Concubine of the Eastern Palace (Qing Dynasty Time Travel)

Cheng Wanyun slept until nearly noon before waking up.

Qingxing was pulling and tugging, afraid that she had slept through noon. She was even worrying in advance: “What will happen when there’s a Crown Princess in the future? How will Gege handle such irregular hours?”

In fact, Cheng Wanyun was not incapable of waking up early, but now that there was no urgent reason to rise early, she didn’t know how to spend the morning hours, so it was better to just sleep through it.

Moreover, people in the palace liked to visit each other in the morning; afternoons were too hot! As a result, Cheng Wanyun slept through the entire morning. A few times, Tang Gege had sent little maids to feel out the situation, but every time, they returned without success.

Cheng Wanyun didn’t dislike Tang Gege, but Tang Gege could play the guqin, which Cheng Wanyun couldn’t do. She liked to cook, but Tang Gege didn’t know how. Sitting together, they had nothing in common to talk about, and Cheng Wanyun found it awkward.

Since becoming pregnant, Wang Gege had been very quiet, never leaving the house, firmly avoiding any accidents like slipping or falling into water. Side Concubine Li had also allowed her to take a leave and no longer come to offer her greetings. The Crown Prince had also approved, so Wang Gege could focus on resting during her pregnancy.

Wang Gege officially began to stay at home. She was quite impressive—she truly managed to stay at home without going out, not even visiting the shared courtyard next to Tang Gege’s room!

It was said that Wang Gege had incredibly good fortune. Now, not only did the Crown Prince and Side Concubine Li value her, but even the baby in her womb seemed to care for her. From the moment she got pregnant, she had barely experienced any morning sickness. Her appetite was great every day, and both Ling Mama and Side Concubine Li said she was someone with great luck.

Having a child in her belly meant no worries; even though she stayed cooped up in her room every day, Wang Gege was always happy, leading the maids to make children’s clothes and shoes. She even dismantled some old clothes to make diapers.

Tang Gege didn’t dare to visit her too often. Firstly, because she couldn’t help feeling jealous—who wouldn’t be jealous? Wang Gege was likely carrying the Crown Prince’s firstborn!

Even if it was a girl, being the firstborn made it special.

Every night, Tang Gege would touch her own belly, and couldn’t help but feel a pang of bitterness, thinking: “What kind of luck does Wang Gege have? We used to be slaves together, so why does she get this fate while I don’t?”

Secondly, she was also afraid of taking responsibility. If something went wrong, her life wouldn’t be enough to pay for it. While Tang Gege was a little anxious and envious, wanting more affection, she wasn’t completely foolish and still valued her own life.

This morning, she could clearly see the Crown Prince’s expression. When the little eunuch came to send her away, she understood immediately.

She couldn’t compete with Cheng Gege.

She had already inquired beforehand. Before she and Wang Gege arrived, Cheng Gege had been very favored by the Crown Prince. Only after they arrived did the attention shift, and Tang Gege had thought she might find a place for herself. However, it was clearly just an illusion.

Back in her room, she leaned against the beauty couch and let out a long sigh. The attending maid cautiously approached and said, “Gege, Cheng Gege hasn’t gotten up yet.”

Look at this! Only Cheng Gege dares to be so arrogant because of her favor.

What time is it now?

But in Yuqing Palace, there was no Crown Princess yet. As long as the Crown Prince didn’t speak, Side Concubine Li wouldn’t dare to say anything either, and no one else dared to trouble Cheng Gege. Tang Gege understood this and shook her head. “I won’t be going out these next few days.”

She was afraid that the Crown Prince might really tire of her, but now, what was she supposed to do? Wang Gege was pregnant, Side Concubine Li had power, and Cheng Gege had the favor. And she? Tang Gege felt lost and helpless, not knowing how to go on from here.

Cheng Gege’s renewed favor was like a spring breeze, spreading through every corner of Yuqing Palace.

Recently, Side Concubine Li had been fully focused on watching over Wang Gege’s pregnancy. Cheng Gege’s belly had shown no signs of change, so she had given up on it. It had been a while since anyone had been assigned to watch over her, but unexpectedly, when the Crown Prince returned yesterday, he went straight to the back.

