Chapter 121

Chapter 121: Pigeon Stew with Chinese Yam and Goji Berries

Yuan Xiang opened the window, letting in a refreshing gust of cool air. The courtyard, thoroughly cleansed by the rain, looked pristine and invigorating, lifting one’s spirits at a glance.

Dong Zhi arrived with the maids to deliver the meal. Today, she had personally overseen the kitchen maid’s preparations.

While the maids set the table, Dong Zhi greeted Yuan Xiang.

“Sister Yuan Xiang.”

“You’re here. What’s for today?” Yuan Xiang placed two of the old lady’s favorite bergamot plants by the window before turning to her with a beaming smile.

“Poria and millet porridge, pigeon stewed with Chinese yam and goji berries, a few side dishes, a plate of red bean cakes, and a plate of jujube paste and Chinese yam cakes.” Dong Zhi paused briefly, then listed everything without even glancing at the table.

“The old lady complained of a toothache yesterday. Please remove the red bean cakes and just leave the jujube paste and Chinese yam cakes,” Yuan Xiang instructed, then observed Dong Zhi’s attire. “Why are you dressed so lightly? Aren’t you cold?”

Although the rain had stopped, the weather hadn’t yet warmed up.

Dong Zhi shook her head. “Not at all. I’ve been in the kitchen all morning and almost worked up a sweat.”

For the junior maids working in the courtyard, this level of cold was nothing—they warmed up quickly once they started working. But for the maids serving indoors, it felt quite chilly, let alone the ladies and young misses who rarely ventured outside.

The old lady had changed into the padded jacket and undergarments hastily made by the seamstress as soon as she woke up. They hadn't brought many thick clothes on this trip. Although the old residence had been renovated lavishly, it lacked a dedicated sewing room. A seamstress had been urgently summoned in the rain to take the old lady’s measurements, and by this morning, seven or eight thick garments had been delivered to the residence.

“That’s true,” Yuan Xiang smiled, though a shadow of worry flickered in her eyes. Several days had passed, yet the poisoner seemed to have vanished without a trace, making no further moves.

Dong Zhi gave some instructions to the maids and returned to find Yuan Xiang lost in thought.

“Sister Yuan Xiang, is something wrong?” Dong Zhi, being observant, couldn’t help but ask with concern.

Yuan Xiang snapped out of it. “It’s nothing. The weather has turned cold lately, and the old lady says her legs ache. I was wondering if we should light a charcoal brazier in her room.”

Dong Zhi was startled. Although it had gotten colder, it was far from cold enough to cause leg pain. Since when did the old lady develop such an ailment? Having served by the madam’s side for so long, she had never heard of it.

A look of confusion crossed her face.

Yuan Xiang explained, “It started at the beginning of this year, though it wasn’t severe then. The room was kept warm with charcoal braziers, and her legs only hurt when the braziers cooled down after she got up. Now that we’re back at the old residence with few thick clothes, and the weather has been fluctuating since the start of the month, her leg pain has returned.”

“Has a physician been consulted?” Dong Zhi thought to herself, no wonder she hadn’t heard—it must have happened just this month.

Likely, the old lady hadn’t made a fuss about it due to the troubles in Bianzhou.

At this, Yuan Xiang perked up and began, “No—”

Just then, the old lady’s voice called from inside the room. Yuan Xiang cut herself off and called toward the eastern annex, “Coming!”

Dong Zhi also went in to help her attend to the old lady for the meal.

Because of her illness, Zhao Fuying had assigned many servants to her. Eager to seize this rare opportunity, they vied for the old lady’s favor daily, crowding the room until it felt stifling. The old lady, annoyed, had dismissed most of them. Now, with fewer maids in attendance, the room felt much quieter, and the old lady was less irritable.

For tasks requiring close attendance, the old lady still preferred Yuan Xiang, keeping others at a distance.

The others, seeing this as an honor, flattered Yuan Xiang even more, hoping she would put in a good word for them with the old lady.

Dong Zhi held the curtain aside as the old lady, leaning on Yuan Xiang’s arm, slowly walked out.

The clothes hastily made by the seamstress were impeccable, adorned with an auspicious pattern of five bats encircling the character for longevity.

Though not quite matching the skill of capital seamstresses, they were of excellent quality.

As she emerged, the maids waiting in the main room sprang into action.

