0057 Five Spicy Dishes (Part 1)
As for Princess Li Miao of Huayang, five or six days had passed since she last mentioned wanting to pay a visit.
Shu Mingde stayed home after school these past few days. Not wanting to bother others by disturbing their family reunion, she simply wandered around to clear her head and waited quietly for a few days.
On that day, the wind was clear and the air was fresh, with long wisps of clouds hanging in the blue sky. When she returned to Chang'an from her villa in Fanchuan, she heard from her maid that Shu Mingde had already returned to the academy, so she ordered her men to turn their horses around and head towards the Shu residence in Yongle Ward.
When the princess arrived at the entrance of the town, Madam Li received the news and quickly tidied herself up. She led the entire household out to greet her, just as Li Miao stepped off the carriage on a brocade stool.
The woman was in her early twenties, tall and slender, with bright, beautiful eyes. Her hair was styled in a high, elegant bun, adorned with gold, silver, pearl, and jade ornaments. A string of glittering, expensive pearls hung around her neck, making her even more dazzling and captivating.
"Why didn't you inform our household before the princess's arrival? We could have prepared a banquet to entertain her. This hasty and chaotic situation might make the princess laugh at us."
According to the Dali system, a princess like Li Miao should be granted the title of county princess, but she exceeded the system and was granted the title of county princess, which shows how much the emperor and empress valued her. No wonder Madam Li took her seriously.
Old Madam Li led the younger generation in bowing, but Li Miao helped her up, saying, "Old Madam, there's no need for that. I'm just a junior and don't deserve your courtesy. I'm only here today to have some private conversation with the second young lady of your household. Please don't bother with me."
After saying that, Li Miao released the hand that was supporting Old Madam Li, bypassed everyone in the mansion, walked straight to Shu Fu, and took her hand: "Shu Fu stays with me, and the rest of you can just be treated as normal."
...
Li Miao and Shu Fu arrived at the Jichi Pond in the mansion.
If we were to name the most prized work of Master Shu, it would undoubtedly be this clear pond before us. Its water is fed by a canal, ensuring its crystal-clear, mirror-like surface throughout the year, further adorned with lush, verdant water lilies. It is said that two white cranes once roamed here, but they died along with Master Shu the year he passed away, and the pond has lost its former ethereal beauty.
Shu Fu used a small boat to carry people to the square pavilion in the middle of the pond. Seeing that she was struggling to row, Li Miao couldn't help but mutter, "I really don't know what Master Shu was thinking before. Such a large pond, yet he didn't build a boardwalk. Every time we come to the pavilion, we have to row a boat. No wonder there's so much dust in the pavilion now."
With that, the group went ashore together.
Li Miao's two personal maids, one named Cai Cai and the other Mian Mian, entered the pavilion first, quickly swept away the dust with a whisk, and then invited the two women in to sit down.
Shu Fu thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps what Grandfather loved most was not sitting in the pavilion discussing the sun and moon, but sleeping on a boat drifting on the water."
She suddenly remembered the days when her grandfather took her on a boat to escape the summer heat when she was little.
The intense sunlight in the sky seemed to melt gold dust, reflecting off the surface of the pond and creating shimmering fragments of light. But the boat had a canopy, under which was placed a small ice chest, containing the incense and wine that her grandfather had brought. A breeze from all sides stirred up a refreshing air that enveloped her, so she could sleep in it without getting too hot.
Half-asleep, she was startled awake by the sight of a few emerald lotus leaves drifting in. She saw her grandfather hand her a corner of chilled osmanthus wine, instructing her not to tell anyone in the household after drinking it.
That happened when she was about five or six years old, and now it feels like a lifetime ago.
Shu Fu was lost in thought for a moment, then smiled at Li Miao: "The time isn't right now, the lotus flowers in the pond haven't grown up yet. Come back next summer, and I'll take you on a boat trip."
Li Miao smiled and agreed, then had Cai Cai hand her a seal: "This is the seal of the post station. I have already sent out the letter you asked me to forward to Minister Shu. I just don't know when he will receive the letter and be able to settle that troublesome matter of Liang Zhiyan for you."
"But... let's not talk about that for now, I'm here to bring you this."
Mianmian promptly handed over a small, elegant note with printed incense paper, on which were written the words "Fanchuan Villa".
“My villa in Fanchuan was completed a few days ago. I plan to hold a celebratory banquet there. You’ll have to come and lend me a hand then.”
Shu Fu looked at the letter over and over for a long time before happily agreeing and telling A Jian to keep the letter safe.
Cai Cai opened her food box, took out a few round apricots, and whispered to A Jian beside her, "Does your esteemed residence have a well? My princess loves to eat cold fruits and would like to borrow your spring water to soak them."
Upon hearing this, A-Jian took Cai-Cai out of the pavilion and rowed the small boat to the other side.
Hearing the commotion, Li Miao glanced at the departing A-Jian and asked Shu Fu, "Is this the new maid you promoted? What about the previous one?"
Shu Fu's eyes dimmed slightly: "Ah Xing was also involved in the Xu family's spring banquet, so I will no longer keep her by my side."
The topic turned to Liang Zhiyan again, and Li Miao could no longer hold back. She cursed him, saying, "That brat Liang has really gotten too big for his britches, daring to act arrogantly towards you and even shamelessly begging for your forgiveness. Does he really think you're some kind of gentle and tolerant dough doll? Don't worry, if Vice Minister Shu is as stubborn as your mother and insists on making you continue with this marriage, I won't let him get away with it."
Hearing this, Shu Fu felt a huge weight lifted from her heart. She immediately took Li Miao's hand and pressed it against her cheek, smiling as she said, "I will never accept a marriage with the Liang family. If Ruoye's mother refuses and kicks me out of the manor, I beg Princess Miao Miao to take me in."
Li Miao rolled her eyes at her and kicked her shin with her toe: "You have no manners, don't call me 'Miao Miao'."
A-Jian and Cai-Cai returned with the cooled apricots. Li Miao picked one and fed it to her: "That Liang Zhiyan abandoned you for someone else. He was blind. Don't be sad or doubt yourself because of this."
"I know." Shu Fu chose a smaller one, took a small bite, and felt a cool and sweet sensation throughout her body. She secretly praised Li Miao for knowing how to appreciate good food.
"Actually... there are plenty of well-behaved young men in the world. We don't want those stubborn ones. But if you want one, I..."
Before Li Miao could finish speaking, she saw Shu Fu and the other three maids staring at her curiously.
She was speechless for a moment, and after a long while she slowly added, "Anyway, I have something good for you. Find a way to leave the manor tonight, and I will take you to see it."
Shu Fu was stunned: "Me? At night, all the gates of the mansion will be closed and guarded. How can I get out?"
Li Miao raised an eyebrow and turned to look at A-Jian not far away: "Can the girl next to you climb over walls?"
“Yes, I can!” A-Jian said excitedly. “Do I need to sneak out first to help out from the inside and fool those guarding the gate?”
“Well said, but no need,” Li Miao smiled slightly. “You only need to teach and help your girls. If they succeed, I will reward you.”
She took off a silver-blue jade bracelet from her wrist and handed it to A-Jian: "Tonight at 7 PM, I will be waiting for your young lady at the back gate of your residence. Don't disappoint this princess."
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