"Miss Xinyi, why are you in such a hurry? Where are you going?"
"This servant greets Eunuch Gao. My princess has prepared some new dishes and asked me to invite the Fourth Prince over to try them."
"What a coincidence! Lord Nian came to see the Prince today, and the Prince specifically asked me to tell the Princess that it was inconvenient for him to come today."
"But didn't the Prince order yesterday afternoon that he would come and taste the new dishes made by our Princess?"
"Xinyi, we are servants, we do whatever our master says. Don't overstep your bounds."
"……yes."
Xinyi returned to the courtyard dejectedly, where she was seen by Geng Youran.
"What's wrong with you? Is the Prince not here?"
Xinyi kept her head down and didn't say anything.
Geng Youran comforted her gently:
"Did you hear something again? Here, have some tea. Don't get angry with people who have nothing to do with you."
Xinyi looked up and stammered:
"Princess, I ran into Eunuch Gao Wuyong when I went out. He said that Lord Nian is here today, so he won't be coming over."
Geng Youran suppressed the bitterness in her heart, waved her hand, and pretended not to care, saying:
"It's alright, just pack these two pastries in a food box and send them to the Prince later."
"All right."
Although Xinyi was unwilling, she still went.
When Xinyi arrived at the door of the study, she saw Gao Wuyong standing outside.
She crept up from behind.
"Eunuch Gao, what are you doing outside?"
"Miss Xinyi, you're quite the playful one. Master is inside discussing matters with Lord Nian. What brings you here?"
"Oh, the princess said that the prince couldn't come, so she asked me to bring the things over, and also to let Lord Nian have a taste."
He handed over the food box as he spoke.
As soon as Gao Wuyong took the food box, he heard voices coming from inside:
"Gao Wuyong, what's happening outside?"
"Master, it's Xinyi from Lady Geng's side who's brought you some snacks."
"Come in."
"Yes, sir."
Xinyi followed Gao Wuyong into the study.
Without even looking up, he entered the room and bowed to the Fourth Prince and Lord Nian.
"Your master sent you to deliver this?"
"Yes, Your Highness. The princess said that your voice sounded a little hoarse yesterday, so she made some soothing snacks. There's also a plate of walnut shortbread. The princess said that you're busy with official duties and sometimes don't have time to eat, so these walnut shortbreads are easy to store and can be carried with you."
Yinzhen twitched the corner of his mouth, thinking to himself that this woman was indeed very observant, but he said aloud:
"Go back now. Tell your daughter I'll visit her when I have time."
"Yes. This servant takes her leave."
Nian Gengyao, who was standing to the side, had been observing the Fourth Prince's reaction. He noticed that when the maid mentioned Lady Geng, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
It's worth noting that the Fourth Prince was always known as the "Iron-Faced Prince Yong," so it wasn't easy to see him smile.
Nian Gengyao felt that if his younger sister entered the manor, she would inevitably have to meet this Lady Geng.
The Fourth Prince had someone open the food box, which thoughtfully contained two spoons for eating the 'pear juice cake'.
"Liang Gong, try this pastry, how does it taste?"
He picked up a piece of walnut shortbread, which read "Liang Gong" by Nian Gengyao. It was fragrant but not greasy, and the taste was indeed quite good.
The 'pear juice cake' tastes even better.
"I never expected that there would be such a skilled person in the Prince's mansion."
Yinzhen smiled but didn't speak. After thinking for a moment, he instructed Gao Wuyong, who had been serving him, as follows:
“I remember last month the Emperor bestowed a pair of porcelain vases upon you. Take a few people and pick some crabapple blossoms to send to Princess Geng. Also, I remember we have a few pots of ‘Early White’ peony in our mansion. Send those over as well.”
"Yes, sir."
When Nian Gengyao saw that even the Fourth Prince's rewards were so special, he felt even more that Geng Youran was no ordinary person.
After receiving the gifts from the Fourth Prince, Geng Youran guessed that Yinzhen might want to eat pastries made with chrysanthemums.
"Eunuch Gao, please take this and have some tea."
After thanking her for the reward, Geng Youran had Xinyi hand a purse to Gao Wuyong.
"You're too kind, Master. This is just my duty."
Gao Wuyong did not accept the purse.
"Please keep an eye on the crabapple tree outside Master's study for me, Eunuch Gao. If the fruit is ripe, please send someone to let me know so that I can have Xiao Anzi go and pick some."
Gao Wuyong only accepted the purse Xinyi handed him after hearing that it was such a trivial matter.
After Gao Wuyong left, Xinyi and Geng Youran each took a pair of scissors and began to trim the begonias in the bottle.
"That eunuch Gao is really something. He's been by Fourth Master's side for so long, yet he has absolutely no aesthetic sense. Look at these crabapple blossoms, they're all planted haphazardly."
Geng Youran put down the scissors in her hand, bent her index finger, and gently tapped Xinyi's forehead.
"Words can be dangerous. When are you going to change this habit?"
"Gege~"
Hearing Xinyi's coquettish tone, Geng Youran shuddered, feeling goosebumps that weren't even there.
"Alright, alright, I won't say anything more about you. Later, take this trimmed begonia to Wanru, and I'll go check on those chrysanthemums."
Everyone knows the "Four Gentlemen of Plum Blossom, Orchid, Bamboo and Chrysanthemum", but Geng Youran is not such a refined person.
This 'Early White' variety blooms earlier in autumn, has thicker petals, is more visually appealing, and has a better taste when used in chrysanthemum desserts.
It was obvious that the Fourth Prince had deliberately sent these 'Early White' flowers over, knowing that Geng Youran would be more satisfied with turning them into delicious food than with simply admiring them.
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