Jirong changed out of her soaked embroidered shoes and said, “I’d like to, but unfortunately our Great Sui’s laws don’t permit women to practice medicine outside, so I can only look at them for my own amusement. However, in the future, if you have any minor ailments, feel free to come find me—I won’t charge you any consultation fees.”
“Then I thank you in advance, sister.” After Zhang Shi finished speaking, Chunxiu rubbed her stomach and said, “I’m so hungry. Let me go see if the meal is ready.”
“I’ll accompany you, sister.” Saying this, Zhang Shi opened the small bundle in her hands and took out green bean cakes from inside, “By the way, these are green bean cakes my mother made. They taste quite good. I specially brought some over—why don’t you two sisters have some first to ease your hunger?”
Chunxiu took a piece and headed to the kitchen with Zhang Shi under an umbrella. After taking a bite, she nodded, “Mm, soft and delicate, with just the right sweetness. They’re indeed delicious.”
Zhang Shi smiled, “If sister likes them, I’ll bring more next time I go back.” After a pause, she probed, “Sister, I heard Jirong went to Qingchun Garden yesterday, and today she brought back so many medical books. Is there something going on?”
Chunxiu glanced at her, “Why don’t you tell me what you think could be going on?”
Zhang Shi said awkwardly, “I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking you, sister.” After waiting a while without Chunxiu speaking, she couldn’t help but continue, “Sister, what exactly…”
Before she could finish, Chunxiu said, “There are some matters, but I can’t say anything right now. You’ll know eventually.”
Seeing her say this, Zhang Shi had to stop her words and accompanied her all the way to the kitchen. When they arrived, Jiang Caiping happened to be there too. Jiang Caiping handed some herbs to Cook Li, saying, “Aunt Li, before you sleep each night, take some of these, pound them into a paste, and apply it to your waist, then wrap it with cloth. Remove it the next day. Apply it like this for three consecutive days and it should improve.”
“Good, good, good.” Cook Li smiled broadly, “You’re so thoughtful. It’s rare for you to go home, yet you specially helped me pick herbs.” She had strained her back a few days ago and casually mentioned it to Jiang Caiping. She didn’t expect her to remember it and bring herbs as soon as she returned.
“I want Aunt Li to get better quickly too.” Jiang Caiping said with a grin, “If Aunt Li finds it useful, I’ll help you gather more next time. There are plenty all over the mountain anyway, and it doesn’t cost any money.”
“Good, I’ll try it tonight then.” As she spoke, Cook Li had already served their meals and placed them in several food boxes. Chunxiu’s sharp eyes saw that Jiang Caiping’s portion had an extra dish of shredded chicken with white fungus. She grabbed Jiang Caiping’s arm as she was about to leave and said to Cook Li, “Aunt Li, this doesn’t seem quite right.”
Cook Li asked puzzledly, “What do you mean, miss?”
She snatched the food box from Jiang Caiping’s hands, took out the dish of shredded chicken with white fungus, and said coldly, “Doesn’t the mansion stipulate that we all get the same dishes? Why do theirs have an extra dish? Is it just because Jiang Caiping brought a bunch of rotten leaves?”
Zhang Shi chimed in from the side, “Exactly. Aunt Li, if this reaches Steward Fu’s ears, I’m afraid you won’t be able to explain yourself.”
Seeing them deliberately stirring up trouble, Jiang Caiping felt annoyed but was afraid of causing trouble for Cook Li. She suppressed her anger and said sullenly, “I don’t want this dish then.”
Zhang Shi sneered, “Oh, now that we’ve caught you, you say you don’t want it. But what about when we don’t see? Who knows how many benefits you’ve secretly taken.”
Chunxiu looked around the kitchen, “Where is Steward Fu? Where is he?”
Faced with the back-and-forth between Chunxiu and her companion, Cook Li didn’t even blink. She put the dish of shredded chicken with white fungus back into Jiang Caiping’s food box, saying, “It’s no problem. Just take it and let Miss Wu try it too. If you think it’s delicious, I’ll make it for you again tomorrow.”
Chunxiu’s face darkened, “What do you mean by this, Aunt Li?”
Cook Li wiped her hands on her apron and said calmly, “This dish of shredded chicken with white fungus was originally my own food. Now I’m giving it to Miss Jiang and the others to eat. What’s the problem? If Miss Feng doesn’t believe it, feel free to ask the others in the kitchen whether what I’m saying is true or false.”
The several people working in the kitchen all nodded upon hearing this, confirming that Cook Li was telling the truth. Chunxiu had thought she’d caught them in wrongdoing, but it turned out to be this. Unable to save face, she could only give Zhang Shi meaningful looks, asking her to quickly think of a solution.
Zhang Shi was quite clever and understood Chunxiu’s meaning. She smiled and said, “Don’t be angry, Aunt Li. Sister was just stating what she saw—she didn’t mean to target you. Please don’t take it to heart. Now that everything’s been clarified, there’s no problem.”
Cook Li looked at Chunxiu, “Steward Fu went to see Steward Lin just now. Does Miss Feng want to wait here for him to return?”
This shrewd woman, acting innocent after getting her way. It would be best if she never got caught making mistakes in the future, or she’d definitely get what’s coming to her. Chunxiu forced a smile, “That was just a joke. How could Aunt Li take it seriously? You’ve been in this mansion much longer than I have—surely I wouldn’t distrust you?” As she spoke, she signaled Zhang Shi to help her take her food box and walked out.
Looking at her retreating figure, Cook Li shook her head, “Miss Feng really is petty-minded, holding onto such a small matter. With her as your lead dancer, I’m afraid there will be plenty more trouble ahead.”
Jiang Caiping said helplessly, “There’s no helping it. Back then…” Thinking of how Chunxiu had schemed against Meixue made her feel very depressed. She waved her hand, “Forget it, let’s not talk about this. Aunt Li, I’m going back now, or Sister Wu will be getting anxious. Remember to use the medicine!”
After she carried the food box out of the kitchen, Chunxiu and her companion hadn’t gone far. Hearing movement behind them, they stopped. Jiang Caiping walked over and said irritably, “What now? Want to inspect my food box again?”
Chunxiu ignored her words and looked her up and down, “Jiang Caiping, you two are quite capable. That wild girl Meixue spends all day trying to seduce Second Young Master, while you’re here finding ways to curry favor with Aunt Li.”
Seeing her insult Meixue, Jiang Caiping’s face changed as she scolded, “Who are you calling a wild girl? Who are you saying is seducing Second Young Master?”
Chunxiu sneered, “Wu Meixue was picked up from a tiger’s den and doesn’t even know who her parents are. If she’s not a wild girl, what is she? In my opinion, she must be the product of some wild man and woman’s illicit affair. They didn’t want her after giving birth, so they threw her in a tiger’s den, hoping the tigers would eat her. Who knew she’d have such a big life that someone would pick her up and she’d live until now. But she should think about it herself—with such origins, even the Du family looks down on her. How could Second Young Master possibly regard her? For the sake of being from the same village, let me tell you something to pass on to her: behave yourself and don’t humiliate yourself and lose face completely. People must have self-awareness and not always fantasize about getting things they’re completely unworthy of.” With that, she strode away, leaving Jiang Caiping too angry to speak.