Chapter 52 (Toothpick Meat (Part 2)...)

After getting their consent, the three children couldn’t bear it anymore and just reached out their hands!

Only then did they know what toothpicks were used for.

There is no need to worry about burning it because the toothpick has already cooled down. There is no problem except some oil. There is a piece of meat right in the middle of the toothpick and they can just open their mouths and pass it through.

The chicken and beef are both spicy, and the lamb is cumin-flavored.

Dongdong likes spicy food the most, so the first thing he picked was beef.

Compared to other meats, beef has much coarser fibers and is difficult to make tender. However, because it is fried, the outer layer has a crispy texture, and it is still much more tender than the beef we eat in the past.

And the coarse fiber texture makes chewing more interesting.

A bite of meat, the spicy and numbing taste exudes its charm on the tip of the tongue, accompanied by the aroma of sesame, the spicy condiments, and the taste of various fried spices, mixed with the meaty texture.

"Hiss..." Dongdong took a deep breath, slurped his saliva, and then continued to take the second one.

Wan'er was eating chicken. She liked eating chicken wings and chicken legs, and she had a special liking for chicken. After eating one, she couldn't help but curl her lips with joy: "Chicken is so delicious!"

The taste was a bit too strong for her.

However, chicken meat is tender and not cooked for too long, so the skin is crispy, while the meat inside is very tender because it has been marinated.

It was so tender that it seemed like it was just cooked, with a smooth texture. I swallowed it accidentally after chewing it for only three or two times, leaving only the spicy taste in my mouth.

Xiao Pingsong ate the mutton with relish.

Mutton has a strong smell, which is what distinguishes it from the other two types of meat. Therefore, in each step, mutton is placed last. However, although it has a strong smell, it does not affect its taste at all.

The thick taste of cumin masks part of the flavor, and it is soft, tender and easy to chew. It is more tender than beef, and has more juice that the other two types of meat do not have. At the end, you can still taste a slight smell of mutton, but at this time, it has not affected his love for this toothpick lamb at all!

Ah Heng waited until Nan Qi finished testing the poison before quickly taking one and stuffing it into his mouth. He bit the meat and exerted force. The toothpick was pulled out, leaving only the meat grains in his mouth. He felt satisfied all of a sudden.

Yan Qiushu had just finished eating chicken and went to get the mutton. Seeing that they were staring at one piece of meat, she reminded them, "Try other flavors, they are all delicious."

The four children nodded, and the next one to take the food changed the plate.

But just as they had all tasted the food, Yan Qiushu suddenly took action and took away all three dishes, including the water.

Children: “???”

"Sister Shu!" Dongdong was anxious.

Wan'er is the most obedient and won't ask for anything, but she will stare at her with her beautiful eyes, which makes people feel soft-hearted.

Xiao Pingsong is older and doesn't act coquettishly, but his look is still pitiful.

Ah Heng was stunned, then licked his lips calmly.

Yan Qiushu smiled and said, "You have already eaten a lot of meat at noon. Just taste it now. Don't eat more, otherwise it will be difficult to digest."

"ah……"

A sigh of loss.

But the children understood, so even though they were sad, they didn't beg anymore.

Yan Qiushu rubbed their heads one by one, asked Shuixuan to make some soup for them to reduce heat and aid digestion, and asked Nanny Xu to sort the meat into different categories, pack them in oil paper bags, and hand them over to Nan Qi.

This is for Ah Heng.

Dongdong and the other two tacitly looked at Ah Heng with envy at this moment.

So happy.

I can actually buy three servings of meat by myself!

Is this the benefit of leaving home?

In envy, Dongdong counted on his fingers, it seemed that when Brother Pingyu left, Sister Shu sent him a lot of food, and when little uncle and mother left, Sister Shu also sent them a lot. Except for pork jerky, he didn't let them eat many other things.

Now it’s Ah Heng’s turn.

Then he...

