Even when residing outside the palace, the emperor’s meals are still a matter of great refinement.
The dining table, inlaid with black lacquer and mother-of-pearl, was paired with round stools of the same color with enamel surfaces.
The bowls and dishes were all of the finest official kiln white porcelain.
In front of the sandalwood-framed screen, adorned with a hundred treasures inlaid with a playful lion design, stood a three-legged gilded bronze charcoal brazier, both heavy and elegant.
Inside it burned the finest red willow charcoal, which provided warmth without any unpleasant odor.
Beside the brazier was a small incense table, on which stood a celadon-glazed vase.
The osmanthus flowers in the vase emitted a rich, fragrant aroma, making the room even cozier and more comfortable.
The delicacies on the dining table were all exquisite, a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.
The ingredients were not particularly expensive, but they were fresh and required great effort to prepare.
For example, the silver sprouts were taken from the roots of lotus plants in their early growth stage before they had fully formed into lotus stems.
This was not an easy task; if harvested too early, they hadn’t yet grown, and if too late, they would have become tough.
After soaking in water and being carefully picked for half a day, only a small jade plate’s worth could be obtained, making this ingredient both rare and precious.
Awu was indeed hungry and ate without restraint, sampling one dish after another.
As she ate, she couldn’t help but wonder,
“What is this dish? It’s fresh and sweet, with a smooth texture when swallowed.”
Emperor Jingxi replied,
“This is peacock pine.”
“Peacock pine?” Awu asked, puzzled.
The emperor glanced at Futai beside him and inquired,
“In the common markets, aren’t they called broom sprouts?”
Futai quickly smiled and said,
“Your Highness is correct. It’s a medicinal herb, but most people call it broom sprouts. We picked the freshest tips early this morning, blanched them in boiling water, and then mixed them with the chef’s specially prepared broth. The flavor is unmatched!”
Awu asked,
“Broom sprouts? The same ones used to make brooms?”
Futai nodded,
“Yes, yes. They can be used to make brooms, but what you are eating are the tenderest parts. When they grow older, they can indeed be used for brooms.”
Awu found this increasingly interesting and asked about another dish, which was sow thistle, a wild vegetable from the mountains.
Futai was about to explain in detail, but seeing Emperor Jingxi’s indifferent expression, he quickly fell silent and stepped aside.
Emperor Jingxi said,
“If you enjoy these wild flavors, I’ll take you for a walk later. There are plenty of wild delicacies in the nearby manor, and this season is perfect for fruits and flowers.”
Awu replied,
“Great!”
The emperor pushed a small jade dipping dish toward her and casually asked,
“When you came to the capital, did you travel by boat or by carriage?”
Awu answered offhandedly, “First by carriage, then—”
She suddenly stopped mid-sentence and looked at the man before her, whose amber eyes were smiling.
She bit her lip lightly, thinking,
“He’s deliberately asking this. Is it because these wild vegetables are from the capital area, or the north? He must have guessed that I’ve never eaten them before.”
She felt both embarrassed and awkward, as well as a strange discomfort.
Though they had shared an intense and passionate intimacy, like the closest of married couples, they were both still guarded, knowing little about each other.
Turning away, they could easily become strangers.
Emperor Jingxi asked,
“What? Are you upset already?”
He gently scooped some fragrant soup for Awu, coaxing her with unprecedented patience,
“I was just asking casually.”
Futai, standing nearby, found this amusing.
Their emperor, who was usually revered and obeyed without question, was now explaining himself to this young woman.
A man in his thirties, with all his imperial majesty, had never lowered himself like this before.
Was it because of this young woman’s beauty that the emperor seemed to be under her spell?
Or was it because, away from the palace and in the rustic charm of the southern countryside, he had become more relaxed and indulgent?
Awu also sensed the emperor’s rare softening and felt she had gained the upper hand.
So she smiled and pressed on,
“By the way, how should I address you? I still don’t know your name.”
