"Praying for rain?" Duoduo and Green Bean said at the same time.
Qingliu nodded.
"They say His Majesty has been eating only vegetarian for over ten days, all for the sake of going to pray for autumn rain tomorrow."
Duoduo couldn't help but feel a little sympathy for her imperial grandfather.
Eating vegetarian for over ten days?
That wasn't a hardship just anyone could endure.
Besides, the emperor had a heavy workload every day, demanding intense mental effort.
Without meat or fish, wouldn't his body grow weak?
Duoduo shook her head to herself.
"Where is Grandfather going to pray for rain?" Duoduo suddenly thought. She had to go to the palace tomorrow.
If the place wasn't too far, she wanted to go and see the spectacle.
Qingliu shook her head.
"I didn't hear, miss."
Duoduo felt a little deflated, but then she thought of something and perked up again.
She could ask the Grand Tutor when she handed in her homework tomorrow.
The carriage soon arrived at the West Market and stopped in front of the barbecue shop.
Duoduo lifted the carriage curtain and saw that the shop's main door was closed, with no one outside.
Green Bean followed behind Duoduo as she stepped out.
"Huh? Miss, why isn't it open?" Green Bean was very surprised.
She had made a lot of pastries this morning and had them delivered by Shi Tou.
How could no one be here?
Duoduo hopped down from the carriage. She noticed a small side door was ajar and walked over.
Inside the shop, it was eerily quiet.
Duoduo saw the shop assistants sprawled out on chairs, asleep.
She didn't see Xu Jinxin or Yingniang.
Duoduo stood at the entrance, hesitating.
Behind the counter, the manager, who had been napping with his head down, seemed to hear a noise and looked up.
"Customer, we're not open for business yet."
"If you want grilled fish, come back around the end of the afternoon."
Qingliu stepped forward. "Excuse me, is your boss here? We've come to see her."
After hearing Qingliu's words, the manager sobered up a little.
He stood up and finally noticed Duoduo.
Duoduo had been here before, and the manager knew how Xu Jinxin treated her.
The manager quickly bowed to Duoduo. "Please wait a moment, I'll go in and inform her."
Duoduo saw that the shop assistants, upon hearing their voices, just rolled over and went back to sleep.
"Never mind, just point me in the direction, and I'll go in myself."
"Very well, please follow me."
The manager came out from behind the counter and led the way.
Duoduo followed him to a small room next to the back kitchen.
The manager gently knocked on the door. "Boss, someone's here to see you!"
A sound came from inside, and soon the door opened.
"Aunt Xu!" Duoduo greeted Xu Jinxin, who looked sleepy, with a big smile.
Seeing that it was Duoduo, Xu Jinxin's face lit up with joy.
"Ah, it's Duoduo! What brings you here? Come in, quick!"
Xu Jinxin pulled Duoduo into the room.
Inside, ice blocks had been placed, making it cool.
Duoduo saw Yingniang sitting on a small bed, rubbing her eyes.
"Aunt Xu, did I disturb you?" Duoduo felt very guilty.
She had come straight after school, forgetting about Xu Jinxin's schedule.
"It's alright. We were just grabbing some rest between shifts since we work late into the night," Xu Jinxin comforted Duoduo.
Xu Jinxin knew Duoduo wasn't the kind of child who would disturb others carelessly.
"Is there something you need?" Xu Jinxin glanced at the water clock on the table.
"Have you had lunch? Is the Imperial Academy out this early?"
She asked while still yawning.
"Tomorrow is a rest day, so we only had half a day today."
"I've already eaten," Duoduo explained.
"On my way back to the mansion today, I saw someone selling iced bowls."
"I thought maybe the barbecue shop could sell them too—it would bring in extra income and help beat the heat!"
Not wanting to take up more of Xu Jinxin's rest time, Duoduo got straight to the point.
"Duoduo, that iced bowl vendor you saw might very well be one of our shop's people!" said Yingniang from the bed, playfully winking at Duoduo.
"Ah?" Duoduo was stunned.
Xu Jinxin rarely saw such a dazed expression on Duoduo's face. She ruffled Duoduo's hair.
"What? Are you the only one allowed to think of juicing watermelon? Can't your aunt think of making iced bowls?" Xu Jinxin teased.
Duoduo quickly shook her head.
"Of course not! I just thought you're already so busy with the shop, it must be exhausting."
"I haven't done much to help, so I thought if you hadn't thought of it yet, and I saw it, maybe we could do it and make some money."
Xu Jinxin pinched Duoduo's cheek.
"Oh, has Duoduo turned into a little money grubber?"
Duoduo felt a bit embarrassed. She touched the spot that was pinched and grinned sheepishly.
Xu Jinxin then pinched the other cheek as well.
Seeing Duoduo covering her face with both hands, looking absolutely adorable, she laughed out loud.
"A gentleman loves wealth but gets it the right way! Nothing to be ashamed of!"
"I'm a big money grubber, you're a little money grubber—together, we're an unbeatable team!"
Duoduo didn't fully grasp Xu Jinxin's meaning, but she roughly guessed what she was trying to say.
"Okay." Duoduo's eyes curved into crescents, and even the dimples at the corners of her mouth appeared.
Xu Jinxin poked them lightly.
"You're so pretty. I wonder which lucky boy will end up with you when you grow up?"
"It's a shame I only have Yingniang. If she were a boy, I'd shamelessly ask your mother to betroth you two!"
Duoduo looked up at the wistful expression on Xu Jinxin's face and blinked.
"Aunt Xu, you wouldn't do that."
Xu Jinxin's smile faded. "I mean it."
Duoduo shook her head.
"Father said that when I grow up, I will only take a husband into my family, not marry out!"
"Would you be willing to let your son be a live-in son-in-law?"
"Ah?" Xu Jinxin's mouth fell open, stunned.
"Did the Prince tell you that?" Xu Jinxin was very surprised.
"He told Mother."
When Xiao Yi had told Su Xian that Duoduo would only take a husband in the future, Su Xian had also been shocked.
One day, Su Xian had casually joked about it with Lian Xin, and Duoduo overheard.
After her initial shock, Xu Jinxin came to understand.
Since Xiao Yi and Su Xian only had Duoduo as their daughter, having her take in a husband made sense.
It was basically like finding themselves a son.
Xu Jinxin stroked her chin and looked at Yingniang.
"The Prince's idea is pretty good!"
"So when Yingniang grows up, she'll take in a husband too!"
Yingniang was older than Duoduo. Hearing her mother talk about her marriage like this, she blushed instantly.
"Mother! I don't want that!"
Xu Jinxin laughed and shook her head. "Don't want just one? Two isn't impossible either, or even three."
"Men can have three wives and four concubines, so we women can naturally have a few husbands too."
After saying this, Xu Jinxin saw Duoduo and Yingniang staring wide-eyed, utterly shocked.
Feeling guilty, Xu Jinxin rubbed the tip of her nose.
"I was just joking. Pretend you didn't hear that."
Duoduo blinked her big eyes and nodded lightly.
"Okay."
Xu Jinxin breathed a sigh of relief.
She was truly afraid Duoduo would repeat that to the Prince of Pingyang.
That would be awkward.
"Aunt Xu, does your husband know about that thought you just had?" Duoduo winked mischievously.
