Chapter 37: Honeyed Words, Hidden Daggers (Part Two)

Wu Yueling had originally intended to deliver the goat’s milk candy that Ma Liuxin had just made to her foster father, but unexpectedly, he had gone to the Huaqing Palace in Mount Li to soak in the hot springs. Even Gao Lishi was absent from the imperial city, so her effort was wasted. She had no choice but to instruct Ma Liuxin to continue making the candy and kept a box for herself.

Truth be told, the newly made white goat’s milk candy and its powdered form tasted excellent—at least, they could rival the famous White Rabbit candies. After eating one, Hua Chuer wanted another, eating until she grew tired of the sweetness. Wan’er also enjoyed them, taking a few pieces to taste, declaring it the sweetest and most delicious candy she had ever eaten, and even brought some to Xiaochun and Xiaomi.

Wu Yueling lay across her writing desk, gazing at the few white candies in the bowl. After a brief daze, she returned to her drawing, but soon a voice was heard outside, requesting an audience with the princess.

Wan’er entered to report that the craftsmen who had been making the tables and chairs were seeking her, their leader named Mo Qianjin.

Wu Yueling recalled that this must mean the tables and chairs were finished.

Led by Mo Qianjin, she went to the garden’s open ground, where several brand new tables and chairs, all in natural wood tones, were arranged.

The old cow, seeing Wu Yueling approach, tiptoed behind a tree, fearful she would notice it, though Wu Yueling had no intention of paying it any mind.

Wu Yueling walked to the round table, ran her hand over it, tapped it, and felt exceedingly pleased. At last, she could dine at a round table and write at a square one, never again forced to kneel while writing.

In her cheerful mood, she rewarded each craftsman with some copper coins and instructed Yu Chao’en to have the tables moved to her bedchamber.

Soon, the tables were in place. Wu Yueling tried the reclining chair, sprawled lazily upon it, rocking to and fro with utter comfort, closing her eyes to savor this leisure and idleness.

At noon, Lady Ye led several servants in with lunch, entering the princess’s quarters. Not seeing the customary dining case, they were puzzled.

Wu Yueling told her to simply place the dishes on the round table. Lady Ye, along with the others Wu Yueling had brought into the princess’s residence, arranged the cakes, rice, and chicken soup, then quietly withdrew.

Wu Yueling moved a chair to the table, sitting beside it, relishing the familiar comfort.

Drawn by the aroma wafting from the table, the little lynx and white tiger circled underneath like two adorable huskies. The lynx mewed, the white tiger roared, each in turn—urging their mistress to grant them a meal.

She fondly patted their heads, selected some rice, vegetables, and meat, divided them into two bowls, and set them beneath the table.

“Miss?” Hua Chuer entered with Li Wan’er and, seeing the chairs by the table, looked rather puzzled.

“Come, sit down—luncheon is served!” Wu Yueling picked up her chopsticks, taking a bite of the snowy rice.

“Princess, where should I sit?” Li Wan’er approached, searching for a wooden couch, not even noticing the chairs.

Wu Yueling blinked. Well, this was clearly ahead of their time—they had no idea how to use a chair. Sighing, she set down her chopsticks, went to Li Wan’er, and gently seated her on a chair.

Hua Chuer imitated her, settling awkwardly into a chair.

Li Wan’er fidgeted, feeling extremely embarrassed; sitting like this, her knees spread apart involuntarily. Blushing, she leaned over the round table.

“Eat. If you don’t, the food will grow cold,” Wu Yueling said, raising her chopsticks and digging into her meal.

“Oh, Miss, it feels so strange to sit like this,” Hua Chuer said, grabbing a chicken leg with her hand and taking a big bite.

“You’ll grow accustomed to it. Where I come from, we eat in all sorts of ways—lying down, sitting, upside down, sideways, eating while holding a phone… ahem—”

“Cough,” Hua Chuer, amused by Wu Yueling’s words, choked a little. “Miss, you’re always talking about where you’re from. Where exactly is that?”

Li Wan’er gently sipped her chicken soup, looking at her. “Yes, Miss, where are you from? You’re always inventing odd things—especially the swing, which is so much fun, but we have to play in secret. Sitting openly would be a disgrace to decorum…”

“Ahem, what do you mean, disgrace to decorum? Is this comfortable?” Wu Yueling deftly avoided the first question by asking her own.

“Um…”

Seeing both Hua Chuer and Li Wan’er hesitate, Wu Yueling raised her chopsticks. “Chuer, when did you become so demure?”

“Hey, Miss, you can’t say that—I’ve always been a lady…”

“Oh, please. Wan’er is the real lady here.” Wu Yueling picked up a piece of biluomen—crab meat roll—and put it in Wan’er’s bowl. “A real lady should eat more, not like someone—our infamous Flower Thief.”

“Miss, can’t you let me be? I’m just a bit boisterous,” Hua Chuer said, unbothered, grabbing a chicken breast and biting in.

“So, is it comfortable sitting like this or not?”

“It is! At least my legs don’t get sore or numb,” Hua Chuer replied.

“Wan’er, what about you?” Wu Yueling directed her chopsticks toward the slowly nibbling Li Wan’er.

“Wan’er… Wan’er finds it very convenient to sit this way…” Li Wan’er admitted, feeling a breeze under her skirts, somewhat uneasy.

“That’s right! Let’s eat, dig in…”

After the meal, Hua Chuer’s place was a mess, while Wan’er’s was spotless, not a grain of rice in sight. Wu Yueling instructed Xiaochun, the round-faced girl, to help Lady Ye tidy up the round table.

