Xiao Yunying shoved the bowl into the maid's hands: "Everyone has different tastes. Can you taste it for me and see if it's too sweet?"

Xiao Yunying said she wanted her to taste it, but what she really meant was to give it to her to eat.

The milk, maltose, and especially the honey here are precious ingredients, things that ordinary people can only dream of eating.

Since last night, the maid has been very respectful to her. Knowing that she was just a powerless peasant girl, she did not show any disrespect and always followed the rules of being a maid.

It should be noted that many maids in wealthy families are snobbish and opportunistic, looking down on commoners despite being slaves themselves.

The maid's attitude towards her made Xiao Yunying feel very favorably toward her.

Xiao Yunying always believed in treating others the way they treated her.

Although using ingredients from the Chen family is a bit... well...

It's alright, she's thick-skinned. Besides, when making food, how can you not taste it? Anyway, no one knows her true thoughts.

The maid hesitated for a moment, then scooped a little bit of the double-skin milk pudding with a spoon and put it in her mouth. Her eyes lit up as she looked at Xiao Yunying and said, "It's so delicious."

"Eat everything, then take me home."

The roads in this big house are so winding and twisting, she's afraid she'll get lost if she goes back by herself.

The maid nodded in agreement, quickly and elegantly finished a small bowl of double-skin milk pudding, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and bowed to Xiao Yunying.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, young lady. This way, please."

On the way back, Xiao Yunying chatted with her: "I still don't know your name."

The maidservant whispered from behind her to the right, "I am Lian Yin, the Second Miss's personal maidservant. My mistress was worried that you might not be used to living in the mansion, so she specially sent me to serve you."

Xiao Yunying praised her without reservation: "Your young lady has a good temperament, and the maids she has taught are also well-mannered. I will definitely praise you in front of your young lady later."

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Yunying noticed an unnatural expression appear on Lian Yin's face for the first time.

She reflected on her words, wondering if she had said anything wrong.

"What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

Lian Yin shook her head and said nothing: "It's nothing, young lady, come this way with me."

Xiao Yunying didn't ask any more questions. After walking for a while, she realized that this was not Chen Yuanyao's courtyard.

It seems to be the road leading to Chen Yuancheng's courtyard.

Upon seeing the plaque with the words "Late Residence," she was certain that this was Chen Yuancheng's courtyard.

Did I go to the wrong place or what happened?

Lian Yin seemed to see the doubt in Xiao Yunying's eyes and explained before she could ask a question: "Miss instructed that breakfast be eaten here with the eldest young master today. Don't worry, Miss Luo, the young lady and the young masters have already been brought over."

Xiao Yunying nodded knowingly and followed the maid into the house.

A maid lifted the heavy curtain for her. Xiao Yunying thanked her and entered the room to find the Luo siblings and several children already seated.

His gaze swept over Luo Chen and Luo Yang's faces, and at least their expressions had returned to normal, not as bad as they had been the night before.

Xiao Yunying said nonchalantly, "You guys got up pretty early."

If it weren't for getting up early to cook, she could sleep until noon when she was at home with nothing to do.

The children greeted Xiao Yunying, and Chen Yuanyao patted the stool next to her, gesturing for her to sit beside her: "Didn't Big Brother say that Sister Yunying would definitely get up early to make food? Of course, we should get up early to eat delicious food."

On the other side of the seat was Luo Xin. Xiao Yunying sat down without ceremony: "I was embarrassed to come here empty-handed for the night. I heard from Yuanxuan that your grandmother likes sweets and pastries, so I got up early to make some. When I arrived, breakfast was almost ready, so I only made a serving of steamed dumplings."

Once everyone had arrived, Chen Yuancheng signaled to Ling Qi that they could have the meal prepared.

The maids filed in, served the food in an orderly fashion, and then all left.

The round table wasn't very big, just big enough for them to sit down, so Chen Yuancheng told Ling Qi to go downstairs and have breakfast by herself.

Xiao Yunying was not used to being surrounded by so many strangers. Without the numerous maids standing around her, she was noticeably more relaxed.

Chen Yuancheng looked at Xiao Yunying with a smile in his eyes: "Let's eat."

Xiao Yunying called to the children, first serving Luo Xin a small bowl of rice porridge, and asked, "Should I go and pay my respects to your parents and grandmother later?"

To be honest, she didn't really want to go.

She feared that the elders of the Chen family, with their strong class consciousness, would look down on her status as a peasant girl.

Just because Chen Yuancheng's mother is easy to get along with doesn't mean that other elders are equally easy to get along with.

Chen Yuancheng's father worked in education, which likely fostered his aloof, arrogant, and rigid personality.

Their grandmother is old, and influenced by the environment of this world, will she think of herself as a woman who does not uphold female virtues and does not know the rules?

She doesn't really care what others think of her, but she also doesn't want people to criticize her for no reason and make her feel upset.

Besides, they were the elders of the Chen siblings, and she wanted to leave a good impression.

I heard from Chen Yuanyao that her grandmother was very easy to get along with; she could be coaxed a little when she was angry.

Her father was easier to talk to, always putting her mother at the center of everything. She said that she had won her mother's favor, so her father was nothing to fear.

But that's when he's with his family and children. If he's with outsiders, he might not act the same way.

Of course, these are just my own guesses. Before meeting them in person, no one knows whether the elders of the Chen family are easy to get along with.

Xiao Yunying ate her breakfast alone, lost in thought. Chen Yuancheng noticed her absent-mindedness and said softly:

"Don't bother visiting my parents and grandmother. My father goes to the academy after breakfast and won't be back until evening. My mother is busy adjusting prices at various shops and will be going out soon. My grandmother prays to the Buddhist scriptures every morning before eating breakfast. By the time you finish eating, she might not have finished reciting the scriptures yet."

Xiao Yunying responded blankly, unsure whether to breathe a sigh of relief or feel regret.

He then consoled himself, thinking that if he had the chance in the future, he would bring more gifts and pay a proper visit, so as not to be completely impolite.

"The pastries I made can't be kept for long, so don't forget to let your grandmother and parents have a taste."

"good."

Chen Yuanxuan, standing to the side, looked at Chen Yuanyao with a puzzled expression. Were his parents so busy lately? He hadn't noticed.

Also, didn't my grandmother only recite Buddhist scriptures on the first day of each month? When did she develop the habit of reciting Buddhist scriptures every morning?

Chen Yuanyao quickly gave her slow-witted younger brother a warning look, signaling him not to say anything more.

Chen Yuanxuan successfully received his second sister's warning, lowered his head and focused on eating, not daring to say another word.