Chapter 7 Mei Xi (VII) Improving Life

This sleep was very deep and peaceful.

There were no nightmares, no severe pains, only the warmth that kept surging from deep within the body, as if soaking in warm spring water, slowly and firmly repairing every inch of damaged muscles. Even the heavy feeling of lead in the right shoulder melted away and diluted in the deep sleep, leaving only a distant and vague sense of existence.

When Lin Jiaojiao opened her eyes again, the sky outside the window was already bright. The lead-gray clouds had dissipated at some point, and the rare warm golden sunlight in winter was shining through the gaps in the high windows, casting long, bright spots of light on the ground.

The air was filled with the clean scent of grass and trees, mixed with the unique and reassuring smell of fireworks after burning firewood, which completely dispelled the blood and medicinal smell that remained from last night.

She lay on a hard couch covered with clean animal skins, and covered with a thin blanket that had also been washed and smelled of sunshine, which Chun had found from somewhere. Although her body was still weak, the fatigue and heaviness that had penetrated deep into her bones had been greatly alleviated. She tried to move her right arm. Although it still hurt, the range of motion was obviously larger than before, and the pain seemed to have changed from a piercing pain to a dull pain that she could bear.

Core Energy: 95%. Tissue Repair: Moderate. Pain Perception: Low Tolerance. Recommendation: Moderate activity to promote circulation. The system's notification tone was steady and clear, carrying the feeling of a routine task completed.

"My Lady! You're awake!" Chun, who had been dozing by the bedside against the stone wall, woke up immediately. Her face lit up instantly and she hurried over. "How are you feeling? Does your wound still hurt? Are you hungry?"

Lin Jiaojiao looked at Chun's concerned and slightly excited face, and her heart was warm. She shook her head gently, and although her voice was still a little hoarse, she was much more confident: "Much better... just... a little hungry." Her stomach made a slight gurgling sound in response.

Chun immediately smiled: "I knew you must be hungry! I'll go and serve you food right away!" She stood up and walked to the door of the palace as lightly as a deer. This time she didn't peek around like before, but opened the door directly.

The sun was shining brightly outside the door, shining on the cold stone slabs in front of the hall.

Not far away, a middle-aged maid who was wearing clean coarse cloth and looked like a housekeeper was cleaning the courtyard with two little girls.

Seeing Chun open the door, the maid stopped immediately, put on an almost flattering and cautious smile, and quickly walked over a few steps. From a distance, she bowed and saluted: "Miss Chun, is the concubine awake? What are your instructions?"

Chun straightened her back and tried to make her voice sound more powerful. "My Lady Consort is awake. Bring us the meal! I want something nourishing and hot. Hmm... pheasant soup, egg custard, fresh vegetables, and some soft millet cakes." She paused, remembering how much Lin Jiaojiao loved the bowl of millet porridge yesterday, and added, "...and make another bowl of thick millet porridge."

"Here! Here! I'll go right away and ask the kitchen to pick out the best and freshest ones and send them over." The maid responded repeatedly, with a deeper smile on her face, as if she had received some great grace. She turned around and trotted towards the kitchen, not forgetting to look back and wink at the two little girls, asking them to be quicker.

Chun closed the door and returned to the couch, with a little pride on her face: "My Lady Concubine, look! Now our words are effective!"

Lin Jiaojiao looked at Chun's proud little face and couldn't help but curl her lips. "It seems that since the tyrant is not at home, my reputation as a 'troublemaker' can also be used as a meal ticket?" She tried to sit up slowly, and Chun hurried forward to support her.

Although my right shoulder still hurts during the movements, it is much better than the weakness I felt yesterday when I felt dizzy after moving.

She leaned on the pillow and quilt that Chun had helped her to raise, feeling the warmth of the sunlight falling on her face through the window lattice, and seeing that the hall was now much cleaner and tidier than yesterday (the two little girls must have just come in to clean it), a sense of relaxation after surviving a disaster and... a subtle sense of control quietly grew in her.

Not long after, there was another knock on the palace door.

This time, there were not just one but two kitchen servants. One of them was holding a huge clay pot with a lid that was still emitting steam, and the other was holding two stacked small clay bowls and a wicker food box filled with golden millet cakes. The leading kitchen servant was the sturdy man who had brought the soup yesterday. He still had a simple smile on his face, but there was obviously a bit more respect in his eyes.

"Greetings to the princess! This is freshly stewed pheasant soup, with ginseng roots and wolfberries, which is very warming. This is freshly steamed egg custard, cooked to the perfect temperature. This is the water celery and sunflower leaves picked this morning, stir-fried, and there are also freshly ground millet cakes, which are very soft! This bowl of millet porridge was specially ordered by the chef. It is made by simmering new rice over low heat, and it is very thick!" The kitchen servants neatly spread out the food on the low table and introduced it attentively.

When the lid was opened, the rich mixed aroma once again filled the entire side hall.

The chicken soup was translucent and golden in color, and you could see the tender chicken and the floating red wolfberries and yellow ginseng roots inside. The egg custard was as smooth as a mirror, dotted with emerald green onions. The stir-fried vegetables were glossy green, and the millet cakes exuded the simple, burnt aroma of grains. The separate bowl of millet porridge was indeed as thick as solidified fat and golden and tempting.

