Chapter 29: Wet Nurse

Chapter 29: Wet Nurse

Upon leaving the princess's chambers, she was promptly attended to by two young maidservants. Similarly, each of the ladies-in-waiting were also assigned their own servants, a grand display of hierarchy and strict rules that left the original servants of the prince's residence in awe.

The servants, both impressed and eager to please the new princess, soon became familiar with the royal protocols. The few consorts of the late prince had been taken in by the former princess as concubines; some were her personal attendants, others were daughters of officials from the region, and some had been purchased. They had all been promised the title of secondary consort if they bore the prince an heir. It was rumored that the former princess, weakened by illness, had failed to conceive after more than a year of marriage, thus she began to take in concubines for the prince, hoping to hasten the expansion of his lineage.

In any case, the late princess, whose family name was Su, was a daughter of one of the prince's officials, chosen by the prince's mother as his future wife. She was beautiful, talented, gentle, and virtuous, a perfect image of a wise and kind consort. Her only shortcomings were her frail health, which prevented her from bearing the prince any children, and her untimely death.

Such a virtuous woman was naturally scoffed at by the princess: "A woman who competes for the title of virtuous queen or consort by encouraging her husband to take concubines can only be doing so because she loves her reputation more than the man."

These words, spoken by the princess while admiring flowers in the courtyard with her attendants, echoed loudly and were swiftly conveyed to Prince Jingbei, Guo Shuji, by those who thought themselves clever.

That evening, Guo Shuji instructed that he would dine in the main residence. Rong Bi had learned that the prince enjoyed meat, but he also suffered from digestive issues, so the kitchen was cautious about preparing greasy dishes. The former princess had always emphasized that the food should not be too fatty.

In the palace, Rong Bi had encountered a similar issue with the crown prince's stomach, and she had pondered how to improve his digestion. As she inspected the ingredients in the inner courtyard's kitchen, she asked, "I remember that this region produces monkey mushrooms. Why aren't they on the list?"

The servants exchanged glances before one of them, gathering courage, stepped forward and said, "Miss Rong, having come from the palace, you must be accustomed to seeing precious ingredients. But you may not know that our prince's residence has always valued frugality. His Highness has only three dishes and one soup for each meal, two of which are meat and one is vegetarian. No extravagance is allowed. Monkey mushrooms are a tribute item, rare and expensive, usually reserved for the imperial court. Here, they are considered too costly. Similar items like bird's nest, shark fin, bear paws, and sea cucumber are not purchased. This rule was established by the late princess and supported by His Highness to avoid attracting unnecessary attention from the Censorate and damaging the reputation of the prince's residence."

Rong Bi replied, "If the prince advocates frugality, it is indeed a noble virtue, worthy of emulation. But when it comes to other valuable ingredients, some are merely a matter of status. Monkey mushrooms, however, are known to benefit the organs and aid digestion, particularly effective for stomach ailments. The princess brought some dried monkey mushrooms as part of her dowry; let's have them prepared for the prince tonight. If he finds them agreeable, the residence should consider purchasing them, as fresh ones are even more beneficial. In terms of food, they might seem expensive, but as a remedy for an ailment, how can they be considered too costly? The prince is the highest authority in the northern lands, and his service in defending the frontier is invaluable. His health is priceless. If these mushrooms can cure his stomach ailment, they would be worth more than gold. Not exceeding the prescribed limits and being reasonable, even the censors of the Censorate wouldn't have grounds to object."

The servant women dared not utter another word after hearing this, instead attentively listening to Rong Bi's instructions: "Soak the monkey head mushrooms and stew them with mountain yam and chicken. Also, mince them and mix with ground meat and eggs to prepare a braised meat dish. That makes two dishes. Additionally, steam a fresh fish, prepare a dish of luminous grilled prawns, and accompany these with seasonal vegetables and fruits. For the greens, use that white cabbage. For dessert, serve crystal-steamed frozen pears, and for pastries, offer yam cakes."

One of the servant women said, "However, His Highness the Prince dislikes fish and shrimp, finding them too fishy."

Rong Bi remarked, "Princess enjoys it."

All present immediately furrowed their brows, daring not to speak another word. Back in the days of the previous queen, she would accompany the prince at every meal, even going as far as to cook herself. If there was a dish the prince disliked, it would never be presented before him. But this one, she was a princess! No one dared to utter a sound, and the kitchen staff promptly busied themselves. To their surprise, Rong Bi herself stood within the kitchen, watching them closely as they prepared the food. Any errors in cooking techniques were immediately pointed out by her.

The fish was drizzled with a sauce that Rong Bi had personally prepared, a blend of sour plum, osmanthus, and honey. She skillfully filleted the fish and, using the Phoenix Tail cutting technique, sliced the crisp and juicy stems of the gelatinous vegetable, which were then soaked in iced water before being arranged alongside the fish slices. The dish was then garnished with the sauce, resulting in a translucent and visually stunning presentation. It was the first time the kitchen maids had witnessed such meticulous culinary craftsmanship from the capital, and Rong Bi willingly shared every step with them. Whether it was to establish authority or not, the servants now understood that the princess was now in charge of the household, and they would need to adapt accordingly.

A change in dietary customs was indeed a significant matter. Guo Shuji had yet to dine in the inner court when he saw wet nurse Mama Wang totter over. He rose and asked, "Why has Mama come?"

Mama Wang replied, "I heard that the princess, on her first day in the prince's residence after being married, wants to alter the palace rules. She has extravagant banquets with more than ten dishes, all picked from expensive ingredients, and she only cares for her own preferences without considering the prince's taste. Just thinking about it makes my heart ache for the prince..." As she spoke, tears began to roll down her cheeks.