Just as he was thinking about his own little thoughts, Ah Heng took advantage of the adults not paying attention and whispered in his ear with a smile: "Come to my place tonight, I will secretly give you some."

Dong Dong: “!!!”

Seeing him so happy, Ah Heng was also very satisfied. It was the first time for him to be envied by others. He really wanted to give it all to him. However, thinking of what Ah Shu said, he added: "Don't eat too much, otherwise your stomach will feel uncomfortable."

Dongdong nodded repeatedly, covering his mouth with excitement.

The two of them agreed, and when they turned around, they saw Xiao Pingsong and Wan'er looking at them quietly.

Ah Heng was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously said, "Pfft! Give it to you too!"

Upon hearing this, the two of them smiled widely and nodded silently, expressing their joy at the success of this conspiracy!

How could Yan Qiushu not see it?

However, these children all knew their limits. She told them not to eat too much, so even if these things were placed in front of them, they would not dare to really eat them. Therefore, they would secretly satisfy their appetites occasionally, but they would pretend that nothing could be seen.

There has to be something sweet.

But at night, you have to eat lighter.

That night, a few children who wanted to stay with Yan Qiushu to enjoy the delicious food were so upset that they wanted to cry but had no tears when they saw the white porridge served to them.

He didn't even give me candy.

Yan Qiushu didn't like sweet porridge, so she didn't prepare any when she made it, so the children had to get the sugar themselves.

"Porridge without sugar tastes terrible!"

"Yes! It won't taste good without sugar! Sister Shu, you really don't want to add some sugar?"

Yan Qiushu held her bowl and sat a little further away from them: "No!"

Xiao Pingsong looked very understanding and said, "Don't force Sister Shu, sugar makes you fat."

Wan'er understood: "Oh, then I'll eat more. My mother said I'm too thin."

Ah Heng also nodded: "I'll eat more too."

Only Dongdong gave up the thought of adding another spoonful of sugar, reduced his presence, and stopped talking.

Wan'er giggled: "Dongdong, you can't eat anymore, you're too fat!"

I eat well and my face becomes rounder, but isn’t that too fat?

Dongdong glared at her shyly, then gulped down the porridge from the bowl while covering his face.

Xiao Pingsong shook his head and said, "Dongdong, how about you exercise with me tomorrow?"

Dongdong quickly put down the bowl and ran out, "I don't want it. I'm leaving! School is about to start, I want to play more!"

Xiao Pingsong: “…”

As night fell, the stealing teams returned to their own yards.

When the sun rose the next day, it was the day when Ah Heng temporarily bid farewell to the Xiao family.

Missing her son so much, Princess Chang arrived early in the morning.

She was the princess and had sent her visiting card in advance, so when she was about to arrive, someone notified her in advance, and Mrs. Xiao brought people from the mansion to greet her, including Yan Qiushu.

The carriage stopped, and Princess Chang was helped down by palace maids, while Madam Xiao took the lead in paying respects.

As soon as he bent his knees, Princess Chang came over and supported him.

Next, a pale and thin young man came down. Everyone bowed to him again, and King Chang quickly supported them.

At this point Yan Qiushu thought that was all, but unexpectedly a little boy who looked listless and taciturn came down from behind her.

When Yan Qiushu looked closely, she found that the little boy was actually Zhou Zhaoqin.

Because his mother committed suicide, he was wearing black clothes and his cheeks were much thinner. When he was led over by Princess Chang, he looked like a puppet, with a stupid and dull feeling.

When he was carried down from the carriage by the palace maid, he accidentally hit his head. The palace maid hurriedly covered his head, but because Mrs. Xiao and others were talking in front, their voices were not loud and no one heard it.

Zhou Zhaoqin said nothing, as if he had not been hit.

The palace maid quickly put him down, and a nanny who looked quite plump came over and helped her to the side of Princess Chang.

At this point, Zhou Zhaoqin was a little less stiff, but when he raised his eyes, they happened to meet Yan Qiushu's eyes. His eyes immediately turned red and he moved his feet. Princess Chang thought he was unhappy and quickly held his hand, but he stopped moving again.

