Winter came quickly. This winter was not as cold as last year, but there was more snowfall than last year. It snowed every few days. Fortunately, there was no heavy snow, just some light snow and scattered snowflakes. At first, the snow could not stand, but as more snow accumulated, it gradually stood still.
Zhulan and her daughter were invited by the Crown Princess to go to the Crown Prince's Mansion to appreciate the flowers. There was a greenhouse in the Mansion. Zhulan had always heard that it was built by the Crown Prince specially for the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess had never invited the wives of officials before.
Xue Han deliberately took a detour back to her mother's house to walk with her mother. Zhu Lan asked, "Who is looking after Lin Xi?"
Xue Han smiled, "Mom, have you forgotten that today is the day when the Hanlin Academy is closed, and Rongchuan is at home looking after his daughter!"
Zhulan slapped her head and said, "Look at my memory. I'm old and my memory is not very good."
Xue Han listened to the sound of snow falling on the roof of the carriage shed, "It's snowing today, I really don't want to go out."
Zhulan didn't want to either. Winter was the best time to stay indoors. "A year has passed, and the Crown Prince has been in charge of government affairs for quite some time. As the future queen mother, the Crown Princess is preparing to enjoy the flowers. Enjoying the flowers is secondary. The main thing is to meet the officials' wives."
Xue Han's eyes widened, and she leaned close to her mother's ear and asked, "Is this a preparation for succession?"
Zhulan nodded slightly. This was roughly what it meant. The Crown Princess would not be so high-profile without the permission of the Queen and the Crown Prince. The cautious Crown Princess would not be so high-profile.
The Crown Princess arrived very quickly. After getting off the carriage, Xue Han saw wives of officials of the fourth rank and above. Almost all the ones she knew were there, but there were also many she didn't know.
The maid led the way. A shed had already been set up in the garden. The glass greenhouse could be seen from afar. Zhulan's eyes were filled with envy at the sight of so much glass.
Xue Han also saw it and liked it. It should be said that all the women present liked it.
The Crown Princess came out and enjoyed the jealous looks, especially those from Princess Liang.
Princess Liang said, "The Crown Prince's Mansion has a lot of money. Only the Crown Prince's Consort could build such a large shed."
The voice fell and then changed again, "It's just that colored glaze is expensive and hard to find, and the Prince's Mansion has so much at once, it really is the Prince's Mansion."
Zhulan turned her head to look at Princess Liang. Princess Liang had a very sour face. Indeed, Prince Liang's Mansion was not having a good time now. Every day there were reports exposing the old secrets. Princess Liang's family was implicated. The Crown Prince needed Prince Liang, and Prince Liang was fine, but as Prince Liang's accomplice, Princess Liang's family would not be polite.
Princess Qi was also envious, envious of the Crown Prince's love for her, but now, "Fourth brother's sister, I heard yesterday that your brother was dismissed from office?"
Princess Chu has suffered a lot from Princess Liang, and she would be sorry if she didn't step on her now. "Second sister-in-law, you are out of date. Fourth sister-in-law's family has no more officials and has been dismissed. All of Fourth sister-in-law's branches are under investigation. Oh, Fourth sister-in-law is really generous. I thought I wouldn't see Fourth sister-in-law today!"
Zhulan was peeling oranges and eating them happily. She would give a few slices to her daughter from time to time. They were cool, sweet and very delicious.
Princess Liang's face turned blue. She turned around abruptly and glared at Zhulan. Zhulan almost choked and turned her head slowly. The beginning of Prince Liang's tragedy was all thanks to their family.
The Crown Princess spoke up at this time, "The glass of this greenhouse was given by my father. It is also because your Highness is filial. There are not many vegetables in winter. In order for my father and mother to eat more vegetables, the Crown Prince personally planted vegetables in winter. My father and mother were very moved and rewarded the glass."
