The largest courtyard in the Princess's Mansion is of course Fengluoyuan, but it is now empty. That was where the Princess lived before, and now it houses the Princess's tablet.
Shen Ruolan goes to pay her respects every day.
The second largest and best one is Qionghua Courtyard.
This Qionghua Courtyard was originally supposed to be where Princess Changle lived, but in order to observe the mourning period, she said that it was not appropriate to live in such a large and nice courtyard, so the Qionghua Courtyard has been empty for so many years.
Next to the Qionghua Garden is the Jinghong Courtyard, which is the courtyard of Prince Yongan. It is the third largest courtyard in the palace.
Then we arrived at the courtyard where Shen Ruolan and Wen Ruiqing currently lived.
Princess Changle smiled and said, "Since my sister is here, I will of course give her the largest and best courtyard to live in. I hope my sister can live comfortably."
Wen Ruiqing was very satisfied with Princess Changle's generosity and propriety. He smiled and praised: "You are a very sensible child."
As expected of a person with royal blood, he is generous and decent.
Prince Yongan said at this time: "Dad, Second Mother and Sister have been traveling for several days, they must be tired! Let's eat early and let them rest early!"
"Okay! Serve the food."
The family dined around a round table filled with dishes, including all kinds of delicacies from land and sea.
Shen Ruolan and Xing Qing sat at the very bottom.
Because there were maids serving them food, Shen Ruolan did not pick any food for Xing Qing this time.
Wen Ruiqing wanted to find a good marriage for Xingqing, but he didn't know what talents his daughter had, so he asked, "Xingqing, which of the following are you good at?"
Shen Ruolan can read and write beautifully. I heard that Shen Chongshan taught her when she was a child.
Gu also knows how to read, and was taught by Shen Zhongshan. Xing Qing should also be able to read and write, right
Xing Qing lowered her head and whispered, "I know a few words, but I can only recognize them, not write them. I am not good at playing the piano, chess, calligraphy or painting."
Wen Ruiqing frowned when he heard this. He only understood a few words
Can’t even write
Gu knows about herbs and embroidery, so she can make money! The money I used to go to Beijing to take the imperial examination was all earned by Gu and Shen Ruolan's embroidery!
Why doesn't she ask her husband to teach his two children
Besides, he gave back one hundred taels of silver that year.
Did Gu not want to spend the money on her own children? Did she use it all to treat that fickle lunatic
Princess Changle smiled and said, "Second Lady's embroidery skills are amazing. Many of my clothes are made by Second Lady. I think Sister's embroidery is also good!"
Wen Ruiqing's expression eased a little after hearing this, and he asked, "Besides embroidery, what other talents do you have?"
During every Qiqiao Festival, the imperial concubines in the palace would hold an embroidery competition. If one’s embroidery skills were outstanding, it would attract people’s attention!
Xing Qing: "I have rough hands and have never learned embroidery. Does growing vegetables and washing clothes count?"
Wen Ruiqing's face really turned black this time!
Are growing vegetables and washing clothes considered talents
Is she kidding
This kind of woman who only has good looks but no talent is not even as good as the courtesan in Zuichunlou!
How could she catch the eyes of those powerful and wealthy men in the capital
Wen Ruiqing was a little annoyed and didn't say anything else.
Asking too much will only make you angry!
It's so disappointing!
Shen Ruolan was also a little embarrassed. Why didn’t her mother teach Xingqing anything
The princess is proficient in everything from playing the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and is one of the four most talented women in the capital!
Even if you don't have money to learn calligraphy and painting, it's necessary to know how to write, right? It's also necessary to know how to embroider, right
Otherwise, how will Xingqing make clothes for her husband and children in the future
Princess Changle smiled and said, "The arts of music, chess, calligraphy and painting are all entertainment, and are actually useless. People cannot live without food for a day. I think that your ability to grow vegetables is a real skill! You can teach me how to grow vegetables in the future. As for music, chess, calligraphy and painting, we can first invite a teacher to come back and teach you. The teacher who taught me before is quite good. I will send a letter to invite him back tomorrow."
Shen Ruolan felt warm in her heart. The princess always made people feel warm whenever she spoke. "Then I'll trouble you, princess."
