Wang Xifeng felt wronged. She only sold those items because the household truly lacked silver, yet the household expenses remained the same as before. If she didn’t find ways to generate income, how could she sustain so much spending?

Had what she’d done until now been easy?

She still had to be anxious and fearful of being discovered.

She did all this to maintain the Jia household’s dignity. Even if, even if she took a little fee for her trouble, that was what she deserved.

Wang Xifeng forced a smile. “When you say this, Sister, it makes me quite apprehensive. Have I done something improper?”

Daiyu blinked. “Second Sister-in-law hasn’t done anything improper.”

Daiyu was emotionally sensitive. Looking at the smile on her face, she paused for a moment, then pretended not to have noticed anything. “Second Sister-in-law, just consider that my obsession flared up. Reading is interesting, and I always think about recruiting a few more fellow enthusiasts. I was being unreasonable. It’s like someone who really enjoys playing polo—I don’t like it, yet they keep pulling me to go. I’d also be impatient. Second Sister-in-law is magnanimous—please forgive me.”

She spoke these words somewhat apologetically, which actually made Wang Xifeng laugh. It seemed she had overthought things.

“If that’s the case, we’ll have to see what you offer as an apology. If I’m not satisfied, I won’t let this go so easily.”

Daiyu said, “That’s easy to arrange. Go fetch that red box from my desk.”

A maid received the order and withdrew. Before long, she brought over a box.

Daiyu said, “Second Sister-in-law, these are some pearl flowers I recently received. Today I’ll borrow flowers to offer to Buddha.”

Opening the box, the velvet flowers inside were made so lifelike that if she hadn’t said beforehand they were artificial, one would truly think they were real.

Wang Xifeng knew quality goods. “Where did these come from? Are they tribute items?”

Daiyu smiled. “They’re tributes from the Imperial Household Department.”

Besides the noble ladies in the palace who had them, there were also other imperial family members.

When Daiyu mentioned this, Wang Xifeng patted her own forehead. “I asked unnecessarily. Besides your Second Elder Sister, who else could it be?”

Daiyu’s smile deepened. “These were indeed sent back by Second Elder Sister. All who see should share—Second Sister-in-law, pick two, and the rest of the sisters can each pick one.” Second Elder Sister had sent her many, all suitable for someone her age to wear.

“Then I won’t be polite.” Wang Xifeng couldn’t help but think of Yuanchun still in the palace.

These things couldn’t be bought outside—what was being sent was that dignity and respect.

It was just that she had been in the palace for so long now. Forget about this kind of dignity—there wasn’t even any good news. Who knew if she could ever send out good news?

It wasn’t anything else—Wang Xifeng truly felt pained about the silver. Every time someone came from the palace, they had to send a sum of money. They couldn’t give less, couldn’t avoid it—this was simply a bottomless pit.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t say they wouldn’t send anymore. The Old Ancestress wouldn’t agree, and her aunt wouldn’t agree either. So this money had to be given.

Thinking of this, Wang Xifeng couldn’t stop feeling pained. The expenses were truly too great.

Sometimes she even wondered—when would she leave the palace?

No matter what the outcome, just don’t drag this on any longer.

It wasn’t that she was heartless—it was really that being a female official in the palace like this, such expenses were too uneconomical.

This also didn’t make sense.

If she were an imperial consort, spending money to curry favor and compete for attention, to secure an imperial prince—that would be one thing.

But now like this—could it be that someone had their eye on her money and deliberately set up a scheme?

What Wang Xifeng didn’t know was that her fleeting thought had guessed part of the truth. With Jia Yuanchun being so generous with money, there were plenty of people in the palace who wanted silver. To live better in this palace, they naturally couldn’t miss opportunities.

As long as the other party was willing to give money, give enough money, they would provide some appropriate conveniences. But don’t expect anything more.

To obtain a continuous stream of money, they would also dangle a carrot in front of Jia Yuanchun, lest she lose hope and give up.

Wang Xifeng didn’t know what she was thinking about, sitting there lost in thought. Tan Chun, Ying Chun and the others happily picked from what remained. “I want this yellow one.”

“This pink one is mine.”

“I want this red one.”

Amidst the laughter and conversation, they had already placed the flowers in their hair. Looking at each other, they smiled in mutual understanding.

They hadn’t seen each other for some time. Previously, the Old Ancestress had wanted to invite the Lin family over as guests, but unsurprisingly, the Lin family declined again. The Three Springs were used to it by now. Being able to talk and play together now was a happy thing.

At this moment, all three of them unanimously ignored some of Baoyu’s repeated instructions before they came. In any case, they had simply forgotten.

Second Sister-in-law had also forgotten. Wasn’t it perfectly normal for them not to remember?

At this moment, a maid brought up a plate of pastries.

Tan Chun, having never seen them before, asked, “What are these?”

