Consort Zhuang doesn't want palace intrigue; she just wants to raise her child and live a caref

Chapter 227 Crispy Broad Beans

With a smile, Su Nuannuan led her mother and third brother to their seats. Jinse quickly and efficiently instructed the servants to serve tea. After everything was arranged, Jinse discreetly led her entourage away, leaving the space for her mistress and her family to enjoy themselves.

"Mother, is there something you need to do at home today?" Su Nuannuan asked softly, her beautiful eyes fixed on her mother.

"What? Do I have to have something important to do before I can come and see my precious daughter?" The Duchess of Zhenguo asked Su Nuannuan with a smile.

"How could that be? Mother, you can come to visit me anytime you want. I'm so happy to do so!" Su Nuannuan replied coquettishly, gently shaking her mother's arm and acting spoiled.

"Actually, there's nothing particularly important at home. It's just that your mother really misses you. Since your third brother is here today, I came along with him. Your father and your two elder brothers are busy with affairs all day and can't spare the time to come and visit you. Please don't blame them." The Duchess of Zhenguo said, gently patting Su Nuannuan's little hand.

"Mother, don't worry, how could I blame Father, my eldest brother, and my second brother? Their busy schedules only show that the Emperor values ​​them highly, which is an honor for our family." Su Nuannuan nodded sensibly, indicating that she fully understood her father and brothers' busy schedules.

"It's good that you think that way. You! How exactly did you convince the Empress Dowager to let you leave the palace to guard the imperial tombs for ten years? That's no easy feat!" The Duchess of Zhenguo looked at Su Nuannuan with a face full of doubt, her eyes revealing concern and curiosity.

Su Nuannuan smiled slightly and said softly, "Mother, actually I didn't say anything in particular. It was just a coincidence, perhaps the Empress Dowager herself discerned my thoughts. As you know, I don't really care about the Emperor; I just do my duty in my daily life."

Furthermore, during the Empress Dowager's lifetime, I would accompany her to the imperial palace for recuperation every year. Over time, the Empress Dowager naturally gained a better understanding and trust in me.

Furthermore, my daughter has never had any interest in the struggle for the throne; she only desires a peaceful and stable life. Perhaps the Empress Dowager, seeing my plight, took pity on me and wanted to help me, allowing me to take my child away from the vortex of power struggles.

At this point, Su Nuannuan's eyes softened, as if recalling the Empress Dowager's past care and concern. Then, she continued, "Although we have to guard the Empress Dowager's imperial mausoleum for ten years and cannot travel far during that time, it is still quite free compared to being confined within those four palace walls."

Listening to Su Nuannuan's story, the Duchess of Zhenguo couldn't help but sigh, "The Empress Dowager is truly a thoughtful person."

Su Nuannuan nodded, indicating her agreement with her mother's statement, and then slowly said, "Yes, the Empress Dowager did treat me very well when she was alive. Now that I have this opportunity to repay her kindness by guarding her imperial tomb for ten years, it is only right and proper."

"Alright, Mother, let's not talk about this anymore." Su Yuan interrupted his mother with a smile, turned to look at his younger sister Su Nuannuan, and said mysteriously with a slight upturn of his lips, "Little sister, your third brother brought you back some new and interesting things this time, I guarantee you'll be interested!"

Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan instantly perked up, her eyes lighting up as she eagerly asked, "Third Brother, what is this amazing new thing? Show it to me quickly!"

The Duchess of Zhenguo, sitting to the side, looked at the brother and sister and couldn't help but find it a little amusing. She gently shook her head and said nothing more, just smiling as she watched them.

Su Yuan called out towards the door, "Su Xu!" Shortly after he finished speaking, Su Xu came in carrying a bag.

He first bowed respectfully to Su Nuannuan, then turned and handed the paper package he was carrying to his master. After Su Yuan took the package, Su Xu silently left the room and closed the door behind him.

Su Yuan gently placed the paper package on the table and opened it. As the package was slowly unwrapped, a faint fragrance immediately filled the air. "Little sister, this contains crispy broad beans."

Pointing to the plump, round beans in the paper package, Su Yuan enthusiastically introduced, "These are rare items that my third brother painstakingly sourced from merchants from the west. Last year, we tried planting some on the estate, and the harvest was unexpectedly bountiful. Moreover, these broad beans taste quite good and can be used as grain. So this year, with the Emperor's approval, we've started large-scale planting on the imperial estate and all our family's estates."

"This was made with a batch of broad beans left over from last year. But these foods aren't officially on sale yet, so your third brother brought them back for you to try first!" After saying that, Su Yuan handed the already opened paper package to Su Nuannuan.

Upon hearing the name "broad bean," Su Nuannuan instantly realized that this was the broad bean she often ate in her previous life! It was just that her third brother had it made into crispy broad beans.

Su Nuannuan opened the paper package and saw golden, crispy broad beans lying quietly inside, their surfaces evenly coated with a layer of fine salt. These salt grains were as white as snow and emitted a faint salty aroma.

The method for refining this fine salt originated from the books that Su Nuannuan presented to the Emperor as treasures. If it weren't for this crucial technological breakthrough, the Azure Kingdom might have had to wait an unknown amount of time to taste such pure and delicious fine salt.

Moreover, in order to ensure that ordinary people could enjoy this snow-white fine salt, the imperial court specially controlled its price within a reasonable range, ensuring that everyone could afford and consume it.

Seeing his younger sister looking at the opened paper package, Su Yuan, who was standing nearby, quickly and enthusiastically introduced it: "Little sister, this is crispy broad beans that your brother specially asked the family chef to make. You should try it and see how it tastes."

However, Su Nuannuan didn't rush to taste them. Instead, she stared at the skins on the broad beans and asked in confusion, "Third Brother, why aren't these crispy broad beans skinned?"

"That's right! It's so much easier to eat after peeling it! Oh my, my little sister is so smart, her brain works so well!" Su Yuan excitedly slapped his thigh and shouted loudly. His exaggerated expression and actions made it seem as if he had discovered some earth-shattering secret.

Su Nuannuan rolled her eyes at Su Yuan, who was putting on a show, thinking to herself that he was faking it again. She gently picked up a crispy broad bean, skillfully removed the skin, and then put the peeled broad bean into her mouth.

Then, she chewed slowly, savoring the crisp texture and rich aroma of the broad beans, a satisfied expression unconsciously appearing on her face.