Chapter 193 Return to the Immortal Grass Jelly
On a summer afternoon, outside the numerous pavilions, the sun is scorching and the heat waves are rolling; inside the deep pavilions, ice basins are placed on stands and the smoke from incense sticks is light, giving off a cool and light fragrance.
A young man walked in with a hot temper and stood at the door. There seemed to be a sharp sword intent hidden between his brows, and his eyes were like the brightest stars in the night sky. With his slender and tall figure, there was a natural coolness when he stood there. From a distance, he looked young and noble.
The extremely oppressive and aggressive appearance, when meeting the young lady's eyes, suddenly took off the alienation, indifference, sharpness and coldness, and suddenly became as gentle as jade, making people feel like spring breeze.
The young man who was disgusted with the world and decadent six years ago has become calm and mature as deep as the abyss and as steady as Mount Tai after being baptized by the years.
"Young Prince?" It turned out to be the father he helped. Su Rongjin smiled and was grateful.
Zhao Lan's eyes flickered, and his fingers hidden under his sleeves moved slightly. After not seeing each other for a year and a half, the young lady became estranged from him again and no longer called him Brother Zhao.
Su Ruojin turned around and walked quickly to Zhao Lan, whom she hadn't seen for a long time. She bowed gracefully and said, "Ajin greets the young prince."
He lowered his eyes and looked at the young lady in front of him.
After not seeing her for a year and a half, she had quietly grown into a graceful young lady, tall and almost as tall as his shoulders.
She has bright eyes, black hair, and red lips, and she looks most charming when she lowers her head.
His A Jin has finally grown up!
The young man and the young lady stood opposite each other, one had a handsome face, the other had bright eyes and a charming look, they were really a perfect match!
Although she knew clearly that there was a huge difference in status between the two families, Princess Yuehua still couldn't help but kowtow while lamenting that she had been unable to get the love she wanted and her youth had passed. How great it would be if she could go back to ten years ago!
pity……
Inside the Hua Pavilion, there was a sudden, unsettling silence.
Su Ruojin couldn't help but look up and met the young prince's gaze. The moment he saw her, something seemed to flash in his dark eyes, but when he met her gaze, he became calm and composed again.
She broke the silence and smiled, "I heard from the princess that you helped me settle my father's affairs, right?"
"Um."
She quickly bowed: "Thank you, little prince."
"You are my teacher, and I should help you. You don't have to be polite, Ajin." Zhao Lan wanted to reach out to stop her from bowing, but in front of his aunt, he remained silent.
Princess Yuehua came back to her senses upon hearing the voice, and looked at the young lady with a face full of gratitude and joy, then looked at her little nephew with gentle features. One was truly grateful, and the other was truly tender and affectionate.
He sighed secretly, another lover fell into the hands of the Su family.
Su Yan's ancestor was helpless when he met Shangguan Yu, but her nephew and Su Er Niang were childhood sweethearts. Logically, even without their status, her nephew's good looks would have been enough to charm the young lady. However, the thirteen-year-old Su Er Niang was terrifyingly calm.
Princess Yuehua's face suddenly turned gloomy. The Su family was of low status. In order to gain a foothold in the capital, they clung to the support of Prince Jin's Mansion while keeping a distance from Zhao Lan. What did this mean?
She narrowed her eyes slightly, with an unfriendly look in her eyes.
"Alan--" She woke up her little nephew who was immersed in the joy of meeting her.
Zhao Lan then looked up and noticed someone else. "Auntie—" Come over and greet.
The weather was hot. Although there was ice in the room and it was cool and pleasant, Yuehua was still listless and called lazily, "Alan has come back from outside, tired and exhausted. Take him to wash up and change his clothes."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Zhao Lan wanted to say no.
Su Ruojin sensed Princess Yuehua's attitude. Perhaps her nephew had returned and was too busy to care about her. She was also perceptive and smiled as she stepped forward to say goodbye. "The young prince is back. Ah Jin will not disturb His Highness and will go back with the young prince first."
Zhao Lan frowned slightly, as if he wanted to keep the person, then lowered his eyes, then raised them again, calm and collected.
"Ask Su Changshi to see Madam Su off."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Can I still see my uncle? Surprisingly happy, Su Ruojin thanked Princess Yuehua and bowed to Zhao Lan, "Little Prince, then Ajin will leave first. Come to my house when you have time. Dad misses you very much."
"Um."
Dr. Su is concerned, what about you?
The young lady turned and left with a smile on her face. She was gentle, virtuous and virtuous, without any sense of restraint coming from a humble family. When she saw the outstanding man, she showed no infatuation or nostalgia. Princess Yuehua did not believe that she was young and ignorant.
I didn't expect that all the members of the Su family were of the same character. They seemed affectionate, but they were actually cold and heartless.
Princess Yuehua suddenly felt very upset, and felt sorry for her nephew, "Alan——"
Zhao Lan's eyes followed the young lady's figure until she disappeared into the corridor. He then retracted his gaze and said, "Aunt, I won't wash here anymore. I'll go back to the mansion first."
