Chapter 681 - Visiting One's Parents
Princess Consort Jing looked at Xiaocao’s glowing face and smiled, “Lass Xiaocao, you look so excited. Did you discover another business opportunity ah?”
“Hee hee, Lady Mother, you truly understand me too well! I want to use this event as an experiment! If the other noble young ladies are interested, then I'll establish this as a regular thing at the dessert shop. Who wouldn’t find it fun to make some tasty desserts on her own while showing off to all of her friends and then eating her favorite desserts? “ Yu Xiaocao grinned like a little fox who had eaten her fill.
“From the way you’re describing it, even I’m interested! My children always turn up their noses at my culinary attempts. If I could truly make some desserts that are delicious, then they will definitely be extremely surprised!” Zhu Junya raised an eyebrow at her group of little monkeys.
Lu Jiayu made a face as he quietly mumbled, “The ingredients will all be prepared by someone else, so it’s not hard for anyone to make something that tastes good, alright? If it were me, I’d also be able to do it!”
Yu Xiaocao nodded her head in assent, “Other than being a good event for the young noblewomen, it is also suitable for parents and children to participate together. The parents and children can work together to experience the joys of working with their own hands while teaching the kids that it’s not easy for food to come to the table. This is very helpful in the teaching of their children.”
“Third Maternal Aunt! I also want to participate, is that okay ah?” Lu Jiapei’s mouth was greasy from all of the treats he had eaten. He raised his small plump hand in excitement.
Yu Xiaocao smiled as she stroked his head before using a handkerchief to help him wipe off the oils and crumbs from his face. She said in a gentle voice, “Of course you can, alright? At that time, Third Maternal Aunt will teach you how to make adorable animal crackers and all sorts of gummy candies in different shapes.”
“Can I take all of the food I make ah?” Lu Jiapei was most concerned about this point!
“Of course ah! At that time, Pei’er can bring back all of the desserts and candies you make so you can give them to your friends. You can tell them that you made them yourself so they’ll all be jealous ah!” Yu Xiaocao pinched the little fellow’s plump cheek as she outlined what could happen.
Princess Consort Jing asked in a somewhat worried tone, “What if someone decides to be sneaky and brings along a chef to steal your methods? Wouldn’t that be bad?”
“The most important part about making pastries is the ingredients and their ratios. All of these things will be prepared in advance by the shop’s employees. Using chocolate as an example, we absolutely wouldn't teach them how to make chocolate starting from the cocoa beans. At that time, as long as the participants melt them and pour them into molds, they’ll be able to make the right shapes. As for the small cookies and biscuits, it’s the same! That being said, it’s not as if the desserts at my shop are easy to make once you know the ingredients. It takes skill and not just anyone can do it. Lady Mother, there’s no need for you to worry ah!” Yu Xiaocao patiently explained.
Only after hearing this did Princess Consort Jing smile again as she tapped Xiaocao’s head with a finger, “Just what is in that little head of yours to be able to come up with such weird and novel ideas all the time?”
Zhu Junya also regarded her third younger sister-in-law with a gaze full of admiration and envy. One absolutely could not compare oneself to others. She could only think of using her third younger sister-in-law’s pastries and delicious food to attract other people to her party. The other lady, however, saw a perfect business opportunity. It was no wonder that every business that came out of her hands was popular beyond measure. She clearly had a creative mind and money-making opportunities just spilled out of her!
After they finished the noon meal, Xiaocao once again spent some time with Princess Consort Jing and her older sister-in-law in conversation before saying her farewells. On the way back to her residence, she saw that her husband was being uncharacteristically quiet, so she asked in confusion, “What’s wrong? Your wife once again has come up with a new method of making money, but you’re unhappy?”
Zhu Junyang sighed and pulled the soft and fragrant little lass into his arms. He gently whiffed at her sweet smelling hair and he quietly said, “It’s not that I’m unhappy. I’m just afraid you’ll become too tired!”
