FBC – Chapter 200 Winning Hearts

Gu Hua thought for a moment, then whispered instructions to Chi Yu: “Send people to watch Jiang Duo and his men. Whoever they meet, or if they leave the city, they must be followed. If they secretly meet with people from the enemy state, seize them on the spot. Keep them hidden away for now—wait until Vice General Qi and the others return before deciding how to deal with them.”

“Yes!”

Gu Hua looked over at Zhao Luoxuan, who was happily ladling out porridge and handing out buns. The palace maids and attendants were all busy helping, and Gu Hua couldn’t help but smile.

Had she just helped Mu Junyan in some way? Did she now count as a capable woman?

After a long day of work, Gu Hua suggested Zhao Luoxuan dine with her at the orphanage. Nanny Mo was startled and firmly opposed, but Zhao Luoxuan, excited, agreed.

She said that as a princess, she must observe the people’s hardships on behalf of her father the emperor, only then could she hear her subjects’ true needs.

This left Nanny Mo speechless.

There was no special room at the orphanage for the princess to dine in, so Gu Hua pulled Zhao Luoxuan to sit and eat in the courtyard, while the other children sat at separate tables.

The imperial chef was stumped.

Looking at the ingredients—which to him were no better than pig slop—he was at a total loss, nearly moved to tears.

Gu Hua simply had Zhao Luoxuan try the food cooked in the big communal pot. Nanny Mo wanted to object, but Zhao Luoxuan was too curious. In the end, Nanny Mo could only let the imperial chef supervise.

In reality, the princess and Gu Hua still had their own small pot of dishes prepared. The cook had even gone to the trouble of slaughtering a chicken, making both a chicken bone soup and chicken braised with potatoes.

This was the orphanage cook’s specialty.

For the first time, Zhao Luoxuan dined with commoners. Looking at the three dishes and one soup on her table, with two of them being meat dishes, then looking at the children each holding a big bowl of food with not a single morsel of meat, her heart twisted.

She immediately ordered Nanny Mo to use her silver to buy fifty chickens, fifty ducks, and five pigs for the orphanage.

The orphans were overjoyed, kneeling and kowtowing in gratitude, showering the princess with praise.

Zhao Luoxuan’s little face flushed red with excitement. This kind of heartfelt praise was so much better than the hollow flattery she usually heard in the palace.

In just one day, she had seen the people’s suffering, and the many orphans left behind by war. What started as curiosity turned into shock and sorrow, leaving her with complicated feelings that stayed with her all day.

She also saw with her own eyes how Gu Hua mingled naturally with the people and the soldiers guarding the city. Though Gu Hua was only a young woman, and just a concubine of low status, she shone brilliantly.

The respect in the people’s eyes when they looked at Gu Hua filled Zhao Luoxuan with envy.

As the most noble princess, she often received deference, but she had never felt such gazes—gazes full of hope, as though Gu Hua were a fairy who could bring them happiness.

This was completely different from the lofty but fragile honor of being a princess.

Even she and her sixth imperial brother lived cautiously in the palace, afraid their mother would be scolded by the Empress Dowager and the empress’s throne seized by Concubine Jiang.

Though she had been pampered growing up, she was often humiliated by Concubine Jiang’s children, leaving her resentful.

But the support Gu Hua enjoyed was like a tide—wave after wave, inexhaustible and unending.

After a full day, Gu Hua and Zhao Luoxuan returned to the official residence, both their cheeks flushed red.

Though it was winter, the sun was bright. They had run around all day without parasols, and their faces were sunburned.

Nanny Mo fussed in distress, applying masks and ointments.

Zhao Luoxuan dragged Gu Hua to join her. The two young girls, their faces covered in thick white paste, reclined on the couch reading.

Gu Hua had especially found some books about the southern frontier for Zhao Luoxuan, to let her learn about its history, customs, and culture.

It was Zhao Luoxuan’s first time reading such things, and she was fascinated.

“Sister Hua, I think life outside the palace is much more interesting. Though today was busy, I feel fulfilled. Unlike in the palace, where every day is empty, just watching the women scheme against each other.”

Gu Hua nodded: “Mm. That’s because they’re too idle, with only petty things to fight over. Look at the common people—every day they labor just for food and warmth. Who has time to gossip?”

Leaning closer, Gu Hua asked softly: “Princess, do you know Autumn Shopkeeper of Linlang Pavilion? She’s the owner herself, and a model of a self-reliant woman.”

