Chapter 386 - 365: First Update
The next morning, after several busy days, Prince Duan finally had time to dine with his daughter. A crowd of maids and old women filled half the room.
Prince Duan glanced around. Apart from Nanny Yun, Fu Dong, and Xue Liu standing behind Nian Ru, whom he recognized, the others were all brought in by Housekeeper He more recently.
In all fairness, given Nian Ru’s status, it wouldn’t be fitting if she didn’t have a dozen or so maids and old women around her. It was his oversight for not thinking about this matter earlier. Those who were temporarily recruited by Housekeeper He and placed around Nian Ru only in recent days, however, left him somewhat uneasy.
"Nian Ru, the cook in your courtyard is quite good," Prince Duan said after tasting a small soup dumpling, which was beautifully juicy and perfectly warm, prompting him to unwittingly praise the flavor.
"If Father likes it, from now on he can be responsible for all the morning meals," Zheng Nianru suggested. The cook was good; she had always kept him, even bringing him into the palace in her previous life.
Zheng Nianru knew that among the new female servants were people from Zheng Congyuan. She didn’t need to guess to know that the sea cucumber in the dumplings had been replaced with three or four dozen pieces per dumpling—it was something Prince Duan wouldn’t think of, so it must have been the work of someone newly arrived from Congyuan’s side.
When Congyuan did these things, he never concealed them from her, and perhaps even intentionally let her know to set her mind at ease.
Zheng Nianru thought about it. Indeed, it had been a long time since Congyuan had visited. Not that she felt he should have come, but Congyuan was not the type to stay away just to avoid suspicion, so there must have been some urgent matter keeping him.
In the silence, Zheng Nianru gently stirred her sweet rice porridge with a silver spoon. What significant matter could there be now?
Such matters, Congyuan would not discuss in her presence. She never liked hearing about them, yet her memory held no record of any major issues at this time.
"Prince, a man claiming to be the owner of the Famous Collectibles Shop has come to seek an audience with you," a house servant entered and reported softly.