Yun Zhu hesitated to speak.
"Yun Zhu, if you have something to say, please speak freely," Wang Qingyao asked politely.
Yun Zhu paused for a moment, then lowered her voice and said slowly, "Your Highness the Consort will surely blame me for overstepping my bounds again, but I must still say it."
"Actually, Her Highness the Dowager Consort is just putting on a brave face. She was overjoyed when His Highness married you. No parents in the world wouldn't wish the best for their children. It's just that His Highness is under a curse. Her Highness the Dowager Consort knew when she gave birth to His Highness that he wouldn't live past twenty-five. For so many years, she has been tormented, always fearing that her son might suddenly be taken from her..."
"Your Highness the Consort, I selfishly beg you, please understand Her Highness the Dowager Consort's heart as a mother, and forgive her occasional willful actions! She has truly had a difficult time..."
Yun Zhu spoke with deep emotion, her eyes reddening by the end.
Wang Qingyao hadn't expected Yun Zhu to be so sensible and seemingly genuinely devoted to the Dowager Consort Fang.
Perhaps she had read too many palace intrigue novels and saw everyone as a scheming vixen. Now, she felt a bit embarrassed herself and awkwardly explained, "Please don't take what I said last time to heart. I was just speaking casually and didn't truly look down on you. And in the future, you don't need to refer to yourself as 'nu bi' when speaking to me. We don't do that here. My maids all address me as 'ni' or 'wo,' we're all on familiar terms."
Yun Zhu showed a touched expression.
"Her Highness the Dowager Consort loves mushroom and silver thread noodles the most. If Your Highness the Consort makes her a bowl, she will surely be very happy."
It was almost time for lunch. Wang Qingyao thought for a moment. Making a bowl of noodles wasn't difficult, and it would be a good way to show filial piety and curry favor. It seemed like a good idea.
Of course, this was something she definitely had to tell Xiao Yun. To prevent Xiao Yun from being caught between his mother and his wife, she would personally cook a bowl of noodles for his mother!
Kangping Courtyard had a small kitchen, so there was no need to go all the way to the main kitchen. Wang Qingyao asked Yun Zhu to wait in the reception hall and took Zhenzhu to the small kitchen to cook the noodles.
The small kitchen was fully stocked with ingredients. The only difference was that the noodles weren't pre-made like in modern times; they had to be kneaded from flour and then cut. Wang Qingyao didn't know how, but Zhenzhu did. She helped Zhenzhu, and playfully asked, "Her Highness the Dowager Consort's favorite is mushroom and silver thread noodles?"
"Yes," Zhenzhu replied.
Wang Qingyao felt relieved. See, even in wealthy noble families, there could be warmth and affection, not just endless scheming.
The noodles were soon ready. Zhenzhu's knife skills were excellent, and the noodles were cut thin and long. They were dropped into the bubbling mushroom broth, cooked in no time, and then sprinkled with chopped scallions. They looked incredibly appetizing.
"Add a bit more," Wang Qingyao said. "I'll have some for lunch too."
The portion for the Dowager Consort Fang was packed into a food box. Wang Qingyao carried it and handed it to Yun Zhu, "Thank you for your trouble."
"Your Highness the Consort is too kind. This is all my duty."
Nian Momo stepped forward and said, "Why don't Your Highness deliver it personally? That would show even more sincerity."
Wang Qingyao looked at Yun Zhu for her opinion. Yun Zhu smiled and said, "Your Highness is thoughtful, but the weather is hot, and it would worry Her Highness the Dowager Consort if you traveled back and forth. It's the same if I take it back."
Wang Qingyao nodded and didn't insist further.
Yun Zhu left Kangping Courtyard with the food box.
The young maid who had accompanied her earlier had already gone ahead, taking the fruits back to report.
Only when Yun Zhu's figure disappeared from sight did Nian Momo say again, "Your Highness, I feel something is not quite right. If you had made the noodles and delivered them yourself, Her Highness the Dowager Consort would only have been moved. But Yun Zhu seemed reluctant for you to go personally."