Jin Mama looked worried. “Tang Gege has been jumping around every day. How did Cheng Gege get up today?”

Side Concubine Li didn’t even look up, and on the table, there were two boxes of bird’s nest, all handpicked by her. “Send these to Wang Gege. By the way, does the kitchen have any good black chickens? Tell them to use my silver to go to Qingfeng and pick out twenty good ones. Don’t slaughter them yet—keep them alive in cages, and every three days, kill one to make soup for Wang Gege. It’s fresh and nourishing.”

Black chickens were good for the child.

“My lady! What are you doing, planning so much for Wang Gege?” Jin Mama stomped her feet in frustration. Since no one else was in the room, she lowered her voice and said, “A few days ago, she took silver to find Ling Mama. Using the excuse of checking her pulse for peace, she had the physician secretly check everything you gave her several times. And before every meal, she gets different little eunuchs to eat a bowl first. She’s so suspicious of us, and you’re still wholeheartedly doing this for her!”

Wang Gege’s suspicion meant she wasn’t stupid, but Side Concubine Li had only sent the best items, without any tampering. As a result, neither the physician nor the little eunuchs found anything wrong.

Not only had Wang Gege’s belly not yet shown much, but even a few eunuchs around her had gained weight and were glowing with health.

Side Concubine Li picked up the teacup and smiled. “This is better. Remember, spread the word about this quietly.”

From now on, if anything happens, it will no longer be her concern.

Jin Mama sighed and suddenly remembered. “What about Cheng Gege?”

“Mother, I’m still copying the scriptures.” Side Concubine Li’s tone was calm and unruffled. “Why should I care whether she’s favored or not? Can I stop the Crown Prince from favoring her, or handle her like I did with Yang Gege? The Crown Prince still gives me the task of copying scriptures; he wants me to remain cautious and obedient.”

After the incident with Kang Haizhu, Side Concubine Li had been particularly careful. She could clearly see that although Wang Gege was pregnant, the Crown Prince didn’t visit her often. Meanwhile, even when Cheng Gege was out of favor, He Baozhong never stopped watching the back palace. Who was the Crown Prince guarding against? More importantly, to Side Concubine Li, it no longer mattered if Cheng Gege was favored; what mattered now was that Wang Gege’s pregnancy must be smooth, and the child must be born safely.

Once this opportunity was missed, it would be all over for her. It would be impossible to recover.

“This child is destined for me. The day she diagnosed her pregnancy was also the second day of the month,” Side Concubine Li muttered to herself, her eyes gleaming with an unusual light. “It’s really wonderful, truly wonderful…”

Jin Mama lowered her head and said nothing. Although she had raised this child from a young age, Side Concubine Li’s current demeanor still made her feel a chill down her spine.

Suddenly, the curtain outside rustled, and Chun Jian entered and bowed. “Master, Liu’er has safely left the palace. She bowed three times toward Yuqing Palace and Chuxiu Palace, thanking you and Concubine Xi for your great kindness.”

With Yang Gege gone, all the eunuchs and palace maids who had served her had returned to the Imperial Household Department. Side Concubine Li had quietly arranged everything behind the scenes. She had even gone to Concubine Xi to request her help. Although Concubine Xi had sent someone to say that there was no need to send things anymore, essentially severing ties, Side Concubine Li had at least ensured that Liu’er left the palace safely.

Side Concubine Li came to her senses upon hearing the news and showed a genuine smile. “That’s good. She’s of age now, it’s better for her to leave. Did you give her the silver notes? Don’t forget.”

“Yes, it’s all been given. Liu’er didn’t want to accept them, but I insisted she take them.”

Side Concubine Li nodded repeatedly. “With money in hand, Liu’er won’t have to worry about depending on her brother and sister-in-law in the future.”

She had also learned that Liu’er’s parents had passed away, and upon returning, she would have to rely on her brother and sister-in-law. It wasn’t good for her to go out empty-handed, receiving pity from others. The palace maids could only save so much, and Side Concubine Li thought it best to make sure she left with something to rely on.

When Side Concubine Li first entered Yuqing Palace, she was just a naive fool. She had believed Lin Gege’s soft and gentle appearance, but by the time she realized the situation, Lin Gege had already begun to make moves against her. When Lin Gege was still a palace maid, she was quite resourceful, having recognized Ling Mama as her foster mother. At that time, Ling Mama had secretly favored her and helped her.

