sbdcsierra Chapter 192 is a cripple
Chapter 192 is a cripple
In just over a year, Lu Yangyang has become almost a completely different person compared to when she first came from the countryside.
As the girl begins to grow up, the most obvious change is that she has grown much taller. Her originally dark and thin appearance has undergone a dramatic transformation as she matures. Her skin is fair with a rosy glow, and although she is still on the thin side, she has also developed a bit of baby fat, like a budding flower, bright and beautiful.
The only thing that hasn't changed is those eyes, as bright as stars, still so full of life.
Many things happened that year. The most important thing was that after spring, Yan Yue left the capital and went to the army in the southwest border region for training.
Lu Yangyang was busy all day long, learning many things quickly like a sponge, but she would also take some time to chat with Sheng Yunjiao and Princess Liduan about gossip, and then go out for a ride.
The Crown Prince's resolution of the Qinglian Temple incident seemed to have given the entire capital a shock, causing the previously turbulent court to fall silent for a long time. The petty actions taken against Lu Yangyang over a trivial matter were all submerged, and at least for the past year, no one has bothered Lu Yangyang again.
……
This wasn't the Princess's birthday, so she originally didn't plan to hold a big celebration. She only intended to invite a few close friends over for a get-together. However, Consort Shu received a message from the Emperor that His Highness Zongke had come of age but his marriage was still undecided, and asked Consort Shu to help him choose a spouse.
Consort Shu had been troubled for some time after taking on this task, thinking about how to find suitable noble ladies in the capital. She had been looking for an opportunity, but it just so happened that it was the Princess's birthday, so she simply came to ask the Princess to hold a grand celebration and invite the noble ladies in the capital to come and meet her.
The eldest princess couldn't refuse Consort Shu's request, so she had no choice but to agree and added dozens more invitations to the original dozen or so.
Therefore, on the day of the eldest princess's birthday, the eldest princess's residence was exceptionally lively.
Since Lu Yangyang became familiar with Princess Liduan, she often accompanied her to the Princess's residence during her rest days. Coincidentally, the Princess's birthday was also their day off, so Princess Liduan took Lu Yangyang to stay at the Princess's residence the night before.
The eldest princess was a kind elder, not serious at all, but rather like an older sister to them. In the evening, she specially brought out fruit wine brewed in the palace and led them to brew tea, drink wine, play cards, and chat. When it got late, she even squeezed in with them to sleep.
Aside from sleeping with her aunt when she was little to keep warm, this was the first time Lu Yangyang had ever slept with an elder, and she was still a little dazed when she woke up in the morning.
Li Duan, on the other hand, seemed to be used to this all along. As she fell asleep, she snuggled into the Princess's arms. The Princess simply held her in her arms like a child and waved to Lu Yangyang, who was sitting up in a daze: "Yangyang, come here quickly. It's cold. Let's sleep a little longer."
Lu Yangyang blinked, and as if possessed, leaned closer. The princess embraced her, and she fell asleep, inhaling the faint fragrance emanating from her.
When Lu Yangyang woke up again, the eldest princess had already left, but Princess Liduan was still sleeping like a little pig, her whole face flushed red from the heat of the heated floor.
Lu Yangyang reached out and nudged her: "Xiao Li, get up."
Princess Li Duan opened her eyes groggily and mumbled, "Where's my mother?"
"Your Highness should be washing up now. Aren't we entertaining guests today?" Lu Yangyang glanced at the sky; it was already quite late.
I must have drunk alcohol last night to be able to sleep so late.
"Oh right, quick, quick, I forgot I had to prepare a birthday gift for my mother. Come on, let's go together. I plan to cook her a bowl of longevity noodles myself today so she can feel my sincerity." Princess Liduan jumped out of bed and hurriedly pulled Lu Yangyang to wash up, then ran towards the small kitchen.
The head kitchen is busy preparing a banquet, so there's no time for her to practice.
Fortunately, she was prepared in advance and had all the materials prepared for her well in advance. After sending everyone else out, she only left Lu Yangyang to help.
Lu Yangyang is good at starting fires, but her cooking skills are just average. After all, when she lived in the countryside, she often went hungry, and it was good enough if she could cook things properly, let alone have any culinary skills.
So the two of them spent most of the day trying to make a bowl of longevity noodles that tasted alright, and then carefully carried it to the front hall.
The princess had just finished tidying up and had breakfast set out when she saw two people carrying bowls in. She asked in surprise, "What are you doing?"
Princess Liduan proudly placed the longevity noodles in front of the eldest princess: "Mother, I made these myself. I wish you a happy birthday, may you always be so beautiful, and may you always be with me!"
Lu Yangyang also took out the birthday gift she had prepared long ago. "Your Highness, this is a beauty cream made from a recipe I found with my master. I have tried it and it is very effective. I also wish you to always be this beautiful, and that you have many more birthdays to come!"
The princess was delighted to see the longevity noodles and beauty cream in front of her. She pulled the two people to her sides, one on each side, and said, "You two really know how to please people. This is definitely the best birthday gift I have ever received in all these years!"
Princess Li Duan proudly raised her chin: "What's so special about that, Mother? If you like it, I'll make longevity noodles for you every year on your birthday!"
Lu Yangyang chimed in, "Then I'll find an even better beauty formula to make you a beauty cream!"
The eldest princess couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Then I really must live to be a hundred years old, so as not to disappoint your kindness!"
The three of them burst into laughter.
The eldest princess tasted the longevity noodles and praised Princess Li Duan's cooking skills without reservation, making Princess Li Duan so proud that the corners of her lips almost curled up to her eyebrows.
After breakfast, the guests began to arrive one after another, and Sheng Yunjiao also came to the Princess's residence with the Second Madam. Since Madam Lan's health began to decline in the past two years, the Second Madam and several young ladies had mostly accompanied the Duke of Sheng's family when they went out for social events.
Princess Liduan met up with Lu Yangyang and Sheng Yunjiao, and then Princess Liduan pulled the two of them aside and said mysteriously, "I heard from my mother that she is holding a big birthday banquet this time because Consort Shu is coming to help the eldest prince, who is also my cousin, choose a consort."
“Your Highness?” Lu Yangyang hadn’t heard of this person since the Qinglian Temple incident. Later, His Highness the Crown Prince had someone take A Liang’s statement, but they couldn’t find anything related to His Highness. The only thing was that the owner of that house would call him over every month to deliver pills, but he had never even seen his master’s face.
Now that the topic has been brought up, Lu Yangyang couldn't help but ask curiously, "Is Consort Shu the Crown Prince's mother? I heard that the Crown Prince rarely makes public appearances. Will he be coming today?"
Princess Liduan shook her head: "Probably not. It's not that my eldest cousin doesn't want to show his face, it's just that... he has difficulty walking and is a cripple."