Yan Ning had heard the old lady say that the two were very harmonious, but looking at Concubine Li's residence, it didn't seem to be like that at all. "Zhu Xiang, why is Concubine Li living here?"

Zhu Xiang originally didn't want to tell Yan Ning, fearing it would only add to her worries due to the complexities of the Fucha family. However, she was also afraid that Yan Ning wouldn't know and would violate the old lady's taboo. She looked around and told Yan Ning everything she knew about Concubine Li.

Consort Li, whose given name was Yu Rong, was originally a singer in a tavern in the capital. She was unexpectedly taken in by General Fu Heng, who brought her back to his household as a concubine. With her melodious voice and graceful figure, Yu Rong became the emperor's favorite after entering the household. Moreover, believing her beauty surpassed that of the old lady, Yehenara Wan Hui, she grew increasingly arrogant. As if blessed by Buddha, Yu Rong became pregnant within three months of entering the household, and her eyes shone even less for Wan Hui.

For a time, all the servants in the Fucha household revered Yu Rong, and Wan Hui's position became precarious. Although the old general did not spend the night in Wan Hui's courtyard, he still held her in high esteem.

Yu Rong couldn't understand why the powerful general was so afraid of his wife, while Wan Hui endured Yu Rong's repeated provocations without retaliating, making Yu Rong feel like a wicked woman from the common people, and further fueling her dislike for Wan Hui. Wan Hui's knowledge, manners, and peaceful nature only highlighted Yu Rong's rudeness and uncouthness.

One day, Yu Rong, four months pregnant, came to Wan Hui's Peony Hall. Although Li Mama's eyes held contempt, her words and actions were impeccable, and Wan Hui avoided Yu Rong altogether. Feeling humiliated, Yu Rong's hand trembled when Li Mama served her tea for the second time, spilling scalding tea onto her stomach. Yu Rong stood up, cursing, and slapped Li Mama.

Granny Li, Wan Hui's dowry maid, had never suffered such humiliation. Ignoring Yu Rong, she turned to retreat to her inner room. Yu Rong grabbed Granny Li, but Granny Li shook her off. Yu Rong, unaccustomed to wearing platform shoes, lost her balance and bumped her stomach on the corner of the table.

The maid's screams and Yu Rong's screams turned the tranquil Peony Hall into a bustling marketplace. Fu Heng sent someone to fetch the imperial physicians, but they could not save the child in Yu Rong's womb.

In her grief, Yu Rong cried and begged Fu Heng to severely punish Granny Li. A hint of helplessness flashed across Fu Heng's face. He bestowed many rare treasures upon Yu Rong and feigned illness to the Emperor for several days, staying by Yu Rong's side. He only gave a few symbolic scoldings to the people of the Peony Hall.

Six months later, Fukang'an, who had been kept in the palace by the Emperor, returned home to pay his respects to Fuheng and Wanhui. Yu Rong, harboring resentment over the loss of her child, poisoned the pastries she brought to Fukang'an. Granny Li, also holding a grudge against Yu Rong, snatched the pastries from Fukang'an and fed them to his pet lion dog.

The poodle collapsed to the ground, bleeding from the corner of its mouth, after taking just one bite.

Wan Hui was furious. She had previously turned a blind eye to Yu Rong because she despised her from the bottom of her heart. A clown's antics wouldn't last three days, and Yu Rong wouldn't last long either. But now, Yu Rong wanted to harm Fu Kang'an, and she could no longer tolerate it.

Yu Rong never expected that this matter would alarm the Emperor. The Emperor personally sent a messenger to deliver an imperial edict, ordering Fu Heng to expel Yu Rong from the residence. At this time, the doctor diagnosed Yu Rong as pregnant. Fu Heng begged Wan Hui to let Yu Rong stay, promising that she would not harm Fu Kang An again.

Out of consideration for Fu Heng's feelings, Wan Hui banished Yu Rong to the deepest part of the mansion and assigned guards to watch over her, effectively placing her under house arrest. Yu Rong seemed to have become a different person, spending her days eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist scriptures, living a life of seclusion in the Jinghe Hall, which Wan Hui had personally named.

