Chapter 38: Offspring

Chapter 38: Offspring

After Rong Bi left the tavern and returned to her residence, she received yet another gift – a shipment of seafood from Jinzhou, as well as the snowy white lion cat she had just held. The kitten, with its eyes like gemstones of different hues, purred lazily in its cage, delicate and obedient.

The butler who delivered the gifts was courteous: "My master's surname is Zheng. He mentioned that he happened upon an old acquaintance while conducting business today but found it inconvenient to engage in conversation. He noticed that Young Master was fond of this little pet, so he took the liberty to send it over. There are also some sea products that are highly beneficial to one's health. Please accept them, Young Master. Also, please convey our young master's regards to your esteemed princess, Yi Yang."

A surname of Zheng?

Rong Bi examined the list of seafood, which included dried abalone, dried seahorses, cuttlefish, and dried scallops, all precious items in this cold frontier city. The handwriting on the list was exquisite, with strong, elegant strokes. She had a good idea now; this Zheng must be the charming and dashing Third Placed Scholar, Zheng Changyuan. These gifts were clearly meant for Princess Yi Yang through her intermediary.

She picked up the perfectly preserved dried seahorses, and several precious medicinal recipes flashed through her mind. Princess Yi Yang was currently eager for an heir... These seahorses were indeed an ideal ingredient.

Why would he come to Ju Lu all of a sudden? The Zhengs were a wealthy maritime trading family, so it wasn't impossible for their trading caravans to venture to this border region. But Zheng Changyuan was an official in the capital; how could he suddenly appear here?

Unable to figure it out after some thought, she decided not to dwell on it further. She instructed her servants to temporarily store the gifts and wait for the princess's inspection before making any decisions. She then had Song Wensong coordinate with Li Cunyi on the specific details of their purchases and began the journey back to Guangping City.

Princess Yi Yang took the gift list, glanced at it, and smiled. "It's Zheng Tanhua's handwriting. Seems like the Zheng family has other plans now. Merchants will only invest when there's profit to be made. There's no harm in accepting these gifts. The seafood should be well-received in this frontier city, and it'll also add new dishes to your medicinal cuisine restaurant. Keep that cat as well. That villa is likely owned by the Zhengs or somehow connected to them."

Rong Bi acknowledged the compliment, and Princess Yi Yang rewarded her with a smile. "You've done well this time. Take a break for a while, and let Song Wensong handle other matters."

Rong Bi was aware that most of the matters discussed were confidential and had no intention of getting involved. Thus, she acquiesced and withdrew from the chamber. No sooner had she stepped out of the covered walkway when she found herself colliding with Prince Jingbei, Guo Shuji, who still wore his iron-gray armor, making his tall figure appear even more robust and valorous, as if he had just returned from the military. Upon seeing her, he halted and inquired, "Is Lady Officer Rong back from Ju Lu? What's for dinner today?"

Rong Bi replied respectfully, "Today, I've prepared a nourishing ox bone soup in a clay pot, perfect for warming the body during winter."

Having returned from military training, Guo Shuji felt his stomach rumble, so he instructed, "Prepare the meal." As he walked into the room, his maidservants hurried forward to help him remove his armor. Casually, he asked Princess Yi Yang, "Why did you suddenly think of getting into the business of running an escort agency?"

Princess Yi Yang knew that all of Jingbei's thirteen provinces were under Guo Shuji's domain. It would be impossible for Li Cunyi's grand scheme to intercept Rong Bi to escape his notice. She simply chuckled and said, "One can't survive by merely sitting on their wealth; one must always seek ways to increase it."

Guo Shuji smiled. "Can't this prince afford to maintain his own concubine?" As he spoke, he caught a whiff of fragrance and turned his head to see a clay pot being served, filled with enormous ox femur bones and their snowy white marrow. A few slices of hazelnut mushrooms had been added to enhance the flavor, while the excess oil had been removed, leaving only a rich, delectable aroma.

Princess Yi Yang remarked, "It's better to rely on oneself than others. Prince, with your rule over thirteen provinces, you surely wouldn't be interested in such petty trade. I'm drawn to the prospect of exchanging with Bei Xi for goods not commonly found in the Central Plains, thus allowing for profit."

Guo Shuji smiled, dismissing the topic. He removed his armor and outer robe, wiped his hands with a warm towel, and took a seat at the dining table. Having spent the day training the army, he had expended a great deal of energy. The rich aroma of the brownish-yellow soup instantly tantalized his senses, and he began by sipping the broth. The savory, creamy ox bone soup glided smoothly down his throat, warming his body and invigorating him. It piqued his appetite, and after finishing the soup, he turned to Rong Bi with interest. "This ox bone soup lacks any off-putting odor. What did you add to achieve this?"

