Chu Qianchen took advantage of the fact that the lady-in-waiting had exempted her from having to visit her every morning and evening, and simply hid in Wanyan Courtyard, never leaving the house.
After she finished making the pills for Queen Mother Yin, she focused on making the Da Zao Pills.
The process of making Da Zao Wan is extremely complicated, and it uses many types of medicinal materials, some of which are precious.
There are some simple processes such as pounding medicine, cutting medicine, and making fire, which she can leave to Amber, but she has to do most of the processes herself to ensure that there are no mistakes.
For example, the most precious herb, Seven-star Grass, has a very particular preparation process. It must first be soaked in ginger juice, then steamed for an incense stick of time, and then taken out, cooled, and dried.
The above is just the first step. The next step is baking. The ginger-roasted seven-star grass is heated over a low fire to make it dry and crisp, and then made into medicinal powder.
In the end, this plant of Seven-Star Grass was reduced to the size of a longan.
There are still more than a dozen medicinal herbs waiting for her to process. Different herbs have different preparation methods. In the small study, in addition to various herbs, there are also bottles and jars of wine, vinegar, salt, honey, oil, etc.
If Amber hadn't known that her daughter was making medicine, she would have thought this was a kitchen.
Chu Qianchen was so focused when he was busy that he didn't even know what year it was...
However, she still remembered to ask Amber to go to the main courtyard to pass on the message to Shen to rest assured.
However, after four days, Shen saw that Chu Qianchen still hadn't gone out, and she was somewhat worried, so she came over in person.
It was already noon. Chu Qianchen had slept late the night before and had just gotten up, still looking a little sleepy.
Shen looked at Chu Qianchen and said with a bit of helplessness: "The Ministry of Internal Affairs has already decided to hold the engagement ceremony tomorrow. Look at you, you have made yourself look so miserable."
She stretched out her fingers and gently stroked Chu Qianchen's cheek, then pushed a strand of restless hair behind her jade-white ear.
"..." Chu Qianchen blinked stupidly. She had been so busy recently that she had completely forgotten about this matter.
Shen saw through it at the first glance and sighed in her heart: This girl is too careless about her marriage.
Never mind, never mind. Anyway, she just needs to make sure she is a beautiful bride, and I will take care of the rest for her.
However, this girl must also be given some awareness of being a bride.
Shen thought to herself and said, "The sewing room has driven out the clothes your little Dingli wore. I'll ask them to bring them to you to try on."
Having said that, without giving Chu Qianchen a chance to refuse, Shen clapped her hands twice, and the door curtain was lifted. Nanny Zhao from the sewing room came in with a few wives, holding newly made clothes.
Time was running out, so Shen urged the sewing room to finish it after several days. The clothes were from Shen's youth and she had never worn them before. The clothes were modified according to Chu Qianchen's body shape, and popular patterns and accessories were added.
For example, this belt was re-embroidered with two rows of garnets sewn on it, which sets off the cloud pattern embroidered with gold thread on the belt, making it shine brightly.
"Put it on quickly so I can see it!"
At Shen's urging, Chu Qianchen obediently took Amber to try on new clothes behind the screen.
There was a rustling sound behind the screen.
Nanny Zhao stood aside, watching Shen quietly for a moment, and thought to herself: The eldest lady really treats the second young lady very well, and her own daughter is no better than this.
"Madam, this brocade is indeed worth its weight in gold. It has been stored for so many years, but the material doesn't look outdated at all. It looks brand new," said Madam Zhao with a smile. "It will definitely look good on the second young lady."
Shen, who was drinking tea, curled her lips and said with a smile: "This girl has a good foundation, and she looks good in anything she wears."
As she was talking, Chu Qianchen, who had changed into new clothes, walked out from behind the screen. A lotus-colored jacket wrapped around her slender figure. The girl's figure was beginning to show some exquisiteness. The bright color of the material made the room seem brighter.
"It fits me very well!" Shen's eyes lit up and she said casually with a smile, "Sister Chen, your figure is very similar to mine when I was sixteen or seventeen. You are still young, and you will definitely be taller than me in the future!"
Chu Qianchen smiled slightly, revealing a rare hint of shyness in his smile.
Seeing this embarrassment, Amber couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable: Is this still the second girl who suppressed Nanny Yan so much that she had no chance to fight back?
Amber lowered her eyes silently.
