The next morning, news spread throughout the Prince’s mansion that the Prince had once again berated the Princess Consort due to the side consort's severe injuries. The servants were all speculating when the Prince would depose the Princess Consort.
“How can you all be like this? You…”
Early in the morning, Nan Shiying was woken by the voices outside her door. Lǜ Wǎn entered with a basin of water, placed it on the rack, and then turned to attend to Nan Shiying, saying, "It’s Xiǎo Huán. The small kitchen didn't start cooking today, so the main kitchen sent your breakfast. The dishes are a bit simple, so…"
Simple?
More like meager!
Nan Shiying hummed in response. After dressing neatly, she asked Xiǎo Huán to bring the meal.
A plate of green vegetables, a bowl of plain congee, two flatbreads, and a dish of what looked like minced meat in sauce. It was far inferior to the breakfast of even a regular senior maid, let alone the Princess Consort. No wonder Xiǎo Huán had been so angry earlier.
"Princess Consort, they are truly bullying us too much."
Xiǎo Huán’s eyes reddened with anger as she looked at the food on the table.
Nan Shiying picked up her chopsticks, took a few bites, and then placed them down. "Lǜ Wǎn, you will personally fetch lunch."
"Yes."
Lǜ Wǎn quickly agreed.
Nan Shiying thought for a moment, then got up, opened the cabinet, and took out two pieces of broken silver from a box, handing them to Bái Zhǐ. She said, "Find someone to go out and buy some food."
"What does the Princess Consort wish to eat? Do you want the braised pork knuckle from Dōngbō Lóu or the pastries from Guìshān Zhāi?" Bái Zhǐ’s eyes lit up at the mention of food.
Braised pork knuckle was too greasy, and pastries were too sweet. Compared to those, Nan Shiying preferred to eat some delicacies unique to Lín Yuān Country, but she couldn't mention it at the moment. She simply said, "It’s best to buy some preserved goods that can be kept."
Bái Zhǐ exclaimed, "For preserved goods, we should go to Guǎngfú Lóu."
"Alright, you arrange it."
"Yes, Princess Consort." Bái Zhǐ happily accepted the errand.
Lǜ Wǎn shot her an annoyed glance.
…
Maidservants in the inner court could not leave the mansion freely, but the guards of the Prince’s mansion and the young servants in the front courtyard could. Jiǎ Huán looked at the girl standing before him, who had two dimples appearing on her cheeks when she smiled, and sighed helplessly.
"Preserved goods from Guǎngfú Lóu, right!"
Bái Zhǐ nodded vigorously, instructing, "Be sure to buy the most famous beef tendon, and the specialty sausages, and also…"
Bái Zhǐ listed them off like a seasoned vendor. Fortunately, Jiǎ Huán had a good memory and remembered every single item.
Jiǎ Huán took the silver and said to her, "If it’s not enough, I won’t ask you for more. If there’s any leftover, I’ll return it to you."
Bái Zhǐ waved her hand at him and said confidently, "It won’t be short. I’ve calculated it. Beef tendon is three qian per catty, sausages are two qian per catty, duck… calculating it all, it’s only one liang and three qian. The remaining money is a thank you gift for you, Guard Jiǎ. You don’t need to return it."
Jiǎ Huán looked at Bái Zhǐ and felt that she was wasting her talents as a maidservant. She should be an accountant.
"Alright, then come find me again in an hour." Jiǎ Huán didn’t stand on ceremony and tucked the silver into his belt.
"Thank you, Guard Jiǎ."
"Guard Jiǎ, you are such a good person."
Jiǎ Huán twitched his lips. The words were good, but they sounded a bit off. He waved his hand and strode towards the back gate.
After watching Jiǎ Huán leave, Bái Zhǐ turned and walked back to Xīnyuàn Gé.
…
At noon, the main kitchen was bustling, with maidservants and old women working tirelessly.
Lǜ Wǎn lifted the curtain, and a wave of heat hit her.
Old Woman Biàn, who managed the main kitchen, saw Lǜ Wǎn, dropped the sunflower seeds she was holding, and stood up from her chair, loudly reprimanding, "Whose maidservant are you? Do you have any manners? Is the kitchen a place you can just come to?"
Lǜ Wǎn looked at the old woman before her and said with a smile, "I am the Princess Consort's personal maidservant. The Princess Consort is considerate and doesn't want you to overexert yourselves, so she sent me to fetch lunch."
Who did she think she was? The maidservant of the Princess Consort who might be deposed at any moment!
She let out a snort from her nose and said mockingly, "Oh, the Princess Consort is truly considerate of us. If that's the case, why not just cancel lunch? That would truly let us rest well."
Several old women who were in league with Old Woman Biàn echoed in agreement, "Exactly, exactly."
"If the Princess Consort cancels lunch, we will be eternally grateful."
Lǜ Wǎn scanned the few old women who had spoken, the pupils of her eyes gradually cooling. She fiddled with the hairpin on her head and asked with a smile, "Are the madams feeling that you are too old and can no longer cope with the work in the kitchen?"
"You…"
"Or are you madams dissatisfied with the arrangements made by the Side Consort and harboring resentment?"
Old Woman Biàn's expression immediately changed, and she angrily retorted, "You speak nonsense!"
Lǜ Wǎn took a step forward, leaned close to Old Woman Biàn, and said in a low voice, "Madam, you must be an old resident of the mansion. Having been here for so many years, you must have seen everything. You must have seen many cycles of fortune and misfortune… Madam, do you really want to offend my mistress completely at this time?"
"Madam, if I were you, I would wait and see. After all, the Side Consort won't be recovering anytime soon. I doubt she will blame you."
Old Woman Biàn's expression changed several times, but she finally said nothing more.
Lǜ Wǎn carried the food container out of the main kitchen. A few old women gathered around Old Woman Biàn, chattering and asking questions.
Old Woman Biàn’s face was grim, and she remained silent for a long time.
In Xīnyuàn Gé, Nan Shiying looked at the food that Lǜ Wǎn had brought back and nodded with satisfaction. Although the meal was still not comparable to that from the small kitchen, it was much more substantial.
Hearing about the exchange between Lǜ Wǎn and the old women in the kitchen, she asked, "Lǜ Wǎn, has the old woman managing the main kitchen in the Prince's mansion always been the same one?"
"Replying to the Princess Consort, I used to serve the Prince, and his meals were prepared by the small kitchen. I didn't pay attention to who was in charge of the main kitchen, but Bái Zhǐ should know."
Just as Bái Zhǐ was mentioned, she walked in carrying the preserved goods.
"Bái Zhǐ, has the management of the main kitchen changed?" Lǜ Wǎn asked.
Bái Zhǐ didn't know why Lǜ Wǎn was asking this, but she answered, "Yes, it has changed. I remember before the Side Consort entered the mansion, the person in charge of the main kitchen seemed to be Old Woman Liú."
Nan Shiying asked, "Why was she replaced?"
Bái Zhǐ replied, "It seems it was because Old Woman Liú fell ill. I’m not too sure of the specifics."
"Is Old Woman Liú still in the mansion?"
"She is."
"After she recovered from her illness, she seemed to have been assigned to guard the garden."
Nan Shiying raised an eyebrow slightly, then instructed Lǜ Wǎn, "Find an opportunity to approach that Old Woman Liú."
"Mistress, you mean…"
Nan Shiying picked up a handkerchief to wipe her mouth and said lightly, "Disobedient servants should just be replaced."