Best friends dressed up in ancient times to become mistresses? You run, I run too!

Shen Ningzhu chuckled and gave the little guy a few perfunctory replies before continuing her introduction.

"There are many ways to eat it."

"Sweet garlic, Laba garlic, salt and pepper garlic, barbecue garlic, there are so many ways to eat it, and each one is extremely delicious."

"Today, I will teach you how to make a few jars of pickled garlic so we can eat them in the winter."

Everyone looked on with obvious reluctance.

But they still obeyed and went inside to bring out low stools, clean baskets, wooden basins, and so on.

Shen Ningzhu shook her head and said no more.

Have them peel the garlic cloves until only a thin layer of skin remains. Then, add enough water to a wooden basin, add a few teaspoons of salt, and stir well.

Place the peeled garlic cloves in a wooden basin and soak for at least two hours.

This method of making pickled garlic will prevent bad breath and a burning sensation in the mouth. The water in the bowl should completely cover the garlic.

Shen Ningzhu peeled the garlic while explaining.

The two little ones sat on small stools, peeling the shells happily and earnestly, as if they were playing some fun game.

Jiang Xuan Yan stood there like a wooden statue, his brows furrowed tightly.

He was secretly annoyed. This woman really had no heart at all. She was very polite to him when she went out, but when she came back, she acted like she was blind and couldn't see him at all.

It really is something you use and then throw away.

He just spoke up, saying that these things only need to be explained and the rest can be left to the servants, so there is no need to do it personally.

The woman simply said...

"Xiao Yi once said that winter is the hardest for poor people, and pickled vegetables are the most affordable food. So when she was a child, she would help the adults pickle all kinds of winter vegetables every year."

"Among them, pickled garlic is her favorite pickled vegetable."

"After I tasted her pickled garlic, I immediately fell in love with it. From then on, every year around this time, she would take me with her to buy the freshest garlic and make several jars of pickled garlic so we could eat it whenever we wanted."

The peony standing to the side was somewhat puzzled.

"Judging from what you're saying, Madam, pickling garlic requires a lot of sugar. A family that can afford such luxury can't be considered poor, can it?"

Shen Ningzhu choked.

Suddenly I remembered that sugar was a precious commodity in this era. Ordinary people couldn't bear to drink a few bowls of sugar water a year, let alone use it for pickling vegetables.

They immediately changed the subject in an awkward silence.

With many hands making light work, all the garlic cloves were quickly peeled and soaked in salt water.

It was just past noon, and the sun was quite strong, so bright that people couldn't open their eyes, but the light felt warm on their skin.

Fuling brought over a washbasin filled with clean, warm water, and a clean, pure white cotton cloth covered one side of the basin.

The two men helped Shen Ningzhu wash her hands and then evenly applied a moisturizing cream to her slender fingers before gently withdrawing.

Seeing that she had nothing to do, Shen Ningzhu decided to go back to her room for a nap. (Image: Jiang Xuanyan vs. Shen Ningzhu) These past few days, she had been worried about Liu Zhiyi and hadn't slept well for several nights.

Although Song Hanchuan told her that Xiaoyi was alright and that he had already gone to pick her up, she still couldn't feel at ease until she saw him appear in front of her unharmed.

Xiao Yi is her only family in this world.

Without her, Shen Ningzhu simply couldn't imagine how she could survive in this unfamiliar era on her own.

Fortunately, Xiaoyi was safe and sound.

The two children chattered and wanted to sleep with her, but Jiang Xuan Yan picked them up one by one and carried them out of the house.

"Green Wind—"

"My subordinate is here."

"Take them away from me. They are not allowed to come in and disturb Zhuzhu until she wakes up, understand?"

Qingfeng's expression stiffened, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily. He thought to himself, "Does this man have to be so possessive? He's full of schemes and plots, all directed at his own child. Is he even human?"

Simply inhuman!

However, he only dared to mutter these words in his heart, and not uttered a single word to their faces. He even responded with a very obsequious "yes."

Then, without stopping, they tried to pick up the children and run outside, but the two little ones refused.

They all put their hands on their hips, glaring angrily at Jiang Xuan Yan, unfazed by his cold demeanor, and shouted back at him with equally stern faces.

"Why should we? This is my mother. Why can't we sleep in the same bed as our own mother?"

Jiang Xuan Yan glanced coldly at the two of them, his tone indifferent and calm, but upon closer listening, it seemed to carry a sense of pride and arrogance.

"Because I'm your father."

"It is only natural for a son to listen to his father."

The two little ones were furious, but children's vocabulary is limited, and they couldn't think of anything to say in rebuttal. They were also unwilling to obey and leave.

They were only three years old, a time when they were very attached to their mother.

However, Song Hanchuan assigned them too much homework, and they had to live in the palace every day, so they rarely saw Shen Ningzhu each month.

Today, having finally come back home, I naturally don't want to miss the opportunity to get close to my mother.

So, the two exchanged a glance, their eyes darted around, and they excitedly pounced onto the bed.

As long as they run fast enough, they'll crawl into bed and cling to their mother's waist, refusing to get out of bed no matter what. Jiang Xuan Yan won't be able to do anything to them.

At first, the two men's actions did indeed leave Jiang Xuan Yan momentarily stunned.

Because he was completely focused on Shen Ningzhu, he knew very little about the two children, was unaware of their temperaments, and naturally could not predict their next move.

Just as she was about to achieve her goal, her small body was scooped up by a long arm at the last moment.

The chubby little dumpling looked completely bewildered, its feet already off the ground in a daze, until it was tucked under its armpits and it finally came to its senses.

She was immediately filled with disbelief, her face flushed red with anger, and she began to shout and curse.

"Qingfeng, you actually helped outsiders, you traitor!"

"Ugh, Qingfeng is bad."

The tall, handsome young man chuckled, somewhat apologetically, and said, "Your Highness, please calm down. Your Highness, please calm down. I did this for your own good. After all, when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Don't you agree?"

Jinxiu and Huanian were filled with regret. No wonder their mother said that once someone is unfaithful, they will never be trusted again. This scoundrel Qingfeng had used them as a shield back in Luoshui Town.

After that, they tried to punish him and make fun of him.

He always seemed to regret his actions, and eventually, they softened and forgave him.

Who would have thought that not long after, he would use the same trick again, betraying them both once more. Truly, people's hearts have changed, and the world is going to the dogs.

The father I called out to for three years was ultimately a misplaced trust.

Qingfeng didn't bother with the two puffed-up little dumplings. She gave Jiang Xuan Yan a fawning smile, then quickly adopted a serious expression and said...

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will risk my life to prevent anyone from interfering with your and your wife's good time, not even His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Princess."