The Palace Stewardess

Volume Five Bronze Sparrow Deep Spring

This sudden embrace left Zhenzhen at a loss, and she immediately suspected it was the reckless behavior of a libertine. Just as she was about to push him away in shame and anger, she suddenly felt a warm teardrop fall onto her neck.

Turning her head in surprise, Zhenzhen discovered that this was a tear that had fallen from Yin Qi's eyes. Beneath his lowered lashes, glistening tear tracks remained. He was still smiling, but this faint smile appeared utterly desolate against the backdrop of his crystalline tears. With the fear of losing something precious again after having just regained it, his arms around Zhenzhen were quite forceful.

A flicker of doubt quietly arose: Had he mistaken her for someone else?

Recalling his dazed expression and that address of "Aunt," this speculation seemed increasingly plausible. Zhenzhen then gently broke free from his grasp, stepping back two paces, deliberately reminding him, "Eldest Young Master, I am Wu Zhenzhen."

Yin Qi looked at her, smiling as he called out, "Aunt."

Zhenzhen continued to explain, "I am palace attendant Wu Zhenzhen. On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, we once met in a boat in the Rear Garden."

"Mhm." Yin Qi nodded obediently, his eyes filled with childlike innocence warmly embracing her in place of his hands.

Uncertain whether he truly understood, Zhenzhen added, "So, I am not your aunt. I am Wu Zhenzhen. Do you understand?"

"I understand." Yin Qi still gazed at her fervently. "Aunt."

Zhenzhen had no choice but to sigh, beckoning him to sit at the table and serving him some crisp seal pastries. "Since you're already here, Eldest Young Master, have some pastries before you leave."

Yin Qi happily picked up a piece.

Zhenzhen glanced at the bowl of wontons on the stove, thinking that they wouldn't keep well for long. It would be better to let Yin Qi eat them, and she could cook another bowl for Second Sister-in-law Yu later. So she went over and brought the wontons to Yin Qi.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Yin Qi clearly saw the wontons before him, the crisp seal pastry in his hand instantly slipped away. He jumped up as if scalded, hastily retreating backward while clutching his head and emitting piercing, deafening screams.

Zhenzhen was also startled and hurriedly asked him what was wrong. Yin Qi did not answer, continuing to retreat until he bumped into the stove. He looked around in panic, then suddenly stretched out his arms, sweeping all the kitchen utensils and dishes onto the floor.

The sharp clatter of pots, pans, bowls, and dishes intertwined with his "Ah, ah!" screams, abruptly tearing through the quiet of the princely mansion's starry night.

Shortly after, footsteps like a tidal wave approached from afar. Cooks, night-watch servants, and Yin Qi's maidservants all rushed over. The last to appear outside the door was the Lady of Chen, who had now removed all her makeup. Presumably, she had received the news just before retiring for the night and had hurried over in a fit of anxiety.

When the Lady of Chen entered, the kitchen was already in complete disarray. Servants had already tied Zhenzhen up, forcing her to kneel on the ground awaiting punishment. As for Yin Qi, the crowd wanted to restrain him but dared not use force, so they could only follow his movements, trying their best to block and snatch things as he smashed them to prevent him from harming himself.

The Lady of Chen rushed to Yin Qi, taking his hand and soothing him gently. Only after coaxing him for a long while did Yin Qi gradually calm down.

The Lady of Chen ordered someone to take Yin Qi back to his room, finally having a moment to look around. Her gaze then fell upon the wontons on the table. Her willow-leaf eyebrows shot up, and she immediately pointed at the wontons, shouting angrily, "Who made this?"

Immediately, a servant woman slapped Zhenzhen's back. "It was this girl."

The Lady of Chen looked at Zhenzhen, momentarily stunned, likely recalling their encounter in the palace."Take her to the stables for now. We'll decide what to do with her tomorrow," Lady of Chen ordered. Then, glancing at the bowl of wontons, she scolded, "Are you all blind? Why hasn't this been thrown out yet?"

The cooks murmured their assent, scrambling to take the wontons away and dispose of them.

The stable was slightly better than Zhenzhen had feared. She was given an empty stall, not forced to share with the horses, thus avoiding being trampled. However, it was damp, messy, and filled with a heavy, unpleasant odor. Bound as she was, she had no way to escape. Leaning against the corner, she felt the wall beside her slick and slimy, unsure what was clinging to it. She wanted to stand but couldn't. The stable was open on three sides, and the night was bitterly cold. Zhenzhen endured the torment for most of the night before finally collapsing into an exhausted, fitful sleep.

The next day, someone untied her and urged her to get up. As soon as Zhenzhen stood, she felt dizzy and lightheaded, her mind foggy, her throat swollen and painful, making it difficult to speak. After taking only two steps, darkness swept over her vision, and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

She had no idea how much time had passed. Hazily, she vaguely sensed someone wiping her body, changing her clothes, laying her on a warm, soft bed, and feeding her medicine. When she finally mustered the strength to open her eyes, the first figure she saw was Yin Qi.

