27. Breast Binding
"Why are you feeling guilty?"
His Royal Highness Prince Zhao's "disappointment" continued until the banquet was over and he left the palace.
Prince Zhao's Palace is to the west of the imperial city, while the Eastern Palace and Prince Huai's Palace are in the other direction, so they don't need to go the same way.
In the summer, it gets dark late, the heat of the day dissipates, and the streets become lively in the evening.
The two streets that the carriage passed through were bustling with small stalls set up on both sides of the road, and occasional hawking sounds could be heard on the wind.
Although there were many pedestrians on the street, the carriage with the logo of Prince Zhao's Palace hanging on it was able to pass unhindered. The street messengers on both sides removed the roadblocks when they saw His Royal Highness Prince Zhao's carriage from afar.
Inside the carriage, Lu Jing rubbed his brow. Earlier at the banquet, his father had mentioned that the Turkic envoys had come to the court the previous day and had demanded the same amount of gold, silver, and silk as last year.
At the beginning of the Jin Dynasty, the Central Plains was riven by conflict. However, the Turkic peoples of the north, with their powerful armies, took advantage of the chaos to break free from their vassalage. To prevent the Turkic people from exploiting the situation and raiding southward, and to gain an opportunity to conquer Zheng, Xia, Liang, and Qi, my father was forced to send envoys to the Turks to pay tribute annually, using vast sums of gold and silver to secure stability on the northern border.
Now that the four seas have been united, the Turks remain as insatiable as ever. Times have changed; the Great Jin no longer needs to pay homage to the Turks. But my brother's words are also valid. If the annual tribute is immediately cut off, the Turks will not relent. The war with Zheng and Xia has only just ended. If we were to ignite the Turks again, I'm afraid the people would be overwhelmed and resentful.
My father has accepted my brother's advice and the annual tribute can be continued for another two or three years, but the amount cannot be as much as the Turks ask for.
My father has entrusted this matter to Prince Huai, and he must at least reduce the amount of money he demands by 20%.
This is the best arrangement at the moment, and Lu Jing has no objection.
Before reaching Prince Zhao's palace, Sun Jing outside the carriage ordered it to stop.
Lu Jing pushed open the window and was about to ask what happened when he saw a green figure standing in front of a stall not far away.
He seemed to sense something and turned to look in the direction of the carriage.
Lu Jing's hand rested casually on the window pane, and he clearly saw a smile on Yuan Le's face after he discovered him.
The summer night breeze was gentle and cool, easily dispelling the boredom in His Royal Highness Prince Zhao's heart.
After he got off the carriage, Sun Jing ordered it to stay there for a while and not rush back to the palace.
At the stall, Gu Ningxi kept smiling and asked the owner to bring an extra serving of bayberry drink.
Having just received his salary, Lord Gu is very generous.
When they met unexpectedly on the street, she handed one of the copies to His Royal Highness Prince Zhao with a smile.
"how?"
The fruit drinks sold on the street have a unique flavor, sweet and sour, and the refreshing taste is especially suitable for summer.
His Royal Highness Prince Zhao naturally agreed.
Gu Ningxi raised an eyebrow in pride. She'd accidentally tried this bayberry drink two years ago and hadn't forgotten it since. Every summer, she'd wait for the vendor to set up shop. She'd have a cup when the Ministry of Industry was busy, and another when it wasn't.
Lu Jing laughed: "Is this the reason you went out of the house at dusk?"
"Of course not." Gu Ningxi said, "My mother wanted to come to the silk shop to buy fabrics, and I happened to be on vacation, so I came with her."
She pointed to Xiuyunfang at the end of the street. Her mother had already selected the material, and the embroiderer was carefully discussing the style of the clothes with her mother. It would probably take some time.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Gu Ningxi walked halfway around the street to buy some for his mother's favorite fried cakes sold on the street.
The two of them strolled casually along the street. Gu Ningxi tasted the bayberry drink contentedly, "Your Highness is lucky. The weather got hot late this year, so the stall owner only prepared the bayberry drink today."
