On the fourth day of the temple meeting, Chu Jinyao went to visit the ancestors of the Great Yan Dynasty, and since then he has been a member of the famous royal family. After the temple meeting, the tedious wedding finally came to an end, and Qin Yi returned to his usual routine.
Early this morning, Chu Jinyao heard someone knocking on the door in a daze, and then it was empty. Chu Jinyao's chaotic mind slowly remembered, by the way, Qin Yi is going to return to court today.
When the prince came to court, she, the prince concubine, was going to get up to serve the prince and change his clothes. Chu Jinyao crawled out of the quilt with difficulty, Qin Yi heard the movements in the bed tent, and first let Xiao Linzi and others be quiet, then he walked to the small house-like marriage bed and gently held Chu Jinyao down.
"It's still early outside, you don't need to get up so early."
"His Royal Highness is in the morning today, I have to serve you in court clothes, how can I continue to sleep peacefully?"
"It's okay, there are Xiao Linzi and the others." Qin Yi said, "You don't know how to wear court clothes anyway, so go to sleep first."
It really makes sense, Chu Jinyao's heart is shaken, and there is still a hint of hesitation: "His Royal Highness, then I continue to sleep?"
"Well, go to sleep."
Chu Jinyao lay back in the warm quilt, and felt a shameful sigh of relief. She was trapped in the soft quilt, with only a small face showing, and her long black hair poured down on the pillow like water. Chu Jinyao found that Qin Yi was still sitting beside the bed looking at her, she was a little embarrassed, and said softly, "Your Highness, I will learn how to wear court clothes right away, and I will be able to serve you in changing clothes later."
Qin Yi laughed and covered her eyes with his hands: "I know, sleep in peace."
Xiao Linzi and a few other attendants stood outside with their court clothes in their hands. After finding movement inside, the prince went back to appease the prince without saying a word, and the two of them whispered for a long time in the bed tent. Xiao Linzi turned his head and winked with the eunuch next to him.
However, as soon as Qin Yi came out, several people immediately returned to their solemn expressions, with no expression on their faces. They had a clear division of labor, served Qin Yi in an orderly manner, put on a full set of princely uniforms, and then hugged Qin Yi to the Fengtian Palace.
Qin Yi left before dawn, and Chu Jinyao heard the movement outside gradually disappearing, and then she fell into a deep sleep with peace of mind, and only woke up leisurely at the time she used to get up.
Sitting on the bed, she vigorously moved her muscles and bones, then put on her coat and asked Linglong, Lilac and others to come in.
In the future, Qin Yi will go to court every day, and she will also go to greet the queen. After all, she said plainly that she is a royal daughter-in-law.
It's just that getting up early every day in winter is too difficult, and the men who have to go to the morning court can't help it, but the female family members are already spoiled, and the queen has to sleep in late. So the queen made a rule that the concubines in the harem would go to pay their respects every Monday or Friday, and they did not have to walk around every day. The same goes for Chu Jinyao's daughter-in-law.
However, it was said that Chu Jinyao was a daughter-in-law, and the queen could say that, but she couldn't really do it. Therefore, Chu Jinyao had to go to Kunning Palace every day. Even if she didn't see the queen in the end, she just walked for nothing, it was better than being labelled unfilial.
When Chu Jinyao went to Kunning Palace, the sun had already risen, and it was warm on people. Chu Jinyao was wearing a silver-red cloak, holding a stove in her hands and a furry apron around her neck. She walked with a group of palace servants under the corridor of Qianning Palace and walked towards Lanyu with a smile: "Aunt Lanyu. , is your maiden up?"
Lan Yu was the aunt in charge who finally led her in when Xiao Qi called Chu Jinyao into the palace last time. Lan Yu is not too young, her eyes have fine wrinkles, she is the most powerful and most reliant confidant by the Queen's side. He went up and down the palace, and when he saw Lanyu, he had to bow down and call out "Aunt Lanyu".
Seeing Chu Jinyao, Lan Yu also stopped, waited for Chu Jinyao to approach, and said a thousand blessings: "Prince Concubine came early, Empress has just woken up, and she is still combing her hair inside."
Chu Jinyao nodded and smiled at Lan Yu, and said, "I'd like to ask my aunt to pass it on for me."