Yuehua sneered, "You are going to chase Su Erniang."
Zhao Lan did not deny it.
Princess Yuehua was disappointed with her, "Why are you rushing to do this? I don't want you."
"But I'm a man, I can't let the young lady take the initiative."
"..." She didn't expect her nephew to admit it like that, "Do your parents know?"
Zhao Lan frowned, "I don't know."
Yuehua sneered: "Brother and sister-in-law will not agree to you marrying the daughter of a minor official in the capital."
"I'm not the prince."
"That's impossible."
Zhao Lan looked at his unhappy aunt, and suddenly he was no longer in a hurry to leave. He sat down next to her and said, "Aunt, I have been promoted to deputy commander of the Imperial City Division."
Yuehua was shocked. Her nephew was only nineteen and would not come of age until next year. Yet he was already a fourth-rank deputy commander?
"When did it happen?"
"This time, I followed the spies and quelled the rebellion in South Vietnam. The emperor just issued an order to appoint me to this position."
Princess Yuehua was looking at her little nephew in front of her. The Princess of Jin gave birth to three sons and one daughter. The eldest son Zhao Xuan naturally inherited the throne and was appointed as the Shaoqing of the Zongzheng Shaosi (from the fourth rank); the second son Zhao Wu was appointed as the Yuanwailang of the Taipu Temple (from the fifth rank). Originally, Zhao Lan was only a fifth rank Yu Hou, but unexpectedly he became the highest rank among the three brothers.
But she knew that her nephew had earned his position by risking his life and fighting bravely.
How could such a person who is smart, strategic, daring and fearless of life and death not be appreciated by the government? Promotion is a matter of time.
"Congratulations, Alan." Princess Yuehua was sincerely happy for her nephew, "But... Auntie still wants to tell you the truth. Madam Su Er doesn't seem to be pleased with you."
Zhao Lan lowered her eyes, "I know." She had been avoiding him since she was a child.
"Huh?" Yuehua looked at her nephew in surprise, "You know?"
He raised his eyes, "Yeah."
As a princess of a country, Yuehua really wanted to curse someone at this moment, but she couldn't tell whether she wanted to curse her nephew or Madam Su Er.
"Why?" She couldn't figure it out. "Su Yanzu doesn't like me, that's because Shangguan Yu knew him before me, I know that very well. What about Second Lady Su, you two have known each other since you were very young, right?"
Zhao Lan sighed, "Maybe I was the first to express my disgust."
Yuehua: ...
Zhao Lan told his aunt about their first and second meetings. He didn't expect that the young lady was so vindictive. Zhao Lan was helpless!
Yuehua: "Then why do you like the young lady again?"
This...can he say that he wanted to take her home as his daughter first? Would it be as shocking as Su Yanzu's behavior if he said it out loud?
Su Yanzu sent Su Ruojin out and saw a guard leading a horse at the door. After spending a few years in the capital, he could tell the quality of the breed at a glance. He raised his eyebrows and asked, "The young prince is here?"
Su Ruojin nodded, "So the princess didn't even look at my gift, and I don't know if she likes it?"
He glanced at his little niece. This little niece was smart and shrewd. When she was seven or eight years old, he didn't treat her as a child. Now that she was thirteen years old, it was even worse. Zhao Lan's care for the Su family and her had long gone beyond the ordinary teacher-student relationship. Couldn't she see it?
Princess Yuehua specifically asked him to escort her niece. What did that mean? She wanted him to give some advice?
"Ajin is not young anymore, right?"
Walking to the side of the road, Su Ruojin was about to say goodbye to her uncle, but he actually mentioned this. She looked at him in surprise, "Uncle wants to be a matchmaker?"
This kid... doesn't know how to be shy.
Su Yanzu rolled his eyes at her and said, "Your father won't agree to that."
Su Ruojin smiled and said, "That's true, but don't worry, uncle. Dad's former colleague has found a matchmaker to propose marriage."
"A colleague from the Imperial College?"
"Um."
Su Yanzu looked behind him deliberately: "Do you agree?"
The meaning is self-evident.
Su Ruojin pretended that she didn't understand and smiled, "If I have good character, why don't my parents agree?"
"And what about you?"
"If my parents think it's good, then it must be right. Of course I agree."
My little niece was all smiles. She didn't look smart or capable at all. She looked as innocent as a little girl, just like every girl who looks forward to the future when she hears about getting married.
Su Yanzu really didn't expect that such an outstanding young man like Zhao Lan had been hanging around her, but she had no desire for him. Her niece was so calm and calm.
Time is long and people are in turmoil.
At this moment, Princess Yuehua and Su Yanzu actually saw the calmness and self-control behind Su Ruojin's innocent face at the same time. Is this really what a thirteen-year-old girl should look like?
Su Ruojin climbed onto the carriage and waved to Su Yanzu, "Uncle, I'm leaving first. Goodbye!"
The carriage moved forward, the sound of the wheels rolling on the ground became farther and farther away. Su Yanzu sighed softly. It was better to be calm. At least he was not trapped by love.
