Consort De put down the porcelain bowl with its green branches and flowers, and Xiuzhu promptly handed her a silk handkerchief to wipe her mouth.
"Even the old imperial physicians in the palace can't cure my ailment. Do you have any folk remedies? Which book did you read about them in?" Consort De asked with a faint smile. The dishes she had just tasted truly reminded her of the meals her mother used to make for her and her siblings—full of the warmth of home cooking, simple and authentic. In her heart, Consort De's fondness for Lanqin grew even stronger, but she still refused to show it on her face. Perhaps this was a common trait among women living deep within the palace—they couldn't easily express their emotions.
Seeing that Consort De had put down her chopsticks, Lanqin had no choice but to put them down as well. After all, they were in the palace, in front of her mother-in-law. Although she hadn't eaten much, Lanqin wasn't as smug as she was in front of the Fourth Prince. She respected Consort De, knowing that Consort De had gradually accepted her, from initially disliking her to now speaking to her peacefully. Since they were in her palace, it was best to follow her rules; it was a form of respect for her mother-in-law.
“Mother, there are some folk remedies that even the imperial physicians may not know. In any case, these folk remedies are dietary supplements, and taking some will not harm the body, so why not give them a try?” Lanqin advised.
"Yes, Your Highness, this old ailment of yours has lasted for many years. The imperial physicians have prescribed numerous remedies, but none have been effective. The Consort often has methods that truly solve problems. My legs ache every autumn, as Your Highness knows. The Consort gave me a method: I should slice fresh ginger, stir-fry it until hot, and apply it to my knees. After two nights, I should grind some old wheat, stir-fry it until hot, and wrap it around the painful area. After trying it for a while, it really did help a lot," Aunt An said quickly. She herself had suffered a lot in her youth, developing rheumatism. Lanqin had learned of this by chance and told Aunt An about her grandmother's folk remedies for rheumatism. Since then, Aunt An and Lanqin have often been able to chat casually.
Consort De glanced at Aunt An a few times, pondered for a moment, and said, "Alright. Tell me, what is that folk remedy?"
Lanqin thought about her own mother (Lin Mengyao's mother) who used to have this problem, and then said, "Take one snow pear, chop it up and stew it with other ingredients, add an appropriate amount of water and simmer for half an hour. Remove the residue and drink the soup. Mother, these two things can clear heat and quench thirst, and can soothe the throat and reduce swelling. Drinking them regularly will be very good for your throat. If you combine this with the imperial physician's decoction, it should improve your condition. However, this prescription won't be effective immediately, so please take it regularly."
After hearing this, Consort De nodded slightly. For some reason, she began to believe it to some extent, convinced that Lanqin's prescription should be effective. But what exactly was that Luo Han Guo?
"May I ask, Consort, what is a pear? This old servant knows. But what is a monk fruit? This old servant seems to have never heard of it before." Granny De, who had been observing Lanqin's every move, couldn't help but ask. Granny De had served Consort De for many years and knew how much suffering she had endured because of this ailment, so she was particularly concerned.
Lanqin was taken aback, thinking to herself: Yes, they probably haven't even heard of monk fruit. That thing seems to grow in the south; I wonder if it's still used in traditional Chinese medicine at this time.
“Um, Granny, if it’s convenient for you tomorrow, could you take Lanqin to the Imperial Physician’s Office? I’ll talk to them and maybe they can help, though the name will be different. The monk fruit Lanqin mentioned is just a common name because it’s plump and round, like the belly of a monk, hence the name monk fruit,” Lanqin said, but the last few sentences were completely made up.
“Alright, shall this old servant take the concubine to see her tomorrow, Your Highness?” Granny De asked Consort De.
Consort De nodded, her expression becoming more relaxed. She had intended to take this opportunity during the meal to tell Lanqin what was on her mind, but now she seemed unable to say it.
"Alright, you must be tired today. Xiuzhu, take the concubine to rest. Make sure everything is prepared. I am also tired. You may take your leave now," Consort De instructed.
"Your Majesty, I take my leave. I will come to keep Mother company again tomorrow." Lanqin gave a polite curtsy and followed Xiuzhu out.
After Lanqin left, Consort De glanced at Aunt An and said, "An'er, judging from your expression, you seem to have quite a good impression of Lady Niu."
Aunt An knew that she had been somewhat impolite to speak before Consort De, so she quickly knelt down and said, "Please calm down, Your Highness. I just think that Consort Niu really has some tricks up her sleeve. How did I get this leg ailment? If it weren't for Your Highness's help back then, I would have turned into a pile of bones by now. I will never forget Your Highness's kindness, even if I die. So I especially hope that Your Highness's old ailment can be treated with less suffering, just like mine."
Consort De's expression softened slightly, and she said gently, "Get up. I was just reminding you not to lose your manners in front of these younger women. Niu Shi is a thoughtful child, and I certainly won't be harsh on her. I'm just afraid she'll end up like Li Shi back then, causing you trouble. Let's see how she behaves. I'll let her stay a little longer, observe her temperament, and then I'll naturally take better care of her in the future."
Meanwhile, Lanqin followed Xiuzhu all the way to the side hall behind the main hall.
"Consort, please watch your step. There are some pebbles on the road. I'll hold a lamp for you." Xiuzhu led Lanqin ahead, carrying a gas lamp.
"Thank you for your trouble. Where are the two maids I brought?" Lanqin finally had time to ask.
"They've all been arranged to stay in the rooms next to where the concubine is resting. There are some palace maids living there too; I'll have them serve her later," Xiuzhu said.
Lanqin remained silent and followed Xiuzhu for a distance until they finally arrived at the side hall where Consort De had arranged for her to stay.
Nianxue and Xicha were already inside, having packed up Lanqin's things. Hearing what sounded like Lanqin's voice outside, they immediately dropped what they were doing and came out to greet her.
"Consort, you're back." Nianxue quickly stepped forward and helped Lanqin up.
"Consort, this is where you will rest. Ladies, if you need anything, just tell the palace servants in the room over there, and they will take care of it," Xiuzhu said.
"Thank you very much, Auntie." Nianxue quickly greeted her.
After Xiuzhu left, Lanqin finally had a good look at the side hall. It was a three-room house, and although the decor was a bit old, everything was in good order.
"Why did Consort De arrange for the master to be so far away from her?" Xicha asked, puzzled.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