He stood before her bed. Seeing her awake, he sat down beside her and asked with a smile, "Are you feeling better?"

He was impeccably dressed, his features clear and gentle, the very image of an elegant and refined young gentleman, with not a trace of the madness he had shown the previous night.

Zhenzhen stared at him for a long moment, then suddenly looked down at the new clothes someone had changed her into. Her expression instantly changed. Pulling the quilt up to her shoulders, she frowned and glared at Yin Qi. "You..."

Yin Qi seemed to understand what she was thinking. He glanced at the middle-aged woman behind him, who immediately stepped forward and said to Zhenzhen, "I am Madam Luo, the eldest young master's wet nurse. The young master asked me to fetch you this morning. You had caught a chill and were unconscious. I had the maidservants bathe you and change your clothes, and I fed you the medicine myself. The young master was worried and came to check on you. It's a coincidence that you woke up just then."

Zhenzhen thanked Madam Luo, then looked back at Yin Qi, still apprehensive, unconsciously shrinking back.

Yin Qi gave a slight smile and bowed. "I truly apologize. I heard I behaved improperly last night and frightened you."

His tone was gentle, his demeanor refined, and the courtesy and respect he showed Zhenzhen were impeccable. Recalling the person she had seen that night, Zhenzhen felt as if the Yin Qi before her and the one from the night were two souls inhabiting the same body.

Yin Qi allowed Zhenzhen to stay and recuperate in this elegantly furnished side room within his residence's courtyard. He visited her from time to time, often bringing pastries and fruits, caring for her with great attentiveness. Once, he brought some newly harvested oranges of the year, had a maidservant peel them, and then presented some fine salt to sprinkle on the oranges to slightly reduce their tartness and enhance their sweetness. When the maidservant offered the salt, he tasted a bit and asked her, "This isn't Wu Salt, is it?"

The maidservant was taken aback and admitted that the Wu Salt in the courtyard had run out, and they hadn't yet fetched more from the kitchen, so they had used salt from another region.

Yin Qi gently told her to go get some. Turning back, he saw Zhenzhen staring at him wide-eyed and smiled. "Wu Salt is as pure and white as snow, with a mild flavor. It pairs best with fruit, gently curing away the acidity."

Zhenzhen remained silent. He then laughed self-deprecatingly, "Talking about such things in front of a Palace Food Attendant is like showing off one's meager skill before an expert."

Zhenzhen then asked him, "You know who I am?"

He nodded. "I know. Attendant Wu."Zhenzhen recovered from her cold after a few days of rest, but Yin Qi showed no intention of letting her move out. From the wet nurse Madam Luo down to the other servants, everyone treated her with courtesy. This, however, made Zhenzhen feel uneasy. Knowing full well that her status did not warrant such preferential treatment, she expressed to Yin Qi her wish to return to the Baozi Kitchen. Yin Qi told her, "While you were ill, someone has already filled your position."

Thus, Zhenzhen had no choice but to stay. She took the initiative to help the maids in the courtyard with their work, diligently washing, scrubbing, and sweeping. Seeing this, Madam Luo couldn't help but smile and said, "If you do so much, what will those maids have left to do?"

Zhenzhen confided in her about the distress of having nothing to do. Madam Luo then suggested, "I have a task—tasting the Young Master's meals before he eats. Recently, my stomach hasn't been well, and everything tastes bland to me. I'm afraid I won't be able to judge the flavors properly. Why don't you try it for me?"

Zhenzhen immediately agreed and said with a smile, "This is something all palace attendants in the Bureau of Palace Provisions must learn—tasting the food first to ensure it isn't poisoned and won't harm the nobles."

Madam Luo replied, "Our Prince's residence isn't like the palace; incidents like poisoning are almost unheard of. However, it is essential to taste the dishes beforehand to check their saltiness, temperature, and flavor. The Young Master has a particularly sensitive sense of taste and smell, so this step is especially important and cannot be taken lightly. I'll have to rely on you to take care of it from now on."

Zhenzhen had always been grateful for Yin Qi's kindness toward her. Having taken on this task, she carried it out with great dedication. She tasted each dish and drink, ensuring there were no issues before presenting them to Yin Qi. If Yin Qi found anything unsatisfactory, she would carefully note it and adjust the seasoning or temperature according to his preferences next time.

Another distinctive trait of Yin Qi was his long-term medication. It was said that he had been frail and sickly since childhood. The Lady of Chen often took him to pray to gods and buddhas in his early years, which led to his childhood nickname "Jialan'er." Later, when he began suffering from hysteria, his mother no longer dared to let him go out. Instead, she frequently hired renowned physicians to treat him at home. As a result, the scent of medicine lingered in Yin Qi's courtyard year-round, and he had to drink medicinal decoctions several times a day.