Shen looked Chu Qianchen up and down, her eyes no longer able to see anyone else, and said, "The sleeves are still a little long, shorten them a little."
"Also, the hem of this skirt is too empty. Add some floral embroidery."
"The waist should be equipped with a forbidden step and a purse."
"These shoes don't match. Get a pair with slightly raised toes..."
Shen said that Nanny Chen helped to take notes, occasionally agreed with her, and occasionally gave Shen advice. As for Nanny Zhao, she had no room to speak at all. She could only sigh in her heart again: The second young lady is really favored!
Shen asked Chu Qianchen to walk around in front of her twice and made sure that there was nothing to alter. Then she asked her to change into the new clothes and sent away Zhao Ma and the other people in the sewing room.
Shen held Chu Qianchen's hand and said softly, "Sister Chen, no matter how busy you are, you must take care of your body and don't work so hard."
Seeing the dark circles under the little girl's eyes, Shen knew that she must have been busy day and night these days, and she was thinking of asking the kitchen to stew some supplements and send them over later.
Chu Qianchen smiled obediently and responded softly: "Mother, I understand."
Chu Qianchen understood Shen's caring heart. In fact, she didn't feel tired at all. She had been busy since last month until now, and the Dazao Pills were finally 70% to 80% completed. The joy in her heart was beyond words and was enough to overwhelm everything.
Shen knew that Chu Qianchen was sensible and did not try to persuade him further. She changed the subject and explained in detail the rules and ceremonies of the small engagement ceremony. Chu Qianchen felt dizzy again after hearing this.
She once thought that she had lived two lifetimes and had seen everything, from being kicked out of the house to overthrowing the Great Qi Dynasty. But now she discovered that there was something even more troublesome in life - marriage.
Fortunately, everything should be fine after the small betrothal ceremony.
There will be news from the prince soon, right?
Chu Qianchen's thoughts wandered away and his soul flew away.
Shen drank a sip of tea to moisten her throat, and then asked Nanny Yan: "Sister Chen, where is Nanny Yan?"
Although Chu Qianchen had asked Amber to pass on the message before, Shen was still somewhat worried that she would suffer a loss, but thinking that Chu Qianchen always had rules, she held back for several days. Unexpectedly, she arrived at Wanyan Courtyard for more than an incense stick of time, and did not see the shadow of Nanny Yan at all.
This is unreasonable.
Putting aside other things, I am the mistress of the Marquis' Mansion. Under normal circumstances, when I come here, Nanny Yan should at least come and pay her respects.
Chu Qianchen said calmly, "Locked up."
Shen: “…”
Nanny Chen: “…”
Shen was fine, but Nanny Chen almost pinched her thigh, thinking: The second young lady is too bold!
Chu Qianchen didn't explain too much, and said with a smile: "Mother, don't worry, I know my limits."
"Don't stay in the yard all day. Mu Ge'er misses you several times a day and wants to come and play with you." Shen didn't ask any more questions. She covered the back of Chu Qianchen's delicate and smooth hand, and her mind couldn't help but wander: Could it be that the empress dowager's intention was to just send a nanny to go through the motions for the emperor to see?
When Chu Yunmu was mentioned, Chu Qianchen couldn't help but laugh. His smile was brilliant and his eyes sparkled. He said jokingly, "He doesn't miss me, he misses my jerky."
Chu Qianchen made a gesture, and Amber brought a wooden box. A faint sweet smell of meat wafted out of the box.
Here are the honey pork jerky and honey chicken jerky made by Chu Qianchen himself.
Chu Yunmu loves both sweets and meat, and he is most fond of the honey-glazed meat jerky made by Chu Qianchen.
The little black cat, who had been curled up in the cat bed without moving, smelled the meat and woke up instantly. It squatted up and meowed.
The emerald green cat's eyes stared at the wooden box in Amber's hand without blinking, and the pupil turned into a thin line.
It's! All the meat jerky here is its!
Amber almost suspected that it would pounce on her at any time. Chu Qianchen stretched out his finger and casually flicked the little black cat's forehead, and scolded with a smile: "You little thing, you just like to eat alone, and you can't taste sweetness!"
The little black cat meowed "meow meow" in grievance, then rolled around in the cat bed and started making a fuss, scratching here and there.
Chu Qianchen chuckled and told Amber to get it some jerky chicken.
Shen stared at Chu Qianchen's smiling profile in a trance.
