After Wei Tingsi left with Fei Chi, Zhao Shu immediately had Fei Peng brought to her.
"Your brother went with Lord Wei. He may be able to clear his name or become the fertile ground for this bright future. Before he left, he asked me to continue to take you in, saying that you are good at calculation."
Looking at the boy in front of her, who still had a slightly childish air but was lifeless, Zhao Shu didn't know what to think.
Fei Peng grew up under the care of his family, and his temperament was not as resilient as Fei Chi's, the eldest son. When his family fell into decline, his elder brother was wronged, and he was driven away by his relatives without any compassion, he experienced the coldness and warmth of human relationships.
He cherished his time at the Prince Yong's residence. Compared to his elder brother Fei Chi, Fei Peng's gratitude towards Zhao Shu was more intense and direct.
He didn't blame his brother for deciding on the future path without consulting him, but he understood his brother. With an uncertain future and a life hanging in the balance, the Prince Yong's mansion was naturally the best place for him to stay.
"I can calculate a little faster than others," he said somewhat embarrassedly.
"It's alright. Take a good rest these next few days to recharge your energy, then go find Uncle Fu and he will make arrangements for you."
After dealing with Fei Peng's matter, Zhao Shu hurriedly went to Zhao Shu Jin Xi.
The Prince's Mansion had most of the ingredients she needed, but there was still a small portion that she had to buy from outside.
Moreover, she harbored a secret thought: Xing'er was a remarkable girl, with superb knife skills; if she could be properly trained, she would have a bright future.
When they found Jin Xi, she was serving the meal while the Empress Dowager and Prince Yong were playing chess.
Zhao Shu didn't disturb the two of them, and pulled Jin Xi to a corner.
"Princess, what do you need me for?"
"Aunt Jinxi, how about we make a bet?"
Zhao Shu smiled smugly, while Jin Xi felt goosebumps rise on her back. The princess wanted to bet with her? Experience told her she couldn't refuse, and even if she did, she couldn't win…
"Princess, please just tell me what you need me to do. How could I possibly make a bet with you?" She cried, her face contorted with worry. "Princess, I haven't offended you recently, have I?"
Zhao Shu had been waiting for her to say this, and whispered, "Aunt Jinxi, what do you think of that Xing'er girl?"
Jin Xi finally understood why Zhao Shu had specifically sent that illiterate girl Xing'er to fetch the ingredients; it turned out she was waiting here.
"Your knife skills are quite good." As the head chef of the Cining Palace, Jin Xi's skills were even better than those of Granny Qin.
The fact that Xing'er received a good review from Jin Xi shows that her knife skills are excellent.
"Then Aunt Jinxi, could you help me take care of it?"
Taking on a disciple? Jin Xi subconsciously wanted to shake her head. She was the Empress Dowager's person, how could she take on a disciple so casually? However, the person she was asked to take on a disciple was Zhao Shu, so she forcibly suppressed the urge to shake her head.
He said in a dry voice, "We need to see what kind of girl she is. So, let her follow me around for the next few days."
This was exactly the result she wanted. Zhao Shu took out the written paper from her bosom and handed it to Jin Xi, saying, "Thank you, Aunt Jin Xi."
"This servant is unworthy of the princess's thanks; it is all my duty."
The mother and son, who had just finished a game, noticed Zhao Shu and Jin Xi whispering to each other. The Empress Dowager asked, "What are you saying? Tell me too."
"It's a secret, I won't tell you." Zhao Shu smiled and moved closer to the Empress Dowager, wanting to see who won or lost, but was blocked by Prince Yong.
"It's time to eat."
Zhao Shu secretly wondered, "Could it be that Father lost?"
Unfortunately, she will never get that answer.
After the meal, all the ingredients were ready.
"What is Ah Jun going to do?" the Empress Dowager asked.
"Your Majesty, please take a look."
Since the research was about food, everyone naturally had to work together. Therefore, Zhao Shu had charcoal and utensils brought over and placed them in a shady spot by the lake.
On a hot summer day, sitting by a shimmering lake, watching the willows sway in the breeze and the summer flowers in full bloom, while enjoying delicious food, is truly a top-notch pleasure.
“The milk has a strong fishy smell, Princess, would you like to choose another kind?” Jin Xi asked, helping out from the side.
No one else could have a head chef's assistant, exclusively assigned to the Empress Dowager in the Imperial Kitchen. Zhao Shu was truly one of a kind.
"Adding ginger when cooking not only preserves the freshness but also retains its unique flavor." These are things that Ajiu often makes; she has seen it many times and knows the steps.
Upon hearing this, Jin Xi thought that the Empress Dowager's visit to Prince Yong's residence was intended to support the prince and the princess. Since there was plenty of milk and goat milk available, why bother arguing with the princess? If she was happy, the Empress Dowager would be happy too.
So she silently did as Zhao Shu said.
"Xing'er, crack the egg and take out the yolk." Zhao Shu, whose practical skills were lacking, could only use her words.
Xing'er was timid, and at this moment she was even more careful to do as Zhao Shu said, not daring to make the slightest mistake.
The Empress Dowager and Prince Yong watched from the side, asking, "Why remove the egg yolk?"
"Grandmother will find out soon," Zhao Shu continued, keeping everyone in suspense.
"Ah Jun, come quickly and play chess with your father. Let them do these things." Prince Yong, who was determined to defeat Emperor Mingde, spoke up.
The steps to make double-skin milk are simple and can be explained in just a few words. For Zhao Shu, who is not good at practical skills, she felt that what her father said made perfect sense.
So, he had someone bring him pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, and wrote down all the methods before handing them to Jin Xi. Jin Xi was half-believing and half-doubting, but told herself that it was all for the Empress Dowager's sake.
So he continued to silently follow Zhao Shu's method.
"Grandmother, Father, how about we play another game? All three of us can play it."
Although she enjoys playing chess, she is also interested in playing with her father, Zhao Shu, and admits that she dislikes her father.
In fact, His Highness Prince Yong himself was also tired of it, not for any other reason than the lack of opponents and loneliness. Now that he heard there were three people playing, he became interested, and he no longer had to worry about how to take care of his mother and daughter.
"What strange and unusual ideas do you have this time? Tell me about them."
In the Empress Dowager's heart, her beloved grandson was the most intelligent and obedient person in the world, and no one could surpass him.
Zhao Shu smiled shyly. It was time to plagiarize other people's work again. She felt very embarrassed and silently apologized to the inventor of playing cards.
"Does the Empress Dowager know how to play Leaf Game?" It is said that Leaf Game is the ancestor of card games.
The Empress Dowager nodded. The leaf game was a game that had been circulating among emperors and empresses since the previous dynasties. It was simple and easy to understand, and she knew it too.
“My granddaughter made a slight modification. How about we try a new way to play?” Zhao Shu decided to bring out Dou Dizhu (a popular Chinese card game).
Think about it, the recent policy of reducing the power of feudal lords and titles, and replacing local chieftains with centrally appointed officials, makes the phrase "fighting the landlord" quite fitting for the current political climate. It's just that the wording needs to be changed, since she herself is a noble among landlords.
Sendai-in was a place of tranquility and warmth, surrounded by the Empress Dowager's confidants, who worked together seamlessly.
However, the courtyard where the concubines lived was rippled with turmoil, stirring up a storm in their hearts.
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