No sooner had Ling Dapeng gone to the village than Tao Wanniang brought Zhou Xiaoyun and her group to the Tao family. Having learned her lesson from last time, Zhou Xiaoyun dared not order anyone around and lived her own life behind closed doors.
Once Ling Yunzhou felt he had recovered, he went to the palace to petition the emperor to return to the East Sea.
"Yunzhou, you've just recovered from your serious injuries, why are you in such a hurry to rush to the battlefield?" Zhao Zhe looked Ling Yunzhou up and down, pondering the princess's words.
Ling Yunzhou himself said he was impotent? He couldn't believe it no matter how he looked at it; only his own sister would believe it. But for a man to use such an excuse to reject a woman, how unpopular his sister must be with Ling Yunzhou!
"Besides fighting, I have no other skills. I am indignant about falling into the water this time and I am willing to go back to the battlefield to avenge this humiliation!" Ling Yunzhou spoke from the heart. He had never fought in a naval battle before and never thought that he would be knocked into the water by the enemy!
“But Yunzhou, you still can’t swim. If something unexpected happens again, wouldn’t I lose a good general?” Zhao Zhe said slowly. “Besides, you have already killed the pirate leader. The rest are just a rabble. Your men, the men I sent, can’t wipe out the remaining pirates in one fell swoop?”
Ling Yunzhou was unable to refute it for a moment, but then he suddenly remembered something.
"Your Majesty, I remember that when I fell into the water, a local young man rescued me. I owe him a life, and if Your Majesty allows, I would like to find him."
"This can be accomplished with a simple message via carrier pigeon. I will ensure you are able to repay this kindness," Zhao Zhe politely declined. "Yunzhou, you've spent your life on the battlefield; you should rest as much as you can. After all, your health is paramount!"
Ling Yunzhou glanced at Zhao Zhe's gaze as he looked down at his lower body, and his heart sank. He immediately thought of what he had said to the Princess. There are no secrets in this world, and he didn't expect the Princess to truly keep quiet; he would simply go along with it.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your consideration!" Ling Yunzhou said, forcing a smile.
"No need for formalities, Yunzhou. If you're sick, seek medical attention. Don't shy away from it," Zhao Zhe reminded him.
Ling Yunzhou was certain that it was indeed the Eldest Princess who had told His Majesty that matter. He gritted his teeth and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Once outside the palace, Lingyunzhou suddenly felt empty. He didn't want to go to Zhaixing Tower, not wanting to see Tao Wanniang's disdainful look; with Xiao Yi gone, if he went to Prince Rui's residence, he could only go to Prince Rui's for a drink.
After much deliberation, Ling Yunzhou decided to return to the General's Mansion.
Inside the Star-Picking Tower, there's a special area set up for desserts, where many ladies and young women come with their maids to enjoy themselves.
Princess Rui and the Crown Princess also requested a private room with their entourage, specifically to enjoy this afternoon dessert.
Hongzhu was enjoying the sweet and delicious peanut milk, looking like she was savoring a heavenly treat, and she didn't even bother to talk to Princess Rui.
Princess Rui also ate the milk cubes cut into small cubes and drank the mung bean milk shaved ice. It was refreshing and sweet. This new dessert launched by Zhaixinglou was so delicious. I didn't expect that it wasn't available before.
Originally, Zhaixinglou was closed in the afternoon, but since desserts are mostly served after meals, a section was reserved specifically for desserts and pastries.
Tao Wanniang was invited to stand before Princess Rui and was showered with praise.
"Manager Tao, I didn't realize you had this ability. Manager Lu already said it was all your idea."
"It's summer now, and I thought everyone would love this refreshing and sweet dessert. It's also thanks to Yue Niang's excellent skills; I could never make such delicate and beautiful pastries," Tao Wan Niang said modestly.
"Um... Manager Tao, could you let one of the cooks from the Prince's mansion come and learn from her?" Hongzhu asked. "I want to eat everything here. Ah, I've been in the capital for so long, and I've finally found the meaning of my trip!"
"Didn't you come to the capital for the sake of the Crown Prince?" Tao Wanniang teased. "What, are these sweet soups more important than the Crown Prince?"
"Not to mention Hongzhu, even I think Yi'er can't compare to this bowl of refreshing mung bean milk." Princess Rui joked, "If Manager Tao doesn't mind, let the cooks in the palace learn a few tricks, so that they can eat it anytime in the palace."
"Of course I don't mind," Tao Wanniang said with a smile. No matter what time or space you go through, desserts can always win people's hearts.
"Hongzhu, go over there and see if there's anything else good to eat," Princess Rui instructed Hongzhu.
Tao Wanniang couldn't help but glance at Princess Rui. Was she deliberately trying to get rid of her so that she could talk to her?
Hongzhu understood immediately and agreed, then went out. Princess Rui also told the servants to go outside, and in no time, only Princess Rui and Tao Wanniang were left inside.
"Manager Tao, there's something I don't know if you've heard about," Princess Rui said cryptically.
Tao Wanniang was puzzled and asked curiously, "Your Highness, please be frank. I spend my days in the kitchen surrounded by cooking fumes, how would I know anything else?"
"So... General Ling, it's said, is impotent?" Princess Rui whispered. "Thinking about it this way, no wonder he and the Eldest Princess have never married, and over the years, we've never heard of him having any romantic affairs."
Tao Wan's eyes widened in surprise. What was going on?
"Manager Tao, he should thank you. If it weren't for you giving birth to two children for him, allowing the Ling family to flourish!" Princess Rui also had a gossipy heart. This matter had been secretly spread, and whether it was true or false, she felt that Tao Wanniang had the most right to speak.
Tao Wanniang looked genuinely embarrassed and couldn't help but ask, "Where did this rumor come from? Is it slandering the current general?"
"But I don't think he had this problem back then, so it must be the result of many years of fighting?" Princess Rui asked again. "Manager Tao, you should ask Lingyun Prefecture for more money. You are a great contributor to the Ling family."
"Stop, stop, stop, Your Highness! This matter has spread without any reason. Besides, what does it have to do with me?" Tao Wanniang was both amused and exasperated. The dignified and gentle Princess Rui actually had this side to her.
Princess Rui smiled and said in a low voice, "This matter is only being discussed between you and me in private. After all, he is the Grand General, so it is not appropriate for outsiders to know about it."
She figured this matter would probably spread like wildfire, and whether it would work in Lingyunzhou was unknown to her, but the original owner of this body knew.
"Your Highness, I've prepared some braised snacks in my kitchen. Shall I bring you some too?" Tao Wanniang couldn't help but say. Couldn't food shut up Princess Rui's gossipy mouth?
"Braised food?" Princess Rui's eyes lit up. "That's wonderful! Desserts and braised food are a perfect match!"
Tao Wanniang thought about it and realized that was exactly right. Duck neck with milk tea? She might as well make a few set meals.
Ling Yunzhou soon noticed that in the following days, his colleagues in the court seemed to care about him, and some even recommended tiger penis wine to him. This made Ling Yunzhou's face darken day by day, and he couldn't explain it!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com