Daily Life of a Powerful Official Supporting His Wife

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Although Lu Bao'er's last words were just a joke, Xie Junling didn't take them seriously. But before going to the Hanlin Academy today, the sky was just beginning to brighten. Xie Junling was about to lift the curtain of the sedan chair, but then he retreated, retreating into the thick mist.

The sedan bearer asked Zhu Sheng, who was standing beside him, in surprise: "Young Master Zhu Sheng, what does this Master Xie mean?"

Zhu Sheng wore a narrow-sleeved shirt with a dark shorts. He had long hair tied up high and a bamboo stick on his waist. Because weapons were not allowed into the imperial city, otherwise he would be charged with treason, so he practiced stick skills hard and could easily take on ten people alone.

Seeing the sedan bearer asking this, he glanced lazily and said, "As a servant, why are you meddling in so many of your master's affairs? Remember this from now on. To save your head, don't ask too many questions. Just do your job!"

Hearing this, the sedan bearer dared not say a word. He lowered his brows, lowered his eyes, shrank his neck, and obediently became a human stone statue.

Xie Junling returned to the Xie Mansion not because he had forgotten anything, but because he had suddenly thought of something and went to look for the cook. It was just dawn, and the kitchen had just started boiling water, preparing to put it in a copper kettle to be sent to Lu Baoer later.

Seeing Xie Junling condescending to come to the kitchen, Aunt Ye was startled and asked in a low voice, "Does the master have any instructions?"

Xie Junling also felt that what he was about to say was quite absurd, so he didn't dare to instruct the cook when Lu Baoer woke up. He also did such a sneaky thing, which made him ashamed to be an upright gentleman.

Xie Junling also lowered his voice and said lightly, "Can Aunt Ye make Yurong Cake?"

"Jade Face Cake is a palace pastry. Although the steps are complicated, it is not impossible to make." Aunt Ye thought for a while and thanked Jun Ling. She was puzzled. Why did it happen that every day, it was either the old nanny or Xie Jun Ling who came to ask about the Jade Face Cake?
She couldn't help but ask aloud, "A few days ago, Nanny Bizhu also came to ask about this Jade Face Cake. She said that when Madam visited the Fu Mansion, she accidentally tasted the Jade Face Cake and ate several pieces in a row."

In reality, Lu Baoer ate several mouthfuls of the Jade Face Cake in order to avoid attracting the attention of Madam Su and Cheng Lingyan. After all, it seemed that the two of them had some conflict that day...

So the old maid had already given the cook some advice? Then wouldn't his trip have been in vain? He was just thinking that if Lu Bao'er could get the cakes from someone else's house, since that family also knew how to make steamed cakes, wouldn't it make her happier if she stayed at the mansion?
Xie Junling felt a little embarrassed. He coughed lightly and said, "I just saw that Madam seemed to like the Jade Face Cake. I wanted to tell you that she's going to visit the old lady at the Fu Mansion today. I steamed some cakes for her and put them in the Eight Treasure Box to fill her stomach on the way."

"Don't worry, Master. I won't have to worry about it." Aunt Ye finally figured it out. They were all worried about Lu Baoer. It was obvious that this young lady was the darling of the family!

After giving these instructions, Xie Junling left the house to go to work.

By the time Lu Bao'er woke up, it was already quite late. Fortunately, there were no elders in the Xie residence, so no one could control Lu Bao'er's morning routine. Even if there were elders, Xie Junling's mother, Gu, was gentle and kind during her lifetime, and she would have loved her young daughter-in-law, let alone treated her harshly.

Lu Baoer was sleepy and squinting, so the old nanny had already lifted her up and coaxed her to the dressing table, where she was told to rinse her mouth with salt and willow branches and wash her face with warm water. The venison feast was in the afternoon, so Lu Baoer had her meal at the mansion in the morning.

