The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1121 - 1100 Making Friends

Chapter 1121: Chapter 1100 Making Friends

The Clan Record is essentially a roster documenting various distinguished families and clans across the regions. Manbao flipped through and saw that the first page listed Cui Gan of the Cui family from Boling, not only detailing the origins of his family but also his current official position, titles, and so forth...

Manbao read with relish, thinking that if she memorized the Clan Record, wouldn’t she recognize everyone she met when she went out?

As Manbao was engrossed in the book, a light laughter sounded beside her; she looked up and saw a girl about her own age, holding a little girl’s hand, watching her.

When she was noticed, the older girl giggled and asked, "Why do you fancy such a book? Don’t you find it boring?"

Manbao recognized her, as she had been among the princes and princesses yesterday. Although she didn’t know which princess she was, she knew for certain she was a princess.

Manbao stood up and bowed her respects.

Princess Changyu waived her courtesy, and it was only then that Manbao responded, "This book is quite interesting, has the princess read it?"

Princess Changyu sighed, "I was forced to memorize it, so please spare me from seeing it again."

The little girl beside her pursed her lips with a smile. Curiously looking at Manbao, she asked, "Are you the young miracle doctor who treated the Empress Mother?"

Manbao looked back at the little girl with equal curiosity, "My name is Zhou Man, and I am far from being a miracle doctor."

Although she didn’t ask for the little girl’s name, her eyes sparkled as she stared and introduced herself...

The little girl’s eyes crinkled with joy, and she happily replied to her, "My pet name is Mingda, have you been given a style name yet?"

Manbao shook her head, "I’m still young. Teacher said I would get one when I come of age."

The Empress Mother had already awakened and, after dressing, came out to see the three girls chatting merrily and approached with a smile, "Changyu, are you distracting Young Doctor Zhou from her reading?"

Changyu stuck out her tongue and ran over to take the Empress’s hand, laughing, "Empress Mother, guess what book she’s reading?"

The Empress looked towards the book by Manbao’s hand, slightly surprised.

"Exactly, she’s reading the Clan Record and seems to be quite enjoying it. Even Third Brother isn’t very fond of it."

"Nonsense, Third Brother memorized the Clan Record when he was nine."

"Well, that was cramming. Third Brother said it was no fun at all, he nearly vomited while memorizing it."

The Empress stepped forward, took up the book, and looked at Manbao, "Do you like this book, Young Doctor Zhou?"

Manbao nodded and replied, "Quite alright, I just find it rather interesting."

The Empress then smiled, handing the book back to her, "Then this book is for you."

Manbao accepted with surprise, "This doesn’t seem right..."

"Oh, if the Empress Mother gives it to you, just take it," Changyu laughed, "If you like it, I’ve got a copy too, I’ll give it to you as well."

The Empress playfully smacked her on the head, "Naughty girl, that is for you to memorize. Be careful lest your emperor father checks up on your studies."

Changyu sighed.

Manbao accepted the book, bowing and thanking the Empress.

Seeing her bow in thanks, but not kneeling and kowtowing like the others would, Mingda, who had been quietly standing by, looked up at her.

As Manbao was putting away the book and met Mingda’s gaze, she smiled at her.

The Empress also took a seat on the divan, gesturing Mingda over with a wave, asking softly, "How do you feel now?"

"I’ve been much better since yesterday. I wanted to come see Mother, but they wouldn’t let me."

"A sick mother and a sick daughter together would only share illness," the Empress chuckled, "Your mother also wanted to see you but refrained, didn’t she?"

Turning towards Manbao, she smiled, "Since Young Doctor Zhou is here today, why don’t we have her take a look at you?"

Manbao had already noticed. Princess Mingda’s hair was somewhat dry and yellow, yet she was unmistakably a princess. Additionally, her vital energy seemed deficient, sharing some symptoms with Yin Huo.

Manbao immediately put down what she was doing to check on her, and upon examination, she found she had quite a few ailments.

She was a bit weak, with a spleen and stomach deficiency, but these were not the main issues. She found that she also suffered from a qi disorder.

The Empress clearly knew this, sighing, "I don’t know if it’s because of me, but this child has been unwell since birth, often short of breath."

But Manbao shook her head slightly, "The Princess’s qi disorder is not the same as Your Majesty’s. It’s more like a heart disorder."

"Director Xiao said the same, but he has never been able to cure it."

Manbao then fell silent, remembering she had seen similar cases at Teacher Mo’s.

Manbao withdrew her hand and said, "I think I need to go back and check the medical texts."

The Empress smiled and nodded, "Alright then, we shall trouble Young Doctor Zhou."

She turned her head to look at Nanny Shang.

Nanny Shang immediately stepped forward with a box in her hands.

The Empress opened it and took out a token for Manbao, "This is a pass for entering and leaving the palace. You and they are about the same age, and even if you don’t come to the palace for medical purposes, you can often come to play with them."

Princess Changyu’s eyes brightened, clapping her hands and exclaiming, "That’s great, that’s great! Now when you come to the palace, you could also bring us some things from the outside. Third Brother doesn’t really like to play with us anymore, and Eldest Brother is strict; we can’t buy things from outside anymore."

Princess Mingda was also delighted, her eyes gleaming.

The Empress scolded them with a glance but did not speak out to stop them.

Manbao accepted the token, feeling that the Empress’s gesture was not just for her to come to the palace to play with the two Princesses.

However, it was good news for her, with the token, she would have yet another option for the future. She happily accepted it.

As a token of gratitude, Manbao asked Princess Mingda about her preferences and racked her brains to come up with two dessert recipes to help with the spleen and stomach.

Princess Mingda looked over the recipes, and just reading the descriptions made them sound delicious. She couldn’t help but swallow and asked, "Can you make these?"

Manbao: "I can eat them."

Princess Mingda looked up in surprise, "What?"

Princess Changyu burst into laughter, happily saying, "Who can’t eat? I can eat too!"

The Empress also smiled, her eyes curving.

Manbao, somewhat embarrassed, looked down. She had gotten used to speaking this way with Bai Shan and others, and it slipped out without thinking. She cleared her throat and explained, "I remember many recipes, but my culinary skills are average; I’m not very good at cooking."

Keke, who had been silent all along, thought to herself: That’s not ’not very good,’ that’s hardly knowing how to cook at all, right?

The Empress’s gaze shifted slightly and she asked with a smile, "So you haven’t learned cooking, have you?"

Manbao blushed and nodded.

The Empress asked, "What do you usually do at home?"

"Study books?"

"What books have you read up to now?" the Empress inquired.

"I am now thoroughly studying ’The Spring and Autumn’."

As she mentioned a thorough study, it implied she had read it once before. The Empress looked at Princess Changyu, who was about Manbao’s age.

Princess Changyu lowered her head.

The Empress smiled and said, "No wonder you were able to advise His Majesty and the Crown Prince yesterday."

Manbao said, "I was rash yesterday."

The Empress shook her head slightly, "You advised well. If a ruler makes a mistake, as subjects we indeed must advise them. Good child, you did very well yesterday."