"Little Aunt, I can get off the carriage by myself. You don't need to carry me. Just carry my sisters."
Huangfu Xuan waved his small hand, refusing Huangfu Yue's kind offer, and stepped out of the carriage, jumping off from the other side.
He had wanted to get off the carriage and stretch his limbs earlier. Sitting in the carriage for so long without being able to move around had almost driven him crazy.
However, his great-grandmother and fourth aunt were still in the carriage. He had to be polite and follow the rules, not getting off before them. So, he had been holding back.
Now that his great-grandmother and fourth aunt had both alighted, he no longer had to wait or restrain himself.
Seeing his nephew happily jumping off the carriage, performing a couple of punches, and looking ecstatic, Huangfu Yue curved her lips. She turned to look back into the carriage and extended her hands to her three nieces...
"Come, Little Aunt will carry you off the carriage."
Huangfu Jing and her two sisters nodded together, thanked Huangfu Yue, and lined up by the carriage, allowing Huangfu Yue to carry them down.
"County Princess, it's already noon. It's time for lunch. Please take out the cooking supplies, and I'll bring the kitchen staff to prepare the meal."
Xu Chuniang, who was in charge of the kitchen, approached Huangfu Yue, bowed respectfully, and said.
Huangfu Yue nodded and immediately had the space send out a pile of cooking utensils, as well as firewood, rice, vegetables, seasonings, and a stack of bowls and chopsticks.
"So many dishes! There's chicken, duck, and fish, and so many vegetables!" Xu Chuniang was delighted at the sight of the large pile of ingredients.
She had been a little worried about how the dishes would be prepared. If the County Princess couldn't produce any ingredients, would the kitchen staff have to search nearby for game and wild vegetables?
"With this many dishes, we can make over a dozen dishes!" Zhu Jiayi said from the side.
"We can. With this many dishes, it's not a problem to make over a dozen, or even twenty. Whatever dishes the masters wish to eat, please just say the word, and I'll have the kitchen staff prepare them." Xu Chuniang nodded.
"I want to eat Sweet and Sour Yellow River Carp," Xu Yuqing declared first. Seeing the fish, she had always loved eating fish.
"I want to eat Konjac Braised Duck." Zhong Liangshu, seeing that Huangfu Yue had not only brought out duck but also a block of konjac tofu, was reminded of the konjac braised duck she had eaten not long ago and suddenly craved it.
Zhu Jiayi, seeing that her sisters-in-law had all chosen dishes, also voiced her preference.
"Fourth Sister-in-law, what do you want to eat?" Huangfu Yue looked at Yang Wanqian.
"I don't have anything particular I want to eat." Yang Wanqian shook her head. She couldn't think of anything she craved at that moment.
"Grandmother, how about you?" Huangfu Yue's gaze landed on Imperial Concubine Zheng.
"I can't think of anything I want to eat right now either. Why don't you think of something you'd like, and I'll eat with you," Imperial Concubine Zheng said with a gentle smile.
Huangfu Yue thought for a moment and said, "I want to eat Sichuan Peppercorn Chicken."
"I want to eat Roast Goose!" Huangfu Xuan called out, raising his hand.
Everyone's attention turned to Huangfu Xuan. Zhu Jiayi smiled, "My dear child, how can you still not forget your roast goose and still be thinking of eating it!"
"I'll get your roast goose for you right away and have the kitchen warm it up for you to eat during the meal," Huangfu Yue said, reaching out to pat her nephew's head.
"Thank you, Little Aunt," Huangfu Xuan beamed, looking exceptionally happy.
"Jing'er also has something she wants to eat. Jing'er wants to eat Seven Star Dumplings," Huangfu Jing called out, raising her small hand.
"Ying'er wants to eat Cold Slices."
"Ling'er wants to eat Stir-fried Three Delicacies."
Huangfu Ying and Huangfu Ling also raised their hands and called out their requests.
"I have noted down all the dishes the masters wish to eat. I will go and prepare them now," Xu Chuniang said. After bowing to the masters, she beckoned the kitchen staff to collect the pile of items Huangfu Yue had produced, start the fires, and prepare the food and dishes... m..oΓg
"County Princess, are you tired? Would you like me to help you rub your shoulders or legs?" Ying'er stepped forward, bowed respectfully to Huangfu Yue, and asked when she saw that Huangfu Yue was alone.
Huangfu Yue shook her head, "No, I'm not tired."
"Then, County Princess, is there anything you need me to do?" Ying'er asked.
Huangfu Yue shook her head again and smiled, "No. Go and rest. I'll call you if I need you to do anything."
Ying'er nodded but did not find a place to sit and rest. Instead, she went to help the kitchen staff. Huangfu Yue watched this and smiled again.
What a diligent girl! This girl is truly excellent!
"County Princess, I have something to tell you." Feng Maoyuan approached Huangfu Yue, bowed, and said to her in a low voice.
"What is it?" Huangfu Yue asked, somewhat curious about what he wanted to say.
Feng Maoyuan did not speak immediately but glanced at Xu Yuqing, Zhong Liangshu, and the others with a hint of curiosity.
Huangfu Yue, being sharp, understood from Feng Maoyuan's gaze that his matter was related to her sisters-in-law and was not convenient for them to overhear.
"Master Feng, why don't you accompany me for a stroll nearby to survey the terrain?" Huangfu Yue suddenly suggested.
Feng Maoyuan immediately agreed, thinking that the County Princess was truly intelligent.
With just a glance, she understood that it was not convenient for him to speak in front of her sisters-in-law and immediately concocted a reason to take him away, making it easier for him to speak.
"You all be alert and protect the people of the Prince's estate," Feng Maoyuan instructed his subordinates before leaving with Huangfu Yue.
Lu Danian and the others immediately agreed. Feng Maoyuan then left with Huangfu Yue with peace of mind...
Huangfu Yue led Feng Maoyuan not far away, maintaining a distance from the Prince's estate personnel. Once she was sure that the Prince's estate people could not overhear their conversation, she stopped.
"What did Master Feng want to tell me earlier?" Huangfu Yue asked.
"I wanted to talk about the matter of the ladies of your estate. They are walking too slowly. If they continue to walk this slowly this afternoon, it will be troublesome. We won't be able to reach Midian Town before dark.
If we cannot reach Midian Town before dark, we will have to camp in the wilderness tonight. It will be very troublesome for so many people to camp in the wilderness, and camping outdoors can be suddenly dangerous," Feng Maoyuan explained.
They had only covered a short distance that entire morning, all because the madams of the Prince Dai's estate were walking too slowly, and the second young madam kept needing to rest, so everyone had to accommodate them.
Due to their status, he couldn't urge them.
However, if they continued like this in the afternoon, they wouldn't reach Midian Town and would have to camp in the wilderness. Thus, he had to inform Huangfu Yue, hoping she would ask her sisters-in-law to speed up in the afternoon.
Huangfu Yue was not foolish. Upon hearing Feng Maoyuan's words, she understood that he wanted her to ask her sisters-in-law to walk faster in the afternoon. Without him needing to state it explicitly, she nodded gently.
"I understand. I will handle it. I will definitely ensure we reach Midian Town before dark," Huangfu Yue declared.
Hearing her words, Feng Maoyuan felt relieved.
"There's something!" Huangfu Yue suddenly saw the grass beside them move and immediately narrowed her eyes and exclaimed.
"What is it?" Feng Maoyuan stepped forward, intending to part the grass to look. Suddenly, a huge figure shot out from the grass and lunged at Feng Maoyuan.
Huangfu Yue's gaze flashed, and she quickly shouted, "Be careful."