For her grandmother’s birthday, Jiang Yueli had originally selected many gifts. However, after choosing and rejecting them repeatedly, none of them satisfied her.
Although the General’s Residence could not be called extraordinarily wealthy, it certainly never lacked fine things. Yet none of those items could truly express her feelings.
After thinking about it for a long time, Jiang Yueli decided to make a cake herself and give it to her grandmother. It would both show her sincerity and allow her grandmother to taste her cooking.
Unfortunately, in her previous life she had only studied such things in theory. Although she knew the process of making a cake, this was her first time actually trying it herself.
Just whipping the cream alone had already caused her great trouble.
Since there was no ready-made full-fat milk, she had to begin by separating animal cream herself. After working all morning—and with three people helping her—she finally managed to complete it.
“Ali, come look! Is this baked yet? I can smell it already. It smells so good!”
Jiang Yuebo stood beside the simple oven, constantly taking deep breaths. The fragrance was simply too tempting.
Gu Huaichao also eagerly showed the cream he had whipped. It looked white, fragrant, and very appealing.
“Ali, is it supposed to look like this?”
If it wasn’t done yet, his arm might fall off. He had been whipping in the same direction for nearly half an incense stick’s time, and his hand was about to cramp.
Meanwhile, the pastry chef announced that the coloring ingredients she had requested were ready.
Jiang Yueli dipped a finger into the cream and examined it.
Yes, it was ready.
The cake base had also finished baking. Now it was her time to shine.
Gu Huaichao and Jiang Yuebo stretched their necks, watching Jiang Yueli busily assemble the strange dessert she called “cake.” Both of them were already eager to taste it.
At first, Gu Huaichao was watching the cake carefully. But gradually, his gaze drifted toward Jiang Yueli’s beautiful side profile.
The girl had been adorable since childhood, like a delicate jade doll. In the past, he had simply treated her as a younger sister and fulfilled whatever she asked.
But at some point, he realized the way he looked at her had changed.
Her eyebrows were shaped like crescent moons, and her lively eyes seemed to hold the stars of the night sky, bright and dazzling.
Her delicate nose was charming, and her face resembled a blooming lotus, naturally flawless.
Just one glance was enough to make it impossible for him to look away.
Especially her figure—her slender waist seemed as though it could be held in one hand, and every step she took was graceful like a lotus blooming beneath her feet.
She looked like a fairy who had descended into the mortal world.
He wondered which lucky brat would marry her someday.
Thinking about that, Gu Huaichao couldn’t help but think of Fu Qingchen.
As he grew older, Fu Qingchen had become increasingly calm and aloof. Combined with his outstanding appearance and extraordinary talent, he had already become the ideal son-in-law in the eyes of many noble ladies in the capital.
However, his personality was far too cold and distant. He rarely associated closely with anyone, so there had been no rumors of him being interested in any young lady.
The only exception was Jiang Yueli.
The two of them were often inseparable, and Fu Qingchen cared for her no less than he or Jiang Yuebo did.
In the past, Gu Huaichao might have thought Fu Qingchen simply treated her like a younger sister. After all, the Prime Minister’s residence and the General’s residence had always maintained a good relationship.
But now, he suspected Fu Qingchen had long harbored other intentions.
“Alright, Brother, go get the box.”
Gu Huaichao snapped out of his thoughts.
When he looked again, the cake was already finished.
It was shaped like a large longevity peach.
He hadn’t even noticed how Jiang Yueli had made it so quickly.
The peach looked incredibly lifelike, and beneath it she had piped two green leaves using cream.
Jiang Yuebo secretly grabbed a small piece of the cake scraps Jiang Yueli had trimmed off.
The moment it entered his mouth, the aroma spread through his senses.
Sweet, soft, and incredibly delicious.
While fetching the box, he couldn’t stop praising her.
“Ali, this is unbelievably good!”
“Really? Let me try some too.”
Gu Huaichao quickly grabbed a piece and took a bite.
“…Delicious.”
He only said two words before devouring the remaining scraps in a flash.
Jiang Yuebo stared at him.
Impressive, you brat.
Jiang Yueli packed the cake carefully into a box and glanced at the sky.
It was already nearing the end of the Si hour. The guests would soon arrive, and she needed to hurry back.
“Brother, we have to go back quickly. Gu Huaichao, we’ll wait for you at home.”
After saying that, she picked up the cake box and hurried off. Jiang Yuebo followed immediately.
Gu Huaichao, however, went back to his own residence first. He still needed to pick up his sister and bring the birthday gift.
Although the Zhenyuan General’s Residence held a respected position in the capital, it was still lower in rank compared to the Prince Jing’an’s residence.
Therefore, if Prince Jing’an’s residence merely sent a birthday gift for the Old Madam, it would already be considered a great honor.
The reason Gu Huaichao and his sister Gu Xiangling were attending in person was simply because they were close friends with the Jiang siblings.
When Jiang Yueli returned, the residence was already bustling with activity.
Her grandmother, her eldest uncle Jiang Shichang, her eldest aunt Madam Hu, and her mother Shen Nanzhi were all in the main hall welcoming guests.
From time to time, the guards at the gate announced arrivals loudly.
“Minister Li of the Ministry of Revenue has arrived!”
“Minister Wu of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices has arrived!”
“Censor Zhang of the Censorate has arrived!”
Jiang Yueli handed the cake to Xianglan and immediately went to find her two older cousins.
Her uncle’s two sons were several years older than her.
The eldest cousin, Jiang Heng, had a calm personality very similar to his father’s. At eighteen years old, he had already reached the age for marriage negotiations. Madam Hu had recently been busy searching for a suitable bride for him.
The second cousin, Jiang Che, was different. Although he was not as studious as his older brother, he was also pursuing an official career.
Perhaps within two years, the General’s Residence would produce two more top scholars.
“Eldest Brother, Second Brother, has Grandmother or Uncle received any news from Father? Will Father not be able to return today?”
Jiang Yueli thought perhaps he had simply been delayed on the road. Maybe he would return in a few days.
Jiang Heng shook his head.
“Father sent people to wait outside the city early this morning, but there has been no message. I did hear that the palace received an urgent report from the frontier, but no one knows the details yet.”
“Second Uncle is probably already on the way back. Don’t worry,” Jiang Che said, stepping forward to comfort her.
Jiang Yueli nodded, though she still felt uneasy.
“Alright. When Brother Qingchen arrives, I’ll ask him.”
After all, as the prime minister’s son, Fu Qingchen might know more.
Jiang Heng nodded, but before he could say anything else, the Old Madam was already calling Jiang Yueli over.
It seemed she intended to introduce several noble ladies of the capital to her.
Jiang Yueli responded and hurried over, though her thoughts were far from the social formalities.
“Ali, these two are Madam Liu, wife of the Left Vice Minister, and Madam Li, wife of the Minister of Revenue. Hurry and greet them.”
The Old Madam pulled her forward with a loving smile.
Jiang Yueli obediently stepped forward and bowed gracefully.
“Yueli greets the two madams.”
The women looked at her with smiles.
“No need to be so polite. This girl has grown even more beautiful. The last time we saw you, you were only six or seven years old. Now you’ve grown into such an elegant young lady.”
Madam Liu nodded in agreement.
“Indeed. The general’s wife is truly fortunate to have raised such a fine daughter. If my own girl were even half as obedient as Ali, I would be satisfied.”
Although Shen Nanzhi knew her daughter was excellent, she still responded modestly.
“Madam, you flatter her too much. This girl is quite mischievous. She spends her days practicing swords and weapons. How could she compare to your daughter Yiyi, who is gentle and well-behaved?”