Chapter 54

Chapter 54

After seeing Prince Yu off, Jiang Mo pulled Lin Mei over to the soft couch by the window. "Come, try these candied fruits. They're really sweet."

Lin Mei, quick to catch on, didn't ask why Jiang Mo had disguised herself as a maid when sneaking out. She picked up a piece and ate it. "They are indeed very sweet."

Jiang Mo beckoned to Lanqiu and Wangxia. "You two come and have a taste too."

Just as she spoke, Randong walked in, covered head to toe in flour, carrying a plate of pastries. "Randong, there are candied fruits here. Come quickly."

Randong didn't stand on ceremony. She was used to Jiang Mo's treats. Setting down the plate, she popped a candied fruit into her mouth. "So sweet."

Lanqiu glanced at the few remaining candied fruits. "These were bought by the Prince specially for the Princess. It's not appropriate for us to eat them."

Randong, who had just swallowed, nearly choked. "These were bought by the Prince especially for the Princess?"

Jiang Mo looked at Randong with confusion. "They're just candied fruits. Why are you so nervous? Lin Mei's eating them just fine."

Wangxia and Lanqiu understood the reason. In the imperial palace of this dynasty, jewelry and clothing bestowed by the Emperor on his consorts were mostly crafted by the female officials of the Bureau of Palace Affairs. Each piece was painstakingly made, and without the mistress's permission, servants could not touch them. If a mistress wished to regift such items, she had to report it to the Bureau to prevent the palace's craft from being leaked and imitated.

And those were items made by female officials. If the Emperor had personally carved or made a hairpin or similar item, it absolutely could not be given to anyone else.

As for food bestowed by the Emperor, if it was simply made by the imperial kitchen, after the mistress had tasted it and didn't want more, she could give it to others. But if the food had been touched by the Emperor's hand, the consort had to finish it, unless the Emperor specifically said it could be given away or removed.

These candied fruits, though not made by Prince Yu himself, were bought by him personally and opened by him and fed into the Princess's mouth. How could anyone else dare to eat them?

Clearly, Lin Mei and Jiang Mo were unaware of these palace rules.

After Wangxia hastily explained the rules, Lin Mei said in alarm, "Have I committed a grave offense?"

Jiang Mo laughed. "Rules are dead; people are alive. Is anyone in this room going to talk about this? Since they won't, why worry? Delicious things are meant to be shared with those around you—that’s what makes them better."

Lin Mei nodded immediately. "The Princess is right."

Jiang Mo picked up two candied fruits and popped them into Lanqiu and Wangxia's mouths respectively. "This is the first time the Prince has bought me candied fruits. Maybe the last. Next time, there might not be any more."

Understanding her meaning, the two nodded and ate the candied fruits.

Randong, still choking and hiccupping, took a moment to catch her breath. She set out her date paste pastries and crystal cakes on the table of the couch. "The Princess is right. Good things should be shared with those around you. Everyone, try my pastries."

Jiang Mo took a bite and frowned.

"Princess, how is it?"

Instead of answering, Jiang Mo gestured to the others. "Come, taste Randong's handiwork."

Lanqiu tried one first and pursed her lips. "Is this dough even cooked?"

Wangxia took a small bite and winced. "It's not cooked." She took the date paste pastry from Jiang Mo's hand. "Princess, don't eat any more. You might get an upset stomach."

Hearing this, Randong's eyes brimmed with tears. "I spent four hours making this! Do you know how hard these pastries are to make?"

Lin Mei took Randong's hand. "Come, let's make them together. Let the Princess taste my cooking as well."

Watching the two leave the room, Jiang Mo couldn't help but sigh. Her chambers had never been so lively before. Seeing everyone laughing and joking made her feel that marrying into this family wasn't entirely a bad thing. If life in the Prince Yu Mansion could be like this every day, that would be wonderful.

