Autumn arrived. Leaves changed color, scattering across the courtyards and garden of the palace. Li Lan Se, the young eunuch, had to sweep them morning and evening to ensure they did not offend Imperial Consort Lii Fei's imperial gaze.
"Lan Se, have you collected the new eunuch robes from the Imperial Robe Department yet?" Yunzhi walked over and asked.
"I have, Esteemed One."
"Then why are you still wearing your summer clothes?"
Lan Se glanced down at his green eunuch uniform and smiled faintly. "I don't feel too cold yet, and I have to sweep the courtyard. It's a lot of work. I don't want to get the new robes smelly with sweat."
Servants' uniforms in the imperial palace were distributed every two seasons: thin green coarse cloth for spring and summer, and thick, heavy brown cloth for autumn and winter, offering warmth and protection from the cold.
"You haven't gone and sold the new robes to those unranked eunuchs, have you?" Yunzhi narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing him.
The young boy flinched. Brother Yunzhi was truly frightening, as if he possessed an innate perception, able to read minds. But it was well that the young boy had only thought of it, for no matter how much he yearned for money, his health came first. How could he endure the cold to the point of falling ill?
"I haven't. The robes are still safely in my room. I'll wear them when the weather gets a bit colder."
Not every palace servant received new uniforms. Only those from the main palaces were granted such. Not to mention the palace maids and unranked eunuchs who had been demoted, most of whom were assigned to the Imperial Robe Department to wash other servants' clothes, or had no affiliation, performing miscellaneous tasks as ordered by the Administration Department, such as emptying foul-smelling chamber pots. They were truly pitiable, not only bullied by other servants but also denied new clothes and sometimes even meals. Lan Se felt sympathy for them but offered no help, for he was still a small eunuch, barely able to care for himself. Moreover, he did not know what transgressions they had committed to be so punished.
"Brother Yunzhi, is there anything you need?"
"Xi Ying is unavailable today to collect the snacks from the Imperial Kitchen Department. Will you take them to the Imperial Consort?"
Lan Se was surprised, for typically all imperial meals – be they main courses, pastries, snacks, tea, or wine – were handled solely by the Imperial Consort's personal palace maids. Outsiders had no authority, as she feared poisoning from other consorts and thus trusted no other servants apart from Wan Ying and Xi Ying.
"But..."
"Don't worry. Just fetch them. Wan Ying will test for poison with a silver needle before the Imperial Consort consumes them anyway." Yunzhi knew what the young boy was concerned about. "Since I told you that, have you thought about it at all...? Probably not, as I haven't seen you praising the Imperial Consort much."
"N-No, Esteemed One. I have thought about it... but there hasn't been an opportunity. The Imperial Consort doesn't allow me to serve her closely. I can only watch her from afar at the back of the line." It wasn't that Lan Se hadn't thought about it. The young boy hung his head dejectedly, clutching his broom to his chest.
"Here's your chance. I've found an opportunity for you. Hurry to the Imperial Kitchen Department!" Yunzhi nudged the shorter boy's back. "And don't forget to think of praises to delight the Imperial Consort so she rewards you!"
Li Lan Se then dropped his broom and walked directly to the Imperial Kitchen Department, a place he frequented to collect his meals. It was his favorite department, for the palace maids there were kind. Seeing how small he was, they would give him an extra vegetable baozi (steamed bun). On some lucky days, if there were leftover scraps of meat, he would get to eat fragrant meat baozi.
His good fortune with food was entirely due to the prestige of Imperial Consort Lii Fei's palace.
Wherever he went, he could hold his head high. Even eunuchs of the same Shòulǐng Tài Jiàn rank had to make way for him. One might say the young boy was a fox borrowing the tiger's might indeed.
Li Lan Se made up his mind. He would try what Brother Yunzhi suggested. Simply praising would harm no one and violate no imperial palace rules.
"Oh, Lan Se, you're early today. It's not even dusk yet. Are you hungry already?" A stout palace maid greeted him as he walked over.
"Today, I haven't come for food for myself. I've come to fetch snacks for Imperial Consort Lii Fei in place of Sister Xi Ying, dear. Have you prepared them already, Auntie Haiya?" To the kind palace maid, the young boy spoke with charming affection.
