Chapter 194 - Small Scones

After the Empress Dowager changed her decree, she summoned the officials of the Ministry of Rites.

After the decree was filed in the Ministry of Rites, it could no longer be changed.

Qiao Jinniang, Princess Shou’an, and Princess Fulu saluted and left satisfactorily.

Li Lingling said, “But Grandmother, if Fulu marries Qiao Lu, who is going to marry the second young master of the Xie family? And the Qiao family is on the Crown Prince’s side!”

The Empress Dowager was angered by what Qiao Jinniang said just now and forgot the relationship between Qiao Lu and the Crown Prince.

After thinking for a while, she said, “Fulu is a girl after all. If Qiao Lu is not smart enough and goes against me in the future, I will get rid of him and marry Fulu to another man. It’s not a big deal.”

No matter what, she would never let the daughter of the Zhou family snatch Fulu’s husband.

She would never ever let the women of the Zhou family get their way!

...

As soon as Qiao Jinniang came out of the Empress Dowager’s palace, she ran into Lu Chen who came in a hurry on the road.

Lu Chen took her hand and said, “I just heard from my secret guards about the Empress Dowager’s decree. That decree has not been filed in the Ministry of Rites and can be voided, so you don’t have to worry. Did she give you a hard time?”

Qiao Jinniang shook her head and said with a smile, “No, and the Empress Dowager has already changed her mind and allowed Fulu to marry my brother.”

Lu Chen breathed a sigh of relief. “If something like this happens in the future, don’t go to the Empress Dowager alone. It can be dangerous for you.”

Qiao Jinniang nodded and replied, “Um, I see.”

When the two returned to the East Palace together, Lu Xi had already woken up and was looking for Qiao Jinniang in the bedroom.

Qiao Jinniang held him in her arms and said, “Are you going to study with your brothers in the palace school today?”

Because of the wedding, not only Lu Chen, but Little Lu Xi also had a holiday, but as of today, his holiday was over.

Little Lu Xi nodded and said, “Mommy, wait for me. I’ll be back soon!”

Qiao Jinniang rubbed little Lu Xi’s head. “Study hard. When you come back, I will make you snacks. What would you like for snacks?”

Little Lu Xi thought for a while and said, “I want to eat scones!”

Qiao Jinniang smiled and said, “Okay, Mommy will go to the palace school to pick you up with scones.”

Little Lu Xi was led by the imperial maids to wash up. Lu Chen asked Qiao Jinniang, “There is no place to make scones in the East Palace.”

Qiao Jinniang pointed to an open space behind the palace. “The soil here can make an oven. Xi’er’s favorite food is scones. Cooks in Chang’an probably don’t have this skill.”

Lu Chen said, “You only dote on him. I have never seen you make what I like to eat.”

Seeing him jealous, Qiao Jinniang said, “What do you like to eat? I’ll make it for you too. Come and help move the soil. It takes about two hours to make an oven.”

Lu Chen didn’t stop Qiao Jinniang. If there was an oven in the East Palace that she made by herself, she might be able to adapt to life here more quickly.

...

The Empress Dowager’s decree was sent to the Princess Mansion and the Duke Anyuan Mansion by officials of the Ministry of Rites. They didn’t have to pass by the Duke Wu Mansion to begin with, but the Empress Dowager specially ordered the officials to pass by the Duke Wu Mansion.

The masters of the Duke Wu Mansion heard the noise outside.

In Old Madam Zhou’s courtyard, Zhou Shihui was begging Old Madam Zhou, “Grandmother, please let me go out to see my senior brother. I beg you.”

Mrs. Zhou hurried in and said to Old Madam Zhou, “Mother, it’s so noisy outside because… because…”

Zhou Shihui glanced at Madam Zhou and hurriedly asked, “Auntie, what is it?”

“The Empress Dowager issued a decree, granting the heir to Duke Anyuan to marry Princess Fulu!”

Zhou Shihui lunged to her feet and said, “How is it possible? My maid said that she heard that the Empress Dowager issued a decree early in the morning to marry Princess Fulu to the second young master of the Xie family.”

Mrs. Zhou said, “The decree hasn’t been filed in the Ministry of Rites yet, so it doesn’t count. But now, the officials of the Ministry of Rites are going to the Qiao family to announce the decree.”

Zhou Shihui screamed, “How can they force my senior brother to marry Princess Fulu? How can Princess Fulu be worthy of my senior brother? A notorious woman like her doesn’t deserve to be the mistress of the Duke Anyuan Mansion!”

Zhou Shihui couldn’t accept this fact at all. She didn’t believe her senior brother wanted to marry Princess Fulu.

Old Madam Zhou frowned slightly. “That’s a princess you are talking about, not a woman you can comment on at will. Mammy Bai will arrive today. You should learn etiquette from her well!”

Mrs. Zhou sighed. “Qiao Lu is only seventeen and already has a fiancée. Although he and Princess Fulu are both young, they will be married within two years, but Siming…”

Her son was very stubborn, refusing to touch any girl.

When His Royal Highness was missing, he was almost inconsolable and searched for Lu Chen all over the world.

Mrs. Zhou almost thought that her son was gay!

Zheng Xiao was seven or eight years younger than her, but she was about to have more in-laws. She didn’t know when she could see her son marry!

...

“Dad, please let me out!”

Tong Yingying was locked in the firewood room in the Tong Mansion, knocking on the door helplessly.

Tong Xuan said triumphantly at the door, “Tong Yingying, you finally get your retribution. You always think that you are high above, but you almost ruined the Tong family. You want to come out? No way!”

Tong Yingying shouted loudly, “Father, father, I can still marry into the East Palace…”

Tong Xuan sneered. “There are tons of women who are better-looking and have a better family background than you. What makes you think you can marry His Royal Highness!”

“Because Cousin has a crush on me! He said that he would satisfy all my wishes.” Tong Yingying shouted loudly, “Father, even if I can’t marry into the East Palace, I can marry Cousin. He loves me!”

Tong Xuan was confused. Her mother’s nephews had always been spurned by Tong Yingying and she never called them ‘Cousin’.

The one Tong Yingying was willing to call ‘Cousin’ must be Zhou Siming from the Duke Wu Mansion.

“In your dreams!”

Tong Yingying said, “If you don’t believe me, you can check the token of love Cousin gave me and the love letters he wrote to me in my room!”

Tong Xuan: “…”

Cousin Siming, how can you be so blind?!

...

“Ah-choo.”

Zhou Siming, who was dragged over to work as a coolie by Lu Chen, suddenly sneezed while chopping firewood.

Lu Chen said in disgust, “If you have a cold, go back quickly.”

Zhou Siming said, “Thank you for your concern, Your Royal Highness.”

Lu Chen: “No, I don’t care about you, but Jinniang fell ill twice although she was only in Chang’an for two years. Don’t infect her.”

Lin Mo, who was helping to light the fire, laughed.

Qiao Jinniang was kneading a dough and said, “I am not that fragile. Thank you for your help, Young Master Zhou and Young Master Lin.”

The noble Crown Prince and Crown Princess certainly couldn’t dig soil to make an oven in front of the maids and servants, but how to make this oven was Myriad Taste’s business secret, so Lu Chen found these two coolies.

Zhou Siming said, “You’re too polite, Your Highness. This is what I should do.”

Seeing Qiao Jinniang put the pork on the cutting board, take out two knives and easily chop it into minced meat, Lin Mo felt a chill down his spine.