Chapter 29

He mentioned Emperor Jiayou, Zhu E, and the grand eunuch in charge of the Supervisor of Ceremonies only to convey that Yang Xu was also in a desperate situation, urging him not to panic or fear.

Back then, the Emperor had sent Guan Shaowei to govern a remote county and cast Gu Changjin into the Ministry of Punishments as a lowly seventh-rank official. At first glance, it seemed like the Emperor was venting his anger on these two young, naive men. In reality, he cherished their talents and wanted them to gain experience in humble positions, honing their abilities.

If Gu Changjin had shown cowardice yesterday in response to the assassination attempt, his political career would have ended there.

Fortunately, this young man didn't disappoint.

The sound of galloping hooves echoed crisply, and the goat-horn lantern swayed gently, casting a faint glow in the darkness. After a moment, the coachman called out "Whoa!", bringing the carriage to a steady halt outside Cheng'an Gate. Tan Siyuan and Gu Changjin alighted from the carriage, one after the other.

Beyond Cheng'an Gate lay the Imperial City.

That was the very heart of power in Great Yin, where the most influential people of the dynasty resided.

Tan Siyuan straightened the badge on his waist and turned back, asking in a solemn voice, "Are you ready?"

Gu Changjin lifted his gaze to survey the majestic palaces within the Imperial City. After a moment, he lowered his eyes and bowed, saying, "This officer is prepared."

As the sky gradually brightened, the small kitchen in Songsi Courtyard fired up its stove early in the morning.

Rong Shu had no idea what kind of storm would brew in the Throne Room that day, but she knew that Gu Changjin would be carried back by several mighty generals in the afternoon.

Therefore, she had prepared early, steaming a full tray of lotus cream puffs, red bean cakes, and eight-treasure sticky rice desserts.

The ginseng soup Gu Changjin didn't drink the previous night was returned, and Rong Shu shared it with Mama Zhang, Yingyue, and Ying Que.

In fact, she had expected him not to drink it. In her past life, she had felt sorry for his hard work on cases and had used many expensive ingredients to make soups and dishes for him, but he never ate them.

It was Mama Zhang who later reminded her that the husband probably didn't want his wife to use her dowry to support the family, which was why he refused to eat.

After that, Rong Shu used ingredients readily available in the large kitchen when cooking for Gu Changjin.

The Gu family was of humble origins, with little savings, and Gu Changjin's salary was modest. The ingredients in the large kitchen were naturally those that didn't require much money.

However, Gu Changjin would eat anything made from these ingredients.

The pastries just prepared by the small kitchen were not intended for Gu Changjin. When he was carried back in the afternoon, Rong Shu, as his wife, would have to attend to him. Those snacks would serve as sustenance for herself at that time.

Rong Shu waved her folding fan and instructed Yingyue, "Go to the main kitchen and fetch ingredients for a soup for Second Master. Any kind will do; he's not picky. While you're there, also prepare some minced meat porridge." Pausing for a moment, she thought of Gu Changjin's pitiful state when he was carried back, and her sympathy stirred. She added leisurely, "Add more dates and goji berries to the soup, yes, for blood nourishment."

The main kitchen was located in the Six Vast Hall. Yingyue set off, but halfway there, she spotted a girl dressed in a light green robe carrying a bamboo food box coming from the other end of the path.

Upon seeing Yingyue, the girl called out brightly, "Sister Yingyue."

This girl was named Lin Qingyue, the niece of Nurse An from the Six Vast Hall. Orphaned at a young age, she had come to live with Nurse An after her parents passed away, and now served in the same hall.

The day before, when Rong Shu returned from her visit to her parents, Nurse An had learned that Mother Zhang was ill and dispatched Lin Qingyue to bring her a soup.

Nurse An was the head nurse in the Gu household, and as Lin Qingyue was both her relative and a member of the Six Vast Hall, Yingyue naturally sought to befriend her. Coincidentally, both their names contained the character for 'moon,' and within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, they felt a sense of closeness.

Yingyue greeted her with a smile, gesturing towards Lin Qingyue's food box with her chin. "Sister Qingyue is here again with a soup for Mother Zhang?"

Lin Qingyue's eyes curved into a warm smile. "Not a soup this time. Mother Zhang had a few coughs yesterday, so Nurse An gave me an old folk remedy to make some herbal medicine for her to try."

Yingyue expressed her gratitude. "Sister Qingyue, you're so thoughtful."

Lin Qingyue hurriedly waved her hand, saying that she was unworthy of such praise. "Sister, you flatter me. I'm just following orders; how dare I take credit?"

After a display of humility, she continued, "Where are you heading, Sister?"

Yingyue explained her intention to visit the grand kitchen for ingredients. Pondering for a moment, she asked, "Do you happen to know Young Master's preferences when it comes to food?"

Lin Qingyue's eyes gleamed slightly as she smiled warmly. "Sister has come to the right person. Our Second Young Master adores offal like pig's liver and stomach. The grand kitchen has pig's liver today, which looks quite fresh. Perhaps Sister could ask the kitchen matrons for some."

Chapter 14

{Songsi Courtyard} - a place of tranquil contemplation.

Ying Que lit the elegant Yulan incense in the inner chamber and prepared a pot of finest Dragon Ball tea for Rong Shu.

Rong Shu sipped her tea, savouring the freshly baked lotus cream pastries, as she leaned against a couch while perusing her list of dowry items. Occasionally, she would take out an abacus and tap away at its beads.

In the aftermath of the previous life's calamity at the Marquisate Estate, every last possession and treasure was seized, not even sparing my mother's dowry. She tirelessly exerted herself, canvassing connections on behalf of the Rong household, depleting her own dowry to a mere fraction in the process.

Rong Shu had been accustomed to a life of luxury and abundance since childhood, somewhat detached from the hardships experienced by ordinary people when it came to finances.

Later, when the Rong family fell, her wealth vanished like water, making it almost impossible to visit her mother in prison without substantial bribes. On her final visit to the Tai Li Shi prison, the jailer refused her entry because he deemed her offered money pouch too light. In desperation, she removed the small jade Buddha that had never left her since birth, just to see her mother one last time.

If three years from now, the Rong family was still destined for ruin and the revocation of their titles, then she needed to start planning their escape route now.

An escape route for both her and her mother.

Rong Shu fixated on the list of dowry items in her hand, her gaze resting on the estate in the eastern suburbs.

This is the manor that Lady Elder has been yearning for. Mother gave it to her, and now it is the most valuable property in her possession.

Rong Shu swallowed the lotus-flavored pastry in her mouth and said to Ying Que, "In a few days, we'll return to the Marquis residence. When we do, you should go to the outer courtyard and ask your brother to find a house agent for us."