Shen Yueyi is a relative of the eldest branch of the family. It's fine to please the old lady, but why should she go around trying to get close to Fu Lanyin for no reason?
His seemingly indifferent attitude towards her was indeed strange.
You Tong had previously thought it was due to rumors circulating in the capital, but now it seems that it's not just that.
Even if she didn't intend to stay in the Fu family for long, it was really unsettling that Shen Yueyi had set her sights on her so quickly.
You Tong pondered for a moment before saying, "I understand. The general and I will handle these matters. You don't need to keep her cold because of this, lest she harbor resentment one day and say that you are cold to your guests and impolite, causing you to suffer in silence."
"I know." Fu Lanyin nodded. "I just wanted to remind you so you wouldn't be kept in the dark."
You Tong nodded, smiled slightly at her, and told her not to worry.
...
The two sat in the room for a while. After Qin Liangyu finished taking the old lady's pulse and gave her a few instructions, she went to the outer room to write a prescription.
Madam Shen was in charge of the household affairs and was quite familiar with the Qin family during their daily interactions. In casual conversation, the topic turned to Qin Liangyu's younger brother, and she said, "I heard from Zhao'er the day before yesterday that your brother injured his leg while riding a horse. Is he feeling better now?"
"Young master's injury is not serious, thank you for your concern, Madam," the attendant replied on his behalf.
Madam Shen then said, “Originally, you were skilled in medicine, so I didn’t need to say anything about these things. However, he is in the prime of his youth, full of vigor and ambition. He doesn’t care about his illnesses and just lives a carefree life. If he develops a serious illness because of this, it could be a lifelong problem. We still need to pay more attention to him and keep him in check. Once he’s fully recovered, we can let him do whatever he wants.” As she spoke, she asked him how much his injuries had healed and if he felt stifled, he could ask Fu Zhao to come and study with him, etc.
Qin Liangyu's attendant, Qin Jiu, had been with him for over ten years and they were already very close. He could respond fluently just by looking at Qin Liangyu's eyes.
You Tong sat inside, listening to what was said in a daze, when she suddenly noticed that Fu Lanyin's expression was strange, so she paid close attention.
The man sitting opposite him held a teacup in his hand, lost in thought. However, upon closer inspection of his expression, it seemed as if he was listening to a conversation outside. When the attendant told him that Qin Taoyu had broken two insignificant ribs, the hand holding the teacup even trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly.
Only after the outside chatter ended and Qin Liangyu took Shen's pulse did she raise her cup to drink tea.
The tea had long since gone cold, but she was completely unaware.
You Tong couldn't help but purse her lips and smile slightly.
When Qin Liangyu arrived earlier, although she was as elegant as a banished immortal, Fu Lanyin didn't pay much attention to her. But now, she started to take notice.
Spring is in full bloom outside, and the willows are like smoke. No matter how beautiful the scenery is, it cannot compare to the beauty of a young girl's first love.
You Tong was quite curious about Qin Taoyu, who was on good terms with Fu Zhao.
...
When the white magnolia in the south building began to sprout a few buds, the people Zhou Gu had found also brought in the baiye sushi (a type of medicinal herb).
The Fu family mostly hired renowned chefs, and even their assistants could run a small restaurant nearby. They handled everything from delicacies to simple vegetables, but they had never touched anything considered filthy and smelly. This stuff was also difficult to clean. The two times it was delivered before, either the wrong ingredients were chosen or it wasn't clean enough. After several attempts following the instructions, they finally managed to prepare the ingredients to their satisfaction.
You Tong was overjoyed and asked Aunt Zhou to give her many gifts. That evening, she enthusiastically started making hot pot.
Although there weren't many servants and maids in the South Tower, they were all quite diligent because of Fu Yu's imposing presence.
While Aunt Xia was busy preparing the pot base, several maids were cleaning the copper pot, fetching charcoal to light the fire, and preparing the ingredients.
