vrcanaries Chapter 385 A Three-in-One Gift
Chapter 385 A Three-in-One Gift
Eyes facing each other.
Mu Nanzhao closed his eyes in frustration, "Gu Xixi, you..."
At this moment, Gu Xixi revealed a sly expression.
It's obviously intentional.
Mu Nanzhao sighed helplessly, but a smile still crept onto his lips.
The two looked at each other and smiled.
In an instant, sunlight pierced through the gaps in the bamboo branches, scattering into bright fragments that fell upon them.
Neither of them mentioned the reason why Jiang Mingyuan fell into the water.
Because Gu Xixi now trusts Mu Nanzhao.
Mu Nanzhao did not doubt this fact.
As the afternoon drew to a close, the guests began to depart.
Ziyan came in to deliver a message, saying that the top scholar had already left.
He Jinglan glanced at Gu Xixi and said, "Why didn't Lord Jiang wait for us to see him off? He's being too polite."
Ziyan smiled and said, "The top scholar does have something to say."
"He had a great time enjoying the delicious food and beautiful scenery today, and even made some new friends. Thank you for your hospitality, young lady and our adults."
"In addition, he also wants to choose a day to host a gathering and invite a few good friends."
"Firstly, to thank everyone for their care and support when he was in the capital."
"Secondly, only the closest friends can gather together, where they can be unrestrained and talk about anything."
He Jinglan, who always enjoyed lively gatherings, was quite pleased to hear this, saying, "The top scholar is indeed thoughtful."
She thought for a moment and said, "Since we are good friends, we should prepare a formal gift."
"It doesn't need to be in the name of the He family; it's just the sentiment shared by Anqing, myself, and Xixi."
Gu Xixi nodded in agreement, "That's a good idea."
Jiang Mingyuan refused to be won over by any force.
If the gift is sent in the name of the He family and Jiang Mingyuan accepts it, he will inevitably be regarded by those with ulterior motives as someone who is the Minister of Revenue.
He Jinglan hadn't sent a single gift as a favor before, precisely because of this concern.
But things will be different from today.
Gu Xixi has already made an appearance at the banquet, and within three days, most families in the court will have heard about her.
It's no secret that Hu Shang and An Qinghe were old friends of the top scholar, and Gu Xixi was his cousin.
He Jinglan selected two rare books, both of which were treasures she had personally collected.
No scholar dislikes this.
Gu Xixi didn't bring anything else, just a small box of medicine bottles with a seal.
He Jinglan saw it and asked in surprise, "Weren't you going to keep this bottle for later?"
"If you give it to him, you'll lose yourself."
Gu Xixi smiled and said, "It's alright, we can work on it slowly when we get back."
The capital city is not as cool as the northwest.
Before Jiang Mingyuan took office, he must have had to travel around and socialize a lot. Perhaps this bottle of Snow Melting Pills is just right for him.
Snow melt pill.
This is the only pill that Gu Xixi has ever concocted herself, aside from poison and antidote.
There's only one reason: it's delicious.
The prescription was found in a secret manual passed down through the old doctor's lineage.
There are more than ten kinds of medicinal materials, including three rare and precious ones.
Three rare honeys from different origins.
And three kinds of medicinal flower dews for different seasons.
Gu Xixi had been searching for a long time since the end of last summer before she finally managed to gather all the ingredients.
It took a lot of effort to finally prepare the almond-white pills.
Each dumpling is only the size of a pearl and melts in your mouth.
It not only leaves a pleasant fragrance in the mouth but also has a refreshing and thirst-quenching effect, making it a refreshing and invigorating food for hot summer days.
In case of heatstroke, it can also be taken as an emergency remedy.
Gu Xixi only received two bottles in total, one of which was originally intended as a gift for He Jinglan.
Gu Xixi planned to carry the other bottle with her for personal use.
It's no wonder He Jinglan felt sorry for her, knowing how rare such a thing was.
Later, Guangzhu brought congratulatory gifts from Anqing and Cou from the front yard.
As soon as he entered, he said excitedly, "Young Master An was very happy to hear that he was going to send a congratulatory gift to the top scholar."
"He said he had actually prepared it a long time ago, but because it was something he was very close to his body, he felt uncomfortable having two grown men deliver it to him alone, so he kept putting it off."
Gu Xixi and He Jinglan looked at each other, their expressions as if they had just eaten a sour apricot.
Something worn close to the body...?
I never expected him to have this quirk!
Guangzhu waved her hand, "Oh dear, it's not some weird or embarrassing thing!"
The two of them breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.
He Jinglan asked, "What is that?"
“You two young ladies would never guess what Young Master An has to offer!” Guangzhu said, opening her palm.
A white pendant is strung on a light gold, semi-transparent circular cord.
Gu Xixi leaned closer for a closer look, "This is... a tooth?"
Guangzhu nodded, "Wolf Fang! The desert wolf hunts for its longest tooth with a bloodthirsty urge!"
The little girl exclaimed with admiration, "This was the first wolf that Young Master An hunted under the moonlight in the desert when he was thirteen years old!"
He said this item could ward off evil spirits and ensure safety. It has two long teeth, and he always carries one with him.
"He had already decided to give the other one to his best brother for life."
Gu Xixi nodded, "I see."
Ziyan picked up the wolf tooth and said, "This hanging rope is also a bit special; I can't tell what material it's made of."
Guangzhu laughed, "Wolf tendon!"
Everyone was stunned.
Since it was the first time they had seen them, they couldn't help but look at and touch them one by one.
Guangzhu asked longingly, "What does the desert moonlit night look like? Sand dunes, Gobi Desert, and wolves? I've never seen anything like it."
"Girl, Xixi, you've been in the Northwest for so long, tell me about it!"
Ziyan has already gone to find a suitable wooden box for the gift.
She picked up the wolf tooth and put it in, shaking her head and sighing:
"Another one whose soul has been bewitched by the Northwest."
Why use "又"?
Of course, it's because their master is the most important person in the family.
Before sunset, the three gifts were combined into one and delivered to the inn where Jiang Mingyuan was staying.
The dessert shop opened the next day.
The sound of gongs, drums, and firecrackers quickly drew a large crowd, making the area outside the shop completely packed.
When the plaque was lifted, the three characters "Ganyu Residence" were revealed.
The onlookers erupted in applause.
Because it had already spread that the name was given by the Regent, and was even written in the Regent's own handwriting.
Many of the young men and women from prominent families came specifically for this plaque.
Two other eye-catching banners hang high next to the shop entrance, one of which reads: Various Sweet Soups.
The other side reads: Exclusive Features.
Compared to the central plaque, it is a bit more vulgar, but it is immediately recognizable and can be considered as something that can be appreciated by both the refined and the common.
The newly appointed manager, surnamed Tang, was jointly selected by Gu Xixi and He Jinglan.
He enthusiastically attracted customers, announcing the opening of the new store and offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal on all desserts for the first three days.
In addition, a membership pre-deposit discount system has been introduced.
When Mu Nanzhao arrived at Ganyuju, both floors of the restaurant were already packed.
Just as he was about to approach, he saw He Jinglan's carriage parked on the other side of the road, so he changed direction.
After He Jinglan unveiled the curtain herself, she returned to her carriage.
She would occasionally lift the curtain to peek out, but she wasn't looking at her own shop.
Finally seeing Mu Nanzhao, she waved to him anxiously.
The two were talking through the window. Mu Nanzhao had already noticed that Gu Xixi was not inside, and his brows furrowed.
He Jinglan whispered, "His Majesty summons Xixi."
"Two eunuchs have arrived, one of whom is the chief steward by His Majesty's side."
"They left half an hour ago."