Chapter 22: The Big-Eyed Cutie

It was already noon by the time the group returned to the front of the Fengtian Hall. Zhu Di had led the civil and military officials into the hall to hold their spoils-sharing meeting, leaving Chen Kan to grumble to himself under the scorching sun.

As Chen Kan currently held no official rank, he was not qualified to enter the great hall. Even his entry into the imperial palace had been a special favor granted by Zhu Di’s express order. Being a young man in the midst of a growth spurt, Chen Kan was already starving, his stomach pressed against his spine. Combined with the sweltering heat, he felt hot, hungry, and drowsy all at once.

He decided to head home for a meal. But before he could reach the palace gate, two imperial guards stepped forward and blocked his path.

"Young Master Chen, the Emperor has commanded that you must remain in the palace until the Grand Court meeting concludes before you may leave."

"Why?" Chen Kan asked with dissatisfaction.

"This is the Emperor’s order."

Chen Kan frowned, but seeing the uncompromising expressions of the two guards, he wisely chose to turn back to his original spot.

*Gurgle... gurgle... gurgle...*

After waiting for a long time, his stomach growled loudly. Unable to endure the suffocating atmosphere any longer, he turned and marched toward the palace gate again. Unsurprisingly, he was intercepted once more.

"Move aside!"

"Young Master Chen, please do not make things difficult for us." The two guards looked troubled. After all, since Chen Kan had been specifically summoned by the Emperor to wait in the palace, they dared not treat him too harshly. However, they lacked the courage to let him leave.

Seeing their firm resolve, Chen Kan had to settle for a secondary option. "Is there any place in the palace that serves food?"

The two guards exchanged glances. One of them pointed toward the complex of buildings on the west side of the Imperial Way. "That is the Office of the Imperial Bodyguard. You may go and check there, Young Master Chen."

"And what about over there?" Chen Kan pointed toward the much larger complex of palaces on the east side of the Imperial Way. Surely, with so many buildings, there must be a place that served food, right?

"That is where the Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Rites, Ministry of Works, and Ministry of War are located," the guard replied.

"Oh!" Chen Kan nodded. "Can I wander around in those places?"

"You may," the two guards answered. "Within the perimeter of the three great halls—the Fengtian Hall, the Huagai Hall, and the Jinshen Hall—you are free to move about."

Confirming he was free to roam, Chen Kan turned and walked away.

***

Who would stay under such a burning sun if they didn’t have to?

"Beyond the three great halls lies the inner palace city," the two guards called out. "Young Master Chen, do not go wandering in there!"

Alas, Chen Kan was already far away, and their voices were carried off by the wind.

Chen Kan arrived at the western building complex and looked up at the plaque that read "Office of the Imperial Bodyguard." He realized this was the site that would later be converted by Zhu Di into the Five Chief Military Commissions.

He slipped into a building that appeared smaller and humbler than the surrounding structures, reasoning that even in the imperial palace, a kitchen wouldn't be built too luxuriously. This shabby one had to be it.

A moment later, he dashed out, covering his nose. "Ugh! It’s a latrine! Damn it!"

"Who the hell built a latrine this fancy? It’s better than my own room! Damn it!" After cursing and jumping in frustration, and still feeling unsatisfied, he grabbed a stone from a nearby flower bed and hurled it through the latrine window.

Perhaps the window was in disrepair, or perhaps Chen Kan’s throw was just too strong; the window shattered upon impact, and the stone plunged deep into the latrine.

"Ah!" A shriek erupted from inside.

Chen Kan was startled. "Who’s there?"

"Which son of a bitch is ambushing me while I'm using the privy? You have no sense of decorum!"

Hearing the cursing from within, Chen Kan froze, then turned and bolted. Everyone in the palace was either a high-ranking official or a relative of Zhu Di; as a mere commoner, he couldn't afford to offend anyone. The best of the thirty-six stratagems was to flee!

Once he had run well clear of the Office of the Imperial Bodyguard, Chen Kan finally exhaled. Patting his chest, he sighed, "Impulsive. Impulsiveness is a devil."

He looked up and realized he had wandered into the office area of the Ministry of Rites.

"The Ministry of Rites... surely they have a kitchen here, right?" he muttered to himself, not entirely certain.

This time, Chen Kan had learned his lesson. If the shabbiest building was a latrine, then something slightly better must be the kitchen, right?

"This is the one!" Finding a building that was neither too large nor too small, he pushed the door open and stepped inside. Though the corner of the gate bore the inscription "Repository of Ritual Vessels," he was too hungry to notice.

After passing through a long corridor, he began to have doubts.

***

The items before him did not look much like kitchenware.

"What on earth is this?" He looked at an object that resembled a pot, yet didn't quite look like one. He couldn't help but reach out and flick it. It rolled over and hit the ground with a loud, metallic *clang*.

"Holy—!"

"Ah!"

Chen Kan was startled by the loud noise, but another scream followed—one that did not belong to him.

"There’s someone here, and it’s a woman!"

Chen Kan turned toward the corner where the scream had originated and locked eyes with a pair of sparkling, slightly panicked eyes.

"Whoa, a big-eyed cute girl?"

She was a lovely young woman, about sixteen or seventeen, dressed in a light yellow, ethereal gown. On her hair bun, she wore plum blossom hairpins on either side, their silvery tassels swaying as she moved—she looked adorable. Perhaps startled by the noise, she was now puffing out her cheeks, glaring at him indignantly.

"Who are you? Why are you here?"

The woman spoke, her voice ethereal and crisp, striking Chen Kan’s heart like a bolt of lightning.

"This is bad!" His heart hammered like a trapped deer. Chen Kan bit the tip of his tongue hard; the sharp pain snapped him back to his senses.

*No, women will only slow down my sword speed. Besides, this is a woman in the imperial palace; heaven knows what her relationship is with Zhu Di. Competing with Zhu Di for a woman... yikes.*

His mind racing, Chen Kan quickly lowered his head, chanting to himself to neither listen to, nor speak of, nor look at anything improper.

The woman clearly didn't intend to let him off that easily. Seeing him lower his head, neither answering nor looking at her, she said with annoyance, "Hey, I’m talking to you. Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

Chen Kan kept his head down and replied, "I'm sorry, I took a wrong turn!"

With that, he turned to leave without hesitation.

"Stop right there!"

The woman hurried over and blocked his path, hands on her hips. "You are very rude! I’m asking you a question, why won't you answer?"

Facing a woman who very well might be one of Zhu Di’s concubines, Chen Kan was truly in a bind. He replied cautiously, "My name is Chen Kan. If I told you I was just hungry and came here looking for food... would you believe me?"