The courtyard was bustling with activity. By evening, the large table in the side room was laden with a dazzling array of dishes. The copper pot in the center gleamed, with a glowing ember glowing beneath it. One half of the pot contained fiery red spicy broth, while the other half served an appetizing pickled cabbage soup. Next to it were more than a dozen delicate porcelain dishes, each containing thinly sliced beef, mutton, pork belly, fish fillets, winter bamboo shoots, and other ingredients. The portions weren't large, but they were quite plentiful.
The most eye-catching items in the center are a plate of tender shrimp paste and a plate of fresh tripe.
You Tong glanced at it and was extremely satisfied. He then asked Chuncao to invite Fu Lanyin to enjoy the meal together.
As for the old lady and Madam Shen, their residences are quite far apart, and they each have their own kitchens and servants to take care of them. She might not be able to ask them to come. She can just ask someone to send a few dishes as a token of respect, and there is no need to bother them for the time being.
Not long after Chuncao left, Fu Lanyin arrived happily.
As a regular at Nanlou, Fu Lanyin didn't stand on ceremony. She prepared her own dipping sauce and, without needing any service, put her favorite beef and mutton into the pot to cook. Not long after the meat was cooked, a greeting voice, neither too loud nor too soft, came from outside.
"General."
The voice was deliberately raised slightly, and it came in through the doors and windows, causing the originally lively atmosphere in the room to suddenly freeze.
Immediately, Chuncao Yanbo put down her bowl and stepped back, and the others immediately stopped laughing and joking.
You Tong and Fu Lanyin exchanged a surprised glance. Just as they stood up, they saw the curtain move and Fu Yu walked in.
He must have come from the Two Books Pavilion; he was dressed in a casual black long robe with a cross-collar, handsome with refined features and a stature as tall as Mount Hua. After entering, he first glanced at You Tong, then swept his gaze over the long table laden with bowls and plates. Upon seeing Fu Lanyin, he seemed taken aback for a moment and said, "You're here too?"
"Come eat hot pot." Fu Lanyin hadn't expected her second brother to come over so suddenly.
She knew her second brother was stern and rarely smiled, and she also knew that all the servants in the mansion were afraid of him and dared not be presumptuous. But this was the first time she had ever seen such a scene—the room was originally bustling with activity, with maids and servants preparing ingredients in the afternoon, chatting and laughing, and serving meals in a harmonious atmosphere, but as soon as Fu Yu entered, the joking and playful sounds immediately stopped.
This made her own sister a little reserved.
Fortunately, You Tong was still inside. After her initial surprise, she quickly went to greet her, saying, "Perfect timing. Has my husband eaten yet?"
"Not yet." Fu Yu extended his right hand from behind his back, revealing an oil paper package wrapped in a thin string. He handed it to You Tong, then walked to the table and sat down with an air of authority. Seeing You Tong walk toward a long table with a pile of small bowls, he seemed to remember something, got up, went over to her side, and reached his arm around her back to take a bowl.
"I'll do it myself," he said.
You Tong grunted and said, "Add another bowl, and add more flavor."
A few steps away, Fu Lanyin watched this scene, secretly suppressing a smile on her lips—she had known beforehand that her second brother was not interested in women and didn't care much about his new sister-in-law, so she wasn't surprised that he often stayed at the Two Books Pavilion instead of returning to the South Tower. Who knew that when the two of them were actually together, they weren't exactly respectful to each other; the situation just now actually seemed to have a kind of pleasing intimacy.
Chapter 50 Frank Talk
The hot pot on the table was bubbling with fragrant broth, and three people sat around it, their bowls and plates neatly arranged.
The two sisters-in-law chatted and laughed freely while eating hot pot, and although the couple also got along well when dining alone, they rarely gossiped. Now that the couple had Fu Lanyin with them, the atmosphere became a bit strange—the intimate conversations between the young ladies couldn't be shared in front of Fu Yu, and the private conversations between husband and wife shouldn't be overheard by the sister-in-law. So the conversations all turned to Fu Lanyin, asking her what she had been doing while staying at home.