Princess Yi Yang glanced at Rong Bi, who replied respectfully, "The ox bones were first seared with yellow wine over high heat before being simmered in cold water. Then, we added ingredients like matsutake mushrooms, dried scallops, longan, ginseng slices, and more to enhance the flavor and eliminate the gaminess. Before serving, we also skimmed the fat with minced chicken meat, which is why it isn't greasy."

Guo Shuji was surprised by the number of ingredients she mentioned. "With so many herbs and additives, the essence of the ox bone doesn't seem to have been overshadowed?"

Rong Bi explained, "The key to medicinal cuisine is that the herbal taste should be indiscernible. This is Wu Qi Chao Yuan Soup, perfect for winter nourishment. The additional ingredients are used sparingly."

Guo Shuji nodded without comment, continuing his meal. In his mind, he thought about the secret report that mentioned how this lady official had managed to tame the headstrong young master of the escort agency when she was in Ju Lu collecting medicinal herbs. Originally, he had intended to clip the wings of this queen by keeping her confined within the mansion, but now, it seemed that the princess was indeed operating behind the scenes and had capable subordinates under her command.

He didn't say anything more, only instructing the serving maidens to add noodles to the beef bone soup and serve a scallion sauce for the noodles. After eating, he spent the night once again at He Guang Courtyard.

Since the New Year celebrations had just passed, and the northern region was bitterly cold, there were no significant matters apart from military drills each day. Guo Shuji spent several consecutive nights at He Guang Courtyard before returning to the drills.

Lu Peiling, accompanied by a few generals, saw him attending to affairs in the military tent and couldn't resist teasing, "Your Highness, immersed in the embrace of love, do you still remember your brothers?"

Guo Shuji replied, "There's nothing pressing at the moment. I haven't had much of an appetite lately, but the lady official by the queen's side is truly skilled at making soups. Drinking them has helped me sleep well and regain my energy, so I stayed for a few extra days. No wonder she dares to run a medicinal food shop."

Lu Peiling spoke seriously, "May I have a look at the daily food records?" The meals consumed by the king were meticulously recorded every day, so this request wasn't difficult to fulfill. Guo Shuji turned and instructed the manager behind him. The manager quickly left and returned shortly with the records from the accounting office.

Flipping through the recent dietary logs, Lu Peiling's eyelids twitched slightly as he slowly said, "Beef bone marrow soup, bird's nest sea horse soup, cordyceps duck soup, Solomon's seal steamed chicken, deer blood cake... These are all for nourishing the body and increasing fertility. Your Highness, let me take your pulse."

Guo Shuji chuckled, appearing relaxed, "The queen has been sharing meals with me. It's impressive that Lady Rong managed to eliminate any medicinal taste. She must have put in great effort, though unfortunately, it's all wasted on me, this silver-plated gun that can't shoot." He extended his wrist for Lu Peiling to examine his pulse.

Although he was smiling, the generals remained silent and didn't respond. Lu Peiling focused on taking his pulse for a while, then said, "Judging from the recipes, these warming and nourishing medicinal dishes are beneficial to your health. I can see that Your Highness's complexion has significantly improved, indicating that much of the stubborn cold dampness in your body has been dispelled."

Seeing the tense atmosphere, he lightened the mood with a joke, "These medicinal foods are indeed effective. Your Highness, with your abundant vitality and rosy cheeks, we should also frequently patronize Lady Rong's medicinal food business."

Guo Shuji remarked, "She's a talented one. Just look at her recent trip to Ju Lu; even the Zheng family's trading firm had dealings with her."

Lu Peiling asked, "Your Highness has no intention of stopping this?"

Guo Shuji remarked, "Let her be. It's merely a ploy to pave the way for the Crown Prince, though it's likely in vain." Pausing for a moment, he added, "She is, after all, not an ordinary woman; there's no need to confine her within the bounds of conventional etiquette."

"The offspring she desires, I am unable to provide. However, I cannot be stingy when it comes to wealth. That old scoundrel, Yuan Zixu, merely treats his children as sacrificial offerings. The Crown Prince has been imprisoned and is completely useless, yet he has not been deposed. This is merely a ploy to make me believe that Princess Yi Yang still holds value and to keep me stable."

Lu Peiling turned to see Guo Shuji's indifferent expression and softly sighed, "It's good that Your Highness understands in your heart."

Guo Shuji glanced at the lone winter plum tree still in bloom by the military camp, recalling the abundance of blossoms in the Jiaoguang Courtyard. He said, "Where intense red fades to ash, her fiery character might one day become our asset when she comes to a realization. Let's see how far she can go."

Lu Peiling remarked, "Your Highness, you're showing compassion." From confinement to tolerance, even considering an alliance or exploitation, this indicated acknowledgment of the other party's strength.

Guo Shuji replied, "I always hold a certain respect for those with talent. She possesses the abilities to match her temperament, and she has capable subordinates. Forming an alliance – it's not entirely out of the question."