Frowning deeply, the Emperor sank into profound self-reproach.
This matter could be trivial or significant—why had he never considered it? The inner meals he had consumed, no matter how lavish the ingredients, were still leftovers, cold and tainted, having been touched by silver chopsticks stained with saliva—indeed unclean. The palace attendants were not his livestock, facing leftovers with indifference born of ignorance; nor were they his wives or concubines, who would accept them without concern due to affection, taking them in stride. Why had he always taken pride in bestowing leftovers upon them as a favor, completely unaware that they might associate it with saliva and harbor shadows in their hearts? Moreover, as Zhenzhen had pointed out, using the same chopsticks for serving and eating made it easy to transmit illnesses to the palace attendants who consumed his leftovers. How many attendants over the years might have fallen ill because of this? His ministers often praised him for loving his people as his own children—ah, to have overlooked such a simple matter was truly shameful.
The Emperor looked around the hall again and saw that from the Chief Eunuch down to Pei Shangshi, everyone was holding their breath in fear, while Zhenzhen was timidly observing his expression. When their eyes met, she immediately lowered her gaze, not daring to look further.
This young girl was truly remarkable. The Emperor sighed inwardly: Could others not have thought of this? Naturally, some had, but perhaps some believed that the Emperor, high and mighty, viewed the palace attendants beneath him as livestock—a matter not worth mentioning. Others, even if they had opinions, dared not say anything that might dampen the mood in the presence of the supreme ruler. How much courage had Zhenzhen mustered, what risks had she taken, to offer such straightforward advice! Look at her, lowering her head and sighing quietly—her heart must be pounding wildly. Although he had felt deeply embarrassed upon hearing her words in front of everyone, with the awkwardness of "a dignified Son of Heaven being disdained by a mere palace attendant," compared to the immense pressure she had faced in making this decision, his embarrassment was insignificant. It was better to laugh it off.
Thinking this, he smiled and spoke gently to Zhenzhen, "Chief Attendant Wu’s words are most reasonable. It was Our oversight, and We are deeply ashamed. From today onward, for all imperial meals, an extra pair of silver chopsticks shall be prepared specifically for serving food, separate from those used for eating."
Zhenzhen was stunned. She had prepared herself to kneel as soon as he grew angry, having rehearsed many words of apology, but she had not expected him to accept her suggestion so calmly. For a moment, she was at a loss for how to respond, while Pei Shangshi had already stepped forward and bowed loudly, saying, "The Emperor shows compassion for the palace attendants, cares for the common people, and accepts advice with an open mind. How fortunate we are to serve such a wise and enlightened ruler."
Chief Eunuch Zhang Zhibei also led the other eunuchs in bowing deeply, proclaiming, "Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!"
Only then did Zhenzhen regain her composure and join the others in kowtowing to express gratitude for the imperial grace.
Zhenzhen still could not believe that her impudent truth had earned the Emperor’s forgiveness. Privately, she pondered, thinking that the Emperor might have been unwilling to show anger in public. Although he had been compelled to accept her suggestion, he likely harbored some resentment, keeping it in mind to deal with her later. However, the Emperor soon bestowed upon her a generous amount of money and silk, thanking her for her candid advice. Zhenzhen firmly declined, but the Emperor then ordered a large palace chamber to be allocated for her residence and sent Shi Huaien with two eunuchs to assist her in moving.Since being promoted to Director of Meals, Zhenzhen had also been granted a room of her own to live in, but that room was quite cramped. The one newly bestowed by the Emperor was spacious and bright, easily four or five times larger than the previous one. Zhenzhen was astonished and told Shi Huaien that she dared not accept such a reward without merit. Shi Huaien laughed and said, "Director Wu, you may rest assured and live here. The Emperor has said that the days ahead are long, and he must ensure Director Wu lives comfortably, free from worries. There will surely be many things he has yet to consider, and he hopes Director Wu will remind him in time. This room is also closer to the Hall of Blessing and Tranquility, making it more convenient for the Emperor to summon you if needed."
Zhenzhen’s mind buzzed, and for a moment, only one phrase echoed repeatedly: "The days ahead are long, so long..."
In mid-October, urged by the Empress Dowager, the Emperor decided to enthrone Consort Li as Empress.
Since autumn, the Empress Dowager’s health had not been well; she often suffered from tinnitus and dizziness. Consort Li paid daily visits to the Northern Inner Palace, inquiring after her well-being, serving tea and water with great devotion. Seeing that Consort Liu’s favor had not diminished after giving birth and that the Emperor visited Furong Pavilion even more frequently, the Empress Dowager grew concerned that Consort Liu might covet the position of Empress. Thus, she suggested the Emperor enthrone Consort Li as Empress.
