Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

“Your concubine isn’t some talented woman,” Li Si Qi didn’t care at all. “As long as my writing isn’t embarrassing, it’s fine.”

She took it from his hand and set it back on the desk. Then she turned and pulled the Emperor to the other side. The two of them sat on the couch. Senior Maid Ruo Lan brought people in with hot tea and pastries.

“Your Majesty, try the Xue Mei Niang my palace makes.” Li Si Qi pointed at the plate of pale white pastries with a rosy tint. “This is something my imperial chef tinkered with for a long time before he finally made it.”

“Xue Mei Niang?” Hearing the name, the Emperor grew interested. He picked one up. “Why is it so soft?”

“It is. The skin is made from glutinous rice, with a little flower juice mixed in. Inside, there’s yogurt and diced fruit,” Li Si Qi explained. “It’s chewy and a little sour-sweet. Especially now that summer is here, it’s really appetizing. Your Majesty, hurry and try it.”

“Doesn’t sound like anything special,” the Emperor said with a smile.

He ate one bite, and the sour-sweet flavor spread through his mouth. It wasn’t just women and children who would like it. Even a grown man wouldn’t refuse a pastry like that. He nodded at Li Si Qi.

“Not bad. The texture’s good, and it’s not cloying. Is it your recipe, Rong’er?”

“It’s a pastry I came up with.”

“Copy the recipe for me,” the Emperor said directly. “I’m not taking your things for free. Later I’ll have a thousand taels sent over to you.”

“If Your Majesty likes it, just take it,” Li Si Qi laughed. “Of course, if Your Majesty wants to reward me, I won’t be polite. I need to save up betrothal gifts and dowries for the Sixth Prince and Princess Wen Ning.”

“My children don’t need you to save that for them,” the Emperor was amused. “Use what I give you. I’ll prepare for the children.”

“Your concubine thanks Your Majesty!”

“I know you’re well-behaved.”

“Of course. I’m the most obedient and the best-behaved.”

“That’s because you’re so silly!”

“Your Majesty is bullying me!”

… The Emperor stayed the night in Yong Shou Palace. The next day he went to Yi Kun Palace, and once he went, he stayed there for three days. He didn’t take the Empress Dowager’s decree seriously at all. This hopeless mother and son really acted the same way.

They only cared about making themselves happy and didn’t care who suffered. As the weather grew hotter and hotter, Consort Tian and Noble Lady Jing took their children to Yong Shou Palace every day. They were like they were clocking in for work, coming early and leaving late.

“Yan Xi Palace shouldn’t be short on ice,” Li Si Qi frowned as she looked at the two little babies covered in heat rash. “How did you wrap the children up until they got sick?”

“Like you’re short on ice,” Xia Dong Chun couldn’t help snapping. “The Imperial Household Department doesn’t dare short us on ice, sure, but the amount we get by rank still isn’t enough to use. You’re different. You have the twins at your side. If you want ice, you can ask for as much as you want. We can only come here to mooch ice from you.”

“Summer just started, and it’s already scorching,” Consort Tian added. “I heard that in past years, His Majesty would go to Yuan Ming Garden. I wonder if he’ll go this year.”

“He probably will,” Li Si Qi nodded. “It just depends on when he arranges it. When Noble Consort Hua comes, I’ll ask her.”

Ever since Noble Consort Hua finished her month of postpartum confinement, the palace authority was completely in her hands. As for Li Si Qi and Consort Jing, they didn’t manage anything at all. They only carried the title of assistants. Li Si Qi looked at the two little ones again and asked, “They’ve got so much heat rash.

Did the imperial physicians prescribe medicine?”

“They prescribed it, but the children won’t drink it.” Xia Dong Chun looked like she had a headache. “The wet nurses take the medicine so it passes through the milk, but it doesn’t work very well either. An Ling Rong, you really know how to raise babies. Your twins don’t have a single spot of heat rash.”

By the end, envy showed on her face. Consort Tian felt the same and nodded. “I don’t get it either. Watching you care for the children, you don’t look careful at all.

