"Oh? What fruit is it?" Mei Fei's eyes lit up, and she leaned forward.
Seeing Mei Fei's unusually interested expression, Bai Sheng chuckled inwardly, guessing that Mei Fei was also a foodie.
It seemed that Prince Yu's many traits were deeply influenced by Mei Fei.
Bai Sheng said respectfully, "Reporting to Concubine Mei, three of the fruits are incredibly sweet and delicious, but one fruit smells like excrement yet is very tasty. It's rather strange, though: those who like it will be utterly captivated, while those who dislike it will retch upon smelling it. Before tasting, this commoner ventures to ask for Concubine Mei's forgiveness."
Upon hearing Bai Sheng's words, Mei Fei became even more intrigued. She immediately waved her hand, "I absolve you of your guilt, I absolve you! Quickly, bring them for me to taste!"
Bai Sheng then asked, "May I ask, Your Ladyship, are there any other consorts living nearby? This commoner fears that the fruit's scent might offend other consorts and bring unnecessary trouble to Concubine Mei."
"The Zi Zhu Yuan next door only has Concubine Yu, but she's a bit mad and won't be a problem. Hurry and open them for me to see the fruit!" Mei Fei grew increasingly impatient.
"As you command!" Bai Sheng smiled faintly.
She asked Eunuch Zhu for help to open the crate containing the durians and took out four "meteor hammers" larger than human heads.
Mei Fei was slightly surprised, "This… this fruit is so hard, how can it be eaten?"
As she spoke, a strange aroma suddenly wafted over. It was a bit foul, yet a bit fragrant, hovering indistinctly between sweet and foul.
Eunuch Zhu beside her cautiously covered his mouth and nose, looking at Bai Sheng with concern. This Miss Bai seemed quite clever; why would she send her mistress a pile of stinking things?
Bai Sheng borrowed a knife and gently pried open a durian, instantly releasing a strong, peculiar odor.
Eunuch Zhu began to gag, while Zi Qiu and Mei Fei also covered their noses and mouths.
Seeing this, Bai Sheng immediately asked, "Does Concubine Mei still wish to taste it?"
"Yes… yes, I do!" Mei Fei's tone was firm. There was no fruit in this world she couldn't eat!
Bai Sheng secretly smiled; the foodie Mei Fei had agreed!
As pieces of soft, plump, yellowish fruit resembling excrement were placed on plates, the entire front hall was filled with a strange, fecal odor.
The two palace maids and one嬷嬷 standing nearby also covered their noses and mouths.
Bai Sheng placed a large plate of the stinky substance on the table, and Mei Fei and Zi Qiu immediately crowded around.
Mei Fei, covering her nose and mouth, said impatiently, "Bai Sheng, hurry up! I want to taste it!"
Eunuch Zhu lunged forward, fighting the intense urge to vomit, and said urgently, "Your Ladyship, please wait. Your servant must first test for poison!"
"Yes, Your Ladyship, this old servant will also help you try it!" The嬷嬷 also rushed forward, casting a reproachful glance at Bai Sheng. How could such a foul-smelling thing be given to her mistress?
Mei Fei waved her hand, "No need. You both look so ill, even if it's not poisoned, you'll make it seem so."
"But—" Eunuch Zhu really felt that the stinking stuff was inedible!
Bai Sheng said, "Your Ladyship, this commoner will test the poison! This commoner has eaten it many times."
Zi Qiu immediately stepped forward, her expression tragically determined, "Mistress, allow me to taste it!"
Mei Fei nodded, "Then hurry!"
The more she smelled it, the more fragrant it seemed. Had her sense of smell gone wrong?
Zi Qiu scooped a small spoonful with a spoon and put it in her mouth.
Her brows immediately furrowed, her expression as if she were eating feces.
However, when she carefully savored the taste with her tongue, she found it incredibly sweet and fragrant. It was so strange; she even wanted to eat another bite.
So she scooped another large spoonful.
