Chapter 402: Dutiful Husband And Filial Daughter

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

The Emperor had just found an opportunity to confirm that the table they were eating at was an ordinary wooden table. Firewood definitely couldn’t be burned under the steamer, so he was really puzzled by the sudden heat. Seeing Xiao Ran say this, he didn’t suppress it anymore. He raised his hand and opened the steamer.

The large crabs that were tied up were neatly arranged in the steamer. They were hot and red, and fragrant. The Emperor pinched one without hesitation and broke it in half.

It was cooked.

The Emperor was stunned.

Xiao Ran didn’t like his method. She took crabs for Xiaoxiao, Gu Chang’an, and Rong Yan. She took her share last and peeled open the crab shell to remove the crab intestines. Just as she was about to break the crab legs, she saw a hand reach over and take her bowl.

At the same time, a bowl of peeled crab meat and crab roe appeared in front of her. Xiaoxiao sweetly took the unpeeled one. “Mother, eat!

The Emperor’s first reaction was: She peeled it so quickly?

His second reaction was a little belated—Xiao Ran was so lucky!

As Xiaoxiao had yet to finish peeling the crabs for Xiao Ran, Gu Chang’an

handed them to her. She just needed to eat them.

The Emperor didn’t care when Xiao Ran mocked him for not knowing how to peel crabs. With his status, there was no need for him to do it himself. If he had the time, he could review three, no, four memorandums!

Hence, in the past, the palace servants, such as Little Dezi, would send him crabs after they were peeled. He didn’t know how and wouldn’t care to know!

But now that he saw Xiaoxiao being filial to Xiao Ran, he suddenly felt uncomfortable.

Xiaoxiao was the most meticulous towards others, so she kicked Rong Yan under the table, indicating for him to look at his father.

Rong Yan had just been taught by Xiaoxiao to peel crabs. He was planning to show her the results and let Xiaoxiao try the ready-made crab meat.

However, Xiaoxiao asked him to give it to his father first, so what else could he do?

The Emperor’s gaze had already turned over. Rong Yan glanced at the few broken shells that had accidentally fallen into the bowl and felt that he could improve his skills. It would be bad if he broke Xiaoxiao’s teeth, so he handed the bowl over cooperatively. “Father, please eat.”

The Emperor was happy. At the same time, he was very proud and childish. He tilted his head and gave Xiao Ran a sidelong glance. He followed their example and scooped a spoonful of vinegar mixed with ginger into his bowl before taking a big bite.

The spiciness of the ginger could ward off the cold. The Emperor felt that there was not much meat from crabs. Even if he ate a few more, it would not be considered overeating. He was a restrained emperor. Two was not much. Three was just right.

Hence, after eating the one in his hand, he looked at Rong Yan.

Xiao Ran, who was feeling bored after eating, couldn’t take it anymore. She didn’t name anyone. “You’re already so old, but you don’t even know how to peel a crab yourself. How embarrassing.”

The Emperor:… He shouldn’t have come to freeload as her junior brother! Xiao

Ran gave him face when she treated him as the Emperor. Now, she didn’t care at all that his dignity was damaged!

He was also stubborn and really did not want Rong Yan to help. He picked up the crab that had just been broken in half and opened his mouth to bite it as if he was venting his anger.

“Your Majesty, a crab’s heart is cold. It has to be removed.”

“Crab cheeks are used to filter food. There’s something dirty on them, so they have to be removed.”

The sound of the Emperor biting the crab was a little softer. In order to resolve the awkwardness, he took the initiative to ask, “Senior Sister, you’re full. Isn’t it time to solve the mystery of this steamer warming itself without fire?” Xiao Ran knew very well that the Emperor was about to lose face, so she decided to stop while she was ahead. She personally went to get the unused self-heating bag and instructed the Emperor to do it himself to make some self-heating rice.

■■Your Majesty, it’s a huge credit for Xiongnu to be able to win this battle so quickly and obediently.”

