Chapter 7 - The Spoiled Rice Incident

# The Spoiled Rice Turmoil As the old eunuch's footsteps outside drew nearer, Zhong Li's heart shot to his throat. He hastily wiped the leftover traces of spoiled rice from his lips with his sleeve, pushed the empty bowl that had held the spoiled rice toward Ying Zheng, and stuffed the used chopsticks into his sleeve. Raising his voice deliberately, he put on an overly fawning tone: "Prince Si, you've finally finished the meal the Queen Mother graced you with! If not for Her Majesty's kindness, you'd go hungry today!" Ying Zheng sat at the table, watching Zhong Li's round eyes brim with anxiety—like a panicked little beast scurrying for cover. The corner of his mouth twitched upward almost imperceptibly, too quickly for Zhong Li to catch. In the next instant, he resumed his cold demeanor and spat out a single word to Zhong Li: "Leave!" "Ah! You're still so stubborn!" Zhong Li's eyes lit up. He quickly followed the lead, even pretending to chide gently: "How can you turn down Her Majesty's goodwill like this..." Before he could finish, the door creaked open. An old eunuch in a dark red palace robe, his face crisscrossed with wrinkles, stepped in—it was Eunuch Liu, the steward of the Queen Mother's household. Behind him trailed a sharp-faced young eunuch, Xiao Li, Eunuch Liu's personal attendant. Eunuch Liu's gaze immediately fell on the empty, licked-clean bowl in front of Ying Zheng. A satisfied smile spread across his face as he stepped forward and slapped Zhong Li's shoulder so hard that Zhong Li stumbled: "Good lad! The Queen Mother truly didn't misjudge you—you're quick and efficient. You'll surely have a future in the palace!" Enduring the soreness in his shoulder, Zhong Li bent over and smiled obsequiously: "It's all thanks to your guidance and Her Majesty's teachings, Sir. This servant doesn't dare take credit." As he spoke, he shrank back toward the corner, doing his best to make himself inconspicuous. Eunuch Liu paid him no more mind. Turning to Ying Zheng, he dripped with sarcasm: "Prince Si, was the Queen Mother's meal to your liking? Do you know how that meal was made?" Ying Zheng lowered his eyes, his fingertips white as he clenched the tablecloth. He said nothing. Eunuch Liu waited for a moment, and when no response came, his face darkened instantly. His voice turned as shrill as scraping glass: "Hmph! It seems you've eaten until your wits are gone! The water used to cook that rice—boiled from water that washed night soil buckets! And the 'meat' in it? Let me tell you, it's rat meat I specially fetched for you, a little 'treat'! Hahaha!" "Ugh—" At the words, Zhong Li's stomach lurched violently. He nearly retched up the shredded pork with fish flavor he'd eaten at noon. Clutching his stomach, he hunched over like a shrimp, cold sweat streaming down his cheeks from his forehead. His breathing grew ragged, and his face paled to paper. Ying Zheng looked up at Zhong Li. Seeing him trembling all over from pain, his fingertips quivering, something in Ying Zheng's chest twisted tight. This was the first time anyone had eaten spoiled rice for him, had taken such humiliation on his behalf. His hand, hidden beneath the table, curled into a fist, and a flicker of worry—unnoticed even by himself—crept into his eyes. Eunuch Liu heard the commotion behind him. Turning, he saw Zhong Li's state and frowned: "What's wrong with you?" "R-Replying to you, Sir," Zhong Li forced himself to lift his head, a weak smile tugging at his lips. "I suppose this servant is unlucky. I stole a few bites of His Highness's... leftovers just now, and now my stomach's acting up. I'm sorry for worrying you, Sir—it's my fault." No sooner had he spoken than Xiao Li, standing behind him, piped up in a shrill voice: "Eunuch Liu! This servant saw him outside the courtyard! He didn't eat His Highness's spoiled rice at all—he brought his own hot meal for Prince Si, and ate the spoiled rice himself!" The words landed like a thunderclap, freezing the room's atmosphere instantly. Eunuch Liu's face turned livid with rage, his eyes blazing with malice as he pinned Zhong Li in his stare: "You audacious slave! How dare you deceive this Supervisor? And you dared hide good food for this worthless prince—you must be tired of living!" Zhong Li's heart sank. He hadn't expected Xiao Li to spot him. He opened his mouth to defend himself, but Ying Zheng spoke first—his voice cold, yet steady: "Eunuch Liu, I told him to eat it. He's tired from serving me, so I rewarded him with a bite. Is that something you need to meddle in?" Eunuch Liu froze, clearly unprepared for Ying Zheng to stand up for Zhong Li. When he recovered, he was so furious his face flushed red. He stepped forward and kicked the leg of Ying Zheng's chair hard. The wood snapped with a "crack," and Ying Zheng nearly toppled over: "You worthless prince! How dare you protect this slave? You've forgotten your place!" Seeing this, Zhong Li scrambled over to steady Ying Zheng. Dropping to his knees, he kowtowed to Eunuch Liu: "Please calm your anger, Sir! It's all my fault! I was greedy and stole His Highness's food—it has nothing to do with him! Punish me if you must, but spare His Highness!" Eunuch Liu snorted coldly. Glancing at Zhong Li's pale face, then at Ying Zheng's stubborn gaze, he suddenly changed his mind. He remembered the Queen Mother's order: leave someone to watch Ying Zheng, to stop him from running off again. Waving impatiently at Zhong Li, he said: "Enough! You look so sickly you can barely walk. The Queen Mother has ordered someone to stay and watch Prince Si—you'll stay here! If you dare slack off, I'll skin you alive!" With that, he shot Ying Zheng one last venomous glare, then stormed off with Xiao Li, muttering curses. Before leaving, he deliberately crushed Zhong Li's foot under his shoe—making Zhong Li grit his teeth in pain. Once Eunuch Liu was far gone, Zhong Li finally exhaled. But suddenly, a sharp cramp twisted in his abdomen. Clutching his stomach, he dropped to one knee, his face contorted in discomfort as he addressed Ying Zheng: "Y-Your Highness, this servant needs to... needs to use the latrine..." Ying Zheng pointed to a small side room on the left, his voice sounding faintly awkward: "Go there." "T-Thank you, Your Highness!" Zhong Li gave him a grateful look, then stumbled toward the room, still clutching his stomach. Ying Zheng sat on the broken chair, watching Zhong Li's retreating figure. For the first time, he found himself staring blankly at the door. Since childhood, his mother had told him: endure, be obedient, and you'll survive in the palace. But after years of enduring, all he'd gotten was bullying from eunuchs, cold stares from maids, and not a single hot meal. He'd long shut his heart, waiting for the day he'd die quietly. But today, this young eunuch named Zhong Li—had foolishly eaten spoiled rice for him, had taken the blame for him. "Maybe he's just trying to atone," Ying Zheng muttered to himself. The memory of the sour porridge Zhong Li had spilled on him the day before flashed through his mind, and his eyes turned cold again. "I'll send him away tomorrow. So the Queen Mother doesn't take her anger out on him."