Palace Intrigue?: I Make the Emperor Cry by Rewinding Time!-Chapter 109 - 102: Connections Gift Pack 2

"Since the Imperial Physician also said it’s okay to eat, let’s let Jing’er have the first skewer."

After Yun Jiao confirmed, the Eldest Prince was overjoyed, but he held back and said, "Lady Xi should eat first."

The eunuch handed over the freshly roasted lamb, and Yun Jiao, without any hesitation, took a big bite. It didn’t need much sauce; just the rich aroma of the meat sizzling on her tongue brought the most primal and pure satisfaction!

Tiny snowflakes fell from the sky, and soon a layer of white snow accumulated on the eaves of the pavilion.

Yun Jiao cast the line down and fished together with the Eldest Prince.

Unfortunately, the beginner’s luck didn’t work for the two of them; the fishing line stayed still for a long time. In fact, when the noble masters of the palace wanted to fish, it was usually arranged a few hours in advance. The eunuchs on duty would stop feeding the fish beforehand, increasing the chances of the masters catching fish.

There’s a saying that fish don’t know when they’re full, but there’s also a consensus among fishermen that fish are less likely to bite when they’re full. The bait in the Imperial Garden is given on a schedule, and leftovers sink to the bottom, making the fish less eager.

"Didn’t Lady Xi say there would be a beginner’s gift pack?"

The Eldest Prince couldn’t hide his disappointment.

Yun Jiao: "Jing’er, hold on a second."

"You," Yun Jiao called out to the eunuch on duty, "you there, go get a net and scoop the fish out."

"Lady...?"

"Can’t you do it?" 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Concubine Xi had spoken, and no matter how difficult it was, it had to be done.

With the Eldest Prince staring in shock, the eunuch used the net to scoop the fish out of the pond and brought them over.

"Pick two good ones and roast them."

She instructed, then turned to speak with the Eldest Prince, "For the remaining ones, Jing’er, do you want us to split them up and take them back to raise?"

"Alright!"

The Eldest Prince picked two dark blue ones.

The pond was filled with ornamental fish; when roasted, they were bony and bitter. Other ladies fished for leisure, letting the fish nibble the bait and then releasing them with their delicate hands. But today, they encountered someone who took both the fish and the opportunity to eat.

The fish, once ashore, opened and closed their mouths as if to say—

"Oh, I’m afraid I’m going to perish."

The eunuch, being cautious, replaced one of the ornamental fish with a big fat fish from the Kitchen, which looked almost the same when roasted over charcoal.

Indeed, Yun Jiao took a bite of the ornamental fish and frowned.

The eunuch hurriedly handed over the other one: "Lady, try this one."

The other was perfectly roasted, with deliciously fresh fish meat, just to Yun Jiao’s liking.

The fishing trip ended in a forcibly perfect manner.

The Eldest Prince hesitated, glancing back every few steps before leaving.

"The Eldest Prince is really adorable. When will our master have her own child?" Xue Ya said enviously.

The youngster missed her very much, but Yun Jiao didn’t mind.

Come to play when you wish, don’t bother if you don’t want to; she pointed at the eunuch who secretly swapped the fish earlier: "Who are you?"

"I am Shi Jin."

Shi Jin knelt down to answer, heart pounding.

Could the master have found out?

"You’re meticulous. From now on, you can serve by my side."

"Thank you, Lady!"

Understanding his master’s intention, Shi Jin’s heart was filled with great joy, and he continuously kowtowed to show his gratitude.

In this palace, different concubines preferred palace attendants with varied styles.

Some preferred pretty ones, others preferred obedient ones.

Even if servants who acted on their own initiative accomplished their tasks, they were still prone to punishment because their role was that of a walking, talking tool, not living people. The master’s will was their direction.

Yun Jiao knew she wasn’t smart, so she was willing to promote the smart people around her.

...

When the Eldest Prince returned to Qixiang Palace, he carried two big fat fish, begging Princess Consort Jing to keep them.

Princess Consort Jing looked at them for a while and said, "Okay."

Listening to the Eldest Prince ramble on about today’s fishing trip, Princess Consort Jing realized her son wasn’t as fragile as she had imagined.

So the pool that had been closed was painstakingly reopened.

"In the future..."

Princess Consort Jing hesitated for a moment: "Over at Concubine Xi’s place, you can go as often as you like. Just be careful with what you eat, don’t put everything into your mouth."

"Really? Mother is the best, I want to go!"

The Eldest Prince snuggled into his mother’s embrace, acting playfully.

"Mm, Jing’er is good."

Princess Consort Jing trusted that Concubine Xi, who had risked her life to save people from the water, wouldn’t harm Jing’er.

Besides, given the Eldest Prince’s physique, it was hardly possible for him to inherit the throne. He was no threat to anyone, but rather, using Concubine Xi’s hand might harm the Eldest Prince, striking a blow to that favored concubine.

And Princess Consort Jing vaguely remembered...

Concubine Xi didn’t seem all that smart.

...

Xianfu Palace.

Gong Mei walked in holding a brocade box in both hands: "Lady, this is sent over by Miss Su You from Qixiang Palace."

Su You was Princess Consort Jing’s Chief Palace Maid, acting as her spokesperson outside.

Her personal delivery showed the importance Princess Consort Jing placed on Concubine Xi.

"Bring it over, let me see."

Yun Jiao opened the brocade box, revealing a stack of papers inside.

"What’s this? Do you understand it?"

Gong Mei leaned over, read the words, and said, "They seem to be names."

Yun Jiao also called Shi Jin over to see if he recognized the people on it.

Shi Jin couldn’t read, but after Gong Mei recited it, he had an idea: "Lady, these three are on duty in the Imperial Household, this one is a eunuch from the Kitchen, and these two are from the Manufacturing Office. Since it’s sent by Princess Consort Jing, I have an immature guess; don’t know if the Lady would like to hear it."

"Go ahead."

"These might be connections that Princess Consort Jing trusts; if the Lady has concerns regarding eating, clothing, or needs something done, you could rely on these people."

Shi Jin’s guess was correct.

Princess Consort Jing also knew it was unrealistic to keep her son’s desires always confined.

The only way was to make the places her son loved safe.

But she couldn’t reach into other concubines’ palaces, so she used this method to show goodwill to Concubine Xi while increasing security.

"Oh..."

Yun Jiao didn’t think too deeply: "This mother and son are quite nice."