Chapter 997: Rule Number One for Surviving in the Palace

residence in Xin Du, the young master woke up from a hangover with yawns and dark circles under his eyes. He stumbled to the main courtyard to greet his father and mother.The Duke of Zhen Guo looked...Mu Xu poured a bowl of tea, moistened his throat, and with a playful smile, added, “Grandfather had people hawking ice blocks on the street. Business is booming!”

"A penny for a piece, almost every child on the street corner has one. Many workers and farmers who came into the city also bought them."

Everybody says our family is kindhearted. We sell this precious ice so cheaply, just to help everyone beat the heat.

Just as Jia Yin was about to reply, the third princess arrived with her maidservants, striding through the wind and rain along the corridors.

Mu Xu leaped upwards and landed on the roof beam.

Jia Yin also went out to greet him, asking, "It's so hot, how did you find your way here"

"I waited for a long time, but you didn't come over, so I came to take a look." The third princess had flushed cheeks and looked around, her eyes filled with disappointment. "Didn't you say you made ice cream"

Jia Yin laughed, she opened the small wooden box on the table.

The wooden box was lined with thick blankets, and hidden inside the blankets were two small glass bowls filled with five-colored ice cream balls. They looked delicious just by looking at them.

The Third Princess stomped her feet with joy, causing the golden phoenix crown atop her head to jingle and chime.

"What a good thing, let me have a bowl first. Oh oh, I'm so hot, if I don't eat a bowl of ice cream, I'm afraid I won't be able to walk to the Imperial Study."

Jia Yin laughed heartily and immediately took out a bowl.

The third princess let out a cheer, took the spoon from Shui Ling, and took a big bite. Then she smiled with her eyes closed.

"You don't know, ever since you made this the other day, I've been dreaming about it. Sob, sob, finally get to eat it again."

"What delicious food! Please make this for me every day from now on, otherwise I won't be able to survive this summer."

As she spoke, she lovingly fed Jiayin a bite.

Jia Yin ate it, but she didn't get her wish. Ying Dao said, "Women shouldn't eat too many cold and raw things; be careful that you end up with a stomachache and regret it later. From now on, eat one bowl every other day, no more than that."

The Third Princess knows Jia Yin's temper; she always does what she says. There's no use in acting cute.

Although this younger sister is younger than her, she never dares to put on airs as an elder sister. As for the princess's airs, who knows where they were thrown away...

"Well, one bowl a day is fine then. Tomorrow I want strawberry flavor, a big bowl!" She could only compromise.

"Sure, that's easy." Jia Yin readily agreed.

They faced each other, chatting and laughing as they ate ice cream. After a quick cleanup, they grabbed their insulated cooler and headed to the study.

Before leaving, Jia Yin glanced at the beam above and saw Mu Xu with a pitiful expression on his face, his eyes full of accusation.

Jiayin chuckled softly, her eyes discreetly sweeping over the cabinet in the corner of the room.

Seeing that no one was in the house, Mu Xu quickly jumped down from the beam and ran to open the cabinet.

There was indeed a small wooden box there, inside which was the melting ice cream, his favorite peach flavor...

In the study annex, Feng, the chief steward, had taken off his boots and was relaxing in a rocking chair. Two young eunuchs fanned him, making him quite comfortable.

Suddenly hearing that Princess Three and Jia Yin had arrived, he scrambled to his feet, even putting on his boots backward.

"Oh, Princess, Miss! It's such a hot day, how did the two of you come If you have anything, just send a message and this old servant will go over to listen to your orders!" Feng Gonggong was as flattering as ever, but his tone also had a hint of familiarity.

After all, when the palace was first closed, he lived in Zhilan Palace with these two masters for ten days, eating and drinking, gaining at least five or six pounds.

This friendship is real.

The third princess was born a noblewoman and naturally had an air of pride. Even when she tried to be polite, her tone remained stiff.

"It seems we arrived at an inconvenient time, interrupting Mr. Feng's afternoon of rest and relaxation."

