Even though it was still early, Yang Chuxia didnāt plan to continue sleeping. She thought for a moment and then turned to the kitchen to prepare some breakfast for the children.
After finishing the shrimp and scallop porridge and making some crystal dumplings, the cook on the other side had already prepared the omelets, crab roe buns, and steamed egg custard.
When she carried the food box back to the Bamboo Courtyard, the sky was already bright, and the two young ones along with Chengcheng were up.
"Ming Lan, go and see if Lele and Yangyang have come out of the practice room." She checked the hourglass and found that it was getting late.
On normal days, the children would have been here by this time.
"Yes!"
As Ming Lan walked outside, the two brothers just entered the courtyard.
"Young masters, the madam asked me to look for you."
"Oh, mother must have seen that weāre late," Lele said.
Yangyang had already started shouting, "Mother, my teacher taught me a new sword technique today, thatās why weāre late."
"Is that so? Then you should really thank your teacher." Yang Chuxia said.
"I definitely will!" Yangyang nodded, then added, "But mother, if you could have Sister Mingcui come back soon and marry my teacher, that would be the best gift."
"Youāve thought quite a lot!" Yang Chuxia patted his head and said, "Donāt worry, Sister Mingcui will be back in three days." Mu Shaoling wrote from the palace saying that he found two nannies to be with Dongyang. Itās said that these two nannies were the personal maids of the late Empress, and now serve the Emperor. Everyone can be at ease, and then Mingcui can come back."
"Really? Thatās great, Iāll tell my teacher right away." Hearing this, Yangyang washed his hands and asked again, "But mother, if my teacher gets married, I need to prepare a gift. What should I get?"
"That depends on whether youāre preparing a separate gift for each, or one combined gift for both," Yang Chuxia said while handing him the porridge. "If itās separate, for Mingcui, you can prepare jewelry or fabric. For your teacher, you can prepare clothes, or accessories like a ring or a hair crown."
"Is that so?" Yangyang asked, "Canāt I prepare a weapon? I originally thought of giving my teacher a sword."
"This is your teacherās wedding, and giving a sword as a wedding gift is not auspicious," Yang Chuxia added, "You can give a sword on his birthday or other festivals."
"In that case, Iāll give separate gifts. If I give one combined gift for both, Iāll feel like Iām trying to save some money. Mom, when we go to the market later, can you help me choose?"
"Sure." Yang Chuxia nodded, "Mom would be happy to help you."
"Mom, I want to prepare something too!" Lele chimed in, "Even though I havenāt formally apprenticed, Iāve been learning from him recently, so heās practically my teacher."
"Hmm, you both are very considerate."
Yang Chuxia felt very gratified by this.
After the meal, they rested for a while. Yang Chuxia asked the three little ones if they wanted to go to the market, but they all shook their heads.
So Yang Chuxia could only take the two older ones.
But just before leaving, Chengcheng tugged on her and said he wanted one of those sugar figurines. When Yang Chuxia agreed to buy it for him when she returned, he went off to play with Qingqing and the others.
"If only Chengcheng were our own child," Yangyang said suddenly.