Even someone as loyal as Jin Mama wasn’t by her side, and she had suffered countless underhanded schemes from Lin Gege. It was Liu’er who couldn’t stand it and secretly helped her several times. Otherwise, she would have had to go to the underworld with her poor child to report to King Yan.

Later, when Lin Gege found out about Liu’er helping her, she nearly ruined Liu’er completely. Side Concubine Li did everything she could to save Liu’er. After that, Liu’er was sent to clean the chamber pots, forced to do hard labor. She offended Lin Gege, who had her abused, but Side Concubine Li secretly supported and protected Liu’er.

Although Side Concubine Li had intended to use Liu’er one day for her own benefit, Liu’er had saved her life. At this point, she did her best to protect Liu’er, and truly regarded her as a sister.

Side Concubine Li gazed out the window. Beyond the red walls and golden roofs, there was a patch of blue sky, the air clear and free of clouds. Today, the sky was a brilliant blue, as if freshly fired glass, bright and transparent.

This small patch of sky had her trapped here forever, but Liu’er had gone out.

It was truly wonderful.

The sunlight was so bright it made her eyes water, and she quickly wiped her tears, but more followed.

#

In the back palace, Cheng Wanyun was explaining to Sanbao what a hand-grabbed pancake was, how the dough should be made to be flaky, what part of the chicken the chicken strips came from, and why the spring vegetables had to be half-cooked…

She spoke so much that her throat went dry.

She realized that the Crown Prince’s visit had brought back her appetite.

She started craving one thing after another again. Maybe before, she thought it was just the end of a bitter summer, and hadn’t noticed the slight unease in her heart. What if she truly lost favor? She hadn’t even dared to ask herself that question.

Maybe it was just because she had slept all morning and was now hungry, that was also a possibility.

Cheng Wanyun pondered for a moment but couldn’t figure it out. She decided to stop thinking about it. Men’s hearts were like needles at the bottom of the sea; they were good at being cold and hot. The Crown Prince had so many consorts, didn’t they all fight for his favor? It was just like in a company when there were competitions for promotions or awards, where the actual work ability didn’t matter at all. What mattered was whether you or your direct superior had the right connections with the boss. How strong was your influence? She had no interest in promotions and simply let things go. She thought that instead of wasting time competing for such positions, it would be better to focus on the team and take on more projects to earn more money.

She nodded seriously to herself, warning herself to be cautious of workplace manipulation!

Workplace rule number two: Don’t go for those superficial positions. They don’t come with raises, only more work!

As a “salted fish”, it’s best to aim for something real.

Finally, Cheng Wanyun had explained things clearly to Sanbao. The child couldn’t read and had to memorize everything. Luckily, the palace eunuchs were trained to have excellent memory, and those who couldn’t remember their duties didn’t dare show up in front of their masters.

What she didn’t know was that as soon as she finished giving instructions, Sanbao was immediately surrounded by several eunuchs from the kitchen, nearly scaring the poor child into tears. Shivering, he recited everything she had said without missing a word. Soon, the entire kitchen sprang into action.

The Crown Prince’s eunuchs arrived even earlier than Cheng Gege had expected. They told the kitchen staff that, regardless of what Cheng Gege had ordered, they needed to make ten or twenty more portions, as the Crown Prince wanted to take them and share with the princes.

So, the cooks paused their work, waiting specifically for the instructions.

The dough for the hand-grabbed pancakes was actually very similar to that of scallion pancakes. As soon as the cooks heard this, they understood. It wasn’t too difficult to make, and the ingredients for the filling were easy to come by. Everyone relaxed a little.

Fortunately, the items Cheng Gege requested this time didn’t require any extra thought!

With a clear plan, the eunuchs worked quickly, bustling around energetically. Some kneaded the dough, others butchered chickens, some washed vegetables, others prepared the sauce—everyone was busy with no one left idle.

Xiao Li, the eunuch who attended to Wang Gege, happened to come to collect the pastries. Now, in their courtyard, they were the main targets of flattery from the kitchen staff, so he habitually walked in with his head held high. However, this time, no one paid him any attention.

