Chapter 493: The Vase of Cannon Fodder in the Machiavellian Story (6)
When we arrived at the small kitchen, the cook Aunt Zhao had just wiped her hands and walked out. When she saw Xiao He coming over, she asked with a smile.
"Today's lunch is all about the princess's favorite food. What's wrong? Is it possible that there isn't enough?"
Xiao He remembered Jiang Lai's instructions and chatted along.
"The princess has a strong appetite these days, and your food is really not enough..."
"I told you earlier. If there is not enough, I will prepare a few more. There are still pig's trotters and meat in the kitchen."
Xiaohe waved his hands repeatedly.
"No need, you have to go and rest after a long day. The princess is considerate of you and sent me here specially. I can also cook all those dishes. You can go and rest."
Xiao He and Aunt Zhao both came from the Taishi Mansion and followed Jiang Lai to the Eighth Prince's Mansion as part of Jiang Lai's dowry. They knew each other well, and Aunt Zhao also knew that Xiao He was indeed good at cooking.
"Okay, oh, by the way, there is a bowl of jujube sugar and japonica rice porridge in the pot on the left. It will be sent to His Highness later. Please light the fire carefully and don't let the firewood go out."
Xiao He couldn't help but pout when he heard this.
The food given to the young lady was all meat and fish, but the food I ate was meticulous. It was specially made of japonica rice given by the emperor, a good thing that other than the senior officials and nobles could not eat.
When I opened the lid of the pot, I saw a bowl of thick porridge warm inside. Looking at the crystal clear rice grains, I knew how fragrant this bowl of porridge must be just thinking about it.
Xiaohe felt angry and closed the lid dissatisfied.
I turned around and looked for vegetables in the kitchen. After searching around, I discovered that the baskets placed in the corner of the small kitchen were all filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition, there was a pot of tightly buttoned oranges.
It’s such a cold day to see such rare oranges. Who prepared this for them?
No matter what, the lady said that everything in the kitchen belongs to her anyway. In this case, these oranges must also belong to the lady, so she can just take them away in a basin.
In addition, Xiao He fried two plates of light side dishes for Jiang Lai. There was almost no salt or other seasonings, and they were served after a little water and oil.
In addition, I steamed a bowl of eggs.
By the time Xiao He came over with the dishes, Jiang Lai was already so hungry that his chest was pressed to his belly.
The original owner was already accustomed to overeating. At this point in the past, she had wiped out almost all the big fish and meat on the table in front of her. But now Jiang Lai could only endure it silently, waiting for Xiao He to eat the new food. The food is served.
“Miss, can you eat this little food?”
This is less than what we ate in Taishi Mansion.
"Miss, I am a second-rank official after all. If I knew that you were being tortured in the Eighth Prince's house, I would definitely seek justice for you. Why do you torture yourself like this?"
Xiaohe looked at the porridge and side dishes in front of him and felt really sorry that the lady was torturing herself by doing this.
Jiang Lai raised his eyes and glanced at her.
"Are you torturing yourself by eating something light? Is your lady's life more important or your appetite?"
Xiaohe's eyes widened immediately upon hearing this.
"Of course the lady's life is important!"
"Then shut up. From now on, Aunt Zhao will bring over the dishes as usual, and then you will prepare something else for me."
Xiao He nodded.
Seeing Jiang Lai eating the clear and watery things in front of him one bite after another, he couldn't help but worry.
The young lady must have been hit by something, otherwise why would she be tormenting herself like this?
It was a meal with less oil, less salt, and no flavor. It was indeed as delicious as the previous meaty fish meat that was heavy in oil and salt.
But Jiang Lai knows very well that anything that makes you enjoy sinking is a trap, and the uphill road is always the hardest to walk.
Fortunately, she is used to walking uphill.
After eating, she was still hungry. Jiang Lai pursed her lips and didn't want to speak. She knew that these hungers were just a test that her body had to go through in the process of adapting.
What she ate today was enough for the day. If she ate more, it would turn into meat.
But it is impossible for a person to be in a good mood if he is not full, so when Jiang Lai sat at the dinner table again, facing the expressionless Chu Yunxuan, the hand holding the chopsticks became a little tight.
"Chunniang came to me just now and cried, saying that you gave her five taels less of this month's money. What's going on?"
While eating, Chu Yunxuan began to ask questions like a leader. Others looked at him like he was interrogating a prisoner, with no emotion in his tone.
Jiang Laizheng was silently poking at the plate of green vegetables in front of him. When Chu Yunxuan said this, he raised his eyes to look at him.
"Madam in the backyard, each person has a monthly salary of ten taels, and a total of seventy taels will be paid. All have been paid out at the beginning of the month. I can still settle this account."
"You mean, Chun Niang is making trouble unreasonably, deliberately causing trouble for you even though she took the money?"
"Yeah."
Jiang Lai nodded, with a matter-of-fact expression.
"Your Highness, a total of twelve months' worth of money is enough for one person. If I pay five taels less, wouldn't I be asking for trouble?
Chun Niang went out to the street six times this month and bought three sets of clothes. If I gave her less money, where would she get the money to buy these clothes? ”
Just as Chu Yunxuan was about to say something, Jiang Lai continued to speak slowly.
"Chun Niang buys things every month and cannot save any money. There are so many brothers and sisters in her family who cannot help her.
So you should ask Chun Niang, not me, about how she bought so many clothes with five taels of silver, and where she got the money for those hairpins and powders she buys every month.
Your Highness, the court affairs are heavy and she bothers you with the few taels of silver in the backyard. I know you are also angry with her for being ignorant. Don't worry, I will teach her a lesson later. ”
In one phone call, Chu Yunxuan said everything he wanted to say or not. In the end, it came down to Chun Niang being extravagant and ignorant.
Chu Yunxuan stared at her with a sullen face for a long time, then saw Jiang Lai yawning sleepily.
"Your Highness, I have been very sleepy lately. Why not find an imperial doctor to nurse me back to health?"
"Isn't there a female doctor in the house? Why should I find an imperial doctor?"
"Is that female doctor reliable? My father always invites imperial doctors to come back to my house to treat me."
Chu Yunxuan frowned displeased.
"Since you are already married, don't act like a young lady. Also, Dr. Zhao's medical skills are unparalleled by anyone in the Imperial Hospital. She is more than enough to treat you."
Jiang Lai's purpose was achieved.
"Okay, let her show me this afternoon."
After dinner, Jiang Lai lay down in the yard to sleep and bask in the sun.
At this time Xiaohe came in to report.
"Miss, Mrs. Chun is here."
Jiang Lai, half asleep, squinted his eyes and nodded slightly.
"Let her in."
After a while, a woman wearing a red coat and pink beads on her head walked in swaying.
When he saw Jiang Lai, he just gave a perfunctory salute, and then asked impatiently.
"Why did my sister call me here?"
Jiang Lai waved.
"Come, sit down first, Xiao He will serve tea."
Chun Niang didn't take it seriously, held the maid's hand and sat down.
"What's wrong with my sister? Why don't you want to talk to your sister if you don't want to sleep?"
"Well, His Highness just came to see me."
When Chun Niang heard this, her face showed understanding. (End of chapter)