Wang Si arrived at the westernmost room, which had already been converted into a small kitchen.
The room was neither too big nor too small—about twenty square meters.
Along the wall were two stoves, with steamers and iron pots placed on top.
Beside the stoves was a row of shelves against the wall. On the top shelf were various jars and containers.
Wang Si stepped onto a stool and opened each lid one by one, sniffing and examining them. She found oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, as well as pickled vegetables and preserved side dishes.
The second shelf held several shallow bamboo baskets—some filled with eggs, others with dried mushrooms and wood ear fungus.
The third shelf stored bundles of fresh seasonal vegetables.
To her surprise, there were even wild vegetables like purslane and shepherd’s purse.
The fourth shelf held empty clay pots, bowls, and other utensils.
Between the shelves and the stove was a long table. Though slightly rough in texture, it was spacious and held a cutting board, knives, spoons, and other tools.
“…My aunt really put thought into this. Everything is so complete.”
Wang Si said with gratitude.
In addition to the stoves, pots, utensils, and ingredients, there was also a cook and two servant girls assigned here.
The cook was in her thirties, slightly plump, with a yellowish complexion but very clean overall.
She wore a dark indigo headscarf that wrapped up all her hair.
Her clothing was also indigo cotton, with a brown apron tied around her waist.
She had cloth straps on her shoulders, rolling up her sleeves and revealing sturdy arms.
Wang Si focused especially on the cook’s hands.
They were clean, nails neatly trimmed, with no dirt in the nail beds.
“My maiden surname is Sun. I married a man named Li Dezhu, so people call me Sister Sun, or sometimes just Dezhu’s wife.”
The cook seemed easygoing and, noticing Wang Si’s gaze, smiled and introduced herself.
“Sister Sun,” Wang Si greeted her with a smile.
“Yes!” the cook responded cheerfully.
“Miss, do you have anything you’d like for today’s afternoon meal?”
In the Great Yu Dynasty, from the imperial palace to common households, people generally ate two meals a day:
Breakfast in the morning around 7 a.m.
Afternoon meal around 3 p.m.
Wealthy families might also have snacks or soup in the evening, but common people usually only had these two meals.
It was already past noon, so Sister Sun was preparing the afternoon meal and wanted to ask the young lady for instructions.
As for the dietary preferences of Madam Zhao and Wang Si, the steward had already informed her earlier.
Madam Zhao disliked ginger, and Wang Si disliked coriander.
“Sister Sun, I don’t have anything specific I want to eat. You can go ask my mother.”
“If she has no special requests, just prepare according to the standard meals of the Duke’s residence.”
Wang Si never forgot her identity—she was a guest staying in someone else’s home.
She might not need to live cautiously, but she would never lose her sense of propriety.
“Yes, Miss.”
Sister Sun replied and went to the main room to ask Madam Zhao for instructions.
Wang Si then tied on an apron with the help of a maid and began taking ingredients out of the bamboo basket.
Today, she planned to make a medicinal dish for her maternal grandfather: Sangjisheng Lotus Root Chicken Feet Soup.
The herbs—Sangjisheng and Lianqiao (forsythia)—had been taken from the marquis household’s storeroom.
Wang Si casually grabbed them, precisely measuring the needed amount.
This was a skill she had developed after years of cooking and preparing medicinal dishes.
No scale was needed—only her hands. The accuracy was almost perfect.
“And jujubes.”
She washed the herbs and added two red dates.
The chicken feet were already cleaned. She trimmed the nails, cut them into sections, and blanched them in boiling water.
Then she took a clean clay pot, added water, and once it boiled, placed in all the ingredients.
Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer slowly over low heat.
“Watch it carefully. Call me in one hour.”
Wang Si covered the pot and wiped her hands with a cotton cloth, instructing the little maid in charge of the fire.
“Yes, Miss! I will guard it carefully and not leave even a step!”
The maid was about eleven or twelve years old and had just been selected to work in the residence.
Although she hadn’t been assigned to the old madam or the main lady, being placed in the Sea of Flowers Courtyard was already very good.
There were fewer people here, and neither the madam nor the young lady had close personal servants yet.
If she worked diligently, she could easily rise in rank.
So she immediately agreed enthusiastically.
Wang Si smiled slightly. A clever one—worth observing.
After giving instructions, she did not rest.
Since she was going to cook, she would do it properly.
There was not only the maternal grandfather, but also the maternal grandmother.
Wang Si stood by the long table, thinking.
Her grandmother was in good health, unlike her grandfather who suffered from old injuries.
Still, due to age and seasonal change, she could benefit from nourishing medicinal food.
“I remember Grandmother likes duck. Then I’ll make winter melon and barley duck soup.”
She quickly began preparing.
She washed and cut duck meat and winter melon into pieces.
Barley and goji berries were soaked.
Another maid had already cleaned another stove.
Wang Si heated the pan and added lard.
The orange flames licked the bottom of the pot.
The lard melted, releasing a rich aroma.
She added garlic slices and duck meat—sizzle!—the fragrance of garlic and meat instantly spread.
She quickly stir-fried, added cooking wine, then poured in stock.
Once it boiled, she added barley and goji berries, simmering on low heat.
After adding winter melon later, she continued to stew.
An hour passed quickly.
Sister Sun prepared two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and a mushroom soup on the other stove.
Wang Si did not eat immediately. Instead, she poured the two medicinal dishes into white porcelain containers and personally brought them with Madam Zhao to the Duke’s main hall, Pine Crane Hall.
Pine Crane Hall was located at the center axis of the estate and was the residence of the Duke and Duchess.
“Father! Mother!”
Madam Zhao collapsed into her parents’ arms and burst into tears.
The old Duchess also reddened her eyes, repeatedly calling out, “My daughter! My poor daughter!”
The Duke remained composed, but his stern face was filled with love and pity.
Sigh.
Back then, he must have been blind—how did he ever choose that bastard Wang Pong?
He had failed his daughter and ruined her life.