Chapter Eleven
Yan Zhili didn't tell Yan Shujin the answer, and cruelly sent the two siblings back to their room to rest. When only the husband and wife were left, Yan Zhili couldn't help but hug his wife and spin her around a few times.
Liu Qin gasped and hugged her husband. When she was put down, her hair was disheveled: "Husband, what happened?"
Yan Zhili held his wife's hand and said, "You've taught the children very well."
Liu Qin smiled gently: "They were good kids to begin with."
When Yan Zhili thought of his elder brother's children and then looked at his own two children, he felt happier no matter how he looked at them.
Yan Shujin and Yan Qiyu had finished their homework while waiting for Yan Zhili in the afternoon. After washing up, they rested separately. However, they did not discuss Mr. Du's question, because Mr. Du had told them to think about it on their own and not to be influenced by each other. If they really wanted to discuss it, they would wait until class.
Although Yan Zhili did not answer, Yan Shujin already had the answer in her heart. It was probably her uncle Yan Chao who had planned ahead about the lack of food supplies for the Battle of Suhu.
Yan Qiyu thought carefully about what Mr. Du had taught her, and silently recited the books she needed to memorize before closing her eyes and going to sleep.
Yan Zhili had already told them about going to the palace. Mr. Du and Aunt Fang had already given prior notice, and the homework Mr. Du had assigned had also been sent over.
This was Yan Shujin's second time entering the palace. The time between her first and second visit was not long, but the feeling was completely different.
The first time I entered the palace, I felt a little lost and helpless, but this time I entered the palace with great ease, just like visiting a relative's house, even though this relative's house was a bit too big.
Yan Zhili only escorted them to the palace gate, and only left after watching Chen Qiu's personal maid take them away.
Chen Qiu had been waiting for them for a long time, and when she saw Liu Qin leading the children over, she took the initiative to go and greet them.
Yan Shujin and Yan Qiyu called out at the same time, "Auntie."
Chen Qiu smiled broadly, her eyes gentle as she looked at the two children: "Why didn't you come in a sedan chair? Weren't you tired from walking all this way?"
"Please sit down." Liu Qin and Chen Qiu hadn't seen each other for many years, but when Liu Qin first married Yan Zhili, Chen Qiu took care of her like a younger sister. The two had a very good relationship and there was no awkwardness between them. "It's just that halfway there, Bao Jie and Gui Ge wanted to walk by themselves. I saw that it was still early before the appointment time, so I brought them here."
Yan Shujin said, "Auntie, I'm not tired."
Yan Qiyu nodded in agreement.
Chen Qiu then stopped talking and said, "I'll take you to see Mother. She keeps talking about you."
Yan Shujin stepped forward and placed her hand in Chen Qiu's, saying, "Auntie, I really want to eat your locust flower buns."
Chen Qiu glanced at Yan Qiyu walking beside Yan Shujin and said with a smile, "What's so difficult about this? Your aunt will make it for you when the locust flowers bloom."
"Let my little brother try some too," Yan Shujin said with a grin. "He's never had any before."
Chen Qiu looked at Yan Qiyu with some anticipation.
Yan Qiyu nodded: "My sister once said that Auntie's locust flower buns are especially delicious."
Chen Qiu's eyes reddened slightly, but she immediately smiled and said, "Okay, make some more for Sister Bao and Brother Gui."
At first, Yan Qiyu was a little afraid of Chen Qiu, after all, Chen Qiu's appearance at dinner that day had frightened him. However, after his sister told him about his aunt, he felt sorry for her. He had always had a good impression of the brother his sister had mentioned.
Yan Qiyu thought for a moment, glanced at his mother again, and then walked to Chen Qiu's other side, reaching out to hold her hand and saying, "Auntie, please eat too."
Chen Qiu nodded vigorously, her gaze towards Yan Qiyu growing increasingly loving.
Old Madam Yan was getting on in years and got up quite early. For the first few days, she was waited on and had people to talk to, which made her feel quite comfortable. However, after only a few days, she felt bored and had nothing to do.
In the past, I would get up early every day to buy groceries, come back to feed the chickens and tidy up the house, and occasionally sit under the tree outside the door to chat with people. It seemed like the day would pass by without me even realizing it.
Nowadays, let alone buying groceries or doing chores, even when her eldest son's concubines bring their children to talk to her, she feels she can't connect with them. Moreover, Madam Yan always feels that these people in the palace look down on her, even her grandchildren.
As a result, Madam Yan missed Baojie and Guige, whom she had raised since they were children, more and more.
No matter what good food she ate, Old Madam Yan would have a portion sent to Baojie and Guige. She would grumble about it from time to time. However, she was wise enough not to grumble about it in front of her grandchildren in the palace, for fear that they would think she was being biased and would bully Baojie and Guige.
Yan Chao and Yan Zhi wanted to give their mother a surprise, so they deliberately didn't tell her. As a result, when Madam Yan saw Bao Jie and Gui Ge, she hugged them tightly and kept calling them her darlings. She also had someone quickly bring up some pastries and fruits.
Yan Shujin and Yan Qiyu also missed Old Madam Yan very much. They were both raised by Old Madam Yan, and she always made sure they ate the best things first.
"Grandma, Dad hired a tutor for me and my brother. We'll have five days of classes and one day off. We missed you so much that we took leave to come here." Yan Shujin grabbed Old Madam Yan's hand and said coquettishly, "The tutor is very strict."
Upon hearing this, Madam Yan was exceptionally considerate. She took a piece of jujube paste cake and put it in Yan Shujin's hand, and then gave another piece to Yan Qiyu: "You are not allowed to skip classes from now on, understand? You must respect your teacher."
These pastries were specially prepared by the imperial chef for Old Madam Yan. They were a bit too sweet, as she was getting old and had a stronger palate. Yan Shujin and the others didn't really like them: "Grandma, this is too sweet for me."
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