diskusbooks Chapter 416 Desserts
Chapter 416 Desserts
The two saw from afar that rows of soldiers were standing in front of the Xue residence, with Xue Longpan at the very front, seemingly giving instructions.
Before Nianyao could run forward, General Xue mounted his horse and galloped away with his men.
Madam Xue and Lexi stood under the eaves in front of the door to see General Xue off. After Xue Longpan disappeared from sight, they turned around and saw Nianyao and Luo An holding an umbrella behind her.
Madam Xue and Le Xi immediately knelt down to pay their respects, so quickly that Nian Yao didn't even have time to help or stop them: "Greetings to Your Highness the Crown Prince and Crown Princess."
Nianyao turned to look at Luo An, who lowered his eyes and said indifferently, "Please rise!"
Before Madam Xue and Le Xi could get up, Luo An left with his umbrella.
Nianyao couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed: "Aunt, he's always been like this, no matter who he's dealing with."
Le Xi smiled and said, "We know, just don't worry about it, sister. Come in quickly, it's raining."
Madam Xue quickly echoed, stepping forward to take Nianyao's hand and lead her into the mansion: "Yes, yes, we all know."
Nianyao asked, "Aunt, didn't Xu Sheng say that it's the young people who are fighting for power now, and Uncle doesn't need to go to the battlefield? Has the situation changed?"
Madam Xue released Nianyao: "He didn't go to the battlefield; he went to find the Emperor with Your Highness."
Nianyao paused slightly, looking at Madam Xue with a puzzled expression. Why didn't you set off at the same time as the Empress to find the Emperor? What was the purpose of leaving one after the other?
A maid brought over a box, which Lexi took and opened. A fragrant aroma filled the air, revealing a box of golden dried osmanthus flowers that looked incredibly fresh.
Lexi said, "Sister, Mother said that the osmanthus and lily pastries I make are the most fragrant and crispy in the world. I specially asked someone to bring back golden osmanthus from Guizhou to make osmanthus and lily pastries for you."
Nianyao glanced at Lexi's belly subconsciously; compared to other pregnant women, it wasn't showing much. "No need, no need, I can eat anything. How can I let you take care of me?"
Lexi said, "Sister, I'm pregnant, not a patient. The doctor also said that appropriate exercise is good for the mother's health and the baby's growth. Mother, please help me."
Madam Xue said, "Nianyao, the osmanthus and lily pastries that Lexi made are only for family members. Outsiders can't even smell them. Even Yunting praised the taste."
When Xue Yunting was mentioned, Madam Xue's expression darkened.
Nianyao quickly took the child in her arms: "I'm not good at making pastries, so I'll take care of Chenxi."
Madam Xue kneaded the dough, then cut the flaky dough into even small pieces and rolled them into wrappers. Le Xi fried crushed peanuts, diced melon seeds and candied dates, mixed them with sugar and lard, and then stir-fried the flour until smooth…
The three of them worked happily, chatting as they went, bursting into laughter at the most amusing parts of their conversation. The usually serious Xue household was unusually relaxed and cheerful.
Lexi was responsible for wrapping and shaping the filling. She would wrap the filling in the dough, seal it, roll it into a high shape, cut out petals with a knife, and then fry it in oil.
The petals of the lily pastry slowly bloomed in the oil, just like flowers in full bloom, and Nianyao stared in disbelief.
Lexi used a slotted spoon to scoop the lily pastries into an exquisite blue and white dragon-patterned plate: "They're a little hot and soft right now, but they'll be even more fragrant and crispy when they cool down."
The first lily pastry was naturally given to Nianyao. Under the watchful eyes of Lexi and Madam Xue, Nianyao exclaimed before she could even swallow, "Delicious, delicious! So fragrant and crispy, it's so good!"
Le Xi smiled, her eyes crinkling: "I made a lot, so I'll trouble you to send it to the palace for your brother-in-law to try later."
Le Xi and Madam Xue each tasted one, leaving two for Xue Yunyao, and the rest were all put into a food box. Le Xi was an elegant person, and tied a bunch of peach blossoms to each side of the food box handle.
Nianyao was both amused and exasperated: "We can eat it ourselves, there's no need to specially send it to him. This guy... sigh..."
Luo An is very picky at heart, but Nian Yao couldn't say it directly.
Lexi insisted, "Brother-in-law may not eat, but we can't not send him off. Although he is the Crown Prince, he has come from afar and is unfamiliar with the place, so he may feel lonely. If you don't want to stay in the palace for long, then you should visit him occasionally."
Besides, Father went to Licheng to see the Emperor without informing Brother-in-law, which was truly impolite. I would be grateful if Sister could put in a good word for him with Brother-in-law, lest he blame him.”
In Nianyao's heart, Luo An was still a doctor. But in Lexi's and her uncle and aunt's eyes, Luo An was already the crown prince who held the power of life and death.
Nianyao's heart stirred slightly as she suddenly recalled Luo An's question: "If one day I'm gone, where will you go?"
That's a really strange question: He's gone? When did he go away? If it's something that will happen decades from now, why ask now?
Could it be that Luo An is hinting at something, that something really happened in the palace?
Luo An took several books on astrology from the library and sat down in Ciming Palace to study them diligently. Xu Chengyou followed suit, moving a small stool over to sit next to him and read as well.
Outside, a light drizzle was falling; inside, a man and a child were reading. The younger child, in particular, was pointing to each word with their finger.
Two people who had never met before felt no awkwardness at all when they were together. It's undeniable that blood ties and family bonds are truly magical.
Anyone unaware of the inside story would have to exclaim: What a cool and noble father and what a tender and sweet daughter!
Who could bear to break such a beautiful harmony? Nianyao stood quietly for a while, carrying the food box, then gently moved her foot to the side.
As if sensing something, Luo An turned to look and caught a glimpse of a pink skirt. He closed his book, stood up, and walked to the door, where he indeed saw Nian Yao standing under the eaves, carrying a food box.
Nianyao seemed a little embarrassed: "You're all so serious, I'm afraid I'll disturb you. I'd like to go in later."
Luo An leaned against the door frame, a slight smile playing on his lips, and tugged at her sleeve: "A beautiful woman adds fragrance to my life, shouldn't you sit next to me naturally?"
Xu Chengyou followed and hugged Luo An's leg, looking up at Nian Yao with curiosity.
Luo An not only made no attempt to hide his true nature from Nian Yao in private, but he also failed to restrain himself in front of the child.
Nianyao glanced at Luo An, squatted down, opened the lid of the food box in her hand, and placed it in front of Xu Chengyou.
The blooming white lilies are adorned with golden osmanthus blossoms, making them both beautiful to look at and fragrant to smell.
Xu Chengyou exclaimed in surprise, and before picking up the lily pastry, she didn't forget her manners: "Thank you, Auntie."
Luo An squatted down and tugged at Xu Chengyou's braid: "Call me sister-in-law."
Such a grown sister-in-law? Xu Chengyou looked at Luo An and then at Nian Yao, puzzled. "Why?"
Luo An said, "She is my wife. If you call me brother, you have to call her sister-in-law."
Xu Chengyou obediently changed his address to "sister-in-law".
Nianyao picked up Xu Chengyou and praised, "The little princess is so well-behaved!"
Luo An picked up the food basket and placed it on the table, then pulled out a chair and gestured with his hand.
Nianyao didn't stand on ceremony with Luo An and sat down with Xu Chengyou in her arms. She immediately noticed the box on the table: "This is the box? You can't open it? Or should I break it open for you?"
Luo An declined, "No need. I'm working on it, it'll be ready in a couple of days."