Fu Lanyin has no intention of learning martial arts, leading troops, or fighting on the battlefield, so what else can she do?
It's nothing more than reading and practicing calligraphy, admiring flowers and fishing.
Fu Lanyin glanced left and right, realizing she might be serving up dishes for the couple's dinner tonight. How could she possibly manage alone? A thought suddenly struck her: her younger brother. So, with her eyes closed, she made up a story, "By the way, Fu Zhao said the other day that his mouth felt bland and he was craving the hot pot we had last time. Second sister-in-law, if we invite him over too, will this food be enough?"
"Of course it's enough, we can add a few more—Chuncao, tell Sister Xia to cut a few more plates of meat."
Chuncao obeyed and left. Fu Lanyin was about to send someone to invite her younger brother when she heard Fu Yu say, "Why don't we invite Father over as well?"
"Father is back?" Fu Lanyin asked in surprise.
"He came back this morning and went to the camp. He should be heading back now." Fu Yu got up and went to invite him personally.
On New Year's Eve, You Tong had stayed up all night with Fu Deqing and his sister Fu Lanyin. She knew that although Fu Deqing held considerable military power and was resolute and fierce, he was quite a loving father to his children and had no prejudice against her. Since Fu Yu had personally invited her, he was probably coming. So she ordered someone to temporarily move some silver charcoal away and went to the kitchen herself to have someone prepare vegetables.
Aunt Xia worked quickly and soon added two plates each of the beef and mutton that the men loved to eat.
The five of them were eating, and since the vegetables they had prepared earlier were a bit meager, they added tofu, dried bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, and mushrooms. They also ordered someone to bring out the duck blood and fish balls that You Tong had prepared the day before and stored in the ice cellar, and put them on the table.
When everything was ready, footsteps sounded outside, and sure enough, the father and his two sons arrived outside the fence.
Although You Tong disliked the rigid and harsh old lady in Shou'an Hall, she had a good impression of Fu Deqing and his son. Moreover, although Fu Zhao stubbornly said that the hot pot tasted mediocre, he was also righteous and straightforward, and she hadn't thanked him yet for helping her get help in a difficult situation last time. So she greeted them at the courtyard gate, invited them to sit down, asked the father and son what their preferences were, and helped them prepare the condiment bowls.
Soon, the soup in the pot boiled and the aroma filled the air.
Fu Deqing was eating hot pot at Nanlou for the first time. Looking at the abundant dishes on the table, he was quite surprised. He didn't expect that Nanlou, such a small place, could prepare such a feast. Looking at the brass pot, which was clean and shiny, with a pleasing openwork Buddha image on the base, and the charcoal was hidden, he couldn't help but laugh and said, "This is quite a unique idea. It's not afraid of smoke and fire. It's better than the ones outside."
As they were talking, they saw that the thin slices of meat in the pot were cooked, so they immediately scooped them out and put them in their mouths.
The sliced meat was cooked in a spicy hot pot, and the taste was not bad, so You Tong didn't say anything more.
Fu Yu, who was sitting next to him, said, "Father, try dipping it in some sauce."
After saying that, he scooped up a floating crab ball and put it in Fu Deqing's condiment bowl. Turning around, he saw You Tong struggling with the crab ball with her chopsticks, but it kept slipping and she couldn't lift it up. So he scooped up two for her. For the first time, You Tong felt that Fu Yu could be so thoughtful and kind. She immediately looked up at him and smiled, then happily buried her head in her food.
Across from the couple, Fu Lanyin's chopsticks also slipped, and after struggling to find a solution, she nudged her younger brother.
Fu Zhao had no choice but to help her, because Fu Deqing asked her how her studies were going lately, and she answered honestly.
The meal was enjoyed very much. The shrimp paste in the pot was so delicious that it was quickly devoured.