Emperor Jingxi raised an eyebrow,
“Oh?”
Awu tilted her head,
“Otherwise? Should I call you ‘Wild Lover’?”
Futai’s eyelids twitched.
This bold and shameless young woman!
The emperor, who had been trained in the six arts of a gentleman, well-versed in the teachings of the philosophers, and skilled in the ways of ruling, was now being labeled with such a vulgar and coarse nickname by this audacious woman.
Futai’s face turned red, but he dared not say anything.
Emperor Jingxi, however, was unbothered.
With three thousand concubines in his harem, he was accustomed to dignified noblewomen.
This bold and unrestrained woman, like a wild mountain delicacy, was a refreshing change.
And she was beautiful, like the tenderest tip of the silver sprouts in the soup.
He looked at her with a smile but still didn’t answer, teasing her instead,
“Awu, you haven’t told me where you’re from, nor whether you traveled by boat or horse. Why should I tell you my name?”
Awu pouted,
“But I told you my name, and you didn’t tell me yours. You’re cheating!”
She felt a bit disheartened, realizing that he must be someone of high status, indulging in a fling in the countryside without any intention of a long- term relationship.
He was probably just playing around and would forget about her afterward.
He was likely worried that if word got out, it would harm his reputation, so he deliberately avoided telling her his name to prevent her from clinging to him.
So she put down her spoon,
“If you don’t want to say, then don’t. I don’t care to know anyway!”
Emperor Jingxi suddenly said,
“I’m the third in my family. You can call me ‘Third Brother.””
Awu raised an eyebrow,
“Third Brother? Another Third Brother.”
“Third Brother?” she repeated.
Just yesterday, a man named Nie, also called Third Brother, had abandoned her in a cave!
Emperor Jingxi added,
“My given name is Ze. If you’d like, you can call me ‘Ze Brother.”
“Ze? Which ‘Ze’?” Awu asked.
The emperor dipped his finger in some tea and wrote the character on the table.
Awu examined it.
Though it was just written with water, it was clear that he had some skill in calligraphy, with a steady and restrained stroke.
She casually remarked,
“So that’s the character. It’s quite rare.”
Emperor Jingxi wiped away the water with a white cloth and smiled,
“This character isn’t one that ordinary people use.”
“Why?” Awu asked.
The emperor explained,
“It comes from the ‘Book of Changes’: ‘The sage observes the profound mysteries of the world and imitates their forms, capturing their essence.””
Awu, uninterested, said,
“I don’t understand.”
Emperor Jingxi replied,
“It’s fine if you don’t understand. It’s not particularly important.”
Awu muttered to herself,
“Ze Brother, Third Brother, Ze Brother, Third Brother…”
Finally, she said,
“I’ll just call you Third Brother. Ze Brother doesn’t sound nice!”
Futai, listening, felt as if he had died a hundred times.
The palace maids and eunuchs nearby were equally horrified.
No one had ever dared to utter the emperor’s given name, let alone make such a comment.
Writing the emperor’s name required substituting characters to avoid offense.
Awu’s words today were enough to warrant her execution ten thousand times over.
But Emperor Jingxi didn’t mind and simply laughed,
“Then call me Third Brother, as you like.”
The two chatted and laughed, enjoying themselves.
Awu found the soup dumplings exquisite and ate one.
They were delicious.
Seeing that the Third Brother hadn’t touched his soup, she asked,
“Third Brother, why aren’t you eating?”
She placed a dumpling in the white porcelain dish in front of him.
Emperor Jingxi was slightly surprised but picked it up with silver chopsticks and took a small bite.
He didn’t particularly like sweet foods, but this was fresh and interesting.
In the palace, dining rituals were strict.
If the emperor wished to dine with the empress or a concubine, he would first inform the chief eunuch, who would then notify the registry office.
Only after it was recorded could the empress or concubine come, and they would first kowtow three times.
