Chapter 81: Peace and Stability

Chapter 81: Peace and Stability

True to his word, Yuan Jun received the memorial the following day, personally delivered by Li Dongfu alongside a group of young eunuchs.

He took the memorial, flipping through its pages without declining, and indeed began to endorse it with his vermilion brush, scribbling swiftly and decisively.

Li Dongfu, relieved that Yuan Jun didn't refuse, also let out a sigh of relief. He stood aside attentively, personally grinding ink for Yuan Jun, while his mind pondered that the Crown Prince, this hidden dragon, was ultimately destined to soar into the heavens.

Unbeknownst to Yuan Jun, Li Dongfu had, in these recent days, accurately deduced Yuan Zixu's intentions. With the shrewdness of a humble figure, he was meticulously strategizing how to align his bets, curry favor within the palace, and ensure his survival.

No one knew what the Emperor had witnessed after consuming the crimson pills, but he appeared relaxed and invigorated, having spent the night with several Taoist nuns. He was in a state of blissful intoxication. Apparently, it seemed highly probable that His Majesty had also encountered this so-called "divine connection."

In contrast to this divine encounter, the daily routine of attending court, laboriously reviewing documents, dealing with cunning and treacherous ministers, and even distrusting his own son had wearied Yuan Zixu of his imperial life.

The supreme throne of the world, an emperor could never tolerate any intrusion or coveting, not even from his own sons.

Yet, when compared to the prospect of immortality offered by this divine connection, the imperial throne seemed less appealing.

If a son, due to his father's suppression, gained solace in this divine blessing, the emperor naturally would not begrudge him. Seeking the same divine connection for himself, an exchange would undoubtedly be considered.

Yet, who knew what this so-called divine connection entailed?

Li Dongfu was a minor figure, and he was well aware of the sinister forces lurking around power. Chong Xiao had always been an insatiable, cunning opportunist. This so-called Red Pill was likely nothing but a deception to deceive the emperor, or else he would have ascended to immortality long ago. As for the pill forced upon him for survival, who could tell what it truly was?

But the emperor, on the verge of madness, had found a moment of tranquility with this seemingly attainable divine connection. He became benevolent and amiable towards everyone.

These fleeting figures in the court sought nothing more than to cling onto life.

As Li Dongfu watched the prince, engrossed in his state affairs with lowered eyelashes, he thought: Perhaps the previous generation of ministers also yearned for a kinder, less ambitious ruler.

Yuan Jun was already quite proficient in governance. He started with military reports, then moved on to the six major ministries' affairs. Most of the suggestions from the cabinet were marked with approval, and he swiftly made his way through half the documents.

Among the six ministry reports was one requesting preparations for the upcoming spring imperial examination. Yuan Jun paused, recalling that Rong Bi's younger brother had come to the capital to sit for the exams. He wondered about the young man's knowledge and experience. Still, as a newcomer, Yuan Jun felt he could only offer a slight leniency, which was far from enough favor.

As for Rong Bi... Would that young lady consent to the third-ranked scholar's proposal?

He was somewhat hesitant to learn the answer.

Deep down, he knew Zheng Changyuan was an excellent candidate for an alliance. If Rong Bi agreed, she would have a bright future ahead. Unconsciously, he glanced out the window. It had just snowed, and the cold winter sky was now clear. The New Year was drawing near.

The Rong siblings were busy preparing for the New Year celebrations.

For the first time, all three siblings were gathered in the capital city, and the two elder brothers were sparing no effort to ensure that their youngest sister, who had been away from home since childhood, would have a wonderful holiday. The house had been thoroughly cleaned, with paper-cuttings and couplets adorning the windows and doors.

In the spacious kitchen, a warm atmosphere prevailed as a roaring fire burned in the stove, with several steaming baskets on top, releasing a gentle vapor filled with the sweet aroma of dates. Bai Ying stood by the stove with her sleeves rolled up, tending to the fire while peeling carrots.

In the center of the room, a sturdy long table was placed, its clean surface holding several dough balls. Rong Yi was kneading the dough nearby, dressed only in a thin shirt due to the warmth, his sleeves rolled high, revealing his muscular arms. He exerted himself in the process.

On the other side of the table, a variety of pots, plates, jars, and bowls were arranged, filled with seasonings and ingredients. A large jar nearby held shredded cabbage that had been salted, waiting to be drained.

