Chapter 13: The Fourth Miss Is Quite Bold

Wei Chun knew Shen Shuangning's leg was injured; she stared gloomily at Fourth Miss Shen's back, waited for the right moment, then shoved her hard!

With a thud, Shen Shuangning was knocked to the ground.

Shen Ling turned and saw her older sister fallen on the ground, her face instantly changing. She didn't even bother grabbing ingredients, pushing through the crowd and rushing straight to Shen Shuangning.

Older sister!

Older sister, how are you? Are you alright?

Shen Shuangning broke out in a fine cold sweat from the pain, she shook off Shen Ling's hand and urged, 'Don't mind me, hurry!'

Shen Ling hesitated a moment, bit her lip, then obeyed and left.

Madame Pei almost couldn't help rushing forward to help Shen Shuangning up when she saw her fall, but remembering her son's instructions, she restrained herself.

Then she saw Shen Shuangning grit her teeth against the pain and slowly rise.

Madame Pei felt both heartache and admiration.

Such a young lady, unfazed by crisis, calm and tenacious, and above all able to look after the bigger picture—this is an extremely rare disposition.

You'd search with a lantern and still not find another like her; no wonder her son, who has his eyes set on the highest, is utterly enamored.

At this moment, Madame Pei genuinely liked this young lady from the bottom of her heart.

Even if Shen Shuangning fails the ladies' etiquette contest, in Madame Pei's heart she is already first.

Just then, Madame Pei seemed to see someone and jumped in fright.

Grand Princess?!

The Grand Princess had arrived at some point and had been watching silently for a while.

She made a silencing gesture to Madame Pei.

Madame Pei understood, her heart pounding like a drum, and she broke into a sweat for Shen Shuangning.

The Grand Princess always values rules and formalities, never shows favoritism; just now Shuangning took a fall, and I don't know if the Princess saw it...

Wei Chun acted covertly, picking an angle the examiners couldn't see, and shoved Shen Shuangning down in the chaos—so much so that Shen Shuangning herself didn't even see who had dealt the blow from behind.

By the time she reached the ingredients area, everything she wanted had already been taken.

Shen Shuangning ended up taking back a pumpkin that no one wanted.

The noble ladies stared, mouths agape, seeing her actually holding a pumpkin.

There were still plenty of usable items, yet Fourth Miss Shen actually chose this lowly thing unfit for refined company—does she not want to pass?

Madame Pei also didn't understand, and wondered why a pumpkin would be among those ingredients.

Wei Chun saw this, lowered her head and gave a soft puff of laughter; knowing Shen Shuangning had only this much ability, she needn't have taken the risk.

Shen Ling looked at her sister's pumpkin, not understanding but trusting her—she knew her sister would never joke about the honor of the Duke's Manor.

Shen Shuangning ignored the crowd's mocking doubts and focused on her own work.

When half an incense stick remained, Shen Ling had finished and was about to bring it out.

Shen Shuangning whispered a warning: 'Watch out for Wei Chun.'

Shen Ling instinctively glanced at Wei Chun, who hastily lowered her head, pressing her lips into a thin line.

Wei Chun had finished long ago but delayed moving, as if waiting for something.

Shen Ling furrowed her brows, then pretended not to know, carrying out the carefully made pastry.

Wei Chun indeed followed closely behind.

Shen Ling deliberately slowed her pace, paying attention to Wei Chun's small movements.

Wei Chun's eyes flickered; she pretended to trip on her own skirt, crying 'Ayoy' and lunging forward exaggeratedly.

Shen Ling flicked her body aside, sidestepping Wei Chun's attempt at a mutual-destruction ploy.

With a clang.

Wei Chun and the pastry in her hand went flying, landing in a messy heap.

Before she could react, the examiner loudly declared, 'Lady Wei Chun, you are disqualified!'

Wei Chun's face turned pale; looking up, she saw Shen Ling making a grimace at her.

'Damn it!' Wei Chun angrily pounded the ground, full of resentment.

Gradually, fewer people remained on the field, and Shen Shuangning almost finished right on the dot.