Guo Shuji's expression was unreadable. "The princess has been pampered in the capital. Now that she's married to this remote, cold region, it's understandable that she pays attention to her food. I don't mind these details. Mama, you're advanced in years, so just enjoy your peaceful retirement. There's no need to worry too much about such matters."

Wiping away her tears, Mama Wang's eyes reddened. "Back when the late princess was around, she took great care of you. Back then, the prince was tall and strong, eating anything without issue. But now? No one knows what's upset his stomach. The late princess was virtuous, but unfortunately, she was weak and sickly, unable to serve the prince for long. Now, we have this precious princess who doesn't seem to care about the prince's well-being. His digestive system... It needs careful attention and nurturing. The prince still needs someone by his side who understands his needs and feelings..."

Older ladies like Mama Wang often couldn't stop reminiscing once they started. Mama Wang was a capable servant in Guo Shuji's mother's court and had the added bond of having breastfed him. After listening patiently for a while, Guo Shuji glanced at Gao Fengnian, who was standing outside the study. He was Mama Wang's son and could be considered Guo Shuji's milk brother. Despite sending him to the military for training, Guo Shuji had always kept him as a vice general by his side.

He began, "Mother has arrived at the perfect time. I have a matter to discuss with you. The position of Taishou in Ju Lu County was recently vacated, and I intend to appoint Gao Fengnian as the new Taishou. However, I worry that you might find it too far away. But Fengnian is now married and has a firstborn son; he should start thinking about his career and establishing himself. Remaining merely as my deputy commander won't do him any good. Besides, Ju Lu is a strategically important region; I can't be at ease without someone I trust overseeing it."

Wang Mother instantly forgot her tears, her eyes widening with joy as she quickly responded, "How could a servant refuse an assignment from the Duke? Even if it means walking through fire and water, Fengnian would willingly do it! My old bones are still strong, so he doesn't need to tend to me! Moreover, with a wife by his side, a man should prioritize establishing his own career! This is an immense favor!" She then hurriedly called for Gao Fengnian. "Hurry up and come in to thank the Duke!"

Gao Fengnian indeed rushed in and knelt down immediately. Guo Shuji waved his hand, saying, "There's no need, Mother. Our relationship is like that of a mother and son. It's only natural for me to look out for Fengnian. I thought that since Ju Lu is close to the inland and has abundant resources, I chose it after much consideration. Actually, I had Fengnian's young child and your advanced age in mind. The Taishou's residence there is well-maintained. Perhaps Fengnian could take you and the family there to enjoy a comfortable life."

Wang Mother was overjoyed. "That's excellent!"

Guo Shuji nodded and said, "Since Mother agrees, I can rest assured. Fengnian, send Mother back and take good care of her."

Gao Fengnian remained silent, bowed, and helped his mother out. Wang Mother was still beaming from the unexpected good news, chattering on, "Ju Lu is an exceptional place! Among the thirteen northern states, it's the best! The climate is pleasant, and battles rarely reach there. The land yields good harvests. The Duke truly has your best interests at heart. Our family will rely on you now. This is such a joyous occasion. We must start making plans right away. Send someone to inspect the area, buy some fertile fields... purchase a few shops... and let your wife prepare accordingly..."

After sending them off, Gao Fengnian asked his wife, "Did the Duke's concubine summon Mother to speak again?"

Gao Fengnian's wife, Liu Xiang, was also a former maid in the Duke's household. Hearing this, she smiled and replied, "Yes, Madam Li said she needed to sew a belt for the Duke but wasn't sure what material to use. So she sent someone to invite Mother, and when she returned, she brought back many gifts."

Gao Fengnian stated, "From now on, if anyone from that residence comes to summon Mother, except for the princess, refuse all others. Tell them Mother is unwell with a cough and doesn't want to risk spreading the illness to the esteemed guests."

Liu Xiang, known for her prudence and attention to detail, had been chosen by Wang Mother and recommended to the Duke for marriage. Her expression changed slightly. "Could it be that those two concubines influenced Mother to say something to the Duke? Did you clarify the situation before the Duke?"

Gao Fengnian said, "The princess has just arrived, and Mother went to His Highness, weeping about the princess's extravagant meals and her disregard for him. Isn't that openly offending the princess? Now, she is the princess consort, the lady of the manor. Father knows that Mother lacks tact, and he is magnanimous enough not to bear a grudge. Hence, he didn't reprimand her but only asked me to send her back. However, this cannot happen again. Even if His Highness overlooks Mother's actions due to her being his wet nurse, the princess is not someone with a forgiving nature."

Liuxiang spoke with concern, "But you know, Mother can't stay idle. She often visits the palace, and if her coughing can't be concealed, it might offend the two concubines as well."

Gao Fengnian reassured, "There's no need to worry. These few days, Mother will definitely have her hands full with the affairs in Ju Lu. His Highness has bestowed a great favor, allowing me to serve as the County Governor of Ju Lu, with permission to bring along our family. Her mind is now fully occupied with matters there; she won't have time to concern herself with the palace's affairs."

A smile instantly lit up Liuxiang's face, "Is that truly such a grand favor?"

Gao Fengnian glanced at her, his heart heavy, but his expression remained calm as he said, "So, you should also start making your plans." In his thoughts, from now on, I will no longer hold a position among His Highness's trusted advisors. This is the final respect and recognition for Mother's and my years of loyalty. If I don't know when to advance or retreat, then this will be the end of my journey.