Chu Wang Fei

by Ning er

  Thinking about that, Yun Qian Meng is really grateful to the previous Yun Qian Meng. Regardless of what the outside world is saying about her, at least she is a free person now. And because her reputation isn’t very good, it let the empress dowager has lest calculation for her. It’s just that Qu Fei Qing is different from her. She is the eldest legitimate Miss of Fu Guo Gong Fu. People will be thinking about her from birth. That she could stay at Fu Guo Gong Fu till sixteen, presumably Lao Tai Jun and da jiujiu has contributed to it a lot. Otherwise, she would’ve long been a political victim of the empress dowager’s.

  In this ancient imperial supremacy, even the modern Yun Qian Meng is helpless. That kind of deep and suffocating despair made people unable to breath, but if you struggle against it, you’ll die sooner.

  Therefore, Yun Qian Meng can only try to comfort Qu Fei Qing: “Biaojie, even if you’re married, you’re still Fu Guo Gong Fu’s daughter. You’re still waizumu’s beloved granddaughter, da jiujiu and da jiumu’s beloved daughter and also da biaoge’s beloved meimei. If an outsider dares to bully biaojie, I believe that they absolutely will not stand it. And Meng er will always stand at biaojie’s side and will never let biaojie suffer any injustice.”

  Qu Fei Qing saw Yun Qian Meng’s serious expression, she laughed. She stretched her hand, hugged Yun Qian Meng and whispered in her ear: “Thank you.”

  Because of this soft thanks, Yun Qian Meng smiled. Then she put some distance between them and changed the subject: “No matter what happens in the future, Men er is still biaojie’s meimei. Today is Lao Tai Jun’s good day. We should celebrate well with her.”

  Being reminded by Yun Qian Meng, Qu Fei Qing remembered the ingredients in the kitchen that Yun Qian Meng has let her prepare. At this moment, she can vaguely smell the scents in the room. For a time, Qu Fei Qing temporarily discarded the troubles and pulled Yun Qian Meng to the small kitchen.

  At this time, in the small kitchen, the mamas are carefully watching the fires. On the stove, waves of heat went straight out. The fragrance went into the people’s noses, making people couldn’t help but have appetite.

  Qu Fei Qing couldn’t control herself, and ran to the stove. She reached out her hand to pick up the lid. Fortunately, a sharp- eyed maid stopped her. Otherwise, that delicate skin of Qu Fei Qing would have been burned.

  Yun Qian Meng was also scared that she sweated because of Qu Fei Qing’s move. She quickly grabbed Qu Fei Qing’s hand and examined it. Nervously, she asked: “Are you alright? Were you burned?”

  Qu Fei Qing saw that Yun Qian Meng really cared about her, she gently smiled. She pulled her sleeves and said assured: “Nothing happened. What are you making? It’s even more fragrant than what our houfu’s cook make.”

  Yun Qian Meng smiled mysteriously. She turned to look at the female cook who is watching the fire: “Did you watch the fire according to my instructions? No one touched the ingredients that I prepared, right?”

  That female cook saw that Yun Qian Meng is so careful, her heart became more cautious. She answered seriously: “Answering Miss’s question, everything has been prepared according to cousin Miss’s instructions. This lid has never been opened.

  Qu Fei Qing heard the female cook’s answer, her eyes is full of questions. She whispered to Yun Qian Meng: “From the moment we left till now, has been an hour and half. What will took so long to stew?”

  Yun Qian Meng got a maid to help her roll up her sleeves. She took the other ingredients and started cooking. She still patiently answered Qu Fei Qing’s question: “Lao Tai Jun is already old. She can’t eat food that are too hard. So when preparing food for her, be sure to pay attention to the hardness of the food. Elders have a weak stomach, they can’t take stimulation well anymore.”

  Qu Fei Qing is still puzzled, but she felt that everything Yun Qian Meng say is right. So, she stood behind Yun Qian Meng and opened her eyes widely. Curiously, she watched her (YQM) nimble fingers play with the colored ingredients.

  “If biaojie has nothing to do, can you go get some green tea for Meng er?”

  Yun Qian Meng saw that Qu Fei Qing’s body is almost glued on her back. This small kitchen is small. Moving the body is really not convenient and now there’s one more person who does not work. Yun Qian Meng can only send her away.

  Qu Fei Qing saw that she finally has something to do, she happily walked out. The space around Yun Qian Meng became more spacious.

