Consort Zhuang doesn't want palace intrigue; she just wants to raise her child and live a caref

Chapter 375 La 8

At the end of November, amidst the biting wind and blanketed snow, Su Nuannuan successfully hosted a unique ice sculpture banquet. This banquet attracted numerous dignitaries and noblewomen, including many young ladies from prominent families and wealthy wives.

At the banquet, Su Nuannuan displayed her elegance and poise, chatting and laughing with the ladies. After all, given her status, everyone respected her, and naturally, no one dared to embarrass her easily.

However, this banquet was more than just a social event for Su Nuannuan. She paid special attention to several girls around the same age as Cang Lan Jingcheng. As for whether they were born out of wedlock or legitimately, Su Nuannuan didn't really care.

In this era, although there was a tradition of the principal wife not bringing her illegitimate daughters to banquets, this was not absolute. Some families might bring their illegitimate daughters along if they didn't have a legitimate daughter or if their illegitimate daughters performed exceptionally well. For example, at this banquet, two families brought their illegitimate daughters to attend.

One family, lacking a legitimate daughter, raised a concubine's daughter, but didn't register her under the legitimate mother's name. The other family's situation was slightly different; reportedly, this concubine's daughter was raised by the legitimate mother from childhood and only later formally registered under her name. Nominally, she was considered a legitimate daughter, but in reality, there were still some differences between her and a true legitimate daughter.

After the banquet, Jinse looked at Su Nuannuan with a smile and asked softly, "Your Majesty, have you taken a fancy to any girl?"

Su Nuannuan smiled slightly, replying with a half-smile, "What use is it for me to take a liking to them? In the end, it all depends on your prince's decision. I'm just helping him get a feel for them." She paused for a moment, then continued, "Besides, your prince might not choose a princess from among these women. After all, there are so many noble ladies in the capital." With that, Su Nuannuan picked up an apple from the table, took a bite, and chewed it slowly.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it's already the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

"Little child, little child, don't be greedy, after Laba Festival comes the New Year." This nursery rhyme echoed in Su Nuannuan's mind. No matter what time or space you are in, on Laba Festival, almost every household will cook a pot of Laba porridge, and some people will go to the temple to get free Laba porridge.

"Your Majesty, the Laba porridge is here!" Jinse walked in carrying a steaming bowl of Laba porridge, her face beaming with a bright smile.

"Wow, it smells so good!" Su Nuannuan took a deep breath. The sweet aroma of Laba porridge filled the air, making her mouth water.

"This was made by Zhixiang early in the morning. She put a lot of care into it, and the heat was just right, which is why this Laba porridge is so fragrant and sweet," Jinse said as she carefully placed the bowl of Laba porridge on the table.

"The selection of ingredients is indeed very important!" Su Nuannuan said thoughtfully, examining the Laba porridge on the table.

Just then, a clear voice suddenly called out from outside: "Mother, we're here!" It was Canglan Jingyao's voice.

Upon hearing the voice, everyone inside couldn't help but smile. Su Nuannuan was overjoyed and quickly said, "Come in quickly."

Before the words were finished, the curtain was lifted, and Cang Lan Jingyao floated in like a light butterfly. Qu Jing followed closely behind her, the two holding hands, like a perfect couple.

"This servant greets the princess and her consort!" Upon seeing this, Li Desheng quickly bowed and greeted them.

"Please rise, Eunuch Li!" Canglan Jingyao said with a smile, her voice gentle and kind.

After thanking him, Li Desheng stood up and stepped aside. Canglan Jingyao then walked towards Su Nuannuan, with Qu Jing following closely beside her.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty!" Canglan Jingyao and Qu Jing bowed to Su Nuannuan together, their movements perfectly synchronized and their manners impeccable.

Seeing this, Su Nuannuan quickly reached out to help Canglan Jingyao up, and said with a smile, "Get up quickly, you two didn't even send someone to tell us you were coming back."

Canglan Jingyao said coquettishly, "Your subject just wanted to give Mother a surprise!"

Su Nuannuan smiled indulgently, took Canglan Jingyao's hand and said, "Alright, alright, how old are you? Still acting like a spoiled child. Aren't you afraid that Master Qu will laugh at you?"

Come, sit down.

As she spoke, Su Nuannuan pulled Canglan Jingyao to sit down beside her, then turned to Qu Jing and said, "Lord Qu, please sit down. There's no need to be so formal here with me."

Qu Jing respectfully responded and then sat down in the seat designated by Su Nuannuan.

"He wouldn't dare laugh at me! If he did, he'd be sleeping in the study from now on," Canglan Jingyao said arrogantly, giving Qu Jing a haughty glare.

Qu Jing quickly replied, "No, no."

At this moment, Jinse came in carrying two steaming bowls of Laba porridge, and said with a smile, "Princess, Prince Consort, please have some."

"Try it! This is Laba porridge that your Aunt Zhixiang specially cooked early in the morning!" Su Nuannuan greeted warmly with a big smile.

She gently picked up the spoon, carefully scooped up a spoonful of Laba porridge, and then slowly blew on it until the porridge was at the right temperature. Then, she put the spoonful of Laba porridge into her mouth and savored it.

However, before Su Nuannuan could even utter a sigh, she heard a series of smacking sounds.

"Wow, this is so delicious! This is truly worthy of Aunt Zhixiang's cooking skills!" Canglan Jingyao's voice was full of satisfaction and praise.

Qu Jing, standing to the side, smiled and nodded in agreement.

“Jiyaotang is also serving Laba porridge today, and we came from there.” Canglan Jingyao said while quickly finishing a bowl of Laba porridge. “Although Jiyaotang’s Laba porridge doesn’t taste as good as Aunt Zhixiang’s, it’s made with high-quality ingredients and is still very good.”

“Giving out porridge is a good deed that brings good fortune,” Su Nuannuan said with a smile, expressing her complete agreement with Canglan Jingyao’s words.

"Yes, it's really fortunate that we're not in the capital this year, otherwise my brother would definitely have dragged me to the Laba Festival again," Canglan Jingyao said with a sigh of relief, her words revealing her joy at not having to participate in the Laba Festival.

Canglan Jingyao has a unique little habit: she always affectionately calls Canglan Jing "brother," while she only calls the other princes of the same generation who are older than her "royal brother."

There are almost never instances where Canglan Jingyao refers to Canglan Jing as "Fifth Imperial Brother," unless she is angry.

"You! You're always so lazy." Su Nuannuan's tone was full of affection as she gently tapped Cang Lan Jingyao's forehead with her finger.

"It's a pity that my brother won't be able to taste such delicious porridge," Canglan Jingyao said regretfully, shaking her head.