Mingyue left Lanyue Palace and headed straight for the Imperial Household Department, intending to pick a fight, or as one might say, to court death.
The Imperial Household Department was akin to a miniature imperial court within the palace, with incredibly broad responsibilities.
If the Six Boards and Grand Secretariat managed state affairs, then the Imperial Household Department was the inner court, an organization specifically handling the emperor's domestic matters.
From the emperor's most basic needs to his marriage and funerals, all royal affairs fell under the purview of the Imperial Household Department.
Within it, the Guangchu Division managed the treasuries for silver, furs, porcelain, silk, clothing, and tea. The Weaving and Dyeing Bureaus were also under its jurisdiction.
The Huiji Division was responsible for accounts and finances, while the Zhangyi Division oversaw sacrifices and the ranks of eunuchs.
The Duyu Division handled the selection of military officials, and the Shenxing Division dealt with legal cases.
The Yingzao Division was in charge of repairs and construction, and the Qingfeng Division managed livestock.
The Qianliang Yamen handled rents and taxes from imperial estates, and the Neiguan Division managed palace duties.
The Imperial Kitchens were responsible for palace meals, and the Imperial Pharmacy for medicines.
In addition, there were various departments and offices responsible for assessing the diligence of palace staff, totaling over fifty divisions.
It was headed by a Chief Minister, often a highly respected member of the imperial family, holding a rank of Zheng Er Pin (Second Rank, Senior Grade).
The current Chief Minister of the Imperial Household Department was Ji Duhui, the late emperor's illegitimate elder brother and the former eldest prince.
Wang Momo had swaggered before Mingyue, claiming she was temporarily in charge of the Imperial Household Department.
In reality, she only managed one department within it, the Neiguan Division.
Its sole responsibility was personnel transfers within the palace, and she was merely using the name of the Imperial Household Department. Mingyue knew this well and saw no need to expose her.
She was determined to see her suicidal mission through, and therefore wouldn't pick a fight in the insignificant Neiguan Division.
The offense wouldn't be great enough for Ji Shiyou to sentence her to death. She needed a more serious charge. She was heading for the *true* Imperial Household Department.
Mingyue, with a fierce aura, strode through the rear palace. All the servants, upon seeing her, kept their distance.
This was because, that morning, she had pursued Wang Momo with a sharp weapon.
Her fearsome reputation had already spread. No one knew what had transpired in Cining Palace.
This was due to Ji Shiyou and the Empress Dowager imposing a gag order, forbidding any leaks about the events in Cining Palace.
So, all people saw was Wang Momo, screaming that the Empress had gone mad, and fleeing.
Behind her, the Empress, with disheveled hair, pursued with a sharp weapon.
In the end, Wang Momo's corpse was carried out of Cining Palace, her head severed from her body.
Thus, everyone avoided Mingyue, lest they attract trouble.
Mingyue ignored their reactions, as she was trying to figure out the direction of the Imperial Household Department.
She realized she seemed to be lost, unable to distinguish east from west.
Most crucially, she had been too focused earlier and hadn't even remembered the way back.
Even returning to Lanyue Palace was now a problem.
Just then, the aroma of food wafted towards her, and Mingyue's stomach rumbled uncontrollably.
She had only eaten a few pastries all morning and was now hungry again.
Following the scent of food, she arrived at a courtyard gate, upon which were three large characters: Imperial Kitchens.
"Alright, I'll find something to eat first and fill my stomach, then I'll go cause trouble for the Imperial Household Department."
Mingyue thought this as she walked in. However, the scene before her made her wonder if she had entered the wrong place.
Instead of the sounds of frying, stir-frying, and wok-tossing, it was like a court session was in progress. Mingyue thought she had stumbled into the Shenxing Division.
The courtyard was noisy, and no one noticed when she slipped in.
Naturally drawn to a commotion, she forgot about her immediate need for food.
She stood to the side, watching with great interest.
In the center of the courtyard sat a grand armchair, occupied by a palace maid.
She appeared to be seventeen or eighteen, and her attire suggested she was a prominent palace maid.
She put on airs, looking down on everyone.
Beside her, over a dozen eunuchs and palace maids, armed with knives, spears, and clubs, stood guard menacingly.