On the day of the Wanshou Festival, when she went to say goodbye to her mother, Lady Mu, the Duke of Mu, her mother hurriedly asked her about Chu Qianchen, whether her birthday was the same as Chu Qianhuang's, what she liked, and said she would give her a birthday gift...
Shen felt strange at the time. Her mother had never cared much about her illegitimate sons and daughters. She only met Chu Qianchen this time and didn't even say anything.
On the second day of the Wanshou Festival, the personal nanny of Lady Mu came over specially and asked her to take Chu Qianchen to the Duke's Mansion when she was free. But Shen knew that Chu Qianchen was busy recently, so she used the excuse of the small engagement ceremony to delay it.
That day, the nanny of Lady Mu Guogong kept saying that she was thanking Chu Qianchen for saving Chu Yunmu, but for some reason, Shen always felt an inexplicable sense of disobedience...
While thinking, Chu Qianchen raised his head and looked at her, and the two of them looked into each other's eyes.
"Mother," Chu Qianchen called affectionately, his eyes clear, "If Mu Ge'er wants to come, just let him come. I'll let Yueying play with him."
Her smile was like a gentle breeze blowing towards you, shaking the lotus flowers in the pond, making them bloom in the wind and wafting with fragrance.
Shen stared at Chu Qianchen in a daze, her heart beating faster and her mind was in a trance for a moment.
At this moment, everything around me seemed to fade away, and all the events of the past few months came to my mind like a revolving lantern...
Seeing that Shen was in a daze, Chu Qianchen leaned closer to her and called out again, "Mother?"
Shen came back to her senses, smiled slightly, and said nonchalantly: "It's good that you don't find him annoying."
Chu Qianchen smiled even more deeply, "I still have to be busy for another three or four days, so Mu Ge'er coming here is just right to help me discipline Yueying!"
Upon hearing this, Shen mentioned the invitation from the wife of Duke Mu: "Then when you are done, accompany me back to the Duke's Mansion."
After a pause, she added, "My mother has been feeling dizzy lately. I want you to help check on her, okay?"
Chu Qianchen agreed immediately, and calculated the time in his mind and said, "I'll be almost done in a few more days."
Normally, there are only a few reasons why an elderly person might feel dizzy. Chu Qianchen thought he could prepare in advance and bring her silver needles, calming incense, calming tea and so on.
"No hurry." Shen was afraid that Chu Qianchen would stay up late again because of this matter, so she advised, "My mother has had this illness for many years, it's nothing serious."
"You are just a teenage girl, don't be like an old lady, staying in the house all day long. No matter how busy you are, you should also combine work and rest, go out to the courtyard and garden more often to relax."
"During these months, the weather is hot during the day, but after dusk, it turns cooler, which is perfect for walking."
Shen gave Chu Qianchen some earnest instructions, and Chu Qianchen agreed obediently, saying he would be as well behaved as possible.
Shen had a simple lunch at Chu Qianchen's place before leaving with Nanny Chen.
She whispered to herself, "It's about combining work and rest."
Amber also heard the words "work and rest" and wanted to ask Chu Qianchen if he wanted to get the Hibiscus Fan, but Chu Qianchen said first: "Amber, let's go out for a walk and visit Nanny Yan."
amber:"……"
Amber blinked slowly, her eye twitching.
So, what the girl meant by "combining work and rest" is not to relax or read storybooks, but to go and "see" Nanny Yan?
Amber could only reply dryly: "Madame Yan is resting in the back room."
Under Amber's guidance, Chu Qianchen went out of the house for the first time in four days.
The sunlight outside was so bright that it was a little dazzling. She squinted her eyes uncomfortably and felt that she was almost as delicate as the shade-loving lily of the valley.
Mother was right. It was time for her to go out and get some sunshine.
While Chu Qianchen was daydreaming, he walked to the innermost room in the back house.
Seeing Chu Qianchen coming, without Amber's instructions, a servant immediately took the initiative to open the copper lock on the door of the room.
The copper lock was heavy, and when it was removed, it made a rough and loud metallic clanging sound.
The room was pitch black, and the windows were all sealed tightly. There was no light from inside, and a faint, dull, musty smell filled the air.
The old woman held a lantern in her hand, illuminating the room with a dim light.
Nanny Yan, wearing a rust-colored jacket, sat in an armchair by the window, looking dazed. In just four days, she had lost a lot of weight and looked haggard.