Over the next three days, Jiang Mo and Lin Mei were together almost constantly—eating, strolling in the garden, planting flower seeds, reading storybooks, and sharing girlish secrets.

"I still think the days before marriage were better," Lin Mei said, leaning on the railing of the garden pavilion with a gloomy face. "Back then, when Shiliang was out on official business, I could disguise myself as his attendant and follow him. Now, when he's busy, I don't see him for days. Staying in the Zhu Mansion is stifling—I have to have meals and go on walks with my mother-in-law, and also deal with the second and third branches of the family."

Jiang Mo patted her back. "In life, you gain some and lose some. If you could go back, would you still marry Dr. Zhu?"

Lin Mei straightened up and answered without hesitation. "Of course I would." But then she slumped again. "But now, I'm really struggling." After a moment's hesitation, she finally spoke up. "Princess, there's something else that troubles me greatly. I've been married to Shiliang for over a year and still haven't conceived. My mother-in-law has been quite critical of me."

"Is it your body..."

Lin Mei nodded. "I have a cold constitution and it's hard for me to get pregnant."

"Does Dr. Zhu mind?"

Lin Mei's eyes glistened with tears. "Shiliang says he doesn't mind, but I know he does. He loves children. Before, whenever he saw a child, he would hold them. Since he learned it's hard for me to conceive, he no longer approaches children. I know he's afraid of hurting me, but that makes me feel even worse."

Jiang Mo didn't know how to comfort Lin Mei. Knowing her temperament, if Minister Zhu used the excuse of having no heir to pressure Zhu Shiliang into taking a concubine, Lin Mei would likely give in.

"It's just difficult, not impossible. Don't give up hope so early."

Jiang Mo pulled Lin Mei up. "Overthinking won't help. How about we drink our fill tonight?"

She hadn't been able to drink these past two days because of her medicine, watching Lin Mei, an expert brewer, by her side had been torture. Tonight, she would drink to her heart's content.

Suddenly, she remembered Su Jiying. "Lin Mei, how many jars of plum blossom wine did you brew? Could you give one jar to Miss Su to try? Since she asked that day, it would be a pity to disappoint her."

Lin Mei was a bit reluctant. "I only brewed two jars. You know the Zhu Mansion doesn't allow me to brew. It's only because you wanted to drink that Minister Zhu let me brew two jars. But since it's the Princess who asks, I'll give it."

Lin Mei wasn't stingy; she just disliked those noble ladies who were always haughty.

Jiang Mo took Lin Mei's hand. "How about this: since the Zhu Mansion won't let you brew, you can brew in my Zhaomu Courtyard. Bury the wine under the osmanthus tree, and next year we'll drink together. This time we give one jar to Su Jiying, but we'll have many, many more jars in the future."

Lin Mei's eyes widened, sparkling with excitement. "Really? Can I bring all my brewing equipment here? What kind of wine do you like, Princess? Something strong like 'One Cup to Drown,' sweet like plum wine, or clear like 'Drunken Mortal World'? I can brew all kinds."

Seeing Lin Mei so happy, Jiang Mo was also joyful. "All of them. I'm not picky. Brew whatever you want, and I'll drink it."

Lin Mei looked at Jiang Mo thoughtfully for a moment. "The spring orchids will bloom in a few days. I'll brew 'Orchid Intoxication' for you. In May, when the cymbidiums bloom, I'll use them. In August, the jian orchids; in winter, the cold orchids. I'll preserve all these orchids and, by the twelfth month, blend the most fragrant and elegant 'Orchid Intoxication' for you."

Jiang Mo's heart ached, but her face was full of smiles. "That sounds wonderful. I'm looking forward to drinking your Orchid Intoxication." She knew she wouldn't be alive to drink it, but Wei Yalan would, hopefully. She hoped Wei Yalan would treasure Lin Mei's kindness.

After the evening meal, Jiang Mo asked Lanqiu to deliver a jar of plum blossom wine to Su Jiying.