Feeling full, Wu Yueling got up for a stroll, then lay back in the reclining chair, gently rocking again.

Li Wan’er brought a pot of hot tea. Seeing Miss lying so languidly in the peculiar chair, she felt awkward, but approached and poured a steaming bowl. “Miss, I think it’s fine to rest like this in private, but if anyone saw, they’d criticize…”

Wu Yueling stopped rocking, accepted the tea, and crossed her legs, sitting upright. “I know. I’m the only one who sits like this, and you two can’t relax in the chairs. If others saw, they’d definitely gossip.”

“As long as Miss understands, Wan’er can rest easy.”

Wu Yueling didn’t say more, pouring Wan’er a bowl as well. This tea, improved by Wu Yueling, was clear and pure—not a hodgepodge of random ingredients.

In the cup, only the poised tea leaves, bold and wild chrysanthemum, sesame and beans sunk to the bottom, with a few shards of dried ginger—altogether, it was quite delicious.

“Wan’er, I have a task for you. Post some notices at the back of the residence—say that the Princess’s estate is seeking several private craftsmen.” Wu Yueling handed her a paper from the square table.

“Wan’er obeys!” Li Wan’er replied playfully, taking the sheet.

“You—be careful not to let Chuer lead you astray,” Wu Yueling said, half-chiding, glancing at her.

“Hey, Miss, you can’t talk about me behind my back!” Hua Chuer flipped in through the window, landing nimbly beside Wan’er.

“I…” Wu Yueling was speechless, bested by her, and could only jest, “Fine, fine, you’re well-endowed. Clearly, I’m always in the wrong!”

With that, Hua Chuer led Wan’er out of the Heavenly Gift Pavilion to the back of the estate. Seeing craftsmen and laborers at work building new houses, she boldly slapped the notice onto a wooden post. “Miss says—she’s hiring private craftsmen for the Princess’s estate!”

Wan’er grew anxious and whispered in Hua Chuer’s ear, “Sister Chuer, Miss said I should announce it…”

“Ahem, Miss says Wan’er is to announce that the estate needs a few craftsmen!” Hua Chuer corrected herself.

...

“Dingkun, what does it say? I can’t see clearly—read it again,” Mo Qianjin asked excitedly, his right hand on his left cheek, staring at the white paper posted on the pole.

“Father, let’s go! It says the Princess’s estate is hiring private craftsmen, and those who previously made things for the Princess will be given preference!” Mo Dingkun, left hand on his right cheek, grabbed his father’s arm and dragged him toward the Heavenly Gift Pavilion, afraid of being late, for the line was already long. “Father, this is our chance—we’ll be working for the Princess!”

“Heh, yes, this counts as earning a salary now, doesn’t it?” Mo Qianjin was lost in his own fantasies, drooling with delight.

After Wu Yueling’s personal selection, thirty craftsmen were chosen to serve the Princess’s estate, including Mo Qianjin and his son Mo Dingkun. These thirty were soon bound to the estate by indenture contracts.

On that day, Yu Chao’en went to the Western Market to purchase a batch of Ferghana horses. On the way, he encountered Minister Li, who stopped him with kind words and invited him to the Western Market’s tavern for a drink.

Yu Chao’en didn’t understand the significance, but with an invitation from the Prime Minister, how could he refuse? He handed the horses to several guards to take home and followed Minister Li’s carriage.

In the tavern, Li Linfu maintained the image of a kindly elder, continually toasting Yu Chao’en, praising his connection to the Princess, and expressing his desire to become closer to her—hoping Yu Chao’en would speak well of him in her presence.

Intoxicated by both drink and Li Linfu’s honeyed words, Yu Chao’en laughed foolishly, as bright as the sun.

Ji Wen, pouring wine at the side, noted that Yu Chao’en was nearly drunk and signaled to his father-in-law.

“Take him away,” Li Linfu nodded, rising quickly.

Moments later, in a torture chamber, Yu Chao’en was bound to a rack, dressed in different clothes, his chest slashed with dozens of bloody cuts.

Ji Wen scooped hot brine with a gourd ladle and poured it over the wounds before retreating behind his father-in-law.

When Yu Chao’en awoke, he screamed like a slaughtered pig as the salt burned the fresh wounds, agony lancing through his nerves.

“Why… why, Chancellor Li…” he gasped.

Li Linfu kept his kindly smile, silently watching Yu Chao’en writhe in pain.

Ji Wen stepped forward, slicing open more skin and pouring saltwater onto the wounds. The torment was unbearable, the cell echoing with screams.

Yu Chao’en was a clever man. Suffering such inexplicable torture, his mind quickly grasped the situation. He was but a minor eunuch, lucky to serve the Princess—how had he offended the Chancellor? Weeping, he begged for mercy, swearing he would obey Li’s every command.

Li Linfu laughed heartily, praising Yu Chao’en’s cleverness. “Clever men are easy to deal with.” He ordered Yu Chao’en to keep watch on the Princess of National Protection and report any unusual actions.

Yu Chao’en naturally agreed. How could such a small figure resist? Guilt toward the Princess filled his heart, but he could only grit his teeth and accept his fate.

Once he had Yu Chao’en’s promise, Li Linfu released him.

“Father-in-law, the agents will serve us, but their chief refuses to align with any faction,” Ji Wen said, rubbing his palms as he followed Li Linfu.

“Then support the Manichean sect. That chief is a problem—he’ll realize soon enough who holds power in Chang’an!”

“Understood! Wise as ever, Father-in-law. I agree, the Manichaeans are an excellent choice!”