4. Ginseng should not be eaten with grapes as it will damage its nutritional value. Grapes contain tannic acid, which can easily combine with the protein in ginseng to form a precipitate, affecting absorption and reducing its efficacy.
☆、078 Her heart was in turmoil, his heart was warm, and he resigned.
"Do you think I don't know Miss's temper? Would she be so kind as to send me ginseng? Who do you think you are, to get her to send ginseng over with just a few words? Would I have to worship you? How ridiculous!" Aunt Bai said sternly.
Yue'er immediately kowtowed to the ground, "Please forgive me, Aunt. I don't know why Miss agreed to let me deliver the ginseng, but everything I said is true."
Ji Meiyuan looked on, then turned to Aunt Bai and said, "I think Yue'er wouldn't lie, nor would she dare to lie!"
"Tianxiang, return the ginseng to Yue'er and take it back." Aunt Bai said without even looking up.
"Auntie, no!" Ji Meiyuan immediately stopped her. "Auntie, this is ginseng sent by the eldest young lady. If you return it, wouldn't people say that you are petty? This is a gift from the eldest daughter, so it is naturally meant to be a tribute to you. If you don't accept it, won't that give people something to say about you?"
"Besides, Aunt, you might become a lady in the future, so you should treat your legitimate and illegitimate daughters better! That way, Grandmother will feel at ease entrusting the inner court to you." Ji Meiyuan seemed to have suddenly realized something and whispered in Aunt Bai's ear.
Aunt Bai thought that made sense, but then she whispered, "What if the ginseng is poisonous?"
"Poisonous? Doesn't your eldest sister know you're pregnant? If it were poisonous, why would she send it? Wouldn't people say she's poisoning her aunt? I doubt she'd dare do that! Aunt, just put the ginseng aside and don't take it, isn't that enough?" Ji Meiyuan couldn't help but admire her cleverness!
Aunt Bai nodded, "Tianxiang, then accept the ginseng and put it away safely."
Upon hearing this, Yue'er immediately kowtowed and thanked them.
"If there's nothing else for you, Second Miss, then I'll take my leave now. I still need to go to Xinyuan to serve Eldest Miss," Yue'er said, kneeling.
"How is the eldest young lady now?" Aunt Bai asked with feigned regret. "Alas, I don't know either. How could Madam Bei leave so suddenly? If I weren't pregnant, I would definitely go to the mourning hall to pay my respects. Please take my condolences and help persuade the eldest young lady not to be so sad!"
"Reporting to Madam, the young lady is probably crying her eyes out right now!" Yue'er leaned forward and winked. "This servant will try to comfort the young lady. After all, the dead cannot be brought back to life, everyone knows that! Besides, there is hope for the living! In the future, Yue'er begs Madam to let this servant do more things, and this servant will do anything for her."
"Oh, look at your sweet talk! There's a reward for you! Tianxiang, give me the leftover bird's nest from yesterday! The weather's getting cooler, but it hasn't gone bad yet. Give it to Yue'er to drink! I'm sure Yue'er hasn't eaten anything in Xinyuan!" Aunt Bai raised her eyebrows slightly and winked at Tianxiang.
Yue'er lowered her head. This was leftover bird's nest, and it had been a whole day already! How dare she give it to a servant! What? She'd never eaten bird's nest before? Her mistress always treated her so well! She always had the best food and clothes; she'd never miss a meal or a piece of clothing. This Aunt Bai treated her like she wasn't even human!
However, Yue'er bowed twice to Aunt Bai and said, "Thank you, Aunt. Indeed, Miss is quite stingy!" She was about to whisper when she spoke, but then seemed to think of something and hesitated to say it, so she swallowed her words.
Aunt Bai looked on with a smile, "What's on your mind that you're hesitant to say? Tell me, there are no outsiders here!"
“That’s right, say it!” Ji Meiyuan said smugly.
"Reporting to my two mistresses, what I was thinking just now was that, don't be fooled by what the servants all say about how virtuous and intelligent the eldest young lady is. In reality, only we, her personal maids, know that the eldest young lady is not only stingy, but also likes to beat and scold the servants! Alas! I have suffered a lot as well." As she spoke, she wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve.
Ji Meiyuan listened as if she knew some truth, "I knew it! Big sister is that kind of person, no matter what happens, she's still the same! Humph, let's see how she pretends! I wonder which family would want a woman like that!"
"You should also think about yourself!" Aunt Bai glared at Ji Meiyuan. "However, since Madam Bei has just passed away, I'm afraid you two won't be able to get married for at least two or three years. You'll have to observe mourning!"
Ji Meiyuan listened, then looked at Aunt Bai with disappointment, "Aunt, I miss him so much."
Aunt Bai immediately made a gesture, and Ji Meiyuan immediately fell silent. Aunt Bai glared at her, then looked at Yue'er, "Yue'er, you go with Tianxiang to get the bird's nest that will be your reward. After that, you must take good care of the young lady in Xinyuan! Remember to report anything that happens!"
"Yes!" Yue'er bowed again before following Tianxiang.
Ji Meiyuan looked at Aunt Bai and said, "Don't worry, Aunt, how would that little hussy know who I'm talking about!"
"Better safe than sorry! Don't you dare follow your third sister's example! Humph!" Aunt Bai scolded.
“Aunt, I think Zhou Muxuan is quite good. I’ve heard he’s been working very hard lately! I think it would be good for Third Sister to marry him!” Ji Meiyuan said with a hint of envy. “If I could marry him in the future, I would be fulfilling my wish.”
