Chapter 31: Hot Springs

Chapter 31: Hot Springs

The next morning, the carriage was promptly prepared. Rong Bi changed into a practical male attire suitable for travel. As she climbed aboard, she noticed a team of guards already surrounding the carriage. The personal guard squad wore identical black robes with golden dragon patterns, their broad shoulders and slender waists giving them an imposing presence.

Yu Twelve and Tang Youyu were also part of the group. Tang Youyu gave her a lively smile as he called out, "Concubine Rong!" Yu Twelve nudged him, "You should say Lord Rong Four."

Rong Bi knew that the princess must have given instructions. She smiled slightly at them before getting into the carriage, followed by Bai Ying and Bai Ying. Passersby on the road instinctively made way for the carriages, recognizing the signs of noble travel.

Guangping City was the largest main city in the northern region. To withstand the harsh winds and cold from beyond the border, its walls and buildings were exceptionally thick and tall. The walls were constructed with exposed layers of heavy bluish-gray stones, their surfaces stripped bare by the biting winds, revealing smooth, cold stone slabs. The streets were also extremely wide, with the main street, Xuanwu Street, wide enough to accommodate four carriages side by side. They were headed to a bustling shop located on this very street.

First, they inspected the city's shops. The three-story building along the street had an atrium in the middle, with side rooms flanking it for the staff, and a kitchen. A secondary entrance led to a small courtyard, which was spacious and had a well covered with stone slabs. Given the freezing temperatures, no plants grew there; instead, piles of firewood were stacked against the walls. At the end of the courtyard stood a two-story annex, presumably meant for the owner's family.

Rong Bi, accompanied by Bai Ying and Bai Ying, ascended to the upper floor of the shop overlooking the busy street. Despite the severe cold in the north, Guangping City was bustling with activity. Most people walking along the main street wore fur coats, even the poorest dressed in inferior dog or sheepskin. Wealthy merchants, on the other hand, donned luxurious fox, mink, and bear furs, all with cheerful expressions, suggesting a sense of contentment and prosperity, different from the stereotype of a desolate northern region.

Bai Ying observed, "This row of shops mostly follows this pattern. This is the liveliest street in the city, so establishments dealing with daily necessities are quite successful. Next door is a sauce shop, a pharmacy, and a clinic. This place used to be a restaurant, but the owner couldn't make ends meet and decided to sell it. Look around, there are plenty of eateries, taverns, and inns nearby. Running a regular restaurant might not work; it needs a unique selling point."

Rong Bi was taken aback, turning to Bai Ying. He smiled and said, "Princess believed you excel in cooking, having come from the Imperial Kitchen. She thought you could open a restaurant without necessarily aiming for profit. Ingredients can be sourced from the nearby farm, with additional purchases as needed."

Rong Bi understood now. The princess was skilled in strategy and had already considered how Rong Bi's background in the Imperial Kitchen could be advantageous and withstand scrutiny. Whether the business made money was not a concern for Rong Bi; the princess only needed a legitimate excuse to allow the prince to venture out.

The eatery... Rong Bi pondered for a moment and glanced at the prominent banners of "Apricot Grove Hall" and "Hundred-Year Medicine Hall," then reflected, "This medical clinic must be the largest pharmacy in the area, right?"

Bai Ying replied, "Yes, it is."

Rong Bi had a rough idea in her mind. After surveying the surroundings, she left and led the group to a farm. The farm was called Warm Spring Manor, nestled among mountains on three sides and bordered by water on one. The head of the farm, whose surname was Tian, was an honest man. He was very reserved during their visit, unsure how to hold his hands.

Rong Bi felt a sense of familiarity. The wrinkled face and thick-knuckled fingers reminded her of her own father. She had been away from home for too long, yet the vivid images of her family and their lives continued to linger in her mind. Her father's rough hands used to peel eggs for her and fasten the laces of her floral shoes. The day of her return was still a distant prospect.

Her heart softened, and she spoke warmly to Farmer Tian, "Farmer Tian, there's no need to be nervous. Just tell us how many acres of land you have here, what you cultivate, and how the harvest usually is."

