Pastoral Splendor

Princess Yu stared at the black terrazzo floor, beads of sweat dripping down her face. Her hands trembled as she placed them on her knees. She was genuinely surprised; it seemed as if the Empress Wang's last words were sarcastic and mocking.

Sweat poured down her back, clinging to her clothes and leaving them damp. Princess Yu knelt there, her mind blank, completely unsure of what to say or how to cover up the Empress's words.

Prince Yu used to seem quite idle and had no interest in vying for the position of Crown Prince. However, since last year, he has gradually changed a lot and has become more careful about his words and actions. This time, he actually agreed to go to Baixiang Garden. I was wondering why he did this before, but now that I heard what the Empress said, I understand a bit more.

"What's the panic?" Empress Wang's voice was not sharp or cold, but as faint as the green of the mountain in March, which could be wiped away with a gentle touch: "Get up."

Princess Yu shakily got up, stood there with her head down, not daring to return to her seat, when she heard Empress Wang suddenly laugh: "Ru Xue, you really can't be frightened."

The words sounded somewhat mocking, and Princess Yu hesitated before raising her head. She saw Empress Wang smiling slightly: "Ru Xue, the Emperor will eventually choose a Crown Prince. What the Fourth Prince did is nothing remarkable. I even wanted to praise him for doing a good job. The Emperor dislikes those who are ambitious and eager for quick success, and he prefers those who are down-to-earth. Don't you understand?"

Princess Yu was finally relieved. Judging from the Empress's words, she seemed to be saying that Prince Yu had done a good job. Moreover, she even seemed to support Prince Yu, which surprised and delighted her.

Prince Yu wanted to become the crown prince, so naturally he needed support, and her maternal family, the Zhenguo General's Mansion, was a solid backing. No wonder he had been so kind to her these days, neglecting Consort Zhu; wasn't it all because of her powerful family? Princess Yu felt a slight bitterness in her heart, but she quickly swallowed it down. Now she had a son who was gradually becoming sensible, and she had even found her long-lost daughter. What was there to complain about? Heaven had been too good to her.

The atmosphere in the main hall had improved somewhat. Empress Wang instructed Princess Yu to sit down and inquired about the latest happenings in the capital: "Who held banquets this year? Were they lively? Did anyone meet any lovely ladies at the banquets? Xuan'er is getting older; it's time to keep an eye out for a future princess consort for him."

Princess Yu finally relaxed completely. She picked out a few interesting things to tell her and then told Empress Wang that two young ladies at her Peach Blossom Banquet had written the exact same poem.

Empress Wang laughed and said, "Needless to say, these were all bought with money."

"However, at this Peach Blossom Banquet, Ruxue saw two excellent poems, which were truly well-written." Princess Yu thought of the two poems written by Yanying, and couldn't help but feel proud and honored, her eyes showing a lively expression.

"A fine poem?" Empress Wang was also very interested: "Read it to me."

Princess Yu quickly read the two poems aloud, and a palace maid copied them down: "Your Highness, are these the correct words?"

Princess Yu glanced at it, picked up her brush and changed the character "烟" to "嫣": "That's right."

The palace maid delivered the Xuan paper to Empress Wang. Empress Wang squinted at it and complained, "Caichun, why are your characters so small? I can hardly see them."

Cai Chun smiled and said, "This servant has always written characters in this size. Your Highness, please take a closer look."

Empress Wang sighed, "It's not that your handwriting is too small, it's that my eyesight is failing."

She brought the Xuan paper closer and examined it carefully. A look of surprise appeared on her face: "White and red like the cheeks of a Yue maiden? This sentence is so well written, so vivid! Aren't peach blossoms white and red? White and red is one thing, but how did he come up with the idea of ​​'the cheeks of a Yue maiden'? Comparing a person to a flower is so vivid, and there's not a trace of affectation. It's really well written!"

