In the side hall, a dining table had already been laid out. The Crown Prince sat at the head, and when he caught sight of Shi Yuning, a gentle, springlike smile bloomed across his gaunt features.
It made Shi Yuning feel profoundly uneasy.
Seeing her frozen in the doorway for some reason, unwilling to come in, the Crown Prince smiled and spoke up.
“Miss Shi, why are you just standing there in the doorway? Come in and take a seat—we’ll have lunch together. Cough, cough.”
Today, the Crown Prince wore simple, unadorned robes. Though speaking was still an effort, broken up by coughs here and there, his complexion looked far better than it had the day before.
Yesterday, his face had been as pale as a man on his deathbed. Today, though still somewhat haggard, a faint flush of color graced his cheeks.
Shi Yuning snapped back to her senses. With a smile, she stepped inside, suppressing the doubts bubbling in her heart. She paid her respects to the Crown Prince and, after a moment’s thought, bowed again to the Crown Princess.
“My lady has imposed upon you today.”
Xie Zhaoran had been sitting silently off to the side the whole time. Only when she saw Shi Yuning’s bow did she raise her eyes slightly, taking in the girl’s suddenly distant demeanor.
The Crown Prince was rather surprised by Shi Yuning’s impeccable etiquette. Though he spent most of his days in the Eastern Palace, he was no stranger to the colorful gossip swirling through the Imperial Capital.
Moreover, after returning home yesterday, he had specifically sent servants to inquire about Shi Yuning’s character.
All the reports described her as a wild country girl—crude, ill-mannered, and endearingly naive.
Today, however, the rumors seemed wide of the mark.
The Crown Prince smiled warmly. “Miss Shi, there’s no need for such formality. The Eastern Palace hasn’t seen this much life in ages.”
“Don’t just stand there—have a seat. Take a look at the dishes Zhaoran prepared today. See if any catch your fancy. Cough, cough.”
Shi Yuning’s expression grew a touch rigid. She offered her thanks and made her way to an empty seat nearby. Once settled, she eyed the spread on the table with trepidation, silently praying it wasn’t all bland boiled fare. At least a couple of hearty dishes to go with the rice would do.
The Eastern Palace’s hospitality lived up to its reputation. The table overflowed with delicacies, served in gleaming Ru kiln porcelain edged in gold—bowls, plates, cups, and chopsticks forming a complete, opulent set.
It was a feast for the eyes. No wonder the nobles of Sheng Capital insisted on dishes that delighted in color, aroma, and flavor. Something this beautiful truly lifted the spirits and whetted the appetite.
Once she confirmed that nothing had been boiled plain, Shi Yuning’s heart settled completely. Her stomach let out an enthusiastic rumble.
“Thank you for your gracious hospitality, Crown Princess. These all look delicious.”
In addition to the trendy favorites among the capital’s elite—like Mountain Sea Pouch, Mandarin Duck Roast, and Lily Shrimp Roe—there were also tempting dim sum such as Thin Skin Fresh Shrimp Dumplings and Bean Flour Steamed Buns.
These were sophisticated dishes that truly tested a household’s kitchens, a clear sign of the host’s generous welcome.
“If you like them, then eat your fill,” Xie Zhaoran said suddenly, breaking her silence.
“Mm, then I won’t stand on ceremony.” Shi Yuning agreed happily, picking up her chopsticks to snag a beloved shrimp dumpling from nearby.
As she chewed, she lifted the lid on the celadon covered bowl in the upper left corner of the table.
“Mmm, taro porridge!”
Her mouth was still full of half-chewed dumpling, leaving her words thick and garbled.
Her eyes lit up. She excitedly pointed at the uncovered bowl and turned to the Crown Prince.
“It’s taro porridge!”
What a delightful surprise!
Shi Yuning inhaled deeply of the fragrance rising from the bowl. This familiar flavor—wasn’t it precisely Linzhou’s signature taro porridge?
She hadn’t had it in the half year or so since arriving in the capital.
The people of the Imperial Capital didn’t seem fond of taro, or porridges in general. Even the Marquis Mansion’s chefs couldn’t replicate it.
“I’ve been here in the capital for so long, and I’ve never seen taro porridge at any banquet,” Shi Yuning said in delighted wonder.
The Crown Prince’s own covered bowl had long since been uncovered. Seeing Shi Yuning finally discover the surprise, he smiled with deep meaning.
“You’re not the only one who’s surprised, Miss Shi. This prince has lived in the capital for nearly twenty years and has never laid eyes on this dish before.”