“These are fruit crisps, made with bananas.”

Tan Chun was enlightened. “Bananas can be made like this too?”

Daiyu said, “Yes, you all try them and see if you like them.”

Tan Chun picked up a piece, put it in her mouth, then smiled and nodded. “Did Madam Yun think of this?” Bananas—this type of fruit was only available in the south and wasn’t cheap.

Daiyu confirmed, “It was her.”

Ying Chun and Xi Chun also liked eating them—crispy and crunchy, with the fragrance of bananas. After eating one piece, they wanted a second.

Wang Xifeng looked at this plate of fruit crisps and came back to herself. “These bananas—they’re hard to buy in the capital, and the price isn’t cheap either.” How much silver was one worth?

Daiyu said, “Father once served as an official in Guangzhou. There’s an estate there—these were sent from that estate.”

Wang Xifeng fell silent, envious.

This time she came with one purpose: to investigate the reason for the Lin family’s marriage alliance with the Tang family. The other was to complete the task the Old Ancestress gave her—to build a good relationship with Sister Lin.

So after expressing her envy briefly, she proactively chatted with her and even asked about Yun Shuyao. “What is Madam Yun doing now? These pastries weren’t made by her own hands, were they?”

Daiyu said, “No, today she…”

While they were discussing this new snack, at the Fourth Prince’s residence, they happened to also be discussing pastries at this very moment.

Yun Shuyao liked entering the kitchen—this was nothing new in the Lin household. Quite a few dishes and pastries she created, when she thought they were good, she would copy out the recipes and have someone send them to Luo Yu.

Luo Yu had no personnel in the Fourth Prince’s residence kitchen. The head chefs at the Fourth Prince’s residence were all the Fourth Prince’s people.

Forget about her—even the Fourth Fujin couldn’t plant her people there.

Of course, when they wanted to eat something, the head kitchen staff would obey, but making them truly their masters—that wouldn’t work.

The Fourth Prince’s residence emphasized rules.

Each person’s allowance was set. Beyond the allowance, one paid from their own silver.

Those who were favored—the head kitchen staff would also proactively show goodwill and send some things, but all within a certain range.

Ever since Luo Yu entered the residence, she had made some head chefs both pleased and worried.

Pleased because every time she wanted to eat something, her purpose was very clear—she wouldn’t leave them not knowing where to start. Worried because she was a gourmand who knew how to eat, and wanted to eat quite a few things they had never made before.

At such times, Ce Fujin Lin would have her people come borrow the kitchen.

Most of the time there was no issue, but sometimes they would be secretive and not let them watch. With their decades of skill, for most things, as long as they had the finished product to taste, they could basically tell what ingredients were inside and what steps were used to make it. But there were also some things—without knowing the correct recipe, what they made would differ somewhat in taste from what the Ce Fujin made.

Like that thing they called sponge cake—very suitable for elderly people and children and ladies who liked sweets. What they made just lacked something.

Today, Ce Fujin Lin’s maid came to the kitchen again, requesting an empty stove for herself.

She didn’t clear the area, just had a bunch of young eunuchs surrounding her to help, while also stealing techniques so they could make it themselves next time.

Eunuch Li was one of the head chefs, basically only responsible for the Fourth Prince’s and Fujin’s meals. He watched for a while.

Today’s dish wasn’t too novel, and the steps were about the same—just that the raw materials used were somewhat less common compared to what they were accustomed to using. Watching the maid directly turn the brought bananas into fruit puree to make crisps, the rest was that sauce, which should be made from other fruits. They’d have to taste it to be certain.

After the maid finished, she smiled and left a portion. “This is also this servant’s first time making these. Please help by tasting them to see if there’s anything that can be improved.”

Eunuch Li smiled and accepted them. “Then we won’t be polite.”

Ce Fujin Lin was generous and knew how to conduct herself well.

He took one piece, and the remaining pieces were distributed to the young eunuchs.

Just after Ce Fujin Lin’s people left, Huang Yu from beside Gege Li came to get pastries. Seeing them eating something, she asked, “Are Gege’s pastries ready?”

“They’re ready.”

Huang Yu opened the food box and glanced inside—date cake and thousand-layer cake. The master was tired of eating these. Her eyebrows immediately shot up. “What are you eating? Why are you only preparing these for Gege? What you’re holding are things you newly made—why not prepare a portion for Gege?” Thinking of how she had just seen Ce Fujin Lin’s people also carrying pastries on the way, and that fragrance was the same as what they had here now—this was truly outrageous! She was a Ce Fujin, but Gege here also had Little Gege and Little Prince!

The young eunuch hurriedly replied, “Those are pastries Ce Fujin Lin made herself.”

Huang Yu grew angrier. “She can make them—can’t you? You’re just not putting your hearts into it. These are for Little Gege and Little Prince to eat together.”

