“Guoguo, I want that one,” a small, tender child’s voice rang out.
“This one?” another young voice replied.
“No, the inner one,” the first voice said again.
“Third Brother, let me help!” yet another voice joined in.
“Is it this one?”
“Yes, yes, the blue flower! Thank you, Er Guoguo.”
Shen Jingyi was resting in the pavilion when these voices suddenly reached her ears. A smile curved her lips—she wasn’t annoyed by their intrusion; rather, she felt delighted.
With a gentle smile, she softly said, “Madam, go invite these little ones over.”
“Yes, Consort,” the maid replied promptly and left.
Before long, the maid returned with three children, while the attendants who usually accompanied them were left outside the pavilion.
Xiao Zimo held Xiao Tingting’s hand. Compared to Xiao Zimo’s chubby, fair, and adorable little face, the other boy’s features were more delicate, slightly taller than Xiao Zimo, with clear and bright eyes that shone with intelligence.
“Zimo, greetings to Stepmother Consort.”
“Zi’an, greetings to Stepmother Consort.”
Shen Jingyi examined the two bowing children and thought to herself, So this is the Second Young Master. Prince Xuan’s genes really are remarkable—each child is so pure and adorable.
Xiao Tingting, being the youngest, didn’t know what to do. She glanced at her two older brothers, then turned to Shen Jingyi with an innocent, blank look. Shen Jingyi found it utterly endearing.
“Come on, get up. Aren’t you having lessons today?” Shen Jingyi asked gently.
Xiao Zimo replied, “Our teacher had matters to attend to today, so he let us leave class early.”
“I see… then you can have a proper break today.”
“Come over and sit here with Stepmother Consort. Try some of the pastries I brought today,” she encouraged.
The two brothers exchanged glances. Xiao Zimo led the way and sat down, having already interacted with Shen Consort before and finding her very kind.
He even smacked his lips, remembering how delicious her slush had been.
Seeing Xiao Zimo sit, Xiao Zi’an had no choice but to sit beside him.
“Tingting, come to Stepmother Consort for a hug.”
Shen Jingyi smiled at Xiao Tingting, unsure if the little girl would come.
But having been saved by Shen Jingyi when she was bitten by a snake, the girl remembered and obediently walked over.
Shen Jingyi happily lifted her into her arms and gave her a soft, pink peach blossom cake.
Tingting stared at the flower-shaped cake, her big eyes sparkling.
She carefully took a bite. “Wow, this is so tasty! Tingting’s never had this before!”
“Guoguo, you try it, you try it!” The little girl didn’t forget to share with her older brother, pointing at the plate of pastries.
Hehe, Shen Jingyi chuckled. “Alright, this one is a rose cake, this is a jasmine pastry, Tingting’s is a peach blossom cake. There’s also crystal osmanthus cake, egg yolk pastry, and lily-and-white-fungus lotus soup. Take whichever you like.”
She smiled as she introduced the treats.
Xiao Zimo looked at the flower-shaped pastries in amazement. “Wow, are these all made to look like flowers? They’re so beautiful!”
The children hesitated, unsure where to start with all the delightful, flower-themed pastries.
“Go ahead, try them,” Shen Jingyi encouraged, satisfied to see their curiosity. After all, food is meant to be shared.
At first, the two boys were shy and reserved, but after tasting a small piece, they threw caution to the wind and fully enjoyed the treats.
Finally, Shen Jingyi, worried they might overeat, gently stopped them.
Afterward, each of them had a small bowl of lily-and-white-fungus lotus soup before reluctantly looking away.
Once she finished feeding Xiao Tingting her last bite, Shen Jingyi asked with a smile, “So, do you like it?”
“Yes! I really like it!”
“Yes, it’s so delicious.”
Even Xiao Tingting patted her little tummy and said, “I’m full.”
“Then Stepmother Consort will rub your tummy,” Shen Jingyi said gently, worried she’d eaten too much.