After that, she couldn't stop.
It wasn't until Mei Fei snatched the plate away that she realized her loss of composure and smiled sheepishly, "Mistress, this meteor hammer is too delicious! It's so fragrant!"
Mei Fei also eagerly scooped a large spoonful, and after the first bite, she hurriedly took a second, muttering, "Too delicious! Too delicious!"
Mm-hmm, having found a kindred spirit, Bai Sheng nodded and smiled.
Seeing his mistress and Zi Qiu eating non-stop, Eunuch Zhu's eyes widened in shock. Had his sense of taste and smell gone awry? Why did he feel like vomiting just by smelling it?
Mei Fei saw Eunuch Zhu standing there, stunned with a look of horror, and said, "Ah Hou, come and get a plate, I'll share a piece with you!"
"No, no, no, thank you, Your Ladyship, your servant will not eat it." Eunuch Zhu seized the opportunity to step back several paces, sniffed, and then walked further away.
It was too terrifying, this foul smell! But his mistress was eating with delight, and he couldn't mention the indelicate word "feces."
And so… he would endure.
"Fragrant! So fragrant!" Suddenly, a figure rushed in from outside the hall, grabbed a large chunk of durian, and stuffed it into his mouth.
Bai Sheng saw that the person was a woman, about twenty years old, with disheveled hair, a face smeared with dirt, her appearance indistinguishable, and her clothes torn and untidy.
Was this… a madwoman?
Shortly after, a palace maid rushed in, pulling the madwoman and exclaiming, "Mistress, Mistress! Oh my, you can't do this! This is Concubine Mei's food!"
Concubine Mei raised her hand and said gently, "It's alright, let her eat. Zi Qiu, go get another plate."
"Yes," Zi Qiu replied, turned, and went to get a plate.
"Ting Lan, take better care of your mistress in the future; look how dirty her face is," Mei Fei said to Concubine Yu's palace maid.
"Yes, Concubine Mei, this servant has already washed my mistress's face three times today," Ting Lan said, feeling a little wronged and helpless.
"Never mind, never mind, it's not your fault," Mei Fei said slowly. "Go get a plate, and I will reward you with a piece of fruit."
Ting Lan immediately knelt down, "Thank you for Concubine Mei's kindness, this servant… *gag*… will not eat… *gag*…"
Seeing Bai Sheng's astonished expression, Mei Fei sighed, "This is the fate of women in the inner palace. Ever since her son… was no longer… she became this deranged. Bai Sheng, you must think I'm amusing; the women in the deep palace are all pitiable creatures." Mei Fei's voice carried an endless melancholy.
Bai Sheng quickly said, "Concubine Mei, you are too kind. How would this commoner dare to laugh or speak ill of your noble person? However, this commoner is somewhat knowledgeable in medicine. When Concubine Yu's child… what happened?"
Mei Fei sighed again, "He is no longer… in this world."
"I'm sorry, this commoner was too abrupt," Bai Sheng also felt some regret.
Mei Fei turned and saw Concubine Yu snatching the remaining durian. She beckoned to the palace maid standing nearby. The maid immediately handed over wet wipes. Mei Fei took one to wipe her mouth and said to Bai Sheng, "This is a common fate for women in the harem; you don't need to blame yourself."
"Delicious, want more," Concubine Yu, her face smeared with the fruit, asked Zi Qiu for the plate.
Bai Sheng immediately smiled and said, "Concubine Mei, this durian was bought by this commoner from a foreign merchant encountered by chance. That merchant said that one durian is equivalent to three chickens and is a great tonic. Eating too much at once can cause internal heat. It would be better to let Concubine Yu not overeat.
This commoner has also brought another fruit called mangosteen, which is cool and nourishing and can help neutralize the heat from the durian. Would you trouble Eunuch Zhu to bring it out for the two consorts to taste?"
Hearing this, Eunuch Zhu immediately opened the second crate and took out round, black fruits.
Thank goodness, this fruit tasted normal!