Chapter Fifty-Five: Exposing Qian Shanduo (Part Two)

Because the emperor passed away today, the eunuchs arrived before the first quarter of the hour of the dragon, which meant that Emperor Qi Ming died during the hour of the dragon. Normally, according to custom, meals should be served at the hour of the snake. But the emperor has passed on, and died earlier than expected, so the crown prince’s side must be in disarray—there’s little chance they’ll dine on time.

The most likely scenario was a hasty meal at the third quarter of the hour of the snake, then as soon as noon struck, they would begin the mourning rites and deal with the emperor’s affairs. This time gap presented Ming Tian with an excellent opportunity. Ming Tian even felt a sense of relief: heaven itself seemed to be aiding him!

For the emperor’s death had once again created the most favorable conditions for his plan. A three-quarter delay meant the meal could be pushed back by an hour and a half, and since Ming Tian finished cooking at the third quarter of the hour of the dragon, there would be a two-hour interval!

Dishes nowadays were mostly soups, roasts, braises, and steams; the method for the Capital Roast Duck was rarely used, and almost no one had tasted it. In other words, Qian Shanduo knew nothing of the unique qualities of Capital Roast Duck!

It was the second month of the first year of Yongtai; the temperature hovered around ten degrees, and the humidity was high. Capital Roast Duck was delicious fresh out of the oven, but once cold, its prized crispy skin and luscious fat turned into a hard, chewy sheet and a lump of grease!

Two hours without any means of keeping warm—especially since the duck was sliced thin, making it hard to retain heat—meant that the most exquisite dish of the meal could become the worst on the table. Qian Shanduo, being a man of antiquity, couldn’t possibly know that cold Capital Roast Duck was nearly inedible!

Watching Qian Shanduo flustered, still unaware of what had gone wrong, Ming Tian smiled. Don’t rush—this is only the beginning; I won’t let you die so easily!

…

An hour later.

It was long past the third quarter of noon. Today, with the emperor’s death, the Imperial Kitchen would not be evaluating dishes; all members were summoned to the Imperial Parade Grounds, dressed in mourning attire, ready for the rites.

The Imperial Kitchen, being of lower rank, gathered with the Imperial Medical Bureau and other departments, kneeling together at the parade grounds, waiting for the command to grieve.

Ming Tian’s luck was excellent.

He was at the far left of the line, and Yin Chan at the far right, the two kneeling close together. Even better, Qian Shanduo was kneeling directly in front of him. Unfortunately, Zhao Ke’s status was too low, so he was kneeling some distance away—there was little chance for conversation.

“So, how did you do? Did you make the most of this opportunity?” Yin Chan whispered, audible only to the two of them.

Ming Tian was startled, unsure why Yin Chan suddenly asked this; he turned to see her grinning mischievously at him.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Don’t you get it?” Yin Chan picked at some medicine residue under her nails. “Let me be clear: I prepared the emperor’s morning medicine today.”

Her words made Ming Tian instantly realize! Of course—Yin Chan was an Imperial Medical Bureau physician, responsible for dispensing medicine.

And the timing of Emperor Qi Ming’s demise was awfully coincidental!

Could it be…

Emperor Qi Ming was actually poisoned by Yin Chan!

No wonder she was a time-traveler from 2458; not only was her action decisive, but no one in court had noticed anything amiss.

Ming Tian caught her meaning and didn’t reply, simply making an OK gesture. Yin Chan was sharp and knew about Ming Tian’s ordeal yesterday, so she took the initiative to create the present situation for him.

Having such a teammate was truly a blessing.

Ming Tian sighed gratefully.

“Young man, don’t get carried away.” At that moment, Qian Shanduo, noticing Ming Tian was whispering with Yin Chan, couldn’t contain his annoyance. He still remembered the slap Ming Tian gave him in the kitchen earlier.

He had never suffered such humiliation, but now he worried Ming Tian had some trick up his sleeve, so he dared not act rashly.

Yet the resentment simmered, and he turned back with a venomous glare: “Don’t think you’re something just because Wang Jingze backs you up. When the mourning rites are over, I’ll make sure you pay!”

Now, with time, place, and people all in his favor, Ming Tian no longer needed to fear Qian Shanduo.

It was time to close the net.

“Make me pay? You’d better worry about surviving first.” Ming Tian sneered, gone was yesterday’s deference.

“You…” Qian Shanduo, accustomed to being feared, had never been rebuffed so many times; his mismatched eyes nearly rolled with rage. “Fine, fine, you’ve got guts!”

