Chapter 4: The Governesses

Chapter 4: The Governesses

Aunt Luo was tall and slender, with a stern expression, but Aunt Gao, who taught alongside her, was a plump and jolly lady whose smile exuded warmth and kindness. One could tell at first glance that she had an amiable temperament.

The two aunts, one thin and one fat, made an amusing contrast when standing together.

Even Han Suyin privately joked with Rong Bi, "Aunt Gao is more lenient. If we can't finish our exercises, she doesn't push us too hard. But Aunt Luo is different; every movement must be completed, or there will be punishment! No meals allowed and tight corsets, oh dear!"

Rong Bi was startled, "Why not allow eating? Aren't those the sorts of punishments for wayward palace maids who break the rules?"

Even lesser palace maids were seldom deprived of meals; usually, they were only made to repeatedly rectify their mistakes.

Han Suyin couldn't help but laugh. "Of course, it's to maintain our figures. What else do you think we're learning?"

Rong Bi wore a blank expression, and Han Suyin sighed inwardly: She truly doesn't understand.

She lowered her voice and whispered, "The art of the bedroom!"

Rong Bi: ...

Well then, Rong Bi quickly realized the terrifying aspects of this art of love-making.

The peculiarly supple body movements in the Coaxing Phoenix Exercise, fragrant baths, abdominal breathing techniques, and an entire set of wooden figurines demonstrating various positions – each one intricately detailed, especially in the critical areas...

...Rong Bi felt as if she had entered a new world.

After the first day's practice, her back and waist ached. The kind Gao Aunt came to support her, guiding her through the actions with warmth and kindness: "At first, it's all a bit sore. But with daily practice, your muscles will stretch, and it'll get better."

That night, Rong Bi couldn't fall asleep, tossing and turning in bed. Han Suyin chuckled, "Sore, isn't it? When we practiced dancing before, it was the same. Even though our young bodies were flexible, the pain was still intense. We couldn't eat and cried every night. But the aunts would still force us to practice the next day."

Rong Bi felt a pang of sympathy.

Yet, Han Suyin continued whispering secretly, as if they were the closest of friends: "Actually, I've heard from experienced aunts that these positions are all for show. Only men truly enjoy it, while women gain little pleasure. The first time is excruciatingly painful. If the man doesn't cooperate or lacks understanding, the woman will only suffer."

"For both parties to enjoy, the man must be patient and wait for the woman. Thus, it's the common folk, who respect and cherish each other, who truly find pleasure. For us, serving the nobles, even if they pity us, they cannot lower themselves. Oh, well."

"And those moves we learned today – 'Phoenix Spreads Its Wings,' 'Phoenix Raises Its Voice,' 'Jade Phoenix On High,' 'Inverted Dragon and Phoenix,' 'Phoenix Perched on a Branch' – they're all false. They don't make it any better; they're just for show. Ah, it's to make the man feel his virility is at its peak."

Han Suyin spoke openly and candidly, and although Rong Bi knew that Han Suyin was hoping to discourage her, she couldn't help but be amused by her words.

Enduring daily toil, Han Suyin hailed from the Bell and Drum Tower, where she had trained in song and dance since childhood. Her lithe waist and agile limbs were the result of years of dedicated practice, enabling her to make the fastest progress in these exercises. Often, Rong Bi would be left alone in the room, drenched in sweat, stretching and pulling her muscles while Aunt Gao, who was usually more amiable, accompanied her.

Rong Bi felt deeply embarrassed that she always made Aunt Gao join in the training. Despite accompanying her frequently, Aunt Gao never complained and always treated her with kindness. This warmth from Aunt Gao earned her a great deal of affection from Rong Bi, which she instinctively expressed through her gentle smiles and joyful gaze whenever they were together.

Rong Bi didn't understand grand principles, but she knew that one should repay even the smallest favor with great gratitude. In the palace, where kindness was rare and easily misinterpreted, it was crucial to cherish and reciprocate such gestures.

She had no means to repay Aunt Gao adequately, nor did she possess any valuable possessions. The palace was hierarchical and fraught with potential offenses. While practical benefits often prevailed, the junior eunuchs and palace maids under the supervision of the high-ranking eunuchs and aunts would voluntarily contribute a portion of their rewards or monthly stipends to their seniors. However, it was not a casual act, as offering gifts could easily offend if not done properly.

One wrong move could lead to trouble.

She pondered for a moment and, during the midday break, made her way to the Inner Kitchen.

The Head Eunuch in charge of the Kitchen, Tang Xi, was sitting in the small courtyard, enjoying his water pipe. Upon seeing her, a broad smile instantly spread across his face. "Why, it's Miss Rong Bi! Please have a seat. We just steamed some crystal buns. Would you like one? I heard that you've been reassigned from the Office of Imperial Supplies to a new post. I was planning to congratulate you, but never found the right moment. Today, it seems fate has brought you here—on business or for a meal?"

Rong Bi smiled and performed a respectful curtsy. "Grandpa Tang, how are you? Are you busy today? It looks like there's still some time. I was hoping to borrow a kitchen to make a few snacks."

The Inner Kitchen primarily catered to low-ranking eunuchs, palace maids, guards on duty within the palace, and ministers on rotation in the Imperial Study. The food they served was in large quantities but of average taste, mostly cooked in big steamers.

