Chapter 53 Pear Paste

But Meng Taotao looked determined, having made up her mind. Si Li didn't want to refuse her face, so she stood up and made a bowl of ice jelly, and put it into the ugly lunch box that had never changed in Wanglaiju. "Thank you for the half liang. Please have someone return the lunch box later."

"Amber condenses light and reflects deep shadows... No, no, reflect shadows..." The young man pondered over the words. He was full of vigor and vitality. Perhaps he had been pampered for too long, and he was arrogant and looked down on everyone. Hearing this, he muttered, "You are too ugly, a waste of God's gift. Am I also a greedy person?"

Si Li took the silver, not wanting to listen to what he said, and walked away without even turning her head. He felt annoyed, his face turned slightly cold, he snorted, threw the food box to the servant, and walked away with his head raised.

She just thought that this was an unpleasant guest. Xiao Qi, who was named, was reluctant to look at him. It was Fang Hu, who came to report early, who laughed in a muffled voice, "Little shopkeeper, Mr. Du is in the mood for poetry, why don't you let him leave a few works of calligraphy? The chief priest praised him for his talent of being the top scholar. When he passes the imperial examination next spring, your family will have left a good story."

"Oh?" Si Li glanced at Meng Taotao. The girl lowered her head, and it was unclear what she was thinking, but she was definitely not in a good mood. She stepped forward, held her hand, and chuckled, "What's the point of being the top scholar? Isn't he still the top scholar? Our Taotao is also a scholar. When the special examination is held next year, Wanglaiju will be the wine shop where the top scholar worked. Can't you have as many inscriptions and reputations as you want?"

Fang Hu was so confused that he didn't burst out laughing. A famous student from the Imperial College and an ordinary female student who was unknown and had no teacher. Although both of them were scholars, Meng Taotao and Du Xuan were so different, how could they be compared?

"What are you laughing at?" Xiao Qi glared at him. "That kid Du Xuan is just taking advantage of his parents. If Mr. Wenshan recruited many disciples, he would be much smarter than him." She turned to Meng Taotao and spoke cautiously, "The special examination is not held this year. I heard from my mother that it should be held next year. Taotao, why don't you come and study with me? The winter examination of the academy allows outsiders to take the exam. If you are in the top ten, you can enter the academy to study in the spring of next year. You are so smart, you will definitely be able to do it. We can be classmates."

"No need." Meng Taotao said stiffly, put down the rag and turned into the backyard.

"Are you scared away just like that?" Fang Hu, who was enjoying the commotion, made a sarcastic remark.

Xiao Qi slammed the table and said, "I've been fed up with you guys for a long time. If you have the guts to criticize others, you should do it first."

Fang Hu's momentum suddenly dropped. "What kind of book are you reading and what kind of essay are you writing? It gives me a headache when I read it. What does it have to do with me?"

"Okay." Si Li tried to smooth things over and took another look at the shameless Fang Hu. It was a little hard to imagine how Jiang Lang could get involved with such a person.

In the backyard, Meng Taotao reminded her that the pear paste that had just been boiled over a low fire was ready. Si Li took out two bowls of ice jelly that had been specially reserved, and poured brown sugar and pear paste on them. The sweetness of the pears was a little bit heavy, and this was specially prepared for Princess Jinhe, to moisten the throat and clear away heat. Although I don't know what happened to the little princess, but from what she said before, her throat might not be very good, and it's just right to drink pear paste to replenish it.

"Is there a share for me?" Jiang Lang put down his paintbrush. Perhaps because he was staring at his beloved career, his wet eyes were very lively and looked more childish than their usual dull and deep appearance.

As he spoke, he came over with a swing of his wrist, kicking away a few small porcelain vases on the way. He didn't look like he was here to help.

Si Li's scalp tingled and she shook her head quickly, "Don't come over here, just go somewhere." A bowl of ice jelly is not a big deal, but the pear paste inside has been simmered for a long time. It would be a pity if this clumsy person spilled it.

