Four Seasons Brocade – CH 139

Chapter 139 ☆、

Ah Wu was slightly surprised to see Nanny Hao behind the gate. It was freezing cold, almost midnight, and Nanny Hao, whose legs were sensitive to the cold, should have been sleeping in a heated room. Why was she waiting on the veranda?

Chu Mao had already taken a step ahead of Ah Wu. “Did I not tell Auntie to wait for me?”

“Your Highness probably has not eaten anything tonight. I cooked some noodles. Your Highness, please have a bite. Without me, you definitely will not eat a single bite,” complained Nanny Hao.

Actually, Ah Wu had also wanted to strike while the iron was hot and show Chu Mao some concern as a wife, but Nanny Hao’s actions made her feel like she was just a poor imitation.

Chu Mao followed Nanny Hao as if heading towards Hongyao Villa. Ah Wu stopped at the fork in the road, thought for a moment, and then turned left to return to Yulan Hall. At this moment, Chu Mao also stopped and said to Nanny Hao, “Nanny, come back to Yulan Hall with me. Let Ah Wu cook some noodles.”

Ah Wu was suddenly called upon and was a little confused, especially since she had no idea how to cook noodles. But Chu Mao’s attitude pleased Ah Wu, so she smiled and said, “Yes, I will cook the noodles. Please, Nanny, try my cooking too.”

Nanny Hao was clearly taken aback. She turned to look at Ah Wu, her expression one of grievance, as if something had been stolen from her.

Under the bright red and gilded lanterns of the Prince Qi’s Mansion, dating back to the thirty-second year of the Longqing reign, Ah Wu stood gracefully, her eyes like black gemstones, shimmering with a dazzling light. Her bright red satin robe with floral and insect patterns adorned the snowy night, transforming her into a picture of stunning beauty. Nanny Hao felt a mixture of melancholy and relief.

“Very well, this old woman will presume to try the Princess’s cooking today.”

In the small kitchen of Yulan Hall, Ah Wu stood beside Zi-Zhui, watching her rapidly chop the ingredients for the noodles. Fortunately, Zi-Zhui had made ample preparations today. Although Ah Wu did not need noodles for dinner, the maids were bound to crave them, and noodles were the most filling food, so there was no need to rush and only start making the dough now.

“Why did you suddenly want to eat noodles? It’s nothing special. It’s hard for the Princess to digest noodles so late,” Zi-Shan said, somewhat puzzled.

Ah Wu, however, remembered something and tapped her head in annoyance. She had not been careful enough. The death anniversary of Empress Xiaozhen was on the first day of the Lunar New Year, which was also Chu Mao’s birthday. Chu Mao’s birthday was taboo for him and for the entire Prince Qi’s mansion, and no one had reminded Ah Wu.

Ah Wu had never seen Chu Mao celebrate his birthday. No wonder Nanny Hao insisted on personally welcoming him and forcing him to eat a bowl of longevity noodles.

“Hurry up; it does not need to be too complicated. I think clear broth noodles will do. Just shred the wood ear mushrooms, daylily buds, and eggs, stir-fry them briefly, and put them at the bottom of the bowl. Then pour in some winter bamboo shoot and ham broth as a sauce.” Ah Wu watched Zi-Zhui chopping radish and bamboo shoots, knowing she wanted to show off her culinary skills, but time was of the essence.

“Is this not a bit too simple?” Zi-Zhui thought Chu Mao was testing Ah Wu’s cooking skills.

“No need. Do not put onions in later; they smell bad, and His Highness probably does not like it.” Ah Wu put herself in Chu Mao’s shoes, figuring he definitely would not like the smell of onions on his breath.

Three steaming bowls of what appeared to be unremarkable plain noodles were served in festive red bowls adorned with the “Eight Immortals Celebrating Longevity” design. These were placed on a black lacquered rectangular tray with gilded dragons holding longevity symbols, and were personally carried by Ah Wu to the west side room of Yulan Hall.

Ah Wu set out the bowls and chopsticks, standing beside Chu Mao to serve him. “Your Highness, Nanny Hao, please try my cooking.”

“Just the smell is enough to make one’s mouth water,” Nanny Hao said with a smile, a hint of pleading in her eyes as she looked at Chu Mao.

Chu Mao did not pick up his chopsticks but asked, “Is there any wine?”

Ah Wu glanced at the hourglass in the corner. Seeing that the first day of the Lunar New Year was almost over, she said, “Your Highness, please have the noodles first. They will not taste good if they get cold. You did not eat anything at the banquet earlier.” Although Ah Wu spoke to Chu Mao, she was actually looking at Nanny Hao.

Nanny Hao grew anxious. “I knew Your Highness had not eaten again! Have you not eaten all day? How can your stomach take this? If Your Highness bothers this old hag, I will leave right now!” Nanny Hao even resorted to threats, making a move to get up and leave.

Chu Mao waved his hand, reluctantly picking up his chopsticks and taking a bite of noodles.

Nanny Hao continued nagging, “You cannot stop now! Your Highness should finish it all in one go.”

Since he had already eaten, Chu Mao stopped being coy and ate the whole bowl in one go, even the shredded egg, wood ear mushrooms, and shiitake mushrooms at the bottom, and drank the broth clean. Although he devoured it like a whirlwind, his posture remained elegant.

“This broth is quite good,” Chu Mao said, wiping his mouth with the hot cloth that Ah Wu handed him.

Of course, otherwise Ah Wu would not dare to be so presumptuous. The winter bamboo shoot and ham soup that Zi-Zhui made every year for the New Year was a specialty of the Rong family. The food was still hanging in the stove, to be sent back to the Rong Mansion tomorrow.

