back; her hands were empty, with her two maids, Qingzhu and Qinghong, by her side. Her face was pale and unassuming, as if she had returned home to collect a debt.

Gu Jie lagged half a step behind him, his brocade robe wrinkled and unironed, his face visibly haggard, and a faint smell of alcohol wafting from him, as if he had just drunk three hundred cups of wine and been dragged there by his wife, looking inexplicably disheveled...

"Sixth Sister is becoming more and more beautiful."

Xue Yueying gripped the handkerchief tightly with her fingertips, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

"It's definitely the Prince's mansion that provides such good food and water, unlike my in-laws' family..."

She glanced at Gu Jie, who stood silently with his hands down, a cold smile playing on her lips.

"Some people only know how to drink and carouse all day long. They have to beg and plead with their wives to go back to their parents' home."

She was sharp-tongued and showed no respect for Gu Jie.

Gu Jie's face flushed red, and he gripped the jade belt around his waist tightly, his palms tingling. However, he could not resort to violence in the Xue residence.

"Fourth Sister, you're already in such a bad mood as soon as you returned home. People who know you might say it's because you and your husband are having a disagreement, but others might think your family has upset you. Come inside and have a cup of tea to soothe your throat. It's a joyous day for the whole family to reunite; don't spoil everyone's fun."

Xue Yueying glanced sideways: "What, I've come back to my parents' home, and I can't even say anything to express my grievances?"

"What kind of hysteria is Fourth Sister having now?"

A laugh came from outside.

It was Xue Yuelou who brought Mingge'er over.

Ming-ge held a Chongyang cake in his hand, and sugar frosting stained his clothes.

Xue Yueying frowned when she saw the child. "A perfectly fine young master, raised like a street beggar."

Xue Yuelou casually took out a handkerchief, wiped Mingge'er's face, and looked at her with a half-smile.

"A beggar on the street is better than a nameless, unruly child."

Isn't this implying that Xue Yueying gave birth to an illegitimate child?
Upon returning home, the sisters immediately engaged in a heated argument.

Wherever Xue Yueying is, there is never peace.

The third wife was annoyed, but as an elder, she had no choice but to raise her voice to smooth things over, "It's rare for the whole family to be together, so don't bring up old grievances and say those disgusting things. If you make the old lady's heart ache, let's see how you clean up the mess..."

After saying that, she paused her gaze on Xue Yuelou and her son, "Second daughter, it's time to hire a tutor for Ming'er's education. Although you are a widow, you are still a member of the Xue family. How could your family possibly embarrass you? In a few days, your third aunt will send someone to invite a tutor—"

This was to support Xue Yuelou, and also to reassure the widow and her young son.

Xue Yuelou trembled, and squeezed Mingge'er's little hand a little harder, causing the child to burst into tears.

Xue Yueying disliked the sight of the child crying. She glanced at the Third Madam and was about to reprimand her when Xue Sui smiled and took over the conversation.

"Third Aunt is right. Ming-ge is intelligent and will surely do well in his studies."

A hint of disdain flashed in Xue Yueying's eyes.

He's clearly a complete idiot who doesn't understand anything, yet he insists on calling himself intelligent. Whose face is he slapping?
She pursed her lips slightly, her smile chilling: "Sixth Sister is indeed very thoughtful. After all, she is someone who has married into the Prince's Mansion; her perspective is indeed different."

Seeing the barbed words and the reckless attitude of the woman, the Third Madam rolled her eyes, hurriedly pushed Xue Yuelou to take away the crying Mingge'er, then turned around and took Xue Sui's hand, slowly walking into the house to greet her, smiling as she went.

"The other day, the estate sent over some freshly hunted deer, and they specially reserved the leg meat for the Sixth Miss."

"Third Aunt is so kind to people—" Xue Yueying fiddled with the hairpin in her hair, her voice drawn out, "We are all daughters of the Xue family, but the concubine of Prince Duan is left with the best of the best, while those of us who are not so fortunate are probably only left with bones to gnaw on?"

"Fourth Sister's words are strange..."

Suddenly, footsteps were heard from behind the covered walkway. It was Xue Yueman, the Eighth Sister, walking slowly over, fanning herself with a round fan.

She wore an apricot-red shirt, her slender white fingers twirling the fan handle as she covered her lips with a cold laugh.

"There is a distinction between the noble and the lowly. Even my third aunt has never treated me, an unmarried girl, so why should my fourth sister compete with the concubine for favor..."

Xue Yueying chimed in, "But she's a lucky star, while we're all just wild grass without a mother's love?"

Got it!
It's a mix of squabbles and bitter rivalries, a real battleground of jealousy and sullenness.

I'm afraid they'll chew their lips until they're raw!
Qian's face darkened, and she turned around to start cursing.

"You little rascal with a foul tongue, when has your aunt ever been short of food or clothing? Why do you keep spouting such nonsense, trying to pierce my heart?"

"It was just a joke, why are you so angry, Aunt? Don't be angry, I was just teasing you..."

Xue Yueman waved her fan and giggled, then went up to take her arm, but was pushed away by Madam Qian.

"You little brat, if you dare to talk nonsense about me, then come with me to the old lady and we'll get to the bottom of this. I'll just hand over the management of the household affairs to you!"

Xue Yueman was already furious about the meager dowry, and she used this as an excuse to instigate Xue Yueying to make a scene.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, the servant outside sang loudly.

"His Highness Prince Duan has arrived!"

Hearing the commotion, Madam Xue came over leaning on her cane, and all the women in the hall bowed in greeting.

Li Huan helped Xue Yuechen into the room. Xue Yuechen had a slightly protruding belly and a dignified and elegant appearance. Her gold-embroidered jacket and skirt were decorated with lotus patterns, and the jade bracelet on her wrist swayed gently, complementing the white tiger jade pendant at Li Huan's waist. They looked like a pair of noble ladies.

Li Zhao: It's sour, extremely sour.

Laifu (with a forced smile): Your Highness, how about we eat lychees preserved in honey instead?