The dishes and pastries made by the noble ladies used exquisite ingredients and were plated ever more delicately, but Shen Shuangning had only a steaming pumpkin, its surface still covered with dirt—truly indescribable.

Madame Pei once again broke into a sweat for Shen Shuangning.

For the culinary exam, the Grand Princess will personally taste the entries.

All the food was taken to the next room, while the noble ladies stayed where they were to await the results.

Dozens of exquisite dishes were arranged on a long table, each tray bearing a wooden plaque engraved with a name.

Madam Shen looked over and over, until she saw Shen Shuangning's handiwork, and her eyes went dark.

'What, what is this girl up to?!'

Madam Yang glanced at her, eyes flashing with smugness, 'This time Ah Ling will outshine your daughter—you'll be miserable!'

Thinking that, she spoke soothingly: 'Elder sister-in-law, don't be angry; Ning'er has always been the most resourceful—maybe she has some clever idea.'

The matrons covered their mouths and laughed; a pumpkin, no matter how you dress it up, is still a pumpkin and not fit for the table.

In the glass cups of the nearby noble ladies were either sugar flowers wrapped in gold thread or pastries set with eastern pearls; only this pumpkin, its stem not trimmed, gave off a faint hint of roasted aroma from its rising steam.

Fourth Miss Shen's 'clever idea' is probably just meant to amuse people.

The Yan Princess Consort was also there, her expression unchanged as she sipped tea lightly.

All I saw was the Grand Princess tasting each dish on the table, except she skipped over Shen Shuangning's.

Madame Pei sighed, this round Fourth Miss Shen is likely to be eliminated.

Madam Yang comforted Madam Shen: 'Elder sister-in-law, don't be upset; we still have Ah Ling.'

Madam Shen sighed, nodded, and could only place her hope on Shen Ling.

Then the Grand Princess walked over to that plate of pumpkin again, pinched the wooden tag with her fingertip, and asked, "Is this the craftsmanship of the Shen mansion?"

Madam Shen's heart jumped, and she hurriedly rose from her seat.

The Grand Princess lifted the pumpkin's lid, and a fragrant aroma wafted out—it was a pumpkin soup.

She scooped up a nail‑sized portion with a gold spoon, put it in her mouth, tasted it carefully, and showed no expression.

Watching this made Madam Shen tremble with fear.

The Grand Princess took the soft cloth handed by a palace maid, wiped the corner of her mouth, and said, "Bring Shen Shuangning here."

Madam Shen secretly thought it was not good, and was about to plead: "Grand Princess......"

"No need to say more, madam." The Grand Princess didn't turn her head, raised a hand, and stopped Madam Shen's words.

Madam Shen could only close her mouth, wring her handkerchief anxiously, and feel uneasy.

The young ladies were still whispering among themselves.

There were no chairs here; everyone stood.

Shen Shuangning was carefully supported by Shen Ling, trying as much as possible not to put weight on her sprained foot.

"Older sister, you're truly brilliant—this cooking exam actually relates to the Lantern Festival. Fortunately we'd practiced beforehand; otherwise I'd only know how to make sweet glutinous rice balls."

Shen Shuangning smiled faintly: "Just good luck."

Soon after, Madam Pei arrived, not to announce the results, but to summon Shen Shuangning away.

"Does the Grand Princess want to see older sister?" Shen Ling's eyes flashed with worry, and she immediately said, "Older sister, I'll go with you."

Madam Pei said, "The Grand Princess wishes to see her alone."

Shen Shuangning gently patted Shen Ling's hand: "Wait here for me; nothing will happen."

Shen Ling's face was full of worry.

Wei Chun, meanwhile, wore a face of schadenfreude.

Shen Shuangning walked behind Madam Pei and whispered, "Madam, may I ask why the Grand Princess has summoned me?"

Madam Pei stopped, shook her head slowly, and said, "If the Grand Princess intends to question you, don't talk back, be sensible. With your mother present, nothing will happen."

Shen Shuangning's heart sank.

Upon entering the tent, she sensed the solemn atmosphere and met Madam Shen's grave expression.