Zhao Luoxuan tilted her head: “I know Linlang Pavilion. I really like their jewelry—it’s unique, unlike palace ornaments that only pile on expensive gems without spirit. But I didn’t know the owner was a woman.”

“She’s very clever and capable. When we return to the capital, you could summon her for an audience and hear her thoughts.”

Zhao Luoxuan’s eyes lit up: “Yes! Take me to meet her when we’re back. I want her to make jewelry just for me.”

“Of course.”

The two girls chattered away happily, and before they knew it, night had fallen.

Nanny Mo came to announce: “Princess, it’s time for your meal.”

Gu Hua rose to excuse herself, but Zhao Luoxuan held her back: “Eat with me. Before, I always ate alone—it was so boring.”

So Gu Hua stayed.

The palace maids filed in with ten delicate dishes.

Zhao Luoxuan picked up her favorite pearl chicken meatball, but frowned: “Why isn’t this as good as the chicken we had earlier?”

Nanny Mo hurriedly said: “I’ll have the chef make it again, perhaps the seasoning was wrong.”

Gu Hua quickly said: “Let me try.”

She tasted it: “Mm, it’s good.”

Zhao Luoxuan tilted her head: “Do you really think this tastes better than that chicken with beans we had earlier?”

Gu Hua smiled: “That was chicken braised with potatoes. Potatoes aren’t native to Liang, but they grow easily with high yields, so they’re common here in the south.”

“I know why you think the chicken at noon was better. That was free-range mountain chicken—its meat is naturally more tender. Also, palace chefs wash and marinate meat repeatedly, using many steps to remove any odor, but in doing so strip away its natural flavor. The orphanage cook just used salt, keeping the chicken’s original taste.”

Zhao Luoxuan’s eyes widened: “So that’s it.”

“In noble households and the palace, cooking methods are similar—too complicated, too heavy. The food loses freshness and the ingredients’ true flavor. On my grain convoy, we ate roasted or simply boiled food, and once in the south, fresh ingredients cooked plainly every day. Even in the army, the food from the big pots tasted so good.”

“You’ve been to the army?” Zhao Luoxuan was shocked.

“Yes. Didn’t I say I even joined the battle at Shicheng?”

Zhao Luoxuan’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

“Princess, I even learned self-defense. I can hold my own against ordinary men.”

Zhao Luoxuan gave her a thumbs up: “Amazing! I want to learn too. Will you teach me?”

Nanny Mo hurried to stop her: “Princess, eating common food already makes us nervous, but learning martial arts? Impossible.”

“Why not?”

“That’s coarse and improper.”

Gu Hua arched a brow: “That’s not true. My husband’s grandmother, Old Madam Mu, was Liang’s number one female general. All my maids can fight. Women learning martial arts is just to protect themselves—what’s wrong with that?”

Nanny Mo looked troubled: “Concubine Hua, you don’t understand. Our princess was born frail. Even with careful care, she still falls ill easily. Today’s food already had me worried about stomach aches. How could she possibly train?”

Gu Hua chuckled: “It’s because she’s been coddled too much that her health is weak. Did your stomach hurt today, Princess?”

Zhao Luoxuan shook her head vigorously: “No, not at all. I even ate an extra bowl of rice. Nanny Mo, you were happy about that, remember?”

Nanny Mo was speechless.

“Martial arts can strengthen the body. It won’t harm her if done gradually. I used to be frail too, but now I’m fine. Step by step, it only helps.”

Zhao Luoxuan eagerly grabbed Gu Hua’s hand: “Then let me learn with you!”

“All right. Can you get up at dawn?”

Zhao Luoxuan’s eyes widened: “Eh? Dawn? That early?”

Gu Hua teased: “If you can’t, then forget it.”

Zhao Luoxuan hurriedly said: “No, I can! I will! Tomorrow at dawn, I’ll come find you.”

Nanny Mo and the attendants stared in shock.

The usually lazy Princess Shuhe, who never wanted to get out of bed and even cursed when roused, seemed like a different person.

Gu Hua hid a smile.

She only wanted Zhao Luoxuan to feel closer to her, and to experience joy in Juzhou.

People always compare.

When she remembered the happiness here, then thought of the misery of a political marriage, anyone would choose the former.

As long as she won the princess’s heart, the peace delegation would never succeed.