“Ah?” Shi Yuning let out a startled sound. “Your Highness has never had taro porridge?”
It was everywhere back in Linzhou. She had no idea where to find it here, yet now it appeared at an Eastern Palace banquet. How could the Crown Prince never have seen it?
The Crown Prince merely smiled enigmatically and turned to Xie Zhaoran, who was calmly eating away.
Feeling two intense gazes upon her, Xie Zhaoran set down her chopsticks. She picked up the bowl of taro porridge at her side and took a delicate sip before saying offhandedly, “The new kitchen chef hails from the south.”
That explained it. Shi Yuning beamed—this chef must be a fellow southerner, perhaps even from her neck of the woods.
The Crown Prince’s lips curved in a smile as he accepted the explanation. He turned back to Shi Yuning. “In that case, we have Miss Shi to thank—”
Before he could finish, Xie Zhaoran set her teacup down with deliberate force, producing a sharp clink. She shot the Crown Prince a sidelong glance. “Shut up and eat.”
Far from annoyed, the Crown Prince covered his mouth and coughed twice before picking up his chopsticks. He began to eat, though the smile refused to leave his face.
Watching their exchange, Shi Yuning pursed her lips. She couldn’t help sighing. “Your Highness and the Crown Princess truly have a wonderful relationship.”
It reminded her of her own parents at home. Her father was forever being scolded by her mother, but he never took offense—just kept smiling and eating.
No sooner had the words left her mouth than Xie Zhaoran’s chopsticks, freshly lifted, trembled in her grasp and clattered back onto the table.
The Crown Prince nearly fumbled his own.
Both of them froze mid-motion, turning to stare at Shi Yuning—one with a furrowed brow, the other with a smile gone rigid. They both seemed utterly baffled at how she could think such a thing.
Whatever had put the idea in her head, the Crown Prince felt compelled to clear up the misunderstanding he had apparently caused.
“This prince and Zhaoran are cousins,” he explained, his words carefully circumspect. “We’ve shared a bond since childhood. Zhaoran has always shown this prince the utmost respect.”
He circled around it twice, tactfully conveying that their relationship was nothing like that of an ordinary married couple.
Shi Yuning nodded, her eyes lighting with understanding. “I see—this is what they mean by ‘mutual respect like honored guests’!”
Pfft. The Crown Prince burst out laughing. He set his chopsticks aside and lifted his teacup for a careful sip, fighting down the tickle in his throat.
Once he had the laughter under control, he glanced at Xie Zhaoran, whose face had gone as black as an inkstone. His eyes brimmed with sympathy. The little Shi family girl was utterly oblivious when it came to matters of the heart.
Xie Zhaoran said nothing. Beneath the table, her hands itched unbearably and began scratching at each other.
From his vantage at the head of the table, the Crown Prince had a clear view. He watched her odd behavior for a moment, realization dawning in his eyes. He sighed inwardly, though his face remained wreathed in smiles.
“Miss Shi, do eat more. It would be a shame to waste Zhaoran’s—” Noticing Xie Zhaoran’s warning glare, he amended his words. “—efforts in keeping you for the meal.”
He had originally meant to say it would be a shame to waste the dishes she had specially arranged, including these Jiangnan specialties that clearly suited Shi Yuning’s tastes.
Shi Yuning agreed cheerfully. In her heart, she silently apologized for her earlier assumption. Xie Zhaoran must simply be picky about her food, not expecting others to match her preference for light fare.
With the savory taro porridge to wash it down, Shi Yuning polished off most of the dishes on the table, leaving only the ones she disliked.
Her enthusiastic eating was a novelty for these two fastidious souls, who usually dined merely to sustain themselves. For the first time, they discovered something akin to a genuine appetite.
Host and guests alike parted from the meal in high spirits. Shi Yuning patted her rounded belly. Stuffed to the gills, all she wanted was to crawl back into bed for an afternoon nap.
The hour was growing late. After finishing their after-meal tea, she rose to take her leave.
Xie Zhaoran made no attempt to detain her. She saw Shi Yuning to the door of the side hall and handed her off to Qiangdi.
“I’ll see you off here, Miss Shi. Qiangdi will escort you out of the residence.”
“Thank you, Crown Princess—and thank you again for the wonderful meal. I’m absolutely stuffed.”
Shi Yuning’s gratitude came straight from the heart. It had been ages since she’d enjoyed taro porridge this good—so delicious it curled her toes, as they said back home.
Xie Zhaoran glanced at her slightly protuberant belly. The corners of her mouth curved upward ever so slightly.
