Chapter 47 The Dowager Consort Duan's Request
Yu Zhaoning was held in Luan Xue's arms, her little head resting on her aunt's fragrant and soft shoulder, her big, dark eyes full of confusion.
What happened?
Just moments ago, they were all like they'd been injected with adrenaline, shouting that they were ready to sacrifice their lives for the Great Yu.
Why is he now acting all tragic and ready to die, like he's about to be beheaded?
I really don't understand these adults.
[Forget it, adults are like needles in the ocean; this little one won't think about it anymore and will go back to sleep!]
Yu Zhaoning tilted her head, yawned, and closed her eyes.
Upon hearing these thoughts, Yuan Hua couldn't help but twitch his lips slightly.
The civil and military officials were also helpless, thinking to themselves, "Your Majesty, we just got into the mood!"
…
The next day.
The morning sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices, warmly bathing the magnificent dragon bed.
Yu Zhaoning had already woken up and was sitting on the bed with her short legs crossed. Her little brows were tightly furrowed, and she looked worried.
Before her, a virtual screen, visible only to her, shimmered with an alluring light, displaying a dazzling array of goods.
[Oh dear, I'm so conflicted!]
The sweet, childlike voice echoed in everyone's hearts.
Yuan Hua was reading a book when he paused slightly.
[I have 2,000 points now, I'm barely a little rich!]
Yu Zhaoning held her small chest high, looking proud.
[But these points are so few! Glass and cement technology each cost a thousand points. If I buy both, I'll be broke again!]
[Waaah, but we can't not buy them! With glass, Grandmother can drink tea from sparkling glass cups! With cement, we can build wide, smooth roads, so she won't have to waddle around on her way to imperial processions anymore!]
[But what about the gene-saving pills? They're life-saving wonders! All the imperial aunts need them!]
The little one rolled around in the soft bedding, like a tangled little twisted rope, making a mess of the bed.
After rolling around for a while, a brilliant idea flashed in her little head.
[Got it!]
Yu Zhaoning jumped up, her little face beaming with pride.
[Grandmother is so capable, she must know what's most important! Yes, let's ask Grandmother!]
[But I can't directly mention system issues; there are rules about that! Hmm, I'm so smart, I'm sure I can find a way!]
Let's get right to it.
The little dumpling put on her shoes embroidered with tigers by herself, and before the maidservants could even help her, she took off running towards her grandmother's room.
Upon hearing the hurried yet endearing footsteps, Yuan Hua put down his book, a smile playing on his lips.
"Royal Grandmother!"
The person arrived before the voice.
Yu Zhaoning rushed in like a little cannonball, grabbed Yuan Hua's leg, looked up with her rosy cheeks, and called out sweetly.
"Grandmother, Zhaoning has come to play with you again!"
Yuan Hua affectionately patted her little head and then lifted her onto his lap.
"Why is the lazybones up so early today?"
Yu Zhaoning chuckled, her big eyes darting around, clearly plotting something mischievous.
"Grandmother, could you tell Zhaoning another story about your world?"
She pretended to be a curious child, her voice soft and sweet.
"In that magical world, is there anything particularly powerful that could make our Great Yu Dynasty powerful as well?"
She blinked her big eyes and asked innocently, "If, I mean if, Grandmother could bring something back from that world, what would you most like to bring back?"
Yuan Hua found it amusing to watch his granddaughter putting on such a lively performance.
This little guy is playing tricks on her.
She picked up the teacup, took a slow sip, and then leisurely put the teacup down.
"Zhao Ning wants to ask if you saw that white-bearded old immortal in your dream again and wanted to ask him for something, right?"
[Wow! Is Grandma a tapeworm in my stomach? She knows that!]
Yu Zhaoning's eyes widened instantly, and then she nodded frantically like a chick pecking at rice.
"Yes, yes, yes! Grandmother understands me best!"
She slid off Yuan Hua's lap, leaned close to him, and whispered mysteriously, "I helped Grandpa the Immortal again, and he rewarded me with two thousand points! Grandmother, what good things do you think we should get with these two thousand points?"
Seeing her serious little expression, Yuan Hua suppressed a laugh and pretended to be deep in thought.
After a moment, she slowly said, "Well, two thousand points, it's not a lot, but it's not a little either."
"In my opinion, you can keep 1,000 points as a reserve, just in case. Use the remaining 1,000 points to exchange for glass or cement manufacturing methods."
Yuan Hua's eyes deepened, as if he were seeing a brand new world through them.