Usually, before he even entered, a little eunuch would rush over, addressing him with respect.

He peeked inside and saw the head chefs working personally. There wasn’t even time for the little eunuchs to catch their breath, let alone help him. Confused, he thought to himself, ‘I haven’t heard of any distinguished guests arriving’. He was puzzled and, while weighing the situation, wandered around the kitchen. Finally, he caught sight of a pockmarked eunuch and grabbed him, saying, “What’s going on here?”

The eunuch with the pockmarked face looked up and recognized him: “Ah, Brother Li, you’re here. We’re all busy, but the pastries for Wang Gege should be in the inner room. Please, go ahead and help yourself.”

Seeing how busy everyone was, Xiao Li didn’t dare cause any trouble. If something important was happening and he delayed it, he’d be in trouble. So, he reluctantly pursed his lips, waved his sleeve, and went to collect the pastries himself. But when he entered the inner room, there was nothing on the table except for a dough that was covered with a cloth.

He couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed. Coming back out, he surveyed the room and noticed a short, thin old eunuch squatting in the corner, focused on deboning a chicken. He recognized him as Hong Deng, the chef who was always trying to please Wang Gege. Without hesitation, he walked over to him and said, “Master Hong, you’re busy? Ah, where are the osmanthus sugar cakes that Wang Gege ordered this morning? Could you kindly point me in the right direction?”

Hong Deng, who was too busy to care, was still working on the chicken and didn’t want to be bothered. But not wanting to offend Wang Gege, he glanced around and smiled, saying, “Oh, it’s Xiao Li! I didn’t see you come in. My eyes are too busy with all the work here. The pastries for the Gege are usually handled by your Grandpa Zheng and Grandpa Liu. You should ask them over there.” He then gestured towards Zheng Taijian and Liu Taijian, who were also busy.

Xiao Li wasn’t stupid. He quickly realized that Zheng Taijian and Liu Taijian were too busy to make the pastries for Wang Gege. If he bothered them now, it would only annoy them. So, he awkwardly handed a small silver coin to Hong Deng, saying, “Master Hong, you should look out for me. I’ve never seen such a scene. Can you point me in the right direction? It would be much easier to explain if I went back empty-handed.”

Hong Deng accepted the silver and smirked, pointing his chin towards Zheng Taijian: “Just look over there, and you’ll understand. If your Grandpa Zheng is making the pastries, then who else could it be but her?”

Hong Deng had never liked Zheng Taijian. After he began to favor Cheng Gege, Zheng’s position had risen, and now he was almost the head of the kitchen. Even the Crown Prince often asked him to oversee the cooking. Six months ago, Zheng was just an old man who couldn’t even taste the flavors properly and was nearly pushed aside. Now, though, he had become so powerful, and Hong Deng was jealous. He spat internally, not afraid of him climbing too high and falling down hard.

Xiao Li was shocked. He had only been transferred from the Imperial Household Department after Wang and Tang Gege arrived, and he had never seen the kitchen make such a big fuss over a small Gege. Besides, didn’t Cheng Gege lose favor? Even if the Crown Prince had visited once, it didn’t seem like it would warrant this level of flattery. Wang Gege was carrying the Crown Prince’s eldest son, the future heir to the throne, after all!

Hong Deng, glaring at the gray-haired braids of Zheng Taijian, spoke with a tone so sour it could have been mistaken for old vinegar. He scoffed heavily and said, “You’ve never seen anything, but you will one day.”

Hong Deng’s harsh words, however, didn’t reach Zheng Taijian’s ears.

Zheng was focused on watching Liu Taijian knead the dough. “Liu, add a little more water, stir it until it’s as soft as snowflakes, then knead it. Yes, yes, knead while I add some more oil…”

Liu Taijian was a master of making pastries. He had made hundreds, if not thousands, of scallion pancakes, yet now that Zheng Taijian was guiding him, he didn’t dare speak a word, sweating profusely as he worked.

These were the pastries the Crown Prince wanted to bring to the study, to be shared with his younger brothers. This was not something to take lightly—if they messed up, it would reflect poorly on the Crown Prince, and they would all be in trouble.