Even drinking tea or wine required kowtowing, and serving dishes more kowtowing.
After the meal, they would kowtow again before leaving.
With so many rules and formalities, Emperor Jingxi rarely dined with others.
But now, away from the palace and its rigid protocols, he found this carefree companionship refreshing.
He looked at Awu, an exceptionally beautiful woman who ate with abandon, enjoying whatever she pleased without a care for etiquette.
In the past, he would have considered such behavior unrefined, but now he found it endearing, even developing a sense of affection for her.
He felt she should be allowed to be herself, free to do as she pleased.
He began to think that he shouldn’t take her back to the palace but instead keep her in this villa, surrounded by nature, living freely.
On days when he grew weary of court affairs, he could retreat here and enjoy her tender companionship.
That would be true bliss.
Of course, he would arrange station guards to ensure she didn’t meet outsiders, keeping her heart solely for him.
She would be his alone.
He wanted her to smile seductively at him, tremble sensuously in his arms, and gaze at him with moist eyes.
He could also have her learn calligraphy and painting, keeping him company while he attended to state affairs.
As Awu ate, she noticed Third Brother’s deep, thoughtful gaze.
She asked,
“Third Brother, what are you thinking about?”
Emperor Jingxi sipped his tea and smiled,
“I’m thinking about how to settle you.”
“How to settle me?” Awu asked.
The emperor replied,
“Since you’re a runaway servant from someone else’s household, it’s not suitable for you to show your face. Returning to the capital would only bring trouble. Why not stay here in the villa?”
Awu understood immediately.
She felt a mix of emotions-perhaps joy, perhaps sorrow.
At least this man wasn’t just using her and discarding her.
He cared enough to provide for her.
But she seemed destined to be kept in the shadows, unseen by others, waiting day after day.
He and the crown prince thought alike.
She studied Third Brother’s features and suddenly noticed a resemblance to the crown prince.
No wonder he had seemed familiar from the start!
Appearance reflects the heart, and men are all the same.
Emperor Jingxi asked,
“What’s wrong? Don’t you like it here?”
Awu replied,
“It’s not bad… I’m just afraid Third Brother might be unreliable and abandon me.”
The emperor chuckled,
“Do I seem like that kind of person?”
Awu said, “Who knows?”
Emperor Jingxi gently swirled the warm tea cup in his long fingers and smiled,
“Don’t worry. There’s nothing in this world I can’t handle.”
After the meal, the emperor took Awu for a walk around the villa.
The autumn scenery was vibrant, with yellow leaves fluttering in the wind, creating a serene and beautiful atmosphere.
But Awu was preoccupied.
She was thinking about the gold she had buried under a pine tree, wanting to dig it up, and she was also concerned about the Yan Yang Temple.
Surely they must have noticed her absence by now and would be searching for her.
Given the crown prince’s nature, he would probably assist in the search as well.
But for some reason, there had been no news yet.
She wanted to probe Third Brother for information but was afraid of revealing too much about her identity.
If he found out and handed her over to the Yan Yang Temple, she would surely be doomed.
So she suppressed her thoughts and pretended to wander around, picking wild fruits and herbs.
Fortunately, the mountains were rich with wild fruits, flowers, and even insects like grasshoppers and butterflies.
She held a grasshopper in her hand,
“If roasted, it would be quite tasty.”
Emperor Jingxi glanced at her hands, slender and delicate, with smooth, pink nails like seashells.
But these same hands were now holding a struggling grasshopper, contemplating its potential as a snack.
She was as curious as a kitten, even craving grasshoppers.
He laughed,
“How much meat could there be on such a tiny grasshopper? Later, we’ll catch a deer or a pheasant. Even fish from the stream would be better than this.”
Awu said,
“You wouldn’t understand. Eating it is like seeking revenge!”
Emperor Jingxi raised an eyebrow,
“Why? Did it dig up your ancestors’ graves?”