A plate of steaming zongzi was served, and Xiao Man felt a headache coming on.
Whether it was due to extreme nervousness or something else, Qiu Tong had served it directly without removing the outer shell.
Helpless, Xiao Man had to personally pick one up, peel it, and place it on the plate in front of Prince Qin, then put the dipping sauce nearby, allowing Prince Qin to dip it himself.
Nangong Yu picked up his chopsticks, took a small piece, dipped it in the sauce, and fed it into his mouth, his movements slow and deliberate, as if savoring rare delicacies.
Xiao Man refilled the wine jug and poured Prince Qin a cup of realgar wine. "This is realgar wine. Drinking yellow wine on the Dragon Boat Festival keeps illnesses at bay. Your Highness, please."
Nangong Yu raised his wine cup and drank it down in one gulp. "Good wine. You eat too."
Seeing the maids in the courtyard looking uneasy, Xiao Man dismissed them, leaving only Qiu Tong to serve.
Xiao Man cautiously observed Prince Qin's expression. "The matters outside have been handled. The people..."
"This prince will have them sent to the yamen to identify the mastermind behind it all," Nangong Yu finished the zongzi on his plate and looked at Xiao Man again, signaling her to peel another one for him.
Xiao Man took another zongzi and, while peeling it, said, "I apologize to Your Highness and the嬷嬷 for the trouble. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."
"You have not caused this prince any trouble; others have," Nangong Yu said, enjoying Xiao Man's service with a clear conscience. He glanced at the courtyard, where calamus and mugwort hung by the door, along with realgar wine and zongzi. It seemed something was still missing.
"Xiao Man."
"Your subject is here."
"This Dragon Boat Festival is missing something," Nangong Yu said slowly.
Xiao Man looked bewildered. Missing something? What could be missing? Realgar wine, zongzi, calamus, and mugwort were all there. What else was missing?
"Please instruct me, Your Highness."
"In Yunsheng customs, on the Dragon Boat Festival, people race dragon boats, hang calamus and mugwort, drink realgar wine, eat zongzi, and also wear sachets, to pray for good health and well-being. One item is still missing."
Xiao Man was slow to react. Was Prince Qin asking her for a sachet?
What did he mean?
Seeing Xiao Man remain motionless, a hint of coldness appeared on Nangong Yu's handsome, serene face. "Are you saying you do not wish this prince to be in good health?"
"How could that be? Your subject certainly wishes Your Highness to be healthy and live a long life!" With that, she quickly got up and went into the house to fetch a sachet. Qiu Tong had embroidered quite a few.
"Only one you personally embroidered will show sincerity."
Prince Qin could see through Xiao Man's intentions. She wanted to placate him with a sachet embroidered by a maid. It wouldn't be that easy.
Xiao Man paused for a moment, then acted as if nothing had happened. She entered the house, brought out a sachet, and handed it to Prince Qin with both hands.
"Your subject's needlework is mediocre and not as exquisite as the maids'. I hope Your Highness will not mind."
Prince Qin took it. The sachet was embroidered with a Lycoris radiata, exactly like the flower Xiao Man had asked him to send to Emperor Yunqi. If one looked closely, they could see a 'Man' character embroidered in the stamen. It was indeed Xiao Man's own sachet.
Prince Qin immediately put it on and cast a few glances. "It is indeed mediocre, but better than nothing, as this prince has never received a sachet of good wishes before."
Xiao Man was taken aback. Prince Qin was a prince, and due to his handsome appearance, he was favored by many women. How could he have never received a sachet of good wishes before?
She then remembered that Prince Qin's mother was a saintess from the Western Regions. In the eyes of the princes and ministers, she was a foreigner. Even though Prince Qin was handsome, he was not favored by the court officials. Coupled with his aloof personality and unapproachable demeanor, few dared to get close to him.
Xiao Man poured Prince Qin another cup of realgar wine. "Then I wish Your Highness no illness, no disaster, long life, and good fortune."
"I accept your good wishes."
Nangong Yu drank the wine in one gulp. "This prince must leave. It is time to enter the palace."
Xiao Man immediately realized that today was the Dragon Boat Festival banquet, and Nangong Yu, as a prince, naturally had to attend.
Nangong Yu stood up, and Xiao Man saw him off, watching his carriage depart.
Just as she was about to return to her residence, she heard a voice calling from behind. Turning around, she saw Wan Quan, the Emperor's personal chief eunuch.
"Eunuch Wan, what brings you to the General's residence at this hour? Could it be that you can divine the future and know I've personally made zongzi?"
"Miss is joking. How could this servant know such things? It is the Emperor's decree that this old servant is here to escort you to the palace for the Dragon Boat Festival banquet." Eunuch Wan smiled brilliantly. "Miss, let us go."
"Allow me to change into suitable attire, and then I will accompany Eunuch to the palace." Xiao Man immediately went into the residence to change clothes. Qiu Tong, meanwhile, slipped a purse to Eunuch Wan.
"Eunuch, it is the Dragon Boat Festival. This is a small token of my young lady's regard for your indulgence."
Eunuch Wan accepted it subtly. "Then this servant will not be polite."
Xiao Man quickly changed into a new outfit and, with Ying Xue, entered the palace.
Because of her injury, she had been staying indoors and had not attended the Dragon Boat Festival banquet. She did not expect the Emperor to personally send someone to invite her to the palace banquet. What was the reason?
"Eunuch, why would the Emperor suddenly think of your subject?" Xiao Man asked tentatively.
Eunuch Wan smiled like Maitreya. "Consort Xian."
Xiao Man's expression shifted slightly. Consort Xian was the eldest daughter of the Minister of Rites and the elder sister of Madam Yan, who was the current Madam of the household. It was likely that Madam Yan and Xiao Ling had said something to Consort Xian, which led to her being invited to the palace despite her injury.
Soon, the carriage stopped at the palace gate. Xiao Man alighted and followed Eunuch Wan into the palace.
Eunuch Wan, considerate of her unhealed injury, had a soft sedan chair brought, and only asked Xiao Man to dismount as they neared the banquet hall.
"Thank you, Eunuch, for your consideration."
Eunuch Wan smiled and waved, leading Xiao Man towards the banquet hall. To their surprise, they encountered Prince Qin at the entrance of the hall.
"Greetings to Prince Qin." Both of them quickly bowed.
Nangong Yu's gaze fell on Xiao Man, and he immediately understood. Xiao Man wanted to avoid certain people, but they wouldn't let her. Madam Yan was the mistress of the General's residence, but because of Xiao Man, she had lost her authority as the mistress. How could the Consort in the palace rest easy?
"Rise."
As Nangong Yu walked past Xiao Man, he transmitted his voice, "Be careful of everything. This palace is not peaceful."
"Thank you for your reminder, Prince Qin. Your subject will bear it in mind," Xiao Man said, somewhat flattered.
Prince Qin was usually aloof. Her interactions with him had been minimal. Today, not only did he demand a sachet, but he also offered a word of caution. If she didn't know Prince Qin was indifferent to women, Xiao Man would have suspected he was smitten with her.
The two walked into the banquet hall together.
"Fourth Brother, you're late again." As Prince Qin entered, he immediately drew everyone's attention. The Crown Prince stood up and said, "Every banquet, Fourth Brother is always late. Father, you cannot let him off this time; he must be punished with wine."
"Father, Mother." After paying his respects, Prince Qin walked towards his seat.
It was then that everyone noticed there was someone behind Prince Qin.