"No, no! This old slave has been lazy and neglected the princess." Feng Gonggong smiled apologetically and tried to invite the two people into the room, but Jia Yin stopped him with a smile.

“Sir Feng, my wife and I were bored, so we made some ice treats to bring to Uncle Emperor to cool off. But how come there’s no one in the study Did Uncle Emperor go to the garden”

She was naturally beautiful and graceful. When she spoke and laughed, everyone who saw her felt joy in their hearts.

Elder Feng quickly replied, “The princess and the county lord are truly kind. If the Emperor knew, he would certainly be delighted.”

"Alas, Your Majesty... Well, your Majesty went to take an afternoon nap with the Noble Consort and hasn't returned yet."

The Third Princess's face immediately turned cold, just as she was about to speak, Jia Yin jumped in.

It's a pity, we walked the whole way and the ice must have melted halfway. If we send it to the Noble Consort's palace, it will probably melt completely.

"Why don't you have Feng Gonggong help us eat, we can make it for the emperor next time."

"Ah!" Feng Gonggong was overjoyed, completely flabbergasted by the favor.

As the deputy eunuch director, he was not short of ice or food and drink.

But ice cream, such a novel treat, must have been the county princess's doing. It certainly sounds delicious!

"Many thanks, Your Highness and Miss, the old servant is deeply honored!" Feng Gonggong quickly took over the wooden box.

The third princess turned and walked away, Caiyun quickly following after her, whispering words of counsel.

Jia Yin lagged two steps behind, chatting a few words with Feng Gonggong as they walked together. Then, he smiled and bid farewell before hurrying after her.

Princess Three wiped the sweat from her forehead, "I came here in the scorching sun to bring food to Father, but he ran off to see that fox spirit again! I should have known better than to come. From now on, I'm not coming back!"

Jia Yin smiled and pulled her along, taking out a mint from her small handbag and stuffing it into her mouth.

The sweet and cool taste immediately made the third princess smile.

"Oh my, what kind of candy is this It's so refreshing! Give me another one."

The third princess, disguised as a bandit, snatched Jia Yin's bag of peppermint candy and ran merrily ahead.

Jia Yin walked slowly behind, crossing over the high wall to glance at the roof of the study. Then she gently lowered her eyes, concealing all the complexities and regrets...

Feng Gong watched the princess and her entourage leave, wiping his brow and muttering under his breath, "This weather is too hot. Won't it cause a drought"

The little eunuch behind him smiled and replied, "Master Steward, whether it's drought or not, we don't care. Right now, we're just thinking about the ice treats made by the County Princess!"

"Your esteemed self, with a kind heart, would grace us by opening our eyes. The county princess is skillful and deft, every time she sends treats and food to the emperor they are simply too tempting. This time certainly won't be any different."

Feng Gonggong chuckled and scolded, a smug look on his face, as he strode towards the house.

As a result, from behind the pillars on one side of the house, a gray-clad old eunuch suddenly stepped out. With just a glance at Eunuch Feng, he shivered uncontrollably.

He hurried over, nodded and bowed as he listened to a few words, then ran back to get the wooden box and sent it over again.

The gray-robed eunuch carried the box and soon disappeared.

The young eunuchs, seeing this, were all astonished and puzzled.

When Feng Gong returned, someone couldn't help but ask, "Manager, who was that person Why did you..."

Feng Gonggong slapped the little eunuch who was speaking on the head and scolded in a low voice, “If you want to live, remember my words. You didn't see anything just now!”

The little eunuchs jumped in fright, all shrinking their necks and pretending to be mute.

The first rule for survival in the palace is: never ask anything you shouldn't.

The more you know, the quicker you die!

Two chapters uploaded today~~~ eyes!She suddenly stood up and rushed after him, bowing respectfully as she inquired tentatively, "Master Daoist, are you a celestial being who has journeyed here""Little Women is in trouble, she has...