Chapter 54: Rumors and Gossip

By the time Pear Moon reached the small kitchen, she knew it was too late.

The squab had not been marinated yet. If it were stewed directly in water, it would be full of fishy odor and inedible.

Granny Fan was frantic and didn’t know what to do, but Pear Moon already had a solution.

She placed soaked dried scallops, red dates, goji berries, dried ginger, and pepper in a blue-and-white porcelain bowl, added half a bowl of Huadiao sweet wine, soaked the squab thoroughly, covered it with a large ice plate, turned it over, and placed it in a large steamer.

She decided not to stew it in a clay pot but to steam it in a steamer instead.

Steam has a higher temperature than water, allowing the spices to infuse into the squab meat without dissolving the fishy odor.

After steaming for two quarters of an hour, she removed it from the steamer. The bowl of squab soup was incredibly fragrant, though it had a slight layer of scum.

Pear Moon clarified the soup again, then added tender, soft squab leg meat and scallops.

Served in a sweet white-glazed soup bowl, the clear, amber-colored soup shimmered beautifully—its color, aroma, and taste were all exquisite.

Granny Fan stared wide-eyed and hurriedly had someone deliver it to the main room.

True to her word, she immediately allocated the small stove room on the east side to Pear Moon, moving firewood, charcoal, oil, and sauces there.

She also privately gave Pear Moon five qian of silver as a supplement to her monthly allowance.

From now on, Pear Moon would be in charge of preparing the two types of refined congee for breakfast and the four types of soup for lunch and dinner.

Pear Moon watched as the small stove room was swept clean and the ingredients, firewood, and charcoal were all arranged properly. Only then did she take the key and happily return to the tea room.

Huan Huan and Autumn Abundance had both returned. They had sneaked to the front courtyard to watch the opera and were unaware of what had happened in the room.

Pear Moon showed them the five qian of silver, gave each of them one qian, and asked them to help light the fire.

Huan Huan took the money and eagerly agreed.

Autumn Abundance, always lazy, took the silver but curled her lip.

“Always showing off how diligent you are. Aren’t you tired enough every day? Let’s seal the tea stove and go back to our room to rest early.”

Pear Moon quickly replied, “It’s still early, just after the lamps were lit. I just sent up the squab soup.”

Autumn Abundance chuckled and pointed toward the main room, laughing. “She just drank lotus seed and cork tree bark soup, so her stomach is bitter. She’s probably hiding and crying again. How could she have any appetite for squab soup?”

At today’s banquet, Eunuch Lu got drunk and casually asked about the young master’s marriage, requesting to meet the lady of the house.

Ning Yuanjun said that Shen Shi was unwell and could not come out to receive guests during the succession banquet.

When asked if he had any concubines or side chambers, Ning Yuanjun said he did not.

Eunuch Lu, using the wine as an excuse, raised his voice and laughed, “Brother, you’re just over twenty, having just inherited the Duke’s title. You’re young, full of vigor, and have a bright future ahead. How can your household be so cold and lonely? Shouldn’t the Old Dowager and the lady of the house advise you? After all, you’re still young and should think about continuing the family line. Don’t you know that having no heir is the greatest act of unfiliality?”

Shen Shi’s marriage was precisely Ning Yuanjun’s sore spot.

Given that Eunuch Lu was a newly made acquaintance, it was inappropriate to speak too frankly, so Ning Yuanjun remained silent.

Seizing the opportunity, Eunuch Lu continued, “I am an inner official and shouldn’t speak too much on this matter. The old Duke passed away in his prime, leaving only you, brother, as his sole descendant. With no one to manage the household and no children to carry on the family line, the old Duke’s spirit in heaven must be uneasy. If you understand reason, brother, you should take a concubine or side wife early to assist your lady in managing the household.”

Ning Yuanjun had no choice but to smile and agree, “Thank you for your concern, Elder Inner Chancellor. I understand.”

These words were spoken in front of everyone in the courtyard, and the entire Ningguo Mansion heard them, spreading the news everywhere.

By evening, Shen Shi had learned of it. Unable to swallow the scallop and squab soup, she angrily splashed it all over Zhi Qing’s skirt.

“That eunuch, that rootless wretch, has the gall to come to our door and meddle in other people’s marriages? That scoundrel Ning Yuanjun has no shame, inviting him here for no reason to humiliate me? His Ning ancestors didn’t accumulate virtue, so if the family line ends, they shouldn’t blame me! I’ll keep my eyes wide open and see which shameless whore would stoop to being a concubine for the Nings!”

The words were extremely vulgar, making Zhi Qing’s face flush with embarrassment.

She had heard Shen Shi curse many times before, but never so crudely.

She felt like walking away and ignoring it, but in the end, she couldn’t bring herself to leave. She had no choice but to lean over and coax her gently.