Because she was going out, the old nanny helped her pick out a lake-colored jacket with willow leaf patterns and a pink peach-colored thousand-layer skirt with a white rabbit fur hem. She wore a sapphire dragonfly headpiece on her head. The insect eyes were inlaid with small rice-white pearls, and the leaves were made of enamel glaze, alternating between blue and green, which made the sapphire sparkle.

There are fine lines on the dragonfly's wings, each of which is made of a spring made from thin copper wire. When the winter wind blows, the wings tremble slightly, making it look like a living thing.

The old nanny could naturally tell that Princess Qingping was fond of Lu Bao'er, so she had chosen something appropriate for Lu Bao'er's age for her outfit today. This elegant scene of dragonflies among flowers was a real feat. Sure enough, when Lu Bao'er arrived at the Fu residence that evening, Old Madam Su summoned her to her. With a smile on her face, she carefully examined her and praised the old nanny, "Wasn't this hair combed by Bizhu? Back then, you were the most skillful! After all these years...it seems your skills haven't faded."

The grandmother naturally liked her granddaughter more and more, but these words reminded the old nanny of her past service to the late Empress Dowager, and she almost burst into tears. She wiped away the tears from her eyes and said sadly, "Thank you, Princess Qingping, for your praise."

"Alright, alright, please take your seats." Old Madam Su reluctantly let go of Lu Baoer's hand. She wanted Lu Baoer to sit next to her, but all the wives of officials were here. If she sat in the front, not to mention that it was not in line with her rank, even this favor would make Lu Baoer the target of public criticism.

She wanted to let Lu Baoer recognize her ancestral home as soon as possible. In this way, the world would know that Lu Baoer was a descendant of the lineage of Prince Shou. Her flesh and blood were of the royal family. How could she not deserve this favor?

It’s just that it’s difficult to explain to the Cheng family, and as for Cheng Lingyan, Madam Su also has to think of a way, so she can’t recognize Lu Baoer for the time being, and she has to take it slowly.

She sighed and watched anxiously as Lu Baoer returned to the very end. Seeing that no one was around, Old Lady Su finally cheered up and started chatting and laughing with her old friend on the side.

When the venison feast was about to begin, the maids lit a bonfire in the pile of stones, skewered a whole skinned deer on an iron rack, smeared sesame oil and salt on the venison, and rolled the rack from time to time to roast the venison until it was golden brown on all sides and filled with the aroma of meat.

Lu Baoer smelled the venison and liked it very much. She didn't know when she would be able to taste it, so she waited eagerly for the maids to slice the meat.

The so-called venison banquet is nothing more than a live venison as the main dish, but there are also other dishes. Otherwise, eating only venison would inevitably be greasy, and some ladies who worship Buddha cannot be used to eating meat.

Ever since Old Lady Su knew that Lu Baoer was her own granddaughter, she became absent-minded when talking to others, glancing at Lu Baoer from time to time.

Qiu Ju naturally guessed what Old Madam Su was thinking. After a moment's thought, she lowered her head and whispered to Old Madam Su, "Old Madam, if you want to see Madam Xie, I have an idea."

"Tell me about it?" Old Madam Su asked her with a smile.

"How about I ask Madam Xie to come and serve you venison? Just consider it as a favor to the younger generation and let her get closer to you?"

"Will this be too conspicuous?"

Qiu Ju pursed her lips and smiled, "You're just being too involved! You're the Princess of Qingping County. If you like someone or want to talk to someone, do you need other people's permission?"

"Yes, then you should call Madam Xie and tell her that I have a connection with her, and ask her to come and talk to me." The smile on Madam Su's face widened. She had previously been worried that people would notice Lu Baoer's situation and cause her trouble. Now, she thought, could it be that she wouldn't be close to her own granddaughter? It would be better to explain this relationship openly and let others consider Lu Baoer's friendship with the Princess of Qingping. This would be the best way to protect Lu Baoer!

"Yes." Qiu Ju quietly walked to the table and called Lu Baoer over. "Thank you, Madam. My old lady wants to talk to you. I'd like to trouble you to help her taste a few slices of venison."

(End of this chapter)