Ch 118: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

“I have to enter the palace as well?”

Qin Xia was quite surprised upon receiving the news.

Yu Jiuque put down the teacup in his hand, his lips no longer as dry and chapped as they were when he first entered the room. The tea was a soothing floral blend, with added ingredients like glehnia root, polygonatum, pear, and licorice, which eased the dryness and irritation after a busy day.

“The emperor wants to take this opportunity to meet you. There hasn’t been a chance before.”

Qin Xia, a bit troubled, raised his hand to scratch his temple. Seeing his expression, Yu Jiuque found it amusing.

“Doesn’t my husband want to meet the emperor?”

Qin Xia sharply inhaled.

“You shouldn’t say such things.”

The emperor had already issued a decree, and to refuse would be defying imperial orders.

But Yu Jiuque remained relaxed.

“We’re just talking in private.”

Other ministers might worry about being overheard by the Emperor’s secret agents even in their private chambers, but Yu Jiuque had no such concerns.

Qin Xia sighed.

“It’s just that… I’m not used to it.”

After all, he wasn’t originally from this era. The thought of performing the full three kneelings and nine kowtows during a royal audience made him feel uneasy.

The last time he met the crown prince, the prince had been in plain clothes, and the formalities were simplified. But entering the palace was a different matter.

“The emperor is very kind and generous, treating his subjects with leniency. When the time comes, I’ll be by your side, so there’s no need to worry.”

Yu Jiuque scooted closer as he spoke, and now, sitting side by side, it was he who seemed to radiate more warmth. In the late autumn chill, Qin Xia felt as if a small heater had nestled next to him.

Taking the opportunity, he pulled Yu Jiuque into his embrace, tidied the half-loosened hair that the maid had started to undo, and placed his hand on Yu Jiuque’s swollen belly.

The moment his hand touched it, the little one inside gave a kick, surprising Qin Xia.

“This little rascal is quite the troublemaker.”

Yu Jiuque leaned back into Qin Xia’s support, clearly fatigued.

“Otherwise, I wouldn’t be complaining about constant backaches.”

They had once talked about having several children to fill the house with laughter and noise, but now, just this one had worn him out.

Qin Xia gently massaged his lower back, and after a moment, he got off the bed to remove Yu Jiuque’s soft indoor shoes. He helped him lie down on his side, placing Yu Jiuque’s legs on his lap, and slowly began pressing on the acupuncture points he had memorized for reducing swelling.

“If this child is so restless, I kind of hope it’s a boy,” Qin Xia mused, speaking about the baby’s gender for the first time.

“Because if it’s a ge’er, no matter how much trouble they cause, we’d be too soft to discipline them.”

But with a boy, they might feel tougher on him.

“Of course,” Qin Xia added, “hitting children is never right.”

Yu Jiuque chuckled.

“With how soft-hearted you are, you’d never make a strict father.”

Qin Xia was gentle, far more so than Yu Jiuque himself.

As Qin Xia pressed on the acupoints, the sensation of soreness was initially uncomfortable, but because the treatment was effective at reducing swelling, Yu Jiuque endured it until he had grown accustomed. His eyelids soon began to droop.

By the time Qin Xia noticed, Yu Jiuque had already drifted into a deep sleep.

Qin Xia smiled helplessly, gently covering him with a blanket. He mentally counted the time, planning to wake him in half an hour for dinner, as eating too late might cause stomach discomfort.

…

The day to enter the palace soon arrived.

The two dishes were prepared in Lord Yu’s residence and placed into specially designed insulated food containers for delivery to the palace.

The container for the Hunyang Mohu was naturally quite large and was carried by two palace attendants, one in front and one behind. Following them were two more attendants, each holding a multi-tiered red lacquered food box.

The fragrance seeped out through the small gaps in the containers, and a passerby, enchanted by the aroma, couldn’t help but swallow.

“What is that smell? It’s so delicious!”

He looked around but didn’t notice any newly opened restaurants nearby.

“Lower your voice! Didn’t you see the sedan at the front belongs to the palace attendants?” His companion cautiously reminded him, but the man remained puzzled.

