C135

"Madam Shen, these are grass shoes Xiao Chong and I made. Since you treat us so well, we have nothing to repay you with. We'll just give you these two pairs of grass shoes." Grandma Zhang placed the grass shoes into Shen Zhu's hands.

"Granny, it's not easy for you to make these sandals. How can you give them to me for free …." Just as Shen Zhu wanted to politely reject her, Grandma Zhang smiled and said her piece.

"These sandals aren't worth much money, and I don't have anything I can take out either. The only thing I can take out is the craftsmanship that has accompanied me for decades. Lady Shen, if you don't mind, please accept it."

"Then, I'll have to thank Grandma." Hearing Grandma Zhang's words, Shen Zhu could only accept the grass shoes.

To her, these two pairs of grass shoes were not worth much, but to the two of them, if they sold one more pair, they would be able to eat a few more meals. Grandma Zhang was blind, so weaving a pair of grass shoes would definitely be very arduous, and she could not bear to accept this gift.

It was just that since Grandma Zhang had already said this much, it wasn't good for her to decline.

"Xiao Chong, escort Madam Shen out." Seeing Shen Zhu accept the items, Grandma Zhang immediately laughed in satisfaction, and called for Xiao Chong to personally send him out of the alley.

"Alright, Xiao Chong, you should quickly return." Shen Zhu could not force him, she could only let him send her out, and then urge him to go back immediately. Grandma Zhang being alone at home, it made people uneasy when no one was looking.

"Goodbye Big Sister Shen. I'll go back first." Xiao Chong smiled and nodded, then waved goodbye to Shen Zhu and quickly ran back.

Shen Zhu thought as he walked: This grandfather and grandson are too pitiful, I have to think of a way to help them.

Beijing-Zhongzhong

When Noble Consort Su returned to the palace, it was just at the beginning of the time, and the morning assembly had just ended.

When Ming Jiling heard that the Noble Consort Su had returned to the palace, he went to her hall to pay his respects in a hurry.

"This son pays respects to Consort Mother." Ming Jiling saluted the Noble Consort Su who was sitting upright on the bed.

"Ling'er is here, quickly come and sit at Consort Mother's place." Noble Consort Su smiled and waved, pulling Ming Jiling to sit beside him.

"Yes, Consort Mother."

"Alright, you can all go now." Noble Consort Su swept a glance at the servants in the palace and waved his hand for everyone to leave.

"Consort Mother, I have already found evidence for what happened that year. The official who committed the crime was demoted, and the documents have been approved. Most of the members of the Crown Prince's party are not allowed to enter the court."

"That's good." When Noble Consort Su heard this, he was also overjoyed. He slightly nodded and said: "These few days, I have already seen Wen'er in Clear Water Town, and also saw his wife. That young lady is not a bad person, and she is also very compatible with Wen'er."

Ming Jiling's expression became happy after hearing that, and laughed: "To be able to get such praise from Consort Mother, this sister-in-law must have something special."

Ming Jiling had grown up beside Noble Consort Su and understood her personality the most. She rarely praised others and once she praised him, he would definitely be a good person.

"That girl called Shen Zhu was born with such exquisite features, she does not seem like a person from the countryside. She is intelligent and not lacking in manners, her cooking skills are even more outstanding, upon returning to the palace I actually missed her cooking skills." Noble Consort Su thought for a moment, then laughed.

"The palace's chefs are the best chefs in the world. Is this sister-in-law's cooking really that good?" Ming Jiling was slightly surprised.

"Not bad, her cooking skills are truly excellent, and the dishes she makes are also very novel." The Noble Consort Su laughed and then started to talk about Su Zongwen. Seeing that she was so happy, Ming Jiling stayed in the hall to accompany her for a while.

Seeing that it was getting late and Ming Jiling still had many matters to attend to, he got up and took his leave.

"I still have important matters to attend to, so I will not stay in the palace today. I will come again tomorrow to visit Consort Mother."

"Go back to work. Pay more attention to your body. Don't tire yourself out." Noble Consort Su nodded and sent them away.

"Thank you for mother's concern, your son will take note." Ming Jiling replied, then bowed and said: "This son will take his leave."

"We respectfully send you off, Prince Su." At the door, Gong'e bowed in unison.