This standard is a level higher than yesterday. Lin Jiaojiao silently praised it in her heart. She was finally enjoying the treatment that a concubine deserved.

Chun carefully served Lin Jiaojiao her meal. This time, Lin Jiaojiao ate much more calmly.

The chicken soup was delicious and mellow with the sweet fragrance of medicinal herbs, the egg custard was still smooth, and the vegetables were refreshing and refreshing. Although the millet cake was rough, it tasted very fragrant when chewed, and the bowl of millet porridge was warm and sweet, bringing the most authentic comfort of grains, which made her feel particularly satisfied.

After eating and drinking her fill, feeling warm and energetic, Lin Jiaojiao leaned on the couch, looking at the rare warm winter sun outside the window, and her mind began to become active.

"Chun," she said softly, "This palace... is still a little quiet. Can you... get some hot water? I'd like to... drink something hot, um... something to soak?" She tried to recall the possible drinks of this era. Tea? It didn't seem to be popular yet... Flowers? Herbs?

Chun understood immediately: "My Lady, you want to drink some hot soup, right? I know! There are dried wild chrysanthemums in the palace, as well as some medicinal herbs such as licorice and tangerine peel. Boiling them in water is the most refreshing and thirst-quenching, and it can also moisten the throat! I'll get it right away!" She said and ran out.

"Wait!" Lin Jiaojiao called her, thought for a moment, and added, "If it's convenient... get a small stove? Put it next to the couch and boil some hot water, it will be warmer." She was really fed up with the coldness in this hall.

"Yes!" Chun responded crisply and ran out with light steps.

This time, spring came back even faster. Not only did she bring back a small bag of fragrant dried wild chrysanthemums and a few slices of licorice and tangerine peel wrapped in clean linen, but she was also followed by two strong servants.

Together, they carried a small, rustic, but clearly newly polished bronze charcoal stove. Red-hot charcoal was already in the hearth, emitting a steady warmth. A servant also brought a clay pot of water and a small copper kettle with a handle.

The servants quickly placed the small charcoal stove in a safe position not too far from the couch, filled the copper kettle with water and placed it on the fire, then retreated respectfully.

Chunze began to get busy. She carefully rinsed the dried wild chrysanthemums, licorice and tangerine peels and put them into a clean ceramic pot. When the water in the copper pot began to emit fine white steam and make a slight "hissing" sound, she carefully lifted the copper pot and poured boiling water into the ceramic pot.

“Sizzle——”

The dried petals and medicinal herbs were instantly awakened by the hot water, and a unique aroma mixed with the clearness of wild chrysanthemum, the sweetness of licorice and the slight spiciness of tangerine peel quickly spread in the hall along with the rising hot air.

The fragrance is fresh and pleasant, with the scent of sunshine and mountains, instantly diluting the remaining smell of fireworks and bringing a peaceful and warm atmosphere.

Chun covered the pottery pot with a lid and let it sit for a while. Then he carefully poured out a bowl of light golden, clear soup and held it in front of Lin Jiaojiao: "My Lady, please try it. Be careful, it's hot."

Lin Jiaojiao took the ceramic bowl, leaned in to smell it, and the elegant fragrance was refreshing. She blew on it and took a sip. The warm liquid slid down her throat, carrying the unique bitter aftertaste of wild chrysanthemum, the sweetness of licorice and the spicy aroma of tangerine peel. The taste was rich and comfortable, instantly moisturizing her dry throat. The warmth spread from her stomach, and even her spirits were lifted.

"Mm! Delicious!" Lin Jiaojiao's eyes lit up and she praised sincerely. This was much more comfortable than just drinking water. "Chun, you try it too."

"Here." Chun smiled happily when he heard that, carefully poured himself a small bowl and drank it in small sips.

The warm little charcoal stove emitted a steady heat, dispelling the last trace of chill in the hall.

The water in the copper kettle continued to make a slight "gurgling" sound on the fire, like a steady heartbeat. The light golden soup rippled slightly in the ceramic bowl, exuding a relaxing aroma. Lin Jiaojiao held the warm ceramic bowl, sipping it in small sips, looking at the sunlight shining through the window, feeling the slow and steady healing power inside her body.

A long-lost, almost luxurious sense of peace enveloped her.

She even had some leisure time and began to appreciate the simple patterns on the coarse pottery bowl in her hand, or observe the orange-red flames jumping in the charcoal stove. If only it could always be like this... How nice it would be... As soon as this thought came to her mind, she extinguished it herself. She knew that this was only the calm before the storm.

[System Core: Energy 98%. Operating Status: Stable. Environmental Monitoring: Threat Level: Low (temporary). Logic Module: External environmental variables (host status enhancement) confirmed… Emotion Simulation Module: …zi ...

Just as Lin Jiaojiao was enjoying this moment of tranquility and her thoughts were drifting away——

[Warning! Unknown emotional fluctuations detected! Source: Core Logic Module! Abnormal resonance in the emotion simulation unit! Analyzing... sizzling...]

An abrupt alarm with obvious interference noises rang sharply in her mind without any warning. The sound seemed to be mixed with... a very subtle, indescribable... confusion?

Lin Jiaojiao's hand holding the ceramic bowl trembled violently, and a few drops of warm soup splashed onto the back of her hand.

What’s going on?!