There were two kinds of cookies: one was a grayish-yellow, round shape, with various small animal patterns printed on it. The other kind was like little golden bowls, their surfaces covered with a golden, slightly charred egg crepe. Inside, there seemed to be another world, but it was invisible.
"Miss, let me try it for you first to see if it tastes good." Wu'er said, reaching out to pick up a round cookie. It was a walnut shortbread. It was one of the few cookies that Lu Xuan had managed to make, albeit barely, after countless failures.
"Mmm...delicious, miss. These cookies are sweet, crunchy, and have a walnut flavor. They're absolutely delicious. I've never had a treat like this before."
"Really?" The young lady also picked up a walnut pastry, put it in her mouth and took a small bite.
A unique, sweet flavor filled his mouth. It was completely different from any pastry he had ever eaten before. Although Wu'er always said everything she ate was delicious, this time she was right. She had never tasted a pastry like this before either.
After eating a piece of walnut shortbread, she turned her gaze to the small, round bowl. By this time, Wu'er's mouth was already stuffed full. She kept trying to say, "Good...good..."
It has a unique texture that combines softness and crispness. It's completely different from the walnut shortbread I've had before. This pastry has a crispy outer layer, but the inside is incredibly soft and delicate. You can taste a pure milky aroma, mixed with honey and some other unidentified fragrance.
The previous walnut shortbread was merely novel. But this golden pastry is truly breathtaking. Lu Xuan's Tang Dynasty-era egg tarts use honey instead of white sugar, making the aroma even richer and more enticing. Its appearance alone demonstrates unparalleled appeal.
"Mmm..." The young lady couldn't help but let out a moan. Wu'er, watching from the side, looked at her with a strange expression. Had I misheard? Or was that sound actually mine?
Wu'er ate a few, but with all her willpower, she resisted the urge to eat no more. After all, they were gifts for the young lady.
"Miss, I'm not eating anymore. I'm going to deliver a gift to the young master."
"Come back," the young lady said hurriedly. The other side was also serving pastries. But compared to them, her own pastries were simply not presentable.
"Don't go yet."
The young lady stopped Wu'er's impulsive act. She had wanted Wu'er to choose a different gift. However, having just moved here, everything was still in its early stages, and she couldn't come up with anything suitable. She considered giving a piece of embroidery she had personally embroidered. But how could she give such an item to a complete stranger? After much thought, she finally came up with a solution.
That night.
“Master, I sent a gift to the people across the street this morning. Logically speaking, you should at least give something in return. The yard across the street is quite big. If they can afford to live there, they must have plenty of money. How can they be so stingy? They're so ungenerous.”
"Our sentiment is enough. Who gives a gift and then expects a return gift? Besides, according to what you said, there's probably only a maid and a young lady on the other side. If they see you, they probably won't dare to come to our house so easily," Lu Xuan said casually while wiping his knife.
"Master, what do you mean by that? When I was young, I was quite the handsome man. Now that I'm older, I can still be considered to have retained my charm..."
"Still retaining charm is a phrase used to describe women," Lu Xuan interrupted the old man's ramblings with annoyance.
"Ahem... well, you know what I mean."
Just as the two were chatting idly, the sound of a pipa suddenly came from outside the door.
Lu Xuan paused slightly as he wiped his longsword. He turned his head to look towards the door.
The music was coming from the other side. Then, a clear, melodious, and pleasant singing voice rang out.
How short is the day, how easily a hundred years of suffering are filled.
......
As the song began, Lu Xuan walked into the courtyard alone. Several servants heard the song, but the old man chased them away. Lu Xuan was the only one in the entire courtyard. It was as if the short song was sung just for him.
The vast sky stretches endlessly, and the Taiji (a concept in Chinese mythology) endures for countless eons.
Magu's temples were half-covered in frost.
When the Heavenly Emperor saw the Jade Maiden, he laughed a thousand times over.
I wish to seize the six dragons and turn my chariot to hang on the Fusang tree.
The Big Dipper pours fine wine, and each dragon is offered a cup.
Wealth and status are not my desire; what I wish for is to preserve youthful radiance in others.
When the music ended and the song ceased, both courtyards fell into a tacit silence. Even through the two doors, Lu Xuan could still sense that the singer was still there, seemingly waiting for something.
"Perfectly rounded and smooth, the lingering sound is melodious... What a wonderful piece of music, what a wonderful song..." Lu Xuan exclaimed loudly while clapping his hands.
A few breaths later, a soft echo came from the other side.
"Young Master Xie..."
------------
Chapter Forty-Nine: Oh no, I let it slip!
"Miss, Miss, the young master across the street has brought us snacks again."
"Wu'er, didn't I tell you not to always accept things from other people?"
"But Miss, you clearly like to eat it too..." Wu'er said with a wronged expression, revealing her mistress's shortcomings.
"You brat, I'll beat you to death!"
"Ah...Miss, no...hahaha...it's so itchy..." The two, mistress and servant, started playfully fighting in the courtyard like sisters. Just then, a loud knocking came from outside the door.
"Who is it?" the little girl muttered as she opened the door. With a bang, Wu'er, who had just removed the crossbeam, was knocked down by the heavy door.
"Ah..." the little girl groaned, her head aching. She then saw two men dressed in blue robes barge straight in.
"Stop!" A crisp shout rang out in the courtyard.
"Oh dear, Miss Xu. Your temper has gotten worse in just a few days."
"I have already redeemed myself and have nothing to do with you anymore. Please leave."
"Tsk tsk tsk, redeem yourself. Do you know how much Qunfanglou spent raising you from a young age, teaching you music, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, dancing and so on? Redeem yourself? Even if you redeem yourself a hundred times, you can't escape your relationship with us."
"The county magistrate of Wannian County lives right across the street. If I just shout, see if he'll let you go."