“If Miss Shi returns tomorrow, I can have the kitchen prepare some Jiangnan dishes ahead of time.”
Shi Yuning’s eyes sparkled—then quickly dimmed. It wouldn’t do to impose two days in a row. She opened her mouth to refuse.
Xie Zhaoran’s gaze sharpened. Before Shi Yuning could speak, she adopted an expression of sudden realization, as if only just noticing the girl’s outfit.
“I just realized—my old clothes fit you perfectly.”
Shi Yuning glanced down along her line of sight and remembered with a start that she was still wearing Xie Zhaoran’s garments.
“I almost forgot. Thank you for the clothes, Crown Princess. I’ll wash them thoroughly when I get home and return them tomorrow.”
Xie Zhaoran crooked her pinky finger at her side. “No need to stand on ceremony, Miss Shi. In that case, I’ll be waiting for you here in the residence tomorrow.”
Shi Yuning agreed at once.
Xie Zhaoran watched Shi Yuning’s figure recede into the distance until it vanished from sight. Only then did she turn and return to the side hall.
The table had been cleared away. The Crown Prince sat sipping his medicinal soup, with a female physician waiting attendance at his side.
“Take a look at the Crown Princess’s hands.”
The female physician assented at once and approached Xie Zhaoran, inviting her to sit.
“If it’s no trouble, Crown Princess, please extend your hand so this servant can examine it.”
With Shi Yuning gone, Xie Zhaoran calmly held out her hand.
The female physician gently rolled back Xie Zhaoran’s sleeve and gasped at the sight: tiny red bumps covered her hand and extended up her forearm, with large swollen patches in places. Several deep scratches marred the skin where the itching had proved unbearable, some breaking the surface.
The Crown Prince took in the state of Xie Zhaoran’s hands as well but merely glanced at them without comment.
“How serious is it?” he asked the physician.
After a thorough inspection, she replied, “This servant will prescribe some medicine—for internal use and external application. As long as she avoids contact with taro skins from now on, the swelling should subside quickly.”
Xie Zhaoran wasn’t surprised that the physician knew about the taro. The Crown Prince must have mentioned his suspicions ahead of time.
She allowed the woman to apply the soothing ointment, which finally eased the maddening itch.
She had never handled taro before and had no idea it packed such a punch. Fortunately, Shi Yuning hadn’t noticed.
Once the female physician had finished treating her and withdrawn, Xie Zhaoran lifted her gaze to the Crown Prince.
“What are you doing here?”
She was asking why he had shown up uninvited for lunch.
The Crown Prince drained his bowl of foul-tasting medicine and popped a piece of candied fruit into his mouth. “Watching the show,” he mumbled around it.
“Was it entertaining?” Xie Zhaoran stared fixedly at her hands, not bothering to raise her eyelids. Her tone dripped with mockery.
The Crown Prince nodded emphatically. “Quite. Though parts of it left me baffled.”
Xie Zhaoran’s eyes shifted from her hands to him. “Which parts?”
The Crown Prince blinked, and his sunken, illness-hollowed eyes somehow conveyed a spark of playfulness.
“What does Zhaoran like about her?”
There was no need to specify who “her” was.
Before Xie Zhaoran could respond, the Crown Prince seemed to think of something amusing and chuckled to himself. “She doesn’t strike me as particularly clever.”
Xie Zhaoran hadn’t planned to answer, but at that, she arched a brow.
“Has Your Highness never heard the saying ‘great wisdom often looks like foolishness’?”
The Crown Prince could hold back no longer. Laughter shook his emaciated frame violently, as if he might shake apart at the seams.
Catching his breath between guffaws, he teased, “Then tell me… cough, cough… when will her… ha ha… great wisdom… discover your… little scheme… cough, cough.”
He mangled the sentence, torn between laughter and coughs, his words coming out in fits and starts.
Xie Zhaoran half-lidded her eyes. She met the Crown Prince’s ribbing with silence. Were it not for his frail condition, she would have grabbed him by the collar and given him a thorough thrashing by now.
Once the Crown Prince had laughed himself out, a sudden thought occurred to him. “Does Zhaoran need this palace to set things straight with the Shi family girl? To tell her that you and I signed a divorce writ ages ago?”
He felt that if no one spelled it out, Shi Yuning might never pierce Xie Zhaoran’s veil of affection.
Xie Zhaoran’s face hardened. “No need for you to meddle. I’ll handle it myself. Worry about your health—and about that increasingly wayward little brother of yours.”
Xie Zhaoran schooled her features, turning to the matter at hand.