On the table was a bowl of white porridge, a few steamed buns and two side dishes. It was the breakfast prepared for Nanny Yan.
It was obvious that no one had touched the breakfast.
Chu Qianchen simply asked the servants to lock up Nanny Yan and provide her with two meals a day and everything she needed. The only difference was that no one would talk to her. Even the maid in charge of the meals would just leave after delivering the meals every day.
On the first day, Nanny Yan was full of energy. She scolded everyone she saw and was ferocious to the old woman who came to deliver meals. All she said was the Empress Dowager.
The next day, Nanny Yan was still cursing, but her words already had a hint of both soft and hard tactics, and both kindness and severity.
On the third day, Nanny Yan softened her attitude and tried to bribe the old woman with her jewelry.
On the fourth day, June 16, Nanny Yan became even more depressed...
Although Chu Qianchen did not see these things with his own eyes, his maid would report them to Amber, and Amber would then tell Chu Qianchen.
Chu Qianchen picked up her skirt, stepped over the threshold and entered the house.
Amber followed her closely.
Nanny Yan sat there in a daze for several breaths before she looked at Chu Qianchen slowly with a stiff expression.
Her eyes were cloudy and lifeless, and dull, but when she looked at the light at the door, her eyes gradually brightened up and revived.
She sat in the shadows, her eyes flickering, a little panicky and uneasy.
She seemed like an ordinary old woman, completely different from the arrogance and rudeness she had when she first came to the Marquis' Mansion.
Chu Qianchen walked towards Nanny Yan slowly, sat down casually at the table, and glanced at the food on the table.
Of course, the porridge and steamed buns had already gone cold. The century egg and lean meat porridge was fresh, fragrant and soft, and the steamed buns were white and soft. Chu Qianchen had also eaten them in the morning. It was a pity to waste such a good breakfast.
A cold gleam flashed across Chu Qianchen's eyes, and he looked at Nanny Yan indifferently.
Nanny Yan was stunned for a moment, as if she just realized who was sitting in front of her, and her pupils shrank slightly.
She took two deep breaths, stood up from the chair excitedly, and shouted: "Chu Qianchen, I was sent by the Queen Mother, and you actually locked me up!"
"Do you have any manners at all?!"
"Do you still have the Empress Dowager and the royal family in your eyes in the Yongding Marquis' Mansion?!"
Her voice was high-pitched, but it couldn't hide the hoarseness in it, and she looked strong but was actually weak.
Nanny Yan really couldn't stand it anymore. She didn't want to stay here anymore.
For her, these short four days felt like a year.
It was pitch black and silent during the day, and it was just as dark and silent at night. If someone hadn't brought her breakfast and lunch, she would have been unable to tell the difference between day and night.
When you are alone, time becomes especially long and torturous.
Chu Qianchen nonchalantly withdrew his cold gaze, sighed slightly, and said disappointedly: "It seems that Madam has forgotten what I said, so stay for a few more days to calm down."
Nanny Yan couldn't help but hear Chu Qianchen's words: Here, I am the master, and you are the servant.
Chu Qianchen stood up and made a move to leave. Nanny Yan was frightened and shouted in panic:
"Miss Chu Er, please don't leave!"
She didn't want to be locked up here alone anymore.
She felt like she would go crazy if she stayed alone like this any longer.
Before, she had seen some concubines in the palace who were banished to the cold palace go crazy in just a few years. She thought they couldn't stand the gap from the clouds to the dust, and that they deserved it. But now she realized that it was not just that.
Loneliness at its extreme can drive people crazy!
Nanny Yan had cold sweat on her forehead and was very anxious.
Amber gave Nanny Yan a disdainful look with a half-smile, as if to say, it should have been done long ago!
Chu Qianchen sat back at the table again, looking relaxed and comfortable.
Nanny Yan walked towards Chu Qianchen with stiff movements.
No one spoke in the room. It was very quiet. Everything was still, except for the faint sound of wind rustling the leaves outside.
Nanny Yan tiptoed to Chu Qianchen and bowed solemnly, "Second Miss Chu."
Her expression was full of respect and fear, and she would be no different even when facing the empress and the queen mother.
Nanny Yan recognized the situation, lowered her attitude, and admitted her fault: "It was all my fault before. Your Excellency is magnanimous, please don't hold it against me."
