As the Dragon Boat Festival passed, the sweltering summer days made people drowsy. Households in the capital began preparing for summer retreats. Even the teacher suspended classes to meditate in the mountains. The young ladies no longer had to attend morning lessons, and even their needlework and music classes were in a semi-suspended state.
However, Ji Cheng became even more diligent in visiting Liu Chuniang. During a casual conversation, Ji Cheng had heard Liu Chuniang mention that in recent years, she had been focusing mainly on medicinal cuisine.
As people age, they become especially concerned about their health. The Old Madam had dedicated staff attending to her daily meals. There was a small kitchen in her courtyard, with Lu Daniang in charge of the stove. Lu Daniang had inherited a book of medicinal recipes, which caught the Old Madam’s eye. The Old Madam would only eat dishes prepared by her.
As a result, even a great chef like Liu Chuniang was marginalized in the Shen household, unable to find her place because her dishes didn’t suit the Old Madam’s palate. Liu Chuniang, being competitive, had spent the past few years at the Shen house researching new dishes, hoping to outdo Lu Daniang.
Ji Cheng knew she couldn’t hope to access Lu Daniang’s inherited recipe book, but learning from Liu Chuniang was feasible. With the mindset that more skills are always beneficial and that mastering medicinal cuisine could help her please her future mother-in-law, Ji Cheng sincerely took Liu Chuniang as her teacher.
Liu Chuniang, perhaps irritated by Shen Yuan’s attitude, accepted Ji Cheng as her disciple without hesitation. She taught her without holding anything back as if to show the Shen family that if a young lady seriously studied culinary arts, it would always prove useful in the future, and they shouldn’t look down on the culinary profession.
Ji Cheng first learned to identify ingredients and medicinal herbs from Liu Chuniang. At night, she had to memorize the compatibility and incompatibility of foods. Her mind was constantly filled with information like “ginseng should not be eaten with carrots, as it causes indigestion” and “crabs should not be eaten with persimmons, as it can lead to poisoning.”
This was manageable, but Liu Chuniang also wanted Ji Cheng to understand the reasons behind these dietary taboos. For instance, why couldn’t pork and beef be eaten together? The “Bencao” (Materia Medica) recorded: “Eating pork with beef causes parasites.” The “Yinshan Zhengyao” (Principles of Correct Diet) stated: “Pork should not be eaten with beef.” One is warm, the other cool; one strengthens the spleen, and the other is greasy and hinders digestion. Their natures and effects counteract each other, hence they should not be eaten together.
As a result, Ji Cheng had to memorize many more books. Besides the “Bencao,” she had to learn texts like “Jin Kui Yao Lue” (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer) and “Zhu Jia Ben Cao” (Materia Medica of Various Schools). Her dedication rivaled her brother’s decade of diligent study.
Shen Cui coldly observed Ji Cheng’s frequent visits to the kitchen, thinking her behavior was beneath their status. Girls of their standing wouldn’t need to be near the kitchen after marriage; they weren’t marrying into families that fried pastries at the end of the alley.
When Yuqian’er told Ji Cheng how Shen Cui privately spoke of her, she didn’t get angry. Truthfully, she had learned a lot from Liu Chuniang.
Remembering her mother at home, Cloud Lady always felt that Ji Qing’s coldness towards her was due to her aging looks, so she was particularly keen on hair care and skincare. Ji Cheng copied several medicinal recipes from Liu Chuniang and sent them home with her letter. However, she was more concerned about Cloud Lady’s health. In recent years, her mother had trouble sleeping, usually only managing to fall asleep at dawn. So, three of the recipes she sent were for treating insomnia. Ji Cheng earnestly urged her mother in the letter to eat these regularly. Being far away in the capital, she couldn’t supervise and didn’t know if her mother would listen.
Along with the letter, Ji Cheng also sent recipes to her father. One was for a porridge made with jujubes, millet, and Poria cocos, which strengthens the spleen and heart, calms the mind, and benefits intelligence. It’s good for deficiency of heart and spleen, insomnia, and forgetfulness. Her father had been worried and overworked for years, and recently his energy had noticeably declined. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have let Ji Cheng, a young woman, secretly take on the Ji family business.
