Jiang Changning didn't care at all about being rewarded with a jade monkey with bad connotations by the Queen Mother. "It's just that I've run out of tricks."
She didn't even mention it to Prince Jin. She asked Fangju to take out some materials from the warehouse and ordered people to call all the concubines to Zhengzeyuan.
Sharing joy with others is worse than enjoying it alone. It’s a waste to keep all the materials in the warehouse. It’s better for us to make new clothes together.
When the concubines heard the princess ask them to go to Zhengzeyuan, Park and Chen Yi were still calm, but Liu was a little uneasy. "Why did the princess suddenly ask us to go to Zhengzeyuan?"
"Aunt, don't be afraid. I think it should be a good thing." said her personal maid.
Liu's eyes lit up, "The princess is going to schedule a bedtime appointment!"
"I'm afraid that's not the case. I heard that Sister Fangju cleaned out the storeroom and moved out nearly a hundred bolts of fabric. The princess might have given the fabric to Aunt to make clothes."
Liu said disdainfully, "Who cares?"
It is still rare. In the past, Mrs. Qiao was very demanding, and the materials allocated to her, Mrs. Park and Mrs. Zhou were limited.
The two concubines, the nine beauties, and the dancer Ke Ji were all a little flustered. "Did someone do something wrong? Does the princess want to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys?"
"After Ruan Lizhu left that day, she never came back to the yard, and no one knew where she went. Could she be the bitch?"
Wang Jiao'e shuddered. She knew that Ruan Lizhu was to be dealt with by the prince, not the princess. If the princess wanted to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, Ruan Lizhu was not the chicken.
Who is that chicken
Wang Jiao'e looked at the girls. She had been very well behaved since that day, so it couldn't be her.
His eyes fell on Fan Meizhu, hoping that the chicken was her.
No matter what these concubines thought, they dared not not go to Zhengzeyuan.
When they arrived at Zhengze Courtyard, they were led into a side hall. The princess was sitting on a couch drinking tea. Various materials of various colors were piled on the table and the desk.
The concubines finally put their minds at ease, as the princess was going to reward them with fabrics.
They bowed and greeted Jiang Changning obediently. After Jiang Changning asked them to sit down, he slowly said, "I just ordered people to tidy up the warehouse and found a lot of good fabrics. I asked you to come here so that you can pick some and take some back to make new clothes."
Mrs. Park looked at the pile of fabrics and stood up and said, "Thank you, Princess, for thinking of us. However, the palace has already distributed the fabrics to us. Princess, please keep these fine fabrics for making clothes."
Compared to Mrs. Qiao and her elder sister, the princess is really nice. She doesn't meddle in other people's business, doesn't lose her temper easily, and doesn't need them to come and set rules every day.
Sometimes she would think, why bother fighting for favor, life now is much better than before, so just let it be.
But her aunt, as well as her younger brothers and sisters, are still in the marquis's mansion. If she can't make it, their lives in that mansion will be very difficult.
She has to fight for this favor, but how
In terms of appearance, the princess in this palace is second to none. Who dares to claim to be first
In terms of talent and knowledge, she could only read and write, and was not good at writing poetry or songs.
In terms of family background, how could a concubine's daughter of a marquis's mansion compare to a princess who entered the mansion with the title of county lady and a generous dowry
She was distracted and didn't hear what Jiang Changning said. She didn't even hear him calling her twice.
Until her maid tugged at her sleeve, "Madam, Madam, the princess is asking you a question."
Park's heart tightened. How could she be distracted in front of the princess
"Princess, please forgive me." Park knelt down and said.
Jiang Changning smiled, "What is Mrs. Park thinking about?"
"I'm reminded of the time when my aunt made clothes for me." As soon as Park said this, she wanted to slap herself.
The princess lost her mother at a young age, so why would she mention a concubine
"The past is so tempting." Jiang Changning smiled, "Get up, you have fair skin, these two pieces of aqua blue satin are for you, you can pick a few more that you like."
"Thank you, Princess." Park breathed a sigh of relief.
"You can pick the ones you like." Jiang Changning said.
"Thank you, Princess." The concubines bowed.
Chen Yi picked out two pieces of dewgrass-colored material and one piece of onion-colored material.
Liu picked out a piece of sea pine colored material and a piece of thin ink colored material.
The colors chosen are either too dark or too light, which shows that there are some concerns.
The nine beauties plus Keji each picked a piece of fabric.
Even though more than a dozen pieces of fabric had been picked out, there were still at least sixty pieces of fabric piled on the table, desk, and small couch.
Jiang Changning really didn't understand why Qiao had accumulated so many materials in the warehouse
Although some materials will remain newer if well preserved, most materials will fade, accumulate dust, and their patterns will become outdated over time.
"There are still so many materials, so feel free to pick them. Pick a few more pieces and make a few more clothes. You can wear them brightly and beautifully. I like them and the prince will also be proud."
The concubines followed her advice. Park and Chen Yi each picked four horses, Liu picked three, and the beauties and Ke Ji each picked two horses.
Jiang Changning also gave some clothes suitable for servants to wear as rewards to some favored servants in the mansion. The four maids around her, Xiaochun, Jinya and others also each received half a piece of cloth.
Only in this way did we finally finish processing that large pile of materials.
Just as Jiang Changning was distributing the materials in the mansion, the matter that had been debated in the court for several days was finally settled.
Let the King of Jin go to Jiangnan under the pretext of collecting books, and secretly investigate the corruption case of the salt administration in Jiangnan.
"I obey your order." King Jin accepted it.
The emperor was pleased and smiled with satisfaction.
After retiring from court, Prince Jin dealt with matters at the Ministry of Rites and did not return to the palace until the beginning of the You hour.
In Liuxuanyuan, after having dinner with the Concubine Dowager, Prince Jin told her that he was going to Jiangnan to collect books.
"How long will it take?" asked the Toffee.
"About three or four months." Prince Jin was not sure how much time it would take to investigate the case, so he gave it a generous estimate.
"It takes so long, so bring someone to take care of your daily life." The concubine wanted him to bring not a servant, but a concubine.
Jiang Changning lowered her eyelids and looked at the fan pendant in her hand, hiding the coldness in her eyes. Therefore, she would never be able to have a true heart-to-heart talk with the Concubine Dowager.
Prince Jin didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Mother, my son is going to do something, so there is no reason for him to bring a concubine with him. Mother, don't worry, this is not the first time my son goes out."
"That's right. Then you should do your job well and come back early." said the toffee.
"My son will be back as soon as he finishes his work. Please don't worry too much, mother."
The concubine smiled and said, "A mother worries about her son even when he is thousands of miles away. How can your mother not miss you when you are away from home?"
After the mother and son said many warm and caring words, Prince Jin took Jiang Changning away and returned to Rujingyuan.
After returning to the yard, Jiang Changning started packing luggage for Prince Jin.
Prince Jin pulled her aside and said, "Don't bother with it so late at night. It won't be too late to pack tomorrow. His Majesty has given me three days to pack my luggage."
Jiang Changning sat down next to him and said, "Others can go to Jiangnan to collect books, why do you have to go?"
She felt that the emperor had no good intentions in asking Prince Jin to leave the capital at this time.
(End of this chapter)