“Zheng Taijian, I’ve finished frying the pork floss,” a eunuch cheerfully said, holding a plate. “This pork is freshly slaughtered from Qingfengsi this morning. It arrived here less than two hours ago. Look at the color! Cheng Gege said the taste should be sweet and salty, not greasy, and should crumble easily. Please, taste it and let me know if it’s right.”

The little fool knew his tongue wasn’t great, yet he still asked Zheng Taijian to taste it. Zheng Taijian was so angry that he kicked him, saying, “Let Sanbao taste it! He’s always at Cheng Gege’s, paying attention to what she likes to eat.”

The eunuch was sent spinning by the kick, nearly dropping the plate, and hurriedly ran to find Sanbao, who was washing the spring vegetables on the side.

Cheng Wanyun had no idea that her simple craving for a hand-pulled pancake would cause such a stir. The Crown Prince wanted to eat pancakes, so he directly instructed the kitchen without telling her.

Meanwhile, she was leisurely petting her cat, waiting for food to be served.

Mi Mi was shedding its fur as summer approached, so Cheng Wanyun had gone to the workshop to have a special comb made for it, using silver. She brushed the cat three times, and the fur that came off could form a big pile, almost like she had brushed a whole other cat out of it.

Cheng Wanyun put the fur into a cloth bag and suddenly got an idea to make a small felt mat from Mi Mi’s fur.

Since she didn’t have a foam board, she tried wrapping a small wooden board with a cotton pad, though it wasn’t very convenient, it was usable. She poked at the felt, which was satisfying, though it did tire her hands out. After making about half, she couldn’t continue and lightly pressed the felt to adjust the cat face’s shape, leaving it aside for the time being.

At that moment, Bitao came in to say, “Gege, the pancakes are here.”

Cheng Wanyun became excited, “Bring them here quickly.”

The type of hand-pulled pancake she liked was one with egg, pork floss, chicken strips, and vegetables, all topped off with a generous amount of ketchup.

At this moment, she couldn’t make salad dressing, or else a combination of tomato ketchup and salad dressing would be delicious too!

Currently, the kitchen in Yuqing Palace always keeps tomato ketchup on hand because the Crown Prince loves French fries. Luckily, there’s no concept of junk food here; otherwise, if Master Kang knew the Crown Prince was eating French fries as snacks every few days, he’d probably tear her apart!

When the kitchen delivered the pancakes, they were still warm. The dough was golden and slightly crispy on the surface. Taking a bite, it was crisp and flaky, yet the strands of dough were connected, bursting with the flavor of vegetables, meat, and sauce. She ate it with great satisfaction.

She brewed some cold-brewed lemon oolong tea, adding a little rock sugar, and paired it with her hand-pulled pancake. Cheng Wanyun relaxed into her reclining chair.

The grapevine had climbed up the rack and its green tendrils hung down, swaying slightly in the breeze.

It was truly comforting.

On the other side, the Crown Prince and his brothers had been reading classical texts all morning, and they were hungry. He Baizhong, along with a eunuch carrying a food box, peeked at the door. They heard the master gestures and say, “That’s it for today.”

The eunuchs squatting by the window outside immediately rushed in, some serving water, some fanning, and others tidying up the ink and paper. The princes all stood up, stretching their limbs. They had to practice archery and horse riding in the scorching heat in the afternoon, which was no easy task!

Besides, no one had time to return to the rest area in the princes’ quarters. However, there were rooms in the study specifically for their rest, so they made do. The princes had all grown accustomed to it.

Kangxi was a strict father with a sharp exterior and a tough interior. He was kind to his ministers, but stricter with the Eight Banners nobles, and even stricter with his sons, especially after the incident with the truancy. There were eunuchs from Qianqing Palace spying on them every day, so none of the princes dared to misbehave anymore.

The eunuch monitoring them today was Li Dequan from Qianqing Palace, a man with status, so the princes didn’t dare slack off.

Yinreng had been shaking his head all morning, feeling a bit light-headed, and was about to leave.

Suddenly, he caught a whiff of an irresistible fragrant smell.

He Baizhong was the first to come in to attend to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince usually ate very little in the morning, and just by looking at his expression, it was clear he was famished. Unfortunately, as the model for the royal brothers, he couldn’t show his hunger openly.

He didn’t want others to think the Crown Prince was delicate.

