139. Give me another chance
The three little girls looked at each other, their faces showing the strange expressions of having just drunk seaweed powder milk tea.
"I...I can do it again!" Lin Fuman raised her hand. "Give me another chance! This time I'll make sure I read the materials carefully!"
The little princess immediately shrank back: "No, please! My tongue is still numb..."
"This time it will definitely work!"
The little dumpling was still willing to trust Lin Fuman's cooking skills, so she tugged at the little princess's sleeve: "Little Cloud, give Sister Fufu another chance~ Sister Fufu's cooking is always so delicious!"
The little princess looked at the little dumpling's expectant face and hesitated for a moment: "Well... okay then. But this time I'll only try a small bite!"
Lin Fuman immediately jumped up, her spirits lifted: "I guarantee we'll succeed this time!"
She ran to the cabinet next door and carefully took down a celadon jar: "This time it really is tea powder!"
The imperial chef wiped his sweat: "My little darlings, how about letting this old servant do it..."
"No need, no need!" Lin Fuman had already nimbly stood on the small stool. "I'll definitely do it this time!"
The little dumpling curiously leaned over and continued to tiptoe and poke at the counter: "Sister Fufu, why does the milk have to be boiled for so long?"
"This way the tea aroma can be infused in," Lin Fuman said carefully, stirring the milk in the pot. "You have to be patient when making food."
The little princess couldn't help but come closer: "Wow! The colors look so pretty this time!"
The liquid in the pot gradually turned a gentle light green, emitting a faint aroma of tea.
Lin Fu proudly added the right amount of sugar: "This is the secret recipe! You must add just the right amount of tea and milk; too much or too little won't do."
She used to work at a bubble tea shop during her summer job in high school, and she memorized the recipe.
"Really? Sister Fufu, you're so amazing!"
"Hehe, you flatter me."
In no time, three steaming cups of matcha milk tea were ready.
Lin Fuman sniffed the fragrance: "This time there shouldn't be any problems..."
Without hesitation, the little dumpling picked up the cup and took a big gulp: "Wow! It's so delicious! Sweet and fragrant!"
The little princess took a small sip with some skepticism, then her eyes lit up: "It really is different! It tastes even better than the sweet soup made in the royal kitchen!"
Lin Fu breathed a sigh of relief, a bright smile spreading across her face: "I knew it! I really did take the wrong materials just now..."
The three little ones finished their milk tea with great satisfaction, and the little princess also praised Lin Fuman several times, just like the little dumpling.
For the rest of the time, they played cat's cradle under Lin Fuman's guidance until sunset.
The little dumpling rubbed her eyes: "Sister Fufu, we should go find the Grand Tutor and go home."
They packed the gifts they had agreed to bring for Lin Lingrong and prepared to leave.
The little princess held their hands reluctantly, saying, "You must come again next time! I'll ask the royal kitchen to prepare even more delicious ingredients!"
"Okay, see you next time!"
"See you tomorrow, little cloud!"
The three waved goodbye.
Lin Fuman and Xiao Tuanzi held hands and walked towards the place they had agreed to meet Qu Zijin.
The little dumpling bounced around and said, "Sister Fufu, the milk tea today is so delicious!"
Lin Fu smiled and said, "Then I'll make it for you again next time. I know many other flavors, like caramel, taro balls, and taro paste..."
As they were talking, Qu Zijin was right there at the corner ahead.
However, there was another tall, slender figure in red beside him.
The man wore a crimson brocade robe with a white jade pendant hanging from his waist. He had a handsome face and indifferent eyes.
"Thank you, brother!" The little dumpling excitedly let go of Lin Fuman's hand and went to greet him.
Xie Wenling bent down slightly, picked her up, glanced at Lin Fuman, and then looked back at the little dumpling: "Did you have fun today?"
"I'm so happy!" the little dumpling exclaimed excitedly. "Sister Fufu made such delicious milk tea! Oh, and what's Brother Xie doing here?"
"I went to the palace today to meet His Majesty to discuss state affairs. On my way back, I met you, Grand Tutor, and we chatted for a bit out of curiosity. That's when I discovered that you had actually entered the palace," Xie Wenling said.