  Qu Fei Qing came back as fast as a gust of wind. Her hands is holding different kinds of green tea. A little difficult, she asked Yun Qian Meng: “Meng er, this is Yu Qian Longjing, this is Bi Luo Chun, this is Pu Er tea and this is Tie Guan Yin. So many teas, which one do we use?”

  At this time, on Yun Qian Meng’s forehead is little droplets of sweat because of the temperature in the kitchen. She who is busy, glanced quickly at the teas in Qu Fei Qing’s hand. She said: “Bi Luo Chun. Remove the leaves and let the maids grind them into powder.”

  Qu Fei Qing is a lady, when did she ever went to the kitchen? At this time listening to Yun Qian Meng saying these things, she understands only a little. The big maid next to her is someone clever. Once she heard Yun Qian Meng’s instructions, she took the tea bags from Qu Fei Qing.

  Qu Fei Qing saw that her task has been stolen, she got anxious. She wanted to go pull Yun Qian Meng to ask her to give another task. Unexpectedly, at this time, Yun Qian Meng is chopping. Being pulled by her, the knife in her hand slipped and cut the left index finger. It immediately bled. It scared Qu Fei Qing. She immediately took out her handkerchief to wrap the wound. Her mouth is constantly apologizing: “Meng er…I…it’s all my fault…come quickly with me to see the doctor.”

  Yun Qian Meng looked at her flustered expression. She felt that it is her that bullied Qu Fei Qing. She raised her finger to carefully look at it. The knife cut is deep but has not reached the bones. She wrapped the handkerchief tightly around her finger and continued chopping.

  “Biaojie, I’m fine. However, you better go out first. The small kitchen is really hot. You go out take a breath. When everything is done, I’ll go see a doctor.”

  Qu Fei Qing saw that Yun Qian Meng is so insistent and also saw that she caused Yun Qian Meng to cut her finger, she also didn’t dare to stay. She can only went out of the small kitchen and let the maid call a doctor. She stayed outside of the small kitchen.

  Without Qu Fei Qing, Yun Qian Meng did things more quickly. After three hours, every dish has been prepared. The green tea powder is also ready.

  Qu Fei Qing only heard a frying sound from the small kitchen. After an hour, she saw Yun Qian Meng came out with the maids carrying different delicacies.

  “Meng er, the doctor has come.”

  Qu Fei Qing stepped forward, pulled and looked carefully at Yun Qian Meng’s hand. That piece of pink silk handkerchief has been covered in blood. She felt really painful in her heart.

  Yun Qian Meng was worried that when the dishes get cold, it’ll affect the taste. She quickly went with Qu Fei Qing to the inner chamber. At the same time that she let the doctor diagnose her wound, she also let the maid wipe the sweat from her face and put a faint layer of powder. Then they rushed to Rui Lin yuan. But they haven’t reached Rui Lin yuan yet when they saw those two jiujius standing at the door.

  They met again. This time, Qu Yan’s eyes are full of anger. He actually turned a blind eye on Qu Fei Qing and Yun Qian Meng. Tan shi seeing her husband like that, couldn’t help but go forward and say sarcastically: “Meng er really is filial, coming to Fu Guo Gong Fu to fawn. Presumably, it’s to let Lao Tai Jun get a good marriage for you!”

  Yun Qian Meng glanced over. She saw that the few people who were full of pride just now, are now dejected. She smiled at Tan shi and said in a low voice: “At least my fawn is still useful. Sorry for making san jiumu disappointed.”

  While talking, they saw Qu eunuch came out of the inner room and welcomed them inside. They left a few people gritting their teeth.

  Yun Qian Meng thou
ght that after waiting for such a long time, only Fu Guo Gong Fu and the empress dowager will be left, but the moment she stepped into the inner room, not even one has left. They are all sitting in their place and watched her with curious eyes.

  “Finally, you’ve come! Everyone is hungry!”

  The empress dowager saw that Yun Qian Meng was slightly stunned, she said those words.

  Yun Qian Meng smiled gracefully and bowed with Qu Fei Qing. Then she stood up. She followed the instructions and put the dishes onto the long table. The crowd’s attention couldn’t help but fell onto the first dish. They saw on the circular, white porcelain place was two cranes drawn out of pine tree. They couldn’t help but be attracted to the beautiful pattern.

