No matter whether the old marquis could read or not, he read the imperial edict carefully over and over again.
"Someone go and find the eldest lady." It seems that the son and grandson are not at home, so let the granddaughter have fun first!
Today he actually had the chance to see his sweetheart, and the perfunctory smile on Yun Yichen's lips suddenly became real and widened. People who didn't know him would think that he was really happy for the old man!
"Grandfather, are you looking for me?" Xiao Yao had just returned her nephew to her sister-in-law, and before she could return to Yaoyuan Tower, she met the messenger. In the past, the old man never looked for her when a young man visited her, so something unusual must have happened today.
"Come and read this imperial edict to your grandfather." Old Marquis Xiao waved to his granddaughter with a gentle smile.
"Okay! I'll read it to you. Do I need to wash my hands and change my clothes first?" Xiao Yao was afraid that she was not serious enough, so she lowered her head to check whether her skirt was flat and her hands were clean.
"Help the old man read it quickly! He's so anxious." It was a rare opportunity to tease the old man, so Yun Yichen didn't feel comfortable letting it go easily.
"Go drink your tea." Old Marquis Xiao took his granddaughter's hand and asked her to stand in front of the table. He told her to just look and read, and never reach out to touch.
"Listen carefully, the imperial edict says that the Xiao family has a daughter..." Xiao Yao looked at Yun Yichen in surprise. The imperial edict was actually related to her!
"Read on." The old marquis urged.
"Read it!" The little girl will be happy after reading it! Let the grandparents and grandchildren be happy for a while.
"The Xiao family has a daughter..." This time Xiao Yao read the whole thing in one breath. The old marquis felt more at ease. Xiao Yao was also very happy. She would not be afraid even if the man surnamed Xie came to the Xiao family now.
"Thank you, Prince." Xiao Yao bowed deeply before Yun Yichen. The Emperor couldn't have written such an imperial edict without someone reminding her. Prince Jing and his son, while not entirely credited, certainly played a crucial role. She should thank them sincerely.
"Is the amount you owe me increasing?" Yun Yichen saw that the old Marquis Xiao was busy serving the imperial edict and had no time to take care of this side, so he boldly approached Xiao Yao and asked in a low voice.
It’s so nice to smell her fragrance again. I can be so close to her again. I’m so happy!
"Hehe." Xiao Yao laughed dryly. She had already agreed to help his wife embroider a dress. What else did he want? At worst, she would work hard and use her best skills to make a beautiful dress. Wouldn't it be enough for Quan Tianyu to only have one?
"You must pay attention to what I ask you to do, otherwise you will regret it." After saying this, Yun Yichen quickly returned to his seat because the old man had turned around at this moment.
Regret? What was she regretting? Xiao Yao felt Yun Yichen was becoming increasingly inexplicable, his words cryptic and confusing. Since she had already promised him, of course she would do her best. Not only was she repaying the favor, but as a woman, she knew that a wedding, a once-in-a-lifetime event, meant leaving a lasting impression for herself, her husband, and her family. She had to live up to Yun Yichen's trust and her own conscience.
"If you trust me, how about I design a new set of jewelry for you?" Xiao Yao believed that her dress would look better with her own jewelry.
"It's a deal. You are responsible for the design and I'll be responsible for the construction." Yun Yichen didn't dare to show his joy too much, so he turned his head and pretended to admire the furnishings in the study.
"What are you talking about?" How come I didn't understand at all? I didn't understand! In the old man's eyes, Yun Yichen was a man who would soon get married and start a family. He personally delivered the imperial edict, which proved that he had a pure mind and was completely different from those people with ulterior motives.
There was no danger in the granddaughter talking to him, and he could be completely classified as a harmless person with no ulterior motives.
"We were talking about how the old man is very happy today, so we should have a drink." Yun Yichen didn't want others to share his and Xiao Yao's secret, so he had to find another topic.
"Yes, yes, Ping'an, how about you cook two side dishes for me and Yun? Let's have a drink to celebrate." The wrinkles on Old Marquis Xiao's face seemed to relax, and it was obvious that he was really happy.
"No problem. Is there anything you particularly want to eat? Tell me and see if I can make it." Xiao Yao now treats the old marquis like a child most of the time, making him happy, chatting with him, and even indulging him in doing whatever he wants.
"This is a rare opportunity, Yun. Just tell me what you want to eat. Besides our family, you are the first man from outside the family to eat the food cooked by my granddaughter!"
I came at the right time today. I talked to my sweetheart and made my request. I originally planned to have a couple of drinks with the old man and then go back to the palace, but I didn’t expect to get an unexpected surprise. I actually had the chance to eat the dishes made by the little girl. It’s great!
"Give grandpa something spicy, simple, and the sooner the better." Old Marquis Xiao often tastes his granddaughter's cooking. Apart from anything else, nourishing soups and easily digestible snacks are available every day.
"I just want to be like the old man." After four years of training in the military camp, Yun Yichen's requirements for food have changed from exquisite and delicious to just being able to eat enough and replenish basic nutrition.
"I understand. I'll go to the kitchen and prepare it." When Xiao Yao saw her grandfather get up to get the chessboard, she knew that he wanted to play two games with Yun Yichen. The chess set in the study was modified by Xiao Yao. Whenever the men in the family had time, they would make an appointment to play a couple of games with him.