“They’re delivering food to the palace? Quite the spectacle. Doesn’t the palace have its own kitchens? What kind of food from outside could make it to the tables of the palace nobles?”

There was one more thought he didn’t dare voice aloud—weren’t they afraid someone might tamper with the food?

“You really are clueless. Can’t you see where these attendants are coming from?”

The man squinted, taking a closer look, and immediately shivered.

Who in the northern city didn’t know that the restaurant of the powerful Eunuch Yu Jiuque was located in Sanhe road?

The favored one at court, with a husband skilled in cooking—just look at how an ordinary chrysanthemum hotpot became so famous it made its way from the common markets to a royal banquet!

Heguang Pavilion’s business was now booming, making hundreds of taels of silver a day!

When it comes to matters involving him, who would dare say more?

The two men covered their mouths and hurriedly left the area, as if staying longer would attract unwanted attention.

In the palace, a group of attendants bustled about, arranging the table for the meal.

Today, by royal decree, the emperor would dine with the ministers from the Ministry of Rites and the some other important officials. The occasion? To sample dishes presented by a chef from outside the palace, recommended by none other than Eunuch Yu Jiuque. The dishes were to be part of the upcoming banquet for the delegation from Sharong country.

One of the dishes was a special request from the emperor himself—a recreation of an ancient recipe.

The palace attendants, though silent, were eager to witness this display.

The group sent to collect the food had already entered the palace, bypassing the royal kitchens and, under Yu Jiuque’s instructions, delivering the dishes directly to a side hall for plating.

“Greetings to the Grand Attendant!”

The lead eunuch entered the side hall and quickly bowed, with Qin Xia following behind him. It was then that Qin Xia saw Yu Jiuque.

“Husband.”

Yu Jiuque stepped forward, addressing him informally, even within the palace. Qin Xia felt this was somewhat inappropriate, but seeing the calm expression on Yu Jiuque’s face, he relaxed.

“Was the journey smooth?”

“Everything went well, thanks to Eunuch Cheng.”

Eunuch Cheng’s heart leaped with joy. With Qin Xia’s acknowledgment, he had now secured his standing in front of Yu Jiuque.

Yu Jiuque didn’t disappoint, exchanging a few words that had Eunuch Cheng showering compliments, grinning from ear to ear.

With Qin Xia leading the way, Yu Jiuque wasn’t inclined to waste much time with others. Eunuch Cheng, sensing this, tactfully withdrew.

Once alone, Yu Jiuque reached out to adjust Qin Xia’s collar.

The clothes Qin Xia wore today had been specially chosen by Yu Jiuque, neither too formal nor too flashy.

After all, merchants ranked the lowest in the social hierarchy.

Merchants, no matter how they conduct themselves, must always be as discreet as possible. After all, back in the founding days of the dynasty, merchants weren’t even allowed to wear silk.

“The emperor is still in the study, but he should be here soon, along with a few officials. It’s just routine business.”

There were many eyes and ears around, so Yu Jiuque couldn’t speak too plainly, but Qin Xia understood that Yu Jiuque was trying to reassure him not to be too anxious.

The palace was a different world from the outside, full of endless rules. Yu Jiuque knew Qin Xia disliked places with too many rules, but given Yu Jiuque’s status, it was something Qin Xia couldn’t avoid.

In this regard, Yu Jiuque always felt guilty towards Qin Xia.

The two of them stood close, speaking softly. Yu Jiuque occasionally chuckled, his expression warm and gentle.

Unbeknownst to them, others nearby were secretly surprised by the scene.

Everyone knew that Yu Jiuque had a residence outside the palace, and that, despite his high position, the emperor had granted him the rare privilege of a family. However, this was the first time many had seen how Yu Jiuque interacted with his husband.

Upon seeing this… it seemed no different from an ordinary couple—warm and peaceful, even enviable.

“The emperor arrives!”

As many were watching this scene, inevitably moved, a loud announcement from nearby suddenly drew everyone’s attention.

Moments later, orders were given to begin serving the food, and Yu Jiuque and Qin Xia were summoned to meet the emperor.

…

After the formal greetings, Qin Xia stood beside Yu Jiuque.

Dressed in a dark blue round-collared robe, while Yu Jiuque wore a red robe with a jade belt and embroidered pythons, the blue and red complemented each other beautifully.

