TICIEC Chapter 17.2

Helian Qi ignored them and simply asked the female physician examining the wound behind the curtain.

“How is Ning Meiren’s injury?”

“Meiren’s knee is swollen and congested. She needs blood-activating and blood-stasis-removing medicine. She will be fine after resting for a few days.” The female physician replied respectfully.

Helian Qi’s expression eased slightly, “I’ll leave Ning Meiren’s injury to you. Use the medicine well.”

“Yes!”

The female physician quickly took the order, took out the medicine bottle from the medicine box she carried with her, and carefully applied the ointment to Ning Wanyin.

Helian Qi walked to the door and looked at the steward kneeling outside.

“You can make mistakes in such a small matter. You no longer hold this position as steward. You will be exiled to Xinzheku.”

“Your Majesty, please forgive me. I know I was wrong… I know I was wrong…” The steward hurriedly kowtowed and begged for mercy.

Helian Qi ignored his pleas for mercy.

How could a small eunuch dare to do such a thing?

The steward must know what happened today.

If he didn’t know, then he was even less worthy of his position.

Wang Degui made a gesture, and the accompanying eunuchs immediately dragged the steward and the young eunuch away.

After the female physician finished administering the medicine, she bowed and withdrew.

The table was once again filled with an exceptionally sumptuous meal.

Ning Wanyin walked out with the help of Lian Rui and bowed, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for making this decision for me!”

She said this with great sincerity.

She was truly hungry.

Helian Qi, noticing her trembling figure, stepped forward and offered her a hand.

“Please sit down and enjoy your meal. You’ve been wronged today, and I will make amends to you. What do you want? Just tell me, and I’ll grant you anything.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell silent.

I’ll grant you anything.

The emperor clearly intended to promote Ning Wanyin.

Aside from the occasional annual festivals when the six palaces are granted special honors, concubines are required to demonstrate merit in order to advance. (This included pregnancy, attending to the Empress Dowager or the Emperor, managing the six palaces, and performing meritorious services for the family. Serving the Emperor in the Emperor’s bedchamber is also considered merit, and can only be used to advance the rank once.)

Ning Wanyin had already been promoted once for her meritorious service in the Emperor’s bedchamber.

To promote her now without merit or merit was against the rules!

But the emperor’s words are his decree. Everyone knew that he favored Ning Wanyin, so making an exception for her and promoting her to a higher rank was understandable.

This Ning Meiren was truly lucky!

The palace maids of Lingxue Pavilion also looked at Ning Wanyin eagerly. Since their master was about to be promoted again, they would naturally be rewarded as well!

“I have been wronged. It was the imperial kitchen’s fault. How can I ask Your Majesty to compensate me? Besides, Your Majesty has already shown me great kindness by rewarding me with a table of dishes.” Ning Wanyin replied politely, without any arrogance.

Helian Qi insisted, “I feel sorry for you and want to show you some grace.”

“Your Majesty’s kindness is so great that I dare not refuse. I dare to ask Your Majesty to replace someone in my palace.” Ning Wanyin said.

Wang Degui was stunned.

With such a good opportunity, you didn’t want to advance, but you wanted to deal with a palace maid?

If the news of His Majesty supporting you today gets out, the eunuch in charge will be able to replace anyone once you go to the Imperial Household Department tomorrow.

Helian Qi was also a little surprised.

She actually didn’t want a position?

Although it was against the rules, his words were the rules. With him protecting her, no one else could say anything.

“The people in your palace are indeed useless. You can replace them as you please.” Helian Qi said.

She had almost been beaten just now, and those palace servants hadn’t protected her.

It really should be changed.

As soon as these words were spoken, all the palace maids and eunuchs in Lingxue Pavilion, except Lian Rui, knelt on the ground, trembling and bowing their heads.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!” Ning Wanyin saluted.

“They failed to protect properly and should be punished. This is not a reward. Tell me another reward you want.” Helian Qi asked.

Wang Degui understood what the Emperor meant. He was determined to promote Ning Meiren!

He quickly prepared auspicious words to congratulate Ning Meiren.

Ning Wanyin hesitated slightly. The Emperor was determined to reward her, so…

“Your Majesty, could you please reward me with a small kitchen?” Ning Wanyin tentatively glanced at Helian Qi.

Wang Degui’s thoughts faltered. Congratulations, Ning Jieyu— A small kitchen?

 

 

*****

Translator’s Encyclopedia

Imperial Concubine Dining

Dining for an imperial concubine in ancient China was heavily restricted by rank and monitored for safety, with meals being elaborate or simple depending on their status. Higher-ranking concubines received more elaborate dishes with expensive ingredients, while lower-ranked ones had simpler meals. All food was prepared in the imperial kitchen, served by palace staff, and tasted for poison by a eunuch before it was consumed.

Meal specifics based on rank

• Quantity and quality: The variety and quantity of food varied significantly based on a concubine’s rank. Higher-ranked concubines received more elaborate meals with rare ingredients, while lower-ranked concubines had plainer food.
• Specific examples: The Empress might receive 17.5 pounds of pork and plates of lamb, chicken, and duck, while lower-ranked attendants received much less.
• Special occasions: Some concubines might be invited to dine with the emperor on special occasions like the New Year, but were not allowed to eat before him and had to wait until he finished.

Food preparation and serving

• Imperial kitchen: All meals were prepared in the imperial kitchen, not by the concubines themselves.
• Poison testing: Before a meal was served, a eunuch would test the food for poison using silverware, a practice designed to prevent rivals from eliminating each other.
• Dishes and utensils: The Empress received the most elaborate meal preparations, with dishes served in exquisite porcelain or golden utensils.

Dining restrictions and monitoring

• Lack of freedom: Concubines were not allowed to select their own meals; the menu was predetermined based on their rank.
• Status symbol: The quality of a concubine’s meals directly reflected her standing with the emperor; a disfavored concubine might be given only plain rice and vegetables.
• Monitoring: Their every action was closely monitored by staff. This was especially true when they were summoned to dine with the emperor.

Diet and health

• Maternal diet: A pregnant concubine’s diet would be enhanced with special nourishing dishes to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

No a personal kitchen

Having a “kitchen” as a private facility was not an option; the entire system was centralized and controlled by the imperial court. The concept of a personal, “small kitchen” for individual concubines is not consistent with imperial palace life, where cooking was handled centrally for efficiency and control.

 

 

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