After finishing the noodles, Chu Mao and Ah Wu saw Nanny Hao off. Nanny Hao’s eyes kept lingering on Ah Wu, so she said outside Yulan Hall, “It snowed tonight; the roads are slippery. I will escort you a little further.”

Nanny Hao readily agreed, adding, “Your Highness, please rest early. If you escort me again, it will be too much trouble for this old servant.”

Chu Mao nodded.

Ah Wu stood beside Nanny Hao’s bamboo sedan chair, smoothing the tiger skin on her knees.

Nanny Hao looked at Ah Wu with her old, sharp eyes and said, “Please, Your Highness, take good care of His Highness. Do not let him down; he has truly suffered a lot.”

Ah Wu nodded, but she did not know how she could let Chu Mao down. They were now in the same boat, sharing both glory and ruin. Even if she were out of her mind, she would not do anything to betray Chu Mao. When Ah Wu returned to the inner room, Chu Mao was still in the bathing room. She sneezed from the heat and immediately thought, “Zi-Shan, go fetch the physician.”

Zi-Shan had served Ah Wu for so many years; she knew Ah Wu’s nature perfectly well. Ah Wu was the type who needed a physician’s attention at the slightest sneeze, treasuring her life more than anyone else. In reality, Zi-Shan had no idea Ah Wu’s ailment was psychological. She dreaded illness and medicine, fearing she would be bedridden forever. She had suffered terribly from illness, so in this life she was exceptionally cautious. Even a minor headache or fever would prompt her to see a physician, and she needed medicine to feel better. If an illness dragged on for several days, she would start to worry.

When Chu Mao came out, he saw that Ah Wu was still dressed neatly and asked with slight surprise, “Are you not going to sleep?”

Ah Wu replied, “I have a bit of a headache. I called the physician, but he has not arrived yet.”

Chu Mao did not answer, turned back to the bathing room, and came out dressed again, seemingly intending to wait for the physician with Ah Wu.

“Did you catch a chill from the wind last night?” Chu Mao naturally reached out to touch Ah Wu’s forehead.

Ah Wu subconsciously turned her head away. “Your Highness does not need to stay with me. You’ve had a long day; you should go to sleep.”

Chu Mao glanced at Ah Wu a few more times, then withdrew his hand and said, “It’s alright.” He then picked up a book and began to read. Ah Wu saw that he was engrossed in his reading and did not want to disturb him.

A short while later, Physician Zou arrived. Ah Wu had known his medicine since childhood, so even after coming to the Prince Qi’s mansion, she still habitually sought his help.

Zou Mingshan was surprised to see Chu Mao and, after a moment of surprise, quickly stepped forward and knelt. “Get up; treating the Princess is the priority.”

After Zou Mingshan stood up, he saw that Ah Wu was already seated. Zi-Shan was rolling up Ah Wu’s sleeves, revealing a section of her arm, as white as jade. He was an old man in his sixties, so he did not think much of it, but he could not help glancing at Chu Mao.

Chu Mao’s eyes were indeed fixed on Ah Wu’s exposed arm.

Ah Wu was also puzzled. Although she was so fastidious that she disliked anyone touching her, she made an exception when the physician took her pulse. She never allowed any handkerchiefs or curtains to cover it. She believed that observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation were all important and that a misdiagnosis should not be made for the sake of formalities.

Zou Mingshan took her pulse and examined Ah Wu’s tongue, saying, “It’s nothing serious. The Princess has caught a slight cold, but it’s not severe. Rest more and drink plenty of water these next few days. I will prescribe a warming and pungent herbal decoction to relieve the exterior; brew one dose first.”

After seeing Physician Zou off, Ah Wu finally relaxed. She had Zi-Shan prepare a basin of hot water and add some nourishing herbs, and then she soaked in it before slipping on her soft satin shoes and emerging from the room.

The inner room was very warm. Ah Wu was only wearing a set of snow-white undergarments made of Songjiang three-loom cloth, costing a hundred taels of silver per bolt. Being a woman who loves beauty, even her undergarments, which she did not show to others, were still impeccably tailored. Because she wore very thin clothing, her waist and legs appeared even slimmer and longer. Having just bathed, her fair and rosy face was as smooth as egg white, her skin so translucent it seemed as if moisture had seeped into it.

Chu Mao could not quite place the scent emanating from Ah Wu. It was certainly not the cold plum blossom fragrance he usually preferred, yet this scent was undeniably alluring, making it difficult to concentrate.

Ah Wu took off her shoes, only to realize she was exhausted, dizzy, and had even forgotten to put on her socks. Chu Mao was already lying on the outer edge of the bed, reading a book. Ah Wu glanced at him, seemingly unperturbed, and decided she must have been overthinking things. Who had the patience to stare at someone’s feet?

Ah Wu did not disturb Chu Mao, turning to crawl from his feet to the inner side. Her hips were high, and her slender waist arched, revealing a beautiful, long curve, completely unaware of how naturally alluring she was.

Chu Mao stared blankly at her. The slight rise and fall of her chest was already a feast for the eyes, her round and pert buttocks were enough to make one’s mouth dry, and then there were her feet, like white magnolia petals—Chu Mao almost dared not look.

“Ugh.” Ah Wu was kicked in the chest by Chu Mao’s sudden sliding motion as he lay down. Although it did not hurt much, she was still a little startled and uncomfortable.

“Where did I kick you?” Chu Mao quickly sat up and asked Ah Wu.