248 Too Selfish
The young misses were very happy. They came to An Shou Hall together to greet Old Madam Yu. The few of them could be seen gathered together. Even the cold An Shou Hall became lively.
Yu Youyao gave her grandmother her new medicinal tea.
Yu Shuangbai used the medicinal tea that Yu Youyao had given her to perform the tea-dividing technique on the spot. The tea had the word “longevity” on it and this made Old Madam smile.
Yu Lianyu had written a poem of the Five Blessings, which was auspicious. When Old Madam Yu saw this, she couldn’t help but take a few more glances at her. She was talented in poetry. Even outside, she could compete with outsiders.
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Yu Fangfei’s hands were skillful, so she made a headband that looked like the Five Blessings. Old Madam was old and couldn’t stand wearing a hairpin and a crown. She felt that her head was heavy and uncomfortable. This headband was made of cloth, so it was very light when she wore it at home. It was obvious that the youngest, Yu Fangfei, was also smart and considerate.
Old Madam Yu smiled so widely that her wrinkles appeared. “All of you have grown up.”
Even when An Shou Hall fell silent, the smile on Old Madam Yu’s face did not fade. She said to Nanny Liu, “Look, everyone in the family is presentable. Be it their character or talent, they’re all top-notch. When they’re older and introduced outside, news of the Yu Residence’s good upbringing will probably be spread.”
The sisters in the family were well-mannered, and it was also because the Yu Residence had a good family background.
Nanny Liu also smiled and said, “Isn’t that so? Second Madam is well-mannered, and her sisters are also well-mannered. Eldest Miss has also shown the demeanor of a legitimate elder by teaching her sisters well.”
These words touched Old Madam Yu’s heart. On second thought, she thought of Yu Qingning. “It’s a pity that Yu Qingning has been spoiled by Madam Yang, and Eldest Son has spoiled her. Concubine He has also been spoiled. Otherwise, with her embroidery skills, she would have been praised.”
At the mention of Yu Qingning, she couldn’t help but think of Yu Jianjia.
“As for Third Miss…” Old Madam Yu pondered for a moment. She was only a nine-year-old child, but her expression revealed some consideration. “She’s too scheming. She’s also too selfish like Madam Yang, but her personality is hard to determine. Even I can’t tell if she’s good or bad.”
Nanny Liu agreed deeply and smiled. “Children have their own blessings. All the sisters in the family are outstanding and filial. Your blessings are yet to come.”
Which old lady did not like to be surrounded by family when she was old? Old Madam was a little mild-mannered, so the sisters in the family were more afraid of her than respectful.
It was also during this period of time that the sisters from the second house often came to the main house to play with Eldest Miss. They would definitely come to An Shou Hall to greet her. It was also because of Eldest Miss that the juniors in the family were much closer to Old Madam. It was obvious that Old Madam’s mood had become much brighter.
After Yu Youyao returned to the Jade Courtyard, she went to the incense room.
Just now, in her grandmother’s house, she had seen her grandmother change a string of agarwood beads. The fragrance reminded her that she was wearing agarwood beads.
The Heavenly Fragrance Records recorded many ways to make incense beads, so she wanted to make them herself.
The medicinal fragrance could only be used at home, and the fragrance of the sachet could not last long. The fragrance pearl was often worn on the body. It could be worn on the head, ears, neck, wrist, and waist. It was suitable for men and women.
Nanny Xu smiled and asked, “What incense do you want to make?”
Yu Youyao took the Heavenly Fragrance Records and flipped to the section on incense beads. “Let’s make osmanthus incense beads. The production of incense beads depends on patience and craftsmanship. It’s even more difficult. I’ve never done it before. The osmanthus incense beads are simple to match. Moreover, the fragrance is innocent, faint, and refreshing. Wearing them makes one feel relaxed and calm.”
Ambergris is the most fragrant thing in the world, but in front of sweet-scented osmanthus, it would only be ranked second.
Osmanthus incense was comparable to ambergris.
This was her first time making incense beads, so Yu Youyao was worried that she wouldn’t be able to do it well. “Nanny, will you guide me from the side?”
Nanny Xu nodded in agreement.
Yu Youyao took out some dried osmanthus flowers and grinded them carefully. She needed to calm down to wash and slowly grind them.
The incense had spirituality, and there were some simple incense recipes. However, everyone’s methods were different, and the environments were different. The people who made the incense had different mental states, and there were also differences in the composition of the incense.
Sunlight shone through the hall, illuminating the room. The fragrance of the osmanthus rose from light to thick. Unknowingly, it filled the room with a faint sweetness.
When Nanny Xu saw this, she couldn’t help but nod to herself.
As long as Yu Youyao wanted to do something, she could calm down and abandon all distracting thoughts. It was also because of this that no matter what she learned, she learned quickly and was good at everything. The little girl had already prepared such good medical cuisine from the beginning. Later, when Zhou Linghuai taught her calligraphy, studies, and zither skills, her personality was polished.
The dried osmanthus flowers had been ground into fine powder. Yu Youyao rubbed her sore arms and took a thin sieve from the side to sieve the grounded dried osmanthus flowers.
Dry osmanthus powder had to be paired with agarwood, cloves, amber, and borneol. She often used borneol and agarwood to make medicinal fragrances, and they were all grounded on the spot.
Yu Youyao needed to grind the lilacs and amber herself.
By the time Yu Youyao finished grinding the osmanthus incense, it was already two hours later.
Nanny Xu brought her a cup of tea. “You have to make it with incense mud.”
Yu Youyao happened to be thirsty, so she took it and drank it. Only when she finished the cup of tea did she put it aside. “Nanny, what water should I use to mix the incense mud?”
Nanny Xu said, “Weren’t a few jars of snow water collected in the cellar last year? The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and the snow water is clear. When used to combine with the fragrant mud, it will also have a hint of sweetness and cleanliness. The smell will be more refreshing.”
There was a small ice vault in the Jade Courtyard and a cold cellar beside it. Usually, they would put some things that needed to be chilled in the cellar.
Nanny Xu went to the cold cellar to get a small bottle of snow water.
It was snowing in winter, and the snow was especially pure. A wisp of coldness could pierce through one’s heart. Yu Youyao added some spiritual dew. After washing her hands, she kneaded the incense mud while slowly adding water to beat it.
She repeatedly kneaded and pounded until the clay became soft and firm.
Yu Youyao began to knead the beads, turning the incense clay into a pearl the size of a cherry. This was a process that required effort. Yu Youyao took a sharp wooden stick and carved patterns on the beads.
She had carved two types of patterns. One was the “Longevity” pattern, and the other was the “Fortune” pattern. They were inserted with small sticks and dried.
Nanny Xu was very satisfied. “If it’s placed in a place that’s sheltered from the sun, it’ll dry in two to three days. The rest of the time is more focused on craftsmanship and patience, and it’s especially torturous.”
Yu Youyao had originally planned to make more, but Nanny Xu stopped her. In the end, there were only about 50 incense beads that she had kneaded. However, it took eight to four hours, and she had even forgotten about her meal.
It was obvious how difficult it was to make incense beads.
In the blink of an eye, it was time for the Flower Festival at the Marquis of Changxing’s Residence.
This was the first time Yu Youyao had been outside, so Nanny Xu took it especially seriously. She picked out a green silk sleeveless dress.
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