Media: Real ramie plantation in Chongqing
Source: ichongqing.info

The reason why Feng Yanyan didn't get enough sleep last night was that a female official went to his courtyard to give him last minute instructions on how to serve the King.

No, no. It isn't what you think. Lewd mind.

Beauty Feng was taught of wangye's habits and rules in a hastened way that he worried for his brain. But being here now, that was when he realized her Highness had minimal close contact with servants.

Even chief eunuch Cheng wasn't here all the time. He must be busy with managing the palace.

The female officer said that before Feng Yanyan, there was a rotating assignment of first-ranked maids or eunuchs to serve the King in the study, during her meals and when receiving guests or officials. There would be one person at a time only. 

He was told that he would do all of their duties today.

It made sense since they didn't know exactly when his fourth cousin would come. Feng Yanyan shook his head at the things her Highness did just to hide from the Empress' eyes.

Anyway, it seemed Wan Li Wang's rules were simple. Number one would be to be quiet.

Her Highness didn't like loud, upsetting sounds. Steps should be muffled. Only speak when necessary. Don't linger in the halls. Don't joke around. Don't gossip.

All of them centered around the fact that the King hated noise.

But Feng Yanyan noticed she didn't avoid natural sounds like the water flowing in the man-made falls in the garden, the bugs outside, the shak-shak* of snipping flowers and leaves and the distant sound of military drills from who knew where.

(*onomatopoeia of the sounds of shears )

Her other habits were quite easy to remember as much as how odd they were.

An example of this was what was happening now.

Long Xu Le sat on a small cushioned chair a bit further from the table where the breakfast was.

The King was facing the direction of her brother and her back was on Feng Yanyan. He had already taken off her beizi and hung it on the stand. She sat quietly waiting.

>Beizi - the coat over the robes... they have so many names smh<

Feng Yanyan lifted his hands behind her and gently unclasped the jade coronet tying her hair up. So focused was he to handle the midnight wisps almost melting in his palms that he didn't notice the intense stare Long Sangyu was giving.

The only thing that was running in his mind right now was: 'Damn damn damn, it's so soft. How the hell?! Is this the privilege of the real rich in this era?! My God!!!'

Long Xu Le felt the faint trembling of the fingers handling her hair. He was already scared just by holding this much hair? She frowned.

Or maybe he was scared by Sangyu?

The man Junwang guarded against the most in this wangfu was now holding his imperial elder sister's hair strands almost piously. Feng mei ren didn't bother to hide the worship in his eyes. Or he probably didn't know he was making an expression of a devoted slave right now.

Long Sangyu was really bothered by this. All the expressions Feng Yanyan showed before could be summarized into confidence, ambition, arrogance and condescending. He had never seen this kind of reverence on his face.

What baffled the prince the most was his previous thought that none could par his da jie when it came to looks was slowly crumbling. Looking at these two side by side made Junwang's skin crawl in realization.

It wasn't just another person at the same level as his sister's appearance, his presence even complemented his sister's bearing.

Ping Junwang, who was an admirer of beauty, always felt his sister looked like a desolate tree standing on her own. But today it was like a painting was finally complete and the sun decided to shine a bit of its rays to the sturdy branches.

He clutched his chest as his heart shook. How could he think of nonsense?! Long Sangyu shook his head to regain his cool.

The King's pre-meal ritual was finished. Feng Yanyan was disappointed that the softness left his hands.

That was right. Long Xu Le used her meals with her long hair down. Who knew why?

Our Feng Yanyan was just filled with lament but soon had to wake up. Ping Junwang didn't bring any of his concubines. That meant there was no one to serve other than him.

Wait.

He paused while holding the silver chopsticks. Did that mean he would also serve the prince?

Beauty Feng was reluctant.

It was good that Long Sangyu was perceptive. "Serve wangye well."

A brilliant smile arched Feng Yanyan's lips looking like that was a gain in itself. The prince was bewildered.

It was evident that the mei ren was more fond of his sister. How? He didn't want to curse his imperial elder sister but her reputation speaks for the fear and trepidation people felt for her.

