Zhulan was also confused. This was a princess, not a prince. It was not easy for a princess to leave the palace, let alone stay there for a short time.
Li, "Could something have happened in the palace?"
Zhulan felt that it was not the case. If there was something wrong, her daughter would send a message back. "We will know everything when Yudie and the others come back tomorrow."
Li didn't want to think about it anymore and put away the account book. "Mom, you take a rest first. I'll go back first."
Zhulan nodded, "Okay."
Li left the main courtyard and looked up to see snowflakes falling from the sky. She shrank her neck, worried about her eldest son who was far away on the grassland. The grassland was bitterly cold in winter, and the living and food were poor. It was difficult to get a bite of vegetables.
Li listened to her mother-in-law and dried a lot of vegetables in spring and summer. She sent several batches to the grassland in winter, and the latest batch should have arrived.
As Li estimated, Mingyun received food sent from the capital. There was no shortage of meat on the grassland, but there were all kinds of vegetables and fruits. Mingyun lived on the dried vegetables sent from the capital in winter.
He also thought about building a greenhouse on the grassland, but unfortunately there was a shortage of firewood in the grassland in winter, and he had to save charcoal, so where could he find a large amount of charcoal to supply the greenhouse
Mingyun watched the bags of dried vegetables being carried down with a smile on his face, especially when he saw a box of tea, Mingyun wished he could carry it himself.
Wu Ming heard the noise and came over. "These are rare good things on the grassland. Can you share some?"
Mingyun took the list and said, "No need to share. Here are uncle's."
Wu Ming took the list and said with a smile, "My godmother is still thinking about me."
Mingyun coughed and said, "Aunt misses you too."
Wu Ming smiled. His wife did miss him, but it didn't seem right. Apart from the dried vegetables sent from home at the beginning of winter, he had never received any more dried vegetables. He knew that the dried vegetables for the beginning of winter were probably something his godmother reminded him to do. His wife's letter showed her concern as always, but he could still sense some complaints.
The lady had to take care of two children, and also manage the wife and illegitimate son, which took up a lot of her energy.
The last few boxes were covered tightly with quilts. Mingyun looked at the list and his throat moved: fruits and fresh vegetables.
A lot of apples were frozen, but they were still edible, so Mingyun distributed them to the servants and guards around him, and also distributed some pears and persimmons that were difficult to freeze.
Every time something was sent from the capital, not only Mingyun’s servants and guards were happy, but also the officials who were familiar with Mingyun were happy.
As soon as the food sent from the capital was stored in the warehouse, colleagues who got the news came over.
Mingyun offered a lot of frozen pears and frozen persimmons as a treat, "You're welcome."
Without Mingyun's words, no one would be polite.
Mingyun's colleague suddenly asked, "Master Zhou, the state capital has been cleared. We want to bring our families here. We have already found a few houses. Do you want to come with us?"
Mingyun paused while chewing the pear. After a year of careful cleaning, the state capital was indeed safe. Due to its geographical location, it was the largest transit point for merchants and the first state capital to prosper on the grassland. He had never thought of asking his wife to bring the child here. "You guys go and buy it."
The people in the room changed the subject after hearing this. Wu Ming and others left one after another and asked, "Are you really not going to bring your wife and children over?"
Mingyun shook his head, "Wait a minute, where's uncle?"
Wu Ming smiled and said, "I'm not in a hurry either."
Mingyun didn't feel sleepless because he was alone. He had ambitions in his heart, and although he missed his wife and children, he would not disrupt his plans.
The next day, Yudie and her companions had breakfast and went to the Ran Mansion. The steward of the Ran Mansion was waiting at the gate early. Yudie and her companions went to see Qi first, and then went to the courtyard where the princess lived.
Princess Zhenyue was playing chess with herself, and when she heard footsteps, she looked up with a smile. Yudie and the others greeted her, and the princess said, "You're here, come and sit down."
Yuwen is the county lady, and she spoke first, "We have a chill on our bodies, so we'll go after it dissipates."
Zhenyue signaled the palace maid to put away the chessboard, and told her to bring the snacks. After the tea and refreshments were served, Yudie and the others sat down.
Zhen Yue motioned for the girls to drink tea, and explained with a smile, "I am familiar with you all, and I couldn't help but invite you over when I left the palace. Don't be shy."
Yudie and her companions were really informal. The Zhouhou Mansion and the Ran Mansion were related by marriage, so it was natural for them to be respectful to the princess.
Yudie drank her tea and said, "We were very surprised to receive the post. We confirmed with several parties before we believed that you were leaving the palace for a short stay."
Zhen Yue smiled and said, "I was sick a few days ago, and my mother asked for permission from the queen mother before she agreed to let me leave the palace for a short stay."
Yu Wen discovered that Princess Zhen Yue had indeed lost a lot of weight. The last time she went to the palace to pay a visit to the Queen, Princess Zhen Yue still had some flesh on her cheeks.
Zhen Yue would not continue to mention what happened in the palace. She was being plotted against. She was the only princess in the palace, and no one dared to touch the legitimate princess, so the plan was set on her. If something happened to her, it would be enough to attract attention, but it would not implicate too many people, so she fell ill.
Zhen Yue didn't want to recall the past, so she changed the topic, "I can't leave the palace at will even if I stay there for a short time. Can you tell me about the excitement in the capital?"
Yudie smiled, "Okay."
There was no bustling scene in the capital that she didn't know, and the topic would inevitably start with Zhuo Guyu from the Yong'an Duke's Mansion.
Zhenyue didn't hear much news in the palace. Except for paying respects, she was with her mother most of the time. In addition, she didn't like to ask questions, so she knew very little about the Yong'an Mansion in the capital.
Zhenyue, "Duke Yong'an's Mansion?"
Yudie nodded, "Yes, the eldest grandson of the Duke's Mansion, someone in the capital has already started a bet that Zhuo Guyu will definitely pass the imperial examination, and some even say that he might even be the third place winner."
Yuwen, "Gambling?"
Yudie nodded, "Yuanbo also bet on it, ahem, and also bet on some silver for me."
Zhenyue was curious, "Who is being pressed?"
Yudie smiled and said, "We bet on Master Zhuo to be the first place winner, but we can't say for sure about the third place winner."
She remembered Mr. Gu, who was no less handsome than Mr. Zhuo, and they also surpassed other candidates.
Zhenyue thought the outside of the palace was very interesting, "Me."
Forget it. She is a princess, and her every move has a different meaning. If people find out, it might be rumored that she has a crush on Master Zhuo, which will definitely cause trouble. She doesn't want to find a prince consort so early.
There was no need for Yudie to be shy about it, as she was already engaged, and her money was pledged together with Yuanbo's, so she just thought it was Yuanbo who pledged it himself.
It was no secret that the princess had gone out of the palace for a short stay. Rumors were kept strictly in the palace and there was no news at all. On the third day after the princess left the palace, some people began to speculate whether the eldest princess had been abandoned by the emperor.
As a result, the emperor sent Eunuch Zhang to deliver jewelry to the princess, and the rumor disappeared.
On this day, Princess Zhenyue wanted to go shopping, but Zhulan was worried, so she let her and Qi take the girl shopping.
Qi kept her eyes on the princess, and Zhulan whispered, "You're attracting too much attention like this."
Qi felt sorry for her granddaughter. Ever since she had a legitimate princess, her granddaughter had become quieter. When she thought about the plot against her granddaughter this time, she felt so angry that her teeth itched.
Qi retracted his gaze, "You are right."
The girls bought a lot of things and were a little tired after shopping for a long time, so they went to a restaurant.