By Rong Yi's side, Hong Ying was slicing lotus roots, while the eggplants had already been washed and set aside.

Rong Bi had originally planned to make dumplings and fry some lotus root and eggplant patties, along with meatballs, and steam some date cakes for the New Year. Her two older brothers, not wanting her to labor, had joined her in the kitchen, leaving Rong Bi to sit comfortably in an armchair covered with a tiger fur rug, wrapped in a fox fur blanket, giving instructions to Rong Mo on how to prepare the meat filling: "Don't add cooking wine directly; it will mask the flavor of the meat. Incorporate the onion, ginger, and Sichuan pepper water you soaked earlier into the meat filling in three gradual steps, stirring well after each addition...that's right...always stir in one direction to build the texture."

"Add a few eggs and continue stirring. Once the eggs are evenly mixed, you can add the seasonings. This will keep the meat tender and juicy, preventing it from becoming dry or tough, maintaining its freshness and succulence."

"Alright, we can start frying the lotus root and eggplant pockets now. Third Brother, light up the oil pot, and Bai Ying, you can come over and prepare the batter."

Rong Mo hastened to the stove, set up the oil pot, and poured in golden yellow vegetable oil, adding firewood to heat it up fiercely.

A faint blush colored Rong Bi's cheeks, her expression bright as she busied herself with instructions. "After blanching the Chinese cabbage, do the same with the Sichuan pepper, scallions, and ginger water. Then mix it evenly with the mushrooms."

"To Red Ying, soak the mushrooms. There's a trick to it; don't just use cold water. Soak them with sugar, vinegar, and boiling water, and they'll be as thick and tender as fresh ones."

Looking at Rong Yi's dough, Rong Bi reminded, "That should be about right. Big Brother, you can take out the steamed dates, crush them into a powder, and add them to the dough later. Let it rise again."

Rong Yi acknowledged, wiped his flour-covered hands, then turned to retrieve the steamer, removing the lid to pour out the fully steamed dates. Rong Mo chuckled. "Fourth Sister truly has a strategic mind. I've heard from Big Brother that you can lead troops in battle and write articles. Now, even when cooking, you're like a general in the kitchen. With such attention to detail, your dishes must be delicious."

Rong Bi smiled bashfully, feeling a little embarrassed. Those who led troops were the crown prince. She whispered, "In the palace, I thought of learning a skill so that I could help my family when I return home."

Rong Mo replied, "When Sister returns, you can simply enjoy your leisure! Providing for the family is our responsibility!"

Rong Bi laughed, guiding Bai Ying on the batter. "Alright, alright, that's good enough. We can start on the lotus root pockets. Is the oil hot enough over there, Third Brother? If it is, reduce the firewood and use a gentle flame."

Rong Mo inserted a chopstick into the oil, looked at it, and said, "It's ready. Let's start frying!"

All spirits lifted as Bai Ying skillfully wrapped minced meat in the sliced lotus root, then coated them in batter while she smiled and said, "Fourth Sister-in-law's craftsmanship is truly impressive. In our previous guard team, which of us didn't hope for the princess to bestow her soup? We all knew it was made by Fourth Sister-in-law herself, so the taste couldn't be bad. Back then, since the princess ate little, we benefited from it."

With nimble hands, Bai Ying quickly filled a large plate with the lotus root slices. Rong Mo came over to carry them to the hot oil, while Rong Bi couldn't resist approaching the wok. She placed an hourglass aside and instructed, "First, fry on low heat until the sand in the hourglass has flowed through six times. Then, add more firewood and switch to high heat. Wait for another three cycles of the hourglass. When the lotus root slices turn golden and crispy, take them out. Later, when they cool, fry them again. The timing is crucial, so don't miscalculate."

Rong Mo fretted, "Go back and sit down. Be careful of the hot oil splashing up. Your delicate faces are important, so stay away. I got it: low heat for six cycles, then high heat for three. Now, go back."

Hong Ying, who was below stoking the fire, smiled and stood up to help Rong Bi back to her seat.

Feeling a bit shy under Hong Ying's gaze, Rong Bi replied, "Back in the palace, I did a lot of frying. As long as there's no water, there won't be any oil splatters. Third Brother is making a big fuss."

Rong Mo's heart ached, but his face remained cheerful, "Now that you've left the palace, with me around, how can I let you suffer? Look at Big Brother making date cakes. I'm quite skilled at frying lotus root and meatballs."