"Please go back and sit down, I'll get it." Xiao Yao stretched out his arms to stop his grandfather and asked him to sit back.
"When you get old, you should stretch your muscles and bones. You won't let me do this or that. In a few years, I'm afraid that grandpa won't be able to move even if he wants to."
"Don't say that." Xiao Yao, her eyes red, covered her grandfather's mouth, but quickly let go, afraid of suffocating him. She didn't move, but stood there, looking at Old Marquis Xiao with resentful eyes, as if she was afraid that if she blinked, he would disappear.
Being over seventy years old in ancient times was definitely considered advanced age, so how could Xiao Yao not be worried? That's why she stewed nourishing foods every day, rain or shine, and tried to spend as much time with her grandfather as possible, becoming extremely nervous at the slightest sign of trouble.
But Xiao Yao heard that Tang Hao's great-grandmother collapsed after hearing the news that he had won the top scorer in the high school entrance examination. No one knew how the eighty-year-old woman was doing now... With such a lesson learned, how could she not be worried and afraid!
"What are you thinking about, kid! Grandpa is in good health and not an old lady who will fall down with a gust of wind, so you don't have to worry about me at all. Go and cook, grandpa is hungry." The old marquis stroked his granddaughter's delicate and smooth face with his rough and broad hands. The picture with such a strong contrast looked so harmonious at this moment, which was very moving.
"Hey, you two don't want me to join you for dinner? It seems like it's almost time for dinner, and I haven't had a single snack this morning!" Yun Yichen couldn't bear to see Xiao Yao sad or crying. He also wondered why other women wouldn't even cry in front of him, even if they were crying like pear blossoms in the rain, without his heart fluttering. Even if Xiao Yao only showed a sad look, or her eyes reddened, his heart felt like it was being squeezed and squeezed, and it hurt.
This feeling became more and more obvious and stronger. It turned out that this was what it felt like to be moved and emotional. Yun Yichen finally understood it deeply.
"Go, grandpa is hungry too." The old marquis patted his stomach and urged his granddaughter to hurry up, because he couldn't bear to see her sad.
About half an hour later, several delicious dishes were served, including Mapo tofu, tiger skin green pepper stuffed with meat, spicy chicken cubes, fish-flavored pork shreds, home-cooked cold dishes, minced meat and egg custard, and a pumpkin and kelp soup.
"Just smelling this makes me hungry. Yun, come and try it. I tell you, my granddaughter's cooking skills are no worse than a chef's." Old Marquis Xiao said as he picked up the chopsticks. He didn't care whether Yun Yichen ate it or not. It was more important to take care of himself first.
The old and the young couldn't stop eating the delicious food and sipping the fine wine. Yun Yichen had heard his sister mention that Xiao Yao made sweet and sour pork ribs and sweet soup for them before. At that time, he thought that Xiao Yao was just doing it on a whim and did it occasionally, and her skills couldn't be that good.
After eating today's dishes, even though Yun Yichen was just a diner, he had to admit that Xiao Yao's cooking skills were indeed good. Not only were they delicious, but the food was also thoughtful. The egg custard and the peppers stuffed with meat must have been specially prepared for the old man!
As the two of them were enjoying their meal, Xiaofu leaned in from outside the door and told the old marquis: "The young lady asked you to eat more egg custard and less spicy food. She is rolling noodles in the kitchen. Please enjoy yourselves."
The old marquis had a piece of soft tofu in his mouth and had no time to speak. He could only nod and wave his hand to indicate that he understood, and the nagging little maid could leave.
"I can smell the spicy diced chicken from a distance. Is there any boiled fish? It must be the old man secretly eating alone in there again! Am I late again today?" Xiao Jingyan quickened his pace and increased his stride. It took him half the usual time to get from the corner to the study.
"Dad, you are so mean. You would rather invite outsiders to dinner than invite your son. Can two people finish so many dishes? How can you only care about your own enjoyment without considering other people's feelings! Where are the people outside? Hurry up and get me a pair of chopsticks." Xiao Jingyan didn't wait for the old marquis to speak, and sat down. Although he sat down, his mouth was not idle at all.
"If I hadn't reacted quickly, I would have missed it again today. Didn't I tell you that it's not good to eat too much spicy food when you're old? Why are you making an exception again? If Ping'an feels like trying, I'll take her to the Princess's Mansion to stay for two days and let her cook for you every day to avoid bringing harm to you." He was so slow even in getting the bowl and chopsticks. Did these people just want to let him see but not eat?
"Do you still want to eat for free? If you do, shut up. It's not your place to dictate what happens to me, an old man. Also, you and your wife should stop thinking about Ping An. We are doing well in the Marquis' Mansion! We are not going to the Princess' Mansion!"
After the servants handed over the dishes and chopsticks, Xiao Jingyan stopped arguing with his father, and the two of them ate happily, each enjoying the meal more than the other. Yun Yichen thought to himself, eat, eat, the little girl will be his in a year or so, and by then, no one else will be able to taste her cooking skills easily, and everything she has will belong to him alone!
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