"I'd heard that Princess Niu had a good appetite, but I didn't expect it to be this good~~" Yan Yu saw that everyone in the room was clinking glasses and laughing, as if they were all mocking the snow fox fur.
Sigh, really, they're just going through the motions for the New Year. What they're really thinking is completely different from what they seem on the surface.
"Yes, I have a good appetite, and I don't gain weight at all!" Lan Qin thought to herself, seeing Yan Yu's repeated provocations, that she wasn't someone to be trifled with. So what if you're pregnant? Does everyone in the room have to cater to your attitude?
Yan Yu was speechless after hearing her words. Seeing this, Li quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Come on, Yan Yu, try this crab roe tofu. It's delicious."
Seeing this, Wu, Wang, and Geng quickly cooperated with Li to divert Yan Yu's attention. This was for Li's sake, and naturally also for the sake of the Fujin (the wife of the emperor), and ultimately because Yan Yu was pregnant.
“Yan Yu, your appetite is so poor, you need to see a doctor and get some medicine. Otherwise, as your pregnancy progresses, the baby will need nutrition, and your body won’t be able to support it,” said Madam Wu.
"Sigh, I want to eat too, but I just don't have much of an appetite." Yan Yu felt her vanity satisfied when she saw that everyone was starting to pay attention to her.
“You’re quite far along in your pregnancy, you should go out and move around more; maybe that will improve your appetite,” Mrs. Wang added.
"I can't eat. Master has someone specially cook for me in the small kitchen, serving me a different dish every day, but I still can't eat. You tell me, I'm really worried~" Yan Yu couldn't help but boast as everyone tried to get closer to her. Actually, she had deliberately said it for Lan Qin to hear. Before, Yan Yu had heard that besides Fourth Master, only the South Courtyard had a separate small kitchen, which made her incredibly jealous. Now that she was pregnant, she first asked Fourth Master to make her a small kitchen.
Upon hearing Yan Yu's words, everyone's smiles became somewhat awkward. Even Li Shi's household didn't have its own kitchen. In the dead of winter, they had to send someone to fetch their daily meals from the mansion's kitchen.
Lanqin was actually focused on eating and drinking the whole time and didn't hear what Yan Yu said at all. Or rather, she didn't take Yan Yu's words to heart; they went in one ear and out the other. People thought she would be anxious and upset, but in reality, she didn't care at all.
What's so great about having a small kitchen? I've had one for ages, okay?
Lanqin picked up a piece of straw mushroom and black fungus with her chopsticks, and, carefree under everyone's watchful eyes, savored the deliciousness of these wild delicacies with an incredibly elegant posture, without showing her teeth. The straw mushrooms and black fungus were genuine wild-caught, absolutely natural, the essence of nature without any artificial hormones—they were truly delicious. Although the kitchen staff's skills were usually not as good as Chef Niu's, today was the Gregorian New Year, after all, and the New Year's Eve dinner had to be prepared properly, especially since it was ordered by the Fourth Prince.
One reason Lanqin could stay comfortably in the Fourth Prince's household with the heart of a 21st-century strong woman was the food from the Qing Dynasty three hundred years ago—it was far superior to what Lin Mengyao ate. The pork was incredibly fragrant, unlike the mass-produced pigs of modern times, which had no meaty flavor. Furthermore, because of the Fourth Prince's special status, Lanqin often got to taste real wild game, such as wild boar, badgers, roe deer, rabbits, and deer—meats that are not easily found in modern society.
"Has Niu Gege not eaten for several days? Anyone who didn't know better would think that no one was sending meals to the South Courtyard!" Yan Yu was so angry at Lan Qin's stubborn attitude that she was determined to say something sarcastic today.
Everyone had their own thoughts at this moment. Some were watching the show, some were worried, and some were observing the situation. In short, there were probably no people who actually tried to break up the fight.
After slowly swallowing the delicious food in her mouth, Lanqin said slowly and deliberately, "Yan Yu Gege is just jealous of my good appetite. She can't eat anything herself, so when she sees someone with a good appetite, she wishes she could eat as much as she can."
Yan Yu glared at Lan Qin resentfully, then turned to Li Shi and said, "Sister Li, I'm tired today, so I'll be leaving now." Before Li Shi could say anything to persuade her, Yan Yu, with her pregnant belly, had already stood up.
Lanqin felt she had eaten enough, but she was still thinking about the lanterns she had made. So she said to Li Shi, "Sister Li, I've finished eating too. It's getting late, so I'll take my leave."
Seeing that it wasn't too late and that the things she had planned hadn't happened yet, how could Madam Li let the two main characters leave first?
“My two sisters, today is your first official New Year in this Fourth Prince’s mansion. How can you let such a small matter ruin your harmony? Later, I’ve prepared a flower drum riddle game and invited a shadow puppet show from outside. Why don’t you watch it before you go back? Besides, with the Prince and the Princess not here, it’s rare for us sisters to get together and have some fun like this.” Madam Li stood up and said to Yan Yu, then looked at Lan Qin.
“Yes, my two sisters, don’t quarrel over such a small matter. It’s okay to bicker, but don’t take it to heart!” Wu was straightforward and quick-witted, so she naturally sided with Li.
"That's right, why should I get angry with her? It's not worth it!" Lanqin thought to herself, then spoke first, "Sister Li and Sister Wu are right! Lanqin loves riddles the most, so I'll wait for the riddles you've prepared. Let some people leave if they want; they'll just be sitting there anyway."
Lanqin deliberately provoked Yan Yu, and sure enough, Yan Yu immediately turned around, curled her lips and said, "I also love riddles. Let's sit for a while longer."
Seeing that everyone had almost finished eating, Madam Li called someone over to clear away the food and drinks, and everyone took their seats.
Just then, the gatekeeper came in and reported to Li that a servant from the south courtyard had requested to see Consort Niu, saying that he had something to report.
Upon hearing this, Lanqin knew it was Li Shubao, whom she had instructed to go back and have Ziran check on Song Shi.
It's New Year's Eve, after all. Fourth Master isn't here, and Madam Song is sick all by herself. No one is even looking after her. Sigh, they won't even let her call a doctor. This is truly a feudal society with no human rights.
Fortunately, Lanqin's nameplate was still valid. It was also because the Fourth Prince had instructed that whenever someone from the South Courtyard went to fetch Doctor Zhou, Doctor Zhou could go directly without going through the Fujin (the wife's name).
Lanqin then asked Li Shubao to take some men to check if they had brought her any news about Song Shi. What could it be? If Song Shi's condition wasn't good, there would be no need to rush to reply to her!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
