When the late spring sophora blossoms carpeted the veranda, Jiang Wan was busy in the front courtyard, taking inventory of the gifts for the birthday banquet. As she crouched down to inspect a glazed cup offered as tribute from the Western Regions, she suddenly heard two maids whispering outside the moon gate.
"The small kitchen at Tinglan Courtyard has been stewing medicinal soups constantly," one voice said, kept extremely low. "The Second Miss is under house arrest, so who is she nourishing?"
"Hush—" the other maid looked nervously left and right. "I heard Biyue say that the Second Miss pours the soup dregs under the sweet osmanthus tree every day, claiming that..."
Chapter 29