Could she have guessed the wrong topic?

Shen Shuangning kept a calm expression, approached the Grand Princess and knelt to pay respects, but was stopped by a hand extended from the superior.

"You're bold, daring to use pumpkin."

Unexpectedly, the Grand Princess's tone was extremely gentle.

Shen Shuangning then knew she had guessed right, and breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.

Since the pumpkin was on the table, it was naturally usable; she knew this Grand Princess was a reasonable person.

The Grand Princess added, "Tell me, why did you think of using pumpkin?"

It turned out not to be an interrogation?

Madam Shen and Madam Yang exchanged a surprised glance.

The Princess Consort of Yan also glanced over.

Shen Shuangning had long anticipated the Grand Princess's question and had prepared her answer in advance.

She spoke calmly: "In the past, Emperor Xiaowen obtained the Dayuan pumpkin, ordered the Imperial Kitchen Bureau to season it with dew, paired it with frontier cheese, and named it "Golden Stem Dew Soup." Today I dare to recreate it, substituting deer milk for the cheese and bird's nest for the jade liquid, taking the meaning "the people are the foundation, nobility arises from the common"—if there were no pumpkins in the fields, how could there be gold and jade in the hall?"

The Grand Princess clapped her hands and laughed: "What a fine line—"If there were no pumpkins in the fields, how could there be gold and jade in the hall?" Fourth Miss, you've put thought into this."

The ladies of the aristocratic clans lowered their heads, all feeling a bit flushed.

They held their lofty demeanor, regarding pumpkin as a vulgar, base thing, not knowing it had once been Emperor Taizu's favorite; fortunate they had not spoken disparagement just now, otherwise, if Fourth Miss's words were spread, they would at least be guilty of great disrespect.

The Princess Consort of Yan slightly furrowed her brows, turned her head to the lady beside her, and whispered softly, "She resembles her brother just as much—just as sharp‑tongued, with a silver tongue."

Even a pumpkin can spout flowers.

Song Xizhi, hearing this, couldn't help but look toward Shen Shuangning, her eyes complex.

Shen Shuangning was unaware of the Princess Consort of Yan's private critique of her; she took a breath and continued, "I have heard that Zhen Ding and surrounding areas have suffered disaster, with half of the granaries collapsed, the victims starving and freezing, suffering beyond words. Not long ago, I happened to read a book and learned that during the nineteenth year of the Yongle era, a snow disaster struck, and the people survived by mixing pumpkin with bran to eat, saving countless lives."

The Grand Princess's gaze toward her shifted at once: "Continue."

Shen Shuangning gathered her courage and said, "This melon matures in three months, but famine relief cannot wait. Yet the stored old pumpkins in various places can still last several days—they can be made into porridge, cakes, or fermented liquor. Moreover, pumpkin is warm in nature, strengthens the middle and boosts Qi, harmless even when eaten much, and its pulp can be chopped to feed livestock, making full use of it."

The Grand Princess listened silently, nodding from time to time.

As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Pei added, "In famine years, mixed grains spoil easily; only pumpkin keeps well. My manor holds three hundred shi of aged pumpkins, and I am willing to contribute what I can."

The Grand Princess had already sat back in her chair, her gaze toward Shen Shuangning full of admiration.

"You're just a young lady—how do you know so much about pumpkin?"

Shen Shuangning lowered her eyes: "Since childhood I have had a cold stomach; my mother used to make me pumpkin soup and told me a few things—fortunately my memory is still decent."

The Grand Princess turned her gaze to Madam Shen and smiled: "The Duchess has a fine daughter."

The clan ladies also showed appreciation; Shen Shuangning's remarks just now made them look at her anew.

Madam Shen laughed modestly: "Grand Princess, you overpraise. Ningning spoke a bit too closely; if there are any inaccuracies, please forgive them."

The Grand Princess looked again at Shen Shuangning, propping her forehead, and said lazily, "Although Fourth Miss spoke wonderfully, your pumpkin soup seems to lack a point. In that case, I cannot let you pass."