“I will have someone think of a way. Indeed, Second Young Master Nan is a good choice, and I think he is a good person. However, I am still not very sure. If Second Young Master Nan is still entangled with that little hussy Wu Shang, then I will have to find you a better family!” Aunt Bai weighed the matter carefully before speaking.
"Auntie, if he and Eldest Sister are still entangled, I think it's Eldest Sister's fault! Humph!" Ji Meiyuan said disdainfully.
Ji Wushang was waiting for news in the courtyard. She sat alone at the dressing table and looked at the woman in the mirror who looked a little haggard. Ji Wushang unconsciously covered her face.
"Thread," Ji Wushang called out to the outside.
“Miss, I’m here.” Xian’er immediately came in.
"Bring me my guqin, I'd like to play it." Ji Wushang stood up, walked to the desk, and sat down.
So what if she looks haggard! She really doesn't have the energy to deal with anything right now. Ji Wushang needed to express her feelings, which made Xian'er feel relieved. Finally, the young lady could let loose; it was much better than keeping it bottled up inside!
Xian'er immediately took the guqin from outside and placed it on Ji Wushang's desk. "Miss, the guqin has arrived."
"You may leave! Do not disturb me without my order." Ji Wushang waved his hand, his gaze fixed on the guqin. Looking at the strings, his heart was taut with their tension.
But not long after, Xian'er knocked on the door again. Ji Wushang frowned. "What is it?"
“Miss, someone has delivered some books, and there’s a letter here as well,” Xian’er said through the door.
"Come in."
Xian'er pushed the door open and then brought out several books wrapped together.
"Who sent this?" Ji Wushang looked at the package of books and felt something was off.
"This servant does not know either. This servant just went out and did not expect to find such a package of books on the steps. There was no one around. This servant looked closely and saw that it was for the young lady."
"You can go now! It's nothing, don't bother me." Ji Wushang took the book and placed it on the desk without checking what it was.
Xian'er nodded, went out, and closed the door.
Ji Wushang sat back down in front of the guqin, reached out and gently plucked a string, and immediately, a melodious sound rang out.
As if his heart had been touched, Ji Wushang sat down, placed his hands on the strings, and began to play.
"The autumn wind blew silently all night."
The wind chills my heart.
It stirred up a lonely soul.
Looking back suddenly,
Tonight, the mortal world is vast and boundless.
And for whom is this question being asked?
The cold moon stretches for thirty-eight thousand miles.
Only the west wind is fierce and the east wind is devastating.
High-rise buildings cannot hold wine.
Fallen flowers go unnoticed.
Her beautiful face faded like ice.
Fleeting clouds and smoke, I laugh at her.
Sorrow on my pillow
To say that my heart is filled with sorrow and grief,
He said he was speechless and choked up in his dream.
Heartbreak accompanies me.
The water droplets in the mirror reflected a bitter smile.
A thousand kinds of charm are nothing but flowing water.
The splendor of ten thousand years is but a dream of spring warmth.
Ah, dreams, bitterness, joy...
However, I am always filled with regret.
——
The chilly autumn wind is lingering.
Warm wine,
My heart is broken.
Let me tell you about my new love.
It's normal to say it once.
Flowing in the water
It's just a lone sail.
The curtain is half-rolled up.
The dust settles in the vast expanse.
In his past life,
this life,
It was all just a dream.
It was all a dream.
The song seemed to be telling a story; the entire tone was mournful, somber, and sorrowful. As Ji Wushang sang, he began to cry, and finally, unable to hold back any longer, he stopped singing the last note and buried his face in his hands, sobbing.
Suddenly, someone gently touched Ji Wushang's arm. Ji Wushang was startled and straightened up abruptly. Before he could wipe away his tears and snot, he looked up and saw a pair of purple eyes.
Ji Wushang was startled and quickly stepped back. Then, disregarding his rudeness, he grabbed a silk handkerchief from the side and wiped away his tears and snot.
Yi Yun was dressed in night clothes at the time. She had originally come to say goodbye and see her one last time, knowing she wouldn't see her again for a short while. Heartbroken, she came to the mansion, only to hear weeping coming from afar. She eventually learned that Ji Wushang's birth mother, Madam Bei, had passed away! Concerned, she climbed through the window and entered, only to find her playing the zither and singing—a heartbreaking sight! Finally, she was sobbing uncontrollably, her body pressed against the zither.
Yiyun stepped forward, looking at her with a hint of pity in her eyes. "Please accept my condolences."
Ji Wushang quickly composed himself before bowing to him, "Greetings, Your Highness."
"Are you alright?" Yi Yun went up to the city, intending to help her up, but Ji Wushang gently turned away and walked to the side. "I'm fine, thank you for your concern, Your Highness. However, this is my daughter's boudoir, it would be best if Your Highness did not appear."
“Nobody knows.” Although Yiyun Shangcheng was somewhat disappointed by her rejection, she still walked up to her. “You’re very sad, aren’t you?”
Ji Wushang looked up at him, then glanced around. It seemed no one knew he had come to her room. Sigh.
"Yes," Ji Wushang replied directly.
"Don't be sad, okay? I... I don't want to see you sad. I want to see you happy." Yi Yun Shangcheng stepped forward, looking at her with burning eyes.
"Thank you." Ji Wushang nodded.
“I am saying goodbye to you.” Yiyun Shangcheng walked to the window and looked out. “I will be leaving here tomorrow. I need to go back. My father is old and sick. I don’t know when I will be able to come back.”
Ji Wushang turned to look at him, wondering what she should say. Perhaps she should offer her blessings.
"I wish Your Highness a speedy ascension to the throne." Ji Wushang bowed to him again.