Chapter 6: Unauthorized Viewing Considered Stealing

The weather was becoming increasingly hot, and even with ice in the Administration Palace, it remained stiflingly warm. As such, by the afternoon, the Emperor would find it unbearable, restless in his seat. Therefore, he would take half an hour at Shen Hour each day to stroll beneath the shade of the trees in the Imperial Garden, to cool off from the summer heat.

The Emperor had a habit of avoiding crowded places, often preferring secluded paths with their quiet charm.

One day, the Emperor slowly made his way to the Green Bamboo Garden, where tall and verdant bamboo stood. Within the garden was a pavilion—a perfect spot for summer's coolness, tucked away in the northwest corner of the Imperial Garden.

He was still a hundred steps from the garden when suddenly two maids appeared.

The one in the pink dress was holding a basket in both hands, the basket so heavy it seemed to weigh down her arms, while the one in dark green carried a basket in one hand and a short shovel in the other.

The two were chatting and laughing merrily, animatedly walking towards another path.

Hey, the maid in the pink dress looked awfully familiar—wasn't she the Little Concubine who climbed into bed?

Their voices drifted over, and the one in pink was heard saying:

"...Take the fatty and tender shoot and slice it thin, heat up some fragrant lard till it's sizzling, throw in some chili for flavor, then toss in the bamboo shoots and stir-fry until crispy and golden brown. Just sprinkle a bit of salt before taking it off the stove, and a plate of stir-fried bamboo shoots is ready, delicious and crunchy—it's the best way to savor the true taste of bamboo shoots."

"Wow~ Young Master, you're making me drool!" exclaimed the maid in green.

"Hold it in~ Let's also make a cold bamboo shoot salad, blanch the shoots, dice them, add some sugar, sesame oil, vinegar, fermented bean paste, and chili oil, mix it all up, then sprinkle with crushed peanuts. It's so crisp and refreshing. If we simmer a pot of soft white rice porridge to go with it, it would be the ultimate summer dish."

"Young Master, you know so much~"

"Of course, I've eaten plenty before. For the remaining shoots, the older ones, we'll dry them to keep the fresh flavor, and in autumn we can toss them into a soup—it'll be so flavorful and delicious to drink..."

As they were about to walk far away, the Emperor gave Zhang Qing a look.

Zhang Qing caught the hint immediately and, taking small hurried steps, ran forward while shouting, "Hold on, Young Master! His Majesty is here, come and present your respects."

Hearing the shout, both turned their heads in unison.

Lian Hua felt a thump in her heart, warily glanced at the Emperor, and quickly covered the basket with the cloth so that the bamboo shoots were well concealed, though their shape was still vaguely visible.

After covering it, she approached His Majesty with Xiao Qing to perform the ritual curtsy, putting the basket and short shovel aside.

The Emperor thought to himself, "What kind of look was that, like guarding against a thief?" and said, "Rise. What's in the basket?"

Here we go again. Just like last time, when I bumped into His Majesty on the road with tea leaves, he asked the same question, and the tea leaves disappeared. Now it's bamboo shoots.

Lian Hua replied somewhat awkwardly, "Reporting to you, sir... they are bamboo shoots."

"Where did these bamboo shoots come from?"

"...They were picked from the Green Bamboo Garden." They had just come from there; this was clearly asking the obvious.

"Did you have permission?"

"We did not..." There wasn't any palace official in charge of gathering who could give permission...

"Then do you realize your offense?"

Lian Hua quickly shook her head and pleaded with a mix of shock and fear, "Your Majesty, it's just like picking flowers—others pick flowers to decorate their clothes and rooms, and I picked shoots to enhance the dishes. Picking flowers is allowed, and so is picking bamboo shoots."

His Majesty was being unfairly crafty, not just coveting her things but also keen on pinning crimes on her. With his high status and power, it would be as easy as crushing an ant to kill her.

This time, Lian Hua didn't have the boldness of before. Being caught red-handed pilfering bamboo shoots made her feel guilty and fearful, dreading the prospect of being charged.

The Emperor sneered. This Little Concubine lacked virtue and was full of twisted justifications: "Where is it written that if flowers may be picked, bamboo shoots may be taken as well?"

Lian Hua widened her eyes in disbelief at the Emperor, realizing there was indeed no such rule in the palace's regulations—not even about whether flowers could be picked, but wasn't this an unspoken convention?

But if it wasn't written down, it wasn't written down, and if His Majesty wanted to pursue the matter, he could...

What to do? Lian Hua felt a bit panicked.

Watching the Little Concubine flustered and unable to retort convincingly, with a look of fear and dread, the Emperor found it rather satisfying.

She loved challenging his authority, didn't she? Now that he had finally caught this little maid in the act, he'd see how to deal with her: "Taking without permission is considered theft, and in the palace, that's a serious crime. How dare you!"