"Consort, this is 'Gan Mai Da Zao Tang'. The princess said it has the effects of nourishing the heart and calming the mind, harmonizing the stomach and relieving urgency, and can help improve your sleep."
As they were talking, Consort Nian took a bite; it tasted slightly sweet and had the aroma of wheat.
"It tastes good."
"I'm glad the concubine likes it. Also, my princess instructed me to give this recipe to Qingyan. This soup has been divided into three portions; the rest can be kept in the side courtyard for lunch and dinner."
Qianxue then handed the prescription to Qingyan, making Qingyan, who had previously doubted them, blush and feel embarrassed.
"Thank you all for your hard work this morning. I asked Qingyan to prepare some things for Geng Gege. Please take them back with you."
"Xie Nian, Consort of the Imperial Family".
When Qianxue returned to the courtyard, Geng Youran was reading a book inside the house.
"Princess, why aren't you asleep?"
"How can I sleep peacefully without you coming back?"
Qianxue handed the box over with a smile:
"Look at what you're saying. Consort Nian doesn't bite, so why wouldn't I come back? But Consort Nian did send me some things to bring you."
Geng Youran took the box, opened it, and found a red jade and gold-threaded hairpin with auspicious and longevity features.
"Wow, this hairpin is so exquisite!"
“Princess, there’s a note under this hairpin.”
Qianxue handed over the note, which only had two words on it: "Thank you."
Geng Youran smiled gently. It seemed that this Consort Nian wasn't so bad after all; at least she knew how to repay kindness.
"You should put this hairpin away. It's so luxurious, you probably won't have the chance to wear it anytime soon."
"Yes, Princess."
Afterwards, Geng Youran asked Qianxue to help her remove her makeup. After resting well, Geng Youran dressed up a bit and then went to Li Jingshu's place.
"This humble servant greets Consort, may Consort be blessed."
"What a rare guest! Sister, please get up and have a seat."
Geng Youran and Li Jingshu now treat each other with the utmost respect, and apart from discussing some official matters of the Prince's Mansion, they hardly communicate at all.
Li Jingshu was also caught off guard by Geng Youran's sudden visit today.
"I'm here today mainly to thank Consort Nian for her help. His Highness asked me to help out at the last minute, and I filled out a bunch of forms, which caused you a lot of trouble."
Li Jingshu kindly offered tea and snacks:
“You don’t need to be so polite. Putting aside the fact that this is my duty, it’s also for the sake of Sister Nian and the Prince’s child. You don’t need to make a special trip for this matter.”
Geng Youran put down her cup and smiled:
"Of course I thank you. However, I do have something else to attend to these days."
"Please speak freely, sister."
Qianxue handed a box from behind her:
"Consort, this is something that Princess Niohuru asked me to pass on to her. Don't worry, I haven't opened it."
Li Jingshu had someone accept the box, and then had someone bring out something else as well.
"Do you like this?"
Geng Youran exclaimed in surprise:
"Consort Li, what brings you here?"
Li Jingshu smiled helplessly and shook her head.
“Hongshi has been thinking about the osmanthus shortbread and osmanthus candied fruit you made. I specially had someone pick some osmanthus flowers from the yard and would like to ask for your help. In addition, Hongshi specially asked someone to make you a ‘Osmanthus Moon Hairpin’ to express his gratitude.”
"Oh, I can't possibly accept this."
Geng Youran took the hairpin from Li Jingshu and examined it with delight.
Although her relationship with Consort Li was not good, she still liked the child Hongshi very much.
"Keep it; it's not anything valuable. Hongshi personally drew the design and then had it made."
“Hongshi is such a filial and talented child, Consort, you are truly blessed.”
Li Jingshu smiled, accepting the compliment.
“Consort, since that’s the case, I’ll go back and make preparations. Tomorrow afternoon, I’ll have Qianxue bring over the two dishes that Prince Hongshi requested. As for this hairpin, please thank Prince Hongshi for me.”
"You're welcome."
After returning to her own courtyard, Geng Youran asked Qianxue to take all the osmanthus flowers to the small kitchen.
"Princess, what exactly is in the box that Princess Niohuru gave to Consort Li?"
Geng Youran shook her head; there were some things she was better off not knowing.
Curiosity can sometimes really kill the cat.
"However, Princess, I didn't expect that Prince Hongshi would still miss you so much even after he went to the Prince's Residence. Look at this hairpin, isn't it beautiful?"
Geng Youran held the hairpin with satisfaction, examining it closely.
"At least it wasn't a waste of time to feed that brat. Here, help me put this hairpin on."
"Okay."
After Qianxue helped Geng Youran put on the hairpin, Geng Youran even went to the mirror to look at herself, and it was indeed very nice.
It's not flashy, but it's somewhat unique.
“Let’s go to the small kitchen. We need to go to Consort Nian’s place tomorrow morning, so we should make the candied fruit that Hongshi wants first. We can make the pastries after we get back tomorrow.”
"good."
Upon arriving at the small kitchen, the two first gently rinsed all the osmanthus flowers with clean water to remove surface dust and impurities. Then, they gently dried the osmanthus flowers with a clean gauze.
After the moisture has been mostly wiped away, mix the osmanthus flowers and sugar evenly and put them into a clean ceramic jar.
"Alright, that's about right. Find a shady place to put it."
"Yes, Princess."
Geng Youran stretched, feeling exhausted from the recent period of time.
"Qianxue, I remember the prince left a set of cupping equipment here before, and didn't take it with him?"
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