The young eunuch was in a difficult position, saying softly, “This…” It exceeded the allowance.

If it were ordinary things, that would be fine, but these bananas—he couldn’t make that decision.

It wasn’t that the kitchen didn’t have bananas, but the supply was limited.

Eunuch Li walked out from inside. “So it’s Miss Huang Yu. Does Gege Li have any instructions?”

Seeing him come out, Huang Yu’s face broke into a smile. “Our Gege wants a portion of the new pastries. This young eunuch doesn’t quite understand things—newly arrived? Pushing back and forth like this. It’s not that we won’t give silver—just don’t have too big an appetite, agreed?”

Eunuch Li smiled. “Indeed a new person, just arrived not long ago, doesn’t quite understand things. This old slave knows now—I’ll have someone send it over shortly.”

After accepting the silver and seeing the person off, Eunuch Li’s smile faded. He glanced at that young eunuch. “Truly useless—you can’t even handle this.”

Being scolded, that young eunuch didn’t make a sound, bearing a bitter face. “Yes, I’m useless. This… what should we do?”

Eunuch Li shook his head. “I’ll do it.”

Hearing these words, that young eunuch immediately became all smiles. “With you personally taking action, Gege Li will definitely be satisfied. Your skill is the best—even Fourth Master can’t do without you…”

On Luo Yu’s side, when the senior maid brought pastries, she was pondering over a game manual. Beside her sat a game board—this was left from her match with Fourth Master yesterday, not yet finished. But even without finishing, one could see that white pieces were about to be surrounded and annihilated. She was the white side.

She had lost, and lost quite miserably.

This forced her to pull out game manuals to study—how should she have played? If she encountered this kind of game situation next time, how should she break the deadlock?

The pastries were brought up, but she didn’t have time to eat them immediately. Not until suddenly she was embraced from behind, then felt that familiar warmth. She turned her head to look and smiled. “Master has returned. How come no one reminded me?”

“You were watching too intently. I had them withdraw.” At this moment, none of the attending servants were visible. The Fourth Prince glanced at the game manual in her hand. “Still looking? Have you found any leads?”

Luo Yu regretfully shook her head. Her game skills were average, but losing this miserably was also rare. She hadn’t thought she could win against him, but she didn’t want to lose so embarrassingly.

“Another round?” Seeing her troubled appearance, Fourth Master was in an excellent mood.

Luo Yu perked up. “Yes!” Give it a try!

In the end, though she had thought of many moves, she still lost.

Today’s loss wasn’t as miserable, but could still be called a great defeat.

Luo Yu regretfully put down the game pieces. “Fourth Master has excellent game skills. I’ve lost again—I bow in defeat. However, I’ll continue working hard. Sooner or later one day, I’ll win once against Master.”

The Fourth Prince’s lips curved upward. “I’ll be waiting.”

Luo Yu reached out to take a pastry, then discovered the pastries were already gone. How many pieces had she just eaten?

One piece or two?

She was already accustomed to this. Fourth Master liked sweets—when he encountered ones that suited his taste, he would eat more.

Every time if she didn’t have time to eat first, it would be like this. However, after finishing them, Fourth Master wouldn’t have the kitchen bring up another portion. Unless she had someone bring another plate—if there were any, Fourth Master would eat more, though he wouldn’t eat much. He would control the amount he ate.

Raising her head, she looked at the sky. “Will Master be dining here this evening?”

It was mealtime.

The Fourth Prince nodded.

Eating was something that made one’s mood pleasant. Every time he dined with his Ce Fujin, the Fourth Prince would unconsciously have a better appetite.

She ate too earnestly, too happily.

So he dined here often.

But today, as soon as the dishes were brought up, Luo Yu dry heaved.

She frowned looking at that bowl of river fish soup, as if facing a formidable enemy. “This smell—why is it so foul! Has this fish gone bad?”

So foul she covered her nose. “So foul—quickly take it away!”

The Fourth Prince fell silent.

He didn’t find it foul—it was the same smell as always.

The surrounding maids hurriedly took that bowl of river fish soup away. They hadn’t thought of it, but an experienced old nanny on the side immediately asked, “When was Ce Fujin’s last monthly course?”

The senior maid was startled, then hurriedly reported, “Three days later than last month.”

Luo Yu’s monthly courses were very regular, always one to three days later than the previous month. This was normal.

But with the old nanny asking this way, the senior maid also made associations. Her face showed joy—could she be with child?

Luo Yu also thought of it. She herself knew some medical arts. Under the cover of her sleeve, she felt her own pulse. Her heart was beating very fast, making her somewhat doubt her own judgment. It seemed faintly to be a slippery pulse. She looked at Fourth Master with both trepidation and anticipation. “Master…”

The Fourth Prince’s face also showed anticipation. “Summon the Imperial Physician—”