Wang Qingyao frowned slightly and beckoned to Zhenzhu, "Let's go. We'll secretly follow Yun Zhu."
Yun Zhu carried the food box, walking at a leisurely pace, but she wasn't heading back to Jingwu Courtyard.
She went to the main kitchen.
Zhu Niangzi, who managed the kitchen, clearly knew Yun Zhu's status. She was exceptionally warm and friendly upon seeing her.
"Why has Yun Zhu personally come?"
Yun Zhu was also friendly, "Her Highness the Dowager Consort has a poor appetite and wants some cold dishes."
"What a coincidence, we just made pickled bamboo shoots today. I'll send some to Her Highness later."
Yun Zhu nodded, "No need to send the main course today. Your Highness the Consort personally made mushroom and silver thread noodles for Her Highness."
Zhu Niangzi praised the Consort for her filial piety. Suddenly, Yun Zhu exclaimed, "Oh no!" and her expression changed, "I'm doomed! I completely forgot, with me taking this detour to the main kitchen, won't the noodles get mushy?"
She looked distressed, "This is Your Highness the Consort's heartfelt effort. It mustn't be ruined by me."
Zhenzhu whispered to Wang Qingyao, "Your Highness, perhaps Nian Momo was being overly suspicious. I think Yun Zhu is genuinely thinking of Your Highness."
Zhu Niangzi quickly said, "Yun Zhu, don't worry. We're simmering chicken soup in the kitchen. A spoonful will fix it."
Yun Zhu breathed a sigh of relief, and Zhu Niangzi invited her into the kitchen.
Zhenzhu couldn't see once Yun Zhu entered the kitchen, but Wang Qingyao, with her clairvoyant eyes, saw everything clearly.
Yun Zhu entered the kitchen and opened the food box. Indeed, the noodles had become mushy, all clumped together.
Zhu Niangzi quickly brought over a bowl of chicken soup. Yun Zhu personally poured it over the noodles, mixed them with chopsticks, and then, when no one was looking, tucked a few slices of beef at the bottom of the bowl.
It was the busiest time before lunch, with people coming and going in the kitchen. Yun Zhu's small actions went completely unnoticed.
Wang Qingyao frowned and asked Zhenzhu, "Does Her Highness the Dowager Consort not eat beef?"
Zhenzhu nodded, "Yes, apart from beef, she rarely eats any other meat."
So, Yun Zhu hid those slices of beef to frame her?
But Yun Zhu had no direct conflict of interest with her. Why would she do this?
Was it because of what Wang Qingyao had said in Jingwu Courtyard last time?
Wang Qingyao had no time to ponder further. She turned and hurried back to Kangping Courtyard, with Zhenzhu close behind her.
Jingwu Courtyard.
"Your Highness, the Consort is here."
Fang Tai Fei was taken aback.
This morning, the kitchen had sent a basket of fresh cherries. Yun Zhu had advised her to share half a basket with Kangping Courtyard, so she had sent Yun Zhu to deliver it.
Yun Zhu had been gone for a long time and hadn't returned. The little maid who went with her had returned with a basket of fresh fruits, only saying that Yun Zhu had asked her to come back first, and knew nothing else.
At this moment, Wang Qingyao's arrival was very puzzling to Fang Tai Fei.
She looked up and saw Wang Qingyao smiling with genuine warmth, "It's so thoughtful of Mother to always think of me. Yun Zhu told me that Mother loves mushroom and silver thread noodles the most, so I made some and asked her to bring them over. But just after she left, I realized I had forgotten to put salt in the noodles! While sending someone to call Yun Zhu back, I also made a new batch."
"But strangely, the maid I sent to call her couldn't find Yun Zhu even after chasing for a long distance. I don't know where she went. I was afraid Mother would eat unsalted noodles, so I hurried to bring them over myself."
"Mother, please try them. This is my first time cooking, so if it's not delicious, please don't mind!"
Her affectionate address, calling her "Mother" repeatedly, made Fang Tai Fei a little unaccustomed. She looked awkward, not knowing what to say.