Wasn't Feng Yanyan like that before too?

How come now he looked delighted to serve wangye?

Of course, our protagonist wouldn't know a single thing running in the brain of the 'male lead'. Feng Yanyan was just petty and didn't want anything to do with the prince so he was glad to be absolved of serving his Highness.

As a result, he appeared to be sweeter to Wan Li Wang.

Few people knew that Long Xu Le didn't eat breakfast when Sangyu wasn't there. When her Highness was out in the battlefields or just outside the wangfu in general, she only ate one meal per day.

The rest of the time was spent working, oftentimes, at the expense of her health.

However, Feng Yanyan was perceptive of people's behaviors. He noticed that King Wan Li didn't like to eat much after the first few bites so he adjusted the way he took dishes.

Sweet braised potato marbles were followed by savory eggs and then honeyed shao erkuai. The main dish was rice noodles cooked in beef broth with bits of meat.

Media: Er kuai 
Source: WildChina

Everything was given in bite size and the noodles in small quantities so as not to overwhelm the stomach.

Feng Yanyan remembered his grandmother's eating habits which were similar. How he missed the old lady. That was why his movements became even more attentive. Pouring water or tea at the right moments.

The breakfast finished with wangye eating more than she thought she would but there was no nausea at all.

Seeing the King's hale appearance, Long Sangyu also knew her sensitive stomach wasn't triggered.

Eunuch Cheng Gong was met by Junwang with a wide smile when he returned to Zhongqing.

"Praise and reward the kitchen generously. Better yet, give everyone in the courtyard rewards from this prince's warehouse. Da jie has good appetite today!"

The old eunuch's eyes grew wide at the empty bowls in front of King Wan Li. Then they almost disappeared as he laughed in a good mood. He hurried his adopted son to the task immediately.

"Wangye, this servant will ask the kitchen to prepare lunch at the usual time today."

The courtyard seemed to be injected with happiness all of a sudden. It was rare for the King to eat so much.

Wan Li Wang only hummed as though she was separated from them and their joy.

It was Feng Yanyan who had no idea what in the whole world was happening. His questions were all over his face so he hid it by looking down.

Since Long Xu Le didn't want to spoil the jolly atmosphere, she also ordered a reward. "Give Feng mei ren a bolt of Chen spider silk and Rongchang ramie each."

The man blanked and hyperventilated after hearing this. It was good that he held himself from yelling in excitement. Did he hear that correctly?

Long Sangyu and Cheng Gong were worse off. Both stiffened at the same time and rigidly turned their heads to the King.

If Beauty Feng wasn't so shocked himself, he would have made creaking sound effects in his mind.

Chen spider silk wasn't the most expensive fabric in the land of the Long Dynasty but it was hard to come by. In the whole palace, Long Xu Le monopolized the little supply they had. Long Tang was given a dress made of that silk before and she loved it too much she didn't wear it casually.

And Rongchang ramie... nothing could be said about this fiber. The plantation in Rongchang district of Suliang had been coveted by the Left Prime Minister even before. The old fox succeeded in the early years of Long Xu Le's exile.

But she managed to get it back after five years of threats, schemes and hidden quasi-wars. Rongchang ramie became one of Suliang's main sources of income soon after and was a pillar of the province's autonomy.

Although a bolt of this ramie wasn't too extravagantly expensive, it symbolized a person's status. One could only get a hand of ramie pieces in the market. Getting a bolt needed deep connections in Rongchang. And that could mean some sort of contact with Wan Li Wang.

Seeing her brother and chief eunuch's expressions, Long Xu Le frowned in displeasure. They were the ones giving rewards and looked like they were complaining when she added more.

"W-wangye, Feng can't... don't dare..." Feng Yanyan shook his head, not knowing what he did to get generous rewards.

Long Xu Le's scowl grew deeper. "Take the ramie."

There was no room for argument. She already removed the spider silk from the list. 

---

LXL: That reward isn't too much
LSY & Eunuch: ...
FYY: I want!!!!

Edited: Feb. 16, 2023