Lu Jing smiled. Yuan Le has been afraid of heat since he was a child, so he changed into a thin silk blue shirt tonight, and the sleeves looked quite elegant.
Speaking of the polo match that day, Gu Ningxi said with emotion, "Your Highness's playing skills have improved a lot. Do you play polo in your spare time in the army?"
"Yes, sometimes we compete in horseback riding, archery, and wrestling, but we're not always on the alert."
Gu Ningxi had never been to a military camp and could only imagine a little based on what His Royal Highness Prince Zhao said.
Today, His Highness had shattered the prestige of the Huai Palace, and she felt quite good about it. His Highness, the Huai Palace, had always been arrogant and promoted people based on personal connections. While the Huai Palace was not short of learned men, if no one recommended them based on their qualifications and political achievements, the court would inevitably have complaints.
She unconsciously recalled the time when she played chow with His Royal Highness Prince Zhao. When she mentioned some of the games, His Royal Highness Prince Zhao still had some impressions.
The afterglow of the setting sun fell on their shoulders. Gu Ningxi held the half-empty fruit drink in his hand, thinking that it would be nice to just continue to get along like normal.
There was no need to avoid her deliberately. With the way His Royal Highness Prince Zhao treated those around him well, even if he ascended the throne in the future, he would not do anything to her, the Crown Prince's Assistant.
She had made up her mind that no matter who ascended the throne in the future, as long as she accumulated sufficient political achievements, she would seek an imperial decree to send her mother away. The Xuanping Marquisate did not need two mistresses, and Madam Shen would be happy to see it happen and facilitate it. From then on, she would be free to do whatever she wanted in her local post, and she could truly contribute to the people's well-being.
Gu Ningxi smiled, feeling that this wasn't wishful thinking. However, she had to be careful to conceal her identity and not reveal any clues.
Seeing that the person next to him was in a good mood, Lu Jing couldn't help but smile along with her: "What's so happy?"
"Your Highness won the polo match today, does that count?" She joked, "Your Highness didn't even celebrate—"
The words stopped abruptly. Lu Jing looked at him curiously, but saw Gu Ningxi making a gesture to silence him.
They are located in the middle of the street, with no buildings on either side to block their view.
Gu Ningxi quickly put away the bayberry drink and, before his mother looked over here, he quickly hid behind His Royal Highness Prince Zhao.
Lu Jing also saw Mrs. Gu not far away and was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
"Okay, what are you feeling guilty about?"
After confirming that his mother had already boarded the carriage, Gu Ningxi breathed a sigh of relief: "I didn't."
The servant she sent to buy pastries was about to come back, so Gu Ningxi said goodbye to His Royal Highness Prince Zhao.
Before parting, Lu Jing said, "Please make sure to go to the palace tomorrow." After a pause, he added, "The prince has ordered someone to find some agricultural books for you."
Gu Ningxi quickly agreed: "Thank you, Your Highness."
Lu Jing watched her leave, and when he looked back, he found that the prince's carriage was approaching.
Sun Jing smiled, and Lu Jing nodded: "Let's go back home."
…
Xiuyunfang has just received a batch of materials, and Mrs. Meng selected a lot of them today.
Looking at the silk under candlelight, the patterns on it appear even more exquisite and gorgeous.
Mrs. Meng took out a piece of soft satin and prepared to make two new bra binders for Gu Ningxi.
She ordered the maid to get a tape measure: "Since you are here, I can measure your chest size."
"No need for that," Gu Ningxi stepped back, "Just keep the original size."
"That's not good." Madam Meng shook her head, her eyes fixed on her daughter. "It's always uncomfortable if the size doesn't fit."
As they were talking, the maid knocked on the door and brought the midnight snack as the lady had instructed.
In front of Gu Ningxi was a bowl of steaming red date and ginger soup, which she had every month without fail.
Madam Meng remembered the dates even better than she did. "Your period is coming soon, right? Drink more ginger soup to nourish your energy and calm your mind," she warned. "Although it's been hot lately, you must avoid cold foods. Don't be careless before and after your period."