Not only did she call him "you", she also changed her name to "slave" and was flexible in speaking nice things to Chu Qianchen.
"If you want to surrender, please answer my questions first." Chu Qianchen held a round fan in his hand and fanned it slightly.
On the fan, there is an embroidered black cat with snow-white hooves, happily catching butterflies.
This fan was embroidered by a little maid in the yard who was good at needlework. Chu Qianchen liked it very much and often played with it in his hands in the past two days. When he was making medicine, he also used it to fan the fire.
What did Chu Qianchen want to ask?! Nanny Yan's eyelids trembled, she lowered her eyes, and rolled her eyes around. She said to herself that when she got out and regained her freedom, she could deal with Chu Qianchen!
She gritted her teeth and replied, "Just ask, girl." Cold sweat broke out on the back of her neck, and there was still a hint of shock in her eyes.
Chu Qianchen casually asked the first question: "What's your name, how old are you, when did you enter the palace, and where did you first work?"
Nanny Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "My maid's surname is Yan, my real name is Erchun, I am forty-seven this year, I entered the palace when I was ten years old, and initially worked in the needlework bureau."
The age of palace maids entering the palace generally ranged from four or five years old to teenagers. The younger they were when they entered the palace, the more likely they were to be sent to the main palace when they grew up. For palace maids like her who entered the palace after the age of ten, it was already too late and they were often sent to the laundry department, the imperial kitchen, the dining room, the needlework department and other places.
The hardships that Nanny Yan went through to rise from a little palace maid in the needlework bureau to her current position are beyond the imagination of outsiders.
Chu Qianchen continued to ask: "Then when did you go to serve the Queen Mother?"
Nanny Yan's eyes flickered, and she replied, "One year ago."
Chu Qianchen calculated the days in his mind: that is to say, as soon as the late emperor passed away, the current emperor could not wait to place people around Queen Mother Yin.
Chu Qianchen suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Before you went to Shouning Palace, where did you work?"
Nanny Yan felt that Chu Qianchen's question was a bit aimless, but she still answered politely: "I was a female official in the palace before, responsible for training the young palace maids who had just entered the palace."
"Because Madam Li, who served the Empress Dowager, passed away, I was transferred to serve her."
In the palace, even if female officials and palace maids fell ill, they often could not get medical treatment, so many of them died of illness.
"What a coincidence." Chu Qianchen sighed as he slowly fanned himself with a round fan.
What does that mean? Nanny Yan's heart was already hanging. After hearing what she said, she jumped. Then Chu Qianchen asked the fourth question: "Who asked you to tamper with the Queen Mother's ginseng tea?"
Nanny Yan's eyes widened instantly, her heart sank: How could Chu Qianchen know that it was she who tampered with the ginseng tea? !
She felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head. She felt cold all over, cold sweat began to seep from her forehead, and even her feet felt weak.
Chu Qianchen stopped fanning himself and said to Amber, "Madame Yan is sweating so much, it must be too hot here, why don't you pour Madame Yan a cup of cold tea?"
Amber obeyed the order obediently, and quickly took a teapot from outside the house, poured a cup of cold tea for Nanny Yan, and then handed the cup over.
Nanny Yan's face turned purple and blue, so she didn't dare to drink it. What if this herbal tea was also tampered with? !
Seeing that Nanny Yan's expression was changing so dramatically, Chu Qianchen raised the corner of his lips and continued, "The Queen Mother put green stamen flowers and needle grass in her ginseng tea. These two herbs are not poisonous, but when put together, they will make people feel drowsy all day long, and their thinking will be slow. Over time, people will become demented and forgetful."
Nanny Yan's forehead and back were covered with cold sweat, but she refused to admit it: "I don't know what the young lady is talking about."
“Don’t you know?” Chu Qianchen pointed the round fan in his hand at Nanny Yan’s nose, curled the corners of his mouth, and smiled as brightly as a peach blossom. “You are exposed to the Queen Mother’s ginseng tea every day. You think that you will be fine as long as you don’t drink it, but you don’t know that the medicinal properties of the ginseng tea will evaporate with the heat and enter your body through your nose. Then, this medicinal property will accumulate in your body day by day, devouring your essence and blood…”
"Haven't you noticed? This year, you've become more and more forgetful, and more and more easily tired and anxious. You often wake up in the middle of the night..."
I like Qianchen so much~~
(End of this chapter)