In fact, the side hall had been wiped clean countless times, and it was spotless everywhere.
Shuiyun only needs to pack the luggage she brought from home.
Granny Hao was afraid that the princess would be dissatisfied, so she called a group of palace maids to help Shuiyun.
Shuiyun refused, citing that they were unfamiliar with their master's habits.
But in the end, she didn't forget to give each person a purse, which contained silver melon seeds.
The one that Granny Hao received was, of course, the most generous one, containing four golden peanuts.
Such a generous gesture pleased even the palace maids, and even Granny Hao was impressed by the Li family's wealth and power.
She had heard rumors before that the Li family was extremely good at business, especially Princess Kangle, whose shops were all treasure troves.
Now it seems that this is probably true...
After finishing these tasks, Shuiyun went to the small kitchen in Zhilan Palace to wash and chop vegetables, and cook them herself, without letting anyone else handle the process.
Granny Hao could tell that she didn't trust others, so she didn't offer to help anymore and just let a little palace maid help her tend the fire.
Jiayin and the Third Princess smelled the fragrance before they even stepped into the palace gates. The Third Princess practically ran back while lifting her skirt.
Everyone quickly got to work, helping their master wash her hands and change her clothes.
Once everything was arranged, the food was placed on the table.
Sweet and sour pork, braised pork ribs, deep-fried mushrooms, minced meat and spinach, pine nut and corn, plus a large bowl of mutton and wolfberry soup—that's all the dishes.
The emperor didn't have many children, so the third princess's daily allowance was very generous, with each meal consisting of eight dishes: four meat dishes and four vegetable dishes.
There are only six dishes on the table now, all of them are home-style dishes, not a single fancy dish.
But the third princess insisted on eating it and kept praising it, asking for more rice twice.
Jiayin had been busy all morning and was also hungry, so she didn't hold back and drank an extra bowl of mutton soup than usual.
The third princess rubbed her belly and exclaimed contentedly, "Jiayin, you're so lucky! You get to eat such delicious food every day!"
Jiayin, feeling quite pleased with herself, rarely showed off, saying, "Shuiyun learned her cooking skills from my mother, but my mother's cooking is even better. When you have the chance, come visit me. I'll ask my mother to cook for you!"
Before the princess could say anything, Jiayin immediately added, "Don't even think about summoning my mother to the palace to cook for you!"
“We’re friends. It’s a favor that my mother cooks for you when you come to my house. But if you summon my mother here, it’s like treating her like a servant, and I won’t do that!”
The Third Princess felt guilty; she had indeed thought that way just now.
But she dared not admit it now, and quickly said, "Oh dear, what have you thought of me! When I have the chance in the future, I'll come to your house for a meal! I can also visit your greenhouse and pick some fresh fruit to bring back!"
Jiayin glanced at the palace maids tidying up the table and asked, "Do you have any diligent and trustworthy maids here to help Shuiyun? Otherwise, it's too tiring for her to take care of our meals every day."
"And if someone doesn't like me and tries to sabotage me, you might suffer too."
Granny Hao was actually also worried about entrusting the food to Shuiyun, fearing that she might harm her mistress. At this moment, she quickly bowed and replied, "Your Highness, Princess, please leave this matter to this old servant. I guarantee that two suitable people will be chosen!"
"Okay, thank you for your trouble, Granny." Jiayin nodded and thanked her.
The Third Princess secretly rubbed her stomach and then dragged Jiayin to her study and embroidery room to play, as if to help her digest her food.
The afternoon passed by quickly.
For dinner, Shuiyun prepared congee and side dishes, as well as pancakes, all of which were filling and easy to digest.
After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, and agreeing to go to Shou Kang Palace together the next morning to pay their respects, the Third Princess reluctantly let Jiayin return to her side hall to rest.
Granny Hao personally helped the Third Princess wash up and change into her nightgown. Unable to resist, she whispered a plea for help.
"Your Highness, aren't you being too accommodating to the Princess? I'm afraid that in just a few days, the Princess will be in charge of Zhilan Palace."
"Moreover, Baoqin... was also because the princess had been disrespectful to you before, and she was resentful, which made her lose her mind for a moment."
"Could you please consider the kindness she has shown you for so long and find her a good place to stay? Let her return to serve you after the princess leaves the palace?"
The Third Princess straightened the sleeves of her nightgown, looked up at Granny Hao, and asked calmly, "Granny, do you know why Father and Mother found so many nannies for me, but in the end I only kept you?"
When Granny Hao heard her mistress refer to herself as "this palace," she felt a chill run down her spine, quickly lowered her head, and whispered, "This old servant thanks Your Highness for your kind words."
"Yes, I value you, and the reason is simple: because you are obedient!" The Third Princess smoothed her hair, replying casually.
"Many times, you may think I'm doing things wrong, but you must do exactly what I tell you to do without fail. That's what makes a qualified servant!"
“Baoqin has served me well for so long, but she made things difficult for my guests without my orders. In the end, she is too self-important and has no respect for her mistress, so I can’t keep her!”
Granny Hao lowered her head even further, sighing inwardly, realizing that her master's words made sense.
If Baoqin respects his master, he will not act on his own initiative.
"Alright, give Baoqin two hundred taels of silver and let her leave the palace and go home." The Third Princess lay down in bed and added, "Granny, the Princess is favored by Father and the Marquis, so she must have her merits and sense of propriety. That's what I want to learn!"
Hao Mama understood and immediately replied, "Your Highness, rest assured, this old servant will give the order that no one is allowed to make things difficult for the Princess in private."
The third princess remained silent, and Granny Hao quickly pulled the jade belt hook and lowered the bed curtains...
In the adjacent side hall, Shui Ling noticed that the lights in the main hall had been turned off, so she turned around and said, "Princess, the princess has gone to sleep."
Jiayin yawned, stroked the little fox, and replied, "Then let's go to sleep too."
Shui Ling and Shui Yun immediately got busy and helped their master into bed.
The rooms in the side hall were much larger than those in the house; the main sleeping quarters alone were divided into three parts: an inner and an outer one.
The innermost part of the room has a large bed, which is where people sleep.
Separated by eight large marble-based screens, there are also chaise lounges, tables and chairs, and antique display shelves for occasional rest.
The outermost room is where guests are received, and it is decorated more lavishly.
Jiayin doesn't like having someone next to her when she sleeps, so Shuiling and Shuiyun took the initiative to sleep in the outermost room.
As soon as the door closed, Jiayin carried the little fox into the space.
After playing for a while, and estimating that Shuiling and Shuiyun had fallen asleep, Jiayin took a plate of meat buns and went around the screen.
The little fox used its mouth to pry open the window and slipped out like a wisp of white smoke.
A short while later, Mu Xu arrived with the little fox.
Mu Xu had been hiding somewhere for a day, exuding an aura of coldness.
Jiayin put her index finger to her lips, then placed the steamed bun next to the hot teapot, indicating that Mu Xu should eat it himself, and finally pointed to the Imperial Concubine's Bed.
Mu Xu was stunned for a moment. He originally thought that Jia Yin had asked him for something, but he never expected that she would prepare food for him and even ask him to stay in the house!
Doesn't she know that if outsiders find out she's alone in a room with a man, she'll lose all her reputation and cleanliness?
Seeing him standing there in a daze, Jiayin couldn't help but whisper, "Are you frozen stiff? Eat something quickly, drink some hot tea to warm up. Then take a nap and leave before dawn."
After saying that, she pointed behind the screen, "My bed is inside. Don't worry, I won't spy on you."
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