When her daughter was in the Marquis' Mansion, Madam Meng raised her daughter well, fearing that she would act according to her own will outside.
"Also, it's June and ice is almost ready for duty, right? Remember to keep the ice container far away. Even in the hottest days of summer, don't be too greedy for cold, and drink less iced drinks."
Mrs. Meng wasn't worried about her daughter being spoiled. In fact, if conditions allowed, daughters should be spoiled. It was just that ice wasn't a good thing; consuming too much of something cold was bad for the body.
"I remember everything, don't worry, mother." Gu Ningxi agreed guiltily.
Between drinking hot ginger soup and measuring the size, Gu Ningxi chose the latter without hesitation.
Madam Meng smiled and shook her head, leaving the ginger soup to cool for the time being, and ordered her personal maid to go behind the screen to help Xier undress.
The door was closed, it was late at night and there were no outsiders in Qinlan Courtyard.
The outer garment and inner garment were taken off one by one and hung on the screen.
The moonlight is bright and delicate, casting a veil on the lush snow-capped peaks.
…
In the height of June, there are few clouds in the azure sky of Tianmu.
At noon, ice was used in the study of Prince Zhao's mansion, making it very cool.
Knowing that His Royal Highness Prince Zhao was free at the moment, Xie Qian went to the study to meet him. Today wasn't a meeting of state, but rather a discussion with His Royal Highness regarding tomorrow's celebration banquet. Normally, the celebration should have taken place yesterday, but because His Royal Highness was in the palace, it was postponed for two days.
He saw a new red sandalwood waterwheel on His Highness's desk and said with a smile, "When did Your Highness acquire such a treasure?"
With the approval of His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, Xie Qian couldn't help but take a closer look.
"Is this made of rosewood?"
In order to repair the wooden chariot, Xie Qian humbly learned from Master Gu and gained some basic knowledge about wood.
The waterwheel before him was not only made of exquisite materials, but also ingeniously crafted, with exquisite carvings and perfect details. Such an exquisitely crafted waterwheel, placed prominently on His Highness's desk, was hard for Xie Qian to miss.
Lu Jing smiled: "This is a gift from Yuan Le."
"Master Gu made this?" Xie Qian exclaimed, and looked at it again. "Master Gu actually has such skills."
But it made sense. Xie Qian recalled the blueprints drawn by Lord Gu, and every move was so skillful.
No wonder Lord Gu was so confident when he agreed to help him draw the chariot picture. It turns out he is a very talented person.
He didn't think that Lord Gu should personally help him repair it; given their friendship at the time, it was indeed not worth Lord Gu's effort.
As for this waterwheel in front of us, it is impossible to make it without more than ten years of experience.
A secret feeling of joy rose in Lu Jing's heart, but he kept it to himself.
Xie Qian was still in awe, praising the waterwheel from top to bottom, and then said, "The tung oil on the waterwheel is really beautiful."
“Tung oil?”
Seeing that His Highness seemed puzzled, Xie Qian explained, "Tung oil is waterproof. When I was supervising the repair of the chariot in the Ministry of Rites, I saw the craftsmen there applying it. Looking at the sheen on this waterwheel, it must have been painted with at least three layers of tung oil. So—"
Xie Qian and His Royal Highness Prince Zhao looked at the waterwheel together. Although the bamboo tube was decorated with exquisite patterns, it was not hollowed out and could be used to hold water.
Lu Jing remembered that there were indeed two items in the brocade box that day, which he had tucked away in a corner of his desk. When he ordered someone to bring them over, they revealed the appearance of a trough and a bucket. They were originally used to sit on top of the water-storage cart, collecting the water that was delivered by the bamboo tubes.
"Your Highness, you haven't tried it before, have you?" Xie Qian's expression was as if he was wasting something precious. "You just leave it there like this every day, just looking at it?"
Lu Jing: “…”
【Author’s words】
Xiao Lu: Dumb people shouldn’t be designers
Female goose: Flirting with a blind man
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