What Yin Qi detested most was drinking these medicinal soups. He often found excuses to avoid them, and sometimes, if Madam Luo or others urged him too much, he would lose his temper and smash the medicine bowl—the strongest emotion he displayed when not in the throes of an episode.

To help him take his medicine smoothly, Zhenzhen painstakingly studied the ingredients and brewing time of each prescription. She tasted them repeatedly, gauging their strength and temperature, in search of the most palatable texture. Sometimes, after a whole day of research and drinking too much medicine herself, she would feel dizzy, lightheaded, or even vomit. Yet, when it was time for Yin Qi to take his medicine, she would rally her spirits, cheerfully bring the medicine to him, and say, "Young Master, today's medicinal soup is different from yesterday's—it tastes much better. If you can tell what's different after drinking it, I'll give you another piece of freshly cut honeycomb."

One day, after serving Yin Qi his medicine and leaving his room, she hadn't even reached her own quarters when a wave of nausea hit her. She hurried to the edge of the flower bed and vomited nothing but medicinal liquid into the soil.

Madam Luo, who saw this from a distance, quickly came over to pat her back and help her catch her breath. Then, she led Zhenzhen to her own room, fetched water for her to rinse her mouth, and sighed with relief when she saw Zhenzhen's complexion improve. She remarked with emotion, "You're a good child. No wonder the Young Master mistook you for his Aunt Liu that day. Your earnestness in serving your master truly resembles hers..."Zhenzhen suddenly recalled the scene where Yin Qi had called out "Aunt" to her, and her curiosity flared. She tugged at Madam Luo, eagerly asking who this Aunt Liu was.

After hesitating for a long while, Madam Luo finally told her: "That Miss Liu was originally the daughter of a cook in the household of the late Grand Preceptor Qi of the previous dynasty. She learned culinary skills from her mother from a young age and showed great talent. Later, when the Lady of Chen married the Prince of Yanping, she also came to the prince's residence as a dowry maid. The infant meals for the eldest son during his childhood were all prepared by her. Once, the late emperor visited the prince's residence and tasted the dishes made by Miss Liu. He found them excellent and praised them profusely. The Prince of Yanping understood the hint and immediately sent Miss Liu into the palace, where she entered the Bureau of Palace Provisions."

Zhenzhen suddenly understood: "This Miss Liu is Official Liu, isn't she?"

Madam Luo was also surprised: "You know her?"

Zhenzhen quickly waved her hands, covering up: "I only heard an old palace attendant mention her once. I only knew there was once an official surnamed Liu, but nothing else."

Madam Luo nodded and continued: "At first, she started as a palace attendant, but the late emperor had her acknowledge the Director of Palace Food, Lady Liu, whom he trusted most, as her mother, and she learned her skills under Lady Liu."

That Director of Palace Food, Lady Liu, was indeed a famous figure in the palace. It was said she was an old hand from the Bianjing palace, with divine culinary skills. The late emperor had always relied on her heavily. She served as Director of Palace Food for many years but later contracted a serious illness and passed away before the current emperor ascended the throne.

Recalling this, Zhenzhen said to Madam Luo: "That Director of Palace Food, Lady Liu, spent her entire life in the palace and certainly had no biological children. She must have cherished this adopted daughter dearly and passed on all her culinary skills to her."

"Exactly so," Madam Luo said. "Miss Liu's culinary skills improved even further, and soon the late emperor had her serve by his side regularly, tasting his meals for him. Miss Liu understood deeply what this task meant. She not only carefully distinguished the taste of every kind of food but also proactively tasted poisons, such as arsenic and heartbreak grass..."

"Ah..." Zhenzhen couldn't help but exclaim, "Tasting those—one careless move could cost her life."

"Indeed," Madam Luo sighed. "That girl was stubborn. She felt she needed to know the taste of poisons first to distinguish them later, so she tasted them again and again. Although she would spit them out as soon as she sensed the taste, toxins inevitably remained... Several times, she fell critically ill from poisoning, hovering on the brink of death. Fortunately, the late emperor summoned the best imperial physicians to treat her, pulling her back from the gates of hell."

Zhenzhen repeatedly praised: "Admirable, admirable! Such dedication is beyond my reach."

Madam Luo agreed: "Few in the world could achieve what she did. Therefore, the late emperor valued her exceptionally, appointing her as Director of Palace Catering at a young age. This Official Liu and Madam Ju from the Immortal Music Department were two palace attendants who, though not among the imperial concubines, enjoyed imperial favor no less than the ladies of the harem. They were considered a pair of jewels of their time."

Thinking of the elegance of Madam Ju, whom she had heard Xiangli'er mention, Zhenzhen couldn't help but ask Madam Luo again: "Was Official Liu beautiful?"

"Not as beautiful as Madam Ju, but she was pretty... She loved to laugh, and when she smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons, very sweet," Madam Luo replied. Suddenly, she looked carefully at Zhenzhen and added, "Your smile resembles hers a little. That's probably one of the reasons the eldest son mistook you for Official Liu that night."