Today is the eighth prince’s birthday. Zhao Yao woke up an hour earlier than usual.
By the time Zhao Yao finished washing, Liang Zhaoyi had already prepared the longevity noodles.
Every year on the eighth prince’s birthday, Liang Zhaoyi would make him a bowl of longevity noodles. On this day, she would invite the eighth prince to Kunde Hall for a meal. She and Yu Meiren would personally cook him two lavish meals.
This year, due to the eighth prince’s injury, he was still bedridden and couldn’t e. Liang Zhaoyi had no choice but to make the longevity noodles and let Zhao Yao bring them to Xingde Palace for the eighth prince to eat.
If the eighth prince weren’t injured and bedridden, he would have e to Kunde Hall early today to eat longevity noodles and would return for meals at noon and night.
"This box contains the longevity noodles." Liang Zhaoyi handed the food box to Tong Xi and instructed, "Be careful when carrying it, don’t spill the noodles and soup."
Tong Xi took the food box with both hands and respectfully replied, "Yes, madam."
"This box contains pastries that your second mother consorts made by hand last night. They’re all the eighth prince’s favorites." Liang Zhaoyi handed the food box to Zhao Yao, saying, "Hold it steady when you carry it, be careful not to break the pastries."
Zhao Yao had a bad habit of swinging things back and forth while carrying them.
"These are my brother’s birthday gifts; I won’t damage them." Zhao Yao took the food box and assured Liang Zhaoyi.
"Mother, I’m going to see my brother, you should go back to your room and rest."
"Be careful on the way."
Zhao Yao bowed to Liang Zhaoyi and then, with Tong Xi, headed to Xingde Palace.
The eighth prince had also woken up early. He knew Zhao Yao would e looking for him in the morning.
Before Zhao Yao arrived, his voice was already heard.
"Brother, I’ve e to bring you the longevity noodles."
The eighth prince’s lips curved into a smile upon hearing Zhao Yao’s energetic voice, and he instructed Yu Hai, "Go and wele the tenth brother."
"Right away, Your Highness." Yu Hai stepped out of the room, hurriedly taking the food box from Zhao Yao’s hands. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your hard work."
"Not hard at all." Zhao Yao bounced into the eighth prince’s room, promptly bowing in greeting, "Brother, happy birthday!"
"Thank you."
"Tong Xi, quickly bring out the longevity noodles from the food box."
"Yes, Your Highness." Tong Xi served a bowl of longevity noodles, and Zhao Yao took it and placed it in front of the eighth prince.
"Brother, these are the longevity noodles mother personally made for you. Eat them while they’re still not mushy," Zhao Yao urged, "As per tradition, make sure not to bite the noodles apart."
The eighth prince accepted the still-warm longevity noodles, his eyes slightly reddening. Although every year Liang Zhaoyi would personally make him a bowl of longevity noodles, he was always deeply touched.
"I know."
"Brother, I’ll eat with you." Tong Xi took out another bowl of longevity noodles from the food box. Zhao Yao took it, crouched by the table by the eighth prince’s bed, and started eating.
Seeing Zhao Yao begin to eat, the eighth prince also started eating.
Liang Zhaoyi used bone broth for the noodles, which had been simmering all day yesterday, softening the bones. It made the noodles taste exceptional.
"Though the noodles are a bit soft, all the flavors of the bone broth have infused into them, they are delicious." After eating a noodle, Zhao Yao remarked and then began drinking the broth heartily.
"Extremely delicious." The longevity noodles made by Liang Zhaoyi were the best he had ever tasted, the best in the world.
"Mother’s culinary skills keep improving. If she opened a shop outside, it would definitely be incredibly popular."
Zhao Yao ate the noodles quickly, finishing before the eighth prince.
The eighth prince had a stomach ailment and needed to eat slowly; eating too quickly, like Zhao Yao, would cause him stomach pain.
After finishing the longevity noodles, Zhao Yao, still not full, started on the pastries.
"Fifth sister’s culinary skills have improved significantly. The pastries are getting more delicious. She could also open a pastry shop outside."
Tong Xi noticed how quickly Zhao Yao finished a plate of pastries and reminded, "Your Highness, these pastries are for the eighth prince. What will he eat if you finish them?"
"It’s alright. I’ll bring some more to my brother at noon." Zhao Yao grinned, "Mother and second mother prepared a lot of pastries for my brother. Thanks to him, I get to enjoy a lot of pastries and other delicacies today."
The eighth prince laughed, "I can’t eat that much, tenth brother, you help me eat more."
Zhao Yao gently patted his chest and assured the eighth prince, "Brother, don’t worry, I’ll definitely help you eat more."
Liang Zhaoyi knew the eighth prince didn’t have a big appetite, so she made a small bowl of noodles for him.
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