The consorts quickly found their seats and the waiting staff put down their dishes. Unlike a western-style meal where soup and salad were served before the entrée, their entire meal was served in small bowls and plates on a tray. A few of the consorts looked at the food with frowns. They'd never seen a yellow-green dish like this before.

"What is this?" Shilian took her spoon and pushed around the carrots and potatoes in the bowl. "Looks like pig feed."

Shaugn smiled showing his teeth. "Oh? You know what pig food looks like?" He snapped his fingers. "Oh, that's right. I forgot. You were a maid once. You've seen all sorts of things those of noble birth know nothing about."

There were several snickers. One consort covered her mouth and giggled. Xoan took a sip to hide his smile.

Shilian glared at him. "You would know. Digging in the dirt for some filthy plants."

"Plants that save lives and nourish the body. Some of those plants can even be used to promote fertility." He looked her up and down with a sneer. "But you know that since you used those plants to drug the emperor so he'd have sex with you."

Her chest rose rapidly as her mouth looked like a fish out of water. "Scandolous!"

Snickers and giggles mingled with shocked gasps. The consorts whispered to each other as the household staff secretly looked at each other.

"The empress really said it."

"Touche."

Shilian looked to Xoan with tears in her eyes. "Your majesty, this is pure slander."

"Hardly."

There was a loud throat clearing. Everyone looked at Xoan who simply turned to Shaugn with a slight smile. "Empress, your kitchen spent a long time preparing the meal."

Shaugn took the hint and smiled. "Apologies, your majesty." He turned to his fellow consorts. "Please eat. This is curry chicken. We also have steamed carrots and cabbage with red beans and rice."

The fifth consort was a slender woman with fair complexion and copper hair. Freckles dusted her cheeks and nose. Maryam had given birth to the first princess. There were rumors that because she knew a lot about herbs, that she was a witch despite being the daughter of one of their northern allies. "Where did you get this recipe, empress?"

"In my medicinal dealings I ran into a chef who concocted nourishing meals made from medicinal materials," Shaugn replied.

The tenth consort, who caught colds frequently after the birth of the youngest prince, took a spoonful of curry and tasted it. Her eyes lit up and she began to eat more enthusiastically. Seeing his fellow consort inhaling the food as if it was delicious, the male consort beside her took a taste. His eyes lit up.

"This is medicinal? It's too delicious."

"It's not like those disgusting nourishing soups and stews the physicians prescribe at all."

"Ooh, sister. Try it," the eleventh consort and her twin were rescued from raiders by Xoan and taken into the harem. She held her spoon to her sister's mouth to taste. The twin sister's eyes lit up and she began to eat.

"It's so delicious."

"Isn't it? I don't know where the cook got the spices from. It doesn't taste like medicine."

A few others began to eat and soon the only sound heard was silverware on plates and bowls. There were a few moans of delight and conversations over the different flavors. Shaugn glanced over at Xoan who hadn't said much and whose food was half gone.

"Is it to your majesty's liking?" Shaugn leaned over and whispered.

Xoan nodded and shoveled another spoonful in his mouth. "I haven't had curry and red beans and rice in a long time."

"Oh?" Shaugn raised a brow. According to the chef, this was not something they'd made before. How did Xoan know this dish? "You're familiar with this dish?"

He paused for a moment with his spoon in the air. "It's...a common dish in the south."

"Why is that?"

"Lot of spices grow there." He stuffed his mouth full so he could stop talking.

Shaugn's eyes narrowed. According to memory, Xoan never mentioned anything about the south's cuisine. Before he could inquire further, there was a loud clanging sound drawing everyone's attention. The seventh consort, Iksa, threw her napkin on the table with disgust.

"Take this schlop away. Bring me something more fitting."

Sieh smirked. "Does the food not appeal to your tastes, Iksa?"

She turned her nose up. "How could you eat this? There's so much flavoring, you can hardly taste anything else."

"That's right. Where you're from, they only use salt and pepper as seasoning." Jazzaia, the first consort, spoke for the first time.

There were chuckles and giggles as Iksa's face turned pink.

"We have other seasonings."

Shaugn raised a brow. "Such as?"

Iksa blustered for a moment before she spit out, "Basil."

There was laughter in response. Her face turned red and she clenched her hands into fists.

"Is that it?" Maryam asked with a small smile.

Dane shook his head. Even though he was a military man, he was accustomed to seasonings of home. Spice was life. "Remind me not to eat anything if I ever visit her kingdom."

She stomped her foot on the ground. "How rude."

Shaugn smiled. It was only too easy to sow seeds of discord in the harem. Good. He wanted them to tear each other apart. He poured a little oil on the fire. "Rude is thinking your tastes are more refined than your husband, the emperor. The emperor enjoyed this...what did you call it?"

"Schlop," Dane replied.

"Thank you, Dane. Yes, schlop. The emperor enjoyed this slop immensely. Are your tastes more refined than his majesty who has traveled all over the empire?"

As if the air had been sucked out of the room, the smiles were put away and everyone looked at Xoan. Xoan's eyes were narrowed as if he was angry.

Iksa paled. "Your majesty, I-I didn't-"

The messy male consort, Goren, leaned over to Dane and whispered, "Oh, honey, yes you did." Dane snorted and shook his head.

Her eyes welled with tears. "I-"

A scream and the sound of dishes breaking sounded throughout the dining hall. All the adults rose from their seats and turned to the children. A nursemaid was on the floor holding the side of her face. The first prince was standing over her with a glare on his face.

"How dare you try to force this prince," he roared. " I said I won't eat it."

'Oh no the hell he didn't,' Shaugn thought to himself. The consorts sat back down while the maid began to apologize. Sieh rushed to her son's side. Unsure if he should intervene, Shaugn gave Xoan a look.

He simply nodded giving permission. "Do as you please, empress."

Shaugn walked over to the group. Sieh was berating the nursemaid who was still on the floor groveling. One of the younger children was crying while the others ate with their heads down. No one noticed his approach until his fan opened with a loud flap.

"Incompetent wench! I'll have you beaten within an inch of your pathetic life," Sieh yelled, kicking the nursemaid.

A modern man with modern ideals regarding the basic treatment of humans, Shaugn felt his blood boiling. As the descendant of a slave, seeing servants being mistreated touched something deep inside. His eyes narrowed and his voice dropped low.

"Let me tell you what you not gone do."

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