Chapter 154: Investigation (Part Two)

Although the Emperor Kangxi desired to test Yan Yan, he disdained using common, petty tactics, which was why he had suddenly brought up the subject of Lady Qi. Yet, after hearing Yan Yan's response, Kangxi found himself feeling that his question had not been asked in vain.

Meanwhile, Yan Yan was wailing inwardly, thinking how terribly difficult Kangxi was to handle. What on earth did he want to hear? Did he want her to say that she was already deeply grateful to merely hold the position of a secondary consort, that she would never scheme for the primary consort's seat, that she would never harm the Ninth Prince's children, and that she would certainly not push her own children to fight for the Ninth Prince's title?

Yan Yan guessed that these were precisely the things Kangxi wanted to hear. Therefore, steadying her emotions, she replied in a low voice, "Replying to Your Imperial Majesty's words, this humble concubine believes that, first, Lady Qi should not have harbored greed. Such sheer selfishness not only failed to bring a better life to her child, but instead cost King Zhao his very life. Second, she should not have indulged in a momentary flash of sharp tongue, which only made matters worse."

Having reached this point, Yan Yan stopped. Since Kangxi had only asked about Lady Qi, she adhered to the principle of saying less to make fewer mistakes, stopping right where it was appropriate. Unexpectedly, Kangxi seemed unwilling to let her off so easily and continued to press, "If you were Lady Qi, what would you do?"

Yan Yan pressed her lips together, feeling that Kangxi was truly being overbearing and utterly determined to probe to the very bottom. Driven to a point where she felt she had nothing left to lose, she raised her gaze abruptly to meet Kangxi's. Seeing that he was indeed watching her intently, she froze for a moment, blinked, and then spoke with a slightly awkward smile, "Replying to Your Imperial Majesty, this humble concubine would never become Lady Qi, nor would she ever deign to become Lady Qi. In this humble concubine's view, whether it is the Ninth Prince or my own children, it is quite enough for them to live in safety and peace. As for the title I hold by the Prince's side, I care not a single bit."

"You care not?" Kangxi raised an eyebrow, looking at Yan Yan with even greater perplexity.

By this time, Yan Yan's nervousness had completely vanished. A soft, blissful smile graced her face as she murmured, "Yes, Your Imperial Majesty, this humble concubine truly cares not. I believe that it is best for people to live together in peace. As for others, my steadfast motto has always been: kindness I shall remember, but grievances I shall not repay. From this day forth, let all old scores be wiped clean to the ends of the earth."

When she finished speaking, Yan Yan drew a deep, ragged breath, as if she had exhausted every ounce of courage she possessed. Kangxi seemed to ponder these words for a long time before he finally spoke in a leisurely tone, "I recall that your culinary skills are quite commendable. Go and prepare some food."

For a fleeting second, Yan Yan stood in a daze. The Ninth Prince, however, was overcome with excitement; he gently nudged Yan Yan and whispered under his breath, "Quickly thank His Majesty."

Only then did Yan Yan snap back to reality and stammer, "This humble concubine thanks Your Imperial Majesty."

Kangxi waved a hand and instructed Li Dequan, "Pass down the word. Today, I shall dine right here with Yintang."

"At once!" Li Dequan hastily hurried out to deliver the imperial decree.

Yan Yan drifted out of the main hall as though she were sleepwalking, and the Ninth Prince followed on the pretext of discussing dishes with her. The moment they stepped into the small kitchen of the Dream-Weaving Pavilion, the Ninth Prince pulled Yan Yan into a tight embrace and murmured soothingly, "Yan Yan, you've won His Majesty's approval! You were simply brilliant. Don't worry, someone will come shortly to tell you what dishes His Majesty prefers. Just stay calm and don't be nervous."

Tucked safely within the warmth of his arms, Yan Yan deeply inhaled the familiar scent of him before finally raising her head after a long moment. "Rest assured, Your Highness, I am not nervous. Didn't I help prepare food for His Imperial Majesty before? You should hurry back inside; do not leave him alone in there."

