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The matron looked around them and went closer, lowering her voice, "The pork is sent here every three days and we have already finished all of it in these last two days, so there will be no more pork starting tomorrow. We haven't any fresh fish either, so chicken and duck will have to do. General Chu said this wasn't anything of importance and ordered not to inform Miss Bai. I'm telling you this, but please don't tell her."

Zuiju nodded. "I'll come with you to the kitchen, to see what else is left. I'll see and write another prescription from them. Matron, make sure everyone follows them. No matter how many soldiers are circling outside, I only care that the best possible food is delivered to Miss Bai."

"Of course. As long as the kitchen has those things in stock, then each will be delivered without error, exact to your prescription."

The two people slowly walked in the snow. The moon came out of the clouds, but it was not as bright as the previous days. Its yellow light was slightly hazy. Their feet plodded through the somewhat thinner layer of snow. The snow creaked and crunched as they crushed it into pieces under their footsteps.

As they arrived at the kitchen, they sighted a sudden movement.

"What?"

Zuiju gave a frightened cry as they saw a glowing red light at the gates to the residence. It seemed to be the combination of several flames from fiery torches.

The sound of the heavy door swinging open in the distance was heard. Although it was soft, it brought a dangerous atmosphere.

The matron looked at the flame in the sky, her lips quivering. "Oh God, don't tell me the attackers are inside?"

Zuiju remained silent and plucked up her courage to leave the kitchen building. She took a side pathway to reach the entrance of the residence. She carefully went towards it, hiding behind the walls. Zuiju saw the person holding the flame outside the entrance. At this time of night, she gussed the person had to be one of He Xia's men.

Not long later, the door slowly closed, shutting out the flame from the outside, only leaving a dimmer light within the residence.

Zuiju saw Moran with two other guards push a heavily guarded cart, passing the wall she was standing at.

"Who's there?" Moran suddenly said. The swords of the other two guards were immediately unsheathed.

"It's me."

Moran sighed in relief and was a little reprimanding. "Why are you not accompanying Miss Bai at such a time? Isn't there enough chaos out here already?"

The two guards made sure it was Zuiju before sheathing their weapons.

"I was planning to go to the kitchen, but came here when I heard movement. What were those people doing?"

"Sending things."

"Sending things?"

"Fresh meat, fresh fish and various differently coloured fruits. I've already checked that the cart is not hiding people or weapons." Moran laughed bitterly and pointed at the cart packed full of things. "You came at the right time. After getting these to the kitchen, use your needle to test if anything's strange."

Zuiju looked at the full cart and couldn't help sigh. "Knowing He Xia, there is no way he'd use such a tactic, but I will examine them properly."

The two guards helped Zuiju to wheel the cart to the kitchen and unloaded everything. In addition to the pork, beef, fresh fish and vegetables, there were a number of other rare things.

There were a few jars of authentic Gui Le dishes, seasoned dried rare fish, Bei Mo's delicacies befitting for a queen as well as a plate of both crispy and soft desserts.

The other matrons of the kitchen stood aside while watching Zuiju examine the dishes with a needle. They couldn't help praising when the saw that each were exquisitely made by the finest, most talented chefs possible. "Just their appearances comply with the saying that Gui Le's desserts are superb."

Apart from that, there was also a guilded box wrapped with several layers of silk. It had been placed in the innermost section of the cart. Zuiju unwrapped one layer after the other and realised the contents were not food but various little items women used.

There was a clamshell which contained hand cream of the finest quality, as well as a small

Ay leasy a dozen of small, multicoloured pebbles were placed at the bottom of the box. Zuiju looked at the three objects that were inside, her gaze not moving. She sighed in both praise and envy.

By the time she had examined, everything the sky had already brightened. Zuiju's back ached with exhaustion. She told the kitchen servants, "These are all fine, eat as much as you like. He Xia really is a good man to even prepare acutiloba that nourishes women. Forget changing the prescription, just use the one from last night."

"But we still don't have peony petals."

"Oh well, just don't add it. It doesn't really matter about the peony petals. The acutiloba is the most important."Zuiju replied, tiredly massaging her shoulders. She then headed for the small building with the gilded box.

Hongqian was already up and was stretching out on the snow. Seeing Zuiju, she asked, "I didn't see you yesterday evening at all. Before Miss went to sleep, she asked me to go ask what was holding you up at the kitchen."

"Where is she?"

"Still sleeping." Hongqian beckoned towards the door with a lift of her chin. "I slept in the same room as her last night. She kept on tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Ah, I heard the guards saying that we're still surrounded by soldiers? Hadn't they retreated already when Miss Bai and General Chu returned yesterday? And what's this about a promise on the sixth? What are we to do if the Duke does not return by the sixth?"

Zuiju lowered her voice, "Even if you wanted to control it, you can't, so it's better not to ask."

Hongqiang had thought that the guard she always joked with her was just trying to scare her. With that, her face paled, understanding the current danger.

Zuiju knew that the current situation was even worse than what Hongqian was thinking but refused to say any more. She patted her on the shoulder and strode up the steps, entering Pingting's room.

Pingting had awoken long ago and had kicked the blankets to one side. A lilac coat hung from her shoulders as she lazily knelt on the bed. She tilted her head to one side, her hand stroking down her hair. When seeing Zuiju enter with the gilded box, she looked at it, asking, "What's that?"

Zuiju knew that she was feeling restless and wanted to tease her. She placed the gilded box at the head of the bed, mischeviously smiling, "Guess. If you get it right, then you have my admiration."

Pingting looked at the box, her light gaze moved aside. "Something annoying again..."

She sighed, not bothering with Zuiju and opened it herself.

She lightly glanced at the three objects in the gilded box and picked up the comb. She stared at it and beyond. She slowly dragged out, "I used to use this a lot at the Jing-An Ducal Residence back then."

She placed the comb down and didn't touch the other two objects. She grabbed a handful of the pebbles and carefully counted them before putting them back in. Pingting laughed bitterly, "I used fifteen years of friendship to bargain with him and he uses fifteen years of friendship to trap me." She slammed the box shut and slipped off the bed.

After washing with hot water, Zuiju approached her to comb her hair. Zuiju held onto the silky black strands and twisted them into a peony bun. She saw that the reflected face was drained of both happiness and worry. She had no clue what she was thinking, just like a thin layer of fog developing on the mirror surface.

"Miss! Why aren't you saying anything?"

Pingting was silent for a long time before saying, "I am very tired."

Zuiju replied, "Since you're so tired, you should sleep since nothing is happening anyway. I'll get the kitchen to make some red bean porridge and boil it. That way, it can immediately be served when you wake up."

Pingting shook her head.

When Zuiju had just put down the comb. Pingting looked into the bronze mirror and stood up, lifting the curtain to go outside. Zuiju hurriedly followed her outside. Pingting entered the side room and took out the pot of plum blossom petals out.

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