The backyard, which was not very big to begin with, was mostly occupied by a table that was more than a foot long. Brush washers and ink boxes were placed everywhere, and brushes of varying sizes were also scattered everywhere. Even Jin and Princess Jin, who were playing chess, were squeezed to the side. Si Li, who was holding a bowl, could only walk past it carefully to avoid stepping on the young master's favorite thing.

When she settled the fees earlier, she naively thought that the most difficult part of "babysitting the kids" this time was getting along with Princess Jinhe. Only today did she realize that before this, it was only Prince Jiang who was playing with his sister and had not started his business mode.

Jiang Lang, who started painting as soon as he arrived today, was dissatisfied with everything he saw and picked trouble with everyone he saw. He would even glare at anyone who made a noise when he passed by the kitchen. If it weren't for the fact that he contributed ten taels of silver to the account, Si Li would have wanted to grab his ears and make him leave his sister behind and go back to Qiyun Tower to paint.

The rice paper on the long table was half rolled up, and the remaining half was still wet with ink. Si Li placed two bowls on the empty table, "This bowl is for the prince, and this bowl is for the princess."

Jiang Lang, who usually holds the bowl to feed his sister, did not move. Si Li was stunned for a moment. Lin Ruying, who had been quietly in the corner, took two steps forward and picked up the small bowl, "I will serve the princess."

Jiang Lang reached out and picked up the small bowl, stirring it. "It looks okay."

Si Li suppressed the words "Eat it if you want or not" and simply ignored him.

He was just about to eat when he heard a light knock on the door connecting the backyard of the residence to Qiyun Tower.

Zhong Liuru bowed with a smile, "Sir, His Highness wants to see you for something."

"...Yeah." Jiang Lang put the bowl back on the table, took two steps, and turned to look at his sister, "A Fei, am I leaving?"

Si Li looked at Princess Jinhe who didn't even turn her head, and Jiang Lang who was obviously dejected after not getting a response. She wondered deeply whether the Prince of Yue had taken the wrong medicine today, otherwise why would he be so full of resentment and act like an abandoned dog.

As soon as Jiang Lang left, the guards and servants who were hiding in various places in the courtyard and retreating to the side of Qiyun Tower began to move. In a few moments, they had cleaned up the mess on the ground, put up the porcelain altar, tied up the brushes, and did not care about the painting thread with wet ink at all, as it was rolled up and thrown into the scroll.

Si Li opened her mouth, shocked.

Jiang Lang spent so much time on this painting, wouldn't it be ruined if he just rolled it up? Is it really okay? Are you guards of the Prince of Yue's Palace too tough? Aren't you afraid that the prince who is ill will let people beat you up? !

Jiang Lang, who was defined by Si Li as having a seizure, stepped into the Qiyun Building and saw his elder brother's familiar figure on the second floor. Looking out from the half-open window on the second floor, he could just see all kinds of people busy coming and going in the courtyard. Because the Qiyun Building was high, almost no one would look up. He stopped one step behind Jiang Hengyun and watched Jiang Rufei eat the ice jelly mouthful by mouthful.

Si Li wiped the pear juice from the girl's lips. The Princess Jinhe who unveiled her face looked different from her childhood. She looked pale and weak, which made people feel pity for her. She put away the handkerchief, and her hand was suddenly held by the girl in mid-air.

"What's wrong?" In order to avoid irritating her, Si Li did not struggle and asked gently, "Do you want to have another serving? But after eating two bowls of ice jelly, you may not be able to eat dinner."

Jiang Rufei raised the corners of her lips, her face was a little stiff, and it seemed as if every muscle had its own thoughts, as if she was laughing, and as if she was crying.

"Don't you still want it? Then let me guess, you want me to play chess with you?" Si Li was a little distressed, "I'm not very good at it, how about you wait for the prince to come back? Or should I call Tao Tao to come?"

Jiang Rufei shook her head. Just like the last time she spoke, her voice was vague and labored, "...sweet."

