The adjoining room was filled with steam and the fragrance of flowers.
Lu Heng sat on a chair, while Shen Fenghuo stood by the bathtub opposite him. The two faced each other in silence.
Xiangling cheerfully called from outside, "Young Mistress, do you need more hot water? Lord, should I fetch you a robe? Perhaps I should inform the Old Madam to arrange for a larger…"
Her words, along with the spreading steam, gradually flushed Shen Fenghuo's face.
She pursed her lips and whispered, "Lord, I… don’t really feel like bathing right now."
"You look like a cat that crawled out of a stove. Do you plan to sleep like that?"
Lu Heng raised an eyebrow. "Yesterday, you praised Xiangling’s newly sun-dried bedding for being warm and cozy, saying you loved it dearly. Today, you want to crawl into it without bathing?"
Thinking of the incredibly soft silk-cotton bedding, Shen Fenghuo finally relented. "I’ll bathe."
She looked up at Lu Heng, confirming repeatedly, "Lord, I’m going to bathe now."
"Go ahead."
Lu Heng’s reply was concise, a faint smile in his eyes.
Shen Fenghuo emphasized again, "Lord, I’m really going to bathe."
"Mhm."
Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Shen Fenghuo cleared her throat softly. "Then, Lord, please turn around."
Without another word, Lu Heng slowly turned away.
Shen Fenghuo undressed quickly and urgently. Her outer robe and inner garments slid off her shoulders as she instinctively slipped into the bathtub.
She felt she had never undressed so quickly in her life.
With a splash, warm, fragrant water rose above her shoulders.
The scent was delightful—Xiangling must have added some new flowers.
Shen Fenghuo reached up to remove her hairpin, placing it casually on the low table beside the tub, her hair cascading loosely.
Holding her breath, she submerged herself in the water, scrubbing her face vigorously to wash away the dust and tear stains before resurfacing.
Water droplets slid down her forehead. She wiped her face haphazardly and, upon opening her eyes, saw that Lu Heng had turned back at some point and was now standing right in front of her, so close she could see his eyelashes.
Shen Fenghuo shrank back, splashing water out of the tub.
She submerged herself deeper into the water. "Lord, why did you turn around?"
"Mhm."
Lu Heng seemed thoughtful, replying casually, "My lady only asked me to turn around. She never specified when I could turn back."
Shen Fenghuo: …
What a nonsensical excuse!
Steam and floral fragrance lingered between them. Her wet, ink-black hair clung to her neck and shoulders. Her form beneath the water was obscured by mist and ripples, revealing only her beautiful, snow-white shoulders.
Lu Heng’s gaze settled on her shoulders and did not waver. "Extend your left arm."
"It’ll be cold if I do…"
Silence filled the room once more.
Lu Heng simply watched her quietly.
Like a trial.
Shen Fenghuo felt a chill under his scrutiny and finally gave in. "I’ll extend it."
Hah, as if she had committed some crime.
With that, she slowly raised her arm. Water droplets slid down her skin, which glowed with a faint pink hue from the warm water.
Lu Heng’s palm was still cool as it gently covered Shen Fenghuo’s left arm.
The skin there was noticeably reddened, having been singed by sparks and scratched by foliage when she lit the courtyard to save herself earlier.
His slender fingers lightly traced the reddened area, moving slowly, stroke after stroke.
The cool touch clashed with the warmth of her skin, sending a shiver coursing through Shen Fenghuo’s arm and spreading across her entire body.
She nearly buried herself in the water.
"Don't soak for too long."
Lu Heng's voice sounded above her head. "I've left the ointment outside. After you finish washing, have Xiangling apply it for you."
Shen Fenghuo nodded silently from within the water.
Lu Heng's gaze fell once more on the crown of her head, just visible above the water's surface. Her damp hair clung together, looking utterly docile.
So obedient.
He leaned down and placed a kiss on the reddened mark.
As gentle as a butterfly alighting on a peach blossom.
"Ah—!"
Shen Fenghuo startled, lifting her head from the water with a cry so loud it pierced through the curtain of the adjoining room.
Outside in the corridor, Xiangling was waiting with clean towels, her mind having already spun the couple's earlier interaction into a whole romantic scene. She was practically grinning from ear to ear, savoring the sweetness.
Hearing this sudden cry, she was puzzled.
What happened to the young mistress?
Bad master.
In the main courtyard, Mother Lu was speaking with Nanny Qian when Shen Fenghuo's startled cry drifted from the inner residence. She looked at Nanny Qian. "Why did A'He cry out so loudly? That child Shiji, could he have done something improper inside?"