A warm feeling filled Rong Bi's heart. Turning her head, she saw that her eldest brother had already poured dates onto the cutting board and was crushing them into a paste with a rolling pin. She directed him to knead the dough, let it rest, then steam it to make soft and sweet date cakes – a treat that could last throughout the festive season, and they could prepare extra.

In the kitchen, the aroma of egg batter mixed with lotus root and meat wafted about, intensified by the high-temperature oil. These scents were familiar and ordinary, yet in Rong Bi's memory, they were precious.

Having grown up in the palace and cooked countless dishes, it was only during this short time in the capital that she cooked for her family. Back in the depths of the palace, as she tended to the fire, she often imagined what dishes she would prepare for her parents and three brothers after turning twenty-five and leaving the palace.

In her soft voice, she said, "It's a shame that Father and Mother aren't here."

Rong Yi paused in his movements. "Don't worry. Once your third brother finishes his exams and the results are announced, it's likely he won't pass. Then, he can go back home and bring Father and Mother to the capital. Our residence is spacious enough to accommodate them without any issues."

"By then, your third brother can take on a tutoring position and continue preparing for the next exam. I'm an instructor in the imperial guards, so I can support our parents as well. If we manage to locate and reconnect with your second brother, won't our whole family be reunited?"

Rong Bi's heart skipped a beat with anticipation. "With such a long journey, will Father and Mother be able to handle it? What about our land back home?"

With words flowing from his mouth, Rong Yi skillfully kneaded the dough, saying, "We can lease the land to others for cultivation. Your parents are in great health, and traveling by water is quite comfortable. If they knew they could come to the capital and see you, they would certainly make the journey. Previously, they thought it would be years before you left the palace, so they didn't dare to come hastily. But if they do visit, we'll have to find them something to do. They're not the type to sit idle; perhaps we could acquire some farmland on the outskirts of the capital."

Rong Bi was overjoyed, reaching out to wash her hands in the basin. She then took the dough that Rong Yi had rolled out earlier and started to make dumplings, deftly and quickly. With a gleam in her eyes, she happily suggested, "Our parents are getting older, and farming is too hard for them. My eldest brother has to work every day, and my third brother has to study, so they don't have much time to help. It might be better to set up a shop. That way, our parents will have something to do, and they can manage the store, which would be less strenuous work."

Bai Ying and Hong Ying both washed their hands to join in making dumplings, saying as they worked, "Fourth Sister is right. Our previous medicinal cuisine restaurant did very well. Why not acquire a shop to continue that venture?"

Rong Bi shook her head and said, "This is the heart of the imperial capital, where many talented individuals reside. It's different from doing business back in Jingbei with the support of princes and princesses. Opening a medicinal cuisine restaurant might not be wise, as there are plenty of others who can do it better than us."

"I believe establishing a small shop by the canal dock would be more profitable. There, you'd find numerous laborers and passing travelers. Serving popular, clean snacks like pancakes, steamed buns, and pastries could yield a modest yet steady profit. Though the initial investment is small, cleanliness and good taste are surefire ways to attract customers."

Rong Mo exclaimed, "Indeed! Just thinking about those crispy fried meatballs, vegetable fritters, and eggplant pockets, I recall how street vendors were always swarmed with customers. A large coin for a vegetable ball, and three for one with meat filling – people couldn't get enough of them. If A-Mei really makes these, she'll surely earn a profit!"

Amidst the laughter and chatter in the kitchen, everyone offered their ideas, envisioning a bright future together.

On the long table, golden, crispy fried lotus root slices and eggplant pockets were arranged, while a heaping platter of golden meatballs overflowed from a deep dish. The pristine white dumplings, neatly lined up in a round basket, were covered with yellow paper and adorned with copper coins. The steamer was refilled with freshly made date cakes.

Rong Bi wrapped a clean copper coin inside a dumpling, looking at everyone with contentment and joy. Yet, for some reason, she suddenly wondered how the Crown Prince would feel if he were in her body now. Would he find this simple prosperity among common folk comforting, or would he find it noisy? After all, these were her family, not his.

This thought stirred a pang of sympathy in Rong Bi. The Crown Prince must be alone and cold in the palace right now, she imagined. At this moment, he would probably be sitting in that purification chamber, reading scriptures and copying texts, wouldn't he?