However, all ingredients and dishes purchased from outside the palace passed through the Inner Kitchen first. There, the finest and freshest items were carefully selected before undergoing initial preparation such as washing, cutting, and slaughter. Then, they were sent to two separate locations within the inner palace: the Imperial Kitchen, which exclusively provided for the Emperor and the princes; and the Office of Imperial Supplies, situated inside the inner gate and managed by female officials, responsible for the Empress and the concubines with ranks, as well as the lady officials.

Of the three major kitchens, the Inner Kitchen was the most laborious and thankless. Its staff worked tirelessly without respite, and any dissatisfaction with the food would often result in blame being shifted onto them by the Imperial Kitchen or the Board of Imperial Supplies. Thus, most of those assigned to this duty were low-ranking eunuchs who were neither favored nor held much power. Some were even punished for their mistakes within the palace walls, forced to do menial tasks like chopping wood, washing vegetables, and preparing meat.

Rong Bi had served in the Board of Imperial Supplies for many years. Due to the isolation between the inner and outer courts, she rarely took on assignments that involved appearing before the nobles. Instead, she was often dispatched to the Inner Kitchen to check on ingredients and exchange menus, which led to her familiarity with its staff. Now, with her sensitive position in the palace and having overheard the gossip from her former colleagues at the Board, Rong Bi felt somewhat uncomfortable. She decided that working in the Inner Kitchen might actually make her task easier.

In addition to the main kitchen, the Inner Kitchen also had smaller cooking stations. Similar to the Board of Imperial Supplies, concubines, influential eunuchs, and maids could privately request special meals or use the kitchen and ingredients themselves if they desired something unique, provided they paid a fee.

Tang Xi chuckled. "Why bother doing it yourself, young lady? What do you want to make? Grandpa Tang will wash his hands and cook for you. Or if there's something new you'd like to try, just tell me." Gazing at Rong Bi with affection, he added, "I knew it wouldn't be long before she outgrew the Board of Imperial Supplies. The Crown Prince is a good child. You're kind-hearted, and serving by his side could lead to a bright future. It'll also teach those snobbish bullies that true brilliance can't be hidden in humble surroundings."

Rong Bi smiled, her eyes crinkling. This was the first time she'd heard someone describe the Crown Prince as kind. Her guard relaxed, and she said, "If Grandpa Tang has some prepared glutinous rice flour, that would be perfect. I'll shape some snacks and steam them using your stove. If Grandpa Tang could teach me more, that would be even better."

Tang Xi's wrinkles bloomed into a wide grin. "Why so formal? Use whatever you need, my dear. You have a talent for making snacks. The Crown Prince is fastidious about cleanliness; perhaps your treats will catch the eye of the nobles."

Rong Bi turned to the smiling Grandpa Tang, feeling a hint of guilt. She couldn't disappoint this kind man, but unfortunately, she didn't wish to attract the Crown Prince's attention. All she wanted was to survive this assignment, return to her original post when the Crown Prince dismissed them, and then wait patiently for her chance to leave the palace.

That day, Han Suyin naturally finished her studies early and left, leaving Aunt Gao to supervise Rong Bi.

Rong Bi approached Aunt Gao with a plate of snacks. "It's troubling you to wait for me, Aunt. I'm not worthy of your patience. Please accept these snacks, or I won't be able to forgive myself."

Aunt Gao chuckled. "How can I burden you, young lady? I'm here on official business. If you're worried about me, focus more on your studies."

Rong Bi merely smiled as she handed them over. Aunty Gao chuckled. "What kind of pastry is this? The aroma is already escaping, and it looks like an ordinary glutinous rice pastry. How can it be so fragrant? I wonder what filling it has – could it be rose syrup? That's quite innovative."

Her sense of smell was truly keen, Rong Bi thought to herself, responding obediently, "Please don't disdain it, Aunty. I just gathered whatever leftover fillings from the kitchen and made a batch of pastries. There's a mix of flavors, including rose syrup, red bean paste with jujubes, salted egg yolks, and shrimp paste. They're all rather unusual, but I saw how you've been waiting for me every day, and I felt sorry for you."

Aunty Gao smiled. "Alright then, I'll give it a try. You carry on."

Rong Bi bowed her head respectfully and continued stretching her legs. Aunty Gao picked up a glutinous rice ball and popped it into her mouth. Palace pastries were always small, to avoid making the nobles look unsightly while eating. With one bite, her eyes narrowed in delight. The outer layer was sweet and soft, revealing the rose syrup filling, leaving a delicate fragrance of roses lingering in her mouth.

Aunty Gao tasted it and praised, "I didn't expect you to have such skills! This flavor reminds me of that old thing Tang Xi's cooking. Is he still alive? He must have a strong destiny – there aren't many of the Empress Shen's old servants left now, alas." She sighed inwardly, wishing they had remained neutral and obscure, rather than aligning themselves with any particular faction.

Empress Shen? Rong Bi leaned against the wall and slowly bent her waist backward, pondering if this referred to the original empress, the mother of the crown prince? In this palace, whenever a new ruler ascended, they would naturally want their own people around them. Would they trust those who served the previous ruler? Who knew how many traps they might set?

Unless one was a fool, no one would use someone else's people.

The pastries seemed to have significantly softened Aunty Gao's attitude towards Rong Bi. Although her demeanor still resembled Han Suyin's, subtle differences emerged over time. Even Han Suyin noticed these changes, occasionally casting suspicious glances at them, but during daily practice, everything remained normal.