As she rubbed Xiao Tingting’s tummy, Shen Jingyi softly said, “Next time you want some, come find me.”
Xiao Zimo’s eyes lit up. “Stepmother Consort, I still want the fruit slush I had last time.”
“Slush…” Xiao Tingting nodded in agreement.
Even Xiao Zi’an’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.
“Hehe, alright, I’ll make some for you,” Shen Jingyi said. It seemed Xiao Zimo had been talking up the slush after tasting it last time.
Suddenly, she had an idea. “Do you all have anything to do later?”
The three shook their heads.
“No? Then let’s fly kites.”
Xiao Zi’an’s eyes brightened, then he sighed, disappointed. “But we don’t have kites.”
Shen Jingyi laughed, “I do! I even made them myself.”
Xiao Zimo’s face lit up in surprise. “Wow, Stepmother Consort, you can make kites too?”
Little Xiao Tingting, in Shen Jingyi’s arms, blinked her big, lively eyes, tilting her head. She didn’t know what a kite was, but seeing her brothers so happy, she clapped and cheered along, “Kite, kite!”
Seeing the children so excited, Shen Jingyi’s face reflected her own joy.
She turned to the pavilion’s exterior. “Qiukui, Dongxue, quickly fetch the kites I made.”
The two girls obeyed, quickly leaving, their hurried footsteps echoing behind them.
Watching them leave, Shen Jingyi suddenly had a new idea.
She smiled at Xiao Zimo and Xiao Zi’an. “Fetching the kites will take a bit. How about we play a little game in the meantime?”
“Sure! Sure!” they answered in unison.
“This game is… I’ll describe something, and you guess what it is. Whoever guesses correctly will get a reward!” Shen Jingyi teased, deliberately keeping it mysterious.
Xiao Zi’an couldn’t wait. “Can I know what the reward is first?”
Shen Jingyi grinned mischievously. “Then what do you want?”
Without hesitation, Xiao Zi’an said, “Rose cake!”
One of the attendants outside, following the Second Young Master, wanted to hide his face in embarrassment. How could their young master be such a foodie?
But Xiao Zi’an added quickly, “I want to share it with my mother too.”
He raised his head and peeked at Shen Jingyi carefully, as if worried she might be displeased.
Shen Jingyi, however, thought nothing of it, and admired his filial heart.
“Good child. I’ll have someone pack it for you to take home.”
Then she turned to Xiao Zimo. “Zimo, what would you like? I’ll bring some back for you too.”
Surprised, Xiao Zimo said, “I get some too? Then I want an egg yolk pastry.”
“Alright, I’ll bring you an egg yolk pastry.”
Shen Jingyi then gently tapped Xiao Tingting’s little nose. “And what about you, Tingting? What do you like?”
Tingting blinked her big watery eyes and pointed at the peach blossom cake on the table, happily saying, “Flower, flower.”
Haha, the little girl probably didn’t remember the name, only that it had flowers.
Shen Jingyi laughed and kissed Tingting’s chubby cheek. “Alright, we’ll get Tingting a peach blossom cake too.”
The girl’s laughter rang out like silver bells in delight.
Shen Jingyi then turned to Qiu Ju. “Qiu Ju, personally arrange for lunch to be served here as well.”
Qiu Ju understood immediately. Everything delivered must be handled carefully, so she would keep an eye on it.
“Yes, Consort, I’ll do it right away.”
Shen Jingyi looked at the three little ones and asked, “Will you be having lunch here with me later?”
“Yes!”
Xiao Zimo and Xiao Zi’an said in unison.
They wanted to try Shen Consort’s pastries and food, and Xiao Tingting nodded along in Shen Jingyi’s arms.
Shen Jingyi gently patted Tingting’s cute little head, then instructed Madam Qin, “Tell their attendants that they won’t be returning for lunch.”
Seeing her mistress’s relaxed smile, Madam Qin nodded and left.