Disappointment 45

  In the end, she took her sisters back to the wing room and didn't go to Peach Blossom Forest with Huiling. Since no one else was going, Huiling also lost interest in going alone and went back to the wing room for a nap instead.

  At noon, the fourth prince and Lige came together to pay their respects to their elders. The old lady looked at them and thought to herself that the fourth prince was still superior in terms of temperament and appearance, and compared to him, Yuge seemed a bit childish.

  "The fourth prince led the way in greeting the old lady and the elderly Madame Dingguo."

  He is a junior with etiquette, calm and steady, dignified and elegant, clear and bright eyes, majestic and handsome.

  "How did you all get together?" The old lady asked with a smile, and turned her head to take another look at Yanyu.

  The fourth prince smiled and said, "We came in the morning, just as everyone in the temple was worshiping Buddha. We didn't want to disturb them, so we went to sit in the pavilion of the peach blossom forest for a while. My cousins wanted to stroll through the forest, but were dragged away by us and couldn't go. It seems that we ruined their fun."

  He glanced at Yuwen and his eyes were warm with a gentle smile.

  Wan Yu slightly lowered her head and remained respectfully silent.

  "So that's how it is! What were you doing in the house then?" The old lady asked with great curiosity.

  "I and my sister are copying Buddhist scriptures, listening to their recitation, feeling calm and peaceful. My granddaughter even thinks that my handwriting has improved! Grandma, this afternoon we'll go for a stroll in the garden, won't you? It's been a long time since you've gone out, hasn't it? I'll draw a picture for you." Yuwen thought that disappointing her sisters wouldn't be good, but if she could take the old lady out with them, she wouldn't be afraid of being gossiped about. Moreover, it would also make the old lady happy.

  The old lady looked around and found that Yu Ge's eyes were full of expectation, and the several Wen Yi were also excited, looking at her with eager faces. She couldn't help but laugh, "You all want to go, okay, I'll accompany you for a stroll. It's settled then, there must be delicious food, I want to eat pumpkin cake and red bean cake." She couldn't resist teasing these kids.

  "You're an old good-for-nothing, your granddaughters are filial to you, and yet you take advantage of the situation to make demands. Alas! You truly don't know what blessings you have." The Old Lady of Dingguo Marquis shook her head with a smile.

  The old lady winked at her, "I'm telling you, my granddaughter's pumpkin cake and red bean cake are delicious, not too sweet or greasy, refreshing and sweet. I guarantee you'll like it, but I can't eat too many sweets, otherwise I'd have to eat them every day." She shook her head and sighed, looking regretful.

  Wan Yu also smiled and replied, "I'll make it for you at noon, but don't eat too much, pumpkin cake is not easy to digest."

  "Uh-huh, I see." The old lady nodded happily, her eyes twinkling with a smile like an old child.

  Zhang Yun clapped his hands and laughed: "Then we must take advantage of it, it's rare to eat the snacks made by Yuanyu sister herself."

  "Of course," said Qi Ge with a smile, nodding his head. "My sister's craftsmanship is great, and today I'll let you take advantage of it." He wrinkled up his nose, looking more like a kid.

  Wan Yu furrowed her brow, her pretty face slightly red, "Brother, how can you be like this? It's like the old saying goes, 'the king praises his own melon', it's so embarrassing."

  The fourth prince inadvertently turned his head and found that Zhang Yun had been staring at Wanyu, slightly furrowing his brow without leaving a trace, taking a step forward to block half of Wanyu's body, and calmly said: "It just so happens that I know the host here, the tea bubbles he fries are very good, and few people can drink them."

  The old lady nodded in approval, "Yes, I had some years ago. Let's go together this afternoon and see if we can get some of the host's stir-fried tea to drink."

  The fourth prince smiled and said: "This matter will be taken care of by me."

  "En, nà gǎn qíng hǎo."

  Translation: "Yeah, that's a good feeling."

  Everyone agreed to go to the Peach Blossom Forest in the afternoon when it's neither hot nor cold, take a stroll, clear their minds, and release the small turtles they brought along, which can be considered a good deed.

  Wanyu went to the kitchen for a while, made pumpkin cake and red bean cake, and the masters of the temple also learned with interest on the side.

  The pumpkin cake was made with glutinous rice flour, soft and sweet. After Yuwen finished making it, she first gave a piece to her master, "Master, try some and see how the taste is?"

  The master slowly savored a piece, a smile spreading across his face. "Mmm, the flavor is not bad. I'll make some for the host to eat later too."

  Don't look at this master cooking in the temple kitchen, he is actually the junior brother of the abbot and a high-ranking monk who has attained enlightenment. His eyebrows and eyes are kind and gentle, and his speech is slow, making people unconsciously calm down.

  "Thank you, Master, for lending me the kitchen. These two plates of pastries are a small token of my appreciation. I'll be off now." Yuwen smiled and had her maid carry the food box, intending to deliver the hot pastries to her grandmother to try.

  "Alright, thank you, benefactor." The master joined his hands together in a gesture of gratitude and smiled as he saw Wenyu off.

  Wan Yu walked with her maid to the Peach Blossom Forest, it was the season when peach blossoms were in full bloom. A gentle breeze blew by, and petals fell from the trees, creating a shower of flowers. Wan Yu, in high spirits, looked up at the sky with her head tilted back, catching a few petals and putting them under her nose to sniff, savoring the sweet fragrance of peach blossoms.

  "I heard that the host here also has peach blossom wine, which is also very good, but I don't know if he's willing to give it." Rui Cheng's clear voice suddenly sounded behind Wan Yu.

