Chapter 520 Theme
Zhuang was a meticulous and approachable person. After learning of Lin Yuesha's request, she specially wrote a list, which included the preferences of the ladies she knew, as well as several pastries and cakes that often appeared at banquets.
"Yue Sha, if you're unsure, just follow the recipe your aunt gave you. Don't strive for great results, just avoid making mistakes."
Madam Gao was not unworldly, and besides, not everyone's personality is like hers; after all, it's impossible to please everyone when it comes to tastes.
The Zhuang family trusted Lin Yuesha's skills; even if the styles weren't particularly novel or appealing, the taste was definitely not a problem.
“Auntie, I know what you mean, but that’s not what I intended.”
Such an opportunity will not come again. If she does not perform well this time, her dream of making a personalized plan will basically fall through. Therefore, she must do her best to make a name for herself. She does not want to be conventional, but to be unique and irreplaceable.
Only by surprising and praising those ladies could Lin Yuesha gain attention.
"That's true, but the time is too short. Your aunt is worried that you're under too much pressure."
At the banquet of the Prince of Luo's mansion, who would dare to disrespect him? Almost everyone of importance in the capital had received an invitation. Moreover, there was the highly sought-after Prince Luo himself. The old princess had already spread the word that she wanted to choose a virtuous and well-mannered woman to arrange the marriage for Prince Luo.
Zhuang glanced at her niece, and seeing Zhuang Wanjun still looking at Lin Yuesha with admiration, she sighed slightly. She dared not even think about the big pie that was the Prince of Luo.
Although the old princess had declared that as long as the woman's background was clean, who would dare to bring up their illegitimate daughter?
Indeed, no one is a perfect match for royalty, but they must be at least close enough, otherwise it will be difficult to convince the public.
Zhuang hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. For a woman, the best outcome was to marry into a good family. If she could be noticed by a noble lady at the banquet in the Prince's mansion, it would be better than struggling to become a merchant. However, seeing that Lin Yuesha was focused on showing off her cooking skills, Zhuang swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
Zhuang gave her maid Xiangye a wink, and Xiangye nodded in understanding. She turned and went into the inner room. A moment later, she walked up to Lin Yuesha with a small box and said with a smile, "Miss Lin, this is something our madam specially bought on her way back. You and Miss Lin can each have one."
As she spoke, Xiangye opened the small box, inside which were a pair of jade rabbits, crystal clear and exquisitely carved.
“Aunt Zhuang, this is too precious. You can’t accept the moon-colored gauze.”
Lin Yuesha hurriedly declined, saying that her whole family had come to the capital and stayed at the Zhuang family's courtyard, which had already caused the Zhuang family a lot of trouble. How could she accept gifts from the Zhuang family again!
“I dare not refuse a gift from an elder; it is the proper custom.”
Zhuang's face darkened, and she pretended to be angry, saying, "You call me 'Auntie,' so what's wrong with Auntie giving me a little something? Or do you think the gift is too small, so you refuse to accept it?"
You've misunderstood.
Lin Yuesha shook her head like a rattle-drum, repeatedly denying it. She knew that Zhuang Shi didn't mean it that way, and she could only thank her because she was using her status as an elder to suppress it.
Now, the favors I owe are even heavier.
Lin Yuesha has a quirk: she doesn't like owing favors. If she does, she always wants to find a way to repay them, otherwise she feels uncomfortable.
Zhuang Shi was different from her godfather and godmother, and also different from Madam Xu. Even though she was very kind, Lin Yuesha still felt a sense of distance from her deepest feelings.
"Moonlight, if you feel bad about it, how about making some appetizers?"
Zhuang thought of her eldest daughter-in-law, Fang, who was also her favorite. She was more than five months pregnant. Because Zhuang had been away from the mansion for some time, Fang had to take over the management of the household. With so many social obligations, Fang was exhausted and felt nauseous at the sight of even slightly greasy food.
Hearing that pregnant women should not eat hawthorn, Zhuang thought of the pickled vegetables made by Lin Yuesha that she had eaten at the inn and wanted her daughter-in-law to try them as well.
"That's easy, I'll have a servant bring it when we get back to the manor."
Lin Yuesha made several kinds of kimchi, including white radish, spicy cabbage, and green and red peppers. She would eat a couple of slices while drinking porridge, which would make the meal more appetizing.
“Aunt Zhuang, I’ve written down a recipe for hot and sour noodles. If Sister Fang likes a spicy and sour flavor, please have the cook make a bowl and bring it over.”
Lin Yuesha has always practiced calligraphy. Although it is not particularly beautiful, at least her handwriting is neat and tidy.
Because of the preparations for the banquet, Lin Yuesha did not stay long, and Zhuang asked Zhuang Wanjun to see Lin Yuesha off.
The two walked side by side and soon reached the hanging flower gate. Fang Wanjun mustered her courage and asked with a blush, "Sister Yue Sha, may I send you invitations in the future?"
In the capital, young ladies from prominent families would visit each other and exchange visiting cards.
"sure."
Lin Yuesha was pondering the banquet she was preparing when she was interrupted by this, and she nodded.
Just now, the jasmine hairpin in Fang Wanjun's hair reminded her that since it was a flower appreciation banquet, why not create a themed series using various flowers as molds, with exquisite designs that women would also like?
After having this idea, she asked Luo Wang for the mold, believing that with Luo Wang's connections and financial resources, it could be done in a day.
After returning to the manor, Lin Yuesha instructed Baicha to send pickled vegetables to Zhuang Shi. She lowered her head and sketched, basically finalizing the dishes.
“Miss, Madam Zhuang is right. The Ghost Festival is a special day, and everything should be focused on the sacrificial rites.”
Granny Fang stood behind Lin Yuesha, her eyes fixed on the table, which was covered with a dense list of dishes.
Lin Yuesha paused, put down her pen and ink, and glanced back at Granny Fang. She had asked Granny Fang before, but Granny Fang hadn't come up with anything. Now that she had asked Zhuang Shi for her opinion, Granny Fang was offering hindsight advice.
The old servant just returned from the Five Cities Garrison and brought female doctor Yan some food and snacks.
Granny Fang twitched her eye. When Doctor Yan came to collect the items, she was so frightened that she took three steps back and almost fell on her bottom. Yan Yan was disheveled and her clothes were stained with blood. Anyone who didn't know the situation would really think that Doctor Yan had been tortured.
"This old servant has heard that Young Master Yu has not yet been caught!"
Granny Fang mentioned the gossip she had heard, and what puzzled her was that Young Master Yu's lover, a male prostitute, had actually been released.
"What's so strange about that? Rumor has it that Young Master Yu is deeply in love with that person. Letting his lover out is just the right way to lure the snake out of its hole. Young Master Yu will definitely want to come back and take a look."
Otherwise, Yu Zicheng wouldn't have killed so many pregnant women for so-called folk remedies, and in such a cruel way.
Lin Yuesha was in the know; she saw the sickly young master, who vomited blood repeatedly after standing outside for only a short while, suggesting that he was nearing the end of his life.
"Tsk tsk, you can know a person's face but not their heart. He is truly ruthless and vicious. In all my years in the capital, I have seen all kinds of shady dealings, but I have never heard of anyone like Young Master Yu who has committed murder one after another."
Granny Fang sighed, saying that the incident three years ago in the capital where the woman in red had her heart ripped out was already the limit of what she could accept.
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