Recently, the snow in the capital has been heavy. Along the way, palace maids and servants swept the palace road. When Li Chenjiao arrived at Yonghe Palace, the snow-white snow could only be glimpsed from the two winter plum trees outside the hall.
Granny Zhao was waiting outside the hall. When she heard the servants below bowing, she went to greet them, but she was still stunned when she saw Li Chenjiao's appearance.
"Greetings to Consort Li."
The dark-colored concubine's attire made Li Chenjiao appear even fairer, and the slight bulge in her abdomen added a touch of nobility and pride. Her always-lowered eyes also seemed to reveal Li's composure.
Hearing someone call her, Li Chenjiao raised her eyebrows slightly. Since she didn't know Zhao Mama's surname, she just smiled and nodded slightly: "Mama, please don't stand on ceremony. I'm well."
Zhao Mama smiled back, "Your Highness has just had breakfast. This servant will take the concubine inside."
People from the Imperial Household Department were also there. When they went in, Granny Zhao whispered some important instructions to Li Chenjiao, such as how to respond when the Directorate of Ceremonial called for chanting, and what the detailed procedures were.
The reason why Granny Zhao would give these instructions was naturally because Li Chenjiao had become a concubine in the Fourth Prince's mansion, so her status was different, and every move she made represented the Fourth Prince's face.
It would be best to avoid any mistakes, so as to prevent the gossipy people in the Imperial Household Department from spreading rumors about it.
The ceremony ended close to noon.
Consort De probably had something to tell Li Chenjiao, so she invited Li Chenjiao to stay for lunch.
Li Chenjiao naturally couldn't refuse, but the auspicious crown on her head was really cumbersome. While Zhao Mama came to tell Consort De about the lunch, Li Chenjiao used the excuse of changing clothes to go to the side hall.
Qiu Hu knew her own princess well. After carefully removing the auspicious crown from her princess's headdress, she noticed the red mark on Li Chenjiao's forehead and couldn't hide her heartache.
Li Chenjiao was too tired to even complain, naturally because she was also worried about being overheard.
Finally having a chance to catch her breath, Li Chenjiao spread her hands and sat down, completely unlike the image she had projected in front of Consort De.
"Is there any warm water? I need to drink some water to catch my breath."
Aside from bowing, Li Chenjiao also chimed in with a lot of words when the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs announced that they would proceed according to procedure, and by now her mouth was already dry.
However, Li Chenjiao also knew very well that the most difficult part was having lunch with Consort De later on; that was truly exhausting and mentally taxing.
"Consort, the kitchen has just made some hot milk tea. It doesn't have any fishy smell at all. Her Majesty ordered me to bring it over. Would you like some?"
The master and servant exchanged a glance, both quite surprised.
Li Chenjiao naturally couldn't go out to see Granny Zhao at this moment, so she just gave Qiu Hu a look, and Qiu Hu understood and went outside.
"The concubine is still changing her clothes. I'm sorry to trouble you to make this trip, Granny. On behalf of the concubine, I thank you." Qiu Hu bowed respectfully and accepted the hot milk tea from Granny Zhao.
Granny Zhao said a few more words, the gist of which was that the rules and etiquette for today had been completed, and Li Chenjiao could change into some lighter clothes.
However, in her words, Granny Zhao only used terms like "changing clothes" to replace the words.
After Qiu Hu saw Zhao Mama off and brought hot milk tea into the room, the two of them were once again somewhat bewildered when they looked at each other.
The way Consort De acted and her attitude seemed quite approachable.
However, Li Chenjiao had witnessed the abilities of Consort De from the Fujin when she was in the mansion. For example, there was Granny Xu, who always restricted the Fujin's power in managing the household, and the Fujin's less-than-friendly expression at the banquet every time she returned from the palace during festivals.
Furthermore, her interactions with the Fourth Prince revealed his deep respect for Consort De.
When Li Chenjiao and her servants left the manor today, Li Chenjiao seemed to be facing a formidable enemy. After all, Li Chenjiao was granted a title even though she was pregnant and had not yet given birth, so it was hard not to think that Li Chenjiao was 'spoiled and arrogant'.
As the Fourth Prince's biological mother, Consort De had been immersed in the palace for many years, so it would be easy for her to make things difficult for Li Chenjiao.
However, from the fact that Consort De sent Zhao Mama to deliver hot milk tea and asked Li Chenjiao to change into lighter clothes, Li Chenjiao could naturally tell that Consort De had no objection to her.
That would naturally be a good thing for Li Chenjiao as well.
Li Chenjiao naturally brought light clothing with her on this trip, just in case her clothes got wet with snow or if there was any other unexpected situation.
Li Chenjiao remembered that Qiu Ci had once said that Consort De did not like indigo blue clothes, but the color of the clothes should not be too outstanding or plain, so she only prepared one set of lilac and one set of bamboo green.
At this moment, Li Chenjiao changed into that lilac-colored cheongsam, and her hair was styled into a cheongsam by Qiu Hu. Her jewelry was also prepared and all complete.
After taking off the attire of a concubine, Li Chenjiao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After dressing, Li Chenjiao returned to the palace with Qiu Hu's help.
However, upon returning to the palace, Consort De was not alone.
Next to the seat of the Consort De at the head of the table sat a lady dressed in simple clothes. Li Chenjiao thought for a moment and realized that she was the Seventh Prince's birth mother, Consort Cheng.
During the days that Li Chenjiao spent learning etiquette from Granny Qin in the mansion, she still heard Granny Qin talk about the noble people in the palace.
For example, the birth mothers of several princes who had come of age, including Qin Mama, who also mentioned Consort Cheng, the birth mother of the Seventh Prince who was on good terms with Consort De.
So the person sitting below Consort Cheng at this moment is probably the primary consort Nara, whom the Seventh Prince married and brought into the family this year.
However, these were just guesses in Li Chenjiao's mind, so she naturally didn't dare to address her casually when she paid her respects.
"Greetings to Consort De, greetings to the Empress, and greetings to the Fujin," Li Chenjiao called out in turn.
Consort De observed this, and when she saw that Lady Li had changed into casual clothes, she also noticed Lady Li's beauty, but she did not have any additional feelings in her heart.
"Get up and sit down. This is Consort Cheng, and that is the Seventh Prince's Consort." Consort De led Li Chenjiao to recognize the people.
Li Chenjiao then called out to Consort Cheng and the Seventh Prince's Consort again.
Then he sat down in a position slightly below the Seventh Prince's wife.
After Li Chenjiao took her seat, Consort De and Consort Cheng continued talking, while the Seventh Prince's wife drank hot milk tea and occasionally made a sound that amused the two ladies.
Li Chenjiao did not interrupt the two ladies as they were talking.
When the Seventh Prince's wife, Lady Nara, spoke, she had a bright smile on her face and was listening attentively.
He seemed completely unperturbed by the resentment he felt when Consort De neglected him.
Yes, Consort De was indeed neglecting Lady Li by only speaking to Consort Cheng, which was naturally to test Lady Li's character.
As for Consort De sending Granny Zhao over earlier, it was simply because Consort De did not want to mistreat the people in the fourth prince's harem, which was outside the bounds of propriety.
However, at this moment, Consort De was quite satisfied to see that Li Chenjiao remained calm and composed during her conversation with Consort Cheng.
Little did they know, Li Chenjiao was simply starving because she had gotten up so early and eaten breakfast so early.
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