Taichen Palace
Donghua was playing a game of chess with Liansong when Zhihe walked in with a proud look on her face. Indeed, she had brought her own version of the Wuyou Pastry to seek praise from Donghua. She wanted him to taste the pastry she had made with her own hands and shower her with compliments once again.
Zhihe walked up to Donghua, stopped, and said, "Seeing that you liked these little pastries a few days ago, Elder Brother, I made some more today. I hope you will deign to taste them, Elder Brother."
Hearing this, Liansong’s eyes lit up as he stared at the pastries in the basket.
Donghua looked at Liansong, whose mind was clearly no longer on the chess game, and remained silent. Compared to that plate of pastries, he actually cared much more about the game of chess before him.
Zhihe happily presented the plate of pastries to Donghua.
Donghua said, "Third Prince Liansong, seeing how much you appreciated Zhihe's culinary skills at the banquet the other day, you go first."
Liansong replied, "Thank you, Emperor!"
Zhihe also looked at Liansong with an expectant expression. She did not mind having one more person, besides her elder brother, praise her culinary skills.
Recalling the experience of tasting the Wuyou Pastry last time, Liansong took a small bite of the pastry in his hand with an expression of pure enjoyment. He tasted it carefully, but gradually, he too sensed that something was amiss.
Seeing the strange expression on Liansong's face, Zhihe anxiously blurted out, "What is it? Does it taste bad?"
Liansong tactfully replied, "Princess, the texture of this Wuyou Pastry remains the same, but..."
Zhihe anxiously asked, "But what?"
Liansong continued, "But why does it lack that realm of carefree serenity?"
Refusing to believe it, Zhihe immediately picked up a piece of pastry and tasted it right in front of Donghua, only to find that it was just as Liansong had said. A wave of anger surged in her heart. *Oh, so that's how it is, Xiao Jiu!*
Taichen Palace Kitchens
By this time, Feng Jiu had been doing odd jobs in the kitchens for several days, her back and waist aching from exhaustion.
Yet no matter how tired she was, the enemy would arrive on the battlefield within thirty seconds.
Zhihe strode aggressively into the kitchens, followed by a group of palace maids. Anyone with eyes could tell that she meant business and came with ill intent!
Zhihe snapped, "Xiao Jiu!"
Feng Jiu was surprised that this girl was back again, but she still hurriedly bowed and said, "Greetings, Princess."
Zhihe demanded, "Why did mine taste so awful? How dare you play tricks on me?"
Feng Jiu replied, "Princess, please see the truth; this maid would never dare to toy with the Princess. It's just that the core of the Wuyou flower pastry varies from person to person, and I had no idea it would turn out this way."
Zhihe sneered, "Varies from person to person? ... Since Elder Brother likes eating the ones you make, I insist on making mine exactly like yours!"
Feng Jiu was left speechless and let out an exasperated sigh.
Yuru barked, "How dare you disobey the Princess's decree?!"
Feng Jiu answered, "This maid wouldn't dare. Actually, the Wuyou flower pastries I make use quite ordinary ingredients. I use East Sea crystal ice, purple gold honey nectar, oh! The only thing a bit different is the Rain-Time Flower Root."
Zhihe looked entirely disdainful. "Just a Rain-Time Flower Root? What's so difficult about that?"
A mischievous smirk crossed Feng Jiu's face as a new scheme hatched in her mind. She chimed in, "Well~ how could an ordinary Rain-Time Flower Root possibly be worthy of someone as noble as you, Princess? In my opinion, it naturally has to be the root of the Rain-Time Flower King from the center of the Reincarnation Sea to be truly marvelous! Only then can the Emperor truly feel the depth of your precious feelings, Princess!"
In terms of pure intelligence, how could Zhihe possibly outwit Feng Jiu? After pondering it for a moment, Zhihe agreed with Feng Jiu's suggestion.
Zhihe ordered, "Yuru, prepare my things. I am going to the Reincarnation Sea."
Feng Jiu had originally intended to dupe Zhihe into going to the Reincarnation Sea to fetch the Rain-Time Flower Root so she would suffer a good ordeal, leaving her with no time to torment her. She never expected that Zhihe would shatter her illusion in the next second. Just as Feng Jiu thought she could rest for a while, Zhihe demanded, "Xiao Jiu, what are you standing around for?"
Feng Jiu was baffled by the question and asked, "Does heavenly law forbid people from being lazy?"
Zhihe retorted, "What are you staring for? You are coming with me. I will personally supervise you picking it!" With that, she cast a mischievous grin at Feng Jiu.
Feng Jiu was utterly shocked. Was this what they called lifting a stone only to drop it on one's own feet? She let out an incredulous gasp, but still could not escape the judgment of fate.
While Zhihe and Feng Jiu were heading toward the Reincarnation Sea, back in Taichen Palace, Zhonglin was reporting to the Emperor: "Emperor, Mother Doumu has sent a battle challenge from Demon Lord Yan Chiwu, requesting a duel with you."
Hearing this, Donghua simply sipped his tea calmly without a word. Unable to gauge the Emperor's intentions, Zhonglin continued to ask, "Emperor, how should we reply?"
Instead of answering directly, Donghua used the art of tea-picking to instruct Zhonglin to decline the challenge on the grounds that the timing was not right.
Reincarnation Sea
Zhihe sat leisurely on a boat in the middle of the Reincarnation Sea while Yuru brewed tea for her. Meanwhile, Xiao Jiu looked at the vast expanse of water with a troubled expression. She felt a deep sense of resistance—she really, really did not want to go down there to dig!
Zhihe commanded, "Since the Rain-Time Flower Root is down on the seabed, Xiao Jiu, down you go and dig it up for me."
With that, Zhihe gave Feng Jiu a swift kick, sending her plunging into the sea.
Feng Jiu thought to herself: *Well! The heart that had been hanging in suspense has finally stopped beating altogether...*
After Feng Jiu descended into the sea, Zhihe sat comfortably in the boat, sipping tea and eating pastries. After finishing two cups of tea, Feng Jiu broke the surface of the water with the Rain-Time Flower Root clenched between her teeth. Without the slightest bit of courtesy, Zhihe snatched the Rain-Time Flower Root straight out of Feng Jiu's mouth and exclaimed happily, "It truly glows with brilliant colors! Let's go, back to Taichen Palace!" With that, she ordered the celestial maidens to sail the boat away, completely ignoring Feng Jiu, who was still soaked in the water.
Anxiously, Feng Jiu called out for them not to leave, but they ignored her completely. With a heavy heart, Feng Jiu thought mournfully: *Clearly, it was the Princess who deserved to be taught a lesson, so why is it that I am the one suffering this bad luck? Could it be that even the heavens can't bear to watch? Because I haven't been good, am I being punished?*