Chapter 43 is reserved for someone very important.
On the Empress Dowager's birthday, family members couldn't even see her, and even if they brought gifts, the Empress Dowager might not be interested in accepting them.
The old woman's question seemed to be on behalf of the Empress Dowager. Could it be that this person served by the Empress Dowager's side?
Thinking about it this way, Yu Nian felt that even the reason why this nanny had such a dignified demeanor had a reasonable explanation: she learned it from her master.
Regardless of who the Empress Dowager's attendants are, Yu Nian felt it was necessary to cultivate a good relationship with them.
I don't know if I'll get another helper, but at least I shouldn't get another enemy.
After a moment's thought, Yu Nian switched to flattery mode. She had to thank Chunyu Han for this; if it weren't for him, Yu Nian wouldn't have known that she was such a good sycophant.
"To be honest, this year's birthday gift for the Empress Dowager was prepared by my father and me together. We put in a lot of effort and prepared for a very long time. Although I dare not say it is the most precious, it is definitely the most auspicious."
Yu Nian originally wanted to say the most expensive one, but then she thought that the Empress Dowager was definitely not short of money, so she changed her mind before she could finish her sentence.
"Oh?...cough cough cough"
The old woman was about to say something when a gust of autumn wind blew by, causing her to gasp for breath and cough violently.
Are you alright?
Yu Nian habitually patted the old woman's back.
The old woman frowned and pointed to a small medicine bowl placed under the railing.
Chuntao quickly picked up the bowl and handed it to the nanny.
As the old woman drank her medicine, Yu Nian glanced at the bowl—a fine white jade bowl, one of which she had broken once in the Honeysuckle Pavilion.
This further solidified Yu Nian's belief that the old woman must be someone of high status, otherwise she wouldn't be able to use such a fine bowl.
"It's alright."
The old woman frowned, thinking that she had come here to throw away the medicine, but she hadn't expected to drink it anyway.
When Yu Nian was in modern times, her parents were busy with work and she could only see them once a year. She was raised by her grandmother. Whenever she saw a kind-faced old woman, she would always think of her grandmother who would smile with her eyes narrowed and call her "good Nian Nian" and tell her to come home early.
Yu Nian reached into her purse, took out an oil paper package, and carefully opened it. Inside were three square pieces of osmanthus candy.
"This is the most famous osmanthus candy from Sanxianzhai in Beijing. It's especially sweet and fragrant. Have one to balance out the bitterness."
Yu Nian handed the osmanthus candy she was holding in her hands to the nanny. This was something she had saved up from between her teeth. Chun Tao had queued for an hour to buy it. This kind of osmanthus candy had very low sugar content and was full of the fragrance of osmanthus.
The old woman looked at the osmanthus candy with suspicion. It looked very ordinary, not even as exquisite as the ones made in her palace. Was it really as delicious as Yu Nian said?
Seeing that the old woman hadn't made a move, Yu Nian remembered that Chunyu Han always suspected her of poisoning food before eating, so she took a piece and put it in her mouth.
"It's really delicious, and it's not poisonous."
Yu Nian felt somewhat disheartened. Could it be that her identity as a vicious supporting female character meant she had a face that looked like she was about to poison someone? Everyone who saw her thought she was going to poison someone.
The old woman's mouth was indeed very bitter, so she took one and put it in her mouth.
The sweet fragrance of osmanthus blossoms spreads, and the icing sugar melts in your mouth, dispelling any bitterness.
This girl wasn't lying, it really is sweet.
The old woman wanted to have another one to try, but Yu Nian withdrew her hand and carefully wrapped up the last piece of candy.
"You're so stingy. Give me the food, and I'll show you the way."
The old woman watched Yu Nian's possessive behavior towards her food, which resembled that of a little child.
Yu Nian shook her head; it really wasn't that she was stingy.
"I'm sorry, Granny, I need to save this last one for someone very important."
The old woman could have eaten two, but she was suspicious of her.
"Someone very important? More important than your life?"
The old woman's voice suddenly became serious, and even carried a sense of authority.
This little girl dares to hide food in front of the Empress Dowager; she's really courting death.
"His life is as important as mine."
Yu Nian answered the old woman's question very seriously. She and Chunyu Han were a bound life community, so weren't they equally important?
Everyone in the palace was on edge; vows of eternal love could vanish in an instant. She hadn't seen anyone willing to give their life for anyone in a long time.
Prime Minister Yu is cunning and shrewd, but he has given birth to an interesting girl.
After Yu Nian finished speaking, the old woman's expression remained unchanged, without any fluctuation. Yu Nian thought that the old woman was angry with her, so she tentatively asked a question.
"Where does the medicine make you feel unwell, Granny?"
The old woman snapped out of her reverie and teased, "It's nothing serious, just old age, I'm often uncomfortable. Come here, give me a shoulder massage."
Chun Tao realized that the old woman didn't seem to have any intention of helping with directions and was just wasting their time in various ways. Seeing Yu Nian roll up her sleeves and look like she was really going to help, Chun Tao immediately became anxious.
Pulling Yu Nian aside, he whispered in her ear, "Miss, are you really going to give her a massage?"
"If you don't appease her, how am I supposed to get to the water banquet?"
Yu Nian has already completed all 360 bows; is he just missing this final tremor?
“But Miss, you are a noble lady and have never served anyone before. Let me do it. My technique is very good and I’m sure it will satisfy the nanny.”
Yu Nian knew that Chun Tao was worried about her, but these words sounded like she was underestimating her.
She's a very professional masseuse; Chunyu Han tried her massage and said it was great.
"Don't worry, I'm perfectly fine with your young lady."
After Yu Nian finished speaking, she placed her small hand on the nanny's shoulder and massaged her while pinching acupoints to explain to the nanny.
Not only was Chuntao stunned, but even the nanny was somewhat surprised.
"You massaged it very well. Where did you learn it? It really feels very comfortable."
Yu Nian chuckled to herself. She knew how to enjoy herself; the masseuses who used to massage her were all like that. Besides, she often massaged her grandmother, so she had long since mastered the techniques.
"You flatter me, Granny. I just give massages to the elders at home often."
Contrary to Chun Tao's expectations, the nanny did not let Yu Nian massage for long before raising her hand to give them detailed directions.
She's already explained things in such detail; if you still get lost, you can't blame her.
Yu Nian smiled and thanked her, but before turning around, she remembered that there was something important she had forgotten to ask.
"Yu Nian has been rude; may I not ask your name, Madam?"
The old woman smiled faintly, almost blurting out "I am an old woman," but she cleared her throat, changed her tone, and answered Yu Nian's question very seriously.
"My surname is Lü, and my given name is Fanghua."
Even she herself felt that this name was from a distant past, spanning most of her life. She had lived with this title for so long that she had almost forgotten her own name.
Yu Nian seems to have an innate sense of warmth that makes people unconsciously lower their guard.
"Thank you very much, Granny Lü."
Yu Nian still had to hurry. Although she was already late, it was still different from not going at all.
As Granny Lü watched Yu Nian's hurried departure, she slowly rose as well. It was getting late, and she should return to her place.
See you later, little girl from the Yu family.
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