Chapter 240: Tiao Tou Cake
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Though she didn’t admit it verbally, Mingzhu was actually trying very hard to learn and to do better. Yuwen Chu tidied the tassels hanging from Mingzhu’s hairpin and whispered, “You look good like this.”
Mingzhu used to be wary of these affectionate gestures from him, but now she found them delightful. In return, she straightened his hairpin—although it was always worn perfectly straight—expressing her affection for him.
Yuwen Chu couldn’t help but smile wryly. She knew he treated her well, and she was no longer as resistant to him. She wanted to reciprocate his kindness, but everything was still at the stage of quid pro quo, just like what she had said to him at the beginning of their marriage: if he was good to her, she would be good to him. So if he showed her a bit of kindness, she felt compelled to return it. Oh well, it’s rare to be confused; he’ll just think his hairpin is really crooked.
The next evening, Zheng Momo returned from a stroll and respectfully presented a box of “Tiaotou Cake” to Mingzhu, saying, “This was made by my mother-in-law. Although it may not be as exquisite as what the chefs in the mansion make, it has its own flavor. I present it to His Highness and the Wangfei for a taste.”
Mingzhu instructed Su Mei, “Go get some porcelain plates and chopsticks, and I’ll try it.” Then she called Su Ju, “Bring a pot of Longjing tea.” After dismissing the two maids, she asked Zheng Momo, “What’s the news?”
In a low voice, Zheng Momo said, “I’ve been keeping an eye on it for some time now, and I got some information today. This Zhu Changsheng, he’s a relative of the Imperial Consort’s family and can speak a few words in front of her. He used to be in charge of procurement in the mansion and has quite a few businesses. If anyone wants to do business with the mansion, they have to please Zhu Changsheng. He used to be honest, but he’s become greedy in recent years. However, His Highness is aware of all this and hasn’t taken drastic action against him, just curbed his power. There must be other reasons for this. So if the Wangfei wants to deal with him, she’ll need to find a suitable excuse.”
What should she do then? Accuse Zhu Changsheng of colluding with Jiang Shanshan? She had only heard a few words from the gardener’s wife; without any evidence, she couldn’t prove that Zhu Changsheng was dishonest. Maybe set a trap for Zhu Changsheng? Could she get away with it under Yuwen Chu’s nose? Even if she could, how would Yuwen Chu react? Such a cautious and proud person probably wouldn’t be pleased with her antics in front of him. Should she just let Zhu Changsheng collude shamelessly with Jiang Shanshan? She wasn’t that tolerant! Mingzhu whispered softly, “Momo, I heard a saying: ‘The brave will eat at the expense of the timid.'”
Zheng Momo raised an eyebrow. “Is the Wangfei considering…?”
Mingzhu motioned for her to come closer. “I must teach Zhu Changsheng a lesson, but His Highness is reasonable and surely won’t allow me to act recklessly. But I can’t swallow this insult, so I must make Zhu Changsheng suffer a big loss. I don’t have any other methods, so provoking trouble is my specialty! Let’s find an excuse to pick a fight with him first, crush his arrogance, and make him unable to hold his head up in the mansion. This overseer won’t last long at this rate.”
Zheng Momo was a bit skeptical. In the internal conflicts of the household, it was about slow simmering and solid evidence, quietly accomplishing things without a fuss. The highest level was to tread on someone and still have them praise you; no one could find fault with you. How could they blatantly come at someone like this?
But Mingzhu had made up her mind. “That’s settled then. When the time comes, Momo, just cooperate with me in causing trouble.” She couldn’t resort to too many sneaky tactics; it was best if Yuwen Chu could see through everything. After all, she was willful and didn’t understand subtlety.
At that moment, Su Ju and Su Mei respectively brought in the tea and the porcelain plates and chopsticks. Mingzhu picked up a piece of “Tiaotou Gao” and said, “This thing doesn’t dissolve easily, so Wangfei just taste it.”
Mingzhu was capricious when it came to food. Even if she heard otherwise, she pretended not to and, after tasting and finding it delicious, asked Su Ju to serve her another piece. She also asked to share some with the accompanying Momos and maidservants. Remembering that Yuwen Chu liked sweets, she instructed, “Save some for His Highness. Though small, it’s the thought that counts.”
Su Ju complied and brought a gold-painted porcelain plate with a piece of Tiao Tou cake. Suddenly, Mingzhu heard someone speaking quietly outside the corridor. Peeking through the curtain, she saw Yin Momo, the old Momo who had been instructed to teach her etiquette before the wedding, smiling and chatting with some of the Momos from the royal household.
Remembering the lies and deliberate misinformation this Momo had fed her before, telling her that Yuwen Chu didn’t like sweets, Mingzhu decided, “Forget it, I suddenly remembered that His Highness doesn’t like sweets.” With that, she took a bite of the Tiao Tou cake in front of her, leaving the rest untouched in the plate.
Humph, did it feel satisfying to deceive a girl who knew nothing at that time? Didn’t they say what goes around comes around? If she wasn’t astute, she might have actually believed that Yuwen Chu didn’t like sweets. These malicious people, they couldn’t wait for her and Yuwen Chu to have problems.
Su Ju and Su Mei were puzzled, but they had no choice but to leave the half piece of Tiao Tou cake there. Su Jin came in and said, “Wangfei, Yin Momo has brought something from His Highness for you.” She then quietly introduced, “Yin Momo has been in charge of affairs in the south, and she didn’t come when the servants and maidservants from the mansion paid their respects to the Wangfei a few times before because she had matters at home.”
Mingzhu leisurely rinsed her mouth, washed and dried her hands, and took about a cup of tea’s worth of time before lazily saying, “Let her in.”
Yin Momo came in, holding a sandalwood box, and bowed first to pay her respects, “This servant greets the Wangfei, may the Wangfei be blessed.”
Mingzhu smiled warmly and instructed Su Jin, “Give her a seat.”
Yin Momo hesitated slightly before taking a seat on the stool with a smile. She then opened the box and presented it to Mingzhu, “His Highness was handling official business at the Tingxue Building when he remembered this jade pomegranate and asked this servant to find it and present it to the Wangfei.”
It turned out to be a red jade-carved pomegranate, with yellow skin and red flesh, lifelike in appearance. Even though Mingzhu had seen many good things, she couldn’t help but admire its exquisite craftsmanship and rare material. Thinking of what Yuwen Chu had said when they were boating together earlier, “In the future, when we have children, we can bring them here to cool off and play,” and looking at this pomegranate, symbolizing many children and much happiness, she understood Yuwen Chu’s intentions.
The implication was so obvious; this person really didn’t forget about this even when dealing with official matters. Mingzhu smiled, put the pomegranate back in the box, and asked Yin Momo kindly, “I’ve seen you before at my parents’ house. You were the one who taught me etiquette.”
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