Not long after Ji Cheng sent her family letter, a letter arrived from Jin. Upon opening it, Ji Cheng saw that Ji Qing wrote about Ji Lan sending him a letter detailing the Ji family’s difficulties and her predicament, saying that only if Ji Cheng entered the palace and gained favor could the Ji family have a great fortune.
Ji Cheng eagerly read on, wanting to see her father’s thoughts. She wasn’t disappointed. Her father saw clearly that the throne was not easy to ascend, fraught with countless dangers. Ji Cheng had also considered that if she entered the palace to bear children, for her child to become emperor, she would have to eliminate all other princes. This was simply a fool’s dream, and even if successful, she would be ashamed to face anyone in the afterlife.
Fearing that Ji Cheng, being young, might be tempted by illusory grandeur, Ji Qing earnestly cautioned her in the letter not to aim too high. Ji Cheng wrote back, explaining her recent situation and subtly pointing out Ji Lan’s ambition, urging her father to remain clear-headed, and assuring him that she would also try to persuade Ji Lan. Of course, she omitted any mention of her secret schemes against Ji Lan.
Time flew, and soon it was June. The sun blazed high every day, and at noon, one could fry an egg on the ground tiles. The East Mountain Academy also closed, and the Old Madam led the family’s daughters-in-law, grandsons, and granddaughters to Leyou Plain in the north of the capital.
Leyou Plain, as its name suggests, was a place for endless enjoyment, so pleasant one could forget their homeland. It was a highland north of the capital. As carriages reached the top, a sudden flat plain appeared, with a cool climate and open terrain, making it the favorite summer retreat for the capital’s residents.
The Shen family’s villa on Leyou Plain was named Jing (Tranquil). Surrounded by lush greenery without gaudy flowers, it was extremely serene and cool, instantly washing away any restlessness from one’s heart.
This villa was naturally not as large as the Shen mansion. The Shen family’s young ladies all stayed in the same courtyard with the Old Madam, creating a lively atmosphere.
Because of this arrangement, daily greetings to the Old Madam became unavoidable. However, the cool mornings of summer made it easy to rise early without oversleeping.
Liu Chuniang didn’t accompany them, so Ji Cheng spent her days exploring the kitchen on her own. Lu Daniang guarded the small kitchen like it was the inner palace treasury, fearing others might steal her skills. Ji Cheng had to content herself with wandering around the main kitchen. Fortunately, with her beauty, sweet words, and generosity, the kitchen staff were willing to accommodate her, and she enjoyed the freedom.
With the smaller courtyard, news traveled even faster. One day during the morning greetings, the Old Madam looked at Ji Cheng and said, “I hear you’ve been frequenting the kitchen these days. With Liu Chuniang not here, what are you doing in the kitchen?”
Ji Cheng smiled and replied, “In culinary arts, skills become rusty after three days without practice. Although Aunt Liu isn’t here, I go to practice daily and can still make some progress.”
The Old Madam nodded with a smile, took Ji Cheng’s hand, but turned her head towards Ji Lan and said, “Your niece is an honest child.”
Although the Old Madam hadn’t paid much attention to Ji Cheng before, over the past two or three months, she had formed a general impression of her from bits and pieces of conversation.
Born into a wealthy family and blessed with such beauty, one would expect a frivolous and restless nature. Yet Ji Cheng was surprisingly quiet and elegant, with a natural smile that made it hard not to like her.
Moreover, Ji Cheng’s focus on culinary arts among all the skills taught by various tutors in the Shen household made the Old Madam see her as a practical person. In recent years, any girl with a bit of talent would call herself a talented lady, drawing attention with a poem or a painting, and those with moving lyrics became even more proud. Meanwhile, the traditional skills for young women like needlework and cooking had fallen by the wayside.
Not to mention others, even the Shen family’s girls disdained these skills.
In the Old Madam’s generation, although they came from noble families, they didn’t study poetry and literature from a young age. Instead, they grew up learning needlework and cooking by their mothers’ sides, valuing virtuous household management. Nowadays, young women aim to create a beautiful story of marital harmony, with the wife assisting her husband in his scholarly pursuits.
