FBC – Chapter 20 Nourishing the Kidneys and Replenishing Essence

Gu Hua returned to the room after preparing the ingredients in the kitchen. Seeing the empty writing desk, she beckoned to Dong Qing and pointed at it.

Dong Qing was confused. “Miss, are you looking for something? But I just tidied up—there was nothing on the desk.”

Gu Hua understood.

A fleeting look of satisfaction crossed her eyes, though her face remained calm. She nodded slightly to indicate she understood.

She knew someone was following her—or more precisely, watching her.

A man like Mu Junyan would never easily believe she was innocent.

She had to make him feel guilty so that he would accept her willingly.

Excited and cheerful, she turned around with Dong Qing and Dong Hua and headed back to the kitchen.

Gu Hua had inquired beforehand: Mu Junyan usually didn’t eat after noon, but around late afternoon, he would have a light snack—not too sweet.

She also learned about the old madam’s tastes from Zhou Zhilan and made three kinds of soft and sweet pastries to suit her preferences. She sent them through Zhou Zhilan—this arrangement was just right.

By late afternoon, Gu Hua personally brought the food box to Wenhan Pavilion.

From the window, Dong Mo saw her and softly said to Mu Junyan, who was writing, “Master, Miss Gu brought you something to eat.”

Mu Junyan looked up. The young girl wore a high-collared, pale green ruqun, with a goose-yellow sash tied in a butterfly knot around her waist. The long ends of the sash fluttered in the breeze.

She stood gracefully in the courtyard, her delicate face bare of makeup. The sunlight fell on her, adding a vibrant charm.

But… the food box was too large.

The little girl struggled to carry it with both hands, her slender waist bent under the weight.

“Bring it in.”

Dong Mo quickly rushed out to take the box, letting out a small gasp. “So heavy? Master isn’t going to eat much right now.”

Gu Hua smiled softly, pressing her hands together in a gesture of gratitude and request.

Dong Mo sighed. “You should go back, I’ll take it in.”

Gu Hua shook her head and stubbornly stayed put.

Helpless, Dong Mo pointed to the stone bench under the shade. “Don’t stand in the sun—go sit there.”

Gu Hua nodded and obediently walked over. Facing the window, she sat properly with her hands neatly folded on her lap.

She looked as docile as could be, her expression like a kitten begging to be petted.

Mu Junyan looked back down to continue writing, but for some reason, he couldn’t help glancing up again—only to see the kitten-like girl staring at him with longing, pleading eyes.

“…”

Raising a daughter this well-behaved wouldn’t be so bad.

Unfortunately, he could never have children of his own.

Mu Junyan looked away and turned to see Dong Mo taking out a bunch of things from the food box. He frowned and stood up.

“What is all this?”

Dong Mo felt a twinge of panic. His master didn’t look pleased.

“Miss Gu wasn’t sure what you liked, so she made a variety. Maybe you’ll like one or two of them.”

Even if the master only tasted one dish, Gu Hua would be happy.

There was a bowl of golden rice with translucent grains, a plate of stir-fried kidney, two light side dishes, a bowl of porridge, and a plate of two kinds of pastries.

Judging by their appearance, the dishes had been made with care.

Mu Junyan glanced out the window.

The girl craned her slender neck to try and peer inside, but due to the distance and the paper covering the window, she couldn’t see anything in the dim room.

“Let her in.”

Dong Mo was overjoyed. He ran to the door and waved to Gu Hua. “Master wants you to come in.”

Gu Hua entered, slightly bowing her head, and gave a respectful curtsy.

Mu Junyan pointed at the table full of food. “What are all these?”

Gu Hua shyly smiled and pointed at the writing desk.

Mu Junyan nodded.

She walked gracefully to the desk, picked up the brush, and began writing.

Mu Junyan followed, standing beside her.

Surrounded by his powerful aura, Gu Hua’s hand trembled slightly as she held the brush.

She inhaled deeply, steadying herself, taking in the faint scent of soap from him. Then, with a calm breath, she began to write.