She and Lin Mei sat under the osmanthus tree in Zhaomu Courtyard, drinking wine by moonlight.

Lin Mei's brewing skills were indeed remarkable. The plum blossom wine was sweet, smooth, and mellow.

Since Jiang Mo had just recovered, Lin Mei advised her to drink only a few cups. But the two got carried away, cup after cup, finishing the entire jar. Jiang Mo didn't even remember how she got back to her room.

She woke up when the sun was already high. Her head was heavy, and her mouth was dry. Just as she was about to call for Lanqiu, Lin Mei walked in carrying a bowl of soup.

Jiang Mo rubbed her head in admiration. Truly, the daughter of a winery had an impressive tolerance.

Lin Mei sat by the bed. "I thought you'd be waking up soon, so I made hangover soup. Drink this and your headache will go away."

Jiang Mo looked at Lin Mei, who was bright and energetic, and felt a bit jealous. "In two days, let's go to your family's winery and settle the score!"

Lin Mei handed the soup to Jiang Mo. "You can drink any wine from our Fuju Winery, but don't try to compete with me on drinking capacity. Even many men can't outdo me. Besides, excessive drinking harms the body. Enjoy yourself in moderation."

The hangover soup was perfectly balanced between sweet and sour, just to Jiang Mo's taste. She finished the entire bowl.

"I'm not competing with you. I just want to taste every wine from Fuju Winery. Remember I promised you before the New Year I would go? How about we go tomorrow?"

Lin Mei was naturally delighted—she hadn't seen her parents in a long time. "Of course, that's wonderful. Last night I dreamed of my mother..." As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. "In the dream, she looked much older."

Lin Mei started to kneel, but Jiang Mo quickly pulled her up. "Are you still treating me as a princess? After these days together, I've come to think of you as a friend."

Jiang Mo treasured every moment she spent with the people close to her. After the third day of the fourth month, whether she lived or died, she would never see them again for the rest of this life.

Lin Mei nodded tearfully. "Thank you, Princess. If I hadn't met you, I don't know how much longer it would have taken me to see my parents again."

Though she said she had helped Jiang Mo out of a tight spot, she had also gained a lot. These three days in Prince Yu's residence were the most carefree and happy days she'd had since she got married.

Jiang Mo wiped away Lin Mei's tears. "If there's anything you want to get for your parents, you can go out and buy it today. Tomorrow after lunch, we'll go together."

The next day at noon, Lin Mei ate a few hurried bites and then went to pack her things.

By the appointed time of around 3:45 PM, when Jiang Mo left the residence, she saw Lin Mei and her maid still loading bundles into the carriage.

"Xiao Huan, did we buy enough of Dad's favorite tea?"

"Young Madam, we bought two large jars. That's plenty."

"Did we pack the knee pads for Mom? Both the thick and thin ones?"

"Young Madam, rest assured, they're all packed."

Lin Mei thought for a moment, about to ask more, but Jiang Mo called out to her. "If you don't have enough, we can always buy more. Just your presence will delight your parents more than any amount of gifts."

Jiang Mo climbed into the carriage first and reached out to Lin Mei. "Come on up quickly."

The carriage headed toward Fuju Wine Shop, followed by three groups of people.

Aside from the guards sent by Prince Yu to protect Jiang Mo and the men tracking her from Duke Qingguo, there was also a servant from the Su residence.

After Jiang Mo had sent that jar of wine to Su Jiying, Su Jiying had sent a servant to keep watch outside Prince Yu's residence. Knowing that Lin Mei had stayed inside for three days without leaving, she figured they must have been happily drinking together and having a wonderful time. She was so envious that she wished she could immediately visit, but remembering the harsh words she had said to Jiang Mo, she couldn't bring herself to visit.

Since a direct visit wouldn't work, she decided to run into them accidentally.

Sure enough, shortly after Jiang Mo and Lin Mei arrived at Fuju Wine Shop, Su Jiying showed up.