Four Seasons Brocade – CH 123

Chapter 123 ☆、

However, Ah Wu could not say that the rule set by Hongyao Villa was wrong. It was not that Ah Wu did not have the money to send Nanny Sang and Zi-Zhui out to buy ingredients, but doing so would seem disrespectful to Hongyao Villa, and if outsiders knew, who knew what they would say about Prince Qi’s private quarters?

So, Ah Wu thought about it in her spare time. In her dowry, Lady Cui had added a mansion with a small mountain on the outskirts of the capital and about a hundred acres of fertile land. She could grow some fruits and vegetables for her own use and raise some wild animals on the mountain. Being self-sufficient like this would prevent outsiders from gossiping.

Originally, Ah Wu did not have much of a concept of these household affairs, but being squeezed by Hongyao Villa, she actually came up with a solution, finding a good job for the mansion. Of course, that’s a story for later.

Now, why was Ah Wu happy that the small kitchen was ready? She was used to Zi-Zhui’s cooking. Back in Jiangnan, it was Nanny Gong who discovered Zi-Zhui’s talent for cooking and hired a master chef to teach her. Over the years, she had become proficient in both Southern and Northern cuisines.

Zi-Zhui had already prepared a menu of about a hundred dishes based on the ingredients available in the mansion. Ah Wu would choose the dishes daily, a habit the two had developed back in the Rong Mansion.

This day, Ah Wu, determined to get something from Chu Mao, ordered only the dishes Chu Mao liked. She also specifically instructed Tong-Wen to open the west wing and retrieve the dozen or so sets of bowls and plates from her dowry.

At dinner in Yulan Hall, the round table in the west wing was once again set with four dishes and a soup.

A yellow dish with gold trim and intertwined floral patterns held sweet and sour shredded radish.

A bamboo-leaf green dish with a rhombus-shaped opening and a bamboo motif inside held snow-white slices of winter bamboo shoots.

A lake-green lotus-leaf-shaped platter held glutinous rice duck.

A large red ceramic bowl with crackled patterns held boiled fish slices.

A begonia-shaped sweet white porcelain soup bowl held spinach, chicken, and tofu soup.

The table was a vibrant array of colors, making one’s mouth water. The boiled fish slices were a Sichuan dish, one that Zi-Zhui had specially learned to make when Ah Wu learned she was to marry Chu Mao. Who would have thought that this seemingly divine Prince Qi actually liked spicy food? Even Xiangsi might not have known, and Ah Wu herself only discovered this after many years of wandering.

After Chu Mao took his seat, he looked at the dishes on the table and remarked, “Your Highness seems quite attentive to food.”

Ah Wu smiled, secretly thinking it was a compliment. “Just trying to make me feel comfortable.” Ah Wu placed a piece of boiled fish on Chu Mao’s plate.

Chu Mao ate almost half a bowl more rice than usual during the meal.

The two moved to the east side room and sat down. Ah Wu did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point, saying, “Today, Physician Sha came to Yulan Hall to check your lady’s pulse.”

Chu Mao did not speak, nor did he look at Ah Wu.

But Ah Wu knew he must have heard her and continued, “Your lady had Physician Sha leave my medical record at Yulan Hall. Your lady wonders if Your Highness thinks your lady should send it to Hongyao Villa for safekeeping?”

Chu Mao put down his book and looked at Ah Wu with interest, saying, “Ah Wu, are you aware that whenever you ask me for a favor, you like to refer to yourself as ‘my lady,’ while you usually use ‘I’?”

This was completely irrelevant! Ah Wu thought, why was this man so focused on this?

However, Ah Wu’s face could not help but blush, feeling somewhat embarrassed and angry, so she simply shut her mouth and said nothing more.

Chu Mao spoke up again, “In my opinion, it’s better to keep the Princess’s medical records at Yulan Hall; it will be more convenient.”

Ah Wu’s expression relaxed slightly, but her purpose went beyond that. “Not just mine, I think the medical records of the two concubines and the three chambermaids from Tanhua Courtyard should also be kept at Yulan Hall. After all, they are all the Prince’s concubines, and it’s my responsibility as their mistress to look after them.”

A hint of surprise flashed in Chu Mao’s eyes, as if astonished by Ah Wu’s willingness to take responsibility in this matter.

Ah Wu thought to herself, she had truly been wrong before, thinking that she could win Chu Mao’s favor by simply doing nothing. She had never considered that she was also his princess and that husband and wife were one.

“Since you say so, then very well,” Chu Mao nodded slightly.

Ah Wu felt smug, eager to see the expression on his face.

That night, the wind blew, but the curtains remained still, and she slept soundly through the night. Ah Wu awoke early the next morning feeling joyful. Not only had the medical records of Lady Tao and the others been delivered from Hongyao Villa, but a maid from her maternal family had also come to bring good news.

Rong Jie had achieved first place in the provincial examination that year.

“Go to Hongyao Villa and tell them I need to return to the Rong Mansion tomorrow,” Ah Wu instructed Zi-Shan. Ah Wu’s instruction was natural, and Zi-Shan’s response was equally natural.

These two—one was the beloved Princess Kangning in her previous life, and over the years, she had been the undisputed ruler of the Rong Mansion; the other was Ah Wu’s most prominent maid, having lived a smooth life for many years. Even the most cautious person would inevitably develop a touch of arrogance.

