The sounds of stringed instruments are pleasant to the ears, and the fine music is loud.
On the stage, the troupe sang a little song, and Old Madam Song sat at the top, dressed in silk and satin. A little maid knelt on the footstool, holding a beauty hammer and beating it for Old Madam Song.
The room is filled with pearls, jades and laughter.
There were ancient zithers and tripods on the wall, and a Ruyao beauty gourd on the long table was filled with plum blossom branches, which gave off a faint fragrance. A large wolfskin mattress was spread all over the floor, and a group of servants and maids stood behind Old Madam Song like wings.
A red coral more than ten feet high is placed on a black lacquered and gold-painted round stool with a base, and a large gilded enamel brazier stands behind a kesi screen next to it.
The room is exquisite and luxurious everywhere.
There were precious fruits and delicacies on the table, including longan sent from southern Fujian. Longan was rare at this time of year, but Song Lingzhi loved to eat it, so Old Madam Song specially sent it from southern Fujian.
The sixteenth day of the first lunar month.
Today is a family dinner, and it's a rare moment of relaxation. Old Madam Song leans back in her natural Arhat bed, letting the maid massage her feet and waist. She glances sideways and sees Song Lingzhi secretly dozing off beside her.
Old Madam Song smiled and hugged her in her arms: "What did I say? Zhizhi must be restless. She doesn't like to listen to operas, but she refuses to go out and wants to accompany an old woman like me."
Before he could finish his words, a maid came forward with a smile and said, "The young lady is worried about the old lady. If she follows the master to the capital, I'm afraid the old lady will not be comfortable this year."
The room was filled with maids and old women, dressed in gorgeous flowers and gorgeous crowns.
Song Lingzhi was in a daze as she slept. It was freezing cold. Although the house was heated by a floor heater and there were large gilded enamel braziers in the four corners, Song Lingzhi still felt cold. She subconsciously said, "Baizhi, I'm cold."
Madam Song, who was hugging her, was startled for a moment, then she opened her eyes wide: "Zhizhi, are you feeling unwell? Why do you feel cold out of nowhere? Maybe you haven't recovered from the cold yet?"
When Song Lingzhi heard his grandmother's caring voice, his shoulders trembled and he realized belatedly that he was not in Yilan Palace.
A month ago, she woke up in her boudoir and unexpectedly discovered that she still had a chance to start over.
In this life, she did not go to Beijing with her father, but stayed at her home in Jiangnan to spend the New Year with her grandmother.
Although it was a past event, Song Lingzhi could never forget the winter days in Yilan Palace in her previous life. She was afraid of cold, and after that experience, she became even more afraid of cold, and she wished she could stay by the incense burner day and night.
When Old Madam Song heard this, she thought Song Lingzhi was not feeling well, and hurried to call a doctor. She also had someone bring two more braziers, and personally brought a small hand warmer over, putting it in Song Lingzhi's hand: "Are you still very cold?"
As he spoke, he asked someone to go to the kitchen to bring back the whitebait and ham soup. The whitebait had been simmering in the pot, and with the addition of firewood chicken and ham, the taste was naturally delicious.
Song Lingzhi had been a picky eater since she was young, and since she was under the protection of Old Madam Song, everyone in the mansion always paid attention to her meals, fearing that this little ancestor would be dissatisfied.
Madam Song smiled and said, "There are ginseng bamboo shoots in the kitchen today. If you want to eat some, ask them to bring them over."
Song Lingzhi nestled in her grandmother's arms and said coquettishly, "Grandma, I want to eat Eight Treasure Duck."
Although the ingredients for Eight Treasure Duck are easy to obtain, the preparation method is a bit complicated. First, remove the duck bones, then fill the duck's belly with purple glutinous rice that has been soaked overnight, then add ham, bamboo shoots, and chestnuts, wrap it with cellophane, and steam it in a steamer.