Chapter 28.1

Tao Ti asked Linglong to prepare a plate of Qingtuan each for the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Princess.

Upon hearing that the Qingtuan were made with mugwort, the Fifth Prince looked surprised, “Can we eat grass?”

“Of course! Besides mugwort, in the spring, the mountains are filled with various wild vegetables. Some of them can be simply stir-fried with just some lard and a pinch of salt, and would already taste amazing—so aromatic, fresh, and perfect with rice…” replied Tao Ti with a nostalgic expression.

“Ah Ti, please don’t say more. Your description is making me crave stir-fried wild vegetables,” said Xu Wenchan while swallowing a bite of the pickled vegetable and tofu Qingtuan. As she chewed, she praised, “This pickled vegetable and tofu stuffing is truly exceptional. The pickled vegetables are tangy and refreshing, and the braised tofu is tender and just right in texture. The more I chew, the more flavoursome it becomes.”

Seeing Xu Wenchan eating with such enjoyment, the Sixth Princess picked up a dumpling, opened her little mouth wide, and took a big bite. Her eyes immediately lit up, “It’s sweet! Yum!”

The little girl didn’t know enough words to praise the deliciousness of the Qingtuan, but she knew for sure that they were exceptionally delicious. She couldn’t stop herself from taking one bite after another.

Now, the Fifth Prince was the only one who hadn’t tasted them yet.

This child had probably been pampered and treated with reverence since childhood, which made his personality a bit peculiar. In front of outsiders, he often acted aloof and distant.

However, Xu Wenchan was not one to be deterred by his demeanor. She smiled and teased, “Fifth Prince, you don’t like these Qingtuan? If you’re not going to eat them, I can help you with them.” As she spoke, she playfully extended her hand towards his plate.

The Fifth Prince had probably never seen such audacity before. After recovering from his surprise, dropped his pretense of indifference and quickly protected his plate, saying, “Who said I don’t want them?!”

The Fifth Prince swiftly picked up one of the Qingtuan. The moment he took a bite, his expression froze.

This thing that’s made from grass is way too delicious!

Seeing her attempt to steal his food fail, Xu Wenchan pursed her lips and gave Tao Ti a look that said, “This little brat is still so young, but already, his words don’t match his actions and he’s acting all high and mighty already.”

Tao Ti raised an eyebrow and returned a look as if to say, “Are you seriously thinking of stealing his food?”

Xu Wenchan smiled awkwardly and picked up a sesame and peanut-filled Qingtuan to eat. “Mmm, this is good. Both the sesame and peanut are so fragrant and delicious! ”

While they were enjoying the delicious food, Tao Ti called the Sixth Princess to the side to ask about the incident with the salted egg yolk pastry last time.

After hesitating for a while, the Sixth Princess truthfully relayed what had happened.

Upon learning the truth, Tao Ti fell silent. It seemed to confirm the old saying: “A child with a mother is like a treasure, while a child without a mother is like a weed.”

As she looked at the Sixth Princess, her thoughts somehow drifted to Pei Yan once again.

Although he had the Emperor’s care, the Emperor had many duties to attend to, and couldn’t always be there for him. Did Pei Yan also suffer many grievances in the shadows when he was younger?

Tao Ti couldn’t help but feel sympathetic as she raised her hand to pat the Sixth Princess’s little head, comforting her, “Eat more Qingtuan later, okay?”

The Sixth Princess blinked her big, beautiful eyes and replied sweetly, “Sister-in-law, you’re so nice!”

Tao Ti smiled. She took the little princess’s hand and they returned to the courtyard together.

——————

Before Pei Yan even stepped through the grand entrance of Yaoguang Hall, he could hear a burst of cheerful laughter from afar.

He raised his hand to stop Fu Xirui from announcing his arrival, then walked slowly inside. The scene that greeted his eyes was one of warm harmony and playful commotion.

The evening sun painted the sky with hues of red, as peony flowers bloomed brilliantly against the walls, filling the air with a delicate floral fragrance.

In the spacious courtyard, Tao Ti stood in the center with her hands behind her back. She was wearing a smoky-pink long dress, resembling a graceful and charming peony flower.

A black silk ribbon covered her eyes, revealing half of her fair face that was tinged with a faint flush. There were traces of perspiration on her smooth forehead, evidence of the fun she had been engaged in earlier.

“Ten, nine, eight, seven…” she called out playfully in a delicate voice, her tone full of joy.

The Fifth Prince and the Sixth Princess hid behind flower beds and beneath a stone table respectively. As for Xu Wenchan, she had intended to squeeze under the stone table too, but her chubby figure didn’t quite fit, so she had to hide behind a lush tree in the courtyard.

“Is everyone done hiding? Don’t move, I’m coming to catch you—!” Tao Ti’s voice rang out, her lips slightly curving upwards. Having already played multiple rounds, she had long figured out the hiding spots that these three usually favored. Catching them was now a sure thing!

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