Relying on Food Chapter 1 Part 2: Recovering from Illness

That was simply an impossible goal!

Just when Wan Anran was depressed, a flash of inspiration flashed through her mind. Although she didn't know how the novel ended, from her limited knowledge of Qing Dynasty history, Wan Anran still knew that Wan Daying, also known as Wan Liu Ha-shi, would be the longest-living imperial concubine in the Qing Dynasty.

Instead of fighting for the first position in the harem, why not retire early in the Forbidden City? Compared to failing on a mission and dying young (and still not being able to go back), she thought it would be more practical to live to the age of ninety-nine.

Having decided on the future direction, Wan Anran was generally quite satisfied. As she was thinking, the door was pushed open with a creak, and a cold wind carrying snowflakes blew into the room, followed by a little palace maid carrying a food box hurrying in.

She was wearing a half-worn coat, and her cheeks were flushed by the cold wind. The maid first stamped her feet and rubbed her hands, shaking off the excess snow on her body, and then hurried inside.

The maid carried the food box and placed it on the table.

She turned around and quickly helped Wan Anran up, stuffed a soft pillow behind her, and tucked every corner of the quilt tightly. Finally, the maid brought out a small table and placed it on the bed: "My lady, don't be sad. Binglu is a heartless person. She will regret it in the future."

There were two palace maids who served a Daying.

Another palace maid named Binglu found a way out when the original owner of the body was seriously ill. She moved away hurriedly two days ago without saying a word.

"Haitao, don't talk nonsense. I'm not sad."

"Yes, yes, yes, good, good, my lady is not sad." Haitao responded as if coaxing a child. She placed the food box on the table, and then busily brought the medicine being warmed on the stove to her lady: "My lady, please have it?"

Wan Anran: …

Bitter medicine makes me even sadder.

The medicine was terribly bitter, but how could she not drink the medicine when she was so thin and fragile that she was out of breath even after walking a few steps? Wan Daying took the medicine bowl with her eyelids drooping and drank it all in one gulp.

The bitter taste flows from the tip of the tongue to the stomach.

The last bit of blush on Wan Daying's face disappeared instantly. She couldn't help but knock her fist on her chest, frowned and coughed a few times.

Haitao was so anxious that sweat broke out on the tip of her nose: "My lady!"

She quickly opened the food box and took out a plate of red date cake: "My lady, please take a bite quickly to reduce the bitterness."

The red date cake was sweet. When she took a bite, the sweetness seeped into her lips and teeth, quickly suppressing the bitterness of the medicine.

Wan Daying relaxed her brows and breathed a sigh of satisfaction. Then she lowered her eyes to look at the red date cake and couldn't help but ask, "I remember that a Daying’s share of food didn't include... this?"

Why did the concubines in the palace try so hard to climb up the ladder?

Salary was one of the biggest reasons. For example, for Wan Daying, apart from the daily ration of food, the rest had to be purchased with money, the stove cost money, the charcoal cost money... To be honest, for those who were unpopular like the original owner, their lives were even worse than that of the palace maids around the popular concubines.

It was no wonder that later in the book, there were stories about maids of high-ranking concubines living better than those of ordinary concubines.

These days, apart from bitter medicine, the only thing she ate was rice porridge.

At first, Wan Anran wanted some candy to reduce the bitter taste of the medicine, but later she found out... that there was no sugar allocated for a Daying.

In the Qing Palace, sugar was always portioned:)

So much so that when Wan Anran saw the red date cake in front of her, she was so excited that her eyes were filled with tears. Of course, she still had to confirm it before eating it.

Haitao responded.

After a pause, she added, "This was sent by Xuan Pin niangniang."

Pin: Concubine. It’s one of the ranks in Imperial Chinese harem system.

Niangniang: A term used when addressing an empress, a consort, or a concubine in the imperial harem.

Xuan Pin was the master of Xianfu Palace.

She had a famous surname - Borjigin. In name, she and Tong Guifei are cousins ​​of the emperor. After entering the palace, she was named Xuan Pin and lived as the master in Xianfu Palace. Of course, it was not difficult to see from the fact that Tong Guifei was a guifei and Xuan Pin was a pin that the emperor had little affection and an indifferent attitude towards Xuan Pin.

Guifei: Noble Consort. It’s one of the ranks in Imperial Chinese harem system.

Xuan Pin was also happy about this.

She was gentle and kind to Wan Daying who was moved to Xianfu Palace because of illness. Not only did she not ignore her, but she also frequently asked the imperial doctors to treat her. To put it bluntly, if it weren't for Xuan Pin, Wan Daying would have died before Wan Anran transmigrated.

Wan Anran suddenly realized.

The red date cake was soft, sticky and sweet. She ate two pieces in one go before stopping, feeling unsatisfied - it was much more delicious than the rice porridge she had been drinking these days!

Haitao was particularly quiet today.

Wan Anran raised his eyes to look at Haitao who had a serious face, and handed the plate to Haitao with a smile: "Haitao, what's wrong? Come, have a piece of red date cake! When you are in a bad mood, you have to eat sweet things!"

Haitao responded softly.

Seeing that her reaction was not right, Wan Anran came back to her senses: "Did the palace servants outside say something?"

Hai Tao shook her head: "That's not it."

Wan Anran glanced at her and poked Haitao on the forehead with her finger: "You can’t lie to me. Hurry up and tell me."

Haitao forced herself to smile.

Soon, she was defeated by Wan Daying's stubborn expression: "The rumors outside are getting more and more exaggerated. I want to tear their mouths off when I hear them! The imperial physician clearly said that Young Lady can recover as long as she is well taken care of, but they said that Young lady, Young Lady..."

In the end, Haitao’s nose felt sore and she almost shed tears.

Wan Anran understood after thinking about it.

Maybe they said that she would not live long? Wan Anran searched around but could not find any handkerchief, so she had to wipe away the tears from Haitao's eyes with her fingertips: "Let them talk. When I get well, I'll see who can say anything to you. Then I'll take Haitao with me and walk around in front of them a few more times, okay?"

Haitao burst into laughter.

She looked at the young lady chattering about how to "show off", and the bitterness in her heart finally faded away.

The Young Lady is right!

The key was to conserve energy and get well quickly. Haitao smiled sweetly and nodded heavily, "Yes, I believe that my lady will get better! By the way, my lady, we have moved to Xianfu Palace for more than two months. My lady has been sick and has not paid her respects to Xuan Pin. How about paying your respects to Xuan Pin tomorrow?"

If the harem was a company.

Then the six palaces belonged to the department of the company, Xuan Pin was the department manager, and Wan Anran was a small employee of the department. Now that the leader had shown goodwill, Wan Anran, as an employee, should respond: "Indeed."

Translator’s Note:

In Qing dynasty Imperial Chinese harem system, there were eight ranks:

Empress (皇后; huánghòu)

Imperial Noble Consort (皇貴妃; huángguìfēi)

Noble Consort (貴妃; guìfēi)

Consort (妃; fēi)

Concubine (嬪; pín)

Noble Lady (貴人; guìrén)

First Class Attendant (常在; chángzài)

Second Class Attendant (答應; dāyìng)

I’m not sure if the author will use this system, but I’m putting this information here just in case.

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