“Never heard of such a thing. How are you even more formidable than my mother?” Wei Jia looked at Xiao Wei. “Baiyu, help me explain the proper reasoning here.”
Xiao Wei said one sentence: “There’s only one Hua Mulan.”
Mo Zi immediately rebounded, raising her eyebrows and looking at people through slitted eyes. “There’s also only one Song Mo Zi.” Feeling quite good about herself.
“Hua Mulan’s story only goes until she married.” Xiao Wei came with another line.
“Song Mo Zi’s story is written by myself.” Compete in eloquence?! Ha!
“His Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress have arrived.” The eunuch’s announcement came at just the right time.
More than three people came—there was also Xiao Mingrou, Consort Xian, Consort Hui whose belly had already swelled, and several adult princesses.
After everyone performed their kneeling courtesies, they sat according to arrangement. Mo Zi’s position wasn’t at the women’s table, but at a table with Xiao Wei and Yang Ling—all young and accomplished people who appreciated and admired Mo Zi’s talents. Though others found it somewhat strange, Mo Zi was a female official, not a female family member, so this arrangement wasn’t wrong. They only muttered about it in their hearts.
Once seated, Mo Zi discovered that among today’s banquet guests, besides her table, all other tables were imperial relatives. Three princes plus Prince Jing, the Empress Dowager, the Empress and various consorts’ maternal families. Compared this way, Yang Ling, the second-place scholar, the third-place scholar and the others seemed specially assembled for her.
“Today’s family banquet is for moon-viewing. Everyone be at ease.” The Emperor and Empress Dowager also had a round table, truly like hosting wine at home.
“Why call me to a family banquet?” Mo Zi asked softly.
“They called us few as well.” Yang Ling was also puzzled.
After the two looked at each other, they couldn’t help but laugh, both understanding to make the best of the situation.
There wasn’t much worth detailing about this meal. Eating was mainly vegetarian, supplemented with clear-stewed and boiled meats, but because the Emperor—this highest leader—was present, the Imperial Kitchen put more thought into it than last time when the Empress hosted. The pastries had slightly more variety, and what surprised Mo Zi was that the mooncakes had also become small, imitating what she’d given His Majesty to taste last year.
“Mo Zi girl, how do these mooncakes look?” The Emperor called on her specifically.
Mo Zi stood up and respectfully answered, “They look very much like the Mid-Autumn mooncakes I sent to Your Majesty last year.”
The Emperor laughed. “Not a single flattering word—good girl. Then taste them and give me another evaluation.”
Mo Zi took a bite, froze slightly, kept silent for a moment, then took another bite.
“Why aren’t you speaking?” The Emperor had found the meal boring just now and was waiting for someone to amuse him. As expected, that person didn’t disappoint him.
“Mm—Your Majesty, Mo Zi doesn’t know whether she should tell the truth.” Her palate was quite good.
“I called you precisely to hear the truth. Speak—if you’re right, there’s a reward. Whatever you want, just say it. I won’t be as stingy as last year.” The Emperor tempted her with benefits.
“Mo Zi isn’t seeking a reward, but no matter how I taste these mooncakes, they seem to be made by Wangqiu Tower.” The shape looked like it, and the taste was even more identical to what Bai He had given her to try some days ago.
The Emperor made a stern face. “You girl, I told you to speak the truth, and you really just said—the truth.” Breaking character, he laughed heartily. “Correct, I had Liu Ning buy these mooncakes from Wangqiu Tower. I heard they’re very hard to buy—sold out the same day they’re made. Liu Ning didn’t understand Wangqiu Tower has a reservation system. When he went to buy yesterday and opened his mouth asking for a hundred boxes, even after adding several portions of silver on top, they still said they didn’t have any. Later he could only tell the head steward it was for the palace, and only then did they agree to rush the order. Just now they were delivered.”
Mo Zi smiled along but didn’t say a single good word for Wangqiu Tower. Words must be said at the right time—otherwise even truth might not make the Emperor happy. Wangqiu Tower’s reputation was rising rapidly; she didn’t need to gild the lily.