  Wan Yu wasn't surprised at all. She had already sensed Rui Cheng's arrival and turned around with a triumphant smile, saying: "You thought you could scare me? I've found you out."

  Rui Cheng smiled and reached out to remove the flower petals from her hair, "I'll be heading back to the palace soon. Don't wander around everywhere, it's currently the season for spring hunting, and the woods behind the temple are where many of the imperial princes come to play. If you accidentally bump into someone again, it won't be good. Be good and stay with your grandmother, got it?"

  Wan Yu tilted her head and thought for a moment, feeling that what he said made sense, so she nodded softly, "Then, when my birthday arrives, do you have a gift for me?"

  Rui Cheng raised an eyebrow and smiled, intentionally asking in return: "Didn't I give you a bracelet that day?"

  Wan Yu immediately pouted, her big eyes shining with grievance, "You clearly said you'd take me out to play before, how did it become a birthday gift? You deceived me."

  Rui Cheng found her pouting face quite adorable and couldn't help but burst out laughing, reaching out to ruffle her hair, "You're really silly, gifts are supposed to be a surprise on the actual day, what's the point of knowing ahead of time? I'm not telling you now."

  Wan Yu gave him a sideways glance, turned her head away with a pout, and said in a childish tone: "Hmph, if you don't want to say it, then don't. I don't care."

  "Haha! You're really a kid, I won't forget you no matter what, and neither will anyone else!" Rui Cheng suddenly leaned in close to her, his breath tickling her ear.

  In an instant, Yuwen's cheeks flushed red, and she subconsciously backed away, taking a few quick steps before turning around with a reddened face to scold in a soft voice: "You're just trying to trick me, I don't believe you. I'm going to find my brother for a gift, you bully me... I'll let Fourth Brother beat you up." After finishing speaking, she still raised her fist in a threatening manner, but her tone was somewhat weak.

  Rui Cheng's lips curled up, and his eyes held a different emotion as he slowly followed behind her.

  Wan Yu and the two of them came to the pavilion together, in the midst of a peach blossom forest, there is an octagonal pavilion that can be used for rest and play. Under the pavilion, you can see a small pond, and in the distance, it is a dense green forest. The sparkling water reflects a fresh and carefree atmosphere, and the scenery is pleasant to behold.

  "Look, they've arrived, and there's delicious food now." Yuanyi clapped her hands and laughed.

  Huiling saw Wanyu and the Fourth Prince walking out one after another, slightly stunned, quickly turned her head to look at her brother, unexpectedly seeing the desolation in her brother's eyes, immediately furrowed her brow, softly saying: "Brother, you're really stupid."

  Zhang Yun sighed and said, "Silly sister, you don't understand." He shook his head and sighed.

  Huiling wanted to say something, but was stopped by a clear cough. She turned her head and found that her grandmother was staring at her with an unusually stern gaze, calm and majestic, which made her heart tremble for a moment, and she finally endured it and didn't say anything.

  Wan Yu walked over with a food box in her hand, "Come on, try some of the dim sum I just made, it's still hot."

  The old lady gave a bit of face and ate a piece of pumpkin cake, nodding her head in approval, "Hmm, not bad."

  Zhang Yun also picked one up and ate it, happily smiling: "Mei Mei's pastries are really delicious."

  Huiling seemed a bit distracted, Wenyu was somewhat puzzled, wasn't everything fine just now, but she didn't ask anything else.

  It was actually Rui Cheng who had a calm and composed expression, "Still, the red bean is delicious, not sweet or greasy, really good."

  The old lady nodded in agreement, "Mmm, I love the red bean cake made by Wenyu, you can taste every single red bean, lightly sweet and very delicious."

  Wanyi didn't know where to put a bucket of water, inside which there was a small turtle. Excitedly running over to beg Wanyu, "Big sister, let's go release it and have some fun over there."

  Wan Yu also smiled and nodded, "Okay, let's go together, Hui Ling come on." She turned around to find Hui Ling sitting there without moving.

  Zhang Yun didn't follow her, instead smiling and persuading his sister, "Go ahead, you've been saying for a long time that you wanted to come and set free."

  Huiling reluctantly nodded, but her expression was no longer as lively as before, and she followed behind Wanyu with a nonchalant attitude.

  Rui Cheng and Qi Ge followed closely behind, looking very interested. Qi Ge even shouted: "Wait for me, I'll let go too."

  Qige sat by the pond, pinching a small turtle and throwing it into the pond to set it free. Wanyu and Huiling were squatting together watching fish, she tilted her head and asked unclearly: "Huiling, what's wrong with you?"

  Huiling looked at her as if she had something to say, but seemed hesitant to speak up. After a long time, she finally asked: "My mother said that she wants to find a daughter-in-law for my brother and is currently looking into it. You should come visit me at home one day, my mother also mentioned you, saying that you are more sensible and obedient than I am." She didn't know how to respond appropriately either.

  Wan Yu looked at her embarrassed expression, and then thought about how she had urged herself to come to Peach Blossom Forest earlier. Suddenly, a stroke of good fortune struck her mind, and she turned around to wave at Rui Cheng, "Brother, come over here, look, there are still red carp here." After finishing speaking, she glanced at Hui Ling again and smiled slightly.

  Huiling turned her head to look in the direction of Liangting, and found that Mrs. Murong was smiling at Wanyu's side. She subconsciously looked at Wanyu, who was smiling slightly, and suddenly she understood. Her face instantly turned gloomy.

  Wan Yu held her hand, shaking her head slightly, with a warm and gentle smile as always. Hui Ling felt a sour nose, but didn't know for whom, suddenly feeling stuffy in her heart.