Si Li smiled, "Since you like to eat candied sweet potatoes, I made some extra sugar for you."

Jiang Rufei let go of her hand. Si Li didn't quite understand what she meant. "Then I'll go make another bowl of ice jelly?"

"Um."

The two people on the Qiyun Building watched Si Li leave. Jiang Hengyun did not speak a word, but Jiang Lang, who was called over, could not help but said, "Brother, you know, she is not suitable to be the Crown Princess."

Jiang Hengyun paused in closing the window and asked, "Crown Princess?"

"Yes." Jiang Lang didn't hesitate to make it clear, "I have been watching you for so many years. Don't say there are no women around you. You have never paid attention to or approached a woman like this. If not, what else could it be? She has a good temper, her cooking is so-so, her appearance is okay, and Sister Fei likes her, but she is greedy, lazy, and has no ambition. How can the mother of a country be like this? And, and she is Si Baifu's daughter!"

"What should the mother of a country be like? Like a queen mother?"

Jiang Lang blurted out, "Yes!"

Jiang Hengyun sneered, "Master Si has done his best, so there is no need to mention marrying a concubine."

"That Si Li——"

"It has another use." Jiang Hengyun turned around and gave him a warning look, "Alang, don't mess around."

Jiang Lang's aura disappeared, and he nodded dejectedly, "I won't come again."

---

The Prince of Yue had been gone for a while. Si Li was thinking about his painting and the ice jelly he hadn't eaten yet. He went to the front hall for a walk and then came back. Just then he saw Jiang Lang coming from the other end of Qiyun Tower. He hurried forward to clear the matter, "Prince, I saw that the painting didn't look like it was done when it was put away. Someone in your house moved too quickly and didn't have time to stop it. It should be okay, right?"

Jiang Hengyun, who had finished his disguise, looked at her intently until Si Li felt something was a little strange and touched her face, "Is there oil on my face?"

"No." Jiang Hengyun pulled a small stool over and sat down opposite his sister. Lin Ruying came forward and put down the ice jelly she was holding, just at the corner of the chessboard. The young man, wearing a wide robe with big sleeves, looked relaxed and at ease. He didn't even raise his head, picked up a chess piece and put it down, "It's just a practice piece, don't take it to heart."

It seems that he was taken away by his brother and given medicine, and now he is back to normal.

Si Li breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good. Try the freshly made ice jelly. I'll make more pear paste tomorrow. It's the dry season between autumn and winter, so I'll make some for everyone to moisten their throats. Well, I can charge a little more for the pear paste. I'll have to ask Wang Ting about the current price of pears. If the price is good, I'll stock up on more pears."

Halfway through the conversation, she had already slipped into talking to herself, and there was some thought of hinting at increasing the meal money, but seeing the indifferent expression of the Prince of Yue, Si Li did not hold out much hope that he would respond.

"Boss, a plate of shredded sweet potatoes! Come and make a bowl of ice jelly, the customers are waiting!"

The shouting from the front hall came over, Si Li stopped thinking, stood up and patted the dust on the hem of his clothes on the stool where he sat, "Come right over!"

Busy and struggling, so ordinary.

Thinking of the previous conversation with Jiang Lang, Jiang Hengyun felt a little amused. He placed another piece, and Jiang Rufei followed closely behind, cutting off the dragon's path on the chessboard. With the sound of the girl's distant footsteps, the courtyard suddenly became quiet, which made him feel a little uncomfortable.

Jiang Heng's eyes drifted towards the curtain that separated the front hall and the backyard. The curtain separated the hustle and bustle and silence. It was motionless and no one lifted it.

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The author has something to say:

The poem that Du Xiaonian recited was composed by Susu.

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Before the meeting, the prince said: I am just looking for a subordinate.

After the meeting, the prince said: I can find her for help, don't make trouble.

After being mentioned as the Crown Princess, the Crown Prince said: I am unhappy that she is gone.

Tool man and back-pot master Jiang Lang: My life is so difficult.