  “Waizumu, the first one is a cold dish. It’s called: Pine Crane Longevity. It’s made from mushrooms, chicken jerky, cucumber, egg whites and egg pine. This dish is also made from pine and cherry. This dish is light and most suitable as appetizer. And around the dish are: five sons celebrating birthday, four oceans celebrating, accompanying each other on the road, three stars watching over you. These five sons celebrating are five different types of nuts. Four oceans celebrating are the four seafood dish. Accompanying each other on the road are the taro and fresh mushroom. Three stars watching over you are the cold hericium erinaceus. Asking emperor, empress dowager, empress and waizumu to have a taste.”

  Everyone hasn’t eaten yet, but they’ve already been attracted to this unique platter. They are not convinced that Yun Qian Meng can make such a lifelike dish from such simple ingredients. They picked up the food, looked and looked. After hearing Yun Qian Meng’s speech, they were surprised. They put the food full of expectation into their mouths.

  “Really delicious, but fresh and clean nor with an aftertaste of oil. Moreover, this chicken is so good to chew, letting even me with a bad teeth to eat it with relish.”

  Lao Tai Jun opened her mouth to praise.

  Qu Fei Qing looked admiringly at Yun Qian Meng.

  From the other people’s face, it can also be seen that they are satisfied with this appetizer. In particular, the emperor who is used to eating fine but tasteless dishes. He took a few more bites. Yun Qian Meng didn’t show happiness because of Lao Tai Jun’s praise. She turned and personally put the hot dish on the table.

  “Lao Tai Jun, the first hot dish is for you to have many grandchildren. It’s pigeon egg holing on deer horn. The second hot dish is represents family love and joy. Its chicken roasted with quail. The third hot dish is represents living forever. It’s sea cucumber boiling with potherb mustard. The fourth hot dish is represents good fortune. Its crab cooked with tofu. The fifth hot dish is representing without worries. Its vegetarian hodgepodge. The sixth hot dish represents prosperity in five lifetimes. It’s steamed butterfish. The seventh hot dish represents Peng Zu (legendary figure of Taoism who lived 800 years) offering life. It’s pheasant thick soup. The last hot dish represents recovering one’s youthful vigor. Its turtle stewed with young chicken. This is followed by soup named Ganquan (county in Yan’an) Jade Liquid. Its ginseng boiled with pigeon.”

  After all the hot dish has been served, did Yun Qian Meng retreat to a side, waiting for everyone to have a taste.

  But at this point who still have the mind to taste. They have been shocked by Yun Qian Meng dishes’ names.

  “Really a smart and thoughtful yatou, ah! Lao Tai Jun, you really are someone blesse, ah. To give you a birthday celebration, this yatou actually thought of such auspicious name for these dishes. Really letting this old man open his eyes. In the past on the camp, when it’s the head general’s birthday, at most we will get one bowl of longevity noodles. Fortunately, this old man came today. Otherwise, I’ll miss so many good things.”

  Chu wang has always been straightforward. Now seeing so many food, all those diseases got better. The cough also seemed to have healed. He praised Yun Qian Meng from head to toe again.

  “Wangye is overpraising Qian Meng. Qian Meng just took the essence of the ancessors and used it for my own purpose. It’s not an outstanding performance.”

  Yun Qian Meng bowed at Chu Nan Shan. Her voice was calm and didn’t have a hint of a spoiled Miss.

  Chu wang saw her being so rational, he wanted to open his mouth to praise some more, but in his ears came the cold voice of Chen Lao Tai Jun: “Wangye’s cough seems to have been healed. At this moment, you can even talk so loudly.”

  Being exposed in public, Chu wang didn’t care. He pulled Chu Fei Yang’s sleeve to let him take out the bottle of pills for him.

  Chu Fei Yang is only looking with a slight smile at his yeye. He slowly took out the bottle of pills. Then he slowly took out a pill. Chu wang quickly threw the pill in Chu Fei Yang’s palm into his mouth.

  Yun Qian Meng is standing near them. Her eyes are sharp. She discovered that Chu wang’s pill is just an almond. For a time, she felt it’s funny. But she also got curious about this Chu wang who everyone respects.

  While Yun Qian Meng was focused on Chu wang, the food has been served. The four Lao Tai Juns are old. They didn’t like the hard food and those rich in flavors. On contrary, they like Yun Qian Meng’s dishes made from ordinary ingredients.