Lan Yu smiled. Chu Jinyao waited outside the house for a while. The heavy curtain hanging outside the door of the palace was lifted, and a little palace maid came out to spread the word: "The maid, please come in. The concubine will come with the servants."
The ground dragon was burning in the palace, which was much warmer than outside. Chu Jinyao took off his cloak under the service of the palace servants, and went inside after warming up his body.
"The Queen Mother."
After Xiao Qi saw the person in the mirror, he smiled lightly: "Didn't you just come over every Monday or Friday to greet you, why are you here again?"
"I have nothing to do when I stay in the palace, so I will come here to my mother and learn something."
After listening to Xiao Qi, he laughed: "You are newly married Yan'er, it is the time when the young couple is in a good relationship. It's better to stay with the prince more. Why do you always run to me?"
Chu Jinyao lowered his head pretending to be frightened: "The prince naturally has to be busy with business, so how can he hang around in the harem? As a prince concubine, I naturally have to persuade my husband and my aunt to serve my aunt. How can I betray the prince?"
Xiao Qi smiled and nodded: "You are absolutely right." However, he was thinking, this fool.
Sure enough, it's not a girl whose mother is pulling her big, not only can't keep up with her scheming and sophistication, but it's also a far cry from winning men.
After Xiao Qi ding ding dang, she put the jewelry on her head, and the hairpins and hairpins inlaid with various gems were piled on a table. Chu Jinyao stood in the back, handing Xiao Qi a hairpin from time to time, even if she was serving her mother-in-law to dress up.
She is a crown princess after all. If she puts her posture too low and brings water to Xiao Qi's back end, wouldn't she grow other people's ambition and destroy her own prestige. The relationship between Qin Yi and Empress Xiao Qi is well known. Even if she wants to maintain the illusion of peace with Empress Xiao Qi, she can't lower herself into the dust. At that time, Qin Yi's face is not good, and others will laugh at her in private.
Therefore, serving the mother-in-law is really a technical job. You can't stand here and do nothing, and you can't do too much like a maid. Thinking like Chu Jinyao, doing something that looks like a lot, but in fact is decent and easy, just right.
Xiao Qi is the most beautiful after the fact. She was not satisfied with her hair bun several times, and she changed her head and face one after another. Standing beside Chu Jinyao, she was stunned when she saw the many hairpins that Xiao Qi had only worn once and refused to use again.
As the queen mother, the world is more luxurious, and Chu Jinyao can understand it. But it's almost done...
If you use your own money, then no matter how extravagant it is, it is your own business, and no one else has the right to talk about it. However, Xiao Qi later used the money from the national treasury...
Chu Jinyao sighed secretly for a while, and felt that she had nothing to say. Xiao Qi is like this, so since the emperor has the energy to respond to women's needs, how big should the daily expenses of his entire harem be
No wonder Marquis Changxing always seemed hesitant to speak when he mentioned the current saint, and no wonder the cabinet elders regarded Qin Yi more than his own grandson. I am afraid that many people in the court are waiting silently, waiting for the emperor to die, and the prince will come to power.
Chu Jinyao quickly quelled her rebellious thoughts. Others can reveal such thoughts by mistake, but she absolutely cannot. She is the Crown Princess, and her mistakes will implicate Qin Yi. She must not show any disrespect or urgency.
Thinking of this, Chu Jinyao suddenly felt that the royal family was not prosperous, but they were very interesting to each other. As the crown prince, Qin Yi was not courteous to the virtuous and corporal, and was not as gentle as jade. Instead, he offended the empress by himself and openly resisted the decree. As for the emperor, in the face of such a less typical prince, although he often has a bad face, he never had the idea of changing the prince.
Chu Jinyao turned out to be the same as everyone else, thinking that Qin Yi had a strong temper, so he often contradicted Sheng Shang. Chu Jinyao was always worried that Qin Yi was too reckless and annoyed the emperor. She quietly reminded Qin Yi on the second day of the wedding. However, after observing closely these days, she found that things might not be what she imagined.