The emperor, seated at the head, paused for a moment, seemingly observing Qin Xia, before laughing heartily.

“Standing together with Jiuque, you truly make a perfect pair. I imagine the two of you will have a child with extraordinary good looks.”

Qin Xia smiled and bowed his head slightly, replying, “Your Majesty is too kind. It is my greatest fortune to have the Grand Attendant as my husband.”

Hearing this, Yu Jiuque’s lips curved into a slight smile, revealing the dimples on either side of his cheeks.

Though Qin Xia had spoken more direct words in private, this polite and proper response, spoken before the emperor and the ministers, still made Yu Jiuque’s heart race.

The emperor, observing their expressions, clicked his tongue in amusement. He would have loved to tease them further if not for the presence of other officials.

“It’s getting late. Let’s serve the food—I’ve been looking forward to this.”

He then turned to his attendant and asked, “Where is the crown prince? Why isn’t he here yet?”

No sooner had he spoken than the crown prince arrived outside, requesting permission to enter.

“I apologize for being late, Father. Please forgive me.”

The young crown prince entered the hall and respectfully bowed. Upon hearing that he had hurried over after finishing his lessons with the tutor, the emperor naturally didn’t blame him. Instead, he gently reminded the boy not to focus so much on his studies that he skipped meals.

The crown prince listened carefully and then took his seat beside his father. He gave a sweet smile to Yu Jiuque and Qin Xia, clearly associating Qin Xia with endless sweets and treats, and feeling almost as close to him as he did to Yu Jiuque.

With everyone present, the two dishes were unveiled.

Both the royal family and the ministers couldn’t help but show astonishment as they took in the sight before them. The spectacle was quite extraordinary.

On two large tables sat the dishes, one of which was an enormous roasted whole lamb, larger than an adult’s arm span. For presentation, even the lamb’s head was intact on one side, surrounded by a circle of fresh green leaves arranged to resemble a “grassland.” The lamb itself was a golden brown, emitting a mouthwatering aroma of roasted meat. Compared to the typical refined palace banquet dishes, this one exuded the boldness and rustic charm of nomadic cultures.

The other dish appeared much more intricate.

It consisted of nine irregularly shaped porcelain plates arranged in a perfect circle. In the center stood a “sculpture” of a dragon playing with a pearl. The dragon’s head was raised high, and every detail from its whiskers to its scales was meticulously crafted, with subtle colors and a faint shimmer on the scales that left the observers uncertain of its material.

Surrounding the dragon were several small “dragon boats,” which appeared to be edible, but the distance made it difficult to see clearly.

Each porcelain plate contained different ingredients, cooked using various methods—pan-fried, stir-fried, braised, and more, offering a visual feast of culinary techniques.

The emperor’s curiosity was piqued. He led the crown prince down the steps to examine the dishes more closely.

“So this is the famous Hunyang Mohu,” he remarked, circling the roasted lamb with the prince. The crown prince was already captivated by the aroma of the lamb, eager for his father to give the command to start eating. “And what is this one called?” the emperor asked, pointing to the dragon sculpture.

Qin Xia, seeing the emperor’s gesture, bowed and replied, “This dish has yet to be named. If it pleases Your Majesty, this humble servant dares to request Your Majesty to bestow it with a name.”

The emperor raised an eyebrow. “Then first, tell me, what is this dragon in the center made of?”

“Your Majesty, the dragon is crafted from dough.”

“Dough?” The crown prince’s eyes widened with surprise. He stood on his tiptoes, eager to get a closer look.

“Qin Xia, you’re saying this is made from the same dough as the kind used for buns?” he asked, looking up with an innocent expression. Qin Xia smiled and confirmed it was.

At the emperor’s signal, the ministers approached to admire the dish as well, expressing their amazement.

“Truly a masterpiece!”

“Such craftsmanship, never seen even within the palace.”

“Great Dayong indeed has no shortage of talented people!”

After taking in the sight to his satisfaction, the emperor rubbed his hands together in delight.

“The presentation is indeed excellent. Now, let’s taste it together—myself, the crown prince, and my beloved ministers.”