Chapter 150 - 150 Medicinal Dew
150 Medicinal Dew
“How can that be? I know how to make medicinal cuisine too. Why don’t you guide me and I’ll make it like usual?”
After saying that, Mother Zhao even took a look at Eldest Miss’s slender fingers. Her fingers had never been dirtied before, so how could she do rough work near the stove? She would hurt her hand.
Yu Youyao shook her head. “There’s no need.”
After failing to persuade her, Mother Zhao stopped persuading her.
Yu Youyao and Mother Zhao picked out a chicken together. “Pick a tender chicken and an old hen.”
Mother Zhao was puzzled. Old hens were definitely the most nourishing when it came to stewing soup. Just as she was about to ask, she heard Eldest Miss say, “Cousin’s body is a little weak, so it’s not good for him to receive so much nourishment or it would hurt his body.”
Mother Zhao suddenly understood. She picked a one-year-old chicken and a three-year-old chicken, then instructed the old maids to clean them up.
Yu Youyao did not stay idle either. She took seven to eight medicinal herbs, such as angelica, ginseng, and deer antler, and stuffed them into the cloth bag used to make soup. She soaked them in water and even added some spiritual dew.
Soon, Mother Zhao brought back the cleaned chickens and quickly crushed them into pieces.
Yu Youyao first placed the tender chicken into the pot to cook. When it was done, she scooped it up and washed it with clean water. Then, she added some spices and some clean water to cook it.
When it boiled, a thick layer of chicken oil appeared on the surface.
Yu Youyao was worried that it would be too greasy and nourishing, so she threw away the oil and scooped up the chicken and soup together. She placed them in a purple clay pot and slowly simmered them with the medicinal packets made of ginseng, deer antler, and other medicinal herbs.
Mother Zhao watched from the side, but she did not have the chance to give any pointers. “This is the first time Miss has been in the kitchen seriously, but she’s not careless at all.”
Eldest Miss was very unfamiliar with the work on the stove, but she did it in an orderly manner. It was obvious that she had not learned in vain from Nanny Xu.
Yu Youyao smiled and prepared the old hen as well. She put some angelica and ginseng in it and instructed, “The ginseng and deer antler chicken soup is for Cousin. Stew it for two hours. The angelica chicken soup needs to be stewed for four hours. Watch the heat.”
Mother Zhao smiled and agreed.
After giving her instructions, Yu Youyao looked for Nanny Xu.
When Nanny Xu heard about Young Master’s leg condition, she pondered for a moment. “I do know of a medicinal oil formula that can improve blood circulation and relax tendons and meridians. It also has the effect of reducing swelling and pain. Young Master should be able to use it.”
Yu Youyao’s eyes lit up. “Nanny, tell me quickly.”
“Don’t be anxious. I have the prescription for the medicinal oil, but I still have to concoct it. Go to the incense room first. I’ll teach you how to make it.” After Nanny Xu finished speaking, she went to the incense room with Yu Youyao.
The Jade Courtyard was very large and had many rooms. Yu Youyao was very interested in making incense and had learned it with all her heart. She specially had a room with all kinds of medicinal herbs and spices.
To make this medicinal oil, more than 20 medicinal herbs such as osmanthus leaves, cinnamon, citronella, dried ginger, blood exhaustion, turpentine, and so on were needed. However, these medicinal herbs had to be made into medicinal dew first.
In the previous dynasty, when fragrance was at its peak, an incense maker used a wine vessel to steam the fragrance and extract its essence. They placed the spices and medicinal herbs into water and boiled them with charcoal. Then, they steamed them and used an instrument to extract the dew. This way, the dew could be made.
The medicinal dew that was needed for the medicinal oil was not expensive either. It was made of all common herbs. Many incense sticks also needed to be used. Yu Youyao had made a lot of them when she was practicing mixing incense. Now, she didn’t lack anything.
In less than two hours, Yu Youyao had finished making the medicinal oil.
The smell of the medicinal oil was very pungent. Yu Youyao couldn’t take it anymore, but she still endured the discomfort. She wiped some on the back of her hand and rubbed it hard. Soon, the back of her hand was red and hot.
Nanny Xu nodded. “Perfect.”
Yu Youyao heaved a sigh of relief. When she was making the medicinal oil, she added some spiritual dew. The effect should be pretty good.
After that, Yu Youyao asked Chun Xiao and Dong Mei to make two pairs of leg warmers. They were good at needlework and were quick with their hands. There was no need to embroider the leg warmers. They could be done quickly.
Then, she asked Xia Tao and Qiu Xing to burn the mugwort leaves. Yu Youyao gathered the mugwort ash and made them into two mugwort ash medicine bags, which she sewed into the inner layer of the leg warmers.
When Nanny Xu saw this, she couldn’t help but praise, “Sister, what a coincidence. The mugwort ash also has the effect of activating blood circulation and reducing cold and moisture. You can sew the mugwort ash into a medicinal bag and sew it into the leg warmers. You can warm it over the charcoal fire and tie it to your leg. Not only can it warm your leg, but it can also be heated for a long time. When it’s cold, it can also be easily replaced.”
Yu Youyao smiled. “Cousin’s legs can’t stand the humidity. It’s more convenient and warmer than a foot warmer.”
The foot warmer couldn’t keep his legs warm all the time. Nanny Xu agreed deeply. “The Empress Dowager also has an old cold and can’t stand the humidity. I used to learn a good ma.s.sage technique from Old Yu in the palace. I’ll teach you how to use it together with the medicinal oil. The effect will be better.”
Yu Youyao’s eyes lit up and she quickly nodded.
Nanny Xu brought over an acupuncture chart and first taught Yu Youyao to identify the three acupuncture points on her leg. “It’s mainly because there are three finger techniques for each of these three acupuncture points. The acupuncture points are different, and the finger techniques are also different. Each acupuncture point takes the time of an incense stick to burn out. It takes more than an hour to complete a set. It’s a little strenuous.”
Yu Youyao rolled up her pants, revealing her shiny calves. “If you do it on my legs, I’ll pick up the technique.”
Nanny Xu nodded and found an acupuncture point on her leg. “There are three methods here. Press, circle, and press. Take a closer look.”
As she spoke, Nanny Xu pressed her thumb on this area. With the acupuncture points as the center of gravity, she pressed and circled. Soon, Yu Youyao’s leg was red. She felt that this area was a little hot, so Nanny Xu pressed down hard.
Yu Youyao immediately felt her legs tighten and loosen. Her entire leg was numb. After feeling numb, she felt relieved.
Sensing the benefits of the ma.s.sage technique, Yu Youyao learned it even more seriously. She had a photographic memory and could understand these simple movements at a glance.
Nanny Xu explained the fingering method of the three acupoints and the areas that she had to pay attention to. After doing it again, Yu Youyao learned it.
As Yu Youyao thought about it, she continued, “Although Uncle Sun’s medical skills are good, he’s not as meticulous as Nanny when it comes to nourishing a body. Nanny, find me some medicinal recipes, incense, medicinal baths, and ways of soaking a body. Although these are useless for the time being, they will be effective in the long run. Cousin, on the other hand, is weak and can’t take any nourishment. He still has to start from his daily life habits and recuperate bit by bit.”
However, she thought to herself that these things were not very effective, but if she added the spiritual dew, the effect would be different. As for whether her cousin would notice anything, she did not think about it.
Nanny Xu naturally agreed, and the two of them discussed.
At this moment, Chun Xiao came over. “Young Miss, the deer antler and ginseng chicken soup is ready.”