In the blink of an eye, it was the Wanshou Festival.
This year's Longevity Festival was exceptionally lively, and the Empress seemed intent on pleasing the Emperor. She had intended to summon all the nobles and officials of the second rank and above from the capital to the palace for congratulations. However, the Emperor, upon hearing this, waved her off, saying it wasn't a whole life, and there was no need to bother everyone. It was just a family gathering to show the filial piety of the children.
Meng Qi allowed Yuan Dong to add a mink vest underneath. Mother Liu disapproved, "If the princess wears this again, she'll look like a ball. It's just for nothing."
Meng Qi asked Yuan Dong to tie it tighter while saying, "Just say it. It's so cold out here. Even though we're indoors, there are so many people coming and going in the hall. I don't want to suffer for the sake of my dignity."
Then he pointed to the deerskin boots and asked, "Can you add padding?"
Yuan Yue smiled and said, "I added thick wool felt."
Meng Qi was satisfied. In order to attend today's Wanshou Festival, she specifically asked Lixia to have the sewing room make new boots one inch larger so that she could put an extra pair of insoles.
"Is everything ready?"
Su Xin replied, "They are all on the stove. Tell Eunuch Wang how to fix it. Don't worry."
Because they had to bring dishes into the palace today, Meng Qi brought not only Ms. Li, but also Wang Chenghai and Xiao Chunzi, who were responsible for serving the dishes.
"Go call Wang Chenghai." Meng Qi ordered, then turned back to look at Yuan Dong, "After we leave, you can handle it. There's no need to make a big fuss or tell anyone about it."
Yuan Dong nodded, "Yes, Princess, don't worry, everything has been arranged outside."
Wang Chenghai entered the room to pay his respects. Meng Qi then repeated the instructions for the trip to the palace. "I'll arrange for someone to keep an eye on her. If you're not able to follow her, you need to be smart. If you can't find out, spend some money and find out as much as you can."
Wang Chenghai nodded, "Yes, I will keep a close eye on it."
As Meng Qi walked out, she continued, "There are a lot of people here today, and you've never been to Chengtian Hall before. I'm afraid Hu Changsheng doesn't have many opportunities to go there either. Be sure to remember the route map I gave you yesterday."
Wang Chenghai bowed and nodded, "Yes, I even dreamed about it last night."
Meng Qi burst out laughing, "Stop being so naive and go clean up."
Song Chengze was standing at the second gate giving instructions to Chu Yong. He looked up and saw Meng Qi getting off the warm sedan chair. He was stunned at first, then burst into laughter.
Meng Qi didn't think it was a big deal. Looking at Song Chengze dressed normally, she curled her lips and said, "It's cold out here. If you catch a cold later, it's no joke."
"Aren't you afraid they'll scold you for being too fat?"
"I'm fat, so I am. Being fat proves that the food in our Rui Wang Mansion is good. I am fat with a happy heart. At least I am better than my second sister-in-law. When the wind blows, she has to hug a tree."
When Song Chengze heard this, he laughed even harder. His shaking shoulders and slightly bent eyebrows surprised Zhang Decheng.
How long had it been since he'd seen the prince so emotional? Especially with the onset of autumn, when so much was going on that the prince barely even managed a good night's sleep. Especially a few days ago, when the prince was being schemed against by King Jing over the issue of disaster relief grain, the emperor had been furious with the prince. It was said that an inkstone had been thrown, cutting the prince's forehead and causing him to bleed profusely.
This is not the point. The point is that the emperor didn't know what he was thinking. He said that the prince was not in good health and perhaps had too much work to do, so he actually arranged for Prince Rui to handle the affairs of the court.
This had never happened before. The prince had always held an idle position in the Ministry of Rites. He went there frequently on weekdays, but he had rarely held serious discussions with officials from the Ministry of Rites.
This time, he actually followed the prince to handle specific official duties, and it was open and aboveboard. This was an order issued by the emperor himself, and the emperor also asked the prince to report to him privately on many matters.
After this incident, there were both advantages and disadvantages. The biggest disadvantage was that Prince Cheng and Prince Duan showed their malice without any concealment. Even Prince Jing, who was usually known for his gentleness, would make provocative remarks from time to time, full of hostility.
Zhang Decheng watched the prince and princess board the carriage, thinking about the things the prince had told him, and hurried to the study. The plan for the palace banquet in the first month of the year was too important for the prince to be careless.
Song Chengze and Meng Qi exited the main gate of Prince Rui's mansion. An oxcart also slowly drove out from the west corner gate. The maid in the carriage squeezed the coins in her purse, thinking about Yuandong's instructions. Then she looked at Ms. Zhang, lying in the carriage with her eyes closed and a flushed face. She and another maid sighed softly, "Look at how kind the princess is. She's invited doctors one after another, but it's a shame this one is unlucky."
The little girl chewed pine nut candy in her mouth and asked, "How long do we have to serve her?"
The old woman narrowed her eyes and said, "The last doctor who came said that it might not work. If that's the case, we could have come back before the New Year."
The little girl was shocked when she heard this, "She can't be, can't be contagious?"
"How could that be? Didn't the doctor and Miss Yuandong both say it was just a cold that had taken hold of her body? She's young, and we can't let her die in the mansion. It's too unlucky."
Yuan Dong watched the oxcart drive out of the back street, brushed the snowflakes off his cloak, turned around and said to Xiao Shunzi beside him, "Can everything be arranged over there on the mountain?"
Xiao Shunzi is one of Wang Chenghai's capable apprentices. He is calmer than Xiao Xizi, doesn't talk much, but is very reliable in doing things.
"Yes, don't worry, young lady. It's the end of the year now, so many people are going up the mountain. Plus, it's snowed heavily these past two days."
Yuan Dong nodded. "Your master has been very busy lately. You have to learn how to handle these things. There will be more and more of them in the future."
"Yes, I understand. If you have anything to ask, just tell me. I will do it immediately."
Yuan Dong nodded and walked back. When passing by Huamu Courtyard, he saw Bai holding the little maid's hand and walking towards the door.
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