“Du Zhong stir-fried lamb kidney, golden fried rice with caviar, stir-fried lotus root and lily bulbs, yam-barley-gorgon fruit porridge, black sesame pumpkin rolls, and chestnut crisps.”

Quite a complicated spread.

She continued writing:

“These are all nourishing ingredients suitable for men—good for strengthening kidneys and waist, replenishing blood, tonifying lungs and spleen, and restoring essence. A small token of goodwill—may Master accept it with a smile.”

Mu Junyan: “…”

Did she know what she was saying?

Gu Hua half-lifted her head and peeked nervously at the tall man.

“You know pharmacology?” Mu Junyan asked, his tone filled with meaning.

Gu Hua wrote:

“My stepmother taught me some recipes meant to nourish men. I don’t understand the medical theory.”

In truth, she knew a bit—she had studied them in her past life to heal herself. The abortifacient she drank before her death was even her own concoction.

But she had to hide her abilities. She couldn’t let Mu Junyan know how much she understood.

And she definitely couldn’t let him realize she had deliberately made such dishes with a hidden agenda.

After reading so many little romance novels, she understood well—men didn’t like overly clever women.

In those novels, domineering male leads always preferred soft, helpless, and gentle girls.

Mu Junyan let out a breath.

So she didn’t know these were all aphrodisiac ingredients—nor what “nourishing kidneys and replenishing essence” actually meant.

This kind of flattery… was oddly comforting.

He said lightly, “Your hand’s not healed. Don’t make these things again.”

Gu Hua obediently wrote:

“Dong Qing and the others helped me. I didn’t touch water.”

Looking at her cautious, meek demeanor, Mu Junyan thought—if he hadn’t seen her seductive appearance that night, experienced her enticing allure, he really might have believed she was just an innocent little bunny.

“Go back now.”

Knowing to quit while ahead, Gu Hua bowed and withdrew.

Once she reached a spot out of Mu Junyan’s sight, she smiled quietly.

Whether he ate it or not, he had already accepted her goodwill.

For the next few days, she wouldn’t appear before him again.

This was called playing hard to get.

Dong Mo watched his master, whose gaze followed Gu Hua’s retreating figure. He whispered, “Master, will you eat?”

Mu Junyan sat down, and Dong Mo quickly handed him chopsticks.

He tried a bit of each dish—the flavors were quite good.

The golden caviar fried rice had a novel taste, and he unknowingly finished it all.

He also ate one piece each of the black sesame pumpkin roll and the chestnut crisp—not too sweet, just to his liking.

Looking at the table full of dishes, imagining the girl running around with her injured hand making them for him, he picked up his chopsticks again. Unconsciously, he finished two whole plates.

Dong Mo’s eyes widened. This was the first time he’d seen his master eat this much for dinner.

Feeling a bit overfull, Mu Junyan picked up his sword and started practicing in the courtyard.

Whether it was the food or the lack of horseback riding and archery these past days, his body was full of energy.

Even… a little unsatisfied.

That night, Dong Mo delivered a bottle of Snow Lotus Beauty Cream.

“Master specifically requested it from the palace.”

Gu Hua received it with a smile.

Her heart couldn’t help but feel delighted.

Over the next three days, she stayed in the kitchen making pastries for the old madam, sending them to Xiangrui Hall through Zhou Zhilan.

This form of flattery was courteous but not excessive.

She didn’t make anything else for Mu Junyan.

The rest of the time, she cozied up in Yayun Pavilion and rested comfortably for three whole days.

The Snow Lotus Cream was miraculous. The scabs on her palm had already fallen off, and new skin was growing.

“Young Master really favors Concubine Yin. He’s stayed at Hibiscus Tower for three days straight. That Yaoyao girl has been completely neglected—she’s been fuming every day, cursing with veiled insults. The young madam hasn’t left her rooms, constantly calling the physician to check her pregnancy. The poor doctor’s been exhausted these past few days.”

Whenever Zhou Zhilan had a free moment, she came by to chat and gossip about Jinxiu Pavilion.

Gu Hua couldn’t help but think—

No wonder the mansion’s physician had been walking around with dark circles under his eyes lately.