  Although the emperor and empress is young and they didn’t have any special preference for these soft foods, but the food Yun Qian Meng made, all little flavors of the ingredients can be dug out. Plus the fact that when Yun Qian Meng is cooking, she only used a little bit of oil and salt. She didn’t add other spices to provide flavor. It let the emperor and empress eat in joy.

  Especially Yu Qian Di. He actually fell in love with the potherb mustard which he has never eaten. He eats and eats.

  After the meal, the hearts of everyone are very satisfied.

  Jiang Mu Chen put down the chopsticks. With eyes full of inquiry, he looked at Yun Qian Meng. He saw that she saw that everyone is finished. She turned and walked out.

  When Yun Qian Meng walked pass him, Chu Fei Yang smelled a hint of scent on her. He narrowed his eyes slightly and looked carefully at Yun Qian Meng’s whole body.

  Yun Qian Meng went away and came back. In her hands, she is holding a plate of dessert. That dessert is as green as jade. It’s a small, round, green cookie. The edges of the cookies are sprinkled with sesame seeds. The color is really bright, very nice to look at.

  Yun Qian Meng saw that everyone is looking at her full of expectations, she didn’t talk in circles. She explained with a smile: “Lao Tai Jun, this is birthday points: the hand of the Buddha rubbed on the top. Its only Buddha green tea cookie. Just naming it to get good luck. Asking emperor, empress dowager, empress and Lao Tai Jun to not dislike it.”

  Lao Tai Jun is already very satisfied with today’s dishes. How could she still pick at Yun Qian Meng’s fault?

  After Yu Qian Di picked up a Buddha green tea cookie, she also picked one. She gently took a bite. A surge of green tea fragrance burst in her mouth. This Buddha green tea cookie looked like dessert, but it only brought a little sweetness. Presumably, it’s still Meng yatou who is caring. She knows that elders can’t eat too much of sweets, so she reduced the sugar.

  The crowd also didn’t think that such a beautiful delicate Buddha green tea cookie will have such a fresh taste. It also removed the greasiness that was just in the mouth.

  A moment later, there isn’t even one Buddha green tea cookie left from that full plate. Everyone looked at Yun Qian Meng while stroking their slightly swollen belly. They have an incredible expression on.

  Chu Fei Yang noticed that Yun Qian Meng’s sleeve is contaminated with a little of red. The smiling eyes became slightly serious.

  Hai Tian noticed everyone’s expression. They looked at Yun Qian Meng full of appreciation. In her eyes flashed that she can’t accept it. After drinking a gulp of tea, she said smilingly: “Emperor, empress dowager, Miss Yun’s skills is really good. Thinking about it, Miss Yun must be proficient in the four arts (zither, chess, calligraphy and painting). Don’t know whether Miss Y
un wants to perform for us?”

  After hearing that, Yun Qian Meng lifted her eyes and looked at Hai Tian. She saw that in Hai Tian’s smiling eyes, little hate can be detected. Those slightly lifted lips are full of pride.

  Yun Qian Meng has no desire to compare with her. Plus, today she has already shone in front of the people. If she shine anymore, she is afraid that she won’t be able to live a free life anymore. So she politely declined: “Junzhu is looking too highly at Qian Meng. If we has to say who is the most talented in Xi Chu, then surely no one can compare to junzhu. Moreover, there’s a limit to a person’s ability. Qian Meng learned cooking with her heart and didn’t have much time to study poetry and literature. Asking junzhu to understand.”

  But Hai Tian doesn’t intend to let Yun Qian Meng go. Seeing her refusing like that, Hai Tian got really angry in her heart. She firmly believe that Yun Qian Meng thought that she already shone and got everyone’s praise, so she (YQM) didn’t put her (HT) in her (YQM) eyes anymore. The smile in those eyes disappeared. Her mouth sneered. With a cold voice, she continued to attack: “Miss Yun doesn’t put ben junzhu in your eyes?”

  Qu Fei Qing saw that Hai Tian is being so aggressive, her heart formed resentment. Just now Meng er served everyone with a meal. Now this Hai Tian still wants Meng er to perform? What does she think Meng er is? Meng er is xiangfu’s Miss. Even if she didn’t have xiangye’s love, but she is still a lady. Does Hai Tian thinks that she is a servant that will come just because Hai Tian called?

  Yun Qian Meng is restraining the anger in her heart. Although she didn’t know what Hai Tian misunderstood, but she can’t expose her in public. She can only use her brain to search for a solution.