The Emperor also felt that Consort Li had managed the affairs of the six palaces flawlessly for many years, and he had long harbored a sense of guilt toward her, wishing to make amends. Moreover, the Crown Prince would not oppose it now. So he announced the matter, ordering the relevant officials to prepare for the enthronement ceremony and to establish the Inner Kitchen. Later, the Emperor also informed the Empress Dowager that he was considering promoting Consort Liu to Zhaoyi. The Empress Dowager replied indifferently, "No hurry. Consort Liu has only given birth to a daughter this time. Let her bear a prince first, and then we can discuss her promotion."
The Empress’s meals were referred to as the "Inner Kitchen," in contrast to the Emperor’s "Imperial Kitchen." Since the Empress Dowager moved to Cifu Palace, the Southern Inner Palace had not had an Inner Kitchen for many years. Establishing the Inner Kitchen meant setting up the Inner Kitchen Office, building an Inner Kitchen, and supplementing it with dedicated officials, cooks, eunuchs, and palace attendants. The Emperor ordered the Palace Eunuch Bureau, the Construction Office, the Imperial Kitchen Office, and the Bureau of Palace Provisions to discuss the relevant matters, construct the necessary buildings, and allocate or recruit the required personnel.
When Pei Shangshi spoke to Zhenzhen about the addition of the Inner Kitchen, Zhenzhen said, "Consort Li has always lived a simple life, usually requiring only a few palace attendants from the Bureau of Palace Provisions. Establishing an Inner Kitchen seems unnecessary, as it involves a great deal of effort, and the Consort likely won’t need so many resources."
Pei Shangshi frowned and sternly warned, "You must not say such things to outsiders, especially not to Consort Li. The Inner Kitchen is not about how much can be used but symbolizes the Empress’s status and identity. Consort Li has endured hardships for so many years and is finally taking her place in the central palace. Such grandeur cannot be lacking."
Due to the insufficient number of palace attendants available for deployment, the Bureau of Palace Provisions had to prepare to recruit women from the common people into the palace. Seeing the flurry of activity this caused across various palace departments, Zhenzhen thought it over and felt there was something else she had to say. Since she no longer feared punishment, she might as well speak her mind. If this led to her expulsion from the palace, it would serve two purposes at once.So she requested an audience with Consort Li, and after some conversation, advised: "Currently, the imperial kitchen employs nearly six hundred people, including officials, cooks, eunuchs, and palace attendants. However, only about ten to twenty percent of them are actually needed to serve the Emperor's daily meals. Fortunately, the Emperor has also tasked the imperial kitchen with managing palace banquets and providing meals for officials within the palace and the waiting hall, so the setup isn't too wasteful. Now, with the addition of an inner kitchen, even if it doesn't compare to the imperial kitchen, at least three to four hundred people will be required. The Construction Bureau is already preparing for large-scale construction to build the inner kitchen and its facilities, and the imperial kitchen and the Bureau of Palace Provisions are about to send people to various prefectures to recruit cooks and palace attendants. Forgive my bluntness, but having served you, I know that your daily expenses are exceptionally frugal. Even the clothes you wear have been washed and reused for many years, rarely replaced with new ones. If not for the Emperor's visits, your daily meals would consist of only a few dishes. Now that the Emperor has ordered the establishment of an inner kitchen for you, it is indeed the honor and privilege you deserve. However, given your habits, it seems likely that most of these hundreds of people will end up idle. If the inner kitchen cannot make full use of its resources, it will not only waste money and provisions but also foster idleness. Moreover, the Bureau of Palace Provisions will once again recruit young women from the common people to enter the palace. The nine-layered palace is not like an ordinary wealthy household—once they enter, they will be separated from their families, with little chance of reunion. If the inner kitchen leads to so many new palace attendants being torn from their parents and hometowns, I fear it is not what you would wish..."
As she spoke, she felt the atmosphere in the chamber rapidly cool. All the palace attendants and eunuchs held their breath, making no sound, which made her voice echo loudly in the chamber, sounding particularly jarring. Consort Li watched her quietly, listening patiently. The calmer her demeanor, the more Zhenzhen felt her request was excessive and feared it might hurt her feelings. Gradually, her voice grew softer until she fell silent. She prostrated herself before Consort Li, burying her head deeply, waiting for her or the other palace attendants to drive her out of the chamber.
Instead, Consort Li stood up, walked over to her, gently helped her to her feet, and said with a smile, "Good child, you've spoken what was in my heart. I was just thinking of submitting a memorial to decline the inner kitchen, but everyone around me opposed it. Fortunately, you came and brought up points I hadn't considered. Stay a while longer, and let's discuss how to list more reasons to include in the memorial."
Zhenzhen was delighted that Consort Li had accepted her advice, but she also sadly realized that her wish to earn the noble lady's displeasure had once again failed.