Princess Yu was overjoyed to hear Empress Wang's praise and nodded repeatedly: "Indeed, such thoughtfulness is truly rare, and it is even more remarkable that a peasant girl could write something like this."

"What? Written by a peasant girl?" Empress Wang held the sheet of Xuan paper closer and examined it carefully. "I thought it was written by some highly learned scholar!" She put the paper down and looked at the Princess Consort of Yu with curiosity. "What's the peasant girl's name? Has she ever been to school?"

Princess Yu said happily, "It's the one who opened the shop with my Xuan'er. Her surname is Xiao. I heard that she had heard a few words about her in the private school, but she never studied with the governess."

Empress Wang exclaimed in amazement: "This is innate intelligence!"

"Indeed! So many young ladies from noble families here have been studying poetry and literature since childhood with their governesses, yet none of them can write such fine poetry. It can only be said that God has bestowed upon her a clever and exquisite mind!" When mentioning Yan Ying, Princess Yu's eyes were full of smiles: "Mother, you haven't seen her in person. If you had seen her, you would know what a beauty is!"

Everyone has a tendency to cherish their own possessions, and their own child is always the best, especially since Yan Ying is so outstanding. When Princess Yu said this, she felt no shame at all, but instead praised Yan Ying to the skies.

"Oh, is there really such a talent? Next time, bring her to the palace for me to see. I haven't seen a young lady with both talent and beauty in a long time." Empress Wang smiled and looked at the poem below: "Why did you suddenly start writing about roses again? At this time, there are probably only a few buds on the rose trellis."

"This poem was given by someone who didn't believe in her poetic talent. They gave her another question, and she only paused for a moment before she came up with these four lines." Princess Yu smiled and made everyone happy: "Your Majesty, the last line is really well written: 'The whole courtyard is fragrant with roses on the trellis.' That's so fitting."

Empress Wang nodded repeatedly: "That's right. Next time you bring her to the palace, I really want to see this Miss Xiao."

"Yes." Princess Yu lowered her head, feeling very happy. If Yan Ying could win the favor of Empress Wang and get her some kind of reward, then she would have a better life for the rest of her days.

During lunch, Princess Yu personally served food to Empress Wang, imitating Yan Ying's mannerisms, picking up duck meat and dipping it in the condiment dish: "I remember that Mother Empress likes sesame paste the most, let's try this flavor first."

This sesame paste was made by Yan Ying herself. She extracted oil from pure sesame seeds, ground mushrooms and other ingredients into a fine powder, mixed it with spices, added diced pork marinated in goose fat, and then sealed it in a jar. After half a month, it was ready to be taken out and eaten.

Empress Wang picked up a piece of duck meat, took a bite, and her eyes widened slightly: "This is duck? How can it taste so good?"

Princess Yu smiled triumphantly: "Mother, it really is a duck, a roast duck."

"Well, well, this doesn't taste like ordinary duck at all! And the meat seems to have changed quite a bit too; it's firmer inside, but tender to the bite. It doesn't taste like duck meat at all." Empress Wang shook her head. "Ruxue, tell me quickly, what kind of meat is this?"

"Mother, it really is duck meat, roasted by that Miss Xiao herself. It's sold at Baixiangyuan for five taels of silver apiece." Princess Yu quickly helped Yan Ying promote it: "Although it's a bit expensive, it's worth the taste."

"Where is five taels of silver expensive?" Empress Wang glanced at the head maid standing beside her. "Don't forget, didn't you hear them talking about how the imperial kitchen buys chickens for one tael of silver each?"

The head maid nodded and said, "This old servant only overheard them saying that by chance."

“Look, this chicken costs one tael of silver each, and this roast duck costs five taels of silver each, so it’s naturally very cheap.” Empress Wang picked up a piece of roast duck with her chopsticks: “What kind of seasonings are in these dishes? I’ll try them all.”

Princess Yu was delighted to hear Empress Wang say that the roast duck was not expensive, and happily said, "If Mother Empress likes to eat this roast duck, I will have someone send a few to the palace every few days."

