On the morning of Princess Jing's birthday, Xiao Yao got up very early. Although she had made all the preparations the night before, she still had to be careful and meticulous when giving gifts to others.
She was making a fruit cake today. Yun Ruonan had said the princess loved peaches, and there were fruit trees in the villa. Xiao Yao, along with her maid and Xiao Hui, personally picked peaches and selected two bunches of early-ripening grapes. She wanted to deliver the cake and portrait before everyone else gave their gifts, to avoid being pointed at when there were more people around, especially Young Master Mu, who never knew what to say.
Because it was the princess' birthday today, the three girls also had a day off. Xiao Yao estimated that the princess had already had breakfast, so she took gifts to celebrate her birthday.
"I wish the princess peace and happiness every year, and may she be happier and more blessed every year." Xiao Yao saluted.
"Say it again." This child, they are so familiar with each other, but he still calls her princess. She doesn't feel awkward, she even doesn't like to hear it!
"Are you dissatisfied?" Did she say something wrong? Xiao Yao thought hard with her big eyes flashing.
"You should call me aunt." King Jing was amused by Xiao Yao's cute look. When this child was smart, you didn't dare to treat her as a child. She was in a daze and couldn't come to her senses for a long time.
"Hehe." Xiao Yao really didn't want to take advantage of Prince Jing's Mansion, but considering that today was the princess' birthday, she would just go with the flow.
"Happy birthday, aunt." Xiao Yao quickly changed her words. If she continued to drag her feet, people would think she was unhappy!
"Do you remember to call me like this from now on? If you call me princess again, I will lock you up in this villa and never let you return to the Xiao family for the rest of your life." Yin Qianhua threatened Xiao Yao.
"You are the kindest and gentlest person. You will definitely not make things difficult for a little kid like me, right?" Xiao Yao hurried forward to please him.
"Sister, why did you say all the words? What should I do?" Xiao Yuan was planning to say happy birthday, but his sister said it first. What should he do?
"You can think of another one!" King Jing teased Xiao Yuan that it is not easy to find a child as honest and straightforward as her nowadays.
"I wish my aunt to become younger and more beautiful." My sister said that any young woman would like to hear such words.
"Then I'll borrow your good wishes." Yin Qianhua no longer considered the Xiao family's two children outsiders. The longer she spent with them, the more she appreciated the Xiao family's traditions. Raising two children with completely different personalities to be equally kind and innocent was no easy task. Ping'an was outstanding in every way yet approachable, while Ruyi stayed by her sister's side without jealousy or inferiority. Both children's smiles were always so bright, and their expressions were always so genuine.
"Is this the gift you sent?" King Jing looked at the cake. Even though he was born into a royal family, this was the first time he had seen a pastry of this shape.
"This is called a birthday cake. We eat it when someone in our family has a birthday. My sister knows that my aunt likes peaches, so she made one with fruit flavor. You two should try it and see how it tastes." Xiao Yuan, who had already eaten half a soft cake for breakfast, was now very familiar with the role of commentator.
Prince Jing and Yin Qianhua each took a bite. They found it tasted good and melted in their mouths.
"Did you two do this?" Yin Qianhua was very curious about where these two little girls, who were less than ten years old, learned such skills.
"My sister is in charge of making it, and I am in charge of supervising it." When his sister is not doing it, Xiao Yuan enjoys the snacks he makes, which taste pretty good. As long as Xiao Yao does it herself, Xiao Yuan only plays one role, that is, a taster.
After praising the two sisters, King Jing unfolded the portrait and recognized the person in the portrait as his wife Yin Qianhua at a glance.
"This is a painting by you!" King Jing said in surprise. If this painting was also made by the little girl in front of him, then she could be called a talented woman. Shouldn't such character and talent be reserved for his son?
"My sister is very talented. Not only can she draw on paper, she can also embroider portraits on purses. Every man in our family has a special purse. You can tell who it belongs to just by looking at the purse." Xiao Yuan is not jealous, he is just proud of his sister.
King Jing looked at his wife meaningfully, but Yin Qianhua did not understand what he meant at first. Because she had been with Xiao Yao for a long time, Yin Qianhua had quickly accepted that she had this or that talent. She did not think Xiao Yao was so different from others, as if it was normal for such a smart child to have these things.
Prince Jing, however, had a different view. A girl under ten years old was already so dazzling and outstanding. Wouldn't the Xiao family's door be broken down by future marriage proposals? No wonder General Xiao had asked his brother, the emperor, for such an order so early on. Prince Jing believed that without such an order, the Xiao girl would most likely be sent to the palace.
Although there are many young ladies from official families in Kyoto, it is hard to find one who is more outstanding than this girl.
