Song Xibai changed back into her usual clothes before telling her to get up.
"Besides making clothes, are there any other skills you can use?"
Juqing immediately replied, "Whatever you ask me to do, I will do my utmost, even if I don't know how, I will learn."
Song Xibai waved his hand: "I don't need you to go through fire and water. I was just asking casually. From today onwards, you will be the same as Fuliu, receiving the allowance of a head palace maid and managing clothes, jewelry and fabrics."
After speaking, Song Xibai also adjusted the duties of Fuliu and Wei Hong. Fuliu was responsible for managing the other palace maids and eunuchs, while Wei Hong was to serve them personally.
"Wei Hong will accompany you when we leave the palace tomorrow. You two will stay home and watch the house. Don't cause any trouble."
After Song Xibai gave his instructions, the three of them responded in unison.
Juqing went out in high spirits, turning back every step of the way to look at Song Xibai with longing eyes.
Song Xibai found it amusing, but still offered her a few words of comfort.
"We don't know the origins of the palace servants here. Inquire about them secretly during this period and carefully select them, so that no one can take advantage of the situation."
Upon hearing this, Fu Liu immediately perked up and retreated with high spirits.
Wei Hong smiled slightly, pursing her lips.
"You are becoming more and more like a master, exuding an aura of authority."
Song Xibai was taken aback.
"Yeah?"
She herself didn't feel that way.
Wei Hong nodded earnestly: "When you first came, you seemed indifferent to everything, and the palace maids below you had different thoughts, but you never cared. Now, you not only assigned tasks to Fuliu and Juqing, but you also reprimand and appease them."
Song Xibai was speechless for a moment.
Although Wei Hong is usually quiet, she actually sees things very clearly.
From the very beginning, Song Xibai was prepared to leave at any time. Therefore, she didn't care about the people around her or about food, clothing, or daily necessities. In her view, life here was temporary.
But now, what has made her change without her even realizing it?
Song Xibai was lost in thought, unable to come up with an answer for a long time.
The night passed just like that.
When Song Xibai woke up early the next morning, he found that it was a rare good day.
After a quick breakfast, Song Xibai changed her clothes and took Wei Hong to the central hall.
The Crown Princess's face was flushed an unnatural red. She leaned against the headboard, looking rather weak.
Actually, several days have passed, and in theory, the Crown Princess's illness should have improved a lot. Even if she can't go out, she should at least be able to get out of bed.
But Song Xibai observed coldly and felt that her condition not only did not improve, but seemed to be getting worse.
Song Xibai secretly made a mental note of it, thinking that she would mention it to the Crown Prince later.
As she lowered her head to think, the Crown Princess was also observing her.
"Xi Liangdi's outfit is rather plain."
Song Xibai came to her senses and smiled slightly, saying, "I was thinking of visiting the Prince of Wu's residence, so it wouldn't be appropriate to dress too brightly. I am just a concubine, and I am only able to leave the palace because of Your Highness and you."
Her words softened the Crown Princess's expression considerably.
During this time, the Crown Princess was preoccupied with worries, fearing that the Crown Prince would neglect her because of what had happened before. She also worried that the people in the palace were very opportunistic. If she lost the Crown Prince's heart, would she still have a good life in the future?
It was precisely because she was preoccupied with too many worries and could not focus on recuperating that the Crown Princess's illness had not been able to improve.
She coughed a few times, covering her mouth, and waved warmly to Song Xibai.
"In the Eastern Palace, only you treat me with the same respect as before."
There's a hidden meaning in those words!
Song Xibai dared not think too deeply, lowered her head, and looked embarrassed.
The Crown Princess was increasingly pleased with her and turned to instruct Wei Zi.
“I have a green jade hairpin with excellent color in my storeroom. Go and get it for Consort Xi to wear.”
Before long, Wei Zi came over carrying an exquisite brocade box.
The small brocade box was opened, revealing a jade-green hairpin inside.
This hairpin was carved from a single piece of jade, with the head carved into the shape of a phoenix's head. For Song Xibai, it was considered an overstepping of the bounds.
She could not refuse what the Crown Princess had given her.
So Song Xibai sat there and let Wei Zi insert the hairpin into her hair bun.
The Crown Princess looked left and right, quite satisfied. She gave a few more instructions, and soon showed signs of fatigue.
Song Xibai hurriedly got up to take his leave.
As Song Xibai led Wei Hong away from the central hall and towards the front hall, she couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
Wei Hong followed beside her, carrying a small bundle, looking rather worried.
"Your Highness, what is the Crown Princess planning? This jade hairpin... is not something you can wear right now."
While other parts of the Great Yin Dynasty were relatively open-minded, the dragon and phoenix decorations were subject to extremely strict regulations.
In the royal family, only the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the Crown Princess are allowed to wear items with phoenix designs.
Of course, where there's a policy, there's a countermeasure. Many folk jewelry pieces imitate the shape of a phoenix, making them look like a phoenix but not too much like one, so that no one can find fault with them.
But this jade hairpin is made in the exact style of a phoenix.
Song Xibai adjusted her hair bun, pushed the hairpin into her hair a little, and then said in a low voice.
"I guess the Crown Princess didn't want people to forget her, so she specially made me wear this hairpin."
Song Xibai's trip to the banquet at the Prince of Wu's residence was her first public appearance, so there were bound to be many people staring at her! Such an obvious hairpin was bound to attract attention, and inevitably, people would inquire about her.
What will Song Xibai say then?
Of course, she could only tell the truth and tell everyone that it was a gift from the Crown Princess. In this way, even if she didn't go to the Prince of Wu's residence, she would still become the center of everyone's discussion.
Wei Hong suddenly realized.
As the two were talking, they had already arrived outside the main hall of the front hall.
Just then, the crown prince came out from inside.
Upon turning his head and seeing Song Xibai and the other person, the Crown Prince quickened his pace and walked up to her in a few steps.
"Why are you dressed so simply?"
The prince frowned slightly, then looked around until he saw the jade hairpin on her head, at which point he relaxed a little.
"I remember this hairpin; it belongs to the Crown Princess?"
Song Xibai thought to himself: Here it comes.
She smiled slightly and began to recount what had just happened: "I went to say goodbye to the Crown Princess before leaving home. It was a gift from her."
The Crown Prince nodded; he was quite satisfied with the Crown Princess in this respect.
"It's still too plain. In a couple of days, I'll have the Imperial Household Department make you a few more sets of jewelry."
After saying that, the Crown Prince naturally took Song Xibai's hand and walked out.
Outside the East Palace, a sedan chair was already waiting. Song Xibai followed the Crown Prince into the sedan chair and traveled all the way from the East Palace to the Donghua Gate. Then, they changed into a horse-drawn carriage and slowly drove towards the Wu Prince's residence.
The Wu King's Palace was very close to the palace city; the carriage stopped in just over fifteen minutes.
The Crown Prince got out of the carriage first, but did not go in immediately. Instead, he turned around and reached out his hand to Song Xibai inside the carriage.
"Get down, I'll help you."
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