“Don’t you know me by now? If you had me staying at home, being a leisurely mistress of the residence, I’d be bored to death! Being busy is better, ah, it gives me satisfaction!” Yu Xiaocao turned her head around and gave her husband a peck on the lips. In any case, it was just the two of them in the carriage, so there was nothing to be embarrassed about.
The reality soon told her that her man, who had been patiently waiting in a drought for twenty some years, wasn’t someone to be idly teased. When they arrived at the gates of their home and heard all of the servants respectfully welcoming them back, Yu Xiaocao angrily pushed away a naughty hand from a particular wolf out of her clothing before she picked up an enameled mirror to fix her mussed up hair. Then she reapplied some lip color to her mouth. After glaring ferociously at the fellow who was causing trouble for her, she lifted up the carriage curtain to leave.
As soon as Imperial Prince Xu, who was acting like a hoodlum in the carriage, stepped out, he resumed his cold image. However, when he stretched out his arm to help Princess Consort Xu come down, he looked very gentle and considerate.
The people living next to Imperial Prince Xu’s estate were all high-ranking officials and nobles. When they saw this scene, they couldn't help but sigh in astonishment. Imperial Prince Xu clearly loved his princess consort very much! Not only did he stay by her side for almost a decade but his conduct towards her now was also very apparent. Who would have thought that Imperial Prince Xu, who always looked cold and callous in front of everyone else, actually had such a sweet side to him?
Zhu Junyang, who was now considered the perfect example of an ideal husband, revealed his wolfish side as soon as they entered the inner courtyard. He carried his little wife as he rushed towards their rooms to get closer to her. After entering, the servants in the residence only saw their masters after the moon had started rising in the sky.
Yu Xiaocao lay on the bed in exhaustion as her whole body felt sore from head to toe. The wolf by her side was carefully helping her massage her body. Wasn’t the man supposed to get tired from doing husband-wife intimate relations ah? Why was this particular wolf still so energetic after doing it over and over again? Why was she the one completely exhausted by this?
However, this particular person was doing quite a good job at massaging her! Whether it was the amount of pressure used and the location chosen, it was all quite good. Xiaocao grunted comfortably and was about to fall asleep. Not long after she silently complimented that fellow, he started to become naughty again…
“Are you trying to make it such that I can’t get up tomorrow morning, ah? Don’t forget, I’m going back to my family tomorrow. If I get there late, just watch my younger brother come raging here, alright?” Yu Xiaocao pressed down on the large hand that was being unruly and glared at him angrily. He wanted to go again? How many times had they done it since the afternoon? She absolutely could not allow this fellow to get away with this too many times!
The angry glare from Xiaocao, in Zhu Junyang’s eyes, had become a flirtatious look instead and his heart started to itch again. The little lass’s body was soft and sweet, and she always seemed to harmonize well with his movements even though she seemed a bit shy. It truly sent him to the peak of ecstasy time after time again...he couldn’t continue down this road of thinking again as a certain body part was starting to become excited! After spending so many years interacting with the lass, he knew he couldn’t poke her into a temper. Otherwise, the furious little kitten would make him suffer!
Zhu Junyang engraved the look of the lass in his heart and promised heartfully, “Alright, I won’t torment you further! Go to bed early. Tomorrow morning, this prince will accompany you there!”
Yu Xiaocao naturally could feel a certain hard body part on him and gave him a doubtful look, “Are you sure you can endure this? Something bad isn’t going to happen to you ah?”
“Shush! If you continue teasing me, this prince will take back what I said earlier!” Zhu Junyang held the beauty in his arms as he inhaled deeply. He could see her, touch her, but couldn't taste her. Naturally he wasn’t happy about this, so his voice had a bit of sharp quality to it.
“How about...I use my hands to help you relieve some pressure?” Yu Xiaocao very soon regretted her decision to be kind. Wasn’t this fellow’s body constitution a little too good ah? Her hand felt so tired now! When she saw the look of pure pleasure on his face, she hatefully pinched him a couple of times on his arm.
