Jiang Yixi said politely, “Shall I have someone prepare a vegetarian meal? Would you mind making do here?”
Li Zhenbao and Li Kai spoke in unison: “I want scrambled eggs with chives.” “No need, we’ll eat back at the nunnery.”
Li Zhenbao insisted further, “I want scrambled eggs with chives. Make a lot – I haven’t had this in ages.”
Li Kai had to add, blushing, “My sister can’t eat meat outside the temple, but she can have eggs and such. Sorry to trouble you.”
Jiang Yixi smiled and went out to whisper a few words to Mama Wu. Short on time, they decided to make noodles with egg and chive sauce.
Mama Wu had Shuiling continue standing guard while she took Shui Xiang and Shuiqing to the outer courtyard to cook. With so many servants, they needed to make several large pots.
Li Kai went to the outer courtyard, while Jiang Yixi returned to keep Li Zhenbao company.
Li Zhenbao, being naturally sociable, took her hand and poured out her troubles. “Every day I have to drink bitter medicinal soup, soak in bitter medicinal soup, get acupuncture, and smoke strips. Only every tenth day do I get a break, and even then I still have to take medicine…”
“Smoke strips”?
Jiang Yixi thought for a moment before realizing she probably meant smoking moxa sticks. No wonder she was told to meet Li Zhenbao on the fourth – only on that day did she just take medicine without other treatments.
Zhenbao – whoever gave her this name must have treasured her like precious jewelry.”Say she is enjoying life, yet she’s lived in a nunnery since she was three.”Say she is unfortunate, it seems she receives more affection than even a princess.
Shuiling, who was serving nearby, chimed in, “Young mistress should try to look on the bright side. Look at me – tall, strong, and simple-minded. People often call me foolish and even gave me the nickname ‘Silly Girl’.”
“But I’m not angry at all, and I live quite happily. Because I have a grandfather and brother who treat me well, and a young mistress who cares for me, and now I have a good job – why let those people ruin my mood? To my mind, young mistress has blessings greater than heaven, something countless people envy but can’t obtain. There’s really no need to get upset over those matters.”
Shuiling’s words were both presumptuous and plainspoken, yet they hit the mark. Jiang Yixi didn’t stop her, feeling Mama Wu’s assessment was accurate: to say she is foolish, she dares to say anything without fear.”If you say she is smart, some of her words can truly touch people’s hearts.”
Li Zhenbao didn’t blame her at all, instead nodding thoughtfully.
After about half an hour, Shui Xiang and a young novice with hair each entered carrying a tray, placing their mistress’s noodles on the kang table.
The moment they entered, Li Zhenbao started sniffing, her dark little eyes fixed intently on the bowl, her anticipation growing stronger.
“So fragrant, so fragrant, I really want it, really want it…”
She picked up her chopsticks, quickly mixed the noodles, and began eating in large mouthfuls.
Jiang Yixi occasionally reminded her to “slow down.”
Although this young girl wasn’t pretty, her personality was quite adorable and genuine.
After they finished eating, Shui Xiang took the bowls away.
The young novice Suwei said quietly, “Mistress, the heir apparent said you should return after eating.”
Li Zhenbao exhaled several breaths and said, “Go tell my brother my mouth still smells of meat. It would be disrespectful to Buddha to return now. We’ll go back in the afternoon when the smell is gone. I’m tired and want to sleep.”
Suwei had no choice but to bow and leave.
Jiang Yixi could do nothing with this little ancestor. She had Shui Xiang come in to change the bedding, Shuiling carried Li Zhenbao to bed, and Jiang Yixi reclined on the chaise lounge by the window to rest her eyes.Jiang Yixi recalled the “Gourmet’s Delight” that Li Zhenbao had opened in her previous life. Gourmet’s Delight sold vegetarian meals as well as non-vegetarian dishes. It was famous, and Old Doctor Shen particularly enjoyed the dishes and pastries there, having sent her to buy them several times. Since she was a nun, she could only purchase vegetarian food.
The old man not only ate but also studied what ingredients were used, asking Jiang Yixi to learn how to make them. Surprisingly, Jiang Yixi managed to recreate some of them, while others remained elusive despite numerous attempts. Originally planning to leave in three months, the old man delayed his departure by a year just for those delicacies.
He did teach Jiang Yixi many additional medical techniques, but it also delayed the treatment for Meng Cimo. Sometimes Jiang Yixi resented the old man’s gluttony, but at other times, she felt grateful for it. Having been reborn, she could now treat Meng Cimo and find a way to prevent her younger brother from dying of illness.
“Gourmet’s Delight” would open next year, and Li Zhenbao’s health had greatly improved. However, she could only stay at the Royal Mansion in the capital for two months; for the remaining ten months, she had to continue living at Zhaoming Nunnery for treatment. As her condition gradually eased, the time she spent in the secular world would gradually increase.
And that shocking incident that stunned the court occurred at “Gourmet’s Delight.” Old Duke Meng was injured in that event and passed away half a year later. If he had been alive, with his protection, the blind Meng Cimo might not have ended up killing First Madam and taking his own life…
Li Zhenbao interrupted Jiang Yixi’s thoughts, “Sister Jiang Yixi, do you think I’m particularly spoiled and willful?”
Jiang Yixi hesitated for a moment before saying, “I think you’re a good person. As for temperament, everyone is different.”
“Hehe, Sister Jiang Yixi knows how to talk.”
“I’m telling the truth. This morning, you specifically told those people not to hit my family members. Treating strangers like that shows you’re a good person.”
“Oh, that’s true.” Li Zhenbao chuckled softly, then fell silent for a long while before whispering, “I’m not a good person. I made my dad cry, and he knelt to me. That’s why I’m suffering here…” Her words trailed off into a mumble, followed by soft snoring.
Jiang Yixi couldn’t quite make out the rest and didn’t know who “Baba” was. However, it seemed this boisterous young girl also had sorrows she didn’t want to share with others, though they definitely weren’t about being ugly or not being able to eat meat.
After Li Zhenbao fell asleep, Jiang Yixi quietly left the bedroom.
Shui Xiang said that Heir apparent Li was drinking tea in the front courtyard room, and everyone else had been settled as well.
In the early afternoon, Li Zhenbao woke up. The old nun Mama Chai, along with the young nuns Sudian and Suwei, attended to her.
The sturdy Granny Feng carried her to the sedan chair at the entrance.
Li Zhenbao held Jiang Yixi’s hand and said, “Sister Jiang Yixi, if I can come to your home, you must prepare delicacies not available at the nunnery. If I can’t come to your home, you should visit the nunnery, and I’ll treat you to delicious vegetarian meals. Oh, and bring that silly, tall girl along too—I like her; she doesn’t put on airs…”
Jiang Yixi agreed readily, “Alright.”
Li Kai smiled brightly, cupped his hands in a salute to Jiang Yixi, and then followed the sedan chair. After a few steps, he turned back and smiled at her again.
Li Zhenbao lifted the carriage curtain and whispered, “Brother, don’t get any bad ideas about Sister Jiang Yixi.”
Li Kai tapped her head with his fan, “Nonsense, I’m thanking the young lady for helping you.” He thought to himself, So there’s such a graceful and lively young lady in the capital—how come I hadn’t heard of her before?
Li Zhenbao continued, “Your sly tricks can’t escape my eyes. Sister Jiang Er is a girl from a respectable family…”
Li Kai was quite displeased, “Isn’t your brother also a young man from a respectable family?”