Rouge Fruit Cold Jelly
Fangsu began plucked off all the Rouge Fruit of the branch, cleaning them off from the possible dirt and bugs that still remained on the plants. Sorting through berries, Fangsu separated all the edible ones from the ones that were rotten or eaten by bugs. The rotten Rouge Fruit along with the unusual flower petals from the distilling process could be used as fertiliser, for growing plants instead of chucking them and wasting valuable usage of them. Fangsu left some Rouge Fruit on the side.
Fangsu poured all the rest of the edible Rouge Fruit into a pot, bringing into a boil and simmered it until it became a jam-like consistency. Stirring the Rouge Fruit until the seed was easily able to be scooped out, Fangsu left behind the delicious softened Rouge Fruit. Fangsu added some rock sugar into the pot of boiling Rouge Fruit to sweeten it before jarring up the jam into the container and leaving them to cool. Fangsu took a spoonful of the jam, giving it taste before serving it. The warm jam sat on Fangsu's tongue staining her pink lips to a cherry red hue as she ate the sweet jam, approving of the taste Fangsu decided to move onto the next step.
Taking the bag of Nicandra Physaloides, Fangsu rubbed them in her hands breaking the dry exterior to allow the seeds to fall out, occasionally unripe fruits of the Nicandra Physaloides came out to reveal a small hard but green fruit. After Fangsu separated the remains of the dry plant and ripe fruits from the seeds, Fangsu wrapped the Nicandra Physaloides seeds into a cloth, placing it in a bowl of water and kneading it until it turned the water white. Fangsu realised she had forgotten one ingredient, "Da Fu! Can you ask someone to get some quicklime powder for me?" Fangsu called out to Da Fu, who immediately went to ask a spare employee to buy some.
While waiting for the quicklime powder to come, Fangsu took eight spare empty jars from the storage room. The jars, however, were dusty from being unused. Fangsu cleaned them using some water before filled half of the jars with the remaining Rouge Fruit that Fangsu left on the side, adding a few pieces of rock sugar and filling the rest of the jar with glutinous rice wine. The tart rouge fruit would add the flavour to the alcohol making it into Rouge Fruit Wine. Fangsu decided to leave the six jars of wine in the kitchen until she finished making the dessert. After a while, a servant came running into the room with a package of quicklime, who Fangsu thanked gratefully for their service. After the servant gave the package of quicklime powder, they went to go back to their station, "Wait!" Fangsu stopped the servant and went to a grab a jar of wine, "Take this with you and share it among all the workers, but you have the ferment it for a minimum of 6 months before you can drink it." The servant was able to refuse the gracious gift from their mistress, but Fangsu quickly pushed the servant carrying the wine, out of the kitchen.
The servant was stunned to have received a precious gift from the mistress. To the servant, Fangsu was a kind-heart soul even that she thanked a lowly servant like them. In their heart, they vowed to fulfil any request that the young miss would ask. They ran to their co-workers, sharing the news about the Young Mistress's kind actions and gift. They all cry in their hearts, the mistress was like a fallen deity that had been punished by God for sympathises with humans. Vowing in their hearts, they would serve the young mistress to their fullest capability and protect her from danger.
Fangsu's reputation has risen greatly among the workers in Blossoming Fragrance without her knowledge.
Fangsu opened the package to reveal the stark white powder which would help make her dessert. Pouring the quicklime powder into another bowl of warm, Fangsu mix it until it had merged with the water. Then she poured the quicklime water into the Nicandra Physaloides water, mixing them together until it became a jelly-like consistency. She began cutting up the jelly into pieces that could be scooped up. Fangsu grabbed 5 bowls from the cupboards from the kitchen, spooning the jelly into the bowls, with a spoonful of the Rouge Fruit Jam and some dried fruits or peanut toppings.
Putting all the dessert bowls on a tray, Fangsu pushed the door with her foot to open the kitchen doors. Seeing that everyone was already seated on the outdoor courtyard table, "I finished making the dessert," Fangsu placed the bowls of dessert in front of her Grandpa, Da Fu, Bao Ming, Wen Cheng and herself, "You can eat it now!" Fangsu began mixing the dessert together which stained the entire jelly and toppings red with the Rouge Fruit Jam.
"Fangsu how did you get such consistency?" Bao Ming took a bite of the dessert, her eyes immediately brightened at the taste of such a delicious treat. The jelly has no resistance, easily being sliced without much pressure. The tart but sweet Rouge Fruit Jam was simply delicious, it was something foreign to people who lived in the capital most of their lives probably never having the chance to have a taste of what Nature could offer.
