Chapter 700: Chapter 700: Ointment

A plate of pig intestines dampened the Emperor’s appetite.

Princess Shouning came to clash with Su Jin; is there a need to eat this lunch?

“Let her return, come back tomorrow to have lunch with me,” said the Emperor.

But just as the Emperor finished speaking, Princess Shouning had already barged in.

She came forward, “Father, your daughter wants to have lunch with you too.”

Su Jin looked at her, hesitating whether to rise and pay respects.

The Emperor looked at Princess Shouning, then at Su Jin, and said, “Then stay and eat together.”

With him watching, it shouldn’t turn into a scene.

Once Su Jin is recognized, they are sisters, after all; if they quarrel or fight when meeting, the Royal Family would lose face.

The little eunuch brought over a chair, placing it next to Su Jin.

Xingxing continued to serve Su Jin food; there was so much that she couldn’t reach them.

Hmm.

The heap of pig intestines troubling the Emperor was indeed served to Su Jin by Xingxing.

Then, when Princess Shouning arrived, it dealt double damage to the Emperor.

Princess Shouning, who never ate pig intestines, signaled a palace maid with her eyes to serve her this dish.

After tasting a piece, she said, “Father, what is this dish? It tastes quite good; why hasn’t it been made before in the palace?”

The Emperor raised his hand to rub his forehead.

Eunuch Fu held back an internal injury.

Su Jin’s shoulders shook lightly a few times.

No one responded to the princess’s words, so Xingxing answered for the Emperor, “That is pig intestines.”

Princess Shouning, “…!!!”

The atmosphere froze in an instant.

Princess Shouning wished she could bang her head to death.

Why praise such a dish, praising pig intestines as delicious?!

Pig intestines were quite popular in the Capital, well-known to Princess Shouning, yet she had never tried them.

This was her first time eating them.

Su Jin looked at her and blinked, “If the princess likes it, please have more.”

Princess Shouning did indeed put another piece of pig intestines from her bowl into her mouth.

Eat if you will!

If she can eat them, why can’t I?!

We’re both princesses; there’s nothing to be ashamed of!

Watching Princess Shouning gnaw ferociously on pig intestines, Su Jin somewhat changed her impression of her.

Unlike Xie Jinyu, who clearly loves pig intestines but pretends to disdain them for the sake of appearances.

Do you must care about others’ opinions even when eating? Isn’t that tiring?

With the Emperor present, Princess Shouning indeed dared not be too blatant, at least not openly provoke, making two cold remarks about Su Jin’s upbringing on Qingyun Mountain, not having had much Imperial Banquet food.

Su Jin wasn’t angry, but the Emperor spoke, “You like Imperial Banquet, so choose two Imperial Chefs to take back to your mansion to cook specifically for you.”

Princess Shouning, “…”

Su Jin looked at Princess Shouning with gratitude in her eyes.

In a fit of rage, Princess Shouning choked on a fishbone, almost in excruciating pain.

She drank vinegar, swallowed buns…

In the end, it was Su Jin who used tweezers to help her remove the fishbone.

“Fish have many bones; princess, be careful in the future when eating fish,” Su Jin said.

“I don’t need your false kindness!” Princess Shouning said angrily.

The Emperor frowned, “Return to the palace and reflect well!”

Princess Shouning ran off in anger.

Su Jin, having eaten her fill, took the opportunity to take leave from the Emperor.

As for the Imperial Chefs, Su Jin didn’t go to pick out any.

Who knows which chefs might be the Empress Dowager’s people, casually choosing one might bring trouble.

Besides, the mansion had just held mourning; the Prince was observing filial piety, it was not appropriate to seek indulgence in food.

Since the Emperor agreed, she could go and choose when needed; since the Emperor gave his word, he wouldn’t go back on it.

Feeling joyful, Su Jin left. The Emperor, however, was in no such good mood; a meal of Imperial Banquet, a heart-to-heart with his daughter, first pig intestines added burden, then Princess Shouning disrupted it.

