Oh, Lanqin actually forgot to make herself a bowl too.
However, Consort De and the other masters didn't bother laughing at her and instead focused on enjoying the delicious food before them. Since Lanqin used 21st-century methods, the food naturally tasted different from what the two cooks usually made. Consort De's honey-glazed roast duck, in particular, had a unique blend of sweetness and meaty flavor. Consort De had never tasted anything like it before and loved it.
Everyone else was also very satisfied with Lanqin's thoughtfulness; even if it wasn't anything special, they felt that their dignity had been respected.
After Lanqin finished her breakfast, Consort De kindly asked Aunt An to take her to the Imperial Pharmacy.
"Consort, Her Highness the Consort De is very satisfied with your breakfast. Consort Cheng, Noble Lady Xiao, and Noble Lady Qi also like it very much." Aunt An led Lanqin along the long palace path, saying as they walked.
"It was just a fluke. I was desperate and did it haphazardly, but I didn't expect that my mother and the other ladies would like it. Even if they didn't, they wouldn't dare to say so," Lanqin said with a smile.
Aunt An looked at Lanqin with admiration and said, "I know that Consort Lanqin is wise in her apparent foolishness. Your Highness is actually very good. I used to be a maid in the laundry department. Once, I accidentally tore the clothes of Consort Mei, who was in the favor at the time, and was punished by being made to kneel in the rain. That's when my leg ailment started. Later, because I offended Consort Mei, I was repeatedly bullied and almost beaten to death. It was Your Highness who came to my rescue and transferred me to Yonghe Palace to serve under Granny De, which is how I survived."
Lanqin listened attentively. She knew that many unjustly killed souls were buried in the wells and waterways throughout the Forbidden City. It was not uncommon for these maids to be beaten and scolded to death by their masters.
“Aunt An, Lanqin knows Mother and understands the things Mother does in her position. So Lanqin came here willingly to serve Her Majesty. Aunt An, you don’t need to worry,” Lanqin reassured her.
Hearing Lanqin say this, Aunt An grew even more fond of this concubine. When she first met her, Lanqin's unruly little habits had really given Aunt An quite a bit of trouble.
The two arrived at the Imperial Pharmacy, which was Lanqin's first time visiting the Imperial Pharmacy in the Forbidden City.
"Oh, isn't this Aunt An from Yonghe Palace? What brings you here? Is there something wrong with Consort De?" A high-pitched eunuch walked over and greeted Aunt An.
“Eunuch Chen, I’ve come looking for a medicinal herb. Could you do me a favor? Our concubine wants to find a herb called ‘Luo Han Guo’ (monk fruit).” Aunt An said.
Eunuch Chen glanced at Lanqin behind Aunt An, finding her unfamiliar but noting that her attire suggested she wasn't a palace maid. He stared at Lanqin with suspicion and asked, "Is this the concubine? Is she?"
"This is the concubine of the Fourth Prince. Eunuch Chen, do you know about Luo Han Guo?" Aunt An said with a hint of dissatisfaction.
"Monk fruit? I've never heard of that before. Is it just a common name, or does it have a scientific name?" asked Eunuch Chen. He was the head of a department under Eunuch Shou, the chief steward of the Imperial Pharmacy.
"It looks something like this, round, dark green, with fine hairs on the skin. It tastes sweet, but has a rather strange flavor." Lanqin couldn't actually remember the scientific name of the monk fruit, so she could only describe it to Eunuch Chen using gestures.
Listening to Lanqin's description, Eunuch Chen recalled something similar to what she had described, so he could only say, "Aunt An, then please have you and this concubine stand here for a while while I go and get some medicine for you to take a look at."
Aunt An quickly slipped a small purse to Eunuch Chen, who smiled and tucked it into his sleeve.
Lanqin and Aunt An stood there waiting, and Lanqin looked around at this place that plays an important role in various Qing Dynasty time-travel dramas. She saw that the large courtyard was filled with racks similar to those used for raising silkworms in the south. On the racks, there were five or six large bamboo winnowing baskets, which were covered with various herbs, some of which were cut into slices.
After waiting for a while, Eunuch Chen came out, carrying several items in his hands. Lanqin immediately spotted the monk fruit.
“This is exactly what I want,” Lanqin said before Chen Gonggong could speak.
"Oh. This is called Mama Fruit," said Eunuch Chen.
When Aunt An saw that she had finally found the "monk fruit" that Lanqin had mentioned, she immediately smiled and said to Eunuch Chen, "Then I'll trouble you to go and get some more. Our lady needs it. Please give her three qian."
Eunuch Chen immediately agreed and went to get it for him.
“Pears are not hard to find, Consort. If your prescription works, all the ladies in the palace will benefit. There are quite a few palace maids with similar symptoms to Your Highness,” said Aunt An.
“If that’s the case, Auntie can also tell them about this prescription. These 'Mama Fruits' are also sold in pharmacies outside; we can buy some when we go out.” Lanqin was also happy to hear this, as she was able to help more people.
"Your concubine is truly blessed. I see that your wisdom and insight are extraordinary," Aunt An praised.
Lanqin felt a little embarrassed; she was just a porter. These were common sense facts from hundreds of years later, and she hoped that using them to help people wouldn't be condemned by heaven.
Lanqin subconsciously looked at the sky; it was a clear blue sky without a single cloud.
After obtaining the monk fruit, Aunt An took Lanqin and headed back.
Just as the two reached the satin storehouse, they encountered Consort Yi's palanquin. Aunt An immediately led Lanqin to avoid them, turning around to face the palace wall.
"Stop~~" A bright yet slightly delicate voice rang out behind Lanqin.
"Who's over there?" another slightly rough female voice asked.
"Qiutong, don't frighten them," the voice said again.
Lanqin recognized the voice; it belonged to Consort Yi.
Seeing that she couldn't avoid it, Aunt An had no choice but to take Lanqin's hand, turn around and walk to Consort Yi's sedan chair to pay her respects.
"Who do we have here? It's you. Did Consort De summon you to attend to her illness? Why are you wandering around here?" Consort Yi sized up Lanqin.
“Your Highness, I am here with my concubine to get some medicine from the Imperial Pharmacy. I am not wandering around the palace aimlessly,” said Aunt An.
"Oh, it's only right that you come to get the medicine since Consort De is not feeling well. I wonder how she is doing? I'd like to visit her, but I'm afraid it might backfire," Consort Yi said with a half-smile.
Lanqin didn't dislike Consort Yi. She thought she was somewhat like Wang Xifeng from "Dream of the Red Chamber"—quick-witted, possessing stunning beauty, and shrewd and resourceful. Consort Yi was the youngest of the four consorts and, after Consort De, the woman most favored by Emperor Kangxi.
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