Nanny Qian quickly smiled. "You jest, madam. The master dotes on the young mistress too much for that. Perhaps the young mistress slipped while bathing or was scalded by the hot water. Please rest assured. This is just them building affection."
Mother Lu thought for a moment, then smiled and took several sips of tea.
In the adjoining room, Lu Heng watched Shen Fenghuo's flustered and panicked expression. "Does it hurt?"
Shen Fenghuo hastily shook her head.
Lu Heng chuckled softly, deciding not to tease her further. He straightened his robes. "I'm leaving… If I don't return, go to bed early yourself. Don't wait for me."
The sound of his footsteps gradually faded away, and silence returned to the adjoining room.
Shen Fenghuo stared at her left arm, then quickly withdrew it back into the water, her heart still racing wildly.
Something's not right.
Her ears felt so hot, the water felt so hot.
Her arm felt hot, her head felt hot.
She finished her bath hastily. Xiangling came in with the ointment Lu Heng had left and carefully applied it to the red marks on her arm.
Once everything was settled, Mother Lu sent someone over with a bowl of Lily Soup, saying it would soothe the nerves and aid sleep.
The Lily Soup was sweet and glutinous. Shen Fenghuo drank about half a bowl, feeling all the exhaustion of the day wash over her.
The moment she slipped into the bed, she sighed with contentment. Xiangling had already prepared the warming utensils thoroughly, and the brocade quilt was soft and warm.
Today's events had been truly terrifying. After several frights, she was both physically and mentally exhausted. Her head had barely touched the pillow before she sank into a deep sleep.
During the night, she instinctively reached out an arm to embrace someone, but found only empty space beside her.
Shen Fenghuo drowsily opened her eyes. By the faint light filtering through the window, she glanced at the sky outside, then turned over and fell back into slumber.
When morning came, Lu Jin had not yet returned. It was Ming Yi who accompanied Shen Fenghuo to the Dali Temple.
She valued her life greatly now, going exactly where she was told and absolutely refusing to walk alone.
She never wanted to see that terrifying giant cat or those disgusting big leeches again in this lifetime.
The Dali Temple kitchen had an abundance of taro today, piled up in a corner nearly half a person's height.
After drinking a bowl of hot porridge, Shen Fenghuo rolled up her sleeves, picked up a ceramic shard, and deftly began peeling the taro.
Wu Yu and two other kitchen servants were also busy around the taro pile. The "rustling" sound of ceramic shards scraping off the skin rose and fell. The brownish-yellow outer skin fell away, revealing the pure white, delicate flesh inside.
In the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, the wooden basins in front of the four of them were already half-filled with peeled taro.
"There's just so much taro."
Wu Yu grumbled as he scraped, "Is Chen Chu planning to have the entire temple drink Taro Porridge for every meal?"
As soon as someone speaks ill of another behind their back, the person in question usually appears immediately.
Chen Yang walked over with his hands clasped behind his back.
He usually loved to furrow his brows and put on the airs of a Head Chef, but today he seemed somewhat uneasy. Instead of looking at Shen Fenghuo, he first glared at Wu Yu, "What are you blabbering about? Get back to work."
Wu Yu knew better.
Chen Yang cleared his throat before turning to Shen Fenghuo, his tone awkward and stiff, "Well, you'll be in charge of the evening meal today."
Shen Fenghuo was intently scraping a plump, round taro. She looked up, puzzled, "Huh?"
The other three also lifted their heads with a "swish," their expressions exaggerated as if they had witnessed something extraordinary.
Who didn’t know how Chen Yang had always given Shen Fenghuo a hard time? Yet now he was actually letting her take charge of the evening meal?
Chen Yang grew even more uncomfortable under everyone’s gaze. "If you don’t want to, forget it. Consider me meddling."
"I do want to!"
Shen Fenghuo immediately nodded, smiling as she replied, "Thank you, Chen Chu, for giving me this opportunity."
Seeing her agree so readily and with such sincerity, Chen Yang’s expression softened a bit. He nodded with satisfaction, "Hmm, that’s more like it. In the future, when working in the Dali Temple Dining Hall, if there’s anything you don’t understand, you should ask me more."
"Understood, understood."
Shen Fenghuo nodded like pounding garlic, "For example, the dough Chen Chu makes is truly exceptional—the steamed buns come out soft and fluffy."
Oh, really?