Empress Wang had no time to talk to her. She picked up a piece of duck meat and tried it in the seafood sauce dish, then picked up another piece and dipped it in the spicy sauce. The woman in her sixties was as curious as a child, trying all five dishes: "Hmm, these seasonings are all delicious."

"It's good that Mother enjoys it." Princess Yu was relieved. Even if she didn't send it to the palace herself, Empress Wang would issue an imperial decree to have the Imperial Kitchen buy it. If Empress Wang liked something, the palace would definitely want to try it. Naturally, many concubines would also want to taste it. With so many people in the palace, eating roast duck every now and then would be a considerable source of income.

The imperial kitchen in the palace came out to buy roast ducks from Baixiangyuan, which made Baixiangyuan even more famous. Princess Yu was very happy. Today's visit to the palace was a win-win situation. Not only did it help Yan Ying promote roast ducks, but it also gave her an opportunity to show her face.

It was already late afternoon when they returned to the Prince Yu's residence. The Prince Yu was standing in the central courtyard, looking at the flowers with his hands behind his back. When he saw the Princess Yu walking over from outside, he asked with some surprise, "Where have you been?"

Princess Yu did not avoid his gaze as before, and smiled slightly: "I have gone to the palace to see the Empress Dowager."

"To see the Empress Dowager?" Prince Yu's brows furrowed slightly with tension. "What did you say to her?" This was a crucial time for choosing the Crown Prince, and he couldn't afford to make the slightest mistake. This foolish woman, did she go to complain to the Empress Dowager? He had treated her well for the past six months; wasn't she satisfied?

The two of them have stumbled and struggled through most of their lives, and the impulsiveness of their youth has gradually been worn away by time. In their youth, they were naive and thought they could abandon everything in the world for that one special love in their hearts. After struggling for so long, they suddenly realized that all so-called love and affection were just illusions.

Zhu Xizhen didn't necessarily love him that much; she only loved his status and power.

Only in middle age did he realize this cruel reality. Prince Yu couldn't help but feel sorry for himself. Fortunately, it was never too late to mend the fence after the sheep were lost. He could still make amends quickly. How could he become the crown prince and ascend the throne smoothly without the support of the General of the State?

Looking at his queen again, he realized how virtuous and gentle she was. Compared to his sisters-in-law, his queen was a rare good person in the world.

(Chicken egg, that is, an egg)

Chapter 235 Reconciliation

The two stood face to face under the osmanthus tree in the courtyard. The setting sun shone through the green leaves, casting dappled shadows that danced on their faces, the golden specks leaping about.

Princess Consort Yu raised her eyes, glanced at Prince Yu, and a slightly sarcastic smile appeared on her lips: "Your Highness, rest assured, with you treating me so well, why would I need to complain to the Empress Dowager?"

The Prince of Yu was somewhat embarrassed when she saw through his thoughts, and said awkwardly, "I just find it a little strange that you suddenly thought of going to the palace to see the Empress Dowager."

“My mother is so good to me, like a mother and daughter. What’s wrong with me going to the palace to visit her?” Princess Yu smiled, turned around and walked to the backyard, casually tossing out a few words: “Your Highness, isn’t it said that filial piety is the most important thing in all things? You are busy learning how to govern the country at the Pingzhang Zhengshi office all day long, so I have to do the filial piety.”

Prince Yu stood there blankly, watching his wife calmly walk into the room. His lips moved, but he ultimately didn't say anything.

Madam Li was following Princess Yu into the house when she saw Princess Yu step through the moon gate. She quickly turned around, ran to Prince Yu's side, and whispered, "Your Highness, rest assured, the Princess entered the palace to plan for you. She will not utter a single word of slander in front of the Empress."

Upon hearing this, Prince Yu suddenly felt a little uneasy. He wanted to say something, but couldn't think of a single word. He waved his hand at Li Mama and said, "I understand. You may go now and take good care of the Princess."