On the carriage ride back, Jiang'er looked at Yanran with admiration. "Miss, you were amazing today!"
Yanran took out some pastries wrapped in a handkerchief from her sleeve and placed them on the small table in front of her.
This is for the Little Tangyuan; I hope it doesn't crumble into pieces.
"What's so great about me?" Yanran said. "At most, I can only steal a few snacks. You're the one who's really something!"
Without Jiang'er today, Lang Shuang can't be left in such a sorry state.
She was already wary of someone harming her, so she took this precaution.
Unexpectedly, Lang Shuang used the same tactic.
Now she'll know what's what.
Jiang'er blushed and said, "No, no, no, how could I do that? I don't even know where to put my hands and feet..."
She had never dreamed she would witness such a grand spectacle before.
Yanran said, "Now that you've seen it, what do you think?"
"It seems... it's just so-so," Jiang'er said.
It's still the same old tricks women use when they quarrel; they're all the same bullies who prey on the weak.
"That's right, so don't be afraid."
Just do it.
Those people are the type to bully the weak and fear the strong. They think you're easy to bully, so they'll drag you out and bully you from time to time.
However, if you know you can't afford to offend someone and will get into trouble, then next time you'll stay far away.
"You're really amazing, young lady!" Jiang'er said sincerely. "I'll learn from you from now on."
She couldn't let her master's imposing manner be diminished.
"Let's not go to Grandpa's house, let's go back to the Prince's Mansion," Yanran suddenly lifted the curtain in front of the carriage and ordered.
The driver agreed.
Jiang'er asked, puzzled, "Miss, why are we going back to the Prince's mansion?"
"Because I got into trouble today," Yanran said, suddenly becoming clear-headed. "If I stay there, those people will definitely blame my aunt. It's better for me to stay here myself; anyway, my father and mother can't find me, and no one will complain."
The Tang Residence and the Prince's residence were originally next to each other, so going there was just a short walk away.
And so, the master and servant returned to the palace.
Yanran called over the courtyard wall to her wet nurse to bring Little Tangyuan over.
She wanted to play with her younger sister.
Although this younger sister is quite different from the petite and well-behaved sister I imagined, she has her own kind of Lovely.
For example, watching her eat makes me want to eat two more bowls of food myself.
"Sister, sister!" Little Tangyuan saw Yanran and ran over, wobbling like a happy little duck.
Yanran gave her some pastries she had brought back from the palace, and the little one ate them, getting them all over herself, and they tasted so delicious.
"I guessed you'd like to eat this. Just wait, I'll have someone go to the imperial kitchen and get a recipe so they can make it for you."
Little Tangyuan: "The cake is delicious."
"You're back?" A familiar voice came from the top of the wall.
Yanran looked in the direction of the sound and saw a section of ladder sticking out, with Cui Xiaoqiu's handsome face hanging on the wall.
Behind him stood a tall Bauhinia tree, its pink blossoms clustered on the branches, some drooping down to him, perfectly complementing his sky-blue round-necked robe.
He crossed his arms over the wall, tilted his head slightly, and looked at Yanran with a smile.
The boy rode a bamboo horse, gazing at the green plums from the wall.
"You're back," Yanran said listlessly. "It was really boring."
Little Tangyuan stared at Cui Xiaoqiu with curiosity, so much so that she forgot to eat her snack.
"Handsome brother," she suddenly exclaimed happily.
Yanran rolled her eyes. "... She's not even as tall as a block of tofu, yet she knows about handsome older brothers."
Then he called to Cui Xiaoqiu, "Come down, Little Tangyuan likes you."
Cui Xiaoqiu refused.
"Forget it, I won't go. You sisters talk."
Yanran: "Are you too scared to jump? Come on, I'll catch you."
After saying that, she got up and strode to the bottom of the wall, spreading her arms as if to catch Cui Xiaoqiu.
Cui Xiaoqiu: "..."
Is she treating herself like a child too?
Cui Xiaoqiu resisted.
Yanran was a little anxious. "Trust me, I can definitely catch you. Come down, come down."
Cui Xiaoqiu gently kicked his foot backward.
Cui Run, who was holding the ladder for him, understood and called out, "Young master, the master wants to see you."
Although Cui Xiaoqiu sometimes likes to cling to Yanran, she's not young anymore and needs to maintain her dignity.
Cui Xiaoqiu hurriedly said, "Grandfather is looking for me. I'll go check on him first, and then I'll come back to talk to you later."
Go ahead, go ahead.
Cui Xiaoqiu climbed down the ladder and led Cui Run back to the room before instructing, "Have someone find out what happened in the palace. I sensed that Yanran was rather unhappy just now."
He wanted to ask her, but she wanted to hold him.
Actually, there's nothing wrong with it.
However, with outsiders present today, he felt a little restrained.
Cui Run nodded in agreement and quickly went out.
Yanran was teaching Little Tangyuan boxing Nanxing arrived.
"I thought you would be going to the palace today, so I wanted to go too. But... something came up and I was late. Then I heard you had already left, so I went to the Prince's residence."
This is all Pei Shen's fault.
Pei Shen never allowed Nanxing to have contact with the women in the palace.
Perhaps because he grew up in the palace, by the emperor's side, and had seen so much of this, he deeply disliked the manners of the women in the palace.
He was worried about Nanxing facing those "demons and monsters" alone.
Nanxing didn't want to attend those events, so she was happy to be at ease.
But now that Yanran is back, she is worried and wants to go and "protect" Yanran. However, Pei Shen deliberately misleads her and tells her the wrong time.
By the time she arrived, the banquet was almost over.
We'll settle this score with Pei Shen when we get back.
Nanxing had also vaguely heard about Yanran's "great achievements" in the palace, and couldn't help but talk about her.
"... You dare to act so unreasonably towards Consort De? What if you suffer a loss? There are so many adults here, who will ask you to stand up for them?"
"Let's catch her off guard," Yanran chuckled. "Next time, I'll have you fight her. Nanxing, Nanxing, let's have a spar."
Nanxing glanced at her twice. "You're not good enough."
"I certainly can't, but I'll be happy to last a few moves against you. Take this!"
Nanxing had one hand behind his back, using only the other to deal with Yanran's attacks.
Yanran quickly became exhausted and covered in sweat, but she still didn't gain any advantage.
"I'm not playing anymore," she said, wiping away her sweat, somewhat defeated.
"You've made a lot of progress; you haven't been slacking off," Nanxing said.
Encouraged, Yanran perked up instantly. "Hehe, I think so too. Actually, I spend a lot of my time on horseback archery. Let's have another match later."
"This isn't my forte; I can't compare to you."
Yanran smiled smugly.
Not to boast, but among her peers, her horsemanship and archery skills were Dugu Qiubai, if not unmatched.
Little Tangyuan clapped her hands excitedly, filled with admiration for the two, drooling without even realizing it.
Yanran came over to wipe her drool, and suddenly remembered something.