Countess Jingâan smiled and patted Miaozhenâs slender hand. âYouâre the only one around here who I can count on to plan so perfectly. Miaozhen, youâre already seventeen this year. Do you have any plans for the future? You canât possibly stay by my side forever.â
When she heard Countess Jingâanâs words, Miaozhen froze. She bit her lip and said, âMadam, Miaozhen wants to serve you forever.â
âWhat nonsense! As a lady, youâll have to marry someday. How could you labour by my side for your whole life? If you really do that, wouldnât your mother be hurt?â
Miaozhen was the daughter of Countess Jingâanâs nursemaid. When she was ten, her mother sent her to serve serve at Countess Jingâanâs side. Unfortunately, Countess Jingâanâs nursemaid had passed away from sickness sometime in the past few years. Before she died, she had begged Countess Jingâan to look after Miaozhen for her.
Since Miaozhen had always been smart and considerate, Countess Jingâan was happy to look after her.
Miaozhenâs eyes immediately turned watery. She looked up and cast a shy glance at the countess before mumbling quietly, âMadam, Miaozhen really doesnât have any requests at all. Miaozhen would just like to marry someone in this estate so Miaozhen can continue to serve Madam even after marriage.â
Countess Jingâan stared at the girl she had watched grow up. As she thought, the images of suitable candidates popped up in her mind one after another, but in the end, she still crossed them all out.
The main steward of the outer court had a second son that might be suitable, and that child was also pretty clever. Unfortunately, that second son already took a wife last year. Otherwise, it would have been good for Miaozhen to become the wife of one of the estateâs stewards.
As she was distracted by her thoughts, a senior servant announced from outside that the heir of the family had arrived.
Just as the voice of the announcer faded away, Heir Jingâan entered the room.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âMother, how has your health been lately?â
The heir of House Jingâan, He Changqi, had the body of a martial artist. He also looked the most similar to Count Jingâan. Although he wasnât even thirty years old yet, his buff body, tan skin, and full beard made him look much older.
He was as tall as He Changdi, but if they stood together, no one would be able to tell that they were brothers.
Countess Jingâan hadnât expected Dalang to charge right in just like that. She rolled her eyes helplessly at him. âHow old are you by now? How is it that you havenât learned any manners?â
He Changqi wasnât bothered by his motherâs complaint at all. He wasnât someone who was bothered by trifling details. At a young age, he had usually kept to his fatherâs side as he learned martial arts, so he had never been very conscious of the rules that bound the womenfolk of the inner court. Besides, this was just his motherâs room.
He Changqi looked down and noticed a few leftover desserts on the table next to the bed. With a refreshing smile, he said, âMother, are the confections that Third Sister-in-Law made to your liking?â
Countess Jingâan waved He Changqi over to sit by her bed side.
Since the eldest young master had arrived, Miaozhen didnât dare to dispense with etiquette. She kept her head lowered, and was already standing respectfully next to Countess Jingâan. When He Changqi had entered, she had immediately bobbed in greeting. Countess Jingâanâs gaze inadvertently passed over Miaozhen, and she noticed that the little maidservantâs face was flushed red. The countess was taken aback; she looked her eldest son up and down and found that the brat was standing with his back straight and hands behind his back, a broad smile on his face.
âThey suit my tastes very well! Mother has never eaten such exquisite, interesting desserts before!â
After the Eight Confections had been finished, Chu Lian had sent a set to each branch of the family. Since there were two children in Dalangâs branch, she naturally sent a few more to his courtyard. He Changqi had tried two of them and found them delicious.
âI didnât expect that Third Sister-in-Law would have secret recipes with her. Mother, Iâm sure you havenât heard this yet. At Old Marquis Dingyuanâs longevity feast, everyone was fighting over a small plate of longevity peach buns!â
Ah?
Countess Jingâan was dumbfounded; what had happened?
A bunch of noblemen had been fighting over longevity peach buns?
Were those longevity peach buns... possibly made by Chu Lian?