Zhulan didn't believe it when she heard this. If the prince was the only one growing vegetables, he wouldn't have built such a large greenhouse for the princess. Apparently the princess also did it herself. When the prince was busy, it was always the princess who took care of him.
The Queen is really good at choosing a daughter-in-law and she is personally involved in the decision-making for the Crown Princess. It is natural for the Crown Prince to love and respect the Crown Princess.
Princess Liang shut up. They all knew that the Prince's Mansion had been preparing winter vegetables, but they didn't expect that they would be sent to the palace.
The Princess of Qi couldn't help but stretch out her hand. With all kinds of secret methods to maintain her hands, her hands were soft and tender. She seldom touched needlework with her hands, let alone growing vegetables. Obviously, she also thought of the Crown Princess and followed suit. The Crown Princess has always been a smart person.
The Crown Princess explained, and was very satisfied with the official's wife's expression. She smiled at Xue Han and said, "I thought I could see Lin Xi today, but now my hope has been dashed."
The Crown Princess really likes Linxi. She is the niece of the Crown Prince's younger brother and a blessed child. Since her father and mother like her, she naturally likes her too. As for the fact that Zhenyue in the mansion is not as favored as before due to Linxi, that is Concubine Ran's business and has no impact on her.
Moreover, between a concubine's daughter and her own niece, she would rather choose the latter.
Xue Han stood up and greeted, and replied: "I wanted to bring it to you to see, but it snowed when I went out, so I didn't bring it out."
The Crown Princess smiled and said, "Then come and talk to me more often in the future."
Xue Han was smart. This was the future queen, so she agreed generously, "Okay, I will definitely bring Lin Xi to the Prince's Mansion more often in the future."
The Crown Princess had only seen the little girl when she was one month old. Ever since the little girl entered the palace, the Crown Prince had always said how pretty Linxi was.
In the Shi family, Old Man Shi can move freely in the mansion, and can even go to the courtyard of his legitimate wife, but it is still impossible for him to leave the mansion. He walked out of his legitimate wife's courtyard slowly. His son is a ruthless man. He has been keeping his legitimate wife alive. He was afraid that the Shi family would be extinct, so he fell ill and could not get up. His legitimate wife poisoned him. His son was poisoned and was saved, but his legitimate wife became paralyzed instead.
Mr. Shi walked to his son's yard and a smile appeared on his face when he heard his grandson's laughter. Although Shi Qing was cruel, he also made it all the way. His son was getting better and better. Not to mention that his son didn't want him to die, he didn't want to die either, so he had been actively recuperating. At first, he couldn't get out of bed and couldn't leave the house in winter, but now he dared to go out even on snowy days.
Mr. Shi did not go in. The Hanlin Academy was closed today and his son was at home.
Shi Qing got the news and said to the manager, "If he wants to go, he can go."
Yao Yao put a cape on her son and said, "We can go now."
Shi Qing smiled and picked up his son, "Come on, let's go to the street."
In the Crown Prince's Mansion, Zhulan has already come together with the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess said: "I heard from the Crown Prince that the diplomatic fleet has returned and will arrive at Pinggang soon."
Zhulan knew that this was the Crown Princess's kindness to the Zhou family. She didn't get any information at all, and even Zhou Shuren didn't know. "Thank you, Your Highness."
The Crown Princess smiled. She was willing to take care of the Zhou family. For the sake of her son, each branch of the Zhou family had been rising step by step. In the future, when her son grew up, the Zhou family would have been prosperous. But there was no need to be impatient. Just take it slowly.
The Crown Princess left first, and Xue Han walked to her mother's side. Zhu Lan patted her daughter. The Crown Princess was still a person who showed kindness silently, expressing kindness a little bit but not excessively. She sighed in her heart again. She hasn't even succeeded to the throne yet, but the struggle has already begun.
Xue Han followed her mother's gaze and looked at the Crown Princess' concubine who had a son, and asked quietly, "Mom, what are you looking at?"