When Li Chenjiao heard Qiu Hu say that the maid's message was not about not needing to pay respects on the fifteenth of next month, she was somewhat surprised, but she quickly said, "If that's the case, it seems that the Princess Consort has other matters to instruct. Then please invite her in."
Qiu Hu responded and went to call out.
Li Chenjiao rested her chin on her hands and elbows on the table, watching the maid enter in a flustered manner: "Did the Fujin send you here because she has something to tell you?"
The young maidservant curtsied, but thankfully spoke fluently: "Reporting to Consort, the Consort De from the palace sent someone to say that she wishes to see the children in the manor. Consort, you sent me to ask the Second Princess's wet nurse to pack what she needs to take, and then take the Second Princess into the palace."
Before the girl could finish speaking, Li Chenjiao raised her slender eyebrows and looked around at the girl who was speaking with her head down. After a while, she smiled.
Although she smiled, her face had already turned cold.
Li Chenjiao stood up, holding Qiu Hu's hand: "I heard that the Second Prince in the main courtyard was born with a weak constitution?"
The maid replied without daring to look up: "The Princess Consort said that since the Empress wants to see him, it is only right that the Second Prince suffers some hardship. The wet nurses who are serving him will take good care of him, so there shouldn't be any problems."
Despite her timid and hesitant demeanor, this girl speaks with remarkable clarity and decisiveness.
Look at what you're saying! Even the sickly Second Prince has to go to the palace to see Consort De, so are you, the healthy Second Princess, going to refuse him?
The words swirled in her throat seven or eight times, and Qiu Hu, who was supporting Li Chenjiao, could feel her master's hand trembling slightly.
"I understand. I have something to tell the Second Princess's wet nurse. The Second Princess is a fussy and mischievous girl. She mustn't offend Her Majesty on her first meeting. You should go back to the main courtyard and report this."
The little maid came here today to convince the concubine to let the Second Princess enter the palace.
Having achieved his goal, he readily agreed and hastily withdrew without needing Qiu Ci to see him off.
Li Chenjiao sat back down, slowly swirling the cup around for a while before gently placing it on the table.
"Have Mrs. Chen bring Aman over here. I have something to tell her."
Qiu Ci was busy, and her complexion was naturally not good.
Today's scene was clearly orchestrated by the Princess Consort; otherwise, why would a lady from the palace be so eager to see the children in the manor?
Perhaps the princess wanted the ladies in the palace to meet the second prince, but she wanted to send the second prince into the palace herself. Instead, she had to go through all sorts of roundabout ways and involve all the children in the household.
Li Chenjiao took two light breaths to calm herself down.
When Madam Chen brought the Second Princess in, Li Chenjiao smiled at the Second Princess first.
"Aman, are you awake? Let your mother hug you."
Chen had heard Qiu Ci's story when she arrived, and she was still somewhat uneasy.
Li Chenjiao held the Second Princess in her arms and played with her ears by covering them.
“Wang, the wet nurse of the eldest princess, is easy to get along with. I’ve dealt with her a few times. It would be appropriate for you to carry the second princess and ride in the same carriage with her.”
Ms. Chen nodded and remembered.
"June weather is alright. Just make sure Aman doesn't get too much sun when she goes out. Of course, you've always done an excellent job with these things, so I'm at ease with you."
Ms. Chen said she didn't deserve such praise.
"Furthermore, when you are in front of Consort De, you don't need to stand out. Just answer whatever she asks. If she doesn't ask, you don't need to take the initiative to speak."
Ms. Chen once again cautiously agreed.
Li Chenjiao gave a few more instructions. For example, although the Second Princess rarely cried in the East Courtyard, she might feel unwell in the palace. If the Second Princess cried, Chen Shi didn't need to worry and could comfort her as usual.
Li Chenjiao wasn't too worried, after all, it was Consort De who wanted to see the children, not the Fujin.
If it were the Fujin (a high-ranking concubine) who wanted to see Li Chenjiao, she might have refused directly. But since it was Consort De, there was nothing to worry about, assuming everything was safe and there would be no mishaps.
However, Li Chenjiao was indeed not very happy about this matter.
It's alright, let's wait for Fourth Master to come back before we talk about it.
This whole affair ruined Li Chenjiao's mood.
Watching Granny Chen and Madam Zhong carry the Second Princess away from the East Courtyard, Li Chenjiao simply sat on the small couch under the flower window and asked Qiu Hu to bring her the sewing basket, where she began embroidering Aman's clothes.
After Aman turned one month old, her originally wrinkled little face became fair and tender, and her body grew very quickly.
The two little clothes that Li Chenjiao embroidered during her postpartum period were no longer suitable. Li Chenjiao picked out two or three kinds of soft and comfortable fabrics from Qiu Hu, thought for a moment, and then lowered her head to embroider carp.
The two maids sat on small stools at the lower end, sorting through the silk threads that Li Chenjiao needed.
Li Chenjiao embroidered slowly, then said, "Summer is almost here, why are you all wearing last year's clothes like me? It's easier for me to stay in the courtyard, but you represent my image outside. I'll have the maids from the sewing room come and take your measurements tomorrow, and make you a couple more new outfits. It'll be more comfortable in the summer. I see Qiu Hu has gotten a bit thinner, she's been busy lately, hmm, she's lost weight."
As Li Chenjiao spoke, she glanced at Qiu Hu again.
Looking at Qiu Ci again, Li Chenjiao deliberately paused: "Hmm, Qiu Ci looks like she's gained quite a bit of weight."
This girl is clever; she's always out and about, gathering information, and she's had her share of snacks in the small kitchen and the kitchen.
Qiu Ci covered her face in embarrassment.
Li Chenjiao hummed in agreement: "I remember that a few days ago, Madam Chen told me that she had a close nanny when she was in the Imperial Household Department. She was a bit strict, but she had served many noble people in the palace."
Qiu Hu should have said, "Didn't Master say he was afraid they wouldn't be easy to train?"
Even the usually gentle and easy-going Granny Chen said that he was "strict," so he was probably not easy to get along with.
Li Chenjiao chuckled lightly: "But we can't rely on the two of you to take care of everything in our courtyard from now on. There will always be other maids to serve me. If you two are the only ones watching over me, I don't know how thin you'll become. Having a strict nanny will surely keep the maids in check. When the time comes, Qiu Hu, you and the nanny will both be in charge of my East Courtyard."
Qiu Ci was not dissatisfied with these words. She was always a cheerful person and was not afraid of even Dong Sheng, who served Li Chenjiao the latest in the courtyard.
Naturally, it doesn't have the same ability as Qiu Hu to keep people in check as usual.
Seeing that neither of the two maids had any objections, Li Chenjiao nodded: "Alright, when Granny Chen returns with the Second Princess later, Qiu Hu, you should tell Granny Chen. But you must make it clear that you will only serve her for a few days to see how it goes. Whether you can serve her in the East Courtyard for a long time depends on my approval."
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