Su Pan’er couldn’t help greeting her family, relieved and genuinely delighted to see that her grandfather still had robust health and her parents were healthy as well.
After having lunch at the Su family’s mansion, she then climbed back into the carriage to return.
Rembering her mother’s sigh that Ke’er was becoming more wilful day by day and her repeated requests for Su Pan’er to find soone suitable to take charge of him, Su Pan’er heaved a silent sigh.
Just wait a little longer!
If Ke’er could achieve good results and add a feather to his cap, then when it ca to finding a wife for him, they would have a choice not only from ordinary official families but perhaps also from those prestigious and historical families with hundreds of years of history.
Of course, this would also depend on Ke’er’s own opinion.
As she pondered on Ke’er’s marriage, Su Pan’er’s thoughts shifted to Qin Shuan’er who was actively looking at potential suitors, and to Jun Ruoxue’s situation, causing her to suppress her smile.
Upon returning to the palace, just as Su Pan’er had expected, Qin Yi hadn’t co back and stayed in the Purple Zen Hall instead.
She summoned Qingwen to inquire, "Have you heard anything about what His Majesty thinks regarding Princess Consort Huainan’s and Prince Huainan’s position?"
Prince Huainan was actually the title that Qin Zitong had given to Qin Hong in the beginning.
When Qin Yi ascended to the throne, Qin Hong refused to submit to Qin Yi but then threatened that he would only make a decision after seeing Su Pan’er. During that eting with Qin Hong in the palace, he eventually pledged allegiance to Qin Yi but was exempted from all tribute, and his fiefdom remained at his original Huainan Prefecture. Hence, his original title of Prince Huainan was not revoked.
"Your servant hears nothing about it, Empress," replied Qingwen, feeling sowhat uneasy.
After all, in the past, snooping for information was usually a job handed to Jiu Lan by Su Pan’er.
Strictly speaking, it was Qingwen and Aunt Zhou—now Nanny Zhou—who had always served by Su Pan’er’s side. Jiu Lan ca to serve her after she beca the Empress, sent by Qin Yi. However, Jiu Lan knew martial arts and was savvy and often knew exactly what Su Pan’er needed with just a glance, which made Su Pan’er find her quite handy to have around.
The fact that Qingwen didn’t know suggested that the matter had not yet been decided. Otherwise, such a big affair would have probably spread all over Shengjing by now, becoming common knowledge among passersby.
"Hmm, you may go. Rember to stay alert and report imdiately if you hear anything."
"Yes, Empress. Your servant understands," Qingwen obediently responded.
Su Pan’er, feeling tired, went back to her room for a deep sleep.
Upon waking, she rembered the mischievous rascal pig, crested myna Luo Luo, and the puppy. She ordered people to search for them. However, despite searching everywhere, the palace staff could not find them.
"Is there really not a single clue?" Su Pan’er was skeptical; could the trio really have disappeared into thin air?
Sothing occurred to her suddenly, "Send soone to the Imperial Kitchen to check if so food has gone missing recently. Report back to once you have the details."
Eunuch Xiao Ma, responsible for the investigation, swiftly headed to the Imperial Kitchen and soon returned to report that indeed, quite a bit of food had gone missing in recent days. Strangely, it was often the case that food which had just been prepared would unexpectedly disappear. Because the incident was so startling, the Imperial Kitchen’s staff kept it tightly under wraps, not daring to leak the slightest bit of information.
Su Pan’er, however, smiled.
It seed she knew where the trio was hiding!
Inside the silverware warehouse at the Imperial Kitchen.
The rascal pig was sprawled out on one’s back in an exceptionally beautifully crafted tray, sound asleep and showing no sign of waking.
The exquisite tray wasn’t large, accommodating the rascal pig’s round and plump body, yet still leaving most of the space empty, as if it were a dish that had just been prepared, awaiting a servant girl to serve it for a fine al.
Ever since causing trouble last ti, in order to avoid punishnt, the rascal pig simply took a dog with it, and after so thought, also conveniently took along the crested myna Luo luo.
But in just a short period, Luo luo seed to have transford into a different bird, no longer the crested myna from before, instead remaining silent and listless in one corner of the cage, hardly daring to make a sound. anwhile, the dog lay hidden behind the door to the silverware warehouse, occasionally widening its eyes to peer outside. If you didn’t look carefully, you wouldn’t even notice an extra dog there.
These days, the three of them had been hiding out here.
However, from their various postures, it was clear that the most comfortable one among them was none other than the rascal pig!
But today, this comfort would soon be shattered.
The rascal pig that had been sleeping soundly suddenly twitched its nose, struggling to blink its eyes open.
This motion didn’t wake Luo luo but instead made the dog by the door look over in confusion before turning its head back to continue watching the door.
A faint noise ca from outside the door, and the rascal pig’s eyes suddenly shot open, quickly rolling over and scrambling up, startling both the dog and the bird!
The crested myna Luo luo opened its beak to speak but was imdiately silenced by a glance from the rascal pig and hurriedly clamped its beak shut.
The next mont, the rascal pig had already jumped down from the pile of high trays and hurried towards the door, the dog following eagerly, not caring about the left-behind Luo luo.
The thing that Luo luo feared had finally left!
Luo luo eagerly flapped its wings a few tis, trying to fly, but dejectedly realized that it couldn’t escape the cage and imdiately began to frantically dash about inside, pecking at the cage in frustration.
Upon leaving the room, the rascal pig headed straight for the source of the aroma that had awakened it from its slumber.
"Empress Mother, do you think... it will co?"
Little Yanyan’s eyes were wide with hope, staring intently at Su Pan’er’s every move, wishing she could rush up and lend a hand.
Of course, she could only wish to do so and dared not act upon it.
With one hand quickly fanning and the other cheerfully turning the whole roast lamb in her hands, Su Pan’er was brimming with confidence, "Rest assured! That rascal pig is greedy, it won’t wait too long."
For the rascal pig, eating was the primary concern!
Especially when faced with its favorite whole roast lamb, it had absolutely no resistance!
She didn’t believe for a second that the rascal pig wouldn’t co out on its own.
And indeed, the rascal pig did co out! Seeing the empty square in the Imperial Garden and the fire burning there, and especially the golden-yellow whole roast lamb that was being roasted, it couldn’t help but open its mouth wide, oblivious even to the saliva dribbling down from the corner of its mouth.
In its eyes, there was only the roast lamb, crispy on the outside and tender inside, the aroma spreading for miles. It automatically ignored everyone else, including Su Pan’er and Little Yanyan in front of the roasting spit!
Su Pan’er sneered inwardly!
She wasn’t the least bit afraid of the rascal pig spotting her; this was an open conspiracy!
The delicious al was out in the open; whether it took the bait was entirely up to it!
Consider that she, the Empress of a nation, personally roasted a whole lamb for it. This honor was unparalleled under the heavens!
Alas, how could the greedy, gluttonous, and lustful rascal pig resist the temptation of its favorite whole roast lamb?
By the ti Su Pan’er took the roasted lamb off the spit, her vision blurred, and suddenly there appeared in front of her a drooling pig!
Reviews
All reviews (0)