A perfect prince is terrifying. Qin Yi and the emperor have long-standing grudges. If Qin Yi still looks like a modest gentleman, an outsider like Chu Jinyao will feel that the prince is very rich, let alone the emperor. However, Qin Yi unabashedly showed his resentment in front of the emperor, brushing his presence in front of the emperor day after day, but every time it was just right, making the emperor angry, but not angry.
The grasp of people's hearts and timing is terrifying.
Chu Jinyao deeply admires that Qin Yi is Qin Yi, no wonder he has been able to sit on the throne of the prince for more than ten years, even if Xiao Qi is also in front of Qin Yi, he can't get good. Now it is true that Empress Qi is the only one who favors the harem. It seems that she has the upper hand, but Prince Qin Yi, he can totally afford to wait, but what about Empress Qi
Queen Qi is now the sand in the water, looking majestic and majestic, but every day and every year, her advantages are lost. So Chu Jinyao has the same plan now, she doesn't fight with Xiao Qi, she just waits and spends, she can win.
Xiao Qi was picking and choosing for a long time. After an hour passed, she was finally satisfied with her dress, and Chu Jinyao also stood for an hour. After Xiao Qi looked at the mirror with satisfaction, she reached out to touch the ruby hairpin on her head, and said to Chu Jinyao without any sincerity: "Prince Concubine is tired from standing. I have combed my hair for so long today, you have been waiting for it."
"Niangniang is worrying too much. You are naturally beautiful. I watched you dressing and learned a lot without knowing it. I can't wait to watch it for a while, why are you tired?"
After Xiao Qi laughed, there is no woman who doesn't like being praised for her appearance, and Xiao Qi is conceited about her appearance, even more so. She stood up slowly and let Lan Yu help her to go out: "Prince Concubine is really good at talking. The days in the palace are boring, so you came to talk to my palace and make me happy."
After Xiao Qi suddenly used "Ben Gong", Chu Jinyao secretly raised her heart. When Xiao Qi's tone was good, she always called herself "I". If she changed her honorary title, she would definitely feel unhappy.
She was fine just now, and no one made Xiao Qi unhappy. What did she think of, and her mood changed so much
Chu Jinyao pondered what Xiao Qi had just said, and slowly realized that the crux of the matter should be the emperor.
After all, even if Empress Xiao Qi is still popular, but there are so many beauties in the harem, and the emperor is divided every day, how many days can he stay here in Empress Xiao Qi? Chu Jinyao has seen the grand occasion of the emperor's harem with his own eyes, and it is no exaggeration to say that she is beautiful.
This is the matter of the emperor and Xiao Qi, and Chu Jinyao doesn't plan to take care of it except to think about it in his heart. What is the relationship between the father-in-law and the mother-in-law, and what does it have to do with her? Besides, this is the stepmother.
When Chu Jinyao came, it was just at sunrise, and he was full of vigor, but after Xiao Qi finished lazily dressing up, an hour had passed, and most of the day was spent like this.
The people in the palace are all living such a leisurely and extravagant life. They are all in their prime, and the second princess has just finished grooming. She came over to greet Xiao Qi. After Xiao Qi saw her daughter, she immediately smiled happily. She thought that Chu Jinyao was in the way, so she sent Chu Jinyao away in a few words.
Chu Jinyao couldn't ask for anything in her heart, so she took the opportunity to leave. After walking out of the Kunning Palace, Chu Jinyao seemed to have a feeling, and glanced at the second princess who was sitting in front of the window and acting coquettishly behind Xiao Qi.
There are three princes and three princesses in the palace. Qin Yi, the second prince, and the eldest princess were all born before Xiao Qi entered the palace. The third prince and second princess came from Xiao Qi, that is to say, they ascended after Xiao Qi. After ascending to the post, except for Xiao Qi herself, only the third princess in the palace was born safely.
The mother of the third princess was pregnant while Xiao Qi was pregnant. Because of this incident, the third princess has followed behind the second princess so far, and they are obedient and dare not be independent.
Chu Jinyao suddenly remembered the palace maid she accidentally swept across when she went out that day.
Chu Jinyao thought a lot in her heart, but her expression remained the same. The water here is too deep, she had better not set foot in it, even if she has to use it, she must throw it on the blade.
Chu Jinyao returned to the Ciqing Palace thoughtfully, and shortly after she sat down, Linglong walked in lightly, and quietly said to Chu Jinyao, "Prince Concubine, these four people seem to be in trouble these days. Er Xue Forbearance everywhere, it seems that I want to restore the trust of the four of them."
"It's not up to her." Chu Jinyao said, "Come out from the silk in the box, pick the one with the light blue Ruyi twisted branches, and give it to Er Xue as a reward."
Linglong took the order, and she said: "Prince Concubine, the two maids who taught you the rules before have nothing to do, and rely on your status as a nanny to teach you in the palace, look, are we..."
Chu Jinyao also had a headache after hearing this. These two maids were sent by the queen, and they were the names that taught Chu Jinyao the rules before marriage. Due to the name of raising nanny, Chu Jinyao doesn't want to touch them, but he can't let them manage things, so he can only offer high sacrifices and spend money to buy peace. These two people can get a lot of support without doing anything, but they are still restless, pointing fingers in the Ciqing Palace, trying to play the prestige of the prince concubine benefactor. How could Chu Jinyao keep them and continue to ruin her reputation, not to mention, if she wanted to continue to hide from the Queen, these two people must be removed.
However, how to remove it is also very important.
Chu Jinyao thought for a while, then shook her head at Linglong: "We can't take action, so let's keep them for now. Later, I have other arrangements."
Linglong gave a "hey" and went down.
When Chu Jinyao came back from Kunning Palace, it was already most of the morning. She asked a little about the palace, and it was time for lunch. Just now, Xiao Linzi came over to report that Qin Yi would not be back at noon today, and Chu Jinyao could only eat by himself.
The meals in the palace were all delivered from the imperial kitchen, and no one dared to treat the food sent to the East Palace harshly. On such a cold day, it was still steaming hot when it was delivered. Obviously, the imperial kitchen made the East Palace’s rule first, and waited for the pot to come out. The little eunuch was sent over immediately. Chu Jinyao asked people to give the little eunuch a reward. The little eunuch squeezed the money in his purse and was so happy that he couldn't see his teeth, so he quickly knelt down and kowtowed to Chu Jinyao.
The rules in the palace are big. According to different positions, each palace stipulates several dishes and several soups for three meals a day. If the empress in the palace has something else to eat, she will spend money to invite the imperial kitchen to open a small stove. There are only a few large palaces in the palace that have their own small kitchens, such as Kunning Palace, Cining Palace, Ciqing Palace, etc. However, these stoves can only cook porridge and soup. If you want to cook big dishes, you still have to go to the imperial dining room. .
But even so, having a small kitchen is much more convenient. For example, when Chu Jinyao wants to use hot water, he never has to consider other people's glances. Whenever you want to use it, let the people in your palace burn it.
After eating, Chu Jinyao slept comfortably on the couch for half an hour, and then got up to arrange other things. Ciqing Palace is the place where the princes of all dynasties lived. It is renovated all the year round and is solemn and spacious. From the outside, Ciqing Palace looks like a long yard, and the first floor in front is the outer hall. Qin Yi reads books, meets close officials, and receives imperial decrees here.
Walk through the hall in the middle to the inner hall. Walking into the hall, you will face a shadow wall, bypassing the shadow wall, the front is five tall palaces, sitting north to south, with three pagodas in the front and back, and aft rooms on the left and right sides. On the east and west sides of the main hall are three side halls, and on both sides of the south hall are four upside-down rooms for the placement of servants. The eaves on the four sides are connected by hand verandas, and there are small doors at the four corners, which can be easily merged into the outside corridors when they are open. Once closed, this is an independent palace complex.
There is also a small courtyard behind the main hall. A small door is opened behind the ear room. It is not connected to the outside palace road. If you want to go out, you must pass through the main hall where Chu Jinyao is located. It is now used to store large items. When there are other concubines in the East Palace, it is time to move here.
Chu Jinyao lived in the main hall. The main hall was five rooms wide, and three pagodas were extended from the north to the south. The space was quite wide. Whether it is a palace or a folk garden, it is most taboo to see the bottom at a glance, so the palace is divided into many spaces with screens, partitions, and gauze cabinets. Chu Jinyao and Qin Yi's bedroom is the most inner one in the west. Chu Jinyao often used to greet guests and meet people in the three Baoshas in the front, and the three Baoshas at the back were close to their bedroom, which was already a very private place.
Chu Jinyao plans to organize the decoration of the main hall of Ciqing Palace today. Qin Yi used to live here alone, and he often stayed in the outer hall in front, so he rarely used other places except the bedroom. It's not that the rest of the palace is dusty and the furnishings are deserted. On the contrary, the agate and porcelain on the Baibao Pavilion are cleaned every day, and the hanging curtains on both sides of the artificially separated partition doors are also regularly replaced. However, although the furnishings in the palace are gorgeous, But there was always a cold feeling, Chu Jinyao wanted to make it more popular.
Chu Jinyao walked to the east and looked at it slowly. The lighting here is good and the place is big enough, it is suitable for a study. Qin Yi's own study was in the front hall, and Chu Jinyao brought pen, ink, qin and chess in her dowry. Although she didn't use it often, she also wanted to have a place for her to calm down and practice calligraphy.
No matter where Chu Jinyao goes, there will be a large number of palace maids and eunuchs behind her. Chu Jinyao looked at the east room for a while, and after thinking about how to change it, he instructed the little eunuch behind him: "Move these vases and this wooden lattice to the front Baoxia, and push this wooden cabinet. Go to the corner and expose the window first..."
Chu Jinyao was commanding everyone here, and the voice soon spread outside. The maid of the palace, Qiu Chan, ran in and saw that this group of people was moving the decorations of His Royal Highness.
Chu Jinyao came back from outside, frowned when she heard this, and said lightly, "I asked them to change it."
Qiu Chan turned around and saw that it was Chu Jinyao, so she endured her displeasure and bowed to Chu Jinyao, and then said, "Prince Concubine, I wish you all the best. Concubine, this is His Highness's property. You haven't touched it for so many years. would be unhappy."
Chu Jinyao glanced at Qiuchan and recognized that this was the maid of honor beside Qin Yi, who had been working with Ziyan for many years. Qiu Chan is still in charge of the affairs of the inner palace of Ciqing Palace. Chu Jinyao didn't want to appear anxious, so he left the palace as usual, and put all the important tasks in the hands of these old people. On the contrary, the maids Linglong and Lilac beside Chu Jinyao, etc., have only been with Chu Jinyao these days and have not yet assigned affairs.
Chu Jinyao's tone was flat, and he calmly choked back: "This is a matter between me and Your Highness. If he doesn't like it, he will naturally tell me. Why didn't His Highness say anything, you jumped out in a hurry. ?"
Seeing Qin Yi's face, Chu Jinyao did not move his deployment until she was familiar with it, but this did not mean that a small palace maid could question her decision. Chu Jin looked at it for a while, and found that Qiu Chan was still standing there, Chu Jin Yao glanced at it and said, "Qiu Chan, they still have to move things, if you have nothing else to do, don't get in the way, give way first. open it."
Qiu Chan pursed her lips and did not speak. Another maid, Swift, heard the voice coming in. Seeing this scene, she quickly pulled Qiu Chan away: "Prince Concubine forgive me, Qiu Chan is straightforward and she is used to asking anything directly. , not to neglect the Crown Princess's order. The slave servant apologizes to the Crown Princess on her behalf! If the Crown Princess wants to move something, the servant servant will help."
Chu Jinyao glanced at Swift and Qiu Chan, Qiu Chan was pulled behind by Swift and seemed dissatisfied, but Swift held her wrist firmly. Chu Jinyao didn't have the heart to bother with the two palace maids, so she tapped a few words, then waved her hand and said, "Although I'm not as good as Your Highness in the East Palace, I don't like people who can't even figure out things, so I ran in a hurry. Come in and block my order. This time, you are the first offender, and you are also in charge of people outside. I will give you this face, and I will not hold you accountable for your dereliction of duty. If there is another time, I will not be able to protect you. Okay, let's go out. "
Swift hurriedly saluted Chu Jinyao, and then pulled Qiu Chan out. After reaching No Man's Land, Swift turned her head and glared at her: "Are you crazy, that's the Crown Princess, and you actually question the meaning of the Crown Princess?"