When they reached the tripe, Fu Lanyin and her brother, being of noble birth, had never touched it before. Fu Yu and his son, though they had eaten coarse grains and offal while on military campaigns, had never tried this before, which surprised them greatly. Following You Tong's instructions, they cooked it in the pot, and it was indeed crisp, tender, and delicious, a truly satisfying meal.
The atmosphere inside the room became lively because of the warm hot pot. Towards the end, You Tong ordered someone to bring out a soup to cleanse the palate, and also set out several plates of delicate pastries and fruits.
Fu Deqing and Fu Lanyin, brother and sister, ate to their hearts' content and left under the cover of night.
You Tong and Fu Yu were left sitting in the room, enjoying their meal and not wanting to talk.
...
After the hot pot meal, the minor grudges that had arisen at the inn vanished without a trace.
After resting for a while, the two left the side room and arrived at the main room, where Aunt Zhou was already leading people in and out, preparing hot water for their bath.
Fu Yu changed out of his clothes, which smelled of hot pot, and wandered around the room for a few steps. He went to the side room and saw a neat stack of papers on the table, written in elegant, small regular script. He assumed it was poetry and Buddhist scriptures copied by You Tong. Curious, he glanced at them casually, but then stopped—
That wasn't some elegant item; it was filled with spices and vegetables, with detailed instructions and key points, making it look more like a cookbook.
He flipped through a few at random; some were famous dishes from restaurants, others were foods he'd seen at roadside stalls while traveling, and still others were dishes he'd never even heard of, with ingredients he wasn't familiar with. On the shelf by the window, there was also a thick stack of recipes; lifting a corner revealed they were also cookbooks.
This surprised him.
Surprised, she heard soft footsteps at the door. Looking up, she saw You Tong approaching, followed by Yan Bo and Mu Xiang carrying freshly ironed nightgowns to the next room to diffuse incense. You Tong had clearly also seen the stack of papers and walked over with a smile. "There are some freshly picked fruits outside. Would the General like some?"
"No need." Fu Yu tapped his fingers on the table. "Did you write this in your spare time?"
You Tong nodded, "This is my only hobby in life. I pay attention to it all the time, and it adds up little by little. I hope you won't laugh at me, General."
"That's good." Fu Yu's expression showed a hint of approval as he put the note back. "Aren't you planning to take a bath?"
"No rush." You Tong shook her head, observing Fu Yu's expression. That night at the inn, he took the initiative to be friendly, but she politely declined. At the time, it was due to the special circumstances and she had no choice but to accept it. In retrospect, she had offended him, so it was no wonder that he left in a huff and did not show any further affection on the way. Even after returning home, he did not show any sign of affection for several days.
That's how Fu Yu was; every time she angered him, he would leave in a huff, only being willing to reason with her a few days later.
Now that he has come to visit, bringing her favorite pastries and inviting Fu Deqing to support Nanlou, it is a token of his goodwill.
It's just unknown what he wanted to do by coming to visit this time.
She hesitated for a moment before she was about to speak, but Fu Yu seemed to see through her thoughts and said first, "Come for a walk with me." With that, he walked out the door first.
You Tong followed behind, and before leaving, she took out the two people's cloaks from the grass to prevent them from catching a cold.
...
Leaving the South Tower and climbing the slope, the Wangyun Tower stood starkly in the night, its eaves and corners upturned. No one lived here, and no lights were lit at night. In the pitch-black night, the wooden steps underfoot were barely discernible. You Tong walked cautiously, afraid of slipping and twisting her ankle. Seeing that Fu Yu wasn't paying attention, she secretly took a few steps while holding onto the wall.
Fu Yu walked ahead, but kept an eye on her out of the corner of his eye. Seeing her cautiousness, like a blind man crossing a river, he shook his head inwardly.
He then stopped and offered her his arm.
You Tong glanced at him, knowing he had seen through her, so she simply brazenly accepted his help. Once they reached the top, seeing only darkness and little scenery, she couldn't help but tease, "General, did you bring me here to tell ghost stories?"
"You want to hear it?"
"No!" You Tong quickly waved her hand.