The village chief, upon observing the noble's melodious voice, snow-white complexion, and delicate features that resembled those of a pampered young master from an affluent family, slightly relaxed and replied, "In response to your honor, our village doesn't have much to boast about. The main reason the proprietors bought this estate is because it borders a mountain with a cave containing a spring. The water in the spring emits warmth even in winter, thus giving our village its name, Warm Spring Village. Around the hot spring, one could originally cultivate vegetables; however, arable land on this mountain is scarce, mostly consisting of rocks. As a result, our production is minimal, barely enough to supply the proprietors. Apart from the occasional soak in the hot spring, there isn't much else to offer. That's why we're willing to sell it to a noble like you. The area around the hot spring has been well-maintained, would you like to take a look?"

Rong Bi rose to her feet and followed the head steward out of the main house of the manor. True to his word, she saw a flight of stone steps leading up the hillside, constructed with heavy slabs of greenish-gray stone wide enough for four people to walk abreast. Along both sides, flowers, shrubs, and pines adorned the path. Rong Bi started ascending, and the group of attendants followed suit. The entrance to the cave was adorned with a grand gate, and on one side of the stone wall, verses were engraved in cursive script, flowing like water and clouds. Though difficult to decipher entirely, words like "warm spring," "clear water," and "solidified fat" could be vaguely made out, suggesting that they were poems praising the therapeutic qualities of the hot spring.

Rong Bi initially found the elegance rather dull, so she simply followed the rocky path straight into the cavern. Upon entering, she was greeted by a warm, humid breeze that starkly contrasted with the frigid air outside. The air carried an indescribable scent of nitre, adding an enigmatic element to the atmosphere.

The cave seemed to have been meticulously renovated by artisans, with wall lamps flickering to life, illuminating the spacious chamber. The floor was level, the walls smoothed, and stone tables and benches were placed strategically. Upon venturing further into the cavern, one encountered a full rectangular pool carved from the rock, filled with steaming hot spring water. Vaporous white mist rose, accompanied by the gentle gurgling of the water. As the guards entered, holding torches, they couldn't help but laugh, "What a heavenly refuge, truly a place of leisure and bliss."

Rong Bi, however, showed no interest in these. Instead, she gazed at the inner gate, clearly indicating there was more to explore beyond it. Seeing that Farmhead Tian didn't intend to lead the way, she inquired, "Where does that lead?"

Tian Zhuang reported, "Second Master, it's a natural cave in there. However, there's no hot spring, so it's only suitable for storing odds and ends like lamp stands and household items. There's nothing much to see."

Rong Bi proceeded to enter regardless, followed by several guards holding torches to light their way. True to his word, the cave had merely been leveled, with its stone walls left untouched. It contained a few natural cavities filled haphazardly with stone tables, benches, lamp stands, screens, and firewood. As Tang Youyu strolled along, he chuckled. "It's indeed quite warm in here, and the space is ample. If only there was sunlight, we might have been able to cultivate vegetables."

One of the other guards commented, "Vegetables can still be grown without sunlight. Sprouting beans is the easiest and cheapest. Building some shelves wouldn't cost much, and you could produce a lot at once."

"Bean sprouts are inexpensive and don't fetch a high price. Any household could sprout them themselves; why bother doing it commercially? They'd just consume them themselves."

"Those who need beans for oil wouldn't want to waste them on sprouts, especially during cold seasons. Bean sprouts would then be considered a rare delicacy."

"Perhaps we could cultivate yellow chives. Yellow chives are delicious, especially when stir-fried with cured meat..." Tang Youyu couldn't help but swallow his saliva as he spoke.

"I think growing black fungus would be a good idea too!"

"It's also possible to cultivate medicinal herbs. I know that ganoderma can grow without sunlight and is easy to tend to. My grandmother used to make ganoderma soup with pig's brain, saying it relieved headaches." This was Yu Twelve's voice, indicating that he had come from a fairly well-off family, as ganoderma and pig's brain were both quite expensive ingredients.

"Too much ganoderma isn't good for you either."

"Nothing is good in excess, really..."

Listening to their animated suggestions, Rong Bi couldn't help but ask with a smile, "All of them sound good - mung bean sprouts, yellow chives, mushrooms, wood ears, and monkey head mushrooms. Let's try them all out. It might not work the first time, but it's worth a shot."

The guards, thrilled that she had taken their advice, became even more enthusiastic. "We'll get the carpenters to make some stands, I know how to do that."

"One must be knowledgeable about selecting the right seeds and beans. We still need to consult an expert on this."

