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 he 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 Yan was getting on in years and got up early. For the first few days, he was waited on and had people to talk to, which made him feel quite comfortable. But after only a few days, he 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, Old Master Yan always feels that everyone in the palace looks down on him, even his grandchildren.
As a result, Old Yan increasingly missed Bao Jie and Gui Ge, whom he had raised since childhood.
No matter what good food she ate, Old Lady Yan would have a portion sent to Bao Jie and Gui Ge. 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 Bao Jie and Gui Ge.
Yan Chao and Yan Zhi wanted to give their mother a surprise, so they deliberately didn't tell her. So when Old Master Yan saw Bao Jie and Gui Ge, he hugged them tightly, calling them his darlings, and had someone quickly bring up some pastries and fruit.
Yan Shujin and Yan Qiyu also wanted to eat the food that Old Master Yan had blocked. They were both raised by Old Master Yan, and he always made sure they got the best of everything 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 Grandpa Yan's hand and said coquettishly, "The tutor is so strict."
Upon hearing this, Old Master Yan was exceptionally considerate. He took a piece of jujube paste cake and put it in Yan Shujin's hand, then gave another piece to Yan Qiyu: "You're not allowed to skip classes anymore, understand? You must respect your teacher."
These pastries were specially prepared by the imperial chef for Old Master Yan. They were a bit too sweet, as he 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."
Upon hearing this, Old Yan said, "I'll have someone bring you some that isn't too sweet. Brother Gui is still losing his baby teeth and can't eat anything too sweet."
Yan Qiyu swallowed what was in his mouth and said, "It's alright."
Yan Shujin nodded in agreement. Neither of them were the type to waste food, nor were they difficult to swallow.
No matter how Yan Lao looked at it, he thought Bao Jie and Gui Ge were good, and couldn't help but mutter, "No wonder Xu Ge and the others didn't like it, and didn't say it wasn't to their liking."
Yan Shujin had finished eating the jujube paste cake and said, "They're shy. Gui Ge and I were raised by Grandma, so we dare to say anything. They'll be fine once they spend more time with you, Grandma."
Old Master Yan reached out and poked his granddaughter's head: "You little rascal."
Yan Shujin snuggled into Old Master Yan's arms: "Grandma, I want to eat chicken legs and braised pork knuckles."
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