The awkwardness on Chen Yang’s face mostly dissipated, and he straightened his back.
He said proudly, "Of course! Speaking of making dough, let me tell you, there’s a lot of nuance to it. The water has to be warm, not too hot or too cold. In winter like now, you have to add a bit more…"
Once he started talking, he couldn’t stop. The kitchen servants scraped taros while nodding in agreement from time to time. The kitchen was filled with the "rustling" sound of scraping and Chen Yang’s endless explanations.
The Dali Temple Dining Hall was especially lively during the morning meal, with clerks streaming in in twos and threes.
Chen Yang carried a large pot of Taro Porridge and placed it on the counter. It was cooked to a thick, smooth consistency with a rich aroma.
Many clerks who preferred soft and glutinous foods gathered around, scooping porridge while not forgetting to praise, "Chen Chu’s Taro Porridge is so glutinous it melts in your mouth. Truly skillful."
Chen Chu’s Taro Porridge was indeed tasty, but it would be better not to add Coriander juice to the porridge, fermented bean juice.
And… spare the iron pot.
Chen Yang felt pleased hearing this.
On the other side, a line had formed for the scallion oil noodles Shen Fenghuo had made.
The noodles coated in golden scallion oil were snatched up as soon as they came out of the pot.
Two young clerks, holding their bowls, called out to Chen Yang, "Old Chen, fry a couple more youtiao for us to eat, will you?"
Chen Yang snorted, "Why didn’t you think of that earlier? Who was it that complained about mouth sores and said they wanted something light?"
He stood with his hands on his hips, proud and spirited, "None today. If you want some, wait until tomorrow!"
Oh, my.
His youtiao were still quite popular.
Just two hours after the morning meal, the dining hall was bustling with people again.
Several clerks wrapped tightly in their official robes came in, hunching their shoulders, "Old Chen, is there any Hot Pear Soup today? We’d like a couple of bowls to warm up."
When it snows, wearing more layers and even admiring the fluttering snowflakes or composing a few poems can make the cold feel bearable. But when the snow melts, the damp chill seems to seep into your bones, making you stamp your feet to keep warm.
Especially for those like them who were often outdoors, their teeth chattered from the cold.
Pear soup was included in the morning meal, and now only half a bucket remained.
Wu Yu ladled out several bowls for them. The warm pear soup, once downed, could warm the body considerably, and they drank with ease.
Shen Fenghuo was slicing cured meat on the Dining Hall table. Seeing these officers drinking while murmuring about comfort, she said to Chen Yang, "Chen Chu, look at the officers running around all day. Winter is already tough enough. How about we add some hot beverages at this hour every day to warm everyone up?"
Chen Yang had been in a fairly good mood lately.
In the past, the Dali Temple Dining Hall was cold and quiet, with few people around. Now, even before mealtime, people would come in, occasionally chatting with him a few words.
Most importantly, they ate his food with smiles.
No more spitting it out!
Recently, he had been secretly competing with Shen Fenghuo, leaving him no time to develop new dishes.
"It’s not entirely out of the question."
Chen Yang cleared his throat, putting on the airs of an elder, "But hot beverages must also be done properly, not just thrown together carelessly."
"Of course."
Shen Fenghuo responded immediately, "I was also thinking, besides pear soup, we could brew some Ginger and Jujube Tea—it’s even more effective at driving away the cold. If Chen Chu is willing to guide us, we could also try making Osmanthus Rice Wine Glutinous Rice Balls or prepare some Taro and Milk Hot Beverage. Sweet and warm, perfect for winter—the officers are sure to like it."
Chen Yang felt quite pleased, being flattered by her.
This girl could stay.
"Osmanthus Rice Wine Glutinous Rice Balls aren’t too difficult, but the balls must be rolled evenly to turn out soft and chewy."
He thought for a moment, then grinned broadly, "Alright, we’ll do as you suggest. I’ll take charge of the pear soup, and you handle the Ginger and Jujube Tea and the rice balls. If you have any questions, just ask me. I say…"
Another round of explanations about food and beverages followed.
"Of course, we’ll all listen to Chen Chu."
Wu Yu and the other kitchen servants chimed in together, "We’ll all listen to Chen Chu."
The group agreed in unison, then turned to rummage through the storeroom for pears and red dates.
What flavors would the officers prefer for winter hot beverages?
Author's Note:
A'He: So hot, so hot, so hot.
Lu Heng: Lu Jin, the wife you found for me is so well-behaved.
Lu Jin: