Langhuan Bookstore has five floors. The first and second floors cater to ordinary customers, while the third floor houses precious ancient books. If you want to go up there, you have to get permission from the store owner.
There are only a handful of people who can go up to the fourth and fifth floors, and among them is King Jin.
Prince Jin went up to the fifth floor alone, and his entourage stayed on the fourth floor.
There were four rooms on the fifth floor. Prince Jin walked to the innermost one and pushed the door open.
There was already a person in the room. When he saw Prince Jin coming in, he stood up and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty."
If the emperor were here, he would definitely recognize that this person is Lei Chao, the deputy general of the Northwest Army Guard, whom he summoned yesterday and who was supposed to leave Beijing today.
"Sorry for the long wait." King Jin nodded with a smile, "Please sit down."
"Your Majesty, yesterday His Majesty asked about the military affairs of the Northwest Prefecture and seemed dissatisfied with the number of recruits."
"He is not dissatisfied, he just wants to send someone to take over. After meeting you, His Majesty summoned the deputy commander of the imperial guards." Prince Jin said lightly.
Lei Chao's heart trembled. Hearing this, he knew that the prince knew everything that happened in front of the emperor. Fortunately, he did not think of hiding it.
When Lei Chao met with Prince Jin, Jiang Changning returned to Jiang's residence, sent Liu Ye away, and told Xiulan, "Go call Xiaochun over."
After a while, Xiaochun came in and saluted, "Miss, I am here, please give me your orders."
"Arrange a few smart people to keep a close eye on Liu Ye and find out how she passed the message to the palace." Jiang Changning's face darkened. "I don't want the people in the palace to know what I eat tonight tomorrow morning."
"Miss, if she dares to spread news about you to the palace, it is better to kill her." Xiaochun made a gesture of cutting her neck.
"It's not that simple. She is the Queen Mother's person. Killing her will cause the Queen Mother's dissatisfaction. It will be even more difficult to prevent the Queen Mother from sending people in secret. It is better to target her who is in the open."
"I know. I will have someone keep a close eye on her and not let her pass on a single word. Even if someone wants to pass on a word, it will be the young lady who asks her to do so."
"Xiaochun, you're right." Jiang Changning smiled, "Okay, go get busy."
Xiaochun bowed and walked out.
Time flies, and in a blink of an eye it is the 15th, the Mid-Autumn Festival.
"Miss, Uncle Wu sent two large baskets of crabs." Fu Cui came in with a smile and reported: "I asked them to send the crabs to the kitchen."
Crabs are the fattest around the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Jiang Changning thought of the delicious crabs and immediately his mouth watered. He said with a smile, "Ask Madam Cui to warm up a pot of liquor."
Fu Cui responded with a smile and walked out.
At noon, Jiang Changning had lunch in the pavilion beside the pond. "There are no outsiders. Let's all sit down and eat together."
The four maids thanked them and sat down, but each of them only occupied half of the chair.
Steamed crabs retain their original flavor and preserve their freshness, deliciousness and nutrition to the greatest extent.
Use crab eight pieces, take out the crab shell, eat the crab roe, take out the crab meat and dip it in a special sauce.
Crabs are cold in nature. Xiulan waited for her to finish eating a crab and quickly picked up the wine glass, "Girl, have a drink to calm down."
Jiang Changning took two sips of wine from her hand, leaned back in his chair, half-closed his eyes, and said leisurely: "Drinking warm wine, eating delicious crabs, feeling the warm wind, and enjoying the most beautiful scenery, it is really the joy of life."
She was suppressed at the banker's house, but after moving out, she became free.
It’s a pity that these good days only lasted for a few short months.
After getting tipsy, Jiang Changning raised his glass and said, "When life is good, you should enjoy it to the fullest, and don't let the golden cup face the moon in vain. Alas, there is still no moon."
"It will be available in the evening." Fu Cuihan said with a smile.
Jiang Changning stood up shakily, "Girls." He burped a little, "I'll take you out for a parade tonight to release river lanterns."
"Miss, have you finished your meal? If you have, go and take a rest. You can go out at night only if you have enough rest." Xiulan wiped her hands and went forward to support Jiang Changning.
Jiang Changning was sent back to her room. Xiulan asked the maid to fetch some warm water, washed her face, combed her hair, and coaxed her to bed.
When Jiang Changning woke up, it was already 3 p.m.
At the beginning of the You hour, after a light dinner, Jiang Changning ordered Fang Ju to bring a set of light blue scholar's uniform that had been prepared long ago.
Jiang Changning changed into the clothes of a scholar, but one could still tell at a glance that she was a woman.
Her long black hair was tied on top of her head with a jade hairpin.
Jiang Changning, who was wearing men's clothes, was holding a folding fan with a picture of blue sea, blue sky and mountains painted on it.
"Let's go." Jiang Changning left the Jiang residence with four maids and several people who were responsible for protecting her, and headed for Zhuoyingtai.
"Wow, I didn't expect the streets to be so lively at night." Fu Cui exclaimed.
"Today is a holiday and there is no curfew. Normally, it's not this lively." Xiaochun is not like the four maids who are trapped in the farmhouse all year round and cannot go out. She is very familiar with what's happening in the neighborhood.
The streets were noisy and crowded with people coming and going, and vendors on both sides were loudly selling all kinds of cakes and small items.
On the banks of the Yudai River, there are already girls releasing river lanterns.
On the bank, willows are swaying, with small and exquisite lanterns hanging on them. They flicker in the river breeze, just like stars in the sky.
Looking from afar, it connects with the sky, like the Milky Way suddenly pouring down.
"It's so beautiful!" Fang Ju turned around and asked Jiang Changning, "Girl, can you draw it?"
"Let's give it a try." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
At this time, the Zhuoying Terrace was full of people drinking tea and listening to books.
Prince Jin sat alone by the window, looking out and playing with a Ru kiln teacup in his hand.
The light green teacup, which looked like jade but wasn't, made his hands look even whiter and longer, with distinct joints.
Seeing that the prince was bored, Chang Youzhong whispered: "Prince, Gu..."
As soon as he started to speak, King Jin perked up, raised the corners of his lips, and smiled: "You are really naughty."
It turned out that King Jin saw Jiang Changning, who was wearing men's clothes and walking towards this side with her maid.
Prince Jin put the teacup on the table, stood up and left.
Chang Youzhong quickly took out a piece of silver and threw it on the table, then followed behind Prince Jin, "Prince, please slow down. It's getting late. Be careful not to slip."
Prince Jin walked hurriedly, walked past those who greeted him, and went straight to the Zhuoying Terrace.
However, the streets were crowded with people and it was hard to find her.
"Your Highness, girls come here to release river lanterns," Chang Youzhong reminded.
Prince Jin started walking towards the river. After taking a few steps, he heard a surprised female voice shouting, "Prince."
King Jin stopped and looked. He didn't recognize the woman who called him.
He recognized the two men beside the woman; they were the eldest and second sons of the Right Vice Minister of Rites.
The identity of this woman is about to be revealed.
Chen Dalang and Chen Erlang, along with their sister, came over and saluted the Prince of Jin. "Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, Your Majesty."
"No need to be so polite." King Jin raised his hand casually and prepared to pass them and continue to look for people by the river.
Chen Yi suddenly said: "Miss Jiang, no, it's the Princess of Chun'an County."
Prince Jin saw, in the dim light, a slender and graceful girl holding a lotus lantern with a big smile on her face.
Jiang Changning did not hear what Chen Yi said. She had just bought the river lanterns and turned around. Coincidentally, she saw Chen Yi and Prince Jin standing next to her.
(End of this chapter)