Chapter 277: Ci Ning Gossip, Fang Mansion Warm Residence
In the warm room of the Cining Palace, the floor heaters burned brightly, casting a gentle glow on the rosewood tables and chairs. Qing'er had just picked up a piece of osmanthus cake with a silver skewer and put it into her mouth when she saw the old Buddha staring at the jade bracelet on her wrist and smiling, "This bracelet has become even more lustrous in the Fang Mansion. It seems Xiao Jian has taken good care of you."
Qing'er's cheeks flushed slightly, and her fingertips subconsciously rubbed the bracelet—it was given to her by her mother when she married into the Fang family, saying it was a token of loyalty for a daughter-in-law. "Mother and Xiao Jian both love me," she whispered softly, her eyes curling. "A few days ago, Mother Fang even taught me how to make Jiangnan-style green rice dumplings, and she said she'd bring some for you to try when spring arrives."
"Oh? You've learned these too?" The Empress Dowager raised her eyebrows, remembering that Qing'er had never even touched a stove since she was a child in the palace.
Xiao Jian answered from the side in a cheerful voice, "She said she wanted to learn how to make the shepherd's purse wontons that I love. She tried it the other day in the Fang Mansion kitchen and almost burned the pot."
Qing'er gave him a reproachful look, but a smile couldn't be hidden from her lips. "How could it be so exaggerated? I just didn't control the heat well. In the end, it was mother who saved the day." She turned to the Empress Dowager, her eyes gleaming. "The kitchen in the Fang Mansion is much busier than the palace. Little Swallow comes back from the Prince's Mansion every now and then to eat for free. Every time she tries to fight me for the stove, saying who can make the best beggar's chicken."
"Xiaoyanzi is still the same." The old Buddha smiled and shook his head, then asked, "Are you used to living in the courtyard of the Fang Mansion? I remember you always said you liked quietness."
"I'm used to it," Qing'er said hurriedly. "Xiao Jian specially created a small garden in the backyard, planting the wintersweets you love, and the orchids I like. Every morning, when I open the window, I can smell the fragrance of the flowers. It's more comfortable than the imperial garden in the palace." She paused, her voice softening. "It's just... sometimes I miss you, and the almond tea that Rong Mama makes."
Aunt Rong smiled and said, "How difficult is that? Before you return home, I'll pack you a jar of almond powder. You can make your own and it will be just as delicious."
As he was speaking, the eunuchs outside the palace came to greet him: "The Empress and Concubine Ling have arrived——"
Qing'er quickly stood up to greet them. The Empress took her hand and said with a smile, "I heard laughter just at the door. It turned out to be our Qingge telling interesting stories about the Fang Mansion." Concubine Ling also came over and looked at Qing'er's clothes. "This moon-white jacket is really beautiful. Is it new from the Fang Mansion?"
"Mom had it made for me," Qing'er said, touching the orchid embroidery on her cuffs. "She said I'd look good in plain colors."
"Mother Fang has always had good taste." The Queen sat down and took a sip of tea, then looked at Xiao Jian. "I heard you opened a small study in the Fang Mansion? Specializing in teaching neighborhood children?"
Xiao Jian nodded. "Yes, Qing'er said there are too many books in the palace, so why not take some out for the children to read? A few days ago, she even found the set of The Analects that the Empress Dowager gave her, saying she wanted to copy a few copies for the children to use as textbooks."
Qing'er's face turned even redder, and she gently pushed Xiao Jian: "Don't talk nonsense, I haven't finished copying yet."
The Empress Dowager was delighted and clapped her hands, saying, "Good, good! Our Qing'er has become more sensible after getting married." She suddenly remembered something and said to Aunt Rong, "Get the pair of jade ruyi and give them to Qing'er to take back and place in the study in the Fang Mansion. It will also be a blessing for the children."
Qing'er quickly declined: "Master Buddha, this is too expensive..."
"Take it," the old lady said without hesitation. "I'll be at ease only if you're doing well in the Fang Mansion." She looked at Qing'er, her eyes filled with relief. "When you first entered the palace, you timidly hid behind me, but now you can hold up half the Fang Mansion."
Qing'er's eyes welled up as she recalled the time when she was brought into the palace at the age of three. It was the Empress Dowager who held her on her lap, taught her to read, and told her stories. Although she was now married into the Fang family, the warmth of the Cining Palace had never left her.
Xiao Jian saw what she was thinking and said softly, "From now on, I will accompany you during these ten days of every month to tell the old lady about the latest news in the Fang Mansion."
"That's right." Concubine Ling said with a smile, "Family members should visit each other more often, otherwise the Empress Dowager will miss you."
The aroma of tea in the warm room, mixed with the fragrance of winter plum blossoms, drifted far away. Qing'er looked at the smile lines at the corners of the old Buddha's eyes, and the gentle eyes of the Empress and Concubine Ling, and suddenly felt that the fireworks of the Fang Mansion and the warmth of the Cining Palace could be so well integrated.
She quietly held Xiao Jian's hand, thinking to herself that when she returned to the Fang Mansion, she would tell her mother and Xiaoyanzi about today's excitement - the perfection of this life was something that even time was reluctant to waste.
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