Setting Up a Porridge Stall (1)
Early the next morning.
Outside, the sky was just beginning to turn gray. A light breeze stirred the curtains of the bedchamber, where the lamps were still burning.
"Master, after His Majesty drove Wei Ning out of the palace last night, he put on his official robes again today and has already entered the palace to seek an audience."
A cool, distant voice came from behind the bed curtains.
"Mm. How are things with Xialin?"
"Xialin has already had Shao Lan prepare everything. All that remains is to wait for the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival." The festival was the day after tomorrow.
Di Qingyu slowly lifted the curtain. "Tell the small kitchen to make some pastries. I'm going to visit imperial father."
Her health was poor, so Di Yunqian had allowed her to have a small kitchen of her own to prepare food.
Chunzhi nodded. "Yes."
Before long, the sky grew brighter.
By the time Di Qingyu reached the entrance to Xuanzheng Hall, an imperial guard stopped her. It was Zhu Wuyang, the same man who had stopped her carriage before.
"Your Highness, His Majesty is speaking with the vice minister of punishments. Perhaps you could wait a little while first..."
The corners of Di Qingyu's lips lifted slightly. "It's all right. I'll wait."
She raised a hand to draw her fur cloak closer and coughed softly.
Seeing this, Zhu Wuyang frowned slightly, a hint of worry in his eyes. He seemed to be concerned for Di Qingyu, but in truth...
He hoped the sixth princess would not faint here, or His Majesty would blame him for letting her stand in the cold wind.
Fortunately, it was not raining today, and the wind was not strong. After about seven or eight minutes, the doors of Xuanzheng Hall opened.
Di Qingyu looked up and saw Wei Ning emerge dejectedly, his face haggard and his whole bearing dispirited.
The moment Wei Ning saw her, his pupils shifted slightly. He promptly assumed a respectful expression and cupped his hands.
"This subject pays his respects to the sixth princess."
Di Qingyu took the food box from Chunzhi and stepped forward.
"There is no need for ceremony, Lord Wei." She was polite but distant.
After that, neither spoke another word as they walked straight past each other.
Di Qingyu carried the food box into Xuanzheng Hall. As soon as she entered, she saw Di Yunqian seated before his desk, frowning, his demeanor cold and grave. Wei Ning had clearly angered him.
"Your daughter pays her respects to imperial father." Di Qingyu bowed slightly.
"Mm, dispense with the formalities. What brings you here?" Di Yunqian pressed his lips together and composed his expression, the look in his eyes softening considerably.
"With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, I thought imperial father would surely be busy preparing for those days and might not even have time for breakfast, so I had the small kitchen make some pastries to bring you."
With that, Di Qingyu carried the food box forward, opened the lid and took out a plate of delicate pastries. Then she obediently stepped back without looking around.
Di Yunqian was silent for a moment. Then he picked up a pastry and put it straight into his mouth without having anyone taste it first.
"Mm... it seems your small kitchen really is the one to rely on. Its cooks are a little better than those in the imperial kitchen."
Di Qingyu pressed her lips together and chuckled. "No matter how good my small kitchen is, wasn't it a gift from imperial father? If you like the way they cook, I could have them trade places with the imperial chefs who prepare your meals one day. As it happens, I've been craving food from your chefs too."
Her words seemed casual, but they were all meant to flatter Di Yunqian.
"You, now. You really have a way with words. I'm not nearly as greedy as you. Those cooks had better stay and look after you." Di Yunqian roared with laughter.
Di Qingyu's eyes curved. "Then I thank imperial father for his grace."
Di Yunqian was hungry and picked up another pastry to eat. Seeing that Di Qingyu still showed no sign of leaving, he raised an eyebrow.
"Have you come to ask a favor of me?" He had known those pastries did not come free.
"There is indeed something I wish to ask imperial father to approve." Di Qingyu looked sincere. "The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and the weather is turning cold. It is a time for families to reunite, but when I pass through the alleys of the royal city, I sometimes see beggars and displaced people with too little clothing and food. I cannot bear it, so I would like to set up a porridge stall for three days around the festival and give out hot porridge and padded clothes for free, so that the poor can share in the joy of Mid-Autumn."
After a pause, she added, "Imperial father, I will pay for everything myself, but my money was bestowed by you. Everything I do is also on your behalf, to show the imperial family's compassion for the people. I would not dare claim the credit. It is only that I have few people at my disposal. If imperial father agrees to my proposal, I would like to borrow some hands from you to make the work easier."
With that, Di Qingyu bowed her head and waited for Di Yunqian's answer.
Time ticked by, and Di Yunqian said nothing. She continued to hold her position, standing neither servile nor overbearing, her posture perfectly straight.
Di Yunqian put down the pastry in his hand. His gaze, partly hidden in shadow, rested on her for a long time as he pondered her words.
"Since you have such intentions, how could I refuse? I will send people to help you. As for the money, my treasury is not so poor that it needs a young woman like you to pay out of her own pocket. I will have someone allocate you some silver in a little while. Take it and use it."
"Thank you, imperial father." Di Qingyu raised her head, obvious joy on her face.
Seeing the bright smile on her youthful face, Di Yunqian suddenly had an idea. "If you need someone, I do have a candidate to send your way."
"Who?" Di Qingyu was bewildered.
Di Yunqian glanced at the old eunuch beside him. "Go and summon Zhu Wuyang."
"Yes."
Before long, the old eunuch returned with a guard.
"This subject pays his respects to Your Majesty." Dressed in a pale red brocade robe, Zhu Wuyang knelt and bowed, his eyes fixed straight ahead.
"Wuyang, I have an important task to entrust to you. You must carry it out well."
Zhu Wuyang raised his eyes and cupped his hands, without even asking what the task was. "Thank you for your favor, Your Majesty. This subject will certainly not fail his mission."
"Mm. You need not report for your regular duties for the next few days. Follow the sixth princess instead. She wishes to distribute porridge to the people and needs help. Accompany her to gain some experience, and be sure to keep her safe." With so many people about, there were bound to be some reckless ones.
Zhu Wuyang looked surprised and instinctively turned to glance at Di Qingyu beside him.
"Yes. This subject will do his utmost to protect the princess."
"Very well, you may both withdraw." Di Yunqian was tired.
"Yes. Your daughter takes her leave."
"This subject takes his leave."
Di Qingyu and Zhu Wuyang withdrew.
Once outside, Di Qingyu turned toward him.
"Young General Zhu, I still need to collect silver from the treasury. Will you come with me?"
In the daylight, Di Qingyu wore a dark red palace dress beneath a silver-white fur cloak. Her face, slightly reddened by the cold, had a touch of frailty, and her expression was polite but distant.
"I am only an imperial guard now and am not worthy of being addressed as 'young general,' Your Highness. If you are willing, you may simply call me 'Guard Zhu.'" Zhu Wuyang nodded. "Since His Majesty has ordered me to protect you these next few days, I should follow you, Your Highness."
"Then sorry to trouble you to come with me, Guard Zhu." With that, she said no more and immediately took her people with her, following the eunuch to collect the silver.
Naturally, it was best to earn a good reputation without spending her own money.
A hint of thoughtfulness showed on Zhu Wuyang's handsome, youthful, unruly face as he followed silently behind Di Qingyu.