Fangsu was who indulging in the sweet dessert had stuffed her mouth with the dessert, accidentally staining her lips red, "It's from the Nicandra Physaloides and quicklime water." Fangsu swallowed the dessert to be able to speak easily, "But, don't ask me how it works. My sister... " Fangsu paused in her sentence but continued to answer, "My sister taught this to me years ago and the dessert is quite easy to make." Everyone went quiet. Even Wen Cheng stayed quiet even who was unaware of the situation could feel the atmosphere immediately shifted in Fangsu's tone.
Fangsu knew that the change of the atmosphere was because of her. She immediately took up her empty bowl and rushed to the kitchen to clean up, "There are some leftover desserts left. There is enough for the workers." Fangsu who was carrying four jars of freshly made wine paused in her footsteps, "There are jars of fruit wine in the kitchen; all of you can have one." After finishing her words. Placing the wines in a bag, Fangsu quickly mounted Tian to get to Chen Household to be alone.
——-
As Fangsu urged Tian into the unlit streets of the capital. Pausing in front of the house of where Gui Ying lived, Fangsu handed the jar of wine to a servant so that they could give it Gui Ying. Fangsu held onto the bag that carried the three wine jars, her emotions became numb as she continued in the direction of the Chen Household. Felt her breathing were uneven almost like she was carried chains on her.
Sounds of groans and chains caught her attention, an illuminated but transparent groups of spirits wandered the street. The clothes that the spirits wore were ragged and dirty, dishevelled revealing wounds that were infected with thick yellow pus along with fragments of bones jutting out from the skin. Heavy chunky chains hung around their ankles, as they dragged them across the ground, grinding against the ground created an unpleasant sound. Wandering Spirit, a low to mid-tier spirit, usually manifesting from the longing desire to be live but eventually dying. Leaving their physical body, they continue to wander hoping to find a physical that is compatible with their spirit.
Usually, many people aren't able to see into the spiritual realm, completely unaware of their presence. Unless the cultivator practices certain art or the spirit has absorbed enough Qi to an extent that they can manifest in the physical world and wreak havoc, they are usually of high-tier. Most cultivators are unable to deal with spirits and there are a limited amount of cultivators that practice the arts that allow them to exterminate such beings.
The groups of spirits wandered towards Fangsu, grabbing onto the hems of her clothes. Their groans of pain-filled Fangsu's ears, their hand scraped against her skins but she pretended not to see, hear or feel the spirits that clung onto her.
"Help us,"
"Help us, oh great one!"
"Save our souls!"
"Oh, priestess! save us!"
"Give us salvation!"
Fangsu pushed past the spirits dispersing their bodies to a cloud of white smoke, hearing the whispers of help from the spirits, as their body began reforming back to normal. Fangsu knew better than to interact with spirits especially when she is unable to protect herself which require Qi. Fangsu continues to get away from the spirits, hearing the cries of the spirits who stood still trying to reach for her. Reaching the front of the house, Fangsu dismounted Tian and removing off the saddle off. Tian immediately when back to his stable, which Fangsu filled the trough with fresh water and left some feed into a bucket. Fangsu could feel the chill run down her spine as the memory of that group ghost still lingered in her mind, it was unnerving having to see spirits. Fangsu took out a brush, as she swept the brush on Tian to get rid of any dust, the mindless motion make Fangsu unknowingly begin singing.
Suddenly one year has passed
Time does not stop
Going back and forth on this empty street
Yesterday that passed
Everything is still so vivid
Thinking back in each memory
In this pair of blurry eyes
I will still remember
That scene at that time
Recollecting the things you said
The me at the time was already so used
To crying alone
Knowing we would be separated
So don't say "I love you"
Till now I
Just cared too much
Just cared too much
The sunshine is just like that day
But it is plainly some other day
Perhaps I ought to be happy
But what should I be happy about?
Finally letting the hustle and bustle continue
Pushing me forward
Thinking vainly that at the end of the road
You could turn around to see me
I will still remember
The scene at that time
Forgive me for thinking that in this world
There will still be someone
Who can cry for you
Separated in the end
So don't say "I love you"
Till now I
Just cared too much
Facing the expense of time
Who wouldn't want to leave?
Why would I blur my eyes again?
I will still remember
The scene at that time
Forgive me for thinking that in this world
There will still be someone
Who can cry for you
Separated in the end
So don't say "I love you"
Till now I
Just cared too much
(Guardian OST Ending Theme: Just Cared Too Much)
Fangsu has already stopped brushing Tian's coat, leaving the brush on the shelf. Fangsu walked into the house, sleeping herself away so that she would forget this aching pain in her heart.
In the quite street where the Chen Household have resided in. A hauntingly voice came to life, The Ghost Songstress had once again appeared in the city but in the more quieter area. The people who appeared to be out on the street could hear the pleasant voice echo through the streets, no one knew exactly which street the voice had come from. The voice soared with heavy emotions, gliding effortlessly through the notes, evoking the most heartfelt emotions in people as they listened to the words that were sung. Heartbreak, Lost loved ones, Separation and Abandonment, those strong emotions as were easily identifiable to hear, through the Ghost Songstress' singing.