You have ice, yet you still dare dress the brother and sister in short sleeves and shorts. You’re not scared they’ll catch a chill and get a cold. And yet you raised the twins plump and fair. I really can’t figure out how you did it.”

“Children are meant to be raised a little rough,” Li Si Qi said as if it were obvious. “The more careful you are, the more problems you’ll get. Treat them like adults. Do whatever you’d normally do. Kids should be raised sturdy.”

… They chatted about childrearing. Imperial Physician Zhang and Imperial Physician Wen came together to take the twins’ routine pulse. Ever since the twins were exposed, these two physicians had become their personal imperial physicians. They came twice a month to take the routine pulse, never missing a single time.

Even though they knew the twins were extremely healthy, they still loved running to Yong Shou Palace.

“Replying to Consort Xin,” Imperial Physician Zhang said with a full smile, “the Sixth Prince and Third Princess are both very well. Just pay attention to wiping their sweat and have them drink more water.”

“Alright, I’ve noted it,” Li Si Qi said. Then she asked, “Imperial Physician Zhang, Imperial Physician Wen, you know about the Fourth Princess and Fifth Princess getting heat rash too, right?”

“Replying to Consort Xin, this humble physician knows,” Imperial Physician Wen replied. “The two princesses are too young and can’t drink much medicine. Having the wet nurses take it so it passes through the milk probably won’t show results quickly.”

“I know,” Li Si Qi nodded. “But the two princesses are still young and can’t talk yet. They’re itchy and in pain, so they definitely won’t eat well or sleep well. Children should eat more and sleep more to grow. If this keeps them from sleeping properly, then over time it will affect their growth. The two imperial physicians should think of a way to make a medicinal wash, something you can apply to the heat rash. That would be convenient and effective!”

“A medicinal wash?” Imperial Physician Zhang’s eyes lit up with delight. “Does Consort Xin know the formula?”

“I only know a few things,” Li Si Qi said. “High-proof liquor, mint, borneol, and anti-rash, anti-itch medicine. You’ll have to test it yourselves. Try to develop it, then use it for the princesses.”

“This humble physician obeys!” Imperial Physician Zhang and Imperial Physician Wen were both very interested in researching that wash. After returning to the Imperial Medical Bureau, they started tinkering with it right away.

A few days later, the Emperor finally issued an edict: they would go to Yuan Ming Garden in ten days to escape the heat. All high-ranking consorts, and all consorts with children by their side, would go. The consorts who received the news were overjoyed. They could finally leave the Forbidden City.

Some happily packed their luggage. Some sat there looking like they wanted to cry but couldn’t. The two masters of Xian Fu Palace were exactly like that. The main hall was lively beyond belief.

Cun Ju Tang was so quiet it felt wrong.

“Your Ladyship!” Cai Xing looked at her absent-minded mistress with heartache. “How about this servant goes to Sui Yu Pavilion to find Noble Lady Wan?”

“No need.” Shen Mei Zhuang shook her head lightly. “His Majesty doesn’t favor me. Whether I go to Yuan Ming Garden or not, it’s all the same. Forget it.”

Cai Xing couldn’t accept it. “But…”

“No more ‘but’.” Shen Mei Zhuang smiled faintly. “It’s fine if everyone leaves. The palace will be quiet. Besides, the Empress Dowager isn’t going to Yuan Ming Garden. I’ll go to Kang Shou Palace and attend on the Empress Dowager.”

“Yes!”

Seeing that her mistress already had a plan, Cai Xing could only obey. Still unwilling, she muttered, “Your Ladyship, do you think Noble Lady Wan will never come to Cun Ju Tang again?”

“Cai Xing.” Shen Mei Zhuang frowned.

But when she saw Cai Xing’s resentful expression, her heart still softened. “Don’t say things like that again. We can’t interfere with what others do. Just do our own part.”

“Yes, Your Ladyship!” Cai Xing didn’t dare say more. She could only press her complaints deep down.