"Just finished. Here. Sweetened boiled red dates. Walk carefully. Don't stumble and fall anywhere." The young boy took the tray cautiously. "Oh, there's mutton soup this evening. Hurry and collect it, or eunuchs from other palaces will finish it all, you know."
"I know the eunuchs from other palaces will snatch the mutton soup because Auntie Haiya's soup is the most delicious! I'll come quickly, dear."
"Is your mouth full of syrup? Hurry now, before the red dates get cold, or the Imperial Consort will be displeased!"
Li Lan Se bowed playfully before walking back to Jingren Palace.
It was a pity that Imperial Consort Lii Fei disliked anyone using the kitchen in her palace. She disliked the smells and rising smoke. Thus, Li Lan Se and the other servants had to go to the Imperial Kitchen Department daily. Otherwise, Li Lan Se would have secretly learned how to cook and make pastries from Auntie Haiya. He had seen that servants in other palaces could cook for themselves within their own residences. Some consorts even practiced cooking to win the Emperor's favor, hoping he would visit their palaces.
But never mind. The imperial palace chefs were renowned for their delicious cooking. It was better for the young boy not to waste time cooking himself; he could spend that time mending clothes and books instead.
"Your humble servant Li Lan Se respectfully presents snacks to Imperial Consort Lii Fei!" The young boy shouted at the top of his lungs. Not long after, Wan Ying came out and opened the door for him to enter.
Li Lan Se placed the tray of snacks near the Imperial Consort. She was examining her long, sharp golden nail guards, adorned with tiny jewels, on her little finger. She glanced at the young eunuch before speaking, "Where has Yunzhi gone? Why didn't he bring the snacks himself? Why use this child?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, Eunuch Sun has gone to the Arboriculture Department to discuss bringing plum trees to be planted in the palace, so Your Highness may behold plum blossoms by winter, as Your Highness desired."
Lii Fei hummed in her throat in acknowledgment. Wan Ying opened the cup of red dates, tested them with a silver needle, then spoon-fed them to the Imperial Consort.
"Why are you standing in the Imperial Consort's line of sight? Hurry and leave!" Wan Ying snapped at Lan Se. The young boy was startled.
An opportunity had arrived. It was rare for a young eunuch to get close to the Imperial Consort. If he let this chance slip, he would surely regret it later.
"Y-Your humble servant has been impolite. May Your Highness please punish your humble servant. Your humble servant was merely awestruck by Your Highness's beauty. Every gesture of Your Highness is captivating. When walking, when sitting, when dining, it is as if an immortal has descended to the mortal world. Since birth, your humble servant has never seen anyone as elegant as Your Highness!"
Li Lan Se's heart pounded. He wasn't sure if the Imperial Consort would appreciate his praise.
Lii Fei pushed away the spoon Wan Ying offered to her mouth. She turned to ask the eunuch she didn't recognize, "Are you a new eunuch? What is your name?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Your humble servant's name is Li Lan Se. Your humble servant only began serving Your Highness's palace in the eighth month. Your humble servant feels immeasurable joy to serve Your Highness, a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms. Before, your humble servant did not believe those flatteries. But now, your humble servant truly understands the meaning of 'Lii,' the imperial title His Majesty bestowed upon Your Highness. His Majesty is astute. Your humble servant truly cannot imagine anyone more suitable for the imperial title of exquisite beauty than Your Highness. This shows His Majesty's love and recognition that Your Highness is more beautiful than all six other palace consorts. If anyone were to say Your Highness is the second most beautiful woman in the capital, your humble servant believes no woman would dare claim to be first!"
"You are only a few winters old, a eunuch from Goguryeo, from an impoverished family. Since your birth, you probably haven't met even ten common women, yet you dare compare me to them!"
"Your humble servant accepts his fault. Your Highness is noble; unworthy of comparison to common women. May Your Highness please punish your humble servant." Li Lan Se bowed his head and knelt.
Had he taken the wrong approach? Flattering masters was probably not his way.
"Bestow a reward."
Unexpectedly, Lan Se's eyes widened. He quickly kowtowed and thanked the Imperial Consort, seeing her smile faintly as she even picked up the cup of red dates to eat herself.
Wan Ying handed the young boy a plain money pouch. Lan Se grinned broadly. Judging by its weight, he estimated it contained no less than five taels of silver.
It was just as Brother Yunzhi had said. A little flattery to the Imperial Consort, and he had earned five taels of silver. What an easy task this was!