The Ninth Prince pressed another lingering kiss to her forehead before reluctantly departing, still harboring a trace of anxiety. In truth, he felt a deep sense of injustice on Yan Yan's behalf. Who had ever heard of a secondary consort having to undergo an examination by Kangxi himself? Was it simply because she was too exceptional, arousing the jealousy of those with ulterior motives? At that thought, the Ninth Prince decided he had spent far too long recuperating from his illness; it seemed that if he didn't return to the grand court soon to pay his regards to those people, they would forget whose realm this truly was.

During the time that followed, Kangxi had clearly cast aside his testing demeanor and instead asked the Ninth Prince numerous questions regarding the village of Beiwu. This led the Ninth Prince to realize that this must have been Kangxi's true purpose in visiting him all along, with the evaluation of Yan Yan merely being a convenient byproduct. Of course, Kangxi also graciously granted an audience to the three children, but since they were still at the age of babbling toddlers, no profound sparks flew between them and the Emperor.

Roughly two hours later, Yan Yan's evening meal was fully prepared. Upon hearing that Kangxi desired light fare, she gave free rein to her own culinary instincts. Imagining that as an emperor, Kangxi must have tasted every rare delicacy under the sun, she instead selected several simple, homely dishes: stir-fried shrimp kernels, corn with pine nuts, fish-flavored eggplant, stir-fried diced trios, and finished with a corn and spare rib soup alongside a winter melon meatball soup.

At first, Mother Chen felt that these dishes were altogether too simple, but once they were arranged upon the table, Kangxi unexpectedly developed a voracious appetite. He consumed half a bowl of rice more than he usually did within the palace walls, causing Li Dequan boundless delight. Even the official tasked with recording the Emperor's Daily Life in the corner could not help but wear a look of gratification.

Naturally, Yan Yan had no right to serve Kangxi during his meal, but when Li Dequan specifically sought her out afterward to inquire about the recipes, Yan Yan knew her gamble had paid off. It was precisely the same psychology shared by people of her future era: after growing accustomed day in and day out to lavish feasts and heavy, heavily seasoned restaurant dishes, one inevitably longs for the simple home-cooked meals of one's hearth, as if those modest flavors possessed a strange, magical allure.

Thus, Yan Yan selflessly wrote down every single recipe for Li Dequan, detailing even the exact amounts of cooking oil to use. As for whether the imperial chefs could replicate her exact flavor profile, that was no longer her concern.

...

The news that Kangxi had partaken of his evening meal at the Ninth Prince's Rosy Clouds Garden swiftly spread through the residences of all the imperial princes. Instantly, all manner of rumors took flight. Some whispered that the Ninth Prince had caught Kangxi's eye and was about to be heavily favored; others claimed that the Beiwu estate managed by the Ninth Prince had finally drawn the Emperor's serious attention, and that this must have been the very reason for Kangxi's visit. Only the Tenth Prince, relying on his close and affectionate bond with the Ninth Prince, rushed over to the Rosy Clouds Garden to converse and confide with him for the better part of the day.

Logically speaking, whatever discussions took place outside should not have affected Yan Yan in the least. Yet, she found herself sighing deeply day after day, lamenting that her life had grown entirely too complicated.

It turned out that the Empress Dowager, who had accompanied Kangxi to the Garden of Joyful Spring, had suddenly expressed a desire to see Yan Yan. Moreover, Consort Yi had also sent down an imperial command declaring her intention to summon Yan Yan as well. And that remarkably well-informed Consort Yi even knew that He Xuanger was residing within Yan Yan's Rosy Clouds Garden, instructing Yan Yan to bring Xuanger along for a personal inspection when she entered the palace.

This threw Yan Yan into a state of profound depression. She clung to the Ninth Prince for a long while, begging him to accompany her into the palace. Truth be told, Yan Yan felt no real fear toward the Empress Dowager, but toward that formidable Consort Yi, she felt a genuine shudder deep in her bones.

Yet, this time, even with all his heart, the Ninth Prince could not come to her rescue. For on the very day Yan Yan was summoned into the palace, Kangxi was scheduled to lead the Ninth Prince and a retinue of officials to inspect the village of Beiwu in person.