“There’s also a kind of noodles that are cooked in water.”

After the Emperor personally tried these two, he returned to the palace thoughtfully with a belly that could not even be covered by his ordinary clothes. Before he left, he did not forget to mention a few crabs and said euphemistically, “Be thrifty. You can’t waste it. You definitely won’t be able to finish so much.”

Xiao Ran reminded him from behind, “My Xiaoxiao thought of self-heating rice and instant noodles. The fruits in the border city were also planted by my Xiaoxiao. Do as you see fit.”

The Emperor quickened his pace, deliberately ignoring her.

Who asked you to anger me! I won’t be your junior brother tomorrow. I want to use my identity as the Emperor to listen to you again!

On the way back, the Emperor said to Eunuch De, who could not walk fast anymore, “Previously, you said that the Second Prince of Xiongnu would ask for someone’s hand on behalf of his Eldest Brother?

Eunuch De said, “It’s General Xiao’s beloved daughter.”

The Emperor spat. “He’s not worthy.”

After taking a few steps, he felt a little bloated. He stopped and asked, “When

did Third Prince fall for the young lady?”

Eunuch De was shocked. “Huh?”

The Emperor ignored him and touched his chin. “I just went to get that self-heating rice from dear Official Xiao, and Third Prince gave her the crabs he had dismantled. Do you think I’m blind?”

Eunuch De rubbed his stomach. “There’s such a thing? But speaking of which, it’s time for the Third Prince to discuss marriage. He has been close to General Xiao since he was young. It won’t be bad if they can get married.”

The Emperor took two more steps and stopped with his hand on his waist. ■■Hey, wait. Didn’t the Empress also propose on behalf of the Crown Prince to marry that girl?”

Eunuch De couldn’t pretend to be stupid this time. “That’s true. The Empress said that the Xiao Family’s daughter is gentle and virtuous. Coincidentally, the position of crown princess consort is still available, so she wants the Crown Prince to marry her.”

The Emperor: “Heh.”

Eunuch De couldn’t figure out what the Emperor’s laughter meant, so he walked with him and got into the carriage with difficulty.

“Walk slowly. It’s late. Don’t disturb the people.”

It was mainly because he had eaten too much and the carriage was moving too fast. He felt like vomiting.

After the Emperor left, Xiaoxiao weighed everyone’s appetite tonight. She waited for them to chat for another hour before running to the kitchen to get the orange jelly that was already .springy

Although it was said that the orange was “frozen”, it did not feel cold in his mouth. If it were a modern person, they would definitely recognize it at a glance—this was jelly!

A bowl of jelly filled with orange meat for each person made everyone’s taste buds experience a baptism and sublimation again. Xiao Ran was satisfied and wanted to lie down on the spot, but Xiaoxiao’s next words made her feel refreshed.

“Mother, I have a suggestion. Perhaps it can give the uncles and brothers who have returned from the battlefield a chance to show off. Do you want to hear it?”

Xiao Ran immediately put down her hands that were stretching. “Quick, quick, tell me.”

Xiaoxiao said, “Mother, I heard that the envoy of Xiongnu mentioned to His Majesty today that it’s not easy to transport iron ore and he wants to delay the time to submit it?”

At this point, Xiao Ran’s fists itched. “I hit them too lightly.”

All these years, the Xiongnu people were so spoiled that they did not know their limits and tested Great Xia’s bottom line repeatedly.

Xiaoxiao tilted her head happily, looking innocent, youthful, and cute. “Then let’s solve this problem for them.”

Xiao Ran did not understand, but Rong Yan reacted quickly. “Xiaoxiao means to let those retired soldiers be in charge of transporting them?

Xiaoxiao nodded, but Xiao Ran still said, “But even if His Majesty agrees and they’ve successfully completed the transportation, what about after that.” When there was a war, there would definitely be casualties. Although the brothers who died were lamentable, the ones who survived were also having a hard time and were filled with helplessness..