"When can we enjoy these? Will they be ready for the New Year?" It was Tang Youyu's voice. Rong Bi smiled in the flickering light, and the guards became even more eager, discussing numerous ideas in no time. The head of the farm felt that Young Master Rong was very approachable.

True to her word, Rong Bi soon gave instructions to the farm head and instructed Hong Ying to leave two thousand coins as capital. She also granted the farm head an additional hundred coins, which took him by pleasant surprise. He had assumed he would have to fund these arrangements initially, but now, seeing the generosity of this noble, he realized he had been given the capital. This made things much easier. In his mind, he vowed to invite experts to ensure that this seemingly impulsive young master, who was so amiable, wouldn't lose money or be disappointed.

He sensed, albeit faintly, that this seemingly good-for-nothing spa village, which served no purpose beyond soaking in its hot springs, might genuinely undergo some tangible transformation under the whimsical visions of this young master.

And by then, the afternoon sun had begun its descent. The head of the farm had arranged for the slaughter of chickens and ducks, preparing a rustic country meal. Although the fowl were a bit tough, the bacon overly salty and greasy, and the dried fish carried a hint of smokiness, it was evident that they had made a sincere effort. Rong Bi sampled a few bites. Seeing the guards enjoying their meal, she also had a bowl of mixed rice with vegetables before rising to return to the city.

Upon their return to the city, it was already well past dinner time. As they made their way back to the manor, they coincidentally encountered the Prince, who was exiting the main courtyard. Catching sight of Rong Bi, escorted by her guards, standing at the roadside and bowing to him, he was somewhat taken aback. His gaze swept over her masculine attire before inquiring, "Where have you been? It's no wonder tonight's spread was lackluster, save for a decent meatball soup. Upon inquiry, I learned that you were out on an errand. It seems the only dish worthy of the table was that meatball dish, crafted by your hand."

Rong Bi replied with a respectful bow, "It is this servant's fault for not attending properly. Please, Your Highness, forgive me. I was sent by the Duchess to inspect the shops and manors. As it is a hot spring manor, there are no remarkable products; however, I tasted the dried eggplants and melons from their fields, found them quite satisfactory, and brought some back. Tomorrow, I will present them to Your Highness and the Duchess in detail." Clad in men's attire, she performed a masculine salute with graceful composure, showing no hint of timidity. With her handsome features, eloquence, and meticulous attire, she resembled a young gentleman from a distinguished family, exuding an elegant and noble bearing.

Guo Shuji's eyebrows faintly arched, offering a subtle nod. He didn't particularly concern himself with the kind of shop she intended to open, merely remarking, "The prince's estate oversees numerous manors that yield fine produce. And if you have a craving for any sort of game, we also keep a stock. You need only ask the estate's steward."

Rong Bi bowed respectfully, "I shall abide by Your Highness's command."

Guo Shuji nodded, as if he had merely made casual inquiries and saw no need to pursue the matter further. He then proceeded on his way.

Rong Bi waited for the prince to leave before entering to give Princess Yi Yang a detailed report. Yi Yang asked her, "I thought, since you're skilled in cooking, opening a restaurant would suit you well. What do you think?"

Rong Bi replied, "This servant has noticed that there are many medical clinics and pharmacies in the vicinity, some of the most renowned in Xuanwu City. It's likely that most guests passing by are seeking medical treatment or herbs. Perhaps we could open a medicinal cuisine shop nearby. I was fortunate enough to learn a few medicinal recipes while in the palace. If Your Highness permits, I'd like to give it a try."

Princess Yi Yang smiled, "A medicinal cuisine shop? That's an excellent idea. Let's prepare for it." She gazed at Rong Bi intently for a moment before adding, "You seem eager to settle this quickly because you're worried that Yuan Jun might have other plans when he returns, right?"

Rong Bi's cheeks flushed slightly, but she answered gracefully, "It is only natural for Your Highness's instructions to be attended to promptly." Yi Yang reassured her, "There's no need to worry. Ah Jun has no interest in such matters. You can do as you please."

Rong Bi knew that this was Princess Yi Yang's strategy to win the loyalty of her subjects. Nevertheless, she couldn't help feeling a sense of joy. Being free from the confines of the backyard and the meticulous service required for the nobles was already the best situation she could hope for.