Su Yanzu turned and entered the magnificent princess mansion. He didn't know how A Yu's illness was. He should go to Dongshan to see him.
When I got home, it was already late and Su Yanli was off duty.
Su Ruojin then told him about Zhao Lan's return, "Dad, it was the young prince who asked the princess to help."
Su Yanli sighed with emotion, "It is indeed Zijin." He didn't know how to thank this student.
"How about my daughter make something delicious to thank him?"
Su Yanli smiled helplessly, "I can only thank him in this way because of Ah Jin's help."
Su Ruojin was thinking about what delicious food to make to thank Zhao Lan when the gatekeeper, Old Man Wang, came in and said, "Master, Second Madam, the young Prince Zhao sent something over."
The father and daughter were stunned, and quickly straightened their clothes and strode to the gate of the yard.
Shuang Rui, who had not seen them for a long time, bowed when he saw them, "My humble servant greets Dr. Su and Second Madam."
Su Ruojin looked behind him. There was no carriage and no Zhao Lan. It turned out that he didn't come. She looked away.
Noticing the young lady's actions, he smiled and said, "I brought you the dried grass jelly you asked for."
Upon hearing this, Su Ruojin couldn't hide her happy smile, "That's great, it's really great, there are delicious foods to eat."
I didn’t expect that a bundle of grass could make the young lady happier than the little prince. Little prince, you... are not as good as a bundle of grass.
Shuang Rui: ...
Su Yanli invited people: "It's getting late, Shuang Guanshi may not have eaten dinner, why don't you have dinner at home before returning."
If Shuangrui hadn't been delivering dried grass to Madam Su Er, he would have gone back to Prince Jin's Mansion with Zhao Lan long ago. Why would he still be hanging around outside? "Thank you for your kindness, Dr. Su. I have things to do, so I won't stay any longer. Bye." After saying that, he turned around, mounted his horse, and rode away with two guards.
Old Man Wang held a bundle in each hand and said, "Second Madam, this grass looks a bit like mint. Can it be used to make herbal tea?"
"Uh... yes, I saw it in a miscellaneous book. The young prince happened to be in the south, so I asked him to bring it back for me."
Su Yanli asked casually, "How did the young prince know that you wanted grass? Did you guys communicate?"
Although she had no intention of communicating with the young prince, thirteen seemed to be a sensitive age. Su Ruojin thought, "Sanlang wants to see Uncle Hua Ping. Mangzhong was introduced by the manager of Siping, so... Dad... you know."
After Hua Ping was transferred, Su Yanli finally knew what Zhao Lan's position was and what he did.
"Yeah." He understood that it was a matter of confidentiality and he couldn't ask more questions.
So the communication matter just passed.
If it wasn’t too late, the excited Su Ruojin would have wanted to make grass jelly right away.
Grass jelly tastes as chewy as jelly. Adding some ice to it is simply a great way to relieve heat.
Early the next morning, Su Ruojin began to tinker with the dried grass jelly. She washed the dried grass, put it in a pot, added alkali (obtained from filtering wood ash), and boiled it for a whole morning. She also soaked glutinous rice, ground it into rice slurry, and set it aside for later use. She took out the cooked dried grass jelly, washed a lot of things out of the dried grass, and then added it back into the pot. She used gauze to filter out smaller debris, and then boiled the re-filtered grass jelly water until it was a little hot. She poured in the rice slurry and stirred it constantly until it became thick with small bubbles and was ready to serve.
The grass jelly solidifies very quickly, so you have to be quick when scooping it out, otherwise it will separate into layers and won’t look that good.
After cooling down, cut into pieces and the chewy grass jelly is ready.
Because alkali is added when it is just cooked, it needs to be soaked several times with boiled water to remove the alkaline taste.
Finally, you can eat it with a variety of delicacies, such as adding honey water, goat milk, or adding rock sugar and ice cubes to cool it down. You can also add mung beans, red beans, taro balls, small glutinous rice balls, etc. to make it into a dessert.
In short, they could eat whatever they wanted. Su Silang and Su Xiaomei both held on to their bowls and refused to put them down.
"Sister, it's delicious."
"Sister, I want more."
Sure enough, summer is incomplete without grass jelly.
Haha...Su Ruojin was touched by the cuteness of her brothers and sisters. She shook her head and said, "There are still some for the little prince. They brought them back from far away, so I can't refuse them."
Su Xiaomei said, "I'll go, sister, I'll go."
Su Ruojin was embarrassed, "The young prince is very busy, how can he have time to see you? I asked Mangzhong to send him off, and he will be back soon."
Mangzhong received the task from the young master and hurriedly rode his horse to deliver it to the Prince of Jin's mansion.
Zhao Lan just came back from the palace in the evening. The emperor was not in good health, and he was not in a good mood either. When he went to pay his respects to his father and mother, they had dinner together, but he had no appetite.
Princess Jin asked worriedly, "Lan'er, what's wrong?"
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