Some pulled out chairs, others placed cushions, set out chopsticks, brought a basin of water, or served soup... No one dared slack off in the old lady’s presence.

The old lady washed her hands in the gilded bronze basin and dried them with a cloth handed by a maid.

Yuan Xiang stood ready to serve her food.

“No need for you to attend now. You and Dong Zhi go and have your meal. Let her do it,” the old lady said, casually pointing to another maid.

The maid was overjoyed but suppressed her excitement.

As Yuan Xiang hesitated, the maid stepped forward softly, took the serving chopsticks from her, and said quietly, “Sister Yuan Xiang, I’ll take over.”

The old lady didn’t remember her, but Yuan Xiang did—she was the one who had brought the water basin earlier. Having observed the old lady’s meals for so long, she likely knew what to do.

After a moment’s hesitation, Yuan Xiang replied, “Yes.” She and Dong Zhi stepped out, heading to the eastern side room for their meal. But before leaving the corridor, Yuan Xiang turned back quickly.

She stood behind the wall, not stepping further in. Though she couldn’t see the old lady, she had a clear view of the young maid serving the food.

Just by watching which dishes she served, Yuan Xiang felt reassured.

The maid was quite perceptive.

Dong Zhi mouthed silently, “Can we go eat now?”

Yuan Xiang finally smiled and went with her to the eastern side room.

“What’s your name?” the old lady asked.

“This lowly one is Xiao Lian.”

The old lady wasn’t asking idly—she was pleased with Xiao Lian’s service.

“That name isn’t good. I think you should be called Si Min instead. From now on, you’ll be in charge of serving my meals.”

Xiao Lian froze for a moment before realizing what had happened. She knelt on the ground, saying excitedly, “This lowly one thanks the madam for bestowing a new name.”

The name itself was secondary; what thrilled her were the words that followed.

Originally a third-tier maid in the old residence, she had been assigned to Luoying Court when they were short-handed. Though she now served indoors, she was still paid as a third-tier maid. But if she could return to the capital with the old lady, it would be a real opportunity.

Otherwise, she would remain a third-tier maid until she was dismissed from service.

The old lady renamed her Si Min not just for the pleasant sound but because she was sharp-eyed—she knew what the old lady liked to eat without being told, discerning her preferences with just a glance.

The other maids cast looks of envy or jealousy, but Si Min ignored them all.

Over the past days, while Yuan Xiang served the old lady, she had observed intently, memorizing the old lady’s preferences: her fondness for sweets, her preference for soft and sticky foods, her limited consumption of meat and legumes. For the pigeon and goji berry soup, the first bowl should have some meat, the second more broth. When eating porridge, she only drank the liquid from the top.

“Alright, rise now.”

Si Min stood up, washed her hands, and continued serving the old lady.

With so many dishes on the table, it was already quite good if the old lady could finish half of them. The rest were all given to the servants.

"Take these dishes later and share them among yourselves," the old lady said, taking a handkerchief to wipe her mouth. The maids in the room all sprang into action, especially after witnessing Si Min's rapid advancement, making everyone more diligent and earnest in their tasks.

Si Min carried the pigeon stew with Chinese yam and goji berries to the eastern side room, where she ran into Yuan Xiang and Dong Zhi, who were returning.

The servants had fixed meal times, so it was not surprising that they had finished their meals so quickly.

Si Min smiled and said, "Sister Yuan Xiang, Sister Dong Zhi, this is pigeon stew given by the mistress. Please have some."

Yuan Xiang replied, "You all have it. There’s no one attending to the mistress, so I must go and serve her."

Si Min then looked at Dong Zhi, who also shook her head.

Si Min was not surprised. The two of them—one serving the mistress and the other serving the madam—had seen plenty of fine things. A simple serving of pigeon stew was nothing extraordinary to them, unlike the others who might be salivating over it.

Yuan Xiang and Dong Zhi entered the room, where the old lady was sitting on a chair in the main hall rinsing her mouth.

"Mistress, would you like to rest for a while?"

The old lady nodded.

Yuan Xiang and Dong Zhi then assisted the old lady back to bed to rest.

After covering the old lady with a thin quilt, Yuan Xiang thought for a moment and added, "Shall we place a charcoal heater in the room?"

The old lady smiled and said, "No need. I just drank three generous bowls of goji berry pigeon stew. I'm not cold at all—actually feeling quite warm."