"These two things may seem ordinary, but they are the foundation for changing people's lives. Once we accumulate enough points, we can exchange them for steam engines and even more important technology blueprints. Those are the true national treasures that can boost the productivity of our Great Yu!"
[A steam engine! Wow! Grandmother even knows about this! Amazing! She's my idol!]
Yu Zhaoning nodded repeatedly, her little face filled with admiration. She looked at Yuan Hua with sparkling eyes, as if she were seeing a god.
"Alright! We'll do as Grandmother says! That's what we'll do!"
She clenched her little fist, feeling that a grand future was already beckoning to her.
Just as the grandfather and grandson were discussing things with great interest, a gentle voice came from outside the hall.
"Mother, Zhaoning, what are you chatting about so happily? Come and try the snacks I made."
As soon as she finished speaking, Luan Xue, dressed in palace attire, gracefully entered carrying a white jade plate.
She looked much better overall, and although there was still a lingering trace of fatigue in her eyes, she exuded a serene sense of rebirth.
"Royal Aunt!"
Yu Zhaoning's gaze was instantly drawn to the delicate little cakes on the plate.
The cake was shaped like a small flower and decorated with bright red jam. You could smell a sweet, milky aroma from a distance.
She ran over and circled around Luan Xue, sniffing hard with her little nose, her mouth practically watering.
"Wow! It smells so good! Auntie, you're amazing! You succeeded on your first try!"
The little guy's tone was full of shock and admiration.
[Good heavens! This is unbelievable! Back when my grandmother first shared this recipe, she taught the head chefs in the imperial kitchen for ages, and even now the head chef still has to follow the instructions step by step with the blueprints! What kind of divine talent does my second aunt possess?! Could this be the legendary bloodline of a culinary god?!]
Hearing this heartfelt message, Luan Xue was somewhat surprised, then her eyes crinkled into a smile with a hint of joy.
"Really? The recipe Mother gave me was written in great detail; I just followed it."
She gently knelt down and handed the plate to Yu Zhaoning: "Little Zhaoning, try it and see how it tastes?"
"Uh-huh!"
Yu Zhaoning couldn't wait to pick up a small cake and take a big bite out of it.
The sweet cream and soft cake melted instantly in her mouth, making her squint her eyes in bliss, and her little feet dangled happily.
Its cheeks were stuffed full, like a cute little hamster trying to hoard food.
She chewed vigorously, mumbling, "Mmm, delicious! This little cake is the best I've ever eaten!"
After finally swallowing the food in his mouth, the little guy immediately and solemnly gave a thumbs up and loudly announced, "It's so fragrant and soft, my royal aunt is the best!"
This straightforward and enthusiastic praise made Luan Xue's cheeks flush slightly, and she felt a sweet warmth in her heart.
Yuan Hua also picked up a piece and tasted it, his eyes showing approval: "Hmm, not bad, Xue'er does have talent in this area, much better than those people in the Imperial Kitchen."
After receiving praise from her mother and niece, Luan Xue felt warm and comfortable all over.
This was a feeling she had never experienced before.
Growing up in the Mu family, she learned how to read people's expressions and how to please her adoptive parents; no one ever genuinely praised her.
After being found by the royal family, she had no time to experience family affection before being hastily married off to that heartless Cui Li, making her life even more miserable.
She was so stupid before!
Instead of showing affection to their blood relatives, they single-mindedly try to please those ungrateful wretches from the Cui and Mu families!
Was I out of my mind? Or was I bewitched?
Luan Xue cursed her past self in her heart, wishing she could travel back in time and slap herself twice to wake herself up.
Seeing her little niece's adorable, satisfied expression as she ate, her fighting spirit was completely ignited.
I secretly made up my mind to thoroughly study all the recipes my mother gave me! I'll cook delicious meals for my adorable little niece every day from now on!
Yu Zhaoning ate the two small cakes with satisfaction, then gulped down a large cup of warm goat milk and let out a contented burp.
[Burp~ Full and satisfied, time to go to court!]
She wiped her mouth, her mind racing with calculations.
[I haven't had my gossip yet! I wonder what new juicy stories those old men in the court have to share with me today?]
However, before Yu Zhaoning could even begin to formulate her ideas, she was interrupted.
A palace attendant rushed in from outside the hall, knelt down in a panic, and reported.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager! Consort Duan requests an audience outside the palace!"
Consort Duan?
Yu Zhaoning's little hand, which was eating cake, paused.
She glanced curiously at her grandmother beside her, only to see that her grandmother seemed to have guessed something.