“These mooncakes aren’t hard to make. As long as the Imperial Kitchen’s master chefs eat two, next year Wangqiu Tower won’t get His Majesty’s business anymore.”
“True—otherwise, if the palace’s imperial chefs can’t compare to civilian restaurant cooks, where would I put my face?” The Emperor’s words were half-joking, half-serious.
The Imperial Kitchen received the message and from then on began studying mooncakes and Wangqiu Tower’s various dishes.
“Good, since you guessed correctly, tell me, what reward do you want?” The Emperor planned to fulfill his golden words.
“…” Mo Zi hesitated.
“Being indecisive isn’t like you. Anything goes, as long as I can provide it.” The Emperor began to grow curious.
“…” This time Mo Zi wasn’t hesitating but muttering quietly.
Yang Ling was also a lively treasure and immediately acted as a megaphone. “Your Majesty, Official Mo Zi wants to eat crabs.”
Mo Zi fiercely glared at Yang Ling, immediately kneeling down. “Your Majesty, Mo Zi was just speaking casually, it can’t be taken seriously. Right at this troubled time, the whole nation in mourning, how can I think of appetite? Even if tonight’s moon in the sky is truly very round and looks especially like a crab with its legs pulled off—”
Quite a few people sprayed their wine on the spot, and on the women’s side there were also those who couldn’t help laughing and hastily covered their mouths, everyone looking up at the sky.
The Emperor laughed heartily, also looking toward that full moon. “The moon looks like a crab with its legs pulled off? You really thought of that, but your description makes even me want to eat some. Get up. I said this is a family banquet—speak your mind, no kneeling required.”
“Your Majesty, the ancients climbed high to view the moon, admired chrysanthemums, and ate crabs—elegant and able to taste delicacies. So without crabs at Mid-Autumn Festival, it always feels like something’s missing. Moreover, crabs are neither lively nor festive, which accords with propriety.” When Mo Zi said this, she was making it up.
But Princess Changming, who found her disagreeable, spoke up to make things difficult. “How are crabs not festive? When cooked they’re bright red. The Crown Prince only passed three months ago, yet Official Song wants to eat crabs out of greed—what kind of propriety is this? Taking advantage of Father Emperor’s promise to reward you, but Official Song must also pay attention to status and etiquette.”
The Emperor was unmoved by Princess Changming’s words and remained smiling. “Mo Zi girl, your mouth has always been formidable, and your words are never without reason. You say crabs aren’t festive or lively—there must be a reason. I’m waiting.”
Mo Zi had wanted to sit down, but with Changming’s disruption and the Emperor asking her to explain, she could only remain standing. Princess Changming wasn’t wrong—she was indeed greedy and wanted to eat crabs, but exactly how did this fail to accord with her status and propriety? The Crown Prince died, so even crabs must be forbidden—was there any written regulation? Show it! Could it be that the Crown Prince was allowed to act domineeringly like a crab, but she wasn’t allowed to eat crabs?
“Your Majesty, crabs are cold and yin in nature. When boiled they’re doused with strong liquor and eaten with realgar wine—naturally not lively.” She first explained the first three words.
“Barely acceptable. Then what about not festive?” The Emperor absolutely had to get an extraordinarily satisfactory answer, because Mo Zi’s usual performance of never disappointing him made his expectations very high.
“Not festive, well—” Mo Zi momentarily got stuck.
“Right, how do you explain not festive?” The one inserting himself was the tough Prince Liang. “Even in my military camp I’ve heard of Official Song’s resounding fame. I’ve been curious just how learned and clever our Great Zhou’s first female official is. Today I must see for myself.”
Mo Zi’s gaze swept over several princes. Their fiefs were all near various borders, and they hadn’t yet heard of her relationship with Daqiu—it seemed Su Lan and Ding Gou had played their role.