Consort Li successfully declined the inner kitchen, and the Emperor announced that the matter would be suspended, leaving the scale of the Empress's meals for her to decide. Consort Li did not forget to thank Zhenzhen for her advice with generous gifts, sending boxes of clothing to Zhenzhen's room. When Zhenzhen opened them, she found clothes for all seasons, from spring to winter, including official robes, everyday wear, and ceremonial attire, each with several sets, along with matching hats, hair ornaments, shoes, and belts—everything one could need.
Zhenzhen stared in astonishment and said, "Why so many? Enough to last me three to five years."
The eunuch who delivered the clothes laughed and replied, "The lady said that giving money directly might make Director Wu refuse, so it's better to give more clothes so that the director can focus without distractions, not having to worry about clothing during seasonal changes or festivals. She originally wanted to give enough for ten years but guessed that you might be promoted in a couple of years, and the clothing styles would change. For now, Director Wu can wear these, and whenever you need new ones, you can let her know anytime."A ten-year grant... Zhenzhen's heart sank. It took her a while to force a faint smile as she said to the eunuch, "Her Ladyship is generous, granting me ten years' worth of palace attire... I am deeply grateful."
After the eunuch left, Zhenzhen stood alone in the spacious, luxurious palace chamber, gazing at the mountain of palace garments piled before her. Thinking of the long-lasting wealth and status they silently promised her within the palace, tears welled up in her eyes as she sighed with mixed emotions. The Emperor and Empress she had encountered were truly an impeccable, virtuous couple... Thank you both.
The matter of the inner kitchen was set aside, but the Empress's investiture ceremony was inevitable. On the day of the ceremony, a grand state banquet would be held. The Imperial Kitchen prepared the planned dishes for the occasion and listed the types, quantities, and budget for the required ingredients, submitting them for Pei Shangshi's review.
Pei Shangshi's eyesight had deteriorated, making it difficult for her to read the tiny script. She asked Zhenzhen to read it aloud for her. As Zhenzhen read the ingredient prices and budget, she gradually noticed that many ingredient prices were inflated, far beyond what she remembered as reasonable. For example, the price of lake crabs alone was more than double the market price near the Waiting for Dawn Office. After reading the price for lake crabs, Zhenzhen paused briefly and softly called out "Shangshi," hoping to draw her attention.
But Pei Shangshi remained in her reclined position with her eyes closed, expressionless, and said, "Continue."
Zhenzhen pondered repeatedly and felt she could not turn a blind eye to this matter. When Zhao Ai found an excuse to visit her, she discreetly handed him the list of ingredients for the state banquet she had noted down and said, "Please ask Second Great King to send someone to the major markets in the capital to inquire about the prices of these ingredients and record them for me."
Zhao Ai unfolded the list and already guessed most of it. "You suspect the Imperial Kitchen is inflating ingredient prices?"
Zhenzhen nodded. Zhao Ai then said, "Inflating prices by ten or twenty percent isn't a big deal. The Emperor understands this too. When working in the palace, sometimes it's better to turn a blind eye. Insisting on investigating everything clearly will only make enemies for yourself."
Zhenzhen replied, "It's not a matter of ten or twenty percent. I've found that some ingredient prices are two or three times higher than the market prices I know. Calculated this way, a single state banquet would incur enormous, inexplicable losses. If this is allowed to continue, more corrupt individuals will emerge over time. The Emperor has always advocated frugality, and Consort Li even declined the inner kitchen to set an example. How can we sit idly by and ignore such corruption that they cannot see?"
Zhao Ai smiled and said, "If you are determined to investigate, I can certainly help you. But such matters often involve many people and are rarely the work of a single individual. You may face accusations, slander, or even framed by the other side. Have you thought this through?"
Zhenzhen thought to herself, the Emperor is wise and discerning; even if the other side slanders or frames her, he would likely see the truth. Besides, if the situation escalates to the point where she is expelled from the palace, wouldn't that fulfill her wish? With superiors so lenient and unflappable, if telling the truth leads to being disliked, she would have to rely on others to achieve that outcome.
Once freed from hesitation, making decisions became exceptionally straightforward. Zhenzhen flashed a bright smile at Zhao Ai and answered, "I've thought it through. Let's do it!"
Just then, someone from the Hall of Blessing and Tranquility arrived, saying the Emperor had summoned her. Zhenzhen agreed, thanked Zhao Ai, and walked toward the Hall of Blessing and Tranquility with a smile on her face and light steps.Zhao Ai held the list of ingredients, standing with his hands behind his back as he watched her walk away. He thought to himself that she was truly a rare woman who shared his aspirations—clear about right and wrong, unafraid of evil, and possessing the courage of "though ten thousand oppose me, I will go forth." No matter how the situation unfolded, he would do his utmost to protect her. The tragic fate of being slandered, framed, and expelled from the palace must never befall her.
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