"Oh..." The little dumpling felt inexplicably guilty for not playing with Brother Xie.
"Lord Xie, is your visit to the palace related to the matter of the vassal king?" Qu Zijin spoke up at the right moment, interrupting the little dumpling's guilty conscience.
Xie Wenling nodded slightly: "The princes and their heirs have all set off one after another, and His Majesty has ordered me to be in charge of their journey. The first batch should arrive in the capital soon. If you see any unfamiliar faces on the street, please do not approach them casually."
He couldn't help but remind her, but the little dumpling clearly didn't listen. Instead, her eyes lit up: "That means there will be lots and lots of new friends coming?"
"..." Xie Wenling didn't answer. After a pause, he suddenly looked at Lin Fuman, "I heard that you and Lin Lingrong have reconciled?"
Lin Fu was taken aback, not knowing how the topic had turned to her: "Y-yes..."
"That's strange," Xie Wenling scoffed. "Do the principal wife and Lin Lingrong still have any plans to leave the Duke of Anguo's mansion?"
Lin Fuman bit her lip: "I want to... but..."
She hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.
The little dumpling keenly sensed that something was amiss and quickly grabbed Xie Wenling's hand: "Brother Xie, Brother Xie, when are you coming to play with Yue'er? Yue'er will give you some delicious cakes."
Xie Wenling's expression softened slightly, and he gently patted the little dumpling's head: "Come whenever you have time. I'll be quite busy these days."
Qu Zijin, fearing that the little dumpling would be sad, added a few more words of explanation for Xie Wenling: "Lord Xie is responsible for coordinating the various officials to welcome and settle the upcoming princes. In addition, he has presided over so many things, and he is about to be promoted, so it is inevitable that he will be more meticulous and do things personally."
The little dumpling nodded, looking a bit confused: "Oh, Brother Xie is very busy. Brother Xie, keep up the good work! Yue'er is waiting for you."
Then, mimicking her mother's manner, she nagdically, "You have to work hard, but don't overwork yourself. Eat well and sleep well..."
Xie Wenling smiled and agreed to the little dumpling's earnest instructions one by one.
He then handed the small dumpling to Qu Zijin, nodded to him, and then turned and left.
He was indeed very busy. He deliberately stayed here for a while, partly because he felt it was inappropriate for Xiao Tuanzi to befriend the people of the Duke of Anguo's mansion, and partly because he was afraid that something might happen if they entered the palace.
Seeing that everything was normal, I felt relieved and could go back to handle my official business.
Qu Zijin said it was time to take them home: "It's getting late, we should head back."
-
On the return journey in the carriage, the little dumpling leaned against the window, excitedly recounting the day's events.
Lin Fuman, however, seemed somewhat absent-minded, her fingers constantly twirling the sash of her clothes.
"Sister Fufu, what's wrong?" the little dumpling asked softly as she leaned closer.
Lin Fuman hesitated for a moment: "Little Moon, does your brother Xie...do he really dislike me and my sister?"
The little dumpling tilted its head and thought for a moment: "Brother Xie is like that to everyone!"
Mentioning the Duke of Anguo's mansion, Qu Zijin seemed thoughtful: "Second Miss Lin, what are the plans of the First Wife and the Eldest Miss Lin for the future? This mutual dislike with the Duke of Anguo is not a long-term solution."
Lin Fuman lowered her voice: "My aunt said... the best solution is a divorce, so that Mother can take my sister and start her own household. But... but Mother's status is special, and if she leaves the Duke's mansion, I'm afraid..."
"Sigh, in the end, it's still the same problem. We don't know if His Majesty still remembers this matter, or what his attitude is towards his principal wife..." Qu Zijin said helplessly.
At the time of the incident, he was not yet a close advisor to the emperor. He only knew that the matter had become a big deal and had reached the emperor's ears, who was furious and made the decision himself.
After thinking for a moment, the little dumpling made a suggestion: "Why don't you go ask the Emperor? That way we'll know!"
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