Thinking of this, she gracefully bowed to the Emperor. “Your Majesty, Mo Zi is not learned—just a shipbuilder who only knows woodcraft. However, since it’s a festive occasion and there’s no song, music, or dance, Mo Zi will tell Your Majesty and everyone a story.” Her specialty had gone unused for a long time—she didn’t know if it was still effective.
“Don’t change the subject. Why aren’t crabs festive? You still haven’t answered.” Princess Changming thought Mo Zi couldn’t make something up and felt rather smug.
“Your Highness, you’ll understand after hearing this story.” After Mo Zi finished speaking, she looked at the Emperor.
The Emperor naturally agreed. “Telling a story is fine, but if the story has no connection to what I want to know, I’ll punish you.”
“What will Father Emperor punish her with?” Changming finally caught an opportunity to suppress Mo Zi. She and Mo Zi had no grudges or grievances—it was just because she considered herself the first in cleverness and capability, and now seeing someone stronger than her, she felt unhappy. “If you ask me, strip her of her official hat and confiscate her county lady dowry.”
Mo Zi was very indifferent to Princess Changming’s words. Rather, she made a discovery—the Min family were all hall brothers and cousins, but four Wang family maternal cousins had already appeared, and she’d encountered them in quite a few situations.
“Girl, what do you think? If you’re not confident, I’ll change the punishment.” The Emperor didn’t object, letting Mo Zi choose herself.
Was he favoring his daughter, or did he have confidence in her? Mo Zi said, “Even if everyone doesn’t believe in me, I must support myself. Your Majesty, let it be as Princess Changming said.” The official hat would be lost sooner or later anyway, and she cared even less about the county lady dowry. As the saying goes, accepting favors puts you in debt—did they think the Emperor’s rewards were so easy to take? She only wanted crabs, yet they could create all these complications.
“Good. If you tell it well, I’ll give you a great reward.” This time the Emperor seemed to seriously mention a reward.
After being “deceived and tricked” twice, Mo Zi was already indifferent. “Thank you, Your Majesty. The story begins with a white snake—”
With this opening, she attracted most people’s attention, thinking: what connection could crabs and white snakes have?
“The story is very long—I’ll tell it simply.” If she really told it in detail, it would be dozens of episodes’ worth of plot. “The white snake had spiritual nature and had cultivated for nine hundred ninety-nine years to become immortal. Just when she encountered the thousand-year heavenly tribulation and lost her magical powers, she met an evil dragon in battle. Just as she was about to become food for the black dragon, she encountered a kind-hearted young man who saved her life. To repay this kindness, the white snake and her younger sister, a small green snake, transformed into humans. Calling herself Bai Suzhen, she met this man named Xu Xian at West Lake, came to like him, and agreed to become husband and wife for one lifetime. Xu Xian was a scholar preparing for examinations who made his living teaching. Though Bai Suzhen had magical powers, she never abused them. She opened a medicine shop to treat poor people. The two supported each other—their days weren’t wealthy or noble, but they were loving and happy. Who could have expected unforeseen storms—”
“What is this? What does it have to do with crabs?” Princess Changming snorted delicately.
“Changming, the story isn’t finished yet. Be quiet.” The Emperor was listening intently.
In fact, except for Changming’s deliberate disruption, everyone was listening very intently.
Changming pursed her lips and was about to retort when the Empress tugged her and shook her head, telling her not to be rude.
Mo Zi continued: “There was a demon-catching monk named Fahai who passed by the Xu residence and sensed an aura that didn’t belong to humans. He concluded Bai Suzhen was a demon and told Xu Xian. At first Xu Xian wouldn’t believe it at all, but Fahai was determined to capture Bai Suzhen and kept pestering persistently. On this day, Mid-Autumn arrived. Fahai said demons encountering realgar would reveal their true form—if Master Xu didn’t believe it, he could buy realgar wine to drink together with his wife. Xu Xian thought about it—buy it then. This would embarrass the monk and stop him from bothering them. So he bought wine and food and went home. Your Majesty, let me drink some water and eat a pastry.”
She drank leisurely and ate leisurely, ignoring the many eager gazes.