This wasn’t necessarily wrong, but in the older generation’s view, the Old Madam still preferred virtuous and calm individuals. Compared to the recent incident with Su Jun, the Old Madam found girls like Ji Cheng more appealing.
The Old Madam had originally favored Su Jun for her quick wit and sweet words, even more so than Shen Yuan or Shen Cui. But the recent desire to see the royal prince had displeased the Old Madam.
The Old Madam highly regarded the Huang family’s values. Initially, several families had considered proposing to the Su family, but Madam Huang was ambivalent about Su Jun. It was only after the Old Madam praised Su Jun to Madam Huang that she became interested.
Although the Huang family’s eldest son was a bit plump, he was well-mannered and knowledgeable. Old Madam Su had approved, but Su Jun disliked him and secretly persuaded Old Madam Su to change her mind. Old Madam Su then awkwardly asked the Old Madam to find a way to reject the Huang family without offending them.
The Old Madam now felt somewhat reluctant to manage Su Jun’s marriage affairs. Noticing Ji Cheng, she thought that Ji Cheng was also of marriageable age and likely had such intentions in coming to the Shen family. Ji Lan seemed a bit unreliable, but her niece appeared decent. She needed to be careful that Ji Cheng didn’t make any missteps, as it would also tarnish the Shen family’s reputation. If she married well, it would be a good deed, something to mention before the Buddha.
Hearing this, Ji Lan nodded and smiled at the Old Madam, saying, “Indeed, that’s true.” However, Ji Lan didn’t agree. In her view, if Ji Cheng truly wanted to marry into a noble family, she should focus on poetry, song, and dance. Once her reputation spread, suitors would naturally come. What use was learning cooking? During matchmaking, who would ask her to cook?
The Old Madam, however, felt Ji Cheng deserved encouragement and continued, “Have you learned anything these days? I wonder if we might have the pleasure of tasting Cheng’er’s cooking?”
Ji Cheng’s heart leaped with joy; she had finally waited for this day. To be honest, her diligence in frequenting the kitchen had an element of performance to it. Living in the same courtyard, even if the Old Madam didn’t pay attention, she would still be aware of her movements.
Ji Cheng had patiently waited for two or three months, and finally, the Old Madam had taken notice. She had studied the Old Madam’s maternal family genealogy in detail.
The Old Madam’s maiden name was Cheng, from a family of scholars and poets. Her family had produced two renowned literary giants, but the Cheng family’s daughters were not particularly notable. There were no records of exceptionally talented women, but the Cheng daughters all married well, presumably maintaining a virtuous and modest demeanor. The descendants of the Cheng daughters had also produced many talented individuals.
Ji Cheng knew she couldn’t compare to the Shen family’s young ladies in terms of closeness to the Old Madam, nor could she match Su Jun or Lu Yuan in wit. Her only option was to wait patiently for an opportunity.
“If the Old Madam doesn’t mind, I would be honored to try my humble skills,” Ji Cheng replied modestly.
Naturally, Ji Cheng wouldn’t be responsible for preparing all the dishes for everyone; she was just expected to make one or two dishes as a gesture.
When Lu Daniang in the kitchen heard this news, she frowned, as Ji Cheng was Liu Chuniang’s disciple. When Liu Chuniang first arrived at the Shen mansion, Lu Daniang feared that Liu Chuniang might gain favor with the Old Madam and hinder her prospects. Now, even though Liu Chuniang wasn’t present, if Ji Cheng’s dishes pleased the Old Madam, it would inevitably remind people of Liu Chuniang.
Ji Cheng understood the reasoning behind this, but she and Lu Daniang didn’t necessarily have to be at odds. As a young lady, preparing meals for the Old Madam was merely a way to earn a reputation for being grateful and virtuous; she wouldn’t be taking Lu Daniang’s position. Moreover, Liu Chuniang had no intention of staying long at the Shen mansion.
However, Lu Daniang might not understand this, and even if she did, she probably wouldn’t believe that Liu Chuniang wouldn’t want to please the Old Madam.