"But that is the decoration of His Royal Highness. It has been like this for many years. We have to wipe both sides every day. How long has she been here? Can you change it if you can say it?"
Swift couldn't believe what she heard: "What are you thinking! The Crown Princess is His Highness's wife, and the entire internal affairs of the East Palace are under the Crown Princess's control, but it's just a few things, what's the matter?"
Qiu Chan is still dissatisfied. The two of them were arguing when a group of people suddenly came out of the hall. Qiu Chan's eyes lit up and ran over immediately: "His Royal Highness!"
Xiao Linzi reached out and stopped Qiu Chan. Xiao Linzi has a very high status in the East Palace. Although Qiu Chan and Swift are big palace maids in charge of internal affairs, they are incomparable with Xiao Linzi, a big celebrity who attends to the prince. Qiu Chan was very excited to see Xiao Linzi, she called out "Eunuch Lin", and then bowed to Qin Yi across the crowd: "Your Highness, you can't enter the hall for the time being."
Qin Yi couldn't help but stop and asked, "Why?"
"The crown princess is instructing her servants to move things, saying that she wants to drastically change the decoration of the East Palace."
Qin Yi was upset and startled him, he thought something was wrong. Qin Yi didn't care much and continued to walk inside, saying, "she can change it if she wants, just don't knock herself down."
Qiu Chan's eyes widened in disbelief, that is what His Highness has been accustomed to for more than ten years, so how can you change it if you change it! Qin Yi walked away quickly, Qiu Chan lowered her head and bit her lip silently.
Swift sent Qin Yi off to the side, and after Qin Yi entered the house, she walked to Qiu Chan's side and looked at Qiu Chan with clear eyes: "I will hide today's matter for the time being, and I won't tell Aunt Ziyan. You can do it yourself, if Next time, don't blame me for not reminding you."
Chu Jinyao tossed around in the house for a long time, and managed to make a rough appearance. She vaguely heard that Qin Yi was back, and immediately put down what she was doing and walked to the bright room.
"His Royal Highness?" After Chu Jinyao came out, he found out that it was Qin Yi, and was overjoyed, "His Royal Highness, why did you come back so early today?"
"Wenhua Palace is fine, I'll be back first."
Actually not. Qin Yi lived in the Ciqing Palace, but he dealt with the daily affairs of the court, and it was in the Wenhua Palace that the emperor approved the red. Wenhua Hall is very close to Wenyuan Pavilion, where the cabinet is located, and is only separated by a door, and from Wenyuan Pavilion to the Prince's residence Ciqing Palace, it is only a cup of tea.
So, the prince is really a very important position. Inner Neng often sees the emperor in person, and outer energy gets along with everyone in the cabinet day and night. It is really no exaggeration to say that the prince is the heir.
In the past, Qin Yi, because of his sensitive identity, would always stay in the outer hall for a while when he returned from dealing with government affairs in Wenhua Hall, discussing recent gains and losses with East Palace Zhanshi, or read a book for a while, and calm down. But recently, Qin Yi wanted to go back as soon as the affairs of Wenhua Palace were over.
There is no need to know about these Chu Jinyao. Qin Yi habitually pulled Chu Jinyao over and asked, "I heard that you are going to clean up the study today? Is it too boring to stay by yourself?"
"Not really." Chu Jinyao was embarrassed to admit it, but shied away and said, "I always feel that I'm too bad, and I want to make up for it while I'm free in the afternoon."
Qin Yi was intrigued: "What do you want to study?"
Chu Jinyao took Qin Yi to read the books he brought. Qin Yi held Chu Jinyao with one hand and pulled out a few books with the other. After reading the titles roughly, he couldn't help laughing.
"What are you doing with these?"
"Tutoring the Four Books and Five Classics." Chu Jinyao replied seriously, "I went to see Baoqing County Master that time, and I heard from them that they have been disciplined by their families since they were young, and Zhao Lanhui even followed the brothers in the clan to study. Woolen cloth."
Qin Yi's laughter became more and more uncontrollable. He hugged Chu Jinyao and sat on the side of the couch, and looked at Chu Jinyao with a smile: "You believe in such words."