The Imperial Consort Hall once again quieted down. Xiao Ya walked in with pastries and fruits. She placed them on the table beside the bed and poured Noble Consort Su a cup of hot tea.

"Xiao Ya, in a while, go and get some brocade silk. I will choose two of them to make two sets of clothes for Wen'er and the others." Noble Consort Su took a sip of tea and turned to look at Xiao Ya as he instructed.

"Yes, this servant will go now." Xiao Ya responded before turning around and leaving the inner hall.

Noble Consort Su sat on the bed for a while, then he stood up and walked over to the dressing table. He bent over and picked up a wooden cabinet, and opened it.

In these past few years, even though Su Zongwen had not been by her side, she had always made him a new set of clothes for his birthday.

Her slender white fingers caressed the precious folded clothes, Noble Consort Su's mind suddenly filled with countless thoughts.

Zhuang Zhong

As the summer approached, Shen Zhu prepared a lot of new pastries, the majority of them were cool and refreshing. As soon as Yuzhu Pavilion released them, they became very popular, and from the looks of the profits from this period of time, Yuzhu Pavilion had started to get on the right track.

That morning, the clouds in the sky covered the sun, making it feel much cooler.

Zi Yi and Jingshu went back to Ming Yuchen's courtyard to play. Seeing that the weather was good, Shen Zhu brought Ruanruan on a trip.

As it was still early, Yuzhu Pavilion did not have many guests, so before Shen Zhu could carry him to the door, he was spotted from afar and was immediately welcomed by Su Yian.

"Sister-in-law, why did you bring Ruanruan here on such a hot day?" Su Yian hurriedly said as he looked at the tender Ruanruan in Shen Zhu's arms.

"It's healthier to bask in the sun." Shen Zhu smiled and teased Ruanruan as he followed Su Yian into the shop.

"Sister-in-law, you're here."

Seeing Shen Zhu, Su Yunyan immediately rushed over, and laughed as he took Ruanruan from her embrace: "You must be tired from carrying me all the way, I'll carry Ruanruan for you."

"How's the business in the restaurant today?" Shen Zhu let Su Yunyan carry him and asked with a smile.

"Today's business is not bad. However, the sun is getting bigger and there are less people on the road. When the afternoon cools down, the remaining pastries in the restaurant should be sold out soon." Hearing Shen Zhu's question, Su Yixuan immediately explained the situation to her.

"It's fine if you sell it earlier, you can go back earlier." Shen Zhu smiled and nodded.

Currently, all of Yuzhu Pavilion's pastries were sold on the most fresh date. The pastries sold in the shop were all made on the previous day, and the amount of pastries sold would not be too much each day. Thus, they were almost all sold out, and only a few would remain when the shop closed.

The few of them chatted on the first floor while Su Qingyi stayed on the second floor. When he heard the commotion, he immediately ran downstairs and saw the joyous expression on Shen Zhu's face.

"Sister-in-law, you're here. Why did you bring Ruanruan over? "The sun is so high outside …" When Su Qingyi saw the smiling Ruanruan, he immediately went over to tease her.

"I held up my umbrella, but I couldn't get her to bask in the sun. Furthermore, the sun was covered by clouds when I came out, so it can't be considered hot." Shen Zhu explained with a smile.

Ruanruan was full of energy outside, but the child was fast asleep, so Shen Zhu took his leave with Ruanruan.

Noon, after the family finished their lunch, Shen Zhu who was lying on his bed and taking an afternoon nap remembered that when he went to Yuzhu Pavilion today, he always felt like he was missing something …

With something on his mind, after Shen Zhu got up from his afternoon nap, he specially called Ah Qiu over to help him look after the child while he went to the Hundred Fragrance House.

The moment she entered the Hundred Fragrance House, the Manager Song came over, "Lady Shen, you came a little early today."

Shen Zhu's eyes lit up when she saw him, and she immediately knew what Yuzhu Pavilion lacked!

"I also want to talk to Zhou Dong Clan today. Manager Song, did you prepare all the materials that I asked for a few days ago?"

"Oh, it just so happens that our boss is here today."

Now that the weather was hot, Shen Zhu made the Manager Song prepare mung beans.