Border Cook

"Madam, it's getting a little cold outside. Let me help you back to the house."

Madam He narrowed her eyes slightly and slowly got up from the recliner, "It's time to go back."

"Yes." Biyun also agreed, "When the sun sets, it will be even colder. The old lady needs to be careful not to catch a cold."

"Yes." Madam He nodded, "We have to be careful."

Then he looked at Mother Gui and Biyun and said, "Go and clean up."

"Don't worry, old lady. I have already asked someone to clean up the yard." Biyun thought that Old Lady He was talking about the reclining chairs in the yard and the tea and cakes on the table, so she smiled and said, "I have also asked someone to make new tea and bring new food."

"But Madam, you should not be greedy now. You will have dinner soon. If you eat too much snacks, you will lose your appetite for dinner and eat less. You will be hungry before going to bed..."

At that time, I would have a small midnight snack, but I couldn’t fall asleep immediately, so I had to go to bed later.

As a result, the old lady would stay in bed in the morning, not eat breakfast on time, and only want to eat some snacks to fill her stomach. She would not eat lunch well, and would feel hungry in the afternoon and want to eat snacks again. She would not be hungry for dinner...

Vicious circle!
Upon hearing this, Madam He frowned and said, "I'm not talking about that. I'm asking you to pack your bags quickly!"

packing luggage?

Mother Gui and Biyun were stunned for a moment, then they reacted after a moment and immediately smiled with joy.

Pack your bags!

The old lady is finally thinking about going home!

Mother Gui and Biyun were immediately delighted, especially Mother Gui, whose face almost turned golden chrysanthemum. She said with a smile, "I was expecting the old lady to say this. I will immediately order people to pack up and arrange for carriages and horses."

"I'll get busy too." Biyun nodded her head like pounding garlic, her mouth almost grinning to her ears. "If the masters, mistresses, young masters and young ladies in this family knew that the old lady was coming home, they would be so happy that they would go to worship Buddha. They wouldn't be able to sleep at night and would stretch their necks to wait at the door day and night!"

Old Madam He listened to the two people talking excitedly, frowned and curled her lips, "Who said I want to go back?"

Aren’t you going back?
Mother Gui and Biyun were stunned again and were confused.

"But didn't the old lady just say she wanted to pack her luggage?"

"Yeah, I mean packing, but I'm not going home."

"Where is the old lady going?"

"Go to the capital!"

Going to the capital?
Mother Gui and Biyun were even more surprised and puzzled, "Why did the old lady suddenly think of going to the capital?"

"I haven't been to the capital for a long time. I miss it a lot." Madam He explained, "The New Year is coming soon. The capital must be very lively. It would be nice to go and see the excitement."

"Besides, that old woman in the palace has sent letters to me several times, hoping that I can go and talk to her to relieve her boredom. If I don't go, she will be embarrassed. I have to go to give her face..."

That's it!

Mother Gui and Biyun suddenly understood.

The He family is the head of the current aristocratic families, and Madam He has a very high status and a good personal relationship with the current empress dowager. It is common for the empress dowager to invite Madam He to the palace to reminisce about the past. But at the same time, she feels a little disappointed.

"I thought the old lady was going to go home, and the family would have a lively New Year celebration, but it turned out that the old lady wanted to go to the capital..." Biyun sighed as she packed her things.

"Yes." Mother Gui also nodded, but also comforted herself and Biyun, "But you have to think this way. The old lady is willing to go to the capital, and the Queen Mother is happy. She must keep the old lady in the palace for a while. It's New Year's Eve soon, and the head of the He family will also enter the palace for the New Year's Eve banquet, which can be regarded as a family reunion."

"That's true if you think about it this way." Biyun agreed.

There is always something that makes the entire He family happy.

"But the Empress Dowager had invited the old lady many times before, but she always refused. It's freezing cold now, but she insists on going to the capital..." Biyun was a little worried.

Although Madam He was in good health, she was old after all. She had lived a life of luxury for many years and had never moved from Dexin Garden. She was really worried that the old lady would not be able to bear the sudden long journey of more than a thousand miles.

"Yeah, why did the old lady choose this time?" Mother Gui was also worried.

After a moment, he seemed to have thought of something and suddenly opened his eyes wide, "I remember that Madam Xia seemed to have come a few days ago. She said that she was summoned by the Emperor and the Empress to go to the capital. She didn't know when she would be back, so she couldn't cook for the old lady during this period of time."

"Yes, that's the case." Biyun was surprised. "Mother Gui means... the old lady suddenly wants to go to the capital, is it because of Madam Xia?"

No way.

It is true that the old lady likes Madam Xia very much, but is she willing to accompany Madam Xia to the capital?

"I think it's almost certain." Mother Gui sighed, "The old lady really loves Lady Xia."

After all, Xia Mingyue's trip to the capital may seem glorious on the surface, but in fact, there will be many eyes staring at her, hoping that she will make some mistakes.

Since the old lady is going to the capital at this time, it means that she is going to support Madam Xia.

It can be said that the old lady's love for Madam Xia exceeds that for any younger generation of the He family. If other people in the He family knew about this, they would probably be envious and feel sour in their hearts.

I have to say that the old lady still does things the same as before. She never pays attention to any principles or standards. She just does things according to her own preferences and just for the sake of having fun!

Therefore, as long as the old lady is happy, the rest...

unimportant!
Since you are going to the capital, just go.

When I get to the capital and meet Madam Xia, maybe I can even benefit from the old lady's help and have some delicious food!
Why not?
Mother Gui thought so, and so did Biyun. They quickened the pace of packing and counting their luggage.

Here, after a day of traveling, Lu Qiyan led everyone and finally arrived at the official post station.

The post station is quite large, with many houses and a large number of postmen, enough to accommodate everyone for rest.

The postmaster's surname is Song. He has worked here for many years and is very diligent. He had learned a few days ago that the peace negotiation delegation was expected to arrive today and had made preparations early.

The house was very clean, the bedding was all new, and there was everything you need including food, drinks, hot water, etc.

Li Juncheng and his companions were very satisfied with having a decent place to stay. After settling down, they told their people to rest and replenish their supplies. (End of this chapter)