Zhu Junyang stated, “Wife, please don't mess around. You can’t take the consequences!”
Yu Xiaocao immediately became obedient after hearing this and closed her eyes, pretending to be dead. Suddenly, from beneath the covers, a large gurgling sound could be heard.
Only then did Zhu Junyang remember that the two of them had missed the evening meal. He ordered the maids outside the room to bring in some hot water and held his wife as they washed themselves clean before ordering their evening meal.
They were truly eating dinner a bit late today. The clock in the outside hall showed that it was eight in the evening, almost nine. Usually, by this time, there weren’t any servants in the kitchen. However, the maidservants and senior servants in the courtyard all knew that their masters hadn’t eaten dinner yet and had told the cook maids to stay in the little kitchen for them!
All of the foods on the dinner table were good for rejuvenating and nourishing the body, like soups and congee. The cook maids had a perceptive eye, which made Yu Xiaocao blush after seeing the dishes. Zhu Junyang’s waist was once again pinched by his wife.
After finishing dinner, Zhu Junyang didn't bother Xiaocao again. The two of them slept soundly the entire night until dawn arrived. Zhu Junyang, as usual, did some martial arts to exercise while he was waiting for Xiaocao to get up. By the time she got up, he had already changed into suitable clothing and was waiting to eat breakfast with her. She had to admit that the cook maids were quite good. Yu Xiaocao ate happily and accidentally consumed too much.
Imperial Prince Xu’s residence wasn’t very far from the Yu Residence. In order to help Xiaocao digest her large meal, the two of them let the carriage follow them from behind as they strolled towards her maternal home. Behind them were the gifts they were bringing along and it filled six whole carts. The people walking by all couldn’t help but regard this with obvious surprise.
In front of the Yu Residence, Yu Hai and his two sons were there looking back and forth, obviously waiting for them.
“They’re here, they’re here!” Little Shitou was the first to spot his second sister’s figure in the distance and revealed a happy smile. He scuttled forward in large steps and pushed aside his second brother-in-law as he solicitously inquired after Xiaocao. He acted as if he was afraid that she had been bullied at the prince’s residence.
“Second Older Sister, you have some dark circles under your eyes, did you not sleep well last night? Is it because you’re not used to sleeping in a new environment?” Little Shitou directly ignored the ‘head criminal’ who had stolen his sister from him. He could sensitively tell that his second older sister wasn’t at her usual, so he couldn’t help but ask.
Yu Xiaocao glared at Zhu Junyang and then turned back to soothe her worried younger brother, “Don’t worry, there’s nothing I’m not used to. I was too excited last night, thinking about seeing you all today, so I was only able to fall asleep late at night. Don’t you know that I, like my name, am like a tenacious blade of grass. I can live anywhere without any problems!”
Little Shitou finally felt himself relax when he saw the same brilliant and happy smile on his second sister’s face. He couldn’t resist the urge to give a verbal jab at his older brother-in-law, “If there’s anything discomforting you in the future, don’t force yourself to endure it. Our family’s gates are always wide open for you!”
“Hee hee! With you, the future top scorer of the imperial examinations, as my backing, who would dare try to bully me? You should take this time to relax since you just recently finished one set of exams! As long as you do your usual during the court examinations, I have faith that you’ll do just fine! Don’t give yourself too much pressure. After all, you’re only sixteen!” And that was considering the fact that this was the traditional way of counting one’s age. In her previous life, someone as young as her brother would still be in middle school! In Xiaocao’s heart, her younger brother was a genius and she had complete faith in him!
“Don’t worry, Second Older Sister! My goal is to be the top scorer of all three sets of exams in the imperial court examinations!” If anyone else had heard Little Shitou’s words, they would have absolutely thought that he was being too rash. In actuality, he had complete confidence in himself!