It was impossible to say that he didn’t care. Rong Yan couldn’t calm down with a mother who didn’t like him and even hated him. Fortunately, there was the Xiao Family, so his difficulties gradually became unimportant.
"I did. Mother said that I don’t have to ask her about my marriage."
"Ah, right. Second Brother, you know that Eldest Brother is preparing to go on an official career. Second Brother, you’re the pillar of the family who earns money..."
He couldn’t hide the smile on his face at all, nor did he want to. Xiaoxiao also grinned, and Xiao Ran and her husband’s anger turned into relief.
"Alright, I approve."
Ning Anhui decided to eat before leaving. However, just as he was half-full, Xiaoxiao asked, "Brother, do you want to open a shop in the capital?"
Rong Yan lowered his eyes. "We can’t maintain peace anyway."
Seeing that everyone was happy except the Empress and the Crown Prince, the Emperor felt that he had made a rather wise decision. "In that case, go back and prepare an official betrothal gift."
"I wouldn’t dare."
Xiaoxiao asked again, "Who’s my grandfather?"
Although it sounded a little strange to let the protagonist of the coming-of-age ceremony cook, everyone could tell that Xiaoxiao was really itching to cook, so they allowed her to make a few signature dishes.
"Sigh, have you heard? That new daughter of the Xiao Family is not easy to deal with. In order to curry favor with the Gu Family, she even shamelessly invited Grand Secretary Gu, who doesn’t like to socialize, to her coming-of-age ceremony."
The father and son left stiffly. Xiao Ran gave her daughter a thumbs up. "Well done!"
At dinner, Xiaoxiao realized that the atmosphere between Father and Grandfather was completely different. At night, her mother told her when she came to send her the Gu Family’s heirloom. f\reewebn ovel(.)com
It sounded delicious!
Grand Secretary Gu did not think about it for long. He pondered for a moment and heard Gu Chang’an say, "Father, stay." He nodded readily.
"A shop can earn at least a few hundred taels a month. It’s a few thousand taels a year. If it grows up, it’ll be tens of thousands of taels. From now on, my little nephew won’t have to worry about food, clothes, and studies since he was young. He can even choose a wife when he grows up!"
The Emperor asked them coldly, "Why? Do I have to ask you first to make a decision?"
"Your Majesty! Think twice!"
Ning Anhui looked at the faces of the officials during lunch. He didn’t eat much at all. He held his stomach and was wondering if he should bid farewell and leave when he heard his considerate sister ask, "Brother, do you want crab roe noodles?"
Rong Yan said without hesitation, "Thank you for your grace, Father!"
Ning Anhui, who had been silent but tense, heaved a sigh of relief and smiled. When he returned, he would tell his parents that they would definitely be very happy for his sister!
When the guests left, Xiaoxiao slipped in front of Grand Secretary Gu. "Grandfather, do you have any plans for dinner? If not, why don’t you stay for a meal?"
Rong Yan couldn’t help but laugh when he heard her mumbling hypnotically from the kitchen to send ingredients to Xiaoxiao. It was great that he could hear her mumbling every day from now on.
Only then did the Crown Prince and the Empress realize that they had lost their composure and lowered their heads at the same time.
All these years, he had never cared much about Rong Yan.
"I wouldn’t dare."
Rong Yan’s reply was especially loud, and his joy was clearly conveyed to everyone present.
Xiaoxiao looked unhurried. "It’s fine. Think about it slowly. Anyway, I’ve already seen the location of the shop. Second Brother, you don’t know. Those milk tea shops in the Imperial Capital are not authentic at all. The snacks are either soft or hard. They’re not delicious at all."
"And your grandfather, in the same guilt, thought that your father had always hated him..."
Alright, he would decide. Anyway, this little girl from his senior sister’s family was in love with Third Prince. Besides, he was quite willing to be in-laws with his senior sister.
This was great. Originally, they were also having a headache over how to bypass that strange Noble Consort Ji and get the two children engaged. Today could be considered a solution to a huge problem.
What she said... made too much f*cking sense!
Ning Anhui: ...
Everyone couldn’t help but sympathize with Rong Yan. Even the Emperor sighed when he thought of Noble Consort Ji proposing marriage for the Crown Prince without saying a word.
After the misunderstanding was resolved, the father and son raised their glasses and drank. Grand Secretary Gu, who had always restrained himself, even got himself drunk. The next morning, he set off for court from the General’s Residence.
Ning Anhui almost got tricked by Xiaoxiao. Based on his many years of experience of being tricked, he thought about it carefully and still insisted. "Let me think again. Let me think."
"Who doesn’t know that Gu Chang’an has long broken up with the Gu Family? Grand Secretary Gu has always treated him as if he doesn’t have this son. It’s insulting to him to go over now!"
Just now, he asked Noble Consort Ji, "Since you’re so concerned about the Crown Prince’s marriage, what about the Third Prince?"
Ning Anhui realized that he was actually a little tempted, but he still forced himself to regain his rationality. "No, that’s not appropriate. I’m just a country bumpkin. I have no power or influence in the Imperial Capital. Can I do it?"
"But these people are actually willing to pay money for those fakes."
Ning An replied, "Grand Secretary Gu!"
Xiaoxiao pointed at herself. "Brother, who’s your sister?"
Xiaoxiao immediately gave her father a look. "Then I’ll go prepare the dishes. Father, bring Grandpa around to digest his food. Otherwise, I’ll be sad if he can’t eat at night!"
Ning Anhui thought for a moment. "A princess?"
Yun Er and Yun San made an unbearable expression behind him. Then, they asked, "Master, you’ve finally fallen out with the Yan Family today. Is that good?"
Xiaoxiao spread her hands. "Are you stupid not to use so many backers?"
"Father! Think twice!"
There was an interlude at the coming-of-age ceremony, but it was very satisfactory overall. Xiaoxiao was very satisfied that she had successfully pushed out Flexible Printing and obtained a fiancé.
Xiaoxiao raised her eyebrows smugly and asked again, "Then who is my mother?"
Xiaoxiao rolled up her sleeves happily. "That’s great. I’ll cook tonight! Don’t fight with me!"
The Emperor asked Rong Yan again, "Have you really thought it through? Your Flexible Printing can benefit all the scholars in the world. I can agree to any of your requests."
Noble Consort Ji’s expression instantly turned cold. "Your Majesty can decide for him."
Ning Anhui replied, "General Xiao?"
"So your father didn’t leave the Gu Family out of spite. He blamed himself for only reading sages’ books and didn’t even notice that his mother was seriously ill. He couldn’t face his family."
"There were outsiders around just now, so we didn’t have a good time eating. Let’s close the door tonight and have a family banquet?"
The Crown Prince and the Empress had ugly expressions at the same time.
He said, "She wants me to think about it myself and tell Father."
"The Third Prince."
He bumped into his colleagues on the way and was about to greet them when he heard them say—
Family banquet?
Noble Consort Ji didn’t care about her biological son’s life and handled it rashly. It was really...
Xiaoxiao coughed lightly. "Who’s my fiancé?"
"Official Zheng, there’s no need to be so angry. As a woman, she naturally has to think more about her marriage. After all, she’s from a farmer’s family. She has to have the Gu Family to erase some of her rustic aura... Official Chen, are your eyelids cramping?"
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