When the carriage arrived at the mansion, Li Chenjiao was still a little drowsy, after all, today's trip had really left her physically and mentally exhausted.
Li Chenjiao kept her eyes closed from the moment she got off the carriage until she entered the mansion, relying entirely on Qiu Hu for support.
Qiu Hufu was trembling with fear, but Li Chenjiao stood ramrod straight, and when a maid passed by to pay her respects, she didn't dare to look up, so no one noticed.
However, when Li Chenjiao got off the carriage, she still told Xiao Luzi to put away the blanket and hand warmer that Fourth Master had brought.
After entering the backyard, Li Chenjiao slowly opened her eyes, and her mind finally began to work.
"I won't go to pay my respects to the Princess today. Later, you and Qiuci can decide who goes. Remember to have Xiaoluzi and Dongsheng keep the things the Empress sent. Zhao Mama gave us a list, remember to check it."
Qiu Hu, holding an umbrella and supporting Li Chenjiao, noted everything down.
Li Chenjiao was still a little dizzy. She walked around the garden and was almost at her own yard. Before she could even breathe a sigh of relief, she heard someone calling her.
"Greetings to Consort Li, may Consort Li enjoy boundless blessings."
Li Chenjiao went back to look at the person who had called her back, her gaze pausing slightly: "Princess Bai Jia, you're too kind, no need for formalities."
Li Chenjiao was still not used to being called a concubine. After agreeing, she looked at Bai Jiagege and waited for her to continue.
However, when Li Chenjiao's gaze fell on Bai Jia's hands, she couldn't help but gasp. It was one thing that she didn't have any warm clothes like a cloak, but she didn't even have a hand warmer or a hand warmer, which was quite surprising.
"It's so cold outside, why don't you carry a hand warmer with you?"
Her dark eyebrows furrowed, and she scolded the maid behind Bai Jia, "How are you taking care of your princess? If she gets cold, can you afford to pay for anything that happens to her?"
Li Chenjiao's aloof demeanor was extremely intimidating, and Danqing, who was being served by Bai Jiashi, immediately knelt down to apologize.
Normally, Li Chenjiao could pretend not to see it, but now that she has become a concubine, there are some things she can no longer ignore.
Li Chenjiao mustered her strength and said, "I have a new stove there. Is there enough charcoal? I'll have someone send it to you later. If the servants mistreat you, I don't care. Just tell someone to go to the main courtyard to find the Fujin (princess).
Bai Jia seemed to have more to say, but she was very perceptive and noticed the fatigue on Li Chenjiao's face, so she didn't press the matter further.
"Thank you, Consort, thank you for your concern." Bai Jia bowed again, but her voice trembled from the cold.
Li Chenjiao raised her hand and yawned: "It's getting cold, you should go back early. I'm a little tired too, so I'll head back first."
Li Chenjiao nodded slightly, and Qiu Hu also bowed to Bai Jia Gege before helping her mistress to the east courtyard.
Back in the East Courtyard, Li Chenjiao, who had already lain down, suddenly turned her head as she listened to the crackling sound of Qiu Ci stirring the charcoal fire.
"If Bai Jia's supplies are cut off, go and inform the Fujin first. Don't send anything to Bai Jia's family without going through the Fujin, or you'll break the rules."
Li Chenjiao was really tired just now, that's why she spoke so incoherently.
Now that they realized what they had said, they understood that they had made a mistake.
Qiu Hu thought for a moment and quickly understood what her mistress meant: "Yes, when I go to the main courtyard to report to her later, I will report to the Fujin at the same time."
Li Chenjiao felt relieved, mumbled an "Mmm" in her sleep, and turned over to sleep.
Qiu Hu was truly startled; now, whenever she saw Li Chenjiao make any big moves, she would tremble with fear.
When Li Chenjiao woke up, it was already completely dark outside. She asked Qiu Hu what time it was, and Qiu Hu replied that it was almost Xu Shi (7-9 PM). Li Chenjiao then lay back down.
After Qiu Hu told her that after she went to the main courtyard to report back, the Fujin quickly ordered a thorough investigation into the matter, which led to the discovery of the needlework room currently under the management of Consort Guiwu.
The sewing room allegedly withheld Bai Jia's winter clothing and various miscellaneous sewing supplies.
Li Chenjiao understood very quickly after hearing half of it.
"The Fujin really is everywhere," Li Chenjiao sighed.
When Li Chenjiao sent Qiu Hu to the main courtyard, she did consider that perhaps the servants, seeing that Bai Jia was not favored, were flattering and belittling her.
However, given that Consort Wu was a new official, her servants should have been instructed beforehand. How could it have been so easy for the Consort to find fault with her?
Unfortunately, it was Li Chenjiao who sent someone to tell the Fujin (principal wife) that Bai Jia Gege had been mistreated. If this were to reach Wu Gege's ears—
It's hard not to think that Li Chenjiao handed over the fact that Wu Gege was acting as the steward to the Fujin (the wife of the emperor).
He could punish Wu Gege, make her unhappy and even resent Li Chenjiao, and gain a good reputation for himself.
That's killing three birds with one stone, and it's all thanks to the quick reaction of the First Wife.
Li Chenjiao chuckled lightly: "Since you were mistreated by Princess Baijia, have someone make amends. Keep a close eye on things from now on, and deal with any mistakes as they arise. Pass this message on to Princess Wu."
Li Chenjiao's actions today were somewhat unintentional, but they unexpectedly became a tool in the Fujin's hands.
After giving her instructions, Li Chenjiao finally straightened up: "Is everything prepared by Madam He? Wrap the dumplings now so we can have dinner later."
In winter, snuggling up indoors with the warmth of a charcoal fire while making dumplings with the girls, smelling the aroma of the filling, is an incredibly relaxing experience.
Xiao Luzi and Dongsheng were clumsy, so they acted as errand runners, delivering the dumplings that the maids had wrapped to the stove in the small kitchen at the back, where they were either boiled or steamed.
He has been quite diligent these days, and has never made a mistake when Li Chenjiao asks her to cook some food.
It was only after hearing that Zhu, the woman in Wu Gege's courtyard, had been punished several times that He, the woman in Li Chenjiao's place, became even more careful in serving her.
Li Chenjiao washed her hands with hot water, knowing that she wasn't very skillful and that the fan pendants, purses, and sachets she usually made were only barely passable.
At this moment, she was just following He Shi and doing things in a somewhat proper manner. He Shi had prepared a lot of different kinds of fillings. Because the Fourth Master was coming later, Li Chenjiao specially asked He Shi to remove the chive filling and the toon filling.
The two girls were both very skillful and quickly made all sorts of fancy dumplings, which looked very appetizing.
Li Chenjiao stopped making dumplings after wrapping a few, wiped her hands clean, and sat on the small couch to watch the maids make dumplings.
After the two girls finished wrapping the dumplings, Li Chenjiao waited for Xiao Luzi and the others to take the dumplings to the small kitchen before she spoke up: "Pick out those oddly shaped dumplings and cook an extra pot of them."
Qiu Ci couldn't help but laugh when she heard her master's words.
Li Chenjiao glanced at the sky outside again: "Fourth Master will probably be back in a while. Just cook one or two of those oddly shaped dumplings for me to taste. Cook the rest when Fourth Master arrives."
Li Chenjiao wasn't afraid to give Fourth Master cold dumplings, but it was cold now, and if Fourth Master got sick from eating cold dumplings, that would be her fault.
It wouldn't be a problem in the summer.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