Xing Qing shook her head: "No, I have been ignorant since childhood and hate reading and writing. I am afraid I can't learn it."
Shen Ruolan said angrily, "How can you not learn to read and write? You have to learn to read and write from tomorrow. You have to learn the arts of music, chess, calligraphy and painting. These are compulsory courses for women in Beijing."
Princess Changle nodded: "Sister, you are very good at growing vegetables, but too much talent is always a burden, it will never go wrong for Sister to learn more!"
At this time, Nanny Yang reminded her, "Miss Xingqing still needs to learn some etiquette. Tomorrow, the princess must submit a letter to the palace and ask for the date to visit the empress dowager! Miss Xingqing must go to the capital to express her gratitude at that time."
Shen Ruolan's face straightened when she heard this: "Yes, this etiquette of entering the palace must be learned! Tomorrow, please teach Xingqing."
Princess Changle nodded and said with a smile: "Sister, learning etiquette will be hard, but don't be afraid, I will accompany you."
Shen Ruolan smiled and said, "When the princess was little, she learned etiquette so well that she cried in my arms. I was so distressed."
Princess Changle pretended to be angry and said, "Second Mother, you are bringing up something that is not relevant to you! I didn't do that!"
"Hehe... No, my princess is very smart, she learns things quickly, and she never cries!"
... ...
Xing Qing ate the food in the bowl quietly. She couldn't taste anything, but she felt that she had to eat. Eating would give her strength, and she couldn't waste food. It took a lot of effort to grow this bowl of rice.
Prince Yong'an lowered his head to eat, and his eyes would occasionally fall on the quiet woman.
~
Under the soft palace lanterns, Princess Changle was sitting at a round table drinking bird's nest. She gently asked Nanny Yang who was standing respectfully beside her: "Madam, have you sent my sister back to Qionghua Courtyard? Have you arranged for the maids to serve you?"
Nanny Yang bowed her head slightly and said respectfully, "My lord, it has been delivered! The maidservant has arranged green bamboo and embroidered balls."
Princess Changle nodded.
Cuizhu knows a little bit of martial arts, and people who know martial arts have sharp ears and sharp eyes. No matter what she wants to do secretly, she can't escape Cuizhu's eyes!
Moreover, she gave Cuizhu to her as a maid. Everyone would only think that she was kind and generous, giving her the maid who had always protected her!
Xiuqiu is smart and tight-lipped, and both are very good maids.
Princess Changle pushed the half-eaten bird's nest aside and said softly, "Good things should be shared with my sister. Mammy, add some water and give it to my sister! Bird's nest is the most nourishing."
"Yes!" Nanny Yang responded respectfully.
She picked up the small bowl of bird's nest on the table and spat into it with a "Pah!" sound: "I'll take it to Miss Xingqing right away!"
Princess Changle's eyes flashed with satisfaction: "Thank you for your hard work, Madam!"
Nanny Yang brought the bird's nest to Qionghua Courtyard for Xingqing.
Xing Qing took a look at the thin, crystal clear bird's nest in the bowl.
She thought of how Xingnong would take some vegetables home every day when she was teaching the chef to cook in the restaurant. She also took bird's nest home. Xingnong also said that bird's nest was the saliva of swallows.
Xing Qing shook her head: "I don't want to eat saliva, I'll reward you!"
Nanny Yang: “… ”
How on earth did she know there was saliva in it
Xing Qing: “…”
What kind of reaction is this
You're not going to really spit in it, are you
~
It was late at night and the whole city was plunged into darkness.
A pot of grass with only seven leaves at the bedside quietly exudes a faint fragrance.
In the evening, Shen Nan took back a letter left by Xing Qing from the Yingke Tower. Xing Nong was relieved to learn that Xing Qing had arrived safely in Tianan City yesterday and would arrive in the capital today.
Xingnong came out of the creation space, lay on the bed and closed his eyes to sleep.
She planned to have a good sleep tonight and get enough rest so that she could visit the princess's mansion tomorrow night.
Xing Nong smelled the faint scent of the herb and gradually fell asleep. At this time, a figure came silently to the roof of her room.