After Fuheng's death, Wanhui saw that Yurong had been confined to Jinghe Hall for many years without causing any trouble, so she removed the guards outside Jinghe Hall.

From Zhu Xiangling's disordered words, Yan Ning roughly understood the relationship between Concubine Li and the Old Madam. She thought to herself, how could Concubine Li be so foolish as to use such obvious methods to harm Fukang'an? She must have suffered considerable punishment afterward, which is why she suddenly changed her ways. But how could the family affairs of an official have alarmed the Emperor? Modern people speculate that Fukang'an is Qianlong's illegitimate son; the Old Madam, being so virtuous, how could she do something so disrespectful to General Fuheng? Yan Ning recalled the painting of family bliss she had seen at the Fu residence, shook her head, and dismissed this absurd folk tale.

Yan Ning, lost in thought, walked to the kitchen with Zhu Xiang. The kitchen of the Fucha Mansion was more like a kitchen courtyard, a detached courtyard with a plaque that read "Shi Kuai Ju" (食脍居). The plaque was written by Fu Heng, and its meaning was taken from the Analects: "When fasting, one must change one's food; when staying at home, one must change one's seat. One should not be too particular about the fineness of the food, nor about the delicacy of the meat."

Upon entering the courtyard, the main room was the hearth, while the east and west wing rooms were for storing ingredients. The kitchen had one head chef, two sous chefs, and about ten servants and maids.

As soon as Zhu Xiang entered the kitchen courtyard, she revealed Yan Ning's identity. The head chef, along with his staff, knelt down in the courtyard. Normally, even the master's personal servants would not set foot in the kitchen courtyard. Today, seeing Yan Ning's status, everyone in the kitchen felt extremely honored.

"Everyone, get up! It's time for each courtyard to order their meals, so just keep doing what you're doing!" Yan Ning asked Zhu Xiang to get everyone up, but in her heart she thought: Why do I feel like an official on an inspection tour?

After everyone had left, Yan Ning saw that the head chef was an elderly man in his fifties or sixties, and the two sous chefs beside him were only about ten years old, presumably his apprentices.

“Chef Wu was once the imperial chef in the palace, personally appointed by the Emperor. He has been in the Fucha Mansion for twenty-two years,” Zhu Xiang whispered to Yan Ning.

Yan Ning was surprised. "Chef Wu has been at the Fucha residence for almost the same age as Fukang'an."

Yan Ning smiled and said to Chef Wu, "The day after tomorrow is the old lady's birthday, and I would like to express my gratitude!"

Chef Wu came from the palace, so he had seen all kinds of situations. Although Yan Ning didn't say much, he knew that Yan Ning already had a plan in mind, so he quickly ordered his apprentice to bring the menu.

Yan Ning couldn't help but exclaim, "Chef Wu really is from the palace!" Seeing that everyone else was looking up at her, Yan Ning realized she had been a bit rude and changed her words, "I want to make some desserts, Chef Wu, just give me that book!"

Chef Wu handed the recipe book to Yan Ning. Although it only contained ingredients for making desserts, it was still a thick book. Yan Ning casually flipped through it, and the hundreds of ingredients made her dizzy. Closing the recipe book, Yan Ning asked Chef Wu directly, "What are the old lady's preferences?"

"Reporting to Madam! The old lady prefers light flavors, and her favorite dessert is chestnut cake. She would be very pleased if it were served with peony 'dew'," Chef Wu replied, bowing his head.

Yan Ning handed the booklet to Zhu Xiang, ordered someone to bring paper and pen, and then bent over the stone table in the courtyard to draw a birthday cake. After reading it, Chef Wu asked, "This servant has been in charge of cooking for half his life and has never seen such a dessert before. May I ask, Madam, what is this?"

Yan Ning looked at her creation and replied with satisfaction, "Birthday cake!"