“Those were just drunken ramblings, how can you take them seriously, Madam? Although the young duke may be arrogant within the inner quarters, he conducts himself well outside. You and your husband haven’t properly consummated the marriage yet, how would the young duke dare take a concubine? Not only would our Shen family’s master and mistress not allow it, but even the Madam and Old Madam of this mansion wouldn’t permit it.”

“Even if we take a step back, Madam, you’re still young and in your prime. So what if there’s a concubine? She would only be there to attend to the master’s daily needs. In noble families like ours, there are rules: if the principal wife hasn’t given birth, even chamber maids and concubines must follow proper etiquette and take medicine. Which family would allow a child born of a concubine to be the eldest?”

Although the reasoning made sense, Shen Shi remained furious.

There was clearly nothing wrong with her body; she was only pretending to be ill out of spite toward her husband and mother-in-law.

Those outside didn’t know she hadn’t consummated the marriage. Just because they heard she was ill, they were urging her husband to take a concubine.

It showed just how wretchedly she was being portrayed!

“Everyone thinks I’m about to die, eagerly waiting for me to make way! First, it was Yu Zhu and Jade Ink, both vying to seduce my husband and turn him against me. Then, Angelica Orchid was useless, unable to keep that scoundrel in check. And now, they want to formally establish a concubine—isn’t this pushing me to my death?”

The more Shen Shi spoke, the redder her eyes became. Tears fell like broken strings of pearls, and she refused to listen to anyone.

Zhi Qing, holding her soaking wet skirt with hands blistered from scalding, was also on the verge of tears.

Seeing Granny Zhao sitting in the dressing room without saying a word, she lifted the curtain and walked out, crying, “Granny, you nursed Madam since she was a baby. Won’t you offer some advice?”

Before Granny Zhao could reply, they heard Shen Shi sobbing from inside the room, “Don’t beg that old wretch! She’s just like everyone else, hoping I’ll die so she can serve the new Madam!”

Zhi Qing burst into tears and wanted to say more, but Granny Zhao pulled her aside and ordered her to return to her room to change clothes. She then called for Xiafu and several second-rank maids before rising to leave, leaving Shen Shi to wallow in self-pity.

Over the next two days, the succession banquet was held, attended by princes, nobles, and close relatives, with many female guests in attendance.

The older official wives were entertained by Madam Ning and the Second and Third Madams.

The younger ladies and misses were accompanied by Miss Ning and the second young lady, while Shen Shi continued to feign illness and stayed away.

At first, everyone only said the wife of the young Duke of Ningguo was frail. But now, seeing that she didn’t even appear at the succession banquet, it seemed her illness was serious and unlikely to improve.

Some busybodies, hearing rumors and spreading them, stirred up gossip, claiming Shen Shi didn’t have long to live.

Shen Shi had originally planned to change into proper attire on the last day of the banquet and meet the female relatives.

After all, it was her duty as the Duchess, but the rumors infuriated her so much that she stayed holed up in her room.

After Ning Yuanjun succeeded to the title, he never once stepped over the threshold of Phoenix Ripple Courtyard again.

Now, all social engagements and interactions at Ningguo Mansion were handled by Madam Ning and Miss Ning.

The mansion was a hundred times livelier than before, but Phoenix Ripple Courtyard had grown much more desolate.

Shen Shi, in a fit of pique, refused to leave her room. She either feigned illness or busied herself with embroidery, not even bothering to pay her respects to her mother-in-law.

Each time she gazed at her lonely reflection in the mirror, she would secretly shed tears, resentfully wishing her husband would never return.

If she were truly widowed, it might still be bearable, but this living widowhood was what truly weighed on her heart.

Tormented by melancholy, Shen Shi had no appetite day or night, and to make matters worse, Granny Fan’s cooking did not suit her taste.

Whether it was cold dishes or hot meals, there were only a few she could stomach, so she had to rely on porridge to soothe her stomach.

Compared to Granny Fan’s dishes, Shen Shi could eat a bit more of the soup made by Pear Moon.

Pear Moon, however, kept herself quite occupied. Every day, she experimented in the small kitchen, developing many new dishes.

Fortunately, in the kitchen courtyard, Pear Moon did not seek credit, and Granny Fan did not show off her skills, so they managed to coexist peacefully.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, and it was already the fifth month of the year. The household inevitably prepared for the Dragon Boat Festival by making zongzi.

Pear Moon called for Autumn Abundance, asking her to fetch zongzi leaves from the steward’s office, but she couldn’t find her anywhere in the courtyard.

It wasn’t until the afternoon that Autumn Abundance returned, her face flushed from the sun, gulping down a bowl of cold tea.

Before Pear Moon could scold her, Autumn Abundance, with a crestfallen expression, lashed out first: “Xiao Yue, you liar! You said pepper prices would rise in the summer, so why haven’t they? The Dragon Boat Festival is almost here, and where’s my new white silk jacket?”

Pear Moon couldn’t help but slap her forehead—she still had fifty catties of pepper hidden in the kang stove!