There was no need to waste words on such a fool.

Ming Tian ignored him, letting him glare as fiercely as he pleased.

Glare all you want—see if your eyes pop out! Stealing my dish, taking my credit, and you want me to serve you? Who do you think you are? Who gave you the audacity to harbor such thoughts?

It’s not just because you angered me; even if I went mad and did a good deed, for the sake of those old men in the kitchen whose hope you destroyed, I’d still see you undone!

You are so unbearably detestable!

“Noon has arrived—begin the mourning rites!” With a eunuch’s shout, the crowd erupted in a cacophony of wailing.

Instantly, the cries filled the air, so loud Ming Tian’s eardrums felt as if they might burst. He could only bow his head and pretend to wail a few times.

One had to admit, the spectacle of ancient royalty was grand—tens of thousands mourned for one man. Who in the modern era could command such a scene?

For a time, the whole palace was enveloped in a dissonant chorus of grief.

Yet less than ten minutes had passed when, from the palace gates, a discordant shout rang out!

“Enough!!!!”

The sharp roar froze the crying in its tracks.

A young man, clad in imperial robes, obese and ugly, strode out, pointing at the crowd and cursing, “Cry… cry… cry for what… what… cry? You’re… you’re driving me crazy… crazy!”

He was livid, brazenly berating the officials at the emperor’s funeral.

Marvelous! I thought Qian Shanduo was the fattest in the palace, but here was someone even heavier.

Beside him, an elderly minister in the highest official robes stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, “Your… Highness… this is your father’s funeral, you…”

“So… so annoying!!” The fat prince kicked the old minister to the ground: “You… you… who do you think… think you are? You dare… dare control me?”

The prince?!

Ming Tian was stunned; looking at Yin Chan, he saw her face grave as she whispered, “It seems he’s your target—Duke Donghun, Xiao Baojuan! History says he stammered, and it’s true.”

Ming Tian’s anger flared!

So this little fatso was the bastard who stole my woman?!

Damn it, what have I done to deserve torment from nothing but fat men? This one’s not only fat, but a stammerer?

“No… no more crying… crying! Bury my… my father at once! I… I want to ascend… ascend the throne right now!” Xiao Baojuan’s speech was exhausting, his stammer so severe that a single sentence took ages.

The ministers’ faces went stone cold.

Ming Tian’s face stiffened as well.

This event was famous in history—Ming Tian knew it well. Normally, after Emperor Qi Ming’s death, Xiao Baojuan didn’t shed a single tear, not even bothering to hold a proper funeral for his father. This, at least, matched the records.

Pitiful Emperor Qi Ming, who murdered every royal that could bar his son’s succession, couldn’t even secure a decent burial.

Ming Tian never imagined he’d witness this scene firsthand!

A minister, crawling to Xiao Baojuan’s side, pleaded with tears, “Your Highness, this must not be! The late emperor labored for the kingdom; now he’s gone, we ministers must show filial piety. How can we…”

“So… so annoying!!!!”

Without letting him finish, Xiao Baojuan kicked him over and shouted, “Guards… guards… drag him… him out… and behead him!!”

At this, not a single official dared make a sound.

The loyal old minister was dragged away by two soldiers, likely doomed.

History records Duke Donghun’s brutality and incompetence; the emperor had barely passed, and already it showed.

Thank heavens I am not an official in this era.

Ming Tian sighed with relief.

Serving such an emperor—who said “serving the king is like accompanying a tiger”? This was more like courting disaster!

He already couldn’t stand that his woman had been taken; if she had to marry such an emperor…

Ming Tian’s resolve to kill the emperor grew even stronger!

But first, he had to eliminate his greatest obstacle—Qian Shanduo!

“Hey, bring… bring it here!” As if reading Ming Tian’s mind, Xiao Baojuan’s gaze fell upon the Imperial Kitchen, and with a wave, a palace maid brought forth a platter.

Xiao Baojuan, furious, grabbed a handful of food and hurled it at the kitchen staff!

“Who… who… who made… made this garbage?! Qian… Qian… Qian Shanduo… who is he? Stand… stand forth!!”

The dish thrown to the floor was Ming Tian’s Capital Roast Duck!

Qian Shanduo trembled, his fat body shaking.

Success!

Ming Tian’s lips curled in a smile.

The plan had begun!

……

Third chapter complete. Please vote and bookmark.