——-
Fangsu's grandpa sat quiet on the table. No one spoke. There was no way to break the ice that had been created by Fangsu when she left. Wen Cheng, however, was curious about the reasoning behind the Blossoming Fragrance's overprotective nature about the young girl. "Elder Chen, this may sound invasive of me but why is that Blossoming Fragrance is so protective of Lady Chen?" Wen Cheng asked whilst giving his empty bowl to a nearby servant, "It's just those sort of level protectiveness makes one curious." Wen Cheng flicked his fan open, as he waved it back and forth. Fangsu's grandpa, Bao Ming and Da Fu instantly frowned at Wen Cheng's question.
Da Fu scoffed, "Young master, I don't think we can reveal the reason," Da Fu was the most protective towards Fangsu, as she made it clear that the answer to Wen Cheng's curious would not be answered.
Wen Cheng was surprised at Da Fu's harsh tone towards him, "Why is that?" trying to probe further into Da Fu was the most antagonising towards him.
Fangsu's grandpa stood up, the chair scraping against the floor harshly. Which ceased Da Fu's idea at lashing out at him. "Da Fu, Bao Ming, both of you return back to your sleeping quarters." Directly ordered the girls who quietly went into the kitchen to grab their respective wine jar before leaving to their own sleeping quarters.
Wen Cheng snapped his fan closed, placing it on the table, "Elder Chen, would you be willing to indulge me?" Giving the smallest smirk that seems to annoyed the elderly man.
Fangsu's grandpa clenched his fist, annoyed at the man's ability to easily irritate people until they could spit blood. But, luckily that Wen Cheng didn't reach that level of irritation with him yet, "Wen Cheng, like what Da Fu before say before, I will not reveal the reason, " His heavy sigh was evident with his old age as he walked into the kitchen, "I hope you understanding and please do not try to diverge in such sensitive matters." Walking our with two jars of wine, the two individuals walked out to the entryway where Fangsu's grandpa handed him the freshly made wine.
Wen Cheng decided it would be best not to further rub salt onto the situation which could cause discord between the two businesses. Leaving in his own carriage, Wen Cheng returned back to his residence.
The journey back, the same haunting voice of the Ghost Songstress resonated with raw emotions, evoking emotions of the listeners. Wen Cheng stopped the carriage to find the Ghost Songstress by following the song's direction. Using Qigong, Wen Cheng effortlessly travelled along the rooftops, occasionally breaking a few loose tiles along the way. Eventually, Wen Cheng reaches the house where Fangsu has just finished singing.
"Young master, what makes you want to visit at this time of hour?" Fangsu stood tall like a piece of bamboo alone on a lonesome mountain, despite singing that song.
"I'm surprised you were able to detect me," Wen Cheng sat on the house that was next to the Chen residence, "Lady Chen.... or should I say Ghost Songstress." Wen Cheng chuckled at the fact that the person he was looking to hire was hiding so close by.
Fangsu stretches her limbs, releasing the tension in her muscles, "I could hear you moving despite you using Qigong," Explaining the reason for the detection of Wen Cheng's presence.
"You must have mastered Qi manipulation well to be able to hear me even when I'm using Qigong." Wen Cheng complimented as he laid on the tiled rooftop, positioning himself in the most comfortable position he could find.
Fangsu laughed, "I am unable to manipulate Qi let alone use Qi in any way." The sad acceptance in Fangsu's voice made one know that this individual had already accepted their fate.
Wen Cheng immediately sat upright, "That's impossible," his jaw dropped, if Fangsu was truly able to hear him while using Qigong. Fangsu would not be normal in any sense, almost superhuman, abnormal even.
"It's not impossible if I'm able to hear from you." Fangsu pushed her hair out of her face behind her ear, "They are people out there who are unable to use Qi whether they have an unsuitable constitution or that they are simply unable to." The gentle blowing wind, caused their clothing to fluttered with the wind. The fabric of their clothes made it seem as if it came to life almost like it was dancing.
A sudden realisation don onto Wen Cheng, "Is that why you were born with ash grey hair?" Even though Wen Cheng that diving into such personal details was usually uncomfortable for many people.
Fangsu just nodded. Any diverging any more information than that, "Since, you know I'm the Ghost Songstress." Fangsu turned into his direction, her eyes had indifferent glint within them, "It's best you retire back to your own residence, it's quite late."
Wen Cheng found it unnerving how someone had very little change in expression. Nevertheless, Wen Cheng disappears off back to his own residence deciding it would be best not to venture into the Chen's family secrets too much.