Chapter 281 Steamed Buns and Soy Milk

When Mianyao came in, she immediately hugged Fu Lun and his wife, not giving them a chance to bow at all.

Furen asked in confusion, "Why are you two here at this hour?"

Fu Erkang, who came in later, explained, "This little girl wants to breathe the free air outside the palace, so she applied to Father Emperor to live outside the palace."

Xia Ziwei continued, "I heard that she initially wanted to live in Prince Rong's Mansion by herself, but Dong'er suggested that they come to our Scholar's Mansion..."

Fu Peidong sighed and asked, "May I ask, Princess, what time do you plan to get up tomorrow morning?"

“…” Mianyao was silent for a moment, then looked at Fu Peidong, “When do you usually go out?”

Fu Peidong laughed and said, "Instead of asking me, you should go to sleep now, otherwise you won't be able to sleep for long."

As Fu Peidong spoke, he yawned, "Father, Mother, Grandfather, Grandma, I'm going to bed after I wash up."

Watching Fu Peidong's departing figure, Mianyao pouted, "What does that mean..."

The princess stepped forward and said, "Since you are going to stay at the scholar's residence, you should indeed go and rest now."

"Come, come with me."

"Okay, Grandma Fu is still the best to me."

Afterwards, Fu Erkang had someone take Mianhua to wash up and rest.

"Grandma Fu, you're so good to me." The Fujin helped Mianyao take off her clothes, and Mianyao kept talking.

The princess smiled and said, "Alright, get some rest. You have to go to class early tomorrow morning."

Mianyao nodded. "Grandma Fu, you should get some rest too."

Seeing that Mianyao had fallen asleep, the Fujin (principal wife) drew the curtains by the bed, extinguished the candles, and then left the room, closing the door behind her.

In the hall, Fu Lun, Fu Erkang, and Xia Ziwei were still there. Fu Erkang said, "Mother, you'll have to work hard during this time."

The princess consort laughed and said, "That girl used to cause quite a ruckus at the scholar's residence just a few years ago, but now that she's grown up, she won't be like that anymore..."

"But are the Emperor and the Crown Prince just going to let them come to our house like this?"

Xia Ziwei nodded, "Mother, you know how skilled that little girl is. Even if Father and the others don't want to, there's nothing they can do."

Fu Lun said with a smile, "Ziwei is right. Now that they're here, we should have someone take good care of them. We should also have Dong'er keep a close eye on them on their way to class in the palace, so that nothing happens to them while we're on their behalf."

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The next day at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), Mianyao was woken up.

"Who put their hand on my face?"

To be precise, Mianyao was probably woken up by someone's cold hands.

"Get up."

Mianyao opened her eyes and saw her "annoying" brother. "So early?"

Mianyao felt like she had only just fallen asleep, so why did she have to get up?

Mianhua yawned as she spoke, "The Scholar's Residence is still quite a distance from the palace, you'd better hurry..."

Although she was extremely sleepy, she still managed to get up and dress herself.

She couldn't manage to put on the headdress herself, so she asked Mianhua to help her.

Half an hour had passed by the time I finished washing up and getting ready.

Fu Peidong was already waiting for them in the carriage at the door. "Hurry up."

Mianhua helped the drowsy Mianyao into the carriage, and then followed her in herself.

Once inside the carriage, Mianyao leaned against the window, drifting off to sleep. "So sleepy, so cold..."

"Hold the hot water bottle carefully, don't let your hands get cold." Fu Peidong handed the hot water bottle to Mianyao so she could warm herself up.

After leaving the scholar's residence, the carriage stopped after traveling for only a quarter of an hour.

After a while, Fu Peidong's page handed them their breakfast.

Mianhua silently looked at the steamed buns and soy milk that Fu Peidong handed her. "You eat this for breakfast?"

Fu Peidong nodded. "We're in a hurry."

"I'm usually in a rush, so I always buy breakfast outside."

"I was on vacation, so I slept until noon..."

Mianyao smelled a fragrance and yawned, "It smells so good..."

Mianyao struggled to open her eyes and saw steamed buns and soy milk on the small table. "Dong'er, is this our breakfast?"

"Yes, hurry up and eat, otherwise the heat will dissipate."

Mianyao didn't hesitate any longer and quickly went to eat.

Mianhua could only accept his fate, though he was thinking that he would have someone prepare the food in advance next time.

Unexpectedly, Fu Peidong seemed to read his mind and immediately said, "The fact that your uncle and aunt let you travel with me means that you will have to eat the same food as me..."

"So, cousin, don't expect anyone else to prepare extra food for you."

Mianhua was speechless.

After breakfast, they went to the palace.

"Young Master, we have arrived at Shenwu Gate."

"Cousin, let's get off the bus..."

Mianyao glared at Fu Peidong, "Why do you call him cousin but not me cousin?"

“…I just won’t call him…” Fu Peidong smiled and then ran towards the Imperial Study.

"Fu Peidong, you brat, stop right there for me."

Now, she was truly awake.

Today, she's determined to catch that brat Fu Peidong!

"Fu Peidong, don't run away!"

"Do you think I'm stupid...?"

"If you catch up with me, I'm dead."

"Hey, you two rascals, watch your step..." Mianhua was genuinely worried for her rivals who were running wildly ahead.

They had barely entered the palace when Xiao Yucheng arrived.

"Cousin."

Mianhua turned to look at the person who had come in, "Cousin."

"Why are those two arguing again?"

Mianhua smiled helplessly, "Yao'er has been angry because Dong'er won't call her cousin..."

Xiao Yucheng chuckled as well, "Do you think those two might...?"

Seeing Xiao Yucheng's expression, Mianhua naturally guessed what he meant. Mianhua smiled and said, "They're still just kids. How could they have such thoughts?"

"I think they're just siblings bickering. As for whether they'll have a future together, we'll see..."

"Anyway, no matter who Yao'er's future husband is, I will not let anyone bully her!"

Xiao Yucheng nodded, "She's lucky to have a brother like you!"

"Your Yuting is the same way, you're a fiercely protective brother too."

The two brothers walked slowly side by side toward the Imperial Study. They entered through the Shenwu Gate, passed through the Shunzhen Gate, went through the Imperial Garden, and passed through the Rijing Gate. The Imperial Study was not far ahead.

After passing through the Imperial Garden, Mianyao and Fupeidong walked slowly and kept their voices down.

From Shenwu Gate to the Imperial Study, Mianyao and Fupeidong arrived in less than a quarter of an hour.

Mianhua and Xiao Yucheng, who walked in leisurely, took a quarter of an hour.

They were the first to arrive. Mianhua was a little annoyed to see that the door to the Imperial Study was still closed. "Are we too early?"

Seeing Mianhua's still trembling hands, Fu Peidong laughed and said, "Since you're cold, how about we have a fistfight?"

Upon hearing this, Mianhua's eyes lit up. "Great!"

Once you get moving, it won't be so cold.

Seeing that Mianhua and Fupeidong were fighting, Mianyao had no choice but to jog back and forth between the Imperial Study and Rijing Gate.

Don't ask why she didn't fight Xiao Yucheng.

The answer is simple: she can only be crushed by Xiao Yuchen; she is no match for him now!