That day, Prince Jin returned home very late. He did not go to Lanzaoyuan, but went directly to Ruyiyuan.
Jiang Changning had already fallen asleep. Prince Jin climbed onto the bed carefully, put his arms around her, smelled her faint fragrance, and fell into a deep sleep.
In the early morning, when Jiang Changning woke up, the bedding next to him was no longer warm.
He got up slowly, washed, changed his clothes, and met the concubine who came to pay her respects.
Although Chen Yi was still a virgin, her status had been confirmed. She tied her hair up and dressed like a woman.
Seeing that Chen Yi's face was a little too heavily made up, Jiang Changning knew that it was because Prince Jin did not sleep with her last night, causing her to toss and turn and unable to fall asleep.
Jiang Changning would never be so generous as to say that he would persuade the prince to go over and let the prince treat everyone equally. "Yesterday afternoon, Concubine Dao sent someone to you. Are you okay with using him?"
Chen Yi's expression was stern. Although the princess didn't take care of the family, her control was not weak at all. She knew everything that happened in the mansion. "Thank you for your concern, Princess. They are all fine."
Jiang Changning smiled faintly and said, "People trained by Concubine Dao are naturally good. If you need anything in the future, go to Concubine Dao."
Chen Yi stated her position, "I have nothing to trouble Master Daofei with."
Although the Qiao family is the head now, she is very clear that her masters are the prince and princess.
At this time, Xiulan brought people to deliver breakfast.
After Jiang Changning had breakfast, he went to Liuxuanyuan to pay his respects to the Concubine Dowager.
Seeing Princess Kangren who had recovered from her illness, Jiang Changning caringly reminded her, "Although it is the beginning of spring, the weather is still quite cold. You still have to wear your winter clothes. Don't be afraid of spending money on the charcoal fire in the house. The mansion has no shortage of it."
"Your aunt is right. You are a princess of the royal palace. Don't learn to be petty and stingy." The concubine was secretly cursing Qiao again.
Qiao clenched the handkerchief in her hand and glared at Jiang Changning.
Jiang Changning didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She really wasn't saying those words to flatter Qiao. She was genuinely concerned about Princess Kang Ren.
Of course, if Qiao had such a misunderstanding, she would not explain.
The next day was the day when Princess Yirao hosted the Lantern Festival. The Lantern Festival in this dynasty lasted for three days, from the 13th day of the first lunar month to the 15th day.
On the night of the 13th, people light lanterns and pray for blessings, and the night of the 15th is the official lantern festival.
On this day, people light lanterns and offer sacrifices to gods and pray for blessings.
The women would make appointments to go out and cure all diseases.
Princess Yirao chose to hold the Lantern Festival the day before the lantern trial for another purpose, which was to select the most unique lantern and hang it on the flagpole at the main lantern festival to make her famous.
Why give fame to a woman who is about to become a concubine of a prince consort
Jiang Changning couldn't understand the intention of Princess Yirao's action.
Whether she can figure it out or not has no impact on the Lantern Festival at the Princess's Mansion.
The ten girls who received the invitations gathered at the Princess's Mansion and made lanterns under the instruction of the craftsmen invited by Princess Yi Rao.
Although these ten girls were concubines in the family, they were surrounded by servants and grew up in a pampered environment.
Let them take needle and thread, embroider a flower, or make a purse, it's easy.
It was really too difficult for them to use a knife to split bamboo strips, bend the bamboo strips into various shapes, and then cover them with paper to make lanterns.
"Ouch, it hurts." A girl's hand was pinched by a bamboo stick.
"What should I do? A bamboo stick stuck into my finger and it's bleeding." Another girl cried with a sad face.
The ten girls were busy working, but by lunch time, none of them had made a decent lantern.
The maids who secretly observed the girls' personalities reported their performance to Princess Yirao.
In order to see the temperament of these girls in a short time, you must use some tricks.
A girl who can make lanterns must be very clever and dexterous.
Being clever and deft is an advantage, but when it comes to a concubine, it becomes a disadvantage.
Putting the lantern she made on the flagpole to become famous was just a matter of convenience.
By the evening, the girls finally made a lantern each.
Zhuang Qingmei made a rabbit lantern. It wasn’t very novel, but it was much better than those spherical lanterns.
On this day, she and the other two girls behaved properly, and the situation of the three was reported to Princess Yirao.
Princess Yi Rao still had doubts about the three people, "Mammy, do you think they are pretending? Or are they really just mediocre people like this?"
The old nanny beside her smiled and said, "Princess, it makes no difference."
Princess Yirao pondered for a moment and smiled, "Yes, there is no difference. Let someone check it out and pick one and bring it in as soon as possible."
"Yes, Princess." The old nanny took the order and left.
The next day was the 13th day of the first lunar month, the day of Princess Baling’s funeral.
Although Princess Baling died of a long illness and not suddenly, it was still quite unlucky as the New Year had just passed and the Lantern Festival had not yet arrived.
The Empress Dowager and the Emperor were obviously also very sensitive about this and did not show any favor.
The funeral of Princess Baling was conducted according to the etiquette of the Princess of a County, and each mansion set up a roadside altar according to the rules.
The master will come personally to the mansion that is on good terms with the Baling Palace.
The relationship between Prince Jin's Palace and Prince Baling's Palace was average. Behind the altar, there were mourners wearing sackcloth and kneeling to send off the coffin with tears wiped off their eyes. Prince Jin and others did not go there.
When the coffin was being laid out at the Baling Palace, in addition to the first time when the couple went together, the Prince of Jin also went there twice alone. He had already fulfilled all the etiquette, and it was not impolite for him not to come for the roadside sacrifice.
On the 14th, Qiao arranged for people to hang lanterns everywhere in the mansion.
When she went to Rujing Courtyard to hang lanterns, Chunlai stopped her. "The prince said that these lanterns are too ordinary and the princess doesn't like them. The prince has sent someone to make a batch of new lanterns."
The servant left with the lantern. When Qiao learned about this, she didn't believe it. "The prince is a man who handles big things. He won't pay too much attention to such a small matter."
"Okay, if she doesn't want me to hang up, then don't hang up." Qiao sent the servant away and said to herself with a ferocious look on her face, "Jiang, you think that just because you are on guard against me like this, I really can't do anything to you. Humph, stupid."
After sitting alone for a while, Qiao called her maid in, helped her change her clothes, and went to the Liuxuan Courtyard.
The Queen Mother must be informed about the fact that Prince Jin made lanterns for Jiang.
But as soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw the concubine enthusiastically directing her servants to change lanterns.
Brand new lanterns with unique shapes.
Qiao's heart skipped a beat, but she still asked, "Mother, where did these lanterns come from?"
"Yu'er's daughter-in-law said that the new year brings a new atmosphere, and hanging the same lanterns every year is boring, so she took out her private money and asked Yu'er to find someone to make a new batch of lanterns." The concubine said happily.
Qiao, who wanted to flatter Jiang Changning, could only fake a smile and said, "These lanterns are really pretty."
"This lamp is called the Pine and Crane Longevity Lamp. Yu Ge'er specially asked the craftsmen to make it for me." The concubine boasted.
After pretending to compliment the concubine, Qiao left Liuxuanyuan on the pretext that she had other things to deal with.
(End of this chapter)