Knowing that the Princess Consort was going to the palace today, Li Chenjiao went to bed very late last night. She usually stayed up late to celebrate the New Year, but last night was the latest she had ever gone to bed.

So when I woke up this morning, the sun was already high in the sky.

The maids were all waiting outside, as they all had things to do once Li Chenjiao got up.

When Li Chenjiao sat down in front of the dressing table, the five maids immediately surrounded her, while Granny Lin just watched the show from the side.

Li Chenjiao rested her chin on her hand and looked at the maids in the mirror: "Alright, alright, Qiu Hu, quickly bring out the silver ingots I've been saving at the bottom of my chest. Everyone gets one. What about Xiao Luzi and Dong Sheng?"

Qiu Hu had anticipated this, so he went there now.

Qiu Ci replied with a smile, "Dong Sheng is probably feeding the fish in the back right now. Xiao Lu is shoveling snow outside."

Li Chen playfully scolded, "You lot, you know how to slack off in front of me."

Green Chrysanthemum was quick-witted, and she immediately stepped forward to skillfully style Li Chenjiao's hair: "New year, new beginnings, your servants wish you joy year after year, peace and safety for the Second Princess, and a smooth delivery for the child in your womb."

This girl is certainly being sweet-talking right now.

Qiu Hu quickly came out with the silver ingots.

Each silver ingot weighed a full five taels. With a wave of her hand, Li Chenjiao gave each maid two silver ingots, symbolizing good fortune in pairs.

The same goes for Granny Lin.

That's a big investment.

Li Chenjiao is now a secondary consort, and her monthly allowance from the mansion is only fifteen taels of silver.

The girls were naturally overjoyed.

Green Chrysanthemum focused on styling her mistress's hair, while Li Chenjiao instructed, "The same applies to Xiao Luzi and Dongsheng. Qiaoniang and Pingniang will each receive one silver ingot. If they ask you anything, just tell them the truth. As long as you do your job well, I will not treat you unfairly. Also, prepare the autumn pots for the Second Princess's wet nurses."

"There's hardly any chance for excitement during the twelfth lunar month, so let's have some excitement all at once today. Alright, is breakfast ready? Your master is starving right now..."

At this moment, Green Bamboo ran the fastest, as she was heading to the small kitchen to deliver silver ingots to Pingniang and Qiaoniang.

The maids were all beaming with joy, and the east courtyard was unusually lively.

Having received their reward money, the maids were all incredibly energetic.

After Li Chenjiao finished her breakfast, she saw the winter plum blossoms in a Ru kiln porcelain vase by the window.

Li Chenjiao asked and learned that it was Green Plum who picked it.

She was delighted to see it and was relaxing on the soft couch when she saw a small porcelain plate in front of her with sliced ​​frozen pears. She wondered which maid had put in such care.

Li Chenjiao ate two pieces, and then ate two more pieces a while later.

She got up late and wasn't very sleepy at the moment. When Qiu Hu said that Qiao Niang in the small kitchen had made glutinous rice cakes, Li Chenjiao's eyes immediately lit up.

Glutinous rice is excellent for nourishing the stomach and replenishing qi, making it perfect for dessert right now.

Li Chenjiao ate two of them, which were drizzled with brown sugar and tasted quite good.

“I reckon Aman will like it too,” Li Chenjiao said casually after putting down her chopsticks.

She wasn't too worried about her daughter, since there were two wet nurses around and it was in Yonghe Palace, so Li Chenjiao wasn't really worried.

However, even with all the children present, there will likely be times when I can't take care of them all.

Consort De has never been very warm towards the eldest princess and Aman, so she probably wouldn't pay much attention to the two young girls.

It's better if no one notices.

However, things are alright for now during the holidays, but comparisons are inevitable later on.

Li Chenjiao suddenly remembered the time when she was still a young lady in her maiden days.

Her father also had an older brother, who was Li Chenjiao's uncle.

The two families have always had a good relationship, but during the holidays, the older brother is always dragged out to compete with his cousin in academics, and the two of them have to write several couplets every year.

Li Chenjiao was the one who only needed to smile and watch, and then accept the New Year's gifts from her aunt.

When Aman entered the palace last year, she received many rewards from the Empress, which Li Chenjiao kept for the young girl.

In ordinary households, knowledge is tested; surely it's still the same in the imperial court?

Fourth Master should probably be exempt from this at his age.

However, Li Chenjiao imagined that if the Fourth Prince were really tested on his knowledge, wouldn't he have to be tested alongside the other princes?

Just thinking about that scene made Li Chenjiao want to laugh.

With the Fourth Prince and his wife not at home, the backyard remained quiet all day.

Li Chenjiao was quite satisfied with her dinner. After dinner, it got dark, although it was only a little past midnight.

Once Li Chenjiao heard the sounds of fireworks outside, she was escorted out of the inner room by several maids.

The maids escorted her to the corridor, where Qiu Hu tied a cloak around her neck. It was a cloak made of black fox fur, the same one the Fourth Master had given her last time.

Once the cloak was on, I felt much warmer.

Green Chrysanthemum also slipped a hand warmer into Li Chenjiao's hand.

Green Plum was pulled by Green Bamboo to look at the fireworks of various shapes in the distance: "I heard that Lord Longkodo specially ordered preparations for this, and it looks much grander than last year."

Li Chenjiao looked up at her.

This year it was terribly cold, so she didn't let the maid hang anything on the trees in the yard, but she did put up quite a few different kinds of paper-cut window decorations.

During dinner, the maids presented her with a reclining rabbit, made by Green Plum, the best needleworker, using fabric from all the maids together.

It's quite warm to wear in winter.

Li Chenjiao put it on now too.

Life is getting better year by year.

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