He Baizhong quickly opened the food box. The kitchen had just finished cooking, and a little eunuch hurried over with the food, afraid that the pancake dough would soften if it cooled down. The food box contained only three pancakes, but the kitchen had prepared plenty of dough, waiting for the Crown Prince’s command to cook and deliver more.

Yinreng casually picked one up, noticing it was a scallion pancake dough fried with a scrambled egg. Inside, there was marinated chicken, a layer of pork floss, a leaf of vegetable, and a thick layer of red tomato ketchup.

Seeing the sauce, he immediately understood—it must be delicious.

Taking a bite, he was proven right. It was indeed fragrant, truly fragrant.

Moreover, this food was convenient to eat, unlike the sweet snacks from the kitchen that could be dry and hard to swallow, and after eating two pieces, Yinreng would feel full but not satisfied. These weren’t meant to be a full meal, just a light snack. In the palace, the habit was to have these kinds of snacks for midday—either buns or pastries, with some milk tea if necessary.

On ordinary days, it was fine, but on days when they had to practice riding and archery, these light snacks wouldn’t be enough.

Unlike these rolled pancakes, which had a great texture, with fillings that were both rich and satisfying—vegetables, meat, and eggs. It wasn’t greasy at all, and just one was enough to make him feel half full.

While he was eating, a few shadows suddenly drifted overhead. He looked up.

One, three, four, five, seven, eight, nine, ten.

“Heh, Second Brother, what are you eating?”

Great, they were all here.

Yinreng calmly signaled with his eyes, and without needing any instructions from He Baizhong, the little eunuchs in the kitchen ran off to order more pancakes. At least ten more portions were needed.

So, the princes once again found themselves sitting together, eating pancakes just like when they had been locked up together in the study to copy books.

Compared to the buns and pastries they had long grown tired of, these rolled pancakes suited their tastes perfectly.

Even the eunuchs who were there to test the food couldn’t help but swallow their saliva.

Yinzhi and Yinqi ate three each without stopping, and even the reserved Yinzhong ate two.

Yinzhen was eating while also pondering how these pancakes were made. The ingredients were straightforward, but he couldn’t figure out the sweet and sour red sauce. How was it made?

Yinreng stopped after only two because he had noticed He Baizhong in the distance, staring at him with teary eyes, clearly worried he might overeat and make it hard to explain.

Since he was used to freeloading off of A Wan’s meals and often had new things to eat, he didn’t mind not having these few pancakes.

“No wonder they say the kitchen in Yuqing Palace is so good!” Yinzhi said with a satisfied expression, wiping his mouth. “Second Brother, next month, when my mother celebrates her birthday and hosts a feast, I’ll definitely borrow two chefs from you to make the event more impressive.”

Yinreng didn’t want to admit that it was actually his gege’s cooking skills that were behind this delicious food, so he just smiled and agreed.

“About that tea last time…” Yinzhi continued.

Yinreng became alert and quickly interrupted, “That’s really all gone now. It’s not the season for peaches anymore.”

“What a shame. It was really great,” Yinzhi said, clicking his tongue, still savoring the memory.

It seemed that the hearty meal really gave them the energy they needed. During the afternoon’s riding and archery practice, the princes all performed exceptionally well. Yinzhi even shot ten out of ten arrows, displaying remarkable bravery. Yinreng also managed to complete shooting two hundred arrows without any issues. Though his accuracy wasn’t as impressive as the eldest prince’s, it was still a significant improvement compared to his usual performance.

Returning to Yuqing Palace, he praised He Baizhong: “You did a good job today.”

He Baizhong immediately became cheerful, his triple chin wobbled with delight, and he showered the prince with a basket of compliments.

Yinreng suddenly remembered something he had planned to mention earlier in the morning. He had almost forgotten after reading all day. He quickly called for He Baizhong again: “Go tell Mama Ling to open a few of my storage rooms, and pick out some fine fabrics and jewelry to send to Cheng Gege. Also, see if there are any clever little trinkets or unique things—bring them all to me, and I’ll personally choose.”

He Baizhong was stunned: After just eating a few of Cheng Gege’s pancakes, the Crown Prince wants… to pick through the entire storeroom to reward her?

How many valuable things would that be…

He Baizhong’s heart trembled.