Therefore, not only was Zi-Shan unable to bear the cold treatment she received at Hongyao, but even Ah Wu, upon hearing her report, was momentarily stunned. Nanny Hao was being incredibly disrespectful to the Princess. Although she managed household affairs, the Princess’s actions were probably not something a mere nanny could decide. Sending Zi-Shan to inform her was merely a show of respect; the carriage for the outing also needed to be arranged by her. Ah Wu had not expected to be refused by Nanny Hao.

At this point, Ah Wu felt increasingly foolish, utterly foolish. What had gotten into her that she had so “selflessly” allowed an old woman to have a reason to boss her around, especially since she probably had not even earned a good reputation with Chu Mao.

However, Nanny Hao did not have the confidence to slap the Princess like that. A short while later, Ah Wu saw Nanny Hao enter the Yulan Hall.

This time, however, Ah Wu did not stand up, nor did she offer a perfunctory smile. She was reflecting on her actions; perhaps she had lowered herself too much earlier, allowing Nanny Hao to act with such prestige.

Nanny Hao, observing this, knew the Princess was displeased. She inwardly sighed, thankfully the Princess was young and not too calculating; her emotions were easily read. “This old servant greets Your Highness,” she said.

“Nanny, you address yourself as ‘servant,’ but I dare not accept such a title. His Highness treats you with the respect due to an elder, and I dare not overstep my bounds. Please do not flatter me,” Ah Wu said calmly.

Nanny Hao readily agreed, “Then this old woman will presume.” She glanced at the maids, including Zi-Shan, standing nearby, and said nothing more.

Ah Wu gave Zi-Shan a look, and she led her entourage away.

Only then did Nanny Hao speak: “I’ve come to apologize to the Princess. It’s only natural that the Princess wishes to return to her family home to celebrate your brother’s passing the imperial examinations; in an ordinary household, this would be perfectly acceptable. However, I have overstepped my bounds today, but I have my reasons. Would the Princess be willing to listen to my words?”

Ah Wu nodded.

“Before marrying into the household, the Princess was the daughter of a high-ranking official; she should know that these are turbulent times,” Nanny Hao hinted. Every change of dynasty was a time of great turmoil, often accompanied by bloodshed.

Ah Wu nodded slightly. Nanny Hao continued, “The more this is the case, the more Your Highness, as a Prince, must avoid suspicion. There are court laws prohibiting princes from forming private relationships with ministers. Although the Rong family is the Princess’s maternal family, his in-law is a high-ranking official, a third-rank official. Although the Princess is a daughter, she is still the Prince’s lady, and we hope she will consider Your Highness’s feelings.”

Seeing Ah Wu remain silent, Nanny Hao further comforted her, “I know the Princess truly misses her family. Perhaps we could send some gifts. I think your brother will understand the Princess’s difficulties and will not blame her.”

Ah Wu was pleased to see Nanny Hao so frankly explaining these principles, even coming despite her illness, all because she was solely concerned for Chu Mao. Ah Wu thought to herself that she was simply inadequate and secretly wondered why Chu Mao respected her so much. To be honest, Nanny Hao was indeed quite good at managing the household, but Ah Wu could not tolerate her. It was not because of Nanny Hao herself, but simply because Chu Mao had placed her on the opposite side. Therefore, Ah Wu could not bring herself to like Nanny Hao.

However, Nanny Hao had her reasons, and Ah Wu was not unreasonable.

“My brother, of course, will not blame me. It’s just that I feel guilty. It’s as if I’ve forgotten my own family now that I’ve married. Besides, Nanny knows that my father comes every month to lecture the Prince on classics and history. Even if he wanted to avoid suspicion, he probably could not. Brother has passed the imperial examination, and it’s only natural for me, as his sister, to go back and congratulate him. If I did not go back, it would seem strange. As the saying goes, if things are abnormal, there must be something fishy. It might even make people think that the Prince…”

Some things were better left unsaid. Nanny Hao hesitated for a moment before saying, “The Princess’s words make sense.”

This was a point where neither could convince the other. Ah Wu then said, “I understand Nanny’s concerns. In that case, I will inform the Prince tonight and then make arrangements.”

Actually, Ah Wu should have informed Chu Mao first before making arrangements, to avoid being publicly humiliated by Nanny Hao. However, she was too happy at the time and did not consider things carefully.

After Nanny Hao left, Zi-Zhui said from the side, “It seems Nanny Hao is not that arrogant.”

Zi-Shan snorted and said in a strange voice, “You fool, what’s the point of her explaining to our Princess in private now? She slapped our Yulan Hall in the face in public.”

Zi-Zhui was a kind person and had not thought of it that way at first. But after thinking about it carefully, she felt that Zi-Shan was right.

Ah Wu, of course, also thought Zi-Shan was right. Even if Nanny Hao did not agree, she should have used Chu Mao’s words to refuse her. Who did she think she was? She seized the opportunity to slap her hard in the face, and now she was putting on airs, which was really pointless.

Ah Wu did not care which actions were Xiangsi’s doing and which were Nanny Hao’s; in her eyes, they were all in cahoots. Once a rift developed between people, she could not see the positive side of anything the other person did.

That night, Chu Mao had not returned by midday. Ah Wu, eagerly anticipating returning to the Rong Mansion the next day, forced herself to stay awake, drinking strong tea to stay awake while doing some needlework to pass the time. The reason she did not read was simply that it was too soporific; needlework was much better, and occasionally pricking her finger when she felt sleepy could even help her stay awake.

When Chu Mao returned to Yulan Hall, he saw Ah Wu still awake and asked, “Why are you not asleep yet?”

Ah Wu put down her needlework, stood up, and replied, “Waiting for the Prince.”