Since it was during the New Year holiday, Li Chenjiao didn't eat much food, but she still drank two cups of fruit wine.
Fortunately, Li Chenjiao knew her own alcohol tolerance, and her eyes remained clear until the banquet ended.
Once outside the Qingyuan Courtyard, the cold wind blew, and Li Chenjiao, supported by Qiu Hu, immediately sobered up considerably.
Back in the East Courtyard, Qiu Hu and Qiu Ci, the two maids, were eagerly waiting under the eaves, having heard that the palace was going to set off fireworks.
Li Chenjiao had never seen fireworks before, so she simply had Xiao Luzi move the rocking chair to the covered walkway and sat on it, watching the two little girls chase each other under the walkway.
Li Chenjiao was afraid of the cold, and she was still holding the carved glazed incense burner with magpies perched on plum branches that the Fourth Master had just bestowed upon her a few days ago. At this moment, she was half-raising her head and gazing at the colorful lanterns outside that were full of New Year's spirit.
The autumn pot and autumn porcelain were made these past few days, and this morning I had Xiao Lu hang them on the tree in the yard. Fortunately, it didn't snow tonight, otherwise all those colorful lights would have been crushed by the wind and snow.
Li Chenjiao suddenly laughed, as if she had just thought of something: "If the lanterns contained luminous pearls, then our courtyard would be truly beautiful."
The two girls heard this and just kept laughing.
Li Chenjiao reminded him, "Remember to ask Xiao Luzi to take down the colored lanterns later and carefully check the candlelight inside."
The two maids quickly agreed.
Li Chenjiao then turned to look at the unique palace lantern hanging under the covered walkway.
The palace lantern was personally delivered by Fu Lu from the front courtyard early in the morning. He said that the Fourth Prince had just received it and had asked Fu Lu to deliver it to Li Chenjiao as soon as he got it.
The hexagonal palace lantern hung on the winding eaves, and through the gossamer-thin silk gauze, one could vaguely see its bright colors and brilliance.
Li Chenjiao liked it very much. Before Xiao Luzi hung it up tonight, she also hung up a colorful tassel pendant that she had made before.
The palace lantern swayed gently in the breeze, causing the candlelight inside to flicker.
A small table had been set up beside the rocking chair where Li Chenjiao was sitting, and two little girls had placed some of her favorite pastries on it.
All of this noise fell into Li Chenjiao's eyes, until she heard a sound like a rumbling coming from afar.
Li Chenjiao slowly stood up from the rocking chair, and the dark sky in the distance was already filled with dazzling fireworks.
Li Chenjiao smiled slowly, her breath warm as she spoke: "This is the first New Year I've spent in the manor."
After watching the spectacular fireworks display, Li Chenjiao finally felt a bit sleepy, so she stood up and prepared to go inside to rest.
But then they saw the path that had disappeared for a while come in from outside.
"Princess, Fourth Master is resting in the main courtyard today."
Li Chenjiao didn't turn around, but only raised her hand: "It's getting late, you should all get some rest."
Today is the 30th of the twelfth lunar month, and tomorrow will be the 37th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign.
As the Fourth Prince had mentioned, it was already past the New Year, and the long-lost power of managing the household would finally return to the Fujin's hands.
Counting the days, the Fourth Prince has been neglecting his wife for almost two months. He hasn't set foot in the main courtyard for nearly two months, which is quite a lesson for her.
As long as the wife doesn't commit any serious mistakes and doesn't give the Fourth Prince any leverage over those mistakes, then the wife will always be the Fourth Prince's primary wife.
The days of ease and comfort must be put away; in the thirty-seventh year of Kangxi's reign, there will be more turmoil to come.
However, Li Chenjiao didn't want to worry too much; she just wanted to get a good night's sleep.
The thirty-seventh year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign quietly arrived during Li Chenjiao's nap.
His Majesty stopped writing on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, and the seven-day banquet finally came to an end. For the first half of the first lunar month, the Fourth Prince had no official business to attend to.
However, the Fourth Prince still got up very early. He returned to the mansion late last night and didn't sleep well in the main courtyard.
When the Fourth Prince got up, his wife quickly got up to help him get dressed.
The Fourth Prince didn't actually like his wife doing these things herself, but since she was his legal wife, he naturally wouldn't offend her in public.
After dressing, the princess asked softly, "Why don't you have breakfast before returning to the front courtyard, since the princesses will be coming to the main courtyard to pay their respects later?"
Fourth Master frowned and refused: "I have other matters to attend to in the front courtyard."
The princess consort withdrew her outstretched hand and slowly curtsied as she watched the fourth prince leave.
The Lady sat back down at her dressing table and rubbed her temples. "Has Granny Xu handed over the keys to the mansion?"
Yu Ru and two maids helped the Fujin (principal wife) with her washing and dressing: "Reporting to Fujin, the items were delivered early this morning. However, some account books are still with Consort Wu. This servant has inquired and heard that the Fourth Prince has given his permission to have Consort Wu help examine the household's account books in the future to ease Fujin's burden."
Yu Ru's voice grew softer and softer as she spoke.
The Fourth Prince did indeed say that he would return the power of managing the household to his wife after the New Year, and he did not break his promise. However, he knew his wife's temperament too well, and someone in the household had to come out and keep her in check.
In fact, Li Chenjiao, who is currently in favor, is also a very suitable candidate. However, considering the little princess's lazy nature, the Fourth Prince really didn't want to cause her any trouble.
As soon as he left the main courtyard, the Fourth Prince suddenly remembered that he hadn't had time to visit the Little Princess lately, so he turned to Su Peisheng and gave him instructions.
“I remember that Mother gave me some excellent fabric a few days ago. Go to the storeroom, find it, and send it to the East Courtyard.”
Su Peisheng hurriedly agreed, but he was still somewhat shocked.
He still remembered those few bolts of fabric. They were rare treasures he had only seen once in decades of serving the Fourth Prince. He thought the Fourth Prince would give those bolts of fabric to his wife when he went to the main courtyard yesterday.
Su Peisheng immediately elevated Li Gege's importance in the Fourth Master's heart to an even higher level.
Because Li Chenjiao was in the first year of junior high school, Qiu Hu had to help her up. After getting dressed, she didn't even have time for breakfast before heading to the main courtyard.
Perhaps because the Fourth Prince stayed overnight yesterday, the Princess Consort is dressed very richly today.
The blush on the cheeks of the Fujin complemented the pine-green camellia-patterned gown she wore today, a beautiful combination of deep green and light red.
Anyone could see the good mood on the Princess Consort's face.
After everyone finished paying their respects and came out of the main courtyard, they were given two extra bolts of fine fabric.
The princess consort, under the guise of "a new year brings new beginnings," instructed them to dress up nicely.
After Li Chenjiao returned to the East Courtyard and had breakfast, she went to the outer room and was dazzled by the pile of fabrics.
"Didn't the princess say it was two bolts of fabric? Where did you get so much fabric?"
Qiu Ci's face lit up with joy: "I heard from Xiao Lu Zi that when the princess went to the main courtyard to pay her respects, Eunuch Su from the front courtyard sent it over, saying that it was specially ordered by the Fourth Master."
Upon seeing these materials, Qiu Ci knew that her princess was still being thought of by the Fourth Prince, which naturally made the little girl happy.
Li Chenjiao then circled the fabric and quickly distinguished which two bolts were gifts from the Fujin and which were sent by the Fourth Prince.
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