Two days later, Zhao Ai handed Wu Zhenzhen a detailed price list of relevant ingredients from various markets in the capital. After reading it, Wu Zhenzhen said: “As expected, most ingredient prices are more than double the market price, with quite a few at three or even four times.”

Zhao Ai asked: “What do you plan to do? Submit it directly to His Majesty?”

Wu Zhenzhen pondered, not answering immediately.

Zhao Ai then spoke his thoughts frankly: “If you offer counsel directly to His Majesty, he might think this matter exceeds your responsibilities and be angry with you before dealing with it. Moreover, since this matter involves many people, His Majesty will likely suppress it for now to avoid stirring up a major controversy before the Empress’s enthronement ceremony.”

“I have an idea…” Wu Zhenzhen said. “I heard that Ji Jinglan was recently promoted to Vice Censor-in-Chief. The Censorate’s duty is to investigate officials’ misconduct, strictly examine and punish corrupt officials, and maintain discipline and regulations. Besides, this Mr. Ji must have been a cat that loved catching mice in his previous life – I feel that over the years he’s investigated lawbreakers not for promotion but because he loves catching corrupt officials. Having him know about this matter would be most appropriate. However, as a palace woman, discussing such matters with court officials is taboo, and though you’re a prince, it’s also inappropriate for you to have private dealings with scholar-officials…”

“No need to worry – at today’s grand court assembly, I already had a eunuch quietly drop this price list and the Imperial Kitchen’s banquet budget for the enthronement ceremony at Ji Jinglan’s feet.” Zhao Ai watched Wu Zhenzhen gradually smile. “We truly think alike.”

Since discovering the budget problems, Wu Zhenzhen had often frowned in thought, but now with a solution in sight, she felt refreshed and returned to her spirited, smiling appearance. Director Pei noticed this and privately asked her that evening: “The budget listed by the Imperial Kitchen – did you leak it to external officials?”

Wu Zhenzhen was startled and instinctively denied: “No.” Then she felt guilty, thinking she had leaked it to Zhao Ai, though he couldn’t really be considered an “external official.”

Director Pei didn’t investigate further but asked another question: “Do you think that because I don’t address this matter, I’m in collusion with them, or even taking their money?”

Wu Zhenzhen quickly said: “I’ve never thought such a thing.”

Director Pei sighed: “Over the years, it’s not that no one has offered me money, but I’m old, my family line has ended, I have no descendants, and unlike those powerful eunuchs, I have no interest in buying gardens outside the palace to keep mistresses – what use would I have for money? These past two years, whenever the Imperial Kitchen’s managing official needs money, the listed expenses are always shocking. I’ve raised objections several times, but he ignores them. Later I gradually understood that this isn’t just his idea alone. A banquet involves not only the Imperial Kitchen but also the Hanlin Bureau managing tea, wine, and fruits, the Ceremonial Bureau managing displays and decorations, and above them, the Inner Palace Eunuch Bureau and the Palace Administration Bureau responsible for oversight. The approval of expenses also involves the Three Bureaus managing finances… If all parties hadn’t coordinated, or if there weren’t noble authorization, how would a mere Imperial Kitchen managing official dare to brazenly create such accounts?”

Wu Zhenzhen carefully asked: “Has Director thought of letting His Majesty know?”

Director Pei said: “I have, but then I thought – what if the truth is discovered? It might not be what His Majesty wants to see… I’m old, don’t have your sharpness, and don’t dare take risks… My greatest wish now is to die peacefully in the palace.”

These words made Wu Zhenzhen’s heart ache. Recalling Director Pei’s background, she suddenly felt her previous considerations weren’t thorough enough – she hadn’t considered Director Pei’s situation after exposing this matter. If Ji Jinglan truly investigated this thoroughly, Director Pei, as someone who had reviewed the accounts each time, even if not listed as a collaborator, would probably be unable to avoid charges of negligence, and her wish to die peacefully in the palace might come to nothing.

After much deliberation, Wu Zhenzhen decided to find the Imperial Kitchen managing official who made this budget – Inner Palace Attendant Xia Chengyi.

Since Wu Zhenzhen served before the Emperor, Xia Chengyi dared not neglect her and greeted her with smiles upon seeing her. Wu Zhenzhen didn’t waste words and after pleasantries handed him the recorded market prices to see. Xia Chengyi’s face darkened after a quick glance, and he quickly dismissed the surrounding young eunuchs, looking coldly at Wu Zhenzhen: “What does Food Preparation Wu mean by this?”

Wu Zhenzhen pointed to the price list: “In the capital’s markets now, a rabbit costs at most four thousand wen, but Managing Official Xia’s budget lists eight thousand; a quail costs at most three hundred in the market, but the budget shows eight hundred; and a six-liang lake crab costs about seven hundred wen in the market, but at Managing Official Xia’s place, it becomes two thousand. Now eighteen thousand wen can buy a horse – according to Managing Official Xia’s listed prices, eating nine crabs equals eating a horse.”

Xia Chengyi made excuses: “Food Preparation Wu doesn’t understand. State banquet ingredients cannot be compared to market goods. They’re carefully selected from specific regions, cultivated or raised with special care by suppliers – the cost is naturally high, so being two or three times more expensive isn’t surprising.”

“The market prices I mentioned are from the market under the red fork outside Hening Gate – that’s the most expensive market in the capital. I’ve asked before, and most of the sources are exactly where state banquet ingredients are purchased.” Wu Zhenzhen said calmly. “Managing Official Xia also doesn’t understand – my family runs a restaurant, and I’ve known since childhood that bulk purchasing of ingredients is only cheaper than retail, never two or three times more expensive. A state banquet uses thousands of ingredients – with such false reporting, how much treasury money is embezzled?”

Xia Chengyi’s face couldn’t hold up anymore, and he said angrily: “Whether Imperial Kitchen ingredients are expensive or cheap, Director Pei has never objected. I don’t know where Food Preparation Wu gets the audacity to act like she controls the Imperial Kitchen and come here to question me.”

Wu Zhenzhen smiled coldly: “Managing Official Xia is right – I’m just someone who serves tea and water to His Majesty and shouldn’t interfere in such matters. But I’m naturally inclined to meddle in affairs. When I see a horse running toward a cliff, I can’t help but want to pull the reins.”