Chapter 6: Sneaking a Bite of the Consort’s Pearl Chicken

Chapter 6: Stealing the Consort's Guinea Fowl

It was nothing but boiled vegetables.

She didn't hold out much hope for the imperial meals.

Where could she scrounge up a chicken to satisfy her cravings?

Then, a lightbulb went off!

In this palace, one of Dan Junlin's four consorts—Consort Shen—kept a guinea fowl as a pet.

Oh, a guinea fowl!

Braised or roasted, it'd be delicious.

Under the moonlight, the moment Chang Yuan looked away, a tall, dark figure snuck into the inner palace...

Why? To grab that chicken.

"The paths in this inner palace are a real maze."

From what she could remember, Dan Junlin had only been there a handful of times. Going off her vague memories,

Yun Ran finally stumbled upon Consort Shen Shining's Mingyue Hall just as dawn was breaking.

The young eunuch watching the chicken was still dozing off.

Yun Ran tiptoed over and snatched the guinea fowl that was leisurely strolling around.

"Bawk bawk bawk!"

Sensing danger, the guinea fowl thrashed like crazy!

It was about to let out a loud squawk, but then—

"Gawk!"

Yun Ran clamped its throat in one go, and with a careless squeeze, accidentally killed it on the spot.

"Help! Someone! A thief stole the Consort's guinea fowl!"

"My bird!"

Shen Shining, who'd been sleeping soundly, scrambled out of bed in a panic, her ears ringing with her personal maid Xiao Lan's shouts.

A thief?

A bunch of eunuchs and palace maids grabbed brooms and buckets, ready to surround the thief and catch them in a trap.

Shen Shining didn't even bother to get dressed properly before storming out in a fury.

She'd raised that guinea fowl for three years!

It was the only one of its kind the Emperor had given her when she entered the palace—who'd dare mess with it?

"You bold little thief, how dare you steal my chicken! Lift your head!"

Yun Ran looked up, face full of exasperation. This was her first mission, and it was a total bust.

If these maids and eunuchs weren't so harmless, she wouldn't have bothered standing there for everyone to gawk at.

"Your Majesty?!"

Consort Shen was startled and quickly covered her just-woke-up face.

Oh no, the Emperor came to her palace!

But he wasn't seeing her at her best! How heartbreaking!

Standing before Yun Ran was a stunning beauty, fresh as a lotus out of water.

Though bare-faced, her features were still clear and lovely—fair skin, soft lips, and gentle eyes under willow-leaf brows.

Even through the thin gauze of her nightgown, her figure was obvious...

"Ahem."

Yun Ran lowered her head. She was a man now—proper etiquette said she shouldn't stare.

Wait, no! This was her consort now. Why shouldn't she look?

With that thought, she raised her head again, feeling bold.

"Your Majesty, this concubine was too rash. If I'd known Your Majesty was coming today, I would've dressed up properly."

Consort Shen was still fretting, but Yun Ran's stomach was already growling.

"I'm a bit hungry. If Consort Shen has nothing else to do, you can join me for some roasted chicken."

Yun Ran figured she should at least invite the woman whose chicken she'd just swiped.

Besides, weren't all the palace consorts obsessed with their figures? Surely she'd say no.

"Really?! This concubine would love to!"

Yun Ran: ...

Under the confused stares of the eunuchs and maids,

and following Yun Ran's orders, they brought charcoal, boiling water, and even a knife.

Yun Ran crouched down right there and started butchering the chicken.

"Oh my! Your Majesty is doing it yourself! This concubine is scared to death!"

Shen Shining hadn't expected the Emperor to butcher the chicken himself.

The fancy dress she'd changed into was now splattered with chicken blood because she'd stood too close.

She was torn, afraid that if she went back to change, she'd lose precious time with the Emperor.

Those other beauties—if they found out the Emperor was here, they'd swarm like hungry tigers.

But this was her favorite outfit.

After weighing her options, Shen Shining reluctantly crouched down nearby.

The Emperor mattered more.

Why squat? Because Yun Ran was squatting, and it would've been rude for everyone else to sit or stand.

So a large group of eunuchs and palace maids, along with Shen Shining, all squatted down on the ground, watching Yun Ran curiously.

Everyone was puzzled—what kind of cooking method was this?

No one had ever seen it, but who would dare question the emperor's behavior?

The chicken was already prepared, plucked clean.

The eunuchs brought over a small iron tray, and Yun Ran placed it over the glowing charcoal, ripped the chicken in half with her bare hands, brushed it with oil, and slowly roasted it.

Shen Shining was a refined lady raised in an aristocratic family, having never seen such things, let alone squatting on the ground like a commoner to burn charcoal and chop wood for a bite of meat.

In the glow of the fire, her bright eyes sparkled with curiosity.

So this was the emperor, huh?

When she smiled, she was warm as sunshine, but when she didn't, she was cold as ice.

Seeing that Yun Ran didn't frown at her, she boldly leaned closer and linked her arm through Yun Ran's.

Hmm? So the imperial consorts in the palace really were all sweet-smelling, lovely young girls.

Yun Ran knew they'd all come to the palace young, and even now, they were still barely more than girls.

In her eyes, this was just a cute little sister, a girl who had no choice in her own fate.

"Do you like chicken, Consort Shen?"

The moment she said that, the maids froze, and so did Shen Shining.

What kind of weird question was that?

The air grew tense for a moment.

She stammered in reply,

"I... I guess I do."

After a long hesitation,

The chicken was small, so it roasted quickly.

In the palace, there were no grilling spices, and even chili was used sparingly.

The people here preferred mild flavors, used almost no seasonings, and didn't even realize such things were edible.

The only seasoning was a pinch of salt.

Yun Ran felt a little disappointed, but it was still better than boiled or plain-steamed chicken.

After salting it, Yun Ran picked up the hot half chicken, ripped off a drumstick, and set it on the plate the maid beside her was holding.

"Here, eat this."

Shen Shining was flustered by the honor—the emperor had personally given her a piece of chicken.

But this big drumstick—how was she supposed to eat it?

Shen Shining stared at it for a long time but couldn't muster the courage to pick it up and take a bite.

Seeing she wasn't eating, Yun Ran felt awkward—after all, it was the consort's chicken.

She tore off a piece and popped it right into Shen Shining's mouth, then instructed the stunned little maid standing nearby,

"Cut the meat for your mistress."

The maids and eunuchs nearby, catching the rich, savory smell of the chicken, were practically drooling.

What kind of cooking was this? They'd never seen anything like it. If they could just have one bite, they'd die happy, sniffle sniffle.

After arranging everything, Yun Ran quickly snatched up the half chicken and prepared to slip away.

Chang Yuan would be back soon, and she couldn't hold up the important business.

"I'm off now, I'll come back to see you another time."

She still had things to do, but planned to come back when she was free to check on all the consorts and bring them some fun.

Shen Shining looked reluctant to see her go, but the chicken in her mouth was so tender and juicy, with that smoky charcoal flavor, she almost didn't want to swallow.

When would the emperor come back?

Xiao Lan watched her lovesick mistress clutching the drumstick the emperor had left her and just shook her head.

The mistress leaned against the corner of the table, still giggling like a fool.

"Sister Ning! I heard the emperor came by?"

"Yes, Sister Ning is so lucky..."

"I heard the emperor also gave Sister Ning some food—how come it smells so good!"

A gaggle of chattering beauties barged into Mingyue Hall.