Before Shi Lan could even open her eyes after receiving the memories, she heard Yun Zhu's soft call in her ear.
Shi Lan felt a jolt in her body, as if her soul had been flicked by something. When she opened her eyes, she had already lost the initiative.
"What is it?" Wang, who was possessing the original owner's body, moved her arm.
Yunzhu considerately supported her arm and helped her sit half-reclined on the large cushion before whispering, "Miss, this is peach blossom porridge that Madam specially instructed the kitchen to slowly cook. If you have an appetite, please have some."
As she spoke, she scooped up a bowl of pale pink congee that emitted a faint floral fragrance, cooled it down, and brought it to Wang.
Wang was a peasant woman and had no idea about the finer points. Seeing the bowl of porridge without a trace of oil, she curled her lip in disgust and said, "What's so good about this watery porridge? I want braised chicken and stewed pork hock. Go and get me some."
Yunzhu was taken aback. The Shi family was a prominent family in Jiangnan, and they were known for their exquisite and meticulous cuisine.
When Shi's father came to the capital to take up his post, the cooks and servants in his household were all servants brought from the clan. Yunzhu and the others had grown up in the Shi family since childhood and were already used to the finer things in food. Moreover, the dishes they learned to make were not only light, fresh, and incredibly crisp, but also of excellent appearance.
She had never even heard of the braised chicken and stewed pork hock that Wang mentioned, let alone made them.
Seeing that Yunzhu did not react, Wang thought to herself that Yunzhu was ignorant.
Yunzhu, being a strictly trained head maid, paused for a moment before recovering and gently advising, "Peach blossom porridge is excellent for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Madam watched the kitchen cook it for a long time before making this porridge. Even if you don't like it, please don't disappoint Madam. Besides, you'll be resting soon, and chicken and pork knuckle are too greasy. Eating them now might cause indigestion. How about this: I'll prepare a small dish for you to try at noon tomorrow, and tonight you can have peach blossom porridge to promote blood circulation and nourish your skin?"
Although Yunzhu was a maid, she had been immersed in literature with the original owner for a long time, and she always spoke in a literary style.
Wang was an uneducated woman, and Yunzhu's words made her very uncomfortable. Although she understood most of what Yunzhu said, she still felt uneasy.
Although Wang had produced a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, she herself was illiterate and her social circle was limited to people from her own village and neighboring villages. People respected her because her family had a scholar, so they didn't bother with her. Over time, this fostered Wang's extremely self-centered personality.
Wang's words just now had already revealed something amiss, but she was completely unaware that she had given herself away, and was still glaring at Yunzhu with a displeased expression.
Yunzhu lowered her eyes halfway, picked up some dried bean curd strips, and considerately brought them to her lips, the fresh and fragrant aroma filling her nostrils.
Wang could not resist any longer and opened her mouth to put the food in her mouth.
The thin, hair-like tofu sheets absorbed the aroma of ham and the freshness of shredded chicken, mixed with crisp bamboo shoots and a few translucent strands of bird's nest, making Wang want to eat more.
Yunzhu fed him slowly and deliberately, and soon a plate of fresh and crisp wood ear and yam mixed with braised dried tofu strips that really tested his skills was finished. The bowl of porridge was quickly emptied.
Wang smacked her lips, wanting to suggest another bowl. Yunzhu, who had served her since childhood, knew the original owner's appetite well and knew that this bowl was enough for her; any more and she would feel uncomfortable after sleeping at night.
She then cleared away the dishes and got up to leave.
Wang opened her mouth twice, but still had some pride and didn't dare to ask for food.
Yunzhu then came over carrying a bowl of brown medicinal soup.
Wang used to be poor, and she could just tough it out when she was sick. Now, she only had a minor injury on her foot, not even a broken skin, so she didn't think she needed to take any medicine.
However, Yunzhu insisted on this. Zhou did not explain at the time, but after going out, she revealed to Yu that she suspected the girl had been frightened and that this was the "medicine" for that condition.
After declining twice, Wang could not resist and had no choice but to drink the medicine.
As usual, Yunzhu served candied fruits.
While inwardly grumbling about how unnecessary it was, Wang was actually enjoying the sweetness of the candied fruit.
Yunzhu cleaned up the medicine bowl and returned with two maids with their hair in buns behind her. The two maids quickly set out the basin and poured the medicine soup.
Yunzhu half-squatted down and gently removed Wang's legs from the bed, her fingers lightly massaging her ankles. Every now and then, she would splash water on the back of Wang's feet and ask in a low voice, "Miss, is the water temperature alright?"
Before she got married, Wang worked the land with her family. After marrying Zhou Yuan, although she became a scholar's wife, she still helped her mother-in-law with farm work every day. There wasn't much food left in the family, and they could only eat one or two full meals a year during the busy farming season. In her eyes, the kind of service that Yunzhu provided was something only an emperor could enjoy.
Wang shivered, trying not to let her voice tremble as she nodded and said, "Add some more hot food."
Yunzhu looked up and smiled, "I didn't expect you to be so heat-resistant, but you can't get any hotter. Your skin is delicate, and you might get burned if it gets any hotter."
He said the wrong thing again.
Wang bit her tongue, her deep-seated inferiority complex making her unable to suppress her resentment.
She couldn't hate herself, nor could she hate the environment she was in. The only person she could hate was Yunzhu, who was washing her feet with her head bowed at her feet.
Wang stared intently at Yunzhu's swaying hair, but Yunzhu didn't notice anything amiss and continued to lightly pour the medicinal soup onto her swollen instep.
“Miss, your injury will probably take some time to heal. I’ll get some peach blossoms that I collected a few days ago and make some peach blossom ointment for you tomorrow…” Yunzhu said with a smile, half-raising her head.
Seeing that she was smiling and speaking in a language she couldn't understand, Wang felt a surge of malice and kicked Yunzhu to the ground.
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