Qiu Hu was stunned for a moment, then immediately felt both amused and exasperated: "Princess! This was a gift from the Princess Consort... It wouldn't sound good if word got out."
Li Chenjiao touched the white crabapple: "Oh, right, is there still some donkey-hide gelatin that the Fourth Prince gave us in the storeroom? Send two boxes to the Fujin (wife of the Prince) and say that I am thanking her for the gift. The flowers are very beautiful, and I like them very much."
Qiu Ci popped out from behind: "Yes, this servant will take care of it."
Li Chenjiao nodded, waved for Qiu Ci to leave, and then told Xiao Luzi to place the crabapple blossoms under the eaves.
It was springtime, with a gentle breeze and beautiful flowers in full bloom, a sight that brought joy to all.
"Oh, right, where's the knot I made yesterday? I didn't see it. I put it on the tatami mat yesterday. Did you put the augury away?" Li Chenjiao asked suddenly as she walked inside.
Upon hearing this, Qiu Hu thought for a moment and shook her head slightly: "This servant hasn't had time to tidy up today and hasn't touched the princess's tassel."
Li Chenjiao was puzzled and blinked, "Where did it go? Could it be that Qiu Ci kept it?"
When Qiu Ci returned, Li Chenjiao asked her about it, but Qiu Ci also said that she hadn't kept it. So the tassel just mysteriously disappeared?
Li Chenjiao went to search again, but still couldn't find it. She quickly called Xiao Luzi over and said, "Search our courtyard carefully to see if there is a green tassel. If not, go to the front yard and ask Fulu."
Fu Lu was Su Peisheng's apprentice.
Losing a single net is not a big deal, but it's a concern that someone might pick it up and use it to make a fuss. It's best to find out the truth.
Xiao Luzi was quick-witted and understood what her princess was worried about, so she went there immediately.
However, since he couldn't find it in his own yard, Xiao Luzi quietly went to the front yard, where Fu Lu happened to be. Xiao Luzi then asked him about it.
Fu Lu didn't remember at first, but then he suddenly slapped his forehead: "Oh dear, I forgot! This morning when Fourth Master got up, he took that tassel away. I was telling you, there's a lot going on in the front yard, I forgot."
Xiao Luzi hurriedly said, "I'm busy with things in the front yard, I'm sorry for bothering you..."
After exchanging pleasantries, Xiao Luzi quickly returned and told Li Chenjiao.
Li Chenjiao nodded lightly: "It's good that you know where to go. You've been busy all day, go and rest."
...
In the evening, the sewing room delivered two sets of clothes, the same two sets of fabric that the Fujin had mentioned was a gift from the Consort De when the Fujin entered the mansion.
The needlework room also embroidered an extra pair of embroidered shoes. What's rare is that the toes of the shoes are decorated with scattered red jade, which is not eye-catching, but very unique upon closer inspection.
Li Chenjiao tried on the clothes, and then tried on the shoes, but she never expected that there was something else inside the shoes.
Li Chenjiao had just put on her shoes when she cried out and quickly took them off. The reason was simple: Li Chenjiao had been pricked by a needle.
There was a thin needle tucked inside the toe of the shoe, which Qiu Ci had found while turning it over. She had been pricked twice by the needle during the process.
“This…” Qiu Hu’s face turned pale.
Li Chenjiao's foot was fine; the puncture wasn't deep, just a little blood. However, Li Chenjiao's fair skin made her look somewhat intimidating at first glance.
"Tell Xiao Lu to go to the sewing room and ask Granny Cui which maid was careless when she was embroidering. Why didn't she check it before sending it over? If she asks if I was pricked, tell her that I am fine now."
Qiu Hu went out to call Xiao Lu Zi.
Qiu Ci stayed inside and asked in a low voice, "I don't know if this is a coincidence or if someone did it on purpose."
Li Chenjiao suddenly laughed, staring intently at Qiu Ci: "Whether it was a coincidence or intentional, wouldn't it be better if the Princess Consort knew?"
Isn't Cui Mama one of the people who serves the Fujin (princess)?
This is most likely a coincidence. Song is pregnant and wouldn't do anything reckless. Bai Jia was just punished and is naturally being careful now. As for the Fujin (princess), why would she target a mere princess like her? It's more like targeting Song, who is pregnant.
However, as coincidence may be, the princess should at least be informed. This matter is neither too big nor too small, but it was ultimately the maid's oversight.
She didn't say anything because she was too lazy to cause trouble. She told Granny Cui because she wanted the Fujin to know. Alas, as for what the Fujin thought, that was the Fujin's business.
Qiu Ci was momentarily lost in thought. Her princess was truly... incredibly beautiful, even more beautiful than the flowers in the garden, and so beautiful that it made people blush.
That innocent charm beneath her delicate beauty is truly captivating...
...
Upon receiving the news, Granny Cui immediately punished the maid who made the embroidered shoes, and then came to Li Chenjiao herself, saying very respectfully, "No."
Then the message was sent to the main courtyard, but unfortunately, the Fujin was not in the mansion at the moment. This morning, Consort De had summoned the Fujin to the palace.
In Yonghe Palace, the Fujin served Consort De her breakfast. Consort De raised her eyes slightly and said, "Fourth Prince's wife, do you understand why I summoned you here today?"
The princess shook her head obediently: "I don't know, please enlighten me, Mother."
“Consort Yi was punished yesterday, and her maternal clan, the Guo Luo Luo clan, was also reprimanded by the Emperor. What do you think is the reason for this?” Consort De poured tea and blew away the steam.
Consort Yi, the birth mother of the Fifth Prince.
The princess's eyelids twitched, and an idea flashed through her mind.
Consort De gave the Fujin a deep look: "And then, the Tara clan was rewarded with a royal meal by the Emperor. Why do you think that was?"
The Tara clan was the maternal family of the Fifth Prince's wife.
"My daughter-in-law is dull-witted, but... I suppose this has something to do with my fifth brother?" The Fujin pondered.
Consort De sighed: "I heard that the Begonia Spring Banquet hosted by Lady Tara was quite wonderful? It's just a pity... the people she invited weren't very good..."
His Majesty dislikes forming cliques and engaging in favoritism the most. Actually, there was nothing wrong with the Begonia Spring Banquet. The mistake was that Lady Tara invited too many noblewomen.
These past two years, His Majesty has been most averse to these kinds of things. Isn't this just courting disaster?
Yes, His Majesty did bestow the Tara clan upon her, but Consort Yi has lost face. Would he not punish this "good" daughter-in-law?
The princess felt a chill run down her spine: "Your daughter-in-law has learned her lesson..."
In the heavenly realm, one must indeed be extremely careful at every step, for even the slightest carelessness could lead to a grave mistake.
Consort De waved her hand: "Alright, the fourth prince is straightforward, and you are also well-behaved, so I feel at ease with you. However, the glory of the Ulanara clan rests on your shoulders, so you should think about the consequences before you do anything."
The princess bit her lip: "Yes, I understand."
Consort De finally smiled slightly: "His Majesty sent a pair of bracelets a few days ago. They are of excellent quality. Since you are here today, you can take them back with you on your way back."
The princess hesitated for a moment, but eventually agreed.
As they left Yonghe Palace, two pots of beautiful crabapple blossoms were placed at the palace gate, but the princess consort looked at the crabapple blossoms with a rare sense of fear.
It wasn't until a gust of wind blew by and the flower swayed that the Princess Consort slowly came to her senses: "Let's go, it's getting late, let's go back."
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