Yan Qiushu took a deep breath and was a little shocked for a moment.

But on second thought, I felt helpless.

Among the current princes, Prince Chang is the second oldest and has one legitimate son. Due to an incident five years ago, he has no other children. The third prince is only two years younger than him and he also gave birth to Zhou Zhaoqin, a child, one year after his marriage.

Other concubines got pregnant but died before giving birth.

Prince Huai, Prince Shun and Prince Xuan were much younger than their older brothers and none of them were married. There were no other grandchildren in the royal family except these two. One was ignored because of his father, and the other became a domineering second-generation rich kid because of the third prince's overbearing personality.

Who would have thought that the child we see now is even more timid than Ah Heng back then, which makes people feel distressed.

Mrs. Xiao was the same, but she had seen the world, so after a brief moment of shock, she quickly reacted and asked them to sit in the living room: "Please come this way, my Lord and Princess."

"You don't have to be polite, Madam Xiao." Princess Chang was also very polite to Madam Xiao, and even performed an evening ceremony. She held her son by the hand and did not let go of Zhou Zhaoqin. She held a child in each hand, walked slowly, and her eyes were very gentle. She spoke a few words to Ah Heng and did not forget to look at Zhou Zhaoqin.

Yan Qiushu kept watching and felt a little comforted.

He has lost his mother and his father is imprisoned, but now he has Princess Chang to take care of him, which is much better than Ah Heng back then.

Xie Qingyun's pace was not fast either. He took two steps backward and walked side by side with Yan Qiushu. He said softly, "Don't worry, Ah Shu. The princess is kind and will treat the second grandson well."

Yan Qiushu pursed her lips, smiled and nodded.

She was a little worried, not for any other reason, but because the Third Prince was imprisoned differently from the Crown Prince. He was imprisoned after rebelling and being demoted to a commoner. His crime was serious, and if he were not the emperor's son, his entire clan would have been exterminated long ago.

In this situation, as his son, Zhou Zhaoqin lost his mother and his father. If someone wanted to take revenge behind the scenes, after all, the Third Prince would certainly offend people, and only Zhou Zhaoqin would be the one to be avenged, and he was only a five-year-old child.

It's just the royal family's business, it's not my turn to interfere.

However, as soon as this thought came to her mind, things got to her head.

Madam Xiao entertained Prince Chang and his wife, while Yan Qiushu sat at the lower seat drinking tea without saying a word.

I don't intend to mix these things.

Until someone called me.

"Miss Yan."

Yan Qiushu was startled and looked up, she saw Princess Chang looking at her with a smile. When she saw her looking at her, she smiled shyly.

"What's the matter, Princess?"

Princess Chang glanced at the two little boys sitting obediently on the chairs and said gratefully, "Thank you Miss Yan for taking care of Ah Heng. He looks much healthier and more lively. I'm too busy these days and can't come to thank you in person, so I'll say thank you here. Please accept this small gift, Miss Yan."

She looked at the nanny beside her.

The nanny waved her hand, and a palace maid brought a large red wooden box, which the nanny personally delivered to Yan Qiushu.

Yan Qiushu didn't expect this to happen. She stood up in a daze and looked at Mrs. Xiao hesitantly.

Seeing Madam Xiao nod, she smiled and bowed, accepting the gift: "Thank you, Princess. I like Ah Heng very much, and he is very sensible. It is not difficult to take care of him. Princess, you are too polite."

Shui Xuan took it and held it for her.

Princess Chang pursed her lips and smiled. Seeing that she accepted, she said happily, "Actually, I have another unwelcome request. I heard that Miss Yan is very good at playing with children, and Ah Heng likes you very much. Ah Qin has been in a low mood recently. Now that I have opened a new mansion, although it is safe, I have too many things to do and cannot take care of him well. So I thought, please invite Miss Yan to live in the palace for a few days. I wonder if it is okay?"

Yan Qiushu: ???