"Feng Tang, do you know your crime?"
The palace maid in the chair spoke with an official tone, making one think she held a high rank.
"Miss Fanhua, this humble servant has not offended Changning Palace.
Nor have I disrespected Noble Consort.
I truly do not know where I have offended you!"
Feng Tang, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Kitchens, was a plump eunuch in his forties.
He was forced to his knees by the eunuchs from Changning Palace, daring not to move.
Although he was the chief eunuch, Noble Consort Zheng of Changning Palace was the daughter of the Marquis of Huguo, whose father commanded military power.
She was always arrogant and overbearing in the harem, and even the servants of Changning Palace were not to be offended.
Especially this Miss Fanhua, who was Noble Consort Zheng's confidante.
Even as a chief eunuch, he dared not act presumptuously, but he still tried his best to defend himself.
"Still dare to argue? You disrespected the Noble Consort.
Everyone knows that the Noble Consort's father, the Marquis of Huguo, opposed His Majesty's decision to appoint that fallen princess as Empress.
He even rammed a pillar in the Golden Hall to protest, and fell unconscious.
Furthermore, the Marquis of Huguo accompanied His Majesty in a three-year war against the Wuman Kingdom. The Marquis of Huguo's household harbors deep hatred for the Wuman Kingdom.
The Noble Consort has been distressed by the Marquis of Huguo's injury these past few days.
And you actually sent Wuman cuisine into Changning Palace for the Noble Consort's lunch.
This caused the Noble Consort to fly into a rage. Did you do this intentionally to disgust the Noble Consort?"
Fanhua, a dowry maid of Noble Consort Zheng, was from the Marquis of Huguo's household and shared their animosity.
Mentioning the Wuman Kingdom, she gritted her teeth and said.
She spoke as if she could devour people, hating everything about the Wuman Kingdom.
Her elder brother was a guard to the Marquis of Huguo and died at the hands of the Wuman people while fighting alongside him.
The Marquis of Huguo was injured opposing the appointment of the Empress, and her own mistress, Noble Consort Zheng, should have been the best candidate for the Empress position.
Instead, the Wuman princess snatched the Empress's title. Fanhua was irreconcilably opposed to the Wuman Kingdom.
Therefore, upon seeing that all the lunch delivered by the Imperial Kitchens today was Wuman cuisine, she immediately flew into a rage and brought people from Changning Palace to the Imperial Kitchens to confront the chief eunuch, Feng Tang.
Feng Tang finally understood where he had erred. He had tried to curry favor but ended up stepping on a rake.
Originally, for the emperor's wedding, Ji Shiyou had specifically instructed the Imperial Kitchens to prepare a banquet of Wuman dishes.
The chefs in the Imperial Kitchens knew nothing about it. Fortunately, a lowly palace maid named Yanliu, who was from the Wuman Kingdom, managed to complete His Majesty's task.
Moreover, after tasting it, His Majesty praised it highly and even bestowed a special reward upon the Imperial Kitchens.
With His Majesty's affirmation, Feng Tang, thinking he was being clever, decided to change all the palace meals to Wuman cuisine.
He hoped to receive more rewards, but he overlooked the animosity between Noble Consort Zheng and the Wuman Kingdom.
His cleverness backfired, drawing fire upon himself.
"You disrespected the Noble Consort, so you will be beaten twenty strokes. Where is the person who made the Wuman dishes?
Bring her here. I heard she is a lowly Wuman.
I suspect she is a spy from the Wuman Kingdom, with ulterior motives for entering the palace.
All Wuman people deserve to die!"
Feng Tang was an official of the Imperial Household Department with a rank. No matter how arrogant Fanhua was, she dared not take his life.
However, to vent her anger, she took it out on Yanliu, the cook.
A lowly palace maid, and a Wuman at that, she could kill her without any psychological burden.
The eunuchs from Changning Palace quickly brought over a person dressed in the attire of a lowly palace maid, appearing to be sixteen or seventeen years old.
"Beat her to death with sticks, then feed her corpse to the dogs. Wuman people deserve nothing more."
Fanhua said with utter disdain. Killing someone held no psychological pressure for her.
But as soon as she finished speaking, a cold glint flashed towards her neck.