The Emperor barely ate any dishes, filled just by his anger.

The Emperor pointed at the plate of pig intestines, fuming, “Who allowed the Imperial Kitchen to make pig intestines?!”

Eunuch Fu, “…”

Indeed.

The Emperor was jealous of Marquis Dongxiang.

The princess grew up with Marquis Dongxiang, it’s only natural her tastes followed him.

Eunuch Fu looked at the Emperor and said, “Your Majesty, though this dish wasn’t popular before, now many in the Capital enjoy pig intestines; it indeed tastes good. Your Majesty also enjoys it, and the princess shares your tastes.”

If it was only Su Jin, it wouldn’t be convincing.

But with Princess Shouning liking it too, it makes sense.

The Emperor side-eyed Eunuch Fu.

The anger subsided a little.

As for Su Jin, after leaving the side hall, she directly exited the palace.

After walking for a short while, a little eunuch, close to Eunuch Fu, came chasing after them, stopping Xingxing, “Eunuch Fu sent me to inquire about the Heir’s wife’s preferences.”

Saying so, he stuffed a big purse into Xingxing’s hands.

The purse was heavy.

Xingxing’s eyes squinted with joy.

“My lady has many preferences,” Xingxing said.

“I’ll write a book for Eunuch Fu when I return.”

“…”

The little eunuch was a bit stunned.

Originally thought the preferences of Princess Consort Zhenbei could be summed up in a few sentences, who knew it required a book?

How many preferences does she have?

Even Su Jin didn’t know all her preferences.

But Xingxing was honest.

Eunuch Fu gave her so much silver to inquire, she couldn’t let the money be spent in vain.

Moreover, Eunuch Fu was inquiring to cater to the lady’s preferences, it had to be as detailed as possible.

The little eunuch wanted to leave, but Su Jin remembered something she forgot and quickly called him back, whispering, “Go find Eunuch Fu and get the ointment the Emperor uses and show it to me.”

The little eunuch was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, “This servant will go at once.”

Su Jin continued heading towards the Imperial Study.

After a while, Eunuch Fu came over with the ointment.

He didn’t know what Su Jin wanted with the ointment, but following the princess’s instructions could not be wrong.

Su Jin looked around, ensuring no one was present, then opened the ointment to smell it, “Indeed…”

Eunuch Fu frowned, “Heir’s wife, is there a problem with this ointment?”

“This ointment has been poisoned,” Su Jin said.

“The Emperor used a considerable amount, and I sensed something amiss by the smell, so I asked.”

Eunuch Fu angrily said, “The Imperial Hospital has the audacity to tamper with the Emperor’s ointment!”

“This poison in the ointment isn’t lethal; take the antidote during an outbreak, and it’s fine, but bruises that faded will return when the poison acts up,” Su Jin said.

“It seems someone knows the Emperor has bruises and wants to use this method to force him to reveal them.”

Who is this person?

It goes without saying.

The Empress Dowager dares to use poison to force the Emperor to reveal bruises, thereby dealing with her father, Marquis Dongxiang.

Luckily, she entered the palace, wasn’t this once again falling into her hands?

She could use the situation to her advantage.

Su Chong leaned to Eunuch Fu’s ear and muttered a few words.

Eunuch Fu’s eyes lit up.

Eunuch Fu turned to return to the Imperial Study, while Su Jin left the palace.

Half an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of Prince Zhenbei Mansion.

Returning to Agarwood Pavilion, Su Jin went directly to the backyard.

Inside the bamboo house, Xie Jingchen was indeed reading a book. Seeing Su Jin return, he said, “What did the Emperor call you to the palace for?”

“Asking why I helped Old Madam Duke Chong,” Su Jin answered truthfully.

Xie Jingchen shifted his gaze back to the book.

Knowing Su Jin wouldn’t explain further, he didn’t ask.

Su Jin placed her hand on the book, saying, “I didn’t tell the Emperor why I did it; in half a month, I’ll tell you.”

“Hmm.”

“Enjoy the show, half a month will pass quickly.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep