Wushuang had cried so hard earlier that even after washing up and going to bed, she still couldn't calm down and would occasionally sob. Chu Yao held her in his arms and patted her gently to comfort her: "This way you can visit her more often, keep an eye on the doctors and maids to make sure they're not slacking off, and you won't have to worry about me taking in some beautiful young lady and always running to the study."
Wushuang pressed her small face against his chest and asked pitifully, "Will Qiqiao be alright?"
"Well, if this doctor can't cure it, there are still the imperial physicians in the palace," Chu Yao comforted him.
Although many noble families could invite imperial physicians to their residences for consultations, this was limited to the masters and servants. It was against regulations to have imperial physicians treat palace maids and servants.
However, it was clearly more important to make his little princess laugh through her tears than to be punished for breaking the rules.
Wushuang visited Qiqiao every day and spoke to her through the window.
However, Qiqiao's condition did not improve and even showed signs of worsening.
It was midnight that day, but Chu Wan was still awake.
She bit her pen, deep in thought, and wrote a letter to Wang Hongbo seeking advice on a difficult problem.
The little girl loved to talk, and without realizing it, she included the recent events that had occurred at the Prince of Ying's residence in her writing:
...
My sister Qiqiao has been sick for many days, and Shuangshuang has been very worried. I don't know what I can do to help her. It's really worrying me.
Brother Bo, you and Shuangshuang are childhood sweethearts, you must know how to make her happy, right?
Please teach me, okay?
Glug glug—
Chu Wan was engrossed in writing when she suddenly heard her stomach growl.
I'm so hungry!
She didn't stop writing; she reached out with her left hand to touch the snacks, but all she found was an empty plate.
What should we do?
She had finished all the snacks, but her stomach was rumbling with hunger.
Originally, all I had to do was tell the servants to go to the kitchen and get some food.
However, the young girl was shy, and writing to Wang Hongbo was a huge secret to her; only Liu'er, who served her closely, knew about it. Unfortunately, Liu'er had gone home to visit her sick father that day, leaving her to fend for herself.
Chu Wan climbed down from the bed and tiptoed out of the room.
The young maid Cui'er, who was on night duty in the secondary room, was even younger than her. She was at the age where she could eat and sleep well. She was snoring on the narrow couch while hugging her quilt. She probably wouldn't wake up even if someone carried her away and sold her.
Chu Wan followed the narrow passage and easily made her way to the kitchen area.
"Don't worry, there will be something delicious soon. Today we'll all cook for ourselves and take whatever we want to eat," she said to herself, patting her rumbling stomach.
The main kitchen is a courtyard with a single entrance, and the main house and the east and west wing rooms each have different functions.
Chu Wan had never been before and knew nothing about it, so she wandered aimlessly into the lit west wing.
The wooden door was slightly old and creaked as it was pushed open. With that sound, she clearly saw Wei's mother standing in front of the stove, hurriedly pulling her hand out of the earthenware pot on the stove—she was still holding a piece of yellow paper in her hand.
"Aunt Wei, what are you doing here?" Chu Wan tilted her head slightly, looking completely bewildered.
Madam Wei laughed and said, "Young Princess, I am in charge of the kitchen. At night, I am in the kitchen to watch the fire and cook. But you, why are you in the kitchen alone in the middle of the night? The maids and servants around you are really too inappropriate."
Chu Wan bit her fingertip, half believing and half doubting what Wei's mother said.
During this period, she stayed by Wushuang's side every day, and through her observation and learning, she also learned a lot about housekeeping.
For example, although Wushuang is in charge of the entire inner courtyard, she does not need to personally manage every single matter within the inner courtyard. Most of the time, she only needs to issue orders and assign tasks to the corresponding responsible persons.
For example, the mother who was in charge of clothes and jewelry did not need to cut the fabric and sew the clothes herself. Instead, she supervised and arranged for the embroiderers in the embroidery room to take measurements, select materials, and make the clothes for everyone.
Therefore, Wei's mother, who manages the kitchen, should not cook herself.
Chu Wan was naive, not stupid. When she discovered that Wei's mother was lying, she did not immediately expose her.
She walked casually to the stove and said in a sweet voice, "I'm so hungry I can't sleep, and I can't wake Cui'er, so I had to come by myself. Wei Mama, what delicious food have you cooked? Quickly, serve me a bowl."
There were two stoves in the middle of the room, both simmering with something. She walked to the left and peeked inside: "Porridge? It doesn't taste good at all." Then she went to the right, the side where Wei's mother was standing, and asked, "What's this pot of stuff? Why does it smell like medicine?"
And the taste is somewhat familiar.
Madam Wei smiled apologetically: "Your Highness is so clever, it's just medicine. This old servant is getting on in years and has rheumatism in my legs. These past few days, with the change in weather, the pain has been unbearable, so I just brewed a couple of doses of medicine for you to drink."
Chu Wan had already remembered where she had smelled that medicine before.
Every morning, she would visit Qiqiao with Wushuang, and each time she would wait until Qiqiao had drunk her medicine before leaving—the taste of the medicine simmering in the earthenware pot was exactly the same as what Qiqiao had drunk.
"You...you added something to Qiqiao's medicine?" Chu Wan questioned, "Or are you saying that her illness was all your fault..."
She suddenly raised her hand to cover her mouth; how did she end up screaming?
Through countless incidents involving the housekeepers, Chu Wan finally realized that those seemingly kind old women could be so wicked. If they could bully Wushuang, they could bully her too.
Chu Wan was frightened and turned to run away.
"Princess, don't go! Let this old servant explain!" Wei Mama caught up and grabbed her arm.
Chu Wan struggled desperately and finally managed to break free. Just as she was about to run, she tripped over a clay pot and fell forward uncontrollably, hitting her forehead on the edge of the brick stove, causing blood to gush out immediately.
Chapter List 128|4