"This is a little gift from Ruyi and me. Thank you, Your Highness, Your Highness, for taking care of us these days. Thank you, Your Highness, for not looking down on us." Xiao Yao really wanted to express her gratitude. Her status was different from her sister's, and she never dared to forget this.
"If you keep saying something so formal, your aunt will be angry." Yin Qianhua said with a deliberately stern face.
"Ping An doesn't dare anymore." Xiao Yao smiled playfully. She shouldn't make the birthday boy angry today. She had already expressed what she wanted to say anyway, so she might as well not say it.
"My cousin, let's go out and play. Let my sister make another hat for us. Let's go around the villa today."
"There's never a day when you didn't take a good look around the villa." Yin Qianhua said to her niece with a smile.
"I used to just take a quick look, but now I have to see everything carefully." Xiao Yuan always finds an excuse for himself to go out and play.
"Then should we take our luggage with us?" Xiao Yao laughed at her.
"Why bring luggage?"
"You have to be so meticulous about this, you can't finish it in a day!"
"Can you please stop ruining my show?" Xiao Yuan shook her sister's sleeve again.
"Okay, I won't spoil the fun. I'll just set the stage for you, okay? Princess, please do me a favor. How about we take a thorough tour of the yard today?" Xiao Yao also imitated her sister and acted coquettishly. She knew that Yun Ruonan didn't like being touched by others, so she rarely tugged at her.
"Go and have fun! Bring a few more people with you, and don't forget to come back for lunch." King Jing wanted to send the children away and discuss with his wife the possibility of letting Xiao Yao become his daughter-in-law.
Yun Ruonan took another look at the portrait before reluctantly standing up.
"My sister also drew a picture for you. How about we go take a look?"
Xiao Yao shook her head and smiled bitterly. She must not let her sister know any secrets, otherwise it would become known to everyone in no time.
"Then let's go!" It turned out that she also had it. Yun Ruonan left more decisively than anyone else this time.
After the children left the room, King Jing asked his wife tentatively, "What do you think of Ping An?"
"Great! She's pretty, smart, and very caring."
"Then what do you think if we let her..." Before King Jing could finish his words, he heard footsteps outside.
"What smells so good?" Mu Fengwu was the first to rush into the room. He walked around the table and said with emotion, "The palace is different. The food here looks better than other places. I wonder how it tastes?"
"Try it now, or you'll have the whole table drooling!" King Jing split the cake in half, leaving half for the boys and handing the other half to Qiu Ying, asking her to take it to his wife's room. Otherwise, with the appetites of three grown men, even three wouldn't be enough for them!
The three of them each took a small piece and tasted it. The cake was much softer than ordinary pastries. The fragrance of fruit and milk left a lingering taste in the mouth.
"What is this called? If grandpa and grandma could eat it, would they praise me? Let me think about it... I haven't been praised in about ten years." Mu Fengwu ate while complaining incoherently.
"Uncle Wang, this is really delicious. Is it made by the dim sum chef in the palace?" Yun Yifan picked up the second piece and asked while tasting it.
"What do you think, Achen?" King Jing paid more attention to his son's opinion.
"Unlike other snacks, this one melts in your mouth. It must be good for older people." Yun Yichen commented objectively.
"Why do you only mention the elderly? I like to eat it, too. Uncle Jing Wang, can you ask the pastry chef to make me a portion before I leave? Of course, the more the better. I can give you more money as a reward."
"I can't fulfill your wish, because this was not made by anyone in my mansion. It seems like you just offended someone yesterday. I guess you will never be able to eat this kind of snack again in the future." King Jing teased Mu Fengwu.
"Did I offend anyone yesterday? No!" Mu Fengwu grabbed the last piece and ate it happily.
"Did the dim sum chef say he's from my junior sister's family?" Yun Yifan asked curiously. It was a pity that such a good skill actually entered the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery's Mansion. If it was someone else's family, he would have the nerve to poach him, but if it was the old man, then forget it!
Yun Yichen was already looking at the portrait at this time. The painting method was very special, and only the character's head was painted. It was different from other people's painting methods, and it seemed that it was not painted with a brush.
"This is a portrait of Aunt Wang. It really looks like her." Yun Yifan also stood next to his cousin and admired the painting together.
"Be careful, this and this are birthday gifts from Miss Xiao. Where is your share?" King Jing took the portrait from his son's hand and put it away. Don't damage it. This might be the first gift from his future daughter-in-law!
"Junior sister is different from others. She can find such a skilled pastry chef and painter. This old man really has good intentions for his granddaughter." Mu Fengwu made a summary speech.
"This snack was made by your junior sister herself